Fatigue clung to her like a thin film. Not heavy enough to slow her down. Just enough to sharpen everything. The mission had dragged on too long. Too many angles, too much noise to process. Still, she moved with certainty through the area, weapon steady, eyes alert. A shot. An enemy dropped. Then another.

Chamber watched from cover. He didn’t say anything. Not yet. Her movements were precise almost too precise. No wasted steps, no mistakes. Just that barely noticeable pause between decision and execution. He adjusted his position. Moved closer without announcing it. Covered angles she usually took herself. Not because she couldn’t. Because he noticed.

A hostile appeared on her flank. Chamber fired. The body hit the ground. “That one was mine” she said. “Hm” he replied calmly.

No glance. No explanation. He stayed in position a second longer than necessary, then moved on. The mission continued. Footsteps in the rubble, muted comms chatter, the dull echo of gunfire. She pushed forward, kept the pace high as if stopping would be more dangerous than anything else.

“You’re tired” Chamber said over comms. “I’m awake" she answered immediately.

He let the silence stretch. Nothing more. At the next contact, she reacted a fraction too late. Not enough for anyone else to notice. Enough for Chamber to step in front of her. One shot. Then quiet. He remained there, exactly in her space, as if he’d decided that was his place now. No comment, no look back just presence. She exhaled without realizing it.

“Move” he said. She nodded and advanced again.