Y/N thought she had left her past behind. After barely surviving her final mission with A.E.G.I.S (Advanced Enforcement Group for Interspecies Security) she walked away from the life of combat and secrecy, trading it for the quiet comfort of a coffe...
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The day had started off normal—at least, as normal as things could be in the state the world was in now. Y/n had spent weeks throwing herself into training, preparing for whatever was coming next. She knew things were getting worse. The more the ice thawed, the more Xyrrathian activity increased. The reports from AEGIS were growing increasingly grim, with warnings about new incursions, disappearing squads, and eerie blackouts in communications.
Still, she and Shadow had tried to hold onto whatever quiet moments they could find. In the evenings, after long days of work, they would steal time together—sometimes with their friends, sometimes alone. But those moments were growing fewer and further between, swallowed by the looming crisis.
And now, there was no time left for them.
She had been at her desk, combing through research, when Dominic stormed in. His usual composed, strategic demeanor was slipping—his eyes sharp with concern, his mouth drawn into a thin line.
"They're gone," he said abruptly.
Y/n frowned, setting down her pen. "Who's gone?"
Dominic exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "The soldiers we sent to dismantle the Xyrrathian ships. We had teams out there, working to set them back, gathering whatever intel we could. It was working. We were making progress."
He clenched his jaw. "And now, our people are vanishing."
Y/n's stomach twisted.
"What do you mean vanishing?"
Dominic pressed his palms against her desk, leaning forward. "One of our ships came back." His voice was lower now, tight with frustration. "Completely empty. No bodies. No distress signals. No signs of struggle. Just gone."
She stared at him.
Gone.
As if they had never been there to begin with.
She felt a cold shiver run down her spine.
"We've lost multiple teams," Dominic continued. "No communication. No trace. We don't know if they're dead, captured, or trapped somewhere beyond our reach."
She swallowed, already knowing where this was going.
"We're sending out a team," Dominic said. "A strong one. The best we have." His eyes met hers, steady and unwavering. "I want you on it. This empty ship was a warning."
Y/n inhaled deeply. She didn't want to do this. Every part of her was screaming that this was going to end in disaster.
But she also knew that if she refused, someone else would go in her place. And she couldn't live with that.
