The Chaos of Broken Trust

An hour before the chaos.

Victor, the battle-hardened leader of the exploration team, sat in the interior of a heavy-duty truck, its dashboard aglow with faint green and orange lights. The scent of oil and sweat permeated the air as he leaned over to Thorne, a superhuman with the ability to fly. "Thorne, would you kindly scout the surroundings? We need to ensure our path ahead is clear of hostiles," he urged.

Languidly stretched across the front seat, Thorne's boots were propped up on the dashboard, leaving dusty imprints. He opened one eye, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Why bother? We've scouted for four days, and this forsaken planet appears empty. What's the point?"

Frustration bubbled in Victor's chest, making his nostrils flare. He'd had enough of Thorne's insolence. "You've been paid to do a job. Now go and scout," he barked, his hand instinctively reaching for the pistol holstered at his side.