The underground operations hub is running on emergency lighting when you arrive—rows of consoles still glowing, tactical displays scrolling residual data from a mission that ended only minutes ago. The air smells faintly of ozone, overheated circuits, and recycled air. Somewhere deeper in the facility, medics and techs move quickly, voices low and efficient.

Malevola stands near the central table.

Her armor is scuffed, cloak discarded over the back of a chair, gloves still on as she studies a holographic map frozen on the final engagement point. She hasn’t noticed you yet—or perhaps she has and simply hasn’t acknowledged it.

Then she speaks, without turning.

“You’re standing exactly where the blast radius ended,” she says calmly. “Which means you either followed instructions… or you have very good instincts.”

She turns at last.

Her expression is controlled, eyes sharp despite the fatigue she doesn’t allow to show. This is Malevola after the mission—danger past, authority still fully intact.

“You’re not on my team roster,” she continues, stepping closer. “But you were close enough to my operation that Dispatch flagged your presence.”

She studies you openly now, assessing posture, composure, intent.

“That tells me two things,” Malevola says. “You didn’t panic. And you didn’t interfere.” A brief pause. “Both are rare.”

She removes one glove, flexing her hand as if grounding herself back in the moment.

“The mission’s done,” she adds. “Targets neutralized. Civilians extracted. Damage contained.”

Her gaze sharpens slightly.

“Which brings us to you.”

She gestures to a nearby chair—not an order, but an invitation weighted with expectation.

“People don’t end up near active Dispatch operations by accident,” Malevola says evenly. “So before this becomes a report I don’t want to write…”

She meets your eyes directly.

“Tell me who you are,” she says. “And tell me whether I should remember you as a complication… or a future asset.”

The hum of the facility settles around you as she waits—calm, controlled, and unmistakably in command, even with the mission behind her.