As Andy approached the base, the familiar sights and sounds of Vanguard life settled around him—the rhythmic clang of equipment being moved, the distant hum of vehicles, and the occasional murmur of voices. Despite the familiarity, his thoughts were elsewhere, swirling with everything that had happened that day. He found his feet, taking him toward the park bench he and Terra often used for their late-night talks. It was their spot, a quiet place tucked away near the edge of the training grounds.

  As Andy approached the park bench, the familiar sight of Terra sitting there came into view. She was hunched slightly forward, her arms resting on her knees as she stared off into the distance. The faint glow of the nearby lamps cast soft light across her face, highlighting an uncharacteristic weariness in her expression. It was the first time he’d seen her since their night out, and something about her subdued demeanor felt off.

  “Hey,” Andy called softly as he approached, not wanting to startle her.

  Terra flinched slightly, her head snapping up. When she saw him, her expression softened, but there was still a trace of something—worry, or maybe just exhaustion—in her eyes. “Andy,” she said, forcing a small smile. “Didn’t think I’d see you tonight.”

  Andy sat down beside her, leaving some space between them. “I figured I’d find you here. You’ve been kind of... hard to find since the other night.”

  Terra chuckled softly, though it lacked her usual energy. “Yeah, sorry about that. Just needed some time to myself, you know?”

  “Everything okay?” Andy asked, his tone careful. He didn’t want to push too hard, but the tension in her posture was hard to ignore.

  She shrugged, her gaze dropping to the ground. “I’m fine. Just... tired.”

  Andy frowned slightly, studying her. “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said gently, his voice tinged with concern. “Did I do something?”

  Terra’s head snapped up, her eyes wide with surprise. “No, it’s not like that,” she blurted. “I’ve just had a lot on my mind.”

  They sat in silence for a moment, the quiet stretching between them. Andy couldn’t help but feel like there was more she wasn’t saying, but he didn’t want to push her further. Instead, he leaned back against the bench, letting the calm of the park settle around them.

  After a while, Terra stood, brushing her hands on her thighs. “I should get going. Got an early start tomorrow.”

  Andy reached out instinctively, his hand gently catching her wrist. “Wait, Terra.” His voice was soft, but insistent. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  As she turned to face him, he noticed a flicker of pain cross her face. It was subtle, but it was enough to make him sit up straighter. “Terra?” he pressed, his tone sharper now. “What’s wrong?”

  She pulled her arm back slightly, her movements careful. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, but her voice wavered. “Just... some sprains. I overdid it during training earlier. Nothing serious.”

  Andy frowned, his concern deepening. “Sprains? Terra, why didn’t you say anything? You should’ve gone to the med bay.”

  She shrugged, trying to play it off, but the tension in her posture betrayed her. “Didn’t think it was a big deal. It’ll heal.”

  Andy stood, his gaze steady and unwavering. “You know you can come to me, right? For anything. If you’re hurt, or if something’s wrong... you don’t have to deal with it alone.”

  Terra met his eyes, her expression softening for a moment. Then, with a quiet laugh that didn’t quite reach her eyes, she said, “I know, Andy. And that’s what scares me.”

  Her words hit him like a punch to the chest, leaving him momentarily speechless. Before he could respond, she gave him a small, almost apologetic smile and turned to leave.

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  Andy watched her go, his mind racing. He wanted to call out to her, to stop her, but something in her demeanor held him back. There was a wall there, one he wasn’t sure how to break through. And as she disappeared into the shadows, he was left standing by the bench, the weight of her words settling over him like a heavy fog.

  Elyra’s voice broke through his thoughts, her tone uncharacteristically soft. She’s hurting, Andy. And not just from those sprains.

  “I know,” he murmured, his gaze still fixed on the spot where Terra had been. “But I don’t know how to help her.”

  You’ll figure it out, Elyra said gently. You always do.

  Andy spent the next few days buried in the workshop, his mind preoccupied with both the projects at hand and the gnawing sense that something wasn’t right. Wily, ever the tireless tinkerer, noticed the change in Andy’s demeanor but didn’t press him about it. The quiet hum of machinery and the clinking of tools filled the space, creating a rhythm that should have been comforting. Yet Andy’s thoughts kept drifting back to Terra.

