Veil of the forsaken.

"Still on the mission."

Lady was walking with Sei-do, Mugsi, and Arlos, their mission finally coming to an end. The silence between them was comfortable, but there was a tension in the air—a quiet anticipation. They had just completed another task, and now the weight of the day was starting to take its toll on Lady. Her feet felt heavy, her mind already drifting toward the work still to be done back at base.

As they neared the exit, she spotted Matthew, Father Gonzales, Mai-Lee, Art, and Dorothea coming into view. Behind them, the boy—the one they had taken in—was trailing quietly, his head low as though he didn't want to be seen.

No words were exchanged immediately. Lady's sharp gaze moved over the group, picking up on the silence. Matthew's expression was unreadable, his usually steady presence shifting to something a little more guarded. The others followed suit, their faces tired but resolute.

Sei-do's voice was low as they approached, almost as if to ease the mood. "I didn't expect them back this fast."

Mugsi, always quick to break the ice, raised an eyebrow. "Must've wrapped up quick. Or there's something we're not being told."

Lady didn't respond, though she felt the same suspicion creeping up. They weren't a team to rush unless there was something urgent. Her attention shifted to the boy, who was still walking quietly behind the others, his steps almost hesitant. He was younger than she had expected, but his silence spoke volumes.

Matthew didn't address her directly as he walked past, his eyes never leaving the boy. The others followed in a similar fashion, not offering explanations, just an unspoken understanding passing through them.

Mai-Lee glanced at Lady but didn't speak, her own silence heavy with unasked questions. Art was deep in thought, his gaze sharp as he studied their surroundings, while Father Gonzales took a few steps back, his face a careful mask. Dorothea moved behind him, her eyes still scanning the area, alert to any changes.

Lady caught a glimpse of Matthew's eyes—he held her gaze briefly, but there was no communication, no acknowledgment. It was clear that this wasn't something to discuss openly. Not yet, at least.

They all kept moving, heading toward the exit, their steps synchronized but tense. As they neared the vehicle waiting for them, Lady felt the weight of their mission's conclusion settle over her. What had they really been dealing with? Why had it been so urgent for them to return so quickly?

No one spoke as they reached the vehicle. Matthew gave a slight nod to Father Gonzales, and the boy stepped forward, standing near the door.

Lady didn't say anything, but her mind was working, piecing things together. She knew they wouldn't give away anything unless it was absolutely necessary. The answers, whatever they were, would come in time.

For now, it was enough that they had returned.

They gathered up at the meeting room.

The meeting room was dim, the only light coming from the low hum of a few overhead lights flickering above. Lady sat at the table, her fingers tapping lightly against its surface, the rest of the team slowly trickling in, still wearing the dust and grime of the mission. The air felt heavier than usual, tension simmering beneath the surface.

Matthew and Mai-Lee entered together, their expressions taut, and immediately, the undercurrent of disagreement became apparent. Lady's gaze flicked between them, sensing the brewing storm.

"I don't see why we're even entertaining this," Matthew's voice broke the silence, low but firm. "The boy's a liability. He risks everything for some chemicals, which is reckless and irresponsible."

Mai-Lee's eyes narrowed, her tone sharp as she responded. "You've been holding onto that opinion for a while, haven't you? And I told you, Matthew, he's a kid—he did what he had to. If it was anyone else, you might've had some sympathy."

Matthew shot her a look, his hands resting on the table, his jaw clenched. "Sympathy? He stole from a VLTR lab. That puts us all at risk, and you want to coddle him like he's some innocent little saint?"

"He's not just some kid off the streets," Mai-Lee snapped back, stepping closer. "He's doing this for a reason. A reason you can't even see. That kid had the guts to risk his life for his sister, a sister who's clearly in trouble. You can't just ignore that."

"Is that what this is about?" Matthew shot back, voice rising. "You're making excuses for him now because you think it's some noble cause? The world doesn't operate that way, Mai-Lee. The rules don't change because of one person's family problems."

Mai-Lee took a deep breath, her shoulders stiff. "This isn't about rules, Matthew. It's about what's right. The kid didn't know who we were. He wasn't working for anyone. He was desperate, and there's no telling how far he'll go with that desperation."

Lady's gaze shifted to the others in the room, noting the subtle unease on their faces. Arlos remained quiet, his eyes flicking between Matthew and Mai-Lee, while Father Gonzales's gaze was steady, waiting for the tension to break. Dorothea stood at the back, arms crossed, her eyes narrowed but saying nothing.

"This doesn't change anything," Matthew continued, his voice hardening. "I'm not going to risk the entire team's safety for some kid's misguided attempt at heroism. We can't afford to be the ones cleaning up someone else's mess."

Mai-Lee stepped forward, her voice dangerously calm. "And what, you think we just throw him out there, without a second chance? Leave him in the same position that forced him to make those decisions in the first place?" Her tone hardened, eyes now fixed on Matthew. "You're better than that. Don't pretend you're above it."

There was a long pause, the silence stretching between them as everyone waited for Matthew to respond. His jaw tightened, but after a moment, he exhaled sharply, his posture deflating slightly.

"Fine," he said, the words reluctantly leaving his mouth. "But this doesn't mean I trust him. Not yet."

Mai-Lee held his gaze for a beat longer before her expression softened, just slightly. "That's a start," she muttered.

Lady observed the exchange quietly, her thoughts a whirlwind. She understood the conflict—Matthew's pragmatism and Mai-Lee's fierce sense of justice—but she had her own reservations about the boy. She didn't speak, though; this wasn't the time for her to insert her thoughts into their fight. Not yet.

After a long pause, Arlos, who had remained quiet until now, cleared his throat. "We need to move on," he said gently. "Whatever happens with the kid, we've got more important things to focus on right now."

Father Gonzales, too, spoke up, his voice calm and measured. "Agreed. The boy's future is uncertain, but it will be decided in time. Right now, we are faced with a greater responsibility—our mission, and what lies ahead."

Mai-Lee gave a nod, her posture still tense but accepting of the change in conversation. "I'll deal with it. But we need to keep our eyes on the bigger picture."

"Good," Matthew muttered. "Now let's get back to business."

The conversation shifted as they moved on, but the strain between Matthew and Mai-Lee lingered in the air.

End of part.