Chapter 17: A Normal Day at Team Vapor HQ
It was another quiet morning at Team Vapor's workshop. The familiar sounds of gadgets whirring and tools clanging echoed through the room as the team went about their usual tasks. But today, there was a subtle difference in the air. Nica, usually bouncing around in her chaotic childlike energy, was sitting calmly at one of the workstations, her usually playful demeanor replaced with a surprising air of responsibility.
Vapor glanced over at her, taking in the change. “Is everything alright, Nica?” he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Nica looked up from the blueprints she was studying, her hands neatly folded on the table. “Just trying to be productive for once. Figured I’d give it a shot,” she said with a shrug, her voice smooth and adult-like, a far cry from the playful, chaotic side she often showed.
Vapor blinked, taken aback. “You... being responsible? That’s a first.”
Nica gave him a dry smile. “Hey, I can be serious when I need to be. You might want to keep a notebook handy to take notes.”
Vapor chuckled. "I’ll believe it when I see it."
Meanwhile, Rosie and Mira were working on a few repairs to some of the old robots they'd used in previous missions. The familiar hum of machinery filled the air, creating a calm atmosphere. But even in this peaceful setting, there was a subtle buzz of anticipation. Team Vapor’s HQ was usually a whirlwind of energy, plans, and explosions—usually from Nica, who had a habit of making things "spontaneously" interesting.
Acre, Geo, and Valore were gathering supplies for a new project. Nica had volunteered to assist them, but only if they followed her extremely detailed and perfectly organized plan, which was, surprisingly, followed without issue.
"Is this... the Nica we’ve been hearing about?" Mira whispered to Rosie as they watched the scene unfold.
“Yup," Rosie replied with a grin, clearly amused. "And it’s oddly nice.”
For the rest of the day, everything went on without a hitch. Nica, though still her usual quirky self, stayed focused, helping with designs, organizing supplies, and even offering suggestions with precision. There were no tantrums, no jokes about feeling like a child—just a focused Nica who contributed in ways that surprised even her closest friends.
As the day wound down, the team gathered together in the lounge area for a break, sipping on their favorite drinks. Nica sat back, finally allowing herself to smile, but this time it was with a quiet sense of contentment.
"That wasn’t so bad," she said, stretching her arms with a little yawn. "I might do this more often."
Vapor leaned back in his chair, a soft chuckle escaping him. "I think I could get used to this. Responsible Nica... who knew?"
“Let’s not make a habit of it,” Nica teased, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she returned to her usual playful self.
And just like that, the day went back to normal. The team laughed, joked, and enjoyed the calm before the storm—because in Team Vapor, it was always only a matter of time before things would get interesting again. But for today, they were content. And sometimes, that’s all that mattered.
