With his feet kicked up on the tailgate and a straw hat he had ‘acquired’ covering his eyes, Elijah lounged in the back of the convoy, enjoying a well-deserved nap. The bumps and jolts from the ox-like creature pulling the cart were far from comfortable, but he’d like to think he found his slice of comfort.

On his chest, Yana mirrored his position as her tiny head was propped up on his chin. The little fairy seemed to find his facial hair the perfect pillow, with her flickering fiery hair seemingly just gently rubbing against her Apostle.

Around them, the world was a tapestry of wonder and oddity. The landscape seemed to stretch out in every direction, with vast expanses of rolling hills and strange towering rock formations that seemed to bend and curl in odd directions. But the shapes weren’t the only things interesting about the geology around them. Colors of almost every shade seemed to pop out at them in a way that said as if someone had turned up the saturation on reality itself.

It all seemed too vivid to be real.

The grass beneath the cart's wheels was a shade of green that seemed to pulsate with life. It was a color that no one in the ODA had seen before as it weaved with patches of flowers with petals shimmering in hues of purple, blue, and a yellow so bright it was almost impossible not to look at.

In the distance, trees, unlike any on Earth, dotted the landscape. Some were massive, their trunks thicker than a dozen redwoods, with leaves that shimmered like polished silver. Others were tall and spindly, their branches twisting and curling in intricate patterns that seemed to defy what most knew about nature. And then there were the ones that looked like giant crystal formations, their translucent leaves tinkling softly in the breeze.

“Yo, we’re almost there.” Bennett nudged Elijah with his boot, causing both the medic and his fairy to stir at the same time.

Almost as if entirely in sync, Elijah and Yana mirrored the same stretch, pushing their arms over their heads while twisting their bodies. “Mmm… yep…” the medic groaned groggily as he slowly sat up.

Sucking in a deep breath, Elijah once again noted that the air itself was different here. It was crisp and clean, with a faint hint of something sweet, like a mix of vanilla and cinnamon. Each breath felt invigorating as if the very atmosphere was infused with a subtle energy that rejuvenated the body and calmed the mind.

As a matter of fact, he couldn't help but notice a strange sensation spreading through his body. It was subtle, like a faint tingling that started at the tip of his skin and slowly crept inward, but it was there… Just barely.

After years as a Special Forces soldier, Elijah had always had some stiffness or soreness from all the abuse he had put his body through. But now he felt some invisible weight had been lifted from his joints like squeaky door hinges getting a few sprays of WD40. It wasn't a dramatic change but rather a gentle shift, like a knot being loosened in a muscle he didn't even know was tense.

With a shake of his head, Elijah dispelled the strange sensation creeping over him. As intriguing as it was, he knew he didn't have the luxury of dwelling on it now. There was a lot of work to be done and so little time. The mysteries of this new world and the sensations he was feeling were going to have to wait.

A yawn left Yana’s mouth as she fluttered around Elijah for a few moments before settling on his shoulder. The little fairy rubbed her eyes, blinking in the warm light of the setting sun. as she peered around at the scene around here. “We should go around and try all their food!”

Bennett lazily looked off in the distance when he shifted his gaze to the little fairy. For a few moments, he stared at her intently, trying to gauge whether she was being ridiculous again or actually serious for once. Then, with a slow nod, he spoke. "I second that idea."

His words were met with a sudden, giant yawn from the front of the cart. Azeline, sitting in the cab, was in the middle of her own luxurious stretch. Her arms extended above her head as she leaned back far enough that her head was hanging upside down over the wall of the cab.

From this inverted position, she looked at the boys, a playful grin on her face. "Well, I know a few safe places where we can crash and get some food," she said, throwing one leg over the other and letting it bounce up and down. "My Tasker has an in with one of the taverns and their madam."

Elijah raised an eyebrow, intrigued by this new information. "Tasker?" he asked, curiosity coloring his tone. “Is that like a boss or something? I thought freelancers didn’t have bosses."

“We don’t.” Azeline laughed, the sound light and carefree despite her upside-down position. "At least not a boss in the traditional sense," she clarified. "Taskers are more like handlers, people who set up jobs, give us info, and take a cut of the profits."

She then shifted to a little more comfortable position, slumping further into her seat. “Taskers come in all kinds of flavors, but mine dabbles more on the illicit side of the fence.” Azeline continued. "She's got connections all over, including in this town, and a madam of one of the taverns owes us, so we should be able to get a good deal on rooms and meals."

As Azeline discussed the details of their potential lodgings, Coleman, who had been walking alongside the cart, decided to chime in. He quickened his pace slightly to catch up to the others, his face etched with concern.

"Woah, woah, woah, woah." he interjected in a low, but urgent voice. "Let’s not be so casual about this, alright?."

Elijah and Bennett turned to look at him, their expressions curious. Azeline, still lounging in the cab, cocked her head to listen.

