The truck stops in front of the Roost, and the handlers begin unloading the crates. Danzo and Gusto step off and walk toward Sterling. Danzo places his hand in front of Gusto, signalling him to stay back. He and Sterling's eyes meet; he can feel the tension.

  “Commander Sterling,” Danzo greets.

  “Cadet,” Sterling replies. “We came looking for you two so that we could get the welcoming ceremony started. What were you two doing in the main base?”

  “I was just asking if they had any beds to spare. Gusto accompanied me.” Danzo’s eyes remain fixed on Sterlings.

  “Oh, were you causing any issues?” Sterling asks, the Slayers behind him try to look serious, but having seen behind the veil, they don’t scare Danzo. Gilroy's group tries to stifle their laughs while Zeke looks scared.

  “No, I just went to the division secretary with a claw soldier, and they gave us what we wanted.“ Danzo remembers Alexander's words. “At no cost to the Slayers.”

  Sterling steps forward and attempts to stare Danzo down, “Are you certain?”

  Danzo flexes his wrist, feeling the blood in his arm flow faster– ready to break out. “I am certain.”

  They remain silent for a bit. The tension is broken by one of the handlers shouting, “Delivery complete. Please provide your signature to acknowledge you received the requested items.” he walks up to Danzo with a clipboard for signatures.

  Danzo turns away from Sterling, who is still staring at him, and signs the forms. Handing it back, he thanks the handler and returns to Sterling.

  “You have a serious attitude issue, cadet,” Sterling says in a grim voice. Danzo remains silent, staring back. Unable to keep his serious composure, Sterling sighs and says, “Maybe we got off on the wrong foot.”

  He stretches his hand out, and one of the soldiers gives him a beer. He opens it and offers it to Danzo, “How about we let this slide, and we go enjoy the feast?”

  A pang of anger passes through Danzo's body. “How–”

  Before he finishes, Gusto steps in front of him and takes the beer, laughing, “He’s right, Danzo! We can all be friends.” He takes a sip and wraps his arm around Danzo’s shoulder.

  Sterling laughs loudly and says, “Ha! Knew you’d see it our way. Come! Come! The food is getting cold!” The tension immediately disappears as everyone walks toward the command center for a large feast.

  Danzo and Gusto are forced to partake in a social feast where the Slayers welcome the recruits joining them. Danzo waits for the party to go into full swing before attempting to sneak out. Once the music becomes loud and the soldiers start conversing with one another, Danzo leaves the command center quietly.

  As he walks through the empty base, he reflects on what Vito taught him about camaraderie and blending in.

  “More pathetic than I realised,” He mutters.

  He approaches the crate and places his bags beside him. Carrying them all night has left his arms feeling more tired than usual. The crate is made of thick, rough-cut planks reinforced with metal brackets at each corner. Numbers are printed on the side, with a number indicating its weight. Danzo looks around the crate and finds no easy way to pull it apart. To open it, he will need a crowbar.

  He quickly checks that no one is around. He pulls up his sleeve and pulls a bandage from his inside pocket. He flexes his wrist and makes his blood form a spike to pierce his skin. He focuses on the blood, and it shoots out onto the seams of the box. It seeps into the edges of where it is sealed. He forces the blood to rush into the edges, attempting to pry it open. The box lifts slightly and drops with a heavy thud. Patience, Danzo. Don’t get hasty.

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  He focuses on loosening the edge, pushing more blood until it separates the lid from the box. After a few seconds, he hears a loud creaking sound from the crate as the lid lifts slightly. He walks to it and places his hand underneath, pulling the lid off with ease.

  The blood forms a smooth sphere, and the bleeding from his wrist stops. He bandages the cut immediately. He opens his bag and takes a jar out. Once the lid is removed, the blood flows inside and is sealed. He will just need to dispose of it later, but for now, it will just be in his bag.

  He returns his focus to the crate and evaluates the crate's contents: bed frame parts, sheets, pillows, blankets, mattresses, screws, and tools. He takes off his jacket and rolls up his sleeves. It is going to be a long night.

  He spends the next hour setting up the beds. Halfway through, Gusto joins him. He only noticed midway that Danzo had left, so he came to find him. Once the two worked together, it was relatively easy to set up the bedframes. After assembly, the two beds lie opposite one another. They decided to split the tent.

  The rest of the evening is spent securing the tent, fixing the lighting, and cleaning the area. Once that is done, the boys grab one of the tables and chairs outside and place it in the center of their tent.

  Having finished for the night, Danzo sits by the table and reads through the Fleeting Lifeline document he received earlier. His reading is interrupted as a bottle of Fireburn is placed in front of him. He looks up to notice Gusto sitting opposite him.

  “Thanks, but I don't drink,” Danzo replies as he returns to the document.

  “I think this calls for a small celebration! We sorted our tent and are beginning a new chapter of our lives. Gusto looks around for a couple of seconds before returning to Danzo. “We don't have any glasses, do we?” He stands up and leaves the tent for a while, leaving Danzo alone in the tent.

  After today, he decides to save himself the frustration and puts the document away. Once packed, he returns to the table and observes the bandage on his wrist. The bleeding has stopped.

  Kira and Alexander cross his mind. The way Alexander spoke about Kira sounded like he wasn't to be underestimated, nor will this be his last encounter with him. The way he smirks is troublesome, as if it's a game to him.

  What is wrong with everyone? We are in the military, yet we indulge in such pointless things.

  Gusto re-enters with two glasses in hand. “They won't notice two glasses missing,” he laughs as he places them on the table. “Oh, and since you don't drink, I got this.” He pulls out a bottle of juice.

  “Fair enough,” Danzo says as he takes the bottle of juice.

  “So tell me. What's the plan now?” Gusto asks as he pours himself a glass of Fireburn.

  “The plan?”

  “The Slayers. Turning them around. I’m guessing that’s what you are aiming for?” Gusto places the bottle down.

  Danzo places his glass on the table and looks at Gusto. “I have some thoughts about that. But before I go on, are you sure you want to be involved? There are many ways this can fail, and if it does, there is no turning back.”

  “I do. And besides, you'll struggle without me.”

  Danzo furrows his eyebrows in confusion. “Explain.”

  “Danzo, as I have mentioned numerous times, you aren't the easiest person to understand. You may not care or notice others, but they certainly notice you. Gilroy's group has already said some harsh things about you, and I know the Slayers' opinion of you is quite…problematic.”

  Danzo recounts the stares and how they stood away from him on the N.S. Coaster. Vito and Maria had warned him about his personality.

  Gusto continues, “It's easy for you to step on people's toes. You are too direct. While it's good for a leader, it is horrible behaviour for a recruit. Even today, you should have noticed the numerous times I had to step in. I may not be the most charismatic type, but I do understand how others work, the one spot where you are lacking. If no one keeps an eye on that, you will be scrutinised and watched wherever you step. I doubt your plan will be able to flourish under such conditions, correct?” Gusto finishes by taking a sip of his drink. His words are undercut as he coughs from the drink.

  “You are not wrong,” Danzo replies. Gusto is more socially perceptive than he is. Vito was right, he will need someone to connect to others on his behalf, especially to those who don't concern him.

  Danzo takes a sip before answering, “You made your point. Let me share with you how I will reignite the Slayers.”