The door opened slowly, and Sarolta entered the room. Her expression was stern, but there was a glimmer of concern in her eyes. She looked at the girls with a penetrating gaze, taking in their weary faces and slumped shoulders. The girls felt the intensity of her gaze, their throats suddenly dry. They sat still, awaiting whatever words Sarolta was about to say. Sarolta walked over to them, her gaze drifting over each one of their faces, as if assessing their conditions.

Finally, she spoke, her voice even but with a hint of disappointment. "You all look terrible," she said bluntly. "You should have taken better care of yourselves.”

The girls winced at her words, knowing that she was right. They lowered their heads, ashamed and guilty. Trixie tried to speak up, to defend herself and the others, but the words got stuck in her throat.

Sarolta noticed Trixie's struggle and motioned for her to speak up. "You called for an update. What is it?"

Trixie swallowed hard, her mind racing. She tried to gather her thoughts and explain the situation, but the words were tangled and fuzzy with exhaustion.

"We...we couldn't return to the Supercomputer," she managed to say. "We were too tired to continue."

The other girls nodded in agreement, their faces filled with shame and exhaustion. They collectively slumped back onto the beds, their bodies heavy and protesting.

Sarolta looked at them, her expression hardening a bit more. "Too tired, huh? That's no excuse."

The girls winced again at her words, feeling even more guilty. They knew that Sarolta valued dedication and hard work above all else, and they had failed to uphold those values. Sarolta returned her gaze to Trixie, refusing to even blink as she drove her point home. "You know that at any moment, Trixie, I could need you for a task. How can you come to my aid if you're too tired because you're not resting like you should?”

Trixie felt tears well up in her eyes, her guilt and shame overwhelming her. She knew that Sarolta was right; she was a useless asset to Sarolta in her current state. Uni and Esther looked equally miserable next to her, their eyes downcast and their bodies weighed down with exhaustion.

"I'm...sorry," Trixie whispered, her voice trembling. "We didn't mean to let you down. We tried our hardest, but we just...couldn't continue."

Sarolta didn't look away from her, her expression unchanged. "Your hardest, huh? It certainly didn't seem like it. You look like you're about to collapse.”

The other girls winced at her words, feeling the burn of her disapproval. It was true: they were all barely able to stay awake at this point. They fidgeted uncomfortably as they waited for what Sarolta would say next.

Sarolta took a seat on a nearby chair, her eyes scanning the girls once again. "Trixie, come here."

Trixie felt a shiver run down her spine at the command in her voice. She slowly rose to her feet and cautiously approached Sarolta, her mind racing.

Sarolta patted her lap, a gesture that was commanding and unnerving.

"Sit," she commanded.

Wait, what the—?! Uni thought, her brows furrowed.

Trixie felt her nerves flare. Sitting on Sarolta's lap? That seemed both intimate and demeaning, but there was something in the look in Sarolta's eyes that made her feel she had no choice.

She lowered herself onto Sarolta's lap, her body stiff and uncomfortable. She felt small and vulnerable, a sharp contrast to Sarolta's commanding presence. Uni and Piper watched silently, feeling a mix of unease and curiosity.

"There," Sarolta said, her tone cool and authoritative. "Now you're all lined up like a good little girl."

Trixie swallowed hard, trying to ignore the condescending tone in Sarolta's voice. She could feel the heat of Sarolta's body through the fabric of her clothes, and the steady rhythm of her heart.

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Sarolta placed a hand on Trixie's back, her touch both gentle and firm. "You've been working yourself to exhaustion, haven't you? You need to learn that not resting properly will have...consequences.”

Trixie trembled under Sarolta's touch, the weight of her words sinking in. She knew that Sarolta was right, that she had pushed herself far too hard, but she didn't know what those consequences would be. She cast a furtive glance at Uni, Esther and Piper, who were watching the scene unfolding with wide, fearful eyes.

Sarolta's hand began to move in soft, circular motions along Trixie's back. "Your body needs rest, otherwise you won't be able to perform your duties," she said, her voice strangely calm and even. "You have to understand that, don't you?”

Trixie nodded weakly, her body feeling both tired and tense. She could feel Sarolta's hand massaging her back with a firm but gentle touch, and it almost felt...nice.