"I'm not saying we can’t trust our local, but…" Coleman continued looking to Azeline, who narrowed her eyes at him, "We're about to enter a town with a lot of unknowns."

He looked to Azeline, putting up placating hands. "I’m not saying I don’t trust you, but can we really trust anyone in this town? I mean, what do we actually know? And this madam, what's her deal? Is she just a tavern owner, or is there more to it?"

Azeline sat up a little straighter and turned her body to meet Coleman’s gaze. "I see where you’re coming from," she replied in an even tone. "But you have to understand, in my line of work, trust is a relative thing. I trust people, including my Tasker, as much as I can trust anyone in this business. They've never steered me wrong before."

She shrugged, a small smile playing on her lips. "As for the madam, well, let's just say her business extends beyond just running a tavern. But that's part of why she's so well-connected. She hears things and knows things. She's a valuable resource."

Coleman frowned, not entirely satisfied with this answer. "How do we know she won't sell us out? If she's got her fingers in so many pies, who's to say one of those pies isn't working against us?"

Elijah, who had been listening intently, spoke up. "Coleman, this is literally the point of going in with a local," he said as he moved to cover up any technology or weapons that may have been poking through. "No matter what, we're going to be exposing ourselves."\

The medic’s words seemed to strike a chord with Coleman, but the team leader still looked uncertain. He opened his mouth to respond, but Elijah continued before he could get a word in. "Look, I get it," Elijah said, his tone understanding but firm. "There are risks. Big ones. But that's part of the job, isn't it? We can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs."

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“ This isn't breakfast, Eli.” Coleman frowned, his brow furrowing. "I don’t know about you, but I’m not particularly keen on being fried by Harry Potter or the Wicked Witch of the West, so we can't just go in half-cocked and hope for the best."

A sigh left Elijah’s mouth as his hand ran through his hair. "I'm not saying we go in blind and know you don’t like it. However, sometimes, you've just got to go with the flow and see where the current takes you.” He explained his position as he turned toward the slowly approaching town. “The potential payoff in intel, in subverting the local power structures... it's too big to pass up."

Coleman's frustration was evident on his face. He looked to Bennett and Azeline, hoping for some backup, but found only thoughtful expressions. They seemed to be considering Elijah's words, weighing the risks and rewards in their minds. "I don't like it," he responded as he made a chopping motion with his hand to drive the point home. "The unknowns, the potential for things to go sideways... That’s not how I like to operate."

“Cole, this type of shit is the reality of our situation. We're in a new world, playing by new rules. We have to adapt and take some chances, or opportunities will slip by." He paused, letting his words sink in. Then, Elijah looked to Azeline and Bennett before speaking again. "But if you're really not comfortable with it if you think the risks outweigh the potential benefits... I can go in alone. I’ve done solo Recces by myself plenty of times. I can handle it."

A hint of alarm flashed across Coleman’s face as his eyes. "What!? No!" He shook his head vehemently. "There's no way in hell I'm sending ANYONE in alone, Eli. Especially not you."

Elijah furrowed his brow and raised his hands in bewilderment.” What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“You know damn well what I mean,” Coleman replied, pointing a knife hand at his medic. “You're a damn good operator—one of the best. But you're also... unpredictable. A wildcard. Sending you in alone, with no backup, no oversight... it's a gamble I'm not willing to take."

Irritation crept into Elijah’s voice as he recoiled at the accusation. “What the fuck? It’s not like I’m going to go all murder hobo and start merking people like it's going out of fashion!”

"That's not the point," Coleman countered, his tone growing more serious. "I know you’re not, but when you're on your own, you tend to... improvise. To take risks, make judgment calls that might not always align with the mission parameters."

He held up a hand, forestalling the argument he could see brewing in Elijah's eyes. "I'm not saying it's always a bad thing. Your instincts and adaptability have gotten us much farther than I’d ever hoped, but in a situation like this, with so many unknowns... I need to know that everyone is on the same page, following the same playbook…

“And you tend to throw the playbook at the wall at your earliest convenience." Coleman finished, narrowing his eyes.

A sour look flashed across Elijah's face as Coleman's words sank in. He leaned back, rolling his eyes in a display of frustration. As much as he hated to admit it, Coleman had a point. Elijah's methods could be unorthodox. His approach to problems was often unconventional. It was part of what made him effective, but it also made him a liability in the eyes of the US Army.

But that didn't mean he had to like it.

Elijah knew that his team leader was a stickler for rules and procedures that minimized risk as the cost of effect. It was a Modus operandi that stood directly opposite Elijah's own, trending towards mitigating risk, not avoiding it altogether. The risk was an omnipotent force that would always be an issue regardless of what one did. Still, he subscribed to the philosophy he had learned from the Marines whenever he worked with them: be aggressive enough, quickly enough, and push opportunities when they arose.

