The End Of the Beginning

The base was quieter than it had been in weeks. The eerie hum of tension that had hung over every corner of the facility was finally lifting, replaced by a cautious sense of relief. Reports had come in that morning: the Obake were withdrawing. Their hunt on the planet was over. Whether they'd found their target or simply grown bored, no one knew. But their forces had pulled back into orbit, leaving behind smoldering ruins and the scars of their relentless hunt.

Asus stood on the edge of the hangar, arms crossed over his chest as he watched the last of the cleanup crews move wreckage into neat piles. The scorched remains of the battle were everywhere—charred husks of vehicles, twisted fragments of metal, and craters from artillery strikes. Even with the Obake gone, their presence lingered like a stain on the planet.

"Never thought I'd see them leave without razing everything to ash," a voice said from behind him.

Asus turned to see Crystal approaching, her steps lighter than they'd been in days. She looked less weighed down by the fear and uncertainty that had been etched into her face since the Obake first arrived.

"They don't do anything without a reason," Asus replied, his voice low. "Either they found what they were looking for, or this hunt stopped being worth their time. It's all a game to them."

Crystal frowned, crossing her arms as she stopped beside him. "What kind of game?"

"The kind that gets people killed," Asus said bluntly. He let out a long breath, his eyes drifting to the far side of the hangar, where a sleek new ship sat under the glow of the overhead lights. Its black-and-silver frame gleamed, untouched by the chaos of recent days. The ship had arrived just yesterday, finally ready for him to resume his mission.

Crystal followed his gaze, her expression softening. "That's your new ride, huh?"

"Yeah," Asus said, a faint hint of satisfaction in his voice. "The Ravenblade. Faster, tougher, and a hell of a lot more firepower than the old one. About time I had something that could handle the heat."

Crystal glanced at him, her lips curving into a small smile. "You're excited to leave, aren't you?"

Asus hesitated, his gaze fixed on the ship. "It's not about excitement. It's about getting back to the mission. The longer I stay here, the more we're sitting ducks. The Obake might be gone for now, but they'll be back. They always come back."

Crystal's smile faded slightly, and she shifted her weight. "So, what happens now? Back to running missions for Command?"

"No." Asus finally turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "I'm taking you to Primordial Prime."

Her eyes widened slightly, caught off guard by the sudden clarity in his words. "Primordial Prime? Why?"

"Because that's where you belong," Asus said simply. "You're not a soldier, Crystal. Not like the rest of us. You've got a life waiting for you there, one that doesn't involve running from Obake or crashing into battlefields."

Crystal opened her mouth to argue, but no words came. Instead, she looked away, her arms tightening around herself. "I'm not sure that life even exists anymore," she murmured.

Asus frowned, stepping closer. "It does. And I'm going to make sure you get to it."

The determination in his voice made her look up, her chest tightening again as she met his gaze. There was no hesitation in his expression, no doubt. He was as steady as ever, even after everything they'd been through.

"Fine," she said softly. "But I'm not just going to sit there and wait for you to save the galaxy. If I'm going to Primordial Prime, I'm going to do something useful while I'm there."

Asus smirked faintly. "Wouldn't expect anything less."

The faint hum of an engine echoed through the hangar, and a technician waved from the Ravenblade, signaling that it was ready for launch. Asus glanced at Crystal, then nodded toward the ship.

"Get your stuff," he said. "We leave in a day."

Crystal nodded, but as she turned to head back toward their quarters, she hesitated. "Asus?"

"Yeah?"

She looked back at him, her expression softer now, almost vulnerable. "Thanks... for everything."

He gave her a small nod, his smirk fading into something more genuine. "You'd do the same for me."

As she walked away, Asus let out a long breath, his gaze returning to the Ravenblade. The mission wasn't over—not by a long shot—but for the first time in weeks, he felt like they were moving forward.

The Obake were gone, the planet was safe—for now—and they had a clear path ahead. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

The sound of rustling fabric and the faint clink of metal filled the small quarters as Crystal stuffed the last of her belongings into a duffel bag. The room, once cluttered with the makeshift comforts they'd managed to gather during their stay, now felt empty and lifeless. The bed was stripped down to its bare mattress, the walls bare of any personal touches.

Crystal zipped the duffel and slung it over her shoulder, glancing toward Asus's corner of the room. He was methodical as ever, his movements precise and efficient. His own bag was already packed, sitting neatly by the door, while he double-checked a small metal case containing tools and maintenance equipment for the new ship.

"Do you ever pack like a normal person?" Crystal teased, gesturing to his perfectly organized bag.

Asus smirked without looking up. "This is normal. You just throw your stuff in a bag and hope it doesn't explode halfway to the next system."

Crystal rolled her eyes, though a faint smile tugged at her lips. "It's called efficient chaos. I know exactly where everything is... most of the time."

Asus chuckled, closing the metal case with a soft click. He stood, hefting it under one arm while grabbing his duffel with the other. "Let's get this over with. The Ravenblade isn't going to load itself."

They stepped out into the corridor, the hum of the base's systems a familiar backdrop. Soldiers and personnel moved briskly around them, some casting glances their way but saying nothing. The air carried a mixture of relief and anticipation—relief that the Obake were gone, anticipation for whatever would come next.

Crystal adjusted her bag on her shoulder as they approached the hangar. "Feels weird, doesn't it?" she said.

"What does?" Asus asked, his tone neutral.

"Leaving," she replied, her gaze drifting to the distant hangar entrance. "We've been here for weeks. It's like... we're finally moving again, but it still feels unfinished somehow."

