real life | brave visionaries

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the lights in the medbay were dim, a soft blue hum casting gentle shadows against the walls. most of the tower still slept - the sort of deep, bone-tired rest that came after chaos had finally ebbed - but sam was already awake.

he hadn't meant to be. he'd gotten up just to pee, still jetlagged even two days later, blinking blearily at the directional lights when he found his feet wandering instinctively toward the medbay instead. maybe it was habit. maybe it was hope.

what he didn't expect was to find cartia already awake, propped slightly against her pillows, eyes glinting with something far too sharp for 5am.

"oh, thank the gods," she whispered as soon as she saw him. "get in here."

sam blinked. "you're supposed to be resting."

"i've been resting for days," she groaned, her tone dripping with exaggerated suffering. "i'm bored. i want out."

her best friend raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "out where?"

"anywhere that's not this glorified jail cell - i only got out of one last week. the lounge, maybe. somewhere with windows. i haven't seen sunlight in forever."

"it's five in the morning. there is no sunlight."

cartia gave him a look.

sam scrubbed a hand over his face. "tia-"

"come on! we'll be careful! you'll help me. i'll go slow and it'll be fine."

he hesitated - but she was already swinging her legs over the side of the bed, face pinched but determined.

"friday?" cartia called softly. "could you do us a favour and, uh... not alert anyone about this?"

there was a brief pause before the ai responded, almost too neutrally. "understood. this unsanctioned exit will not be reported."

sam grimaced. "that makes it sound worse."

"only if we get caught on the way there." cartia said brightly.

he sighed, stepping forward to support her as she stood, her arm slinging instinctively around his shoulders. her body trembled slightly, still weak, but she didn't falter. and despite himself, sam smiled.

"okay," he muttered. "let's go be idiots."

they moved slowly, a cautious shuffle down silent hallways bathed in early morning gloom. cartia leaned heavily into sam, trying to make her steps look casual even as pain tugged at the corners of her mouth.

"this is so stupid." he murmured.

"mhmm," she replied, grinning. "and yet, here you are!"

they reached one of the smaller lounges - the one with the big couch and floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the river - and cartia collapsed onto the cushions with a groan of relief.

sam sank down next to her, shaking his head. "you're gonna get us both killed. either by your mum, or one of your soulmates."

she smiled, breathless. "worth it. what time is sunrise?"

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