After they finished eating, Jackson stood up and pointed toward the clock on the wall.
"No stay up late!" he warned, jabbing a stubby finger at the glowing red numbers: 8:50 PM.
Zora stood with a smirk and gave another dramatic bow. "I won't, my king. Sweet dreams!"
Jackson burst into giggles, clapping his hands as he waddled toward the back room of the shop.
Once the door clicked shut behind him, Zora turned back to the schematic still spread across the workbench.
A door creaked open behind her.
Daniel shuffled in, covered head to toe in soot. His black hair stood on end, as if he'd stuck a fork in a power socket. He looked like he'd walked straight through a lightning storm—and maybe had.
He collapsed into Jackson's chair beside her with a groan. "Thirty-eight explosions," he counted off, holding up his fingers. "Four life-threatening situations. Two rogue drones."
Then he cracked a tired smile.
"And one working prototype."
Zora clapped, grinning as Daniel gave a mock bow in the seat.
"Jackson deserves all the credit," he said, pulling a rag off the workbench and wiping his face. "It's hard on him, being the only one actually building anything."
He sighed, the exhaustion catching up to him.
"As you know... people don't like taking orders from guys like him."
The edge in his voice made Zora's smile fade.
"One by one they left. Said awful things. Called him names. Treated him like he was broken." His voice cracked. "I caught him crying behind the junk cars more than once."
Daniel blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the tears—but they still welled up.
"Then you came along," he continued softly. "Angry. Depressed. But you were kind to him. You treated him like a person. Not a burden. Not a freak."
Zora placed a gentle hand on his back.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
He shook his head, wiping his eyes.
"You brought him back to me, Zora," he whispered. "And for that… I can never repay you."
Without warning, he turned and pulled her into a hug.
Zora tensed at first—then slowly relaxed, arms wrapping around him in return. The workshop buzzed faintly in the background, but all she could hear was the sound of quiet breathing and the hum of shared understanding.
"We were all in a dark place," Zora murmured. "Back then."
She remembered how she'd been when she first arrived—numb, cold, ready to die just to stop feeling anything at all.
Daniel eventually pulled back, sniffling and laughing under his breath. He stood, still dabbing at his eyes.
"I should crash. General Vance wants to inspect the prototype first thing in the morning."
He turned and headed toward the same door Jackson had disappeared through.
Pausing in the doorway, he glanced back. "Don't stay up too late."
The door clicked shut behind him.
And Zora was left alone in the quiet workshop, the hum of idle machines keeping her company as the last rays of orange light faded from the sky.
Zora stretched, groaning as her spine cracked gently into place.
Aegis floated from her chest, blinking slowly. "Maybe we call it here for today?"
She glanced at the wall clock. 9:00 PM.
"Yeah," she exhaled. "It's about time I headed back. I need a shower."
She rolled up the schematic and tucked it under her arm. "We should have this down in a few more days."
As she made her way back toward the entrance, she waved at the man sitting behind the front desk.
"See you later!"
He raised a hand to stop her, eyebrow arched.
"What's my name?"
Zora froze mid-step, eyes wide.
"U-uhm… it's obviously... Joshua?"
The man sighed, a half-smile forming. "Girl, I'm Black. And Joshua is the best you could come up with?"
He pointed to himself. "It's Shaun. I don't want to have to tell you again."
Zora slapped a hand to her forehead in mock horror. "Right, SHAUN. I knew that." She grinned. "Are you sure it's not Joshua?"
Shaun stood abruptly, feinting a step forward. "Get outta here."
Zora giggled and jogged out the door, waving over her shoulder. "See you soon!"
Outside, the camp was quiet. Peaceful.
Only a few scattered conversations and distant laughter filled the night air. Dim path lights lit the way just enough for her to see.
She looked up—and smiled.
A clear view of the stars greeted her.
There's Orion's Belt... and that one's the Big Dipper...
She could almost hear Tariq in her mind, rattling off myths about Orion, the huntsman of Zeus.
Nexus zipped in front of her, glowing with pride.
"No star shines brighter than us, dear!"
Zora chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. You almost sound jealous."
Nexus guffawed and spun back to join the others.
Zora made her way back to the team's headquarters, flashing her badge to the guards at the gate. They waved her through, and she stepped inside, weary but content.
Passing through the portal into their private base, she barely had time to breathe before Ivory rushed out of her room.
"We have a problem!"
Zora threw up a finger, silencing her while she caught her breath. The portal travel still hit her like a punch to the gut every time.
Paul stumbled out next and promptly collapsed on the floor with a long groan.
After a few seconds, Zora finally managed to speak. "What problem?"
Lena zipped out of her room like she'd just seen salvation.
"Is that Zora?!" Her eyes locked onto her. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
"We have no food," she said, sniffling.
Ivory crossed her arms and glared. "We tried calling you, but God forbid you answer your phone."
Zora gave a sheepish laugh. "Sorry. I was a little busy."
Just then, Tori shuffled out of her room, rubbing her eyes and scowling. "It's late. Go to sl—"
Her stomach growled.
Everyone stared. Her face turned crimson.
Zora smirked, walked over to the center table, and tapped it twice. A soft hum filled the room.
Five mismatched plates appeared moments later, each stacked with a sandwich and a pile of chips.
Paul immediately rose from the dead, scrambled to a chair, and devoured his food like he hadn't eaten in days. Seconds later, the others joined, laughter spilling into the air as they ate.
The next thirty minutes were filled with jokes, teasing, and the kind of warm exhaustion that came after a long day.
Eventually, they all retired to their rooms.
Zora stripped down, took a long, hot shower, and changed into an oversized T-shirt she created with a thought. She collapsed into bed, her limbs heavy with fatigue, and let sleep take her.