Lisa's voice echoed across the sandy field, "That's right, ladies, keep it up!"

The petite young woman with long strawberry blonde hair wove her way between her unit members locked in sparring combat, her typically playful expression turned serious.

But one young woman sat on the sidelines, just watching.

Shae had taken to shadowing Ava around in her schedule so that she was never left alone, and the boys could get more work done post-crazy camp night. The camp buzzed with urgency ever since the incident with Umber's men, and the fact that one of them had slipped through their hands. Shae decided she would much rather spend her time in the midst of Ava's sass and good humor than the heavy melodrama of a bunch of overprotective boys.

So she was sitting casually on the sidelines of the sand pits while Ava and her unit practiced their sparring. Shae smiled proudly at her friend, as she saw Ava swerve he way through one move and the next, deflecting, defending, and jabbing her way to victory against her sparring partners.

Lisa spoke up again, "Alright, that's enough for today. You ladies hit the showers and get ready for some perimeter patrols. Let's go, let's go!"

While the rest of her unit jogged from the fields, Ava sweverd for her best friend. Shae shifted on the baby blue towel beneath her slinky black athletic shorts, then offered a water bottle up to her friend. Ava took it and guzzled back a few gulps between pants for steadier breath.

"What a rush. Every time."

"Lookin' pretty badass out there, my friend."

Ava swerved on her hip and pointed the butt of her water bottle in Shae's direction. "Maybe you should revisit the combat arts. I mean, I realize you're not a natural talent like me. Not everyone can be as good at everything as I am. But what's the harm of stretching your muscles anyway?"

Shae blinked hard. "You mean, you teach me? I think I remember us sparring together before going terribly wrong."

Ava gave a satisfied, "Ahhhh!" after a final gulp of water. Then she went on to say, "Yes, that's because your dashing hero Jung Hoseok swooped in and saved the day if I recall correctly. But that day on the sparring mats is a blur of sweat and sugar and Min Yoongi, to be perfectly honest."

Shae laughed. "Forgot about the whole 'oh my god, Shae just erupted with weird alien magic' part?"

"More or less."

"Not to mention that was also the first time Hobi drew a blade on me."

Ava rolled her eyes, "For which he is forgiven. Because what, pray tell, about that sunshine smile of his spells out 'bloodthirsty murderer' in shining bright letters?"

Shae chuckled at her friend's point--but then a vivid image of the arena revisited her. Of Hoseok with a bloodied sword in hand. Of him splitting Sehun clean open right in front of her eyes.

She would never forget the look on Hoseok's face in those timeless, terrifying moments: wild, vicious, and perfectly pleased.

So different from how he seemed in her presence these days.

Shae shook the memories away and smiled at Ava. "Don't tell me you're in cahoots with him now, Ava. Scheming to get me to crack. Because if you are and I find out--" Shae stood up and pointed a playfully threatening finger in Ava's direction.

Ava scoffed. "Of course not. Who's side do you think I'm on here?"

"By the way you talk him up to me CEASElessly, I'm beginning to wonder."

"I plead the Fifth."

Before Shae could playfully protest a sight across the field caught her attention. It was Jeon Jungkook and Kim Taehyung, and they were jogging casually in the direction of the ladies. Both of them were suited up in their light black body armor. Jungkook had a long Geji blade strapped to one hip with red stripes flecking his arms and legs, and Taehyung had two short swords crossed against his back and held on by tightly bound silver-grey chest straps.

Ava couldn't help herself. "I do love a man in uniform."

"I though that Tae and Kookie weren't on the menu, Ava. What about Suga?!"

Ava smirked to herself about the time she kissed Jeon Jungkook breathless in a lonely hallway once and lived to never tell a soul about it. What a time.

The boys slowed their casual jog to a halt in front of the young women. Taehyung flashed an eager smile. Jungkook gave a nod and spoke first.

"So, I know this is kinda random, but Tae and I are going on a land survey. And we think that Shae should come along."

Tae nodded vigorously. Then he started looking around the arena edges with a worried expression, his eyes flickering between tent rows. He was being unusually indiscreet.

Ava and Shae exchanged confused looks.

Jungkook gestured towards the changing tents at the edge of the sand pit. "If you could help her suit up, Ava, that'd be awesome."

Ava waggled a single finger in Jungkook's direction. "Just what is it you're 'surveying,' boys?"

Jungkook's mouth looked smaller than usual. "We don't actually know yet."

Ava wasn't having this. "Well if she's coming, I'm coming. I'm her guard for the day. And also, I'm more than a little offended that you don't want my excellent swordsmanship along for this little jaunt so I'll save you the apology and volunteer myself."

Jungkook smirked. "Well, that was easier than I was expecting. Sure, Ava. You can come too. Just hurry up and help Shae gear up. We want to sneak out of here before anyone sees."

Ava's tone was all exaggerated drama. "So this is a STEALTH MISSION."

Tae leaned around Jungkook's shoulder and pointed a finger at Ava--so close that he almost booped her brow just between both of her green eyes. Then he whispered mysteriously, "Exactly."

Before Shae could protest, Ava was pulling her by the arm towards the changing tents to accommodate this odd request.

