The girls walked through the mall, ice-cream cones in hand, as they waited for their taxi to arrive.

"This ice-cream is delish!" Trixie said.

Uni nodded enthusiastically, licking her cone with relish. "It really is. That brain freeze I got was worth it."

Piper chuckled, admiring the unique flavor of her ice-cream. "This is definitely not something you find in the states. It's like a perfect blend of sweet and flavorful.”

The taxi finally arrived, and the girls got in, continuing their conversation.

Uni was still licking her ice-cream, savoring every last bit. "I have to say, this has been the best day. Great food, great company, and now great ice-cream."

Trixie nodded, clearly enjoying the sugar rush. "Agreed. And now we have a beach to conquer. We're really doing this vacation right.”

Piper chimed in, feeling the excitement of the day. "I can't wait to hit the sand. The beach is gonna be the perfect end to this day. I feel like a different person on vacation."

Uni agreed again, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Vacation is the best, isn't it? We're completely carefree, with nothing to worry about but having the time of our lives.”

Trixie smiled, her head leaning against the window. "Exactly. We're creating memories, and those are priceless."

Piper nodded, her gaze drifting out the window at the passing scenery. "Vacation vibes are different. The beach awaits. Can't wait to soak up the sun and feel that cool ocean breeze.”

Uni nodded, her mouth slightly sticky from the ice-cream. "And the smell! There's nothing like the smell of salty sea air. It just...rejuvenates you, you know?”

Trixie laughed, seeing a small ice-cream stain on Uni's chin. "Uni, you've got a bit of ice-cream there."

Uni touched her chin, realizing the mess. "Oh, whoops. Seems like I was too enthusiastic with my licking."

Piper chuckled, reaching up and lightly wiping the stain off with her fingertips.

Uni smiled, appreciating the help despite feeling slightly embarrassed. "Thanks, Piper. Always looking out for me."

Piper smirked, gently patting Uni's cheek. "Of course, someone has to keep you in check.”

Just then, Trixie received a call from none other than her boss, Sarolta. Of course, it was only a matter of time. Being out of the country with Piper in tow, with Piper being disconnected from the Meteor Corp HQ's supercomputer all the while. Time for Trixie to give some answers.

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Trixie sighed, not surprised but still annoyed by the timing of the call. "It's my boss. Give me a sec, I'll put her on speaker. Hi, Sarolta.”

Back at Meteor HQ, Sarolta's hologram appeared on the video call, a stern look on her face.

"Trixxie, I've been trying to reach you for hours. Don't tell me you're still in Yushalia?”

Trixie rolled her eyes, knowing the lecture was coming.

"Yes, I'm still in Yushalia. We're on vacation, remember? We're not glued to our work station 24/7, you know?”

Sarolta's holographic figure crossed her arms, clearly not pleased with the response. "I'm aware of your little 'vacation,' Trixie, but I still expect a minimum level of professionalism. You're supposed to keep me updated on your plans and activities while you're there.”

Trixie sighed, rubbing her forehead in frustration. "I get that, but I'm not your personal secretary. This is supposed to be a break from work, remember? I can't be at your beck and call 24/7.”

Sarolta's holographic figure stood firm, not backing down. "You're not just a regular employee, Trixie. You're a member of the Meteor Corp. You have responsibilities to uphold, even when you're on 'vacation.’”

Trixie rolled her eyes again, her patience wearing thin. "Yeah, yeah, I know I have responsibilities. But can't I have a little fun too? I'm still here, aren't I? I'm still doing what I need to do. Just because I'm not glued to my phone updating you every five seconds doesn't mean I'm being unprofessional.”

Sarolta let out a huff, clearly not amused by Trixie's attitude. "Professionalism means keeping your superiors informed, regardless of where you are. It's about maintaining a level of trust and clarity. Your little 'fun' is secondary to the mission and the corporation. Piper is disconnected from our Heracles Supercomputer, and she needs to be reconnected ASAP. You are to return with her immediately.”

Trixie's frustration boiled over at this point, her voice rising slightly. "Are you kidding me? We're finally relaxing and enjoying ourselves, and you want to cut it short just because I haven't been updating you every second of the day? And Piper's fine, she's enjoying her vacation too.”

Sarolta's hologram remained stern, seemingly unphased by Trixie's outburst. "Lower your tone. I understand your desire for relaxation, but your responsibilities to the Meteor Corp take priority over your personal desires. You're not just any civilian taking a holiday, you're a member of our team, and your commitment needs to be reflected accordingly. Bring Piper back, reconnect her to the HQ, and keep me updated on your return plans. Understood?”

Trixie's jaw clenched as she replied through gritted teeth, "Yeah, understood. We'll head back. This vacation is over, I guess. And just so you know, this is all your fault for being so demanding.”

Sarolta's hologram nodded briskly, satisfied with Trixie's agreement. "I expect a prompt return to HQ, Trixie. Remember, the mission and the corporation come first. Safe travels.”

As the hologram flickered and disappeared, Trixie's face was a mix of irritation and resignation. She turned to Piper and Uni, her voice reflecting her frustration. "Great. Vacation is over, guys. I've got to head back to HQ with Piper ASAP.”

Uni's face fell, her excitement about the upcoming beach day fading away. "What? But we were about to have such a fun time! And the beach was gonna be the cherry on top.”

Piper nodded, equally disappointed by the turn of events. "Man, this sucks. I was looking forward to relaxing on the beach. And disconnecting from everything and being free like this was nice too...guess that's over now. Back to being hooked up to a supercomputer all day with few exceptions…”

Trixie slumped back in her seat, her frustration slowly giving way to resignation. "I know, I know. It sucks. But Sarolta's got her orders, and I've got no choice. We've gotta cut the vacation short.”

Uni sighed deeply, still clinging onto a glimmer of hope. "Can't we at least go to the beach for a few hours before leaving? Just enough to enjoy some sun and water?”

Trixie considered the idea for a moment, but then shook her head. "I don't know, Uni. Sarolta's pretty serious about us getting back ASAP. We might not have time for that. Plus, she can track where Piper is at all times, and her seeing us at a beach would be like pouring salt in her wounds. So yeah...not a good idea.”

Piper nodded in agreement. "Trixie's right. As much as I'd love to hit the beach before heading back, it's probably best not to test Sarolta's patience. We've already pushed her enough with this vacation."

Uni sighed again, her disappointment palpable. "I guess you're right... I was just really looking forward to feeling the sand and waves.”

Trixie reached out and gave Uni's hand a sympathetic pat. "I'm sorry, Uni. I know you were looking forward to it too. But we have to prioritize the mission and our duties. We'll make it up to you, I promise.”

Uni forced a weak smile, appreciating Trixie's attempt to console her. "It's not your fault, Trixie. You're just following orders. But man, this really takes the fun out of the trip. Ah well, let's head back to our room and get to packing.”

The mood in the taxi shifted from excitement to a sense of deflated defeat. As the car navigated back to their hotel, the girls sat in a heavy silence, each lost in their own thoughts. The laughter and carefree atmosphere of just moments ago seemed like a distant memory.