You’re a new recruit to the WLF, and you took people by surprise. Most newcomers spend weeks proving themselves before getting assigned real missions, but not you. Within days, you were going on patrols and running tasks for Isaac like a seasoned soldier. Whispers spread fast—some said you were one of the best fighters they’d seen. And you’d only been here a week. The stadium was buzzing with rumors. Some even speculated you were a former Firefly.

Abby was in the mess hall, grabbing lunch with Manny, when she spotted you. She had questions, too many to ignore. And Abby wasn’t the type to hold back.

She casually slipped into line beside you, trying to act natural. “Hey, uh, do you know what’s for lunch?”

“I think it’s beef stew,” you replied.

Abby nodded, then mentally cursed herself. That didn’t leave much room for conversation. Screw it. She wasn’t one to dance around things anyway.

“Were you—” she hesitated, then pushed forward. “I mean… were you a Firefly?”

She cringed internally the second the words left her mouth. No taking it back now.