Debriefing Shadows

The debriefing room was colder than usual. It wasn't just the sterile air or the constant hum of machinery—the chill was deeper, something that burrowed into the marrow of his bones. The mercenary sat rigid in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, eyes locked on the holoscreen flickering in the center of the table. The overhead light cast harsh shadows, making the room feel smaller than it actually was.

Commander Tate stood at the head of the table, expression as neutral as ever, his eyes scanning through the data on the chip. The seconds ticked by like an eternity, each moment stretching thin as tension buzzed in the air.

Alyssa sat across from the mercenary, her body language relaxed but her eyes sharp. She didn't trust this process any more than he did, though she was better at hiding it. She was always good at that—masking whatever thoughts lay beneath the surface. He envied her for it sometimes.

Tate finally broke the silence, his voice clipped and professional. "The data you recovered is… interesting."

The mercenary narrowed his eyes. "Interesting" was a word ONI used when they didn't want to reveal too much. He had learned that over the years, watching how they played their games of subterfuge and manipulation. If ONI wanted something, it was usually because it could shift the balance of power—or because it was too dangerous to let anyone else have.

"Define 'interesting,'" Alyssa said, her voice casual but laced with curiosity. She leaned forward slightly, watching Tate closely.

Tate turned his gaze to her, lips pulling into a thin line. "The information on this chip details several Covenant supply routes, but it also suggests they're scouting human colonies for something… specific. We don't know what it is yet, but whatever it is, it's enough to make the Covenant divert resources from their main war efforts."

The mercenary frowned. "What kind of 'something'?"

"That's classified," Tate replied, his tone making it clear the conversation was over. "But whatever it is, ONI needs more intel before we can make any moves. That means more missions, more boots on the ground. I trust you two are ready."

It wasn't a question. It was a demand. ONI never gave you time to breathe, to reflect on what was happening around you. They kept pushing, mission after mission, until you either completed your objectives or died trying.

He glanced at Alyssa, catching her gaze for a brief second. She gave the slightest nod—silent confirmation that she understood the stakes just as well as he did.

Tate continued, "You'll get your next assignment within twenty-four hours. Until then, rest up. Dismissed."

The mercenary stood up, ignoring the sharp pain in his side. The system blinked again in his vision, its numbers shifting slightly.

[Health: 65%. Energy: 25%.]

It was a small improvement, but the numbers seemed to mock him. They were reminders that no matter how much he pushed himself, the system would always be there, watching, calculating.

He turned without another word and left the room, Alyssa falling into step beside him as they walked down the corridor. The base felt quieter than usual, as if even the personnel inside were beginning to feel the weight of the war pressing down on them. The distant hum of UNSC ships coming and going filled the air, but it did little to shake the heavy atmosphere that clung to them like a second skin.

Alyssa broke the silence first. "You buying any of that?"

He shot her a sidelong glance. "Do I look like I'm buying it?"

She smirked, though it didn't reach her eyes. "Didn't think so. ONI's up to something, and whatever it is, it's bigger than they're letting on."

"You don't say."

They walked in silence for a few more minutes before Alyssa slowed her pace, turning to face him as they reached a secluded corner of the corridor. Her expression shifted, her usual mask of calm slipping slightly. There was something in her eyes—a flicker of uncertainty.

"Look," she said quietly, her voice dropping an octave. "I don't know what's going on with you, but I saw that explosion. You shouldn't be alive."

He stiffened, his hand instinctively going to the spot on his armor where the plasma grenade had torn into him. He had hoped she'd let it go, that the chaos of the mission would make her forget. But Alyssa wasn't the type to forget. She noticed everything.

"I told you," he said, his voice low. "It was luck."

Her gaze sharpened, and she stepped closer, lowering her voice further. "Don't bullshit me. I saw the way you were bleeding out, the way your body should've crumpled. But you got up. Like it didn't matter. What happened out there?"

He clenched his jaw, his mind racing. He could feel the system pulsing again, its presence nagging at the edges of his consciousness. He couldn't tell her. Not yet. He didn't even understand it himself. How could he explain something that defied reason?

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice hard. "But I'm not dead. That's all that matters."

Alyssa studied him for a long moment, her eyes searching his face for something he couldn't give her. Finally, she exhaled softly and took a step back. "Fine. But don't keep me in the dark if this… whatever this is, starts affecting the missions."

"I won't."

She nodded once, the tension between them settling into an uneasy truce. "Get some rest," she said as she turned to leave. "We'll need it."

He watched her go, her silhouette disappearing into the dim corridor. For a moment, he let himself feel the strange sense of connection that had formed between them. It wasn't trust—not entirely—but it was something close. Something fragile.

When she was gone, he leaned against the cold metal wall and let out a slow breath. The system was still there, the numbers still ticking away in his vision. He closed his eyes, trying to ignore it, but it wouldn't go away.

It never went away.

[New Quest: Strengthen. Task: Improve Combat Skills to Unlock New Abilities.]

His eyes snapped open, the words burning into his mind. It was the first time the system had given him anything beyond survival. The implications were clear—this thing wasn't just tracking him. It was pushing him. Testing him.

And it wanted more.

His hand clenched into a fist, his nails digging into his palm. He had spent years honing his skills, perfecting his abilities through blood and fire. But this system… it seemed to suggest that wasn't enough. That there was always more to learn. More to fight for.

But what was it really after?

The words flickered again.

[Strengthen.]

He straightened up, forcing himself to focus. If the system wanted to test him, he would oblige. He would push harder, fight stronger, and survive longer.

Because that was all he knew how to do.

The training bay was empty when he arrived. The lights flickered on overhead, casting the room in a dull, artificial glow. Rows of weapons lined the walls—everything from standard UNSC rifles to advanced experimental gear ONI had been testing on mercenaries like him.

He selected a rifle and stepped into the combat simulator. The door hissed shut behind him, and the room transformed into a virtual battlefield—a barren wasteland littered with debris and wreckage. The faint sound of explosions echoed in the distance, and the smell of burning metal filled the air.

The system pulsed again in his mind, and the words appeared.

[Quest: Improve Combat Skills.]

A dozen virtual enemies materialized before him—Covenant forces, their energy shields shimmering in the low light. He raised his rifle, his body moving with the practiced precision of years spent in the heat of battle.

But this time, it felt different. The system was pushing him, guiding his movements, forcing him to react faster, aim sharper. Every shot was calculated, every movement efficient. The enemies fell one by one, but the challenge wasn't in killing them—it was in pushing himself to the limit.

The system blinked again.

[Skill Increased: Weapon Proficiency +1.]

He gritted his teeth, his muscles burning as he continued to fight. The enemies kept coming, wave after wave, testing his endurance. The simulation felt too real, the weight of the battle pressing down on him like a vice. His heart pounded in his chest, his breath ragged.

But he didn't stop. He couldn't stop.

Because somewhere deep inside, he knew the system wouldn't let him.

By the time the simulation ended, he was drenched in sweat, his hands trembling from the exertion. He collapsed against the wall, breathing heavily. His body felt like it had been pushed to the breaking point, but the system seemed pleased.

[Quest Complete: Strengthen. New Ability Unlocked.]

He didn't know what that meant, not yet. But he could feel the shift, the subtle change in his body. The system was changing him—slowly, deliberately.

And whether he liked it or not, he was starting to rely on it.