The hall buzzed with the sound of laughter and clinking dishes as the celebratory mood reached its peak. The Halcyon forces, their initial hesitance forgotten, were now fully immersed in the festivities. Even Commander Elira seemed more relaxed, sipping tea and occasionally engaging with Clareo's HQ personnel.

Team Unknown, seated at their own table, were notably quieter but no less engaged. Fon was flicking grapes at Riggs, who was pretending not to notice, while Bo had taken it upon himself to "sample" every dessert available. Ember, ever the watchful one, leaned back in his chair, his arms folded as he observed the room. Val sat silently, occasionally glancing toward the exit, his fingers tapping a rhythmic pattern on the table.

Then came the knock.

A young HQ operator peeked into the hall, his eyes darting nervously as he scanned the crowd. Spotting Dr. Lewis near the doorway, the operator waved him over urgently.

Dr. Lewis, already on edge from the team's antics, sighed as he excused himself and approached the operator. Their conversation was conducted in hushed tones, the faint murmurs drowned out by the lively noise in the hall.

The operator handed Dr. Lewis a sealed document, his voice barely audible. "It's from the top brass, sir. They said it's urgent."

Dr. Lewis's eyes scanned the contents of the document, his expression darkening with every line. With a curt nod to the operator, he dismissed him and turned toward Team Unknown's table. His stride was brisk but controlled, his posture betraying the weight of whatever news he carried.

Dr. Lewis stopped at the edge of the team's table, his voice low to avoid drawing attention from the guests. "Umbra," he began, addressing Val directly.

The table's casual atmosphere shifted instantly, everyone's attention snapping to Dr. Lewis. Ember straightened in his seat, his sharp gaze locking onto the doctor.

"What's the directive?" Val asked, his voice calm but tinged with weariness.

Dr. Lewis placed the document on the table, tapping it with two fingers. "The top brass has issued new orders. Effective immediately, you're being assigned more solo missions—classified, high-priority operations. And as of right now, they've already assigned one to you."

A heavy silence fell over the table. Ember's hand curled into a fist, his jaw tightening as he fought back the urge to speak. Fon's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a frown. Riggs let out a low whistle, shaking his head, while Bo muttered something under his breath that sounded suspiciously like, "Figures."

Val sighed, leaning back in his chair. Without a word, he pressed a hidden button on the side of his mask, the lower half snapping into place to fully conceal his face. The faint glow of his HUD flickered to life as he rose from his seat.

Dr. Lewis stepped back, glancing at the Halcyon forces, who were thankfully too engrossed in their celebration to notice the quiet exchange.

Turning back to the team, he spoke softly, his tone edged with apology. "I didn't want to spoil the night for our guests, but this can't wait. The mission parameters are waiting for you in the briefing room."

Val nodded, his movements precise as he turned to follow Dr. Lewis.

Before they could leave the hall, a voice called out, hesitant but firm.

"Sir, wait!"

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Commander Elira had left her seat, her steps quick as she jogged to catch up with Dr. Lewis and Val. Her cheeks were slightly flushed, whether from the tea or embarrassment, and she hesitated for a moment before continuing.

"I…" she began, clearing her throat. "I was wondering if… if I could observe the mission. I mean, as a learning experience."

Val paused in the hallway, turning his head slightly to glance at her. His arms crossed, his stance exuding calm authority.

Dr. Lewis raised an eyebrow, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism. "Observe?"

Commander Elira nodded, her military demeanor returning. "After experiencing how your team operates during the training and the mission, I believe observing Umbra in action could provide valuable insights for my team. It's rare to see someone of his caliber in the field."

Before Dr. Lewis could respond, a deep voice rumbled from behind Commander Elira.

"And why," Ember asked, his tone dry and laced with subtle amusement, "would you want to observe, Commander?"

Commander Elira stiffened, glancing over her shoulder to see Ember looming behind her. His arms were folded, and his mask gave him an imposing presence.

"I…" she started, clearly caught off guard.

Ember tilted his head slightly, his tone taking on a teasing edge. "Surely it's not because you've become a fan, Commander?"

Commander Elira's cheeks darkened noticeably, and she cleared her throat again, attempting to regain her composure. "It's purely professional curiosity, I assure you."

Val, still leaning against the wall, let out a soft chuckle, his masked visage making the sound all the more unsettling. "Lux, you're scaring her."

Ember shrugged, his posture relaxing slightly. "Just making sure she's serious."

Dr. Lewis held up a hand, his voice cutting through the banter. "Enough. If Commander Elira wants to observe, she'll need clearance from the top brass. I'll handle that. Umbra, get to the briefing room and prep for deployment."

Val pushed off the wall, nodding once before turning and disappearing down the hallway. Ember watched him go, his expression unreadable before he turned back to Commander Elira.

"You're lucky he's in a good mood," Ember said, his voice dropping to a quieter tone. "Just… don't get in his way."

Commander Elira met his gaze, her resolve hardening. "I wouldn't dream of it."

As Val and Dr. Lewis moved through HQ, the energy in the hall shifted. Val's presence, even in passing, commanded a respect that bordered on reverence. The staff moved out of his way instinctively, their eyes lingering on the black pin glinting faintly on his cloak.

Dr. Lewis broke the silence, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You know, Val, it's almost poetic. Ember used to be the one saddled with endless missions like this. Now it's you."

Val's pace didn't falter, but he glanced sideways at Dr. Lewis. "Should I feel honored or insulted?"

"Neither," Dr. Lewis quipped, his tone light but teasing. "Just be grateful the top brass hasn't decided to give you a punch card for every mission completed. You'd have filled one already."

Val let out a soft chuckle, his voice dry. "Don't tempt them, Doc. They'd probably make it a 'Complete 10 missions, get a vacation day free' deal."

Dr. Lewis barked a short laugh. "With how things are going, they'd probably just offer you an extra ration pack instead."

As they neared the briefing room, Dr. Lewis's expression turned mock-serious. "Listen, though. Don't make a habit of going radio silent out there, alright? We've had enough screaming around HQ to last a lifetime. I don't want another day of Ember reenacting a banshee attack because he can't reach you."

Val stopped in his tracks, turning to face Dr. Lewis. Though his mask obscured his expression, the tilt of his head and the faint humor in his tone were unmistakable. "You're more worried about HQ's sanity than my safety?"

"Safety?" Dr. Lewis scoffed, waving a hand dismissively. "You're Valens Bellator. You'll survive. I, on the other hand, won't survive Ember storming in here again. My hearing is still recovering from the last time."

Val crossed his arms, leaning casually against the wall. "You do realize Ember's more bark than bite, right?"

Dr. Lewis snorted, tapping his clipboard against his palm. "Tell that to the door he kicked off its hinges last time you went quiet. You keep pulling stunts like that, and HQ might not have any furniture left."

Val shook his head, the faintest hint of amusement escaping in a chuckle. "Fine. No radio silence. But if HQ's furniture budget runs dry, I'm blaming you for not upgrading the doors."

Dr. Lewis rolled his eyes, motioning toward the briefing room. "Get in there, smart ass. The sooner you leave, the sooner I get some peace and quiet."

Val pushed off the wall, striding toward the door with a slight wave of his hand. "Don't miss me too much, Doc."

Dr. Lewis smirked as the door slid shut behind Val. "Not a chance," he muttered, shaking his head as he turned back toward HQ's bustling corridors.