Asus nodded slightly. "It's always like that. No matter how much you do, there's always something left behind." He glanced at her. "But you don't dwell on it. You focus on what's ahead."

Crystal didn't respond, but she seemed to take his words in, her brow furrowing slightly as she thought them over.

The lodging quarters were quieter than usual, the faint hum of the ventilation system the only sound as Crystal folded her clothes and tucked them into a standard-issue duffel bag. The room, which had become a temporary sanctuary during their recovery, now felt empty, as if the walls themselves were bracing for their departure.

Asus worked silently on the other side of the room, methodically gathering his gear. His movements were precise, each piece of equipment inspected before being packed into a large tactical case. His old jacket, battered and patched from years of service, was folded neatly and placed at the top of the pile, a relic of his past missions.

Crystal glanced over at him, watching as he meticulously arranged his belongings. "You really take packing seriously, huh?" she said, her tone light but tinged with curiosity.

Asus didn't look up. "Efficiency saves time," he replied, sliding a datapad into the case's side pocket. "The less time spent fumbling around for gear, the better."

Crystal smirked, shaking her head as she zipped her duffel. "You sound like a training manual."

"Comes with the job," he said, finally glancing at her with a faint smirk. "Besides, you'd be surprised how many people forget the basics when they're rushing out the door."

Crystal rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. She turned back to her bag, slipping a small photo into the inner pocket before zipping it up. She paused for a moment, her fingers lingering on the fabric. This wasn't just packing; it was leaving behind a chapter of her life, one filled with chaos, growth, and moments she hadn't yet sorted out.

"You ready?" Asus asked, breaking her thoughts.

She looked up, meeting his steady gaze. "Yeah," she said softly. "I think I am."

The hangar was a flurry of activity as technicians worked on various ships, the sound of clanging metal and faint bursts of welding filling the space. The Ravenblade stood out among the other vessels, its sleek design and polished hull gleaming under the overhead lights. It looked more like a predator than a transport, built for speed and firepower.

Asus and Crystal walked side by side, each carrying their bags. A few heads turned as they passed, soldiers and technicians nodding in acknowledgment. They had earned a certain respect after surviving the crash and seeing the mission through, even under impossible odds.

They approached the Ravenblade, where a technician was running final checks. He looked up as they arrived, giving a thumbs-up. "She's ready to fly, Lieutenant. Fully fueled, systems calibrated. You're good to go whenever."

Asus nodded. "Thanks. We'll load up and be out of your way."

The technician stepped aside as they boarded the ship. The interior was as sleek as the exterior, with clean lines and a compact yet efficient layout. Asus moved to the cargo bay, where he began securing their gear, strapping cases and bags into place with practiced ease.

Crystal lingered near the cockpit, running her fingers along the control panel. The ship felt different from the bulky, battle-worn craft they'd been flying before—more precise, more advanced. She couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and apprehension.

"You good up there?" Asus called from the back.

Crystal turned, nodding. "Yeah, just... getting a feel for it."

Asus smirked as he walked up to join her. "You'll have plenty of time for that once we're in the air. Let's finish loading up."

The sun was dipping low on the horizon when they made their way back to the main compound, their bags now secured aboard the Ravenblade. The orange and pink hues of the sky cast long shadows over the base as they walked, stopping by familiar faces to say their goodbyes.

Crackle was the first to find them, her arm still in a sling but her usual sharp grin in place. "So, this is it, huh?" she said, leaning against the wall of the mess hall. "Heading off to greener pastures?"

Crystal smiled, stepping forward to give Crackle a careful hug. "Something like that. You take care of yourself, okay?"

Crackle snorted. "You kidding? I've survived worse than this. You just make sure you don't crash again. My ego can't handle hearing about someone else stealing my reputation for reckless landings."

Asus smirked. "Don't worry, we'll leave the crashing to you."

They moved on, stopping by other soldiers and technicians they'd worked with during their stay. Each goodbye carried its own weight—words of gratitude, camaraderie, and the unspoken understanding that this might be the last time they saw each other.

Finally, they found themselves at the edge of the compound, where Commander Hart was waiting. He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze steady as they approached.

"Lieutenant. Specialist," he said, nodding to each of them. "The base will be a little quieter without you two."

"Probably a lot safer, too," Asus replied, his tone dry but respectful.

Hart allowed a faint smile. "Perhaps. But you've done good work here. Both of you. Whatever comes next, know that you've got allies here."

Crystal nodded, her voice soft. "Thank you, sir. For everything."

Hart's gaze lingered on them for a moment before he stepped back. "Safe travels. Dismissed."

The Next Morning

The hangar was quiet as the Ravenblade powered up, its engines humming with a low, steady rhythm. Asus sat in the pilot's seat, his hands moving over the controls with practiced ease. Crystal settled into the co-pilot's chair, glancing out the viewport as the base grew smaller in the distance.

The sky above them opened up, vast and endless, as they broke through the atmosphere. For the first time in weeks, the weight of the planet below seemed to lift, leaving only the promise of what lay ahead.

Crystal glanced at Asus, her chest tightening slightly as she caught his calm, focused expression. "So," she said, her voice light but steady. "Primordial Prime, huh? Think they're ready for us?"

Asus smirked, his eyes briefly meeting hers. "Not even a little."

The ship accelerated, the stars stretching into streaks of light as they jumped into hyperspace, leaving the past behind and racing toward whatever the future held.