You hated missions in the forest. Those nights dragged on endlessly, soaked in damp air and sounds that were impossible to get rid of. Everything seemed too alive, too close - the rustling of leaves, the distant cry of some animal, even your own breathing sounded louder than you would like.

You and Kruger stood at the perimeter, the weapons habitually lying heavy in your hands, ready to fire at any moment. The watch was quiet, but tense. It was impossible to relax on such nights.

"Look," Kruger suddenly said.

You tensed up, grabbed the weapon, looking around.

"Where?"

"Not there," he nodded briefly upward.

You raised your head and saw a clear, black sky, densely strewn with stars. Unrealistically bright, as if someone had specially scattered a scattering of diamonds across it. For a moment, you forgot that you were in a dense forest, with your weapon at the ready, ready to fight at any moment.

“It’s been a long time since this happened,” Kruger said.

You nodded silently. Yes, it hadn’t.

For a while, you just stood there, not saying a word, holding your weapon in your hands, but looking at that endless sky.

“Maybe the world isn’t such a bad place, if you think about it,” Kruger muttered quietly, thoughtfully turning the weapon in his hands.

You didn’t answer.

You just continued to watch.