THE RESTAURANT BUZZES WITH LIFE—a steady hum of conversation, clinking glasses, and bursts of laughter. Warm, golden light pours through the tall windows, painting the exposed brick walls and rustic wood tables with a cozy glow. It's late afternoon, that perfect hour where everything feels a little more relaxed, a little more alive.

Rune steps inside, pausing just beyond the entrance to take in the scene. The ambiance is inviting, a welcome change from the regulated atmosphere of the dome. Here, in this quaint corner spot, it's easy to forget the engineered environments and meticulous schedules that shape life in Novos. For a moment, he allows himself to breathe it in—the simplicity of it all—before shaking off the knot of questions he's been wrestling with all afternoon.

His eyes scan the room, searching for familiar faces. When he spots his friends in the back corner, relief washes over him. Lowe is deep in conversation with his wife, Sara, his energy as animated as ever. Across from them, Poston lounges with a quiet smile, listening more than talking, as usual. They're all at ease, wrapped up in the kind of banter that comes naturally when the stakes are low.

Rune's stomach tightens when he realizes the only open seat is next to Poston. It's not the first time they've sat together, but that doesn't stop the low hum of nervousness that always sneaks up on him around her. There's a subtle thrill that accompanies the awkwardness. He takes a deep breath, reminding himself to stay cool as he heads over.

Lowe spots him first. "Locke! You finally made it! Thought you were ditching us."

Rune grins, the proximity sending a jolt through him as he slides into the seat with as much nonchalance as he can muster. "Traffic was a nightmare," he jokes, though they all know it's a weak excuse. As he settles in, his mind flickers back to the questions haunting him, but he shoves them aside for now. This is supposed to be a break—a chance to relax, not brood. The conversation picks up seamlessly around him.

Poston greets him with a warm smile. "Glad you could make it. We were just debating whether Lowe's latest food recommendation is actually legit or if we're about to be disappointed again."

Sara chuckles, nudging her husband playfully. "I'm putting my money on disappointment. Last time we followed one of his leads, we ended up at a place that served microwaved lasagna."

Lowe grins, unfazed by the teasing. "Hey, I'm telling you, this one's different. The reviews are solid, and I've got a good feeling about it."

But Rune's attention drifts, caught by the intricate tattoo sleeve now stretching from Poston's elbow to her wrist as she reaches for her glass. It wasn't there the last time they worked together, and the design is unmistakably Nirvan in style.

The dark, flowing lines create an almost living pattern—a mix of sacred symbols and geometric shapes, woven together in a way that feels both ancient and otherworldly. Rune knows enough about the culture to recognize some of the motifs—symbols for strength, unity, and hidden power. It's bold, a statement that seems out of character for Poston, who's always been so guarded.

He can't help but wonder what drove her to get it. Poston's always been an enigma, and now she's wrapped herself in even more layers of mystery. But before he can dwell too much on it, Poston catches his gaze and raises an eyebrow, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"See something you like, Locke?" she teases, her tone light but with an edge that makes him flush slightly.

"Just admiring the ink," Rune replies, trying to sound casual. "Didn't know you were into that."

"There's a lot you don't know about me," she shoots back, her smile widening just enough to let him know she's enjoying his awkwardness.

The banter flows easily after that, with the group ribbing each other over everything from tattoo choices to bad restaurant picks. Rune relaxes, letting himself get lost in the easy back-and-forth. It's good to forget about the mess of thoughts clouding his head, even if just for a while.

The server appears, taking orders, and Rune doesn't even glance at the menu. "Surprise me with whatever's best," he says, leaning back in his chair. The others exchange looks, half-impressed, half-amused.

"Living dangerously, huh?" Poston quips. She laughs softly, thumb brushing once across her lower lip before reaching for the glass.

"Figured I'd leave it up to fate," Rune replies, though he's mostly just trying to distract himself from the flutter of nerves being this close to her always stirs up.

The conversation takes a more serious turn as the server leaves, with Poston leaning in slightly. "How've you been holding up, Locke? With all this deployment crap going on?"

The question catches him off guard. There's genuine concern in her voice, and for a moment, he's not sure how to respond. "I'm managing," he says, but it comes out more clipped than he intended.

His mind drifts back to the conversation he had earlier with Lieutenant Rue. The information she revealed—about his security clearance, about the anomaly in his enlistment—echoes in his thoughts, stirring a mix of frustration and curiosity. "It's just frustrating, you know? All these 'strategic' decisions that don't add up."

Lowe's expression softens, a rare moment of sympathy cutting through his usual bravado. "Yeah, man. It's bullshit. We all know you're ready, and they just keep jerking you around."

Sara nods in agreement. "It doesn't make sense. If they're gonna bench someone, it shouldn't be someone who actually knows what they're doing."

The weight of the conversation lingers for a moment before Sara, ever the optimist, tries to lighten the mood. "Okay, but seriously—if the military actually took personal lives into account when making assignments, how do you think it'd shake out?"

Lowe jumps in, his grin back in full force. "They'd probably ship Sara off and keep me here, because I'm the real liability," he jokes, earning a playful elbow from his wife.

They laugh, but there's a bittersweet edge to it. The reality of what's coming, the time apart, the milestones missed—it's all there, hanging in the background. He places a hand protectively on Sara's stomach, the gesture carrying layers of meaning—affection, worry, and the unspoken fear of what lies ahead for both of them.