"Good," Sarolta nodded, her demeanor softening somewhat. "Now, I think a proper punishment is in order for failing your task, wouldn't you agree?”

Punishment? Trixie wasn't sure what to expect, but she had a feeling it wasn't going to be pleasant.

The other girls exchanged worried glances, their faces pale and nervous.

A stern look from Sarolta silenced them instantly. She returned her attention to Trixie, her hand now resting on her lower back. "You're far too exhausted to leave like this," she said, her voice firm. "You need to learn to rest properly, but I have a feeling you're not going to do it unless there's...incentive.”

Trixie flinched at the word 'incentive'. It was clear that Sarolta had something in mind, and it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. She waited, her heart pounding in her chest, wondering what Sarolta was going to do next.

Sarolta's hand moved to Trixie's hair, her touch both firm and tender. "You need to understand that your wellbeing is as important as the missions you're sent on," she said softly, but there was a hint of sternness in her voice. "And if you can't prioritize your own health, I have to provide incentives for you to do so.”

Trixie felt her body trembling under Sarolta's touch, her emotions a mix of fear and something else she couldn't quite identify. She understood what Sarolta was saying, and deep down she knew that she was right, but she couldn't help but feel a hint of humiliation.

"Incentives come in different forms," Sarolta continued, her voice still soft but her tone firm. "It seems that you need...a more direct approach to ensure that you take your rest seriously.”

Trixie swallowed hard, her dread growing. She couldn't imagine what 'direct approach' meant, and she wasn't sure she wanted to find out. But deep down, she knew that she was at Sarolta's mercy now, and there was nothing she could do but obey.

"First things first, Trixie," Sarolta said, her tone becoming more business-like. "You all need to get some decent rest. I can't have a useless asset lying around when I need you to perform.”

Trixie nodded weakly, her body feeling heavy and sluggish. She knew that sleep would do her a world of good, but she was still too anxious about what was to come to fully relax.

"Uni, Esther," Sarolta said, addressing the other two girls. "Take Trixie and rest with her. You all look dead on your feet.”

Uni nodded obediently, though her eyes betrayed a hint of worry. "Yes, Sarolta," she said softly. Esther remained quiet, her expression resigned.

"Piper, you're coming with me," Sarolta continued. "I'LL be the one to hook you up to the Supercomputer, the other two need to rest.”

Piper felt a mix of exhaustion and fear as she was called to follow Sarolta. She was reluctant to leave her friends, but she knew better than to argue with Sarolta. "Yes, ma'am," she said quietly.

As Uni and Esther helped a weary Trixie off of Sarolta's lap and back onto one of the beds, Sarolta turned her attention to Piper.

"Come along," she commanded. "We have matters to attend to.”

Piper followed Sarolta out of the room, casting one last worried glance at her friends before the door closed behind her.

Uni and Esther climbed up on either side of Trixie, their bodies sagging with exhaustion.

"You alright, Trix?" Uni mumbled, her words slightly slurred with sleep.

Trixie nodded weakly, her eyes already drifting closed. "I'm fine," she murmured. "Just...tired, yet shocked at Sarolta. I never thought in a million years she'd let me sit on her lap like that…”

"Yeah, that was pretty weird," Uni replied, her own eyes starting to droop. "I've never seen her be so...intimate with anyone before.”

"Weird yet...kinda nice, in a way," Trixie mumbled, her voice drowsy. "I mean, I didn't expect it to feel that comfortable.”

Uni chuckled softly, her eyes now closed. "Never thought I'd see the day. Sarolta, the big bad boss lady, being motherly and all…”

"Guess you really do learn something new every day," Trixie mumbled, her head slowly sinking into the pillow.

There was a moment of quiet as the girls started to succumb to the pull of slumber.

"Yeah, probably best to keep that to ourselves," Uni agreed, her voice now barely above a whisper. She could feel the exhaustion taking over her body, and she welcomed the heavy pull of sleep.

Trixie yawned, her body finally relaxing as she surrendered to exhaustion. "Yeah," she mumbled, her eyes closing. "Our little secret.”

The girls fell into a peaceful slumber, their bodies finally getting the rest they so desperately needed. Their thoughts slowly faded as sleep overtook them, bringing a moment of respite from the events of the day.