[LOCATION: Ares Fleet Formation - Main Briefing Room]
[LOCAL TIME: 06:42 Fleet Standard]
[AMBIENT TEMPERATURE: 24°C | Emergency Lighting: Active]
Noah returned to the briefing room expecting to find Kelvin and Lyra deep in calculations, probably arguing over some obscure mathematical principle while surrounded by star charts and holographic displays. Instead, he walked into a scene that made his blood freeze.
Kelvin sat motionless in his chair, shadow tendrils wrapped around his torso and arms like living restraints. His eyes were completely black—the same inhuman darkness they'd seen in the suicide operatives. But he was breathing, conscious, just... empty.
Lyra stood behind him, one hand resting casually on Kelvin's shoulder, her own eyes matching that same terrible blackness.
"Hello, Noah," she said pleasantly, as if they were meeting for lunch instead of a standoff. "Perfect timing."
Noah's hand moved instinctively folded into a fist, but Lyra's smile sharpened.