Rune watches as Lowe tries to keep up the façade of confidence, but he can see the cracks—those brief flashes of doubt and guilt that slip through when he thinks no one's watching.

Poston laughs softly, but there's a hint of bittersweetness to it. "Right, because the military's so great at considering that someone might be pregnant or that a family might want to stay together."

Sara nods, her smile tinged with resignation. "I swear, half the time it feels like they expect us to live two separate lives—our military life and everything else. Like it's all supposed to work in neat little compartments."

Lowe, sitting beside her, wraps an arm around her shoulder and pulls her close. "I know, babe. But I promise, I'll make up for it when I'm back. I'll be there for all the big moments." He tries to keep the tone upbeat, his usual confidence shining through, but there's a strain in his voice that Rune doesn't miss.

Sara leans into his touch but doesn't let it go. "It's just hard to think about you missing all those firsts—first kicks, the first ultrasound where we can see the little face... and then when the baby's born, you'll miss those first smiles, the first time they hold your finger." Her voice cracks slightly, betraying the depth of her disappointment. She blinks quickly, fighting back tears, and forces a smile. "I know you can't do anything about it, but it doesn't make it any easier."

The table goes quiet again, and Lowe's expression darkens for just a split second before he shifts back into his usual self, putting on a brave face. "Hey, we'll make it work. I'll record video messages whenever I can. And who knows, maybe the kid will save all the big milestones for when I'm home." He chuckles, but the joke carries a heavier note than usual—something darker that only Rune seems to pick up on.

To everyone else, it's just Lowe being Lowe, trying to lighten the mood with his usual humor. But Rune can see the unspoken guilt hiding behind his smile. It's the kind of tension only a close friend would notice—the fleeting moments where his carefree demeanor slips just a bit, revealing something deeper.

And then there's the phrase—the one that, on any other day, would've sounded like classic Lowe humor. As Poston mentions how much the baby might take after him, Lowe's grin widens, but there's a shadow behind it. "Well, let's hope the kid's smarter than me—someone in the family needs to be."

The group chuckles, the line sliding past them as another quip, but to Rune, it's not just a joke. It's Lowe trying to hide a creeping fear. It's a change so subtle that it would slip past most, that quiet dread while putting on a brave face for everyone else.

As the conversation shifts to lighter topics, Rune's mind drifts back to his own situation. He doesn't dare voice those thoughts—not here, not now. But the itch to dig deeper is growing stronger by the minute. He decides to ease into the question that's been on his mind: What is that E0 pay grade?

"So, when did you guys actually join? We're all Third Year Privates, so it had to be pretty close timing, right?"

Lowe is the first to answer. "I signed up in September, and by the end of October, I was on my way to basic. No waiting around for me, man—once I decided, I was all in."

Sara gives him a soft nudge. "It shows. That's how you've always been. You dive right into things." Her tone is affectionate, but there's a tinge of worry beneath it that Rune can't miss.

Poston sips her drink before answering, leaning back in her chair with a thoughtful expression. "Actually, I signed my papers in February, but I didn't go to basic until the end of May. There was a bunch of waiting around because they were juggling some administrative stuff, I guess." She shrugs. "I remember feeling like I was in limbo, stuck between starting a new life and not really being part of it yet."

Rune nods, but something clicks in his mind when she mentions signing up months before heading to basic. "That's funny... I signed in July, 51 GE, but I didn't go to basic until January the following year. It always felt weird how long they had me wait."

Before he can dwell on it further, the server, who's been refilling drinks and picking up plates, perks up at the mention of the date. "July? That's right around the time of that big government hack, wasn't it?" She sets down a fresh glass of water for Poston. "I remember it being all over the news for a while."

The group looks at the server with mild curiosity. Lowe raises an eyebrow. "Government hack? I vaguely remember something like that. Didn't they catch the guy pretty quickly though?"

"Yeah," the server replies, seeming eager to share what she remembers. "It was a big deal because they said it was one of the worst breaches in years. They kept it quiet at first, but once they caught the guy, it was all over the headlines. From what I remember, he was some tech-savvy criminal who claimed he was innocent. He's probably still locked up."

Rune's grip tightens around his drink, his expression neutral, not wanting to tip off his friends that this seemingly random bit of information has struck a nerve. He doesn't say anything, just nods along as the conversation continues.

Poston chimes in, her brow furrowed. "I remember that. There were rumors about someone else being involved—someone on the inside."

Rune nods along, pretending it's just idle chatter, but inside, he knows this isn't just small talk. There's something here—something he needs to dig into. Maybe it's unrelated, but he can't shake the feeling that this is more than just coincidence.

Lowe leans back in his chair. "It's wild to think some dude could just break into government systems like that. Bet he didn't see prison coming when he logged in that day."

Sara, who had been quietly listening, chimes in with a hint of skepticism. "It doesn't seem right, does it? Like, sure, maybe he did some damage, but if they caught him that fast, how smart could he really be?"

The conversation flows back and forth between the group, each person sharing bits of what they recall. But Rune stays quiet, letting the discussion wash over him while his thoughts run deeper. The hack feels connected somehow, but the pieces are still too scattered for him to see the full picture.

As the conversation shifts back to lighter topics, Rune remains distant, his mind already turning over the possibilities. He knows he can't afford to jump to conclusions, but he also can't ignore what his gut is telling him. Whatever this is, it's worth looking into—not just because his knack for seeing connections, but because of his MOS. Learning from the past to prevent it from happening again is part of his duty. But for now, he keeps it to himself.