Bob stood quietly in line at the supply desk, waiting for his turn to grab some needed equipment. The hum of the base filled the air, but his attention was drawn to a figure standing near the back, far from her usual post. It was her. Normally, the disciplined and stoic lieutenant was buried deep in her work, always focused and rarely seen outside her station. But here she was, casually flipping through some paperwork, her posture just as precise as ever.

Bob couldn’t help but watch her from a distance, noticing the sharpness in her movements, the way she commanded the room without a single word. There was an unexpected calm about her, a stark contrast to the intense atmosphere of their line of work. Bob’s heartbeat quickened slightly, an unfamiliar flutter stirring in his chest. Maybe it was curiosity… or maybe something more.