However, after years of conflict with his command, Elijah finally learned when it was best just to shut up and take a back seat. To his chagrin, the medic wasn't about to voice these thoughts to Coleman. Not now, not when they were just about to enter a town with its myriad of potential threats and opportunities, and especially not when the team leader was antsy. The last thing he needed was ANOTHER incident on the field, where he got kicked out altogether.

So, instead, Elijah bit his tongue. He swallowed his objections and nodded. "Alright, fine," he replied in a carefully neutral tone. "A solo Recce is out of the question. What do you suggest other than trusting our local?"

Coleman took a deep breath, his brow furrowed in thought. He turned to Azeline, who had been quietly observing the exchange. "Alright, Azeline," he said, his tone serious but not unkind. "You're our local expert here. What can you tell us about the town's layout and the key players we need to be aware of?"

Azeline let out an exasperated sigh as she started to tie her long, blonde hair into a bun. "Guys, I already told you the layout of the town and most of what I know about it in general," she said, her tone a mix of patience and mild annoyance.

Nevertheless, she repeated the information for the benefit of the group. "The town is divided into several districts. The central district is where most of the trade and commerce happens and where you'll find the more upscale establishments, including the tavern my Tasker has connections with. The outer districts are more residential, but they're also where you'll find the seedier elements - thieves' dens, black markets, that sort of thing."

She paused, making sure everyone was following before continuing. "Now, as for who's in control... officially, it's the Empire. They have a presence here, but it's not as heavy as in some of the larger cities. Glennsworth is far enough away from Aldenshore that it's become a sort of mini-capital for smugglers."

The Shieldmaiden waver her hand nonchalantly and spoke as if this was common knowledge. "The real power in Glennsworth lies with the various underground gangs and organizations. They use the town as a staging area for smuggling operations, taking advantage of its location on the Idylls River."

"I don’t really have anything more than that, honestly.” She shrugged as a hint of an apology echoed in her voice. “I haven't spent much time in Glennsworth myself. Smuggling isn't really my thing - I'm more the muscle, the enforcer type. But this is what I've gathered from my Tasker and other freelancers that did jobs there.”

Coleman rubbed his face, grumbling under his breath as he tried to process this information and formulate a plan. The situation was more complex than he had initially thought, with multiple factions to consider and a delicate power balance to navigate.

After a moment, he spoke. "Okay, here's what we'll do. We'll split into two cells. The first group will enter the town and secure lodging at the tavern Azeline mentioned. They'll start making nice with the locals and gathering intel. The second group will come in next, posing as merchants. They'll stage near the gates if we need to make a quick exfil."

But before he could continue, Elijah interjected. "Why don't we make it three cells?" he suggested, his tone thoughtful. "Two teams of three, one team of six…–” The medic stopped mid-sentence, realizing they were short one man. “Well, five, since Silva is all messed up.

His hand waved dismissively as he continued to put out his plan. “The first team makes entry and secures the tavern. The second team comes in as merchants and try to source secondary lodging. And the third team acts as a quick reaction force and posture if anything goes to shit?" Elijah lazily turned to Coleman and saw he was warming up to the idea."We decentralize our operations. That way, I get what I want, and if one team gets compromised, the others can still function. We don't all go down in one fell swoop."

Coleman opened his mouth, ready to dismiss Elijah's proposal outright out of habit. But he paused, his mouth still open, as the gears in his mind started to turn. A few moments of silence passed as he sucked in a deep breath, his forehead creasing as he furrowed his brows in contemplation.

As much as he hated to admit it, it was... a sound plan. Despite Elijah's somewhat unhinged nature, the man was a damn good strategist. His tactical mind was sharp, always looking for angles and contingencies.

Finally, Coleman spoke in a reluctant but approving tone. "Alright, we'll go with three cells." He said, looking around at the group. "Here's how we'll divide it up. Bennet, Elijah, and I will be part of Team One. Kwon takes Team Two. Lister will be in charge of the QRF."

He then looked at Azeline and gave her a complicated look. The elf woman seemed to mesh well with Elijah, and in Coleman’s opinion, that was somewhat problematic."Azeline, are you willing to stay with the caravan? It might go a long way to–"

"No," Azeline cut off the human in a flat, deadpan tone. A about of silence lingered between the two before she jerked her thumb toward Elijah. "I'm going with him." She said definitively.

Elijah couldn't help but huff in amusement at Azeline's response. The sound caused Coleman to shoot him an icy glare, and in return, the medic threw up his arms and made a face that said he didn’t do anything and remained silent.

Turning attention back to Azeline Coleman, she looked to argue further, but the woman shot him with her own glare as her lip curled up into a snarl. Realizing it was best to let sleeping dogs lie and take what he could get, he shook his head and relented. "Alright," he said with a sigh. "Azeline's with Team One, then."

“Okay then…” Coleman grumbled before turning towards the Australian’s vehicles and operators who were escorting them. "I guess I’ll go and see if our Aussie friends are interested in helping us enter the town… We’re gonna need more bodies if shit goes south." He finished before turning around and walking towards the SASR LRPVs.