As the ship drew closer, Helios Space Station grew beyond the window like a city suspended in the void — a colossal structure of metal and light, with dozens of vessels docked at its bays and illuminated corridors stretching in every direction.
Zugiy stared in silence. It was bigger than he'd imagined. Not that he'd admit that to anyone.
"Attention, recruits. Approaching Helios Space Station," Instructor Kira announced over the comm, her voice cutting through the silence. "Prepare for disembarkation."
Lola was already at the controls, sensors primed, adjusting the trajectory with a seriousness that contrasted with her usual demeanor. She maneuvered the Astral Hawk into the designated bay with almost arrogant precision, and the ship slotted into the hangar without a single jolt.
"Perfect landing," Lola declared, a smug smile in her voice. "You may applaud. I'll accept."
Victor was on his feet before the ship had even stabilized, his green eyes sweeping the structure with impatient energy.
"Finally! Let's see what this place has to offer."
"Sit down, hotshot," Melissa said, without even looking up. "The ship hasn't stopped yet."
"Of course it's stopped," Victor grumbled, already moving.
Melissa waited a second. With a soft click, the ship's locking systems engaged.
"Now it's stopped," she said, a teasing tone in her voice. "You can go."
The ship's door opened with a soft hiss. The station's air flowed in — drier, with a metallic, sterile smell. The recruits began to rise, pulling luggage from the compartments.
Zugiy stood still for a moment, watching the tangle of bags and elbows. Then, without a word, he extended his hand slightly. The group's bags began to move on their own, rising smoothly and arranging themselves around him like satellites.
Victor stopped in the middle of the aisle.
"Wait a minute." He turned to Zugiy, his expression somewhere between astonishment and offense. "You... control gravity? Why the hell didn't you say anything?"
Ling, who was watching with a slight smile, answered before Zugiy had the chance.
"We barely exchanged two words the whole trip. Give him some time to open up," Ling said, with amused calm.
Zugiy just shrugged.
"Yeah. What he said."
Outside, the hangar was immense — high as a stadium, full of ships, technicians, and cargo robots moving in an organized ballet. The noise was constant, but not chaotic.
"Welcome to Helios Space Station," said Instructor Kira, facing the group as they descended the ramp. "This will be your home during training. Follow me."
They followed her through the corridors, past laboratories with glass walls, training areas, and immense windows looking out into the blackness of space. Zugiy walked at the rear, the bags still floating around him, his eyes absorbing every detail.
Melissa stopped for a second in front of a panoramic window.
"Wow... I never thought I'd be in a place like this," she said, more to herself than to anyone.
Victor walked past her without stopping, though his gaze also lingered a second longer on the view.
"We're here to train, not to sightsee. Gonna get distracted by every little thing?"
Melissa caught up to him, not letting it slide.
"You can do both, you idiot. Try using more than one part of your brain at a time."
At the disembarkation area, Instructor Kira positioned herself in front of a row of lockers.
"Leave your luggage and collect your uniforms. From now on, you represent the Special Forces. Behave accordingly."
Zugiy set the bags down on the floor carefully, gradually reducing the force.
Ling stopped beside him.
"Thanks for that, Zugiy. That was a good help."
Zugiy nodded.
"No problem."
The quarters were functional: beds, lockers, and a common room with a panoramic window. It was there that the argument started.
Victor didn't even sit down. He tossed the question into the air with the certainty of someone who already considered himself elected.
"So, who's going to be the leader? Because, looking at it, I think the choice is obvious."
Melissa let out a short, weary laugh.
"You? Leader? Oh, spare me. I'm not taking orders from a brute."
Victor shot back, his jaw tight:
"And why not? Who here has more of a leader's presence than me?"
"Leader's presence?" Melissa repeated, sarcastic. "Talking loud isn't leading, you moron."
Victor crossed his arms.
"I've got more initiative than anyone here."
Melissa gestured, exaggerating.
"Oh, how amazing! 'Look at me, I have initiative!'" she mimicked, in a gruff voice. Then she crossed her arms too. "I don't expect much from you."
Ling, who until then had only been watching, stepped in. His voice wasn't loud, but it cut through the tension.
"That's enough." He looked from one to the other. "We're not getting anywhere like this. No one here is going to boss anyone around without the group agreeing. If you want, we can vote. But honestly? We're in training. We don't even need a leader right now."
Victor fell silent, his chin still raised in defiance.
Melissa averted her gaze — which, for her, was almost a white flag.
"Whatever. Do what you want," she said, shrugging. "I'm going to sort out my things." And she left.
"So that's how it stands for now," Ling said, without irony. "We'll sort it out later."
Victor rolled his eyes, but with less anger.
"Fine. But at the first serious mistake, I'm calling it." He strode out.
Ling ran a hand through his hair, already foreseeing the headache that group was going to give him.