IN AN EXPANSIVE AUDITORIUM, a microphone on a stand is in the center of the stage. Soldiers fill the scattered seats, creating pockets of casual conversations that blend into a low hum of ambient noise. The first few rows, though not intentionally left vacant, see only a sparse scattering of soldiers, while the majority prefer the anonymity of the back rows.

Rune sits in the auditorium, glancing at the access panel embedded in the armrest of his seat, an idea forming in his mind. It's something he's never really tried before, at least not successfully. With a mix of nervous energy and determination, he opens the panel.

Rune wipes his palms on his uniform, fingers hovering over the access panel. One wrong move, and an alert would flag him instantly. But the need to know outweighs the risk.

Before he can input his own commands, he has to override the default permissions. The system is designed to lock inputs to assigned users, meaning his seat's interface is tied to his ID. To bypass that, he forces a session refresh, temporarily resetting the panel's authority.

sys_reauth -device:seat_7.99 -mode:standby

A brief flicker. The panel resets.

Before the system re-links the panel to his profile, Rune needs to inject his own access layer—something that gives him control without triggering security locks.

override_input -device:seat_7.99 -auth:bypass -redirect:local

His fingers hesitate as the panel resists his override, warning signals flashing across his screen.

redirect_syslog -device:seat_7.99 -target:diag_buffer -mode:loopback

He reroutes quickly, barely slipping past the security layer before the window shifts.

He's in. But not for long.

A wave of disbelief washes over him.

Now, with the security warnings trapped in a loop, Rune forces the panel to accept his input as a system-level function rather than a user override.

force_exec -device:seat_7.99 -task:sys_diag -mask:standby_proc

The flashing warnings fade, replaced by a smooth, stable interface. The override sticks. Not as a flagged event, but as part of the system's own internal diagnostics.

Rune exhales, watching the screen flicker in quiet submission. The armrest is his.

The auditorium's seating map pulses softly before him, each chair a tiny node on a sprawling network.

He simply needs to choose.

audio_relay -output:local

A whisper of fragmented conversations crackle in his earpiece before the system tries to push him out.

He taps into several microphones scattered throughout the auditorium, and soon, the scattered conversations that were once indistinct hums begin to filter through his earpiece with surprising clarity.

audio_relay -source:seat_10.23 -output:local

Rune leans back in his seat, trying to appear casual as he listens in on the various pockets of conversation around the auditorium. His mind races with a mix of excitement and disbelief at his success.

"Her last fight was legendary!"

"Absolutely, the way she outmaneuvered her opponents was unreal."

"She has so many skills. I can't wait to see her fight tonight."

Rune smirks slightly, the familiar banter about the latest fight among the soldiers filling his ears. But as he tunes into another conversation, his interest sharpens, catching Poston looking his way.

The two of them are separated, but maintain a subtle awareness of each other's presence. The distance between them, measured in rows and columns, adds an unspoken layer of intrigue to their connection.

Poston sits in a distinct seat a few rows ahead, positioned in such a way that they have a clear line of sight to each other. Rune, under the guise of scanning the room, occasionally shifts his eyes toward Poston, catching brief glimpses of her as she subtly glances over her shoulder. Each stolen look creates a silent, private moment between them, a connection that lingers in the air amidst the vast assembly of soldiers.

As the ambient chatter flows into his earpiece, Rune tries to keep his expression neutral, his mind still reeling from the fact that his impromptu hack actually worked.

Lowe, who's seated beside Rune, flips through photos on his camera while quietly observing Rune's uncharacteristic focus on the access panel. Then asks, "Do you want to check out that new restaurant downtown?"

Rune, still processing the various conversations in his earpiece, nods absentmindedly. "Sounds like a plan. We could use a change of scenery."

"Cool. So, Sarah will be there."

"Oh! Nice! How's she been? Haven't heard you talk about her much since she went to stay with her parents."

Lowe shifts slightly, his usual ease replaced by a hint of discomfort. "Good, good. She needed some space, you know? With deployment coming up, it's been hectic. I'm glad she has support."

Rune, still half-engaged with the audio feeds, gently probes, "Must've been tough, the distance. The last three months must've felt like forever."

"Yeah," Lowe sighs, his usual laid-back demeanor giving way to a rare moment of vulnerability. "But tomorrow's about making the most of the time we have. She mentioned wanting to try that new place downtown, and talk to me about something."

As Lowe's words fade into the background, Rune's attention sharpens on another conversation nearby. A group of soldiers, seated further back, discuss something that makes his ears prick up.

audio_relay -source:seat_10.99 -output:local

"...heard some of us might get cut from the deployment."

"No way."

"You know how it is—someone with more experience."

Rune's heart skips a beat, the weight of their words settling in. He glances at the time, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "Why haven't they started yet? We've been here for almost half an hour."

Lowe, unaware of Rune's silent eavesdropping, just nods. "Hurry up and wait, bro. That's just how it goes."

Then, the doors swing open, and another unit flows into the auditorium. Among them, unnoticed by many, Danielle Keyes slips in, seamlessly blending with the group.

A Master Sergeant, scanning the crowd, barks out an order. "Hey! What the fuck is everyone doing! Why are all these seats empty up front? Fill them up!"

The soldiers, who had been settling in the back, now face the command to move forward. A collective sigh ripples through the room as they shuffle toward the front rows. The dynamics shift, and Rune's earpiece buzzes with the new proximity of voices. His grip on the armrest tightens as he hears the officer step up to the mic. The room quiets, and his focus narrows as the officer begins.

"Alright, listen up. This operation supports our diplomatic presence in Mongolia and strengthens cooperation with regional allies. Our presence allows ongoing research efforts to continue undisrupted."

The gravity of the mission settles over the room, but Rune's unease grows as the officer continues.

"However, a situation has developed, and we need to be strategic about who we're taking. Some of you will be replaced by IRRs and units with more experience in this arena. They'll be arriving tomorrow."

Rune leans in. "What the hell is IRR?"

Lowe mutters, "Inactive Ready Reservists. Basically ghosts. They signed their exit papers years ago but never really left. The Army just calls them back whenever they want."

The officer continues, "M2-CAV, you will not be a part of this mission. The following individuals from M2-CLR, will not be going on this deployment..."

Rune and Lowe's unit.

"Private Simon Gardener, Private Dwayne Johnson, and Private Rune Locke." The mention of his name drops like a weight in the room.

Lowe shoots Rune a sympathetic glance, his eyes reflecting shared disappointment. The bond between the friends is evident, and Lowe's expression communicates solidarity in the face of this unexpected twist.

The officer moves on with the announcement, but for Rune, the sounds around him muffle and the news reverberates as is heartbeat grows louder, leaving him grappling with the reality of being excluded from this crucial mission.

Again. It's happening again. The first time, frustrating. The second time, unfair. But now? Now it's ridiculous.

Poston, a few rows ahead, subtly turns her head to catch a glimpse of Rune's reaction. Her eyes, usually warm and friendly, now carry a touch of concern and empathy. There's a momentary pause in the flow of the briefing as soldiers exchange glances, the unanticipated news resonating through the auditorium. A murmur spreads through the soldiers as the list is read.

"Why us?" someone whispers. No one has an answer.

Rune clenches his fists, caught in the gaze of both Lowe and Poston and feeling the weight of their shared disappointment. Yet for the third time, he faced the cold, isolating truth—this was his burden alone. He can't—won't—let this be the end of it.