As Nexus's words sank in, a shift rippled through the squad. The skepticism began to fade and was quickly replaced by flickers of intrigue and even excitement. One by one, his subordinates started to envision the potential Nexus spoke of.
A few of them grinned widely, already seeing Marcus not as a newcomer, but as an asset.
"Oh my, Marcus." A soft voice cut through the air. "I'm Olivia, but everyone calls me Oly. I'm the tenth person to join the captain's squad. You can call me Big Sister Oly."
An attractive woman materialized in front of Marcus like a ghost slipping through fog. She extended a hand with a playful smile. Her short, chestnut hair brushed her jawline, framing her high cheekbones and warm eyes that shimmered with subtle mischief. Though she bore the uniform of a Lead Sentinel, it held fewer stars compared to Nexus's.
Before Marcus could take her hand, Nexus called out.
"Don't take her hand," he said flatly. "Olivia has a habit of… influencing people. You won't even know she's poisoning you and messing with your head until it's too late."
Marcus froze mid-reach and gulped. Mental note: avoid her unless absolutely necessary.
Olivia pouted." Oh come on, Nexy, don't scare the poor boy. You're making me sound like some twisted seductress."
"Nexus to you, Olivia."
She laughed, gave Marcus a wink, and vanished as quietly as she had appeared.
The moment Marcus was deemed useful, the entire squad's demeanor changed. One by one, they emerged with faces he hadn't seen on them before. All of them were eager to introduce themselves. Names, ranks, and friendly words. He barely managed to keep up.
"All right, all right," Nexus said, waving a hand. A pulse of aura pushed the group back gently, but with enough force to make them scatter. "Let the boy breathe."
The squad fell silent. For a brief moment, everyone stared at their captain, struck by the sheer weight of the aura he had casually unleashed.
"Captain…" one of them whispered. "Just how strong have you gotten?"
Nexus only chuckled and said nothing. The attention had shifted from Marcus to him in an instant—as if the newcomers' intrigue had dimmed next to the blinding flame of their leader.
"Enough gawking," Nexus announced. "Let's go and eat. It's been too long since we shared a meal as a squad."
As they made their way toward the Oasis cafeteria, Logan caught up to Nexus, walking beside him.
"Captain,"
"Yeah?"
"If this kid truly is a Savant, or one in the making, shouldn't we send him to a subdivision better suited to nurturing that potential? Our team handles exploration. Some research, sure, but not the kind of deep cultivation study he might need."
Nexus yawned, waving a dismissed hand. "Why would I give him up? I found him first, he's mine."
Logan frowned. "But if he—"
"Besides," Nexus interrupted, "he's got fighting potential. You want me to send him off to be babysat by a bunch of starched-robed scholars? That'd be the real waste.
…
The banquet in the Oasis lasted until the sun dipped below the mountains. Nexus was brimming with energy, suggesting that they partied until dawn.
Predictably, the squad had other plans.
One by one, they slipped out under the guise of getting drinks, using the bathroom, or checking gear—anything to escape before Nexus tried to rope them into a full-blown celebration.
Keeyah sidled up to Marcus as the atmosphere began thinning.
"If you know what's good for you, leave while you still can," She whispered. "If the Captain realizes that people are disappearing, he'll keep whoever's left trapped in his company all night."
Taking her advice to heart, Marcus made a quiet exit.
Logan was already waiting outside, leaning against a lamp post like he'd expected Marcus to catch on eventually.
"Welcome to the Oasis Quarters," he said, offering a curt nod. "Come on."
They walked in silence for a while until they reached the soldier's lodge. Logan gave Marcus a room key and handed him a folded map of the Eastern Mansion's Palace Barracks.
"You'll need this more than you think," Logan said. "Get some rest. You start work tomorrow. Find me in the morning."
With that, he turned and vanished into the night, leaving Marcus alone. Entering the apartment Marcus scanned the area before looking for his bed.
Sitting on the edge of the bed, and brought his elbows to his knees before clasping his hands. For the first time since arriving, silence greeted him.
And in that silence, the memories came crashing back.
His thoughts drifted to the beginning of it all, the night everything twisted and started to fall apart.
…
July 18th
Federal Housing Estate.
Eawan.
The night was cold, the kind of bone-deep chill that made people wish they could stay inside forever.
In a secured villa surrounded by heavy fencing and surveillance drones, Marcus and the other officers on protection duty patrolled in silence. Their eyes swept the perimeter, then one by one, they returned to their assigned posts.
"The client's been getting death threats," Audrey said in a low voice as he checked his sidearm. He was Marcus's partner—one of the few colleagues Marcus could tolerate.
"So I heard," Marcus replied.
He wasn't close to Audrey, but he respected him. The man didn't pry into personal matters, he didn't chase after camaraderie like most of the others on the force. Where others pushed for after-hours drinks or idle small talk, Audrey remained professional—something Marcus appreciated.
He preferred spending his free time with his sisters, cooking dinner for them, and bringing home gifts when he could. And if time allowed, he'd read late into the night.
A quiet lifestyle—one he guarded fiercely.
Audrey continued, "They say she's been working undercover for a while. The operation got exposed… source unknown.
Marcus tightened the strap on his vest and glanced up at the cloudy sky. "Then she should be relocated. They should send her to another state, somewhere the threat level drops. Keeping her here is like leaving a beacon on for trouble."
He looked back at Audrey. "These syndicates aren't what they used to be. With access to MGPs, some of them are practically militarized. But even they have boundaries—they won't encroach on another syndicate's turf in another state. It's too risky for them."
"Well," Audrey replied, sliding a magazine into place, "I think the higher-ups want to keep her here for bait. Word is we're planning a raid soon—one of their lieutenants might be nearby."
Marcus exhaled slowly, expelling some cold from his body, before casting a glance at his wristwatch. 21:40
"Let's get into position."
He slid his earpiece in and tapped it on.
"This is Bravo 003. All units, report to your stations. Keep the comms active and body cams rolling. It's going to be a long, chilly night."
…
In the present, Marcus leaned back against the mattress and the memory of the night began to dissolve into darkness. Sleep crept in, uninvited but not unwelcome.
And within moments, he was gone…