"Shae, this is exactly the kind of distraction I was hoping for today."

"Oh?"

They pushed their way inside the musty, rank-smelling tent.

"God, this place needs a facelift." Ava started shuffling through shelves and garments that were marked with ID tags, looking for Shae's.

"You're eager to please, aren't you?" Shae was running her fingers over the Geji sparring blades that were cradled in stands between tent pillars.

"AHA. Here's yours. I knew it was in here still." Ava started handing stretchy bodysuit armor over to Shae, the handiwork of Lilith in prime form. As Shae started to change, Ava thumbed through the stealth masks that were in a small box on the floor. She commented, "And yeah. Honest to God, Yoongi was a total ass to me this morning when I tried to surprise him with breakfast in his workshop. And I was like, you know, the reasonably concerned girlfriend. I care."

"You care," Shae echoed, urging her friend to continue her story while she stretched her legs into the elastic material. And they are finally talking about each other like they are a thing that exists. All is right with the world.

"But he wasn't giving me an inch, girl. Wouldn't let out a peep of what the hell is wrong. And, you know, sometimes instead of being all apologetic and self-deprecating... what a woman really needs to do is give a man a taste of his own medicine."

"Gha." Shae had finally stretched the body suit base over her skin. Not for the light armor bracers. Ava stepped over to help latch the arm guard straps good and tight onto Shae's skinny arms. Shae noted, "Perhaps he just needed a minute to process whatever it was that was bothering him. Which sounds a little like someone else I know." Shae raised her eyebrows at her best friend.

Ava scoffed. "Well, maybe. But I'm still pissed. And going on this rando stealth adventure with Tae and Jungkook without telling sweet Yoongles is an act of perfect defiance if I ever saw one."

"You always have a flair for the dramatic. Even in a fight."

"Yeah. That's why you and I have only really fought one time. GOD. Once was enough."

"HAHA. I think that's because I was the terrifying one in that scenerio. If I remember correctly, it was about you flirting with the one boy we've both ever liked at the same time."

"Correction: I just liked flirting with him. You actually liked him. A greater betrayal there never was."

"And then we found out that he had rocks for brains whenever he wasn't talking IT jargon."

Ava nodded solemnly. "And we were miraculously cured of our strife. Oh, the power of male idiocy."

Shae giggled. "Restoring friendships and paving the way for female empowerment since the dawn of creation."

"Amen and amen."

--

"This better be good, Minghao. I was in the middle of something."

"Mind if I ask what, Commander Hoseok?"

"None of your damn business. Now, what is this about?"

The fit man with the fiery red hair strolled casually along in his yellow headband and baggy t-shirt and khakis. He looked tired.

Minghao walked in stride with him, his shaggy black mullet brushing the tops of a long, ratty looking black sweater that fell past his black shorts in uneven strands like dangling spider webs. He looked like his usual, amused self.

They were walking along the edge of the camp, just outside of the tropical treeline. Then Minghao stopped and turned towards the trees, and Hoseok mimicked him. He strained to see anything significant there.

"Sir. Did you know that this planet used to historically be House of Reed territory?"

"Yeah. I did. Get to your point."

"I was just curious. My real purpose in interrupting your incredibly important schedule was actually that your star player, Jeon Jungkook, appears to have taken it upon himself to investigate the far side of the jungle."

Hoseok found this news mildly annoying, but not something he was going to worry over. Jungkook can take care of himself.

"And?"

"And he also took it upon himself to recruit Tae, Ava, and Shae for the adventure. I just thought that... well, as you're our superior officer, you really ought to know."

Sure, Minghao. Sure that's why you're acting like a slimy snitch. You little...

Hoseok didn't have time for this. Not today. An envoy was coming soon from one of their alliance partners, and he hadn't put the finishing touches on security measures to receive them. But he didn't trust anyone but himself to oversee the preparations.

Did he wish Jungkook had just NOT? Sure. But somehow, he wasn't worried by this news.

And Minghao is such a little witch. Asking what I've been working on like he has no idea... but he knows. He just wanted to drag me out here and watch me squirm about Shae. Sometimes, I just want to snap his little--

"Sir, are you going to lead a search for them? Shouldn't we retrieve Shae?"

"No. We're not. She's in good company and I trust Jeon Jungkook with my life." Which is more than I can say about you. "Leave them be, Minghao. Don't go after them."

Somehow, this direct order made Minghao look genuinely annoyed. His smile flickered out and his brow furrowed darkly.

"I'm getting back to work. You should too."

Hoseok noticed the sound of resentment in his subordinate's voice as he answered, "Yes, Commander."

Maybe he wanted to go after them himself? But that would just piss Jungkook off and probably mess with whatever randomness he's up to. Anyway, I don't' have the mental space to dissect the incoherence of Xu Minghao right now.

Hoseok was off in a hurry, back to the command tent where he'd left Woozi, Yoongi, Lisa and a few other unit leaders bickering over guard duty routines for the upcoming envoy visit.

Minghao watched the back of his unit leader's red-haired head as he walked away. "God, why is everyone so useless around here except for me?"