It was one of those rare quiet nights at the Red base. The halls were empty, the lights dim, and the usual chaos had settled down since everyone else was off on a mission. Everyone, except you. The last mission had left you incapacitated, limping around the base with some wounds that still needed time to heal. Surprisingly, they’d benched the enemy Scout too, forcing him to sit out the action until you were back on your feet. It felt strange—almost peaceful.

You were lounging around in your room, half-heartedly flipping through a book, when a soft knock echoed through the silence. With a groan, you put the book down and forced yourself to limp over to the door. Your side ached as you moved, each step a reminder of the last battle. When you opened the door, you were greeted by a familiar face: Miss Pauling.

"Hey," she said, holding up a pizza box with a little smile. "Thought you might want some company."