After finishing a standard day of combat training and tactical debriefing, Asuka felt as though her nerves were still soaked in the thick, characteristic sensation of LCL fluid, leaving her with a sense of mental exhaustion.
The corridors of the Nexum base always looked the same—cold metallic panels, constant illumination, and air filled with the smell of machine oil, ozone, and a hint of metallic dust that persisted even after circulating through the filtration systems. She walked toward her living quarters, her mind subconsciously replaying several imperfect maneuver transitions from the training session.
At a cross-corridor connecting the living area and the training zone, she crossed paths with a group of people. It was Maine's squad.
They had clearly just finished a mission or training session of their own, carrying the scent of dust from outdoor activities, which differed slightly from the pure "mechanical feel" of the base's permanent personnel. The tall Maine walked in front, with Dorio at his side, followed by a chirping Rebecca who was gesturing wildly about something. Pilar and Falco followed quietly. David and Lucy were absent, likely having gone directly to the Iron Hounds' maintenance area.
Both sides stopped simultaneously.
Asuka had heard of this team recruited by Dr. Osiris from another world similar to Night City. She knew they were a primary force for dimensional exploration, but she had had little contact with them. Maine's squad was equally curious about this red-haired girl with the distinct personality who could pilot a massive crimson giant.
"Yo," Asuka greeted first, breaking the momentary silence. Her attitude wasn't warm, but it was polite.
"Training over?" Maine responded steadily. His massive, modified body carried an inherent sense of pressure even when he was relaxed.
"Yeah, just finished. You guys are—"
"Just completed an external environment adaptability patrol," Dorio added. Her voice was softer than Maine's but possessed the directness of a soldier.
At that moment, Rebecca bounced forward. Her small frame and energetic demeanor felt out of place in these surroundings. She looked up at Asuka, her eyes sparkling. "Hey! You're Asuka, the one who pilots that big red thing, right? That's so cool! We saw your training on the observation screens before. You're amazing!"
Asuka took the blunt praise well, her lips curling upward slightly. "Hmph, naturally."
Rebecca seemed completely oblivious to Asuka's slight arrogance and continued enthusiastically, "We're about to go to Maine's room to grab some food and relax. We've got good stuff brought over from Night City! The base's rationed meals are barely fit for humans, right? Want to join us?"
The invitation was unexpected. Asuka looked at Maine and Dorio; they didn't seem to object. Life on Nexum was indeed dull, especially regarding food—efficient nutritional pastes and synthetic foods sustained life but tasted like wax. She felt a spark of interest in the "good stuff from Night City" Rebecca mentioned. Furthermore, she was genuinely curious about this group of explorers who could travel between worlds.
After a slight hesitation, her boredom with the monotonous life and desire for something new won out.
"Fine," she nodded, then thought of something. "Just me? What about Shinji and Rei—"
"Let's call them along!" Rebecca said with easy familiarity. "The more, the merrier!"
A few moments later, not only Asuka but also a bewildered Shinji—dragged along by Asuka—and the ever-silent Rei, who seemed to simply follow Shinji, appeared in the larger common room and kitchenette used by Maine's squad.
The room was wider than a standard living pod and bore traces of personal life; a somewhat crude digital painting of the Night City skyline even hung on the wall. Rebecca and Dorio had already hauled several crates out of a low-temperature storage bin labeled "Night City Supplies."
When the lids were opened, revealing not the silver-gray packaging of standard base rations but colorful cans of beer, sparkling water, and vacuum-sealed snacks printed with various Night City brand logos, Asuka's eyes visibly brightened.
"Wow! Is this—real beer?" She picked up a chilled can sprayed with dazzling patterns and text she didn't recognize, but the familiar industrial packaging style instantly reminded her of home.
"Of course! And try this—Haywood's specialty grilled sausages. A hundred times better than that 'scientific sludge' you guys eat!" Rebecca enthusiastically handed over a sizzling, fragrant sausage cooked on a portable heater.
Shinji took a small, cut piece hesitantly and took a bite. His face immediately showed surprise as the long-lost, rich flavors of "actual food" exploded in his mouth. Rei quietly held a cup of non-alcoholic synthetic juice, taking small sips, her red eyes calmly observing the surroundings.
Asuka took a large, bold gulp of beer. The cold, slightly bitter liquid slid down her throat, followed by a malty aftertaste. She sighed in satisfaction. "Ha—! Saved! The food here is a literal torture for the taste buds!"
This simple meal—with its distinctly Night City style: crude, direct, and heavily flavored—instantly bridged the gap between the two groups. Around the food and drinks, the previous layer of awkward distance seemed to dissolve. The members of Maine's squad relaxed, standing or sitting with their beers and snacks.
"So," Asuka picked up a crispy fried snack that seemed to be made from some deep-sea fish, "you guys go to different worlds often? Dimensional exploration, was it?"
Maine nodded, his massive frame sitting on a custom metal chair like a small mountain. "Mmh. That's our main mission."
"In four years, we went back to Night City once for a long vacation. After that, we explored three new worlds," Dorio added, pouring herself a glass of dark red wine.
"Three new worlds?" Shinji couldn't help but ask softly, his face filled with curiosity. Even Rei tilted her head slightly to listen.
Pilar, fiddling with an electronic puzzle toy using his flexible mechanical limbs, chimed in, "Two of them are still in the preliminary exploration stage. Things are complicated there, nothing much to say yet." He shrugged, clearly unwilling or unable to discuss certain details.
Falco took over, his voice carrying the calmness of someone who had weathered many storms. "The third world... we just finished the primary exploration mission. It was a... very interesting place, and quite moving."
Rebecca immediately got excited, waving half a grilled sausage. "Yes, yes, yes! That place called 'Elysium'! It was unbelievable! Let me tell you, it was really—"
The attention of Asuka, Shinji, and even Rei was drawn in. A world described this way by Maine's squad piqued their intense interest. Nexum, Korona VII, Veldan III—the parts of this universe they had seen were already bizarre enough. What kind of sight would those completely different dimensions mentioned by Maine's squad be?
The atmosphere of the gathering grew more enthusiastic as the conversation turned toward the "Elysium" trip Maine's squad had just concluded.