The officers' bathroom was a sanctuary of luxury in the otherwise austere facility Leonid Stein ran. Team 0, weary from their grueling training the day before, stepped into the opulent space with a collective sigh of relief. They would have come as soon as they returned had they all not been bone-deep tired, so they had woken up early to be able to enjoy the benefit for as long as possible.
The room was spacious, its walls adorned with carving in the wood depicting various mythical creatures. A large heated pool dominated the center, its waters gently steaming and inviting. Massage chairs were strategically placed along the edges of the room, offering a view of the pool and the wooden planks that gave the whole thing a Scandinavian feel.
The scent of eucalyptus and lavender filled the air, calming and invigorating at the same time. James, Lauren, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Maria each found their way to a massage chair after they had finished soaking, sinking into the plush cushions with a sense of contentment while wearing a sinfully soft robe. They had been through a lot, and this moment of peace was a rare luxury.
"Getting out of the water was hard enough. I don't think I'll be able to stand up from here." James murmured as he felt the chair begin to work.
As they relaxed, the gentle hum of the massage chairs lulled them into a state of semi-consciousness. Their conversation was light, mostly revolving around the day's plans.
"I think we may be able to get some donuts if we get to the mess hall before the day's training lets out." Daniel proposed, although from the way he was melting from the massage, he didn't look particularly intent on leaving any time soon.
"I still don't believe they are as good as Agent Martinez said," Ezekiel responded, working some hydrating cream into his calloused hands.
"We won't ever know unless we manage to get them," James replied. Considering the unspoken hierarchy of the facility meant that the higher rankers almost entirely consumed the limited supply of donuts, Team 0 had never even come close to tasting one.
The conversation drifted, the team slowly sinking into their own thoughts. James found himself staring at the ceiling, wondering what made the builders of this place decide that a full spa needed to be placed in what should have been a military camp.
I'm not complaining. But it is a bit weird. I suppose that soldiers work better if they know there are luxuries available to them for good behavior. But it still seems like a waste of money. Oh well, it's here now, might as well just enjoy it.
As he relaxed, his attention was inadvertently drawn to a group of officers who had entered the room. Their presences indicated them being at least C-ranks and they were engaged in a serious discussion, their voices carrying across the water. James and his friends exchanged glances, curiosity piqued.
"The Kashmir Operation is going well." One of the officers said, a note of pride in his voice. His blonde hair was long and wild, reaching his shoulders, and he had several tattoos depicting various monsters on his chest and neck, though his face was free. "Our A and S-rank Awakeners are clearing out their bases with ease. No matter where they hide, our Scouts find them without trouble. At this rate, they might wrap up the whole thing within a few months."
"But there's more trouble brewing." Another officer responded, his tone grave. "I heard that Intelligence expects allied groups to the KLF to be looking to make moves in Europe and Asia. The situation could escalate quickly."
The team listened intently, the discussion painting a vivid picture of a world on the brink of chaos. The mention of the terrorists who had bombed New York a month ago sent a chill down James' spine. Things were becoming increasingly dangerous, and the fact that they had been so insulated from danger lately had made them forget how messy the global situation was.
The conversation among the officers grew more intense, their voices tinged with concern and determination. “I heard that we are preparing to send peacekeeping teams at the request of our allies." One officer stated as he removed his robe, lowering himself in the warm water and causing ripples to spread. He had very short hair and a wide nose. His black skin glinted with oils he must have applied before getting in. "It's a delicate situation, and the presence of our Awakeners on foreign soil could be a more long-term thing than we initially expected."
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James couldn't help but feel a surge of apprehension at the thought. The fact that American Awakeners were being used as more than just weapons to reclaim land from the dungeons, but as tools in the geopolitical arena made him remember his grandfather's words. The man had predicted months ago that they would become inevitably mixed up with other countries' affairs as the US got out of its hibernation. It was a daunting prospect, one that he and his team would have to consider carefully before they committed to any side in the coming conflicts.
I don't doubt that somehow, someway, this will come back to us. Our luck has just been too horrible, and living in New York, the epicenter of the attacks means we will have to be involved in some way. Well, we are Americans through and through, we'll manage to get by as long as we follow our principles. But are America's institutions going to of the same? I honestly can’t say.
Another officer, a woman with sharp features, tightly kept black hair, and an air of authority, whose one-piece swimsuit did little to hide her curves, chimed in. "I know from a contact I have in DC that Congress is debating whether to draft Awakeners from B-rank and up. This would include those affiliated with Guilds. It's causing a lot of unease among those in the know."