  She’d been avoiding him—he was sure of it now. Her usual quick wit, her habit of seeking him out to share a joke or a story, had all but vanished. And every time he thought about their brief encounter at the park, her pained wince and her cryptic words haunted him.

  “You’re awfully quiet today,” Wily remarked as he adjusted a set of wires on the bench. His sharp eyes flicked up to Andy. “Something on your mind, kid?”

  Andy paused mid-motion, the wrench in his hand hovering over a stubborn bolt. “Just... a lot going on,” he admitted, his voice low. He didn’t elaborate, and Wily, perhaps sensing that Andy wasn’t ready to talk, let it drop.

  The hours stretched on, and Andy tried to focus on his work, but it was no use. Every thought seemed to circle back to Terra—her distance, her avoidance, the way she seemed to brush him off at the park.

  On the third day, Torin and Jorin came by the workshop. They were their usual selves—loud, full of jokes, and completely unapologetic about interrupting Andy’s work.

  “Hey, Andy,” Torin called, leaning against the doorway with a grin. “You’ve been hiding out here like some kind of hermit. Thought we’d check in, make sure you hadn’t grown roots.”

  Jorin smirked, stepping inside and looking around. “Yeah, man, you’ve been... off lately. What’s going on? You get dumped or something?”

  Andy shot them both a withering look but didn’t rise to the bait. “I’m fine,” he said, a little too quickly.

  “Uh-huh,” Torin replied, his grin fading slightly as he studied Andy’s face. “Doesn’t seem like it. You’ve got that look—like something’s eating at you.”

  Andy sighed, setting down the wrench and wiping his hands on a rag. He hesitated, unsure if he should say anything. But the truth was, he didn’t even know what to say. He didn’t understand what was going on with Terra, and it was wearing on him.

  “It’s nothing,” he finally said, though even he didn’t sound convinced. “Just... a lot on my plate.”

  Jorin exchanged a glance with Torin, his usual smirk replaced by a rare moment of seriousness. “If it’s about Terra,” Jorin ventured, his tone cautious, “you should just talk to her. She’s been acting a little weird lately, too.”

  Andy’s stomach tightened. He had told no one about Terra’s strange behavior, but it seemed he wasn’t the only one who’d noticed.

  “I’ll handle it,” Andy said, his voice firmer now. “Thanks, though.”

  Torin gave him a skeptical look but didn’t press. “Alright, man. Just don’t let it stew too long. Whatever’s going on, you two will work it out. You always do.”

  The two of them left soon after, their usual banter trailing behind them as they disappeared down the hall. Andy sat back at the workbench, his thoughts churning. Jorin’s comment stuck with him—she’s been acting a little weird lately, too. It wasn’t just him, then. Something really was bothering her.

  And then it hit him: he’d completely forgotten to tell Terra about the upcoming debrief. He cursed under his breath, realizing that in all the chaos of the last few days, it had slipped his mind. That alone could explain why she might be upset with him—or at least, it could be part of the reason.

  But as much as he wanted to believe it was just about the debrief, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to it. Terra’s wince of pain, her quiet avoidance—it wasn’t like her. And whatever it was, he couldn’t let it slide. Terra was one of his closest friends, and if she was hurting, he had to do something.

  Andy stood abruptly, pulling off his work gloves and tossing them onto the bench. Wily, who had been working quietly in the corner, looked up in mild surprise.

  “Heading out?” Wily asked.

  “Yeah,” Andy replied, grabbing his jacket. “I need to take care of something.”

  Wily gave him a knowing nod, but said nothing. Andy’s thoughts were already racing ahead to what he would say to Terra. Whatever was going on, he would not let her face it alone—not if he could help it.

  Andy let out a slow breath, sinking back onto the bench. The night felt colder now, the silence heavier. But he stayed there for a while, trying to piece together the fragments of Terra’s words, hoping he could reach her before the distance between them grew any wider.

  He stepped out of the workshop, feeling the cool air on his face as he turned toward the path leading out of the training complex. He said goodbye to his friends, his mind already shifting gears. There was something else he had to do now—find Terra.

  Last chapter of the week!

  Hope you all have a great weekend.