The team exchanged worried glances. The possibility of being drafted and sent to conflict zones was a distant worry for them, still in the process of reaching F-rank, but it was still a sobering thought. They had trained to fight monsters, not to become embroiled in human conflicts. James felt a weight settle in his stomach at the thought that his teacher might be drafted to fight on the other side of the world.
A fourth officer, a young man with a corded, lean build and intense eyes, added. "The situation with the KLF and their allies is more complicated than we thought. There are small, annoying cells of terrorists hiding almost everywhere at this point, and while they have almost no high ranker, they can still do a lot of damage to civilians before anyone can stop them. If they start moving in Europe and Asia, we could be looking at a much larger conflict. The peacekeeping teams might just be the beginning."
Whatever relaxation James might have felt had long since evaporated. His muscles were taut, and he was straining his SENSE to ensure he didn't miss anything. He had known, since he saw the AA HQ's lobby after the bombs started exploding, that America wouldn't be able to go back to what it was, but it still felt like a monumental shift.
In the beginning, there had only been talk of punishing the terrorists and coming back home immediately after that. It now seemed that things were spiraling faster than he had believed possible.
I'm still too naive. I can't believe I was surprised by things going to shit.
"We need to stay vigilant." The female officer said, her voice firm. "The world is looking to us to maintain stability. We can't afford to let our guard down. If we can keep things from escalating, we might avoid a long, drawn-out conflict." Even as the words left her lips, her tone was that of someone who didn't believe what she was saying.
She kept her neck stiff, away from the water so as to not wet her hair, and looked to be barely enjoying the experience. The woman had an undeniable charm, but James was too drawn to her words to waste any time considering her beauty.
If we can keep things from escalating. That "if" is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. This feels like the moment in movies where the scientists who have been warning about an impending disaster despair while people are just starting to realize they are doomed.
The fourth officer leaned forward, muscles rippling. He had piercing blue eyes, and James could see the intense inner light within, even from where he was sitting. "I still can't believe they're considering drafting Awakeners. I understand that those like us who work for the AA are fair game, but Guild members are… Well, I suppose there is already legislation defining Awakeners as not civilians, so it was only a matter of time before this happened."
"I just don't believe the Guilds will take this lying down. They will lobby like nobody has before." The first replied, sighing as he pushed off the pool's wall, drifting away from Team 0.
Slowly, the officers moved away, their topic of discussion changing to a lighter one. Once they were finally out of earshot, James turned to look at his friends to find them wearing the same worried frown he could feel himself sporting.
He broke the silence first, his voice tinged with concern and determination. "This is bigger than any of us anticipated. We knew the world was changing, but this... it's a whole new level."
Ezekiel, rubbing his temples thoughtfully, added. "It's a complicated situation. On one hand, we have a duty to protect people, but on the other, being drafted means losing much of our autonomy. It's not something that should touch us anytime soon, but for people like Miss Walker… She may get sent away. Especially if she gets to A-rank."
Daniel, his brow furrowed, offered a different perspective. "They would have to offer immense resources and wealth to avoid a civil war. That would be a huge incentive, even for people who are already rich enough. For some, it could be life-changing, especially for less privileged people. I know some popular Awakeners who send almost all their income back to their community."
Maria, who had been quiet, finally spoke up, her voice soft but firm. "But at what cost? We've trained to fight monsters, not people. There's a moral line that's hard to cross, as we all know very well."
James fell into a contemplative silence at that. He had been the one to kill a man, and while he had made peace with the necessity of the action, James couldn't honestly say he was unaffected by what he had done. The thought of possibly taking part in a larger conflict… He didn't like it.
Looking around at his teammates, James saw a reflection of his own concerns in their eyes. "The only thing we can do right now is to continue training, to get stronger. We might not have a choice in the future, but for now, we can prepare ourselves for whatever comes our way."
Lauren nodded in agreement. "You're right, James. And that means taking up Mr. Julian's offer to return to B-rank dungeons. I kind of hate him for what he put us through, but if there is anything that can guarantee a better rank-up, it's that."
They collectively agreed to that, since it wasn't like they had any other option. The privilege of choice was one left to the powerful, after all, and Team 0, for all their impressive growth and dedication, was far from that.
Still, they were taking a critical step toward that goal, which would have to be enough, at least for the moment.