"Yo bro... wakey wakey..." said a faded but familiar voice. Of course, it was Tanner.

  "Mm.. mh? Overslept?" said Varryance, tired, with a big yawn followed by a stretch.

  "Nah bro... the girls are making breakfast... thought you'd wanna, you know... hang out. Basically, everyone woke up but you."

  "Alright... get out and let me get dressed..."

  "Sweet, we're all waiting for ya!" said Tanner, leaving the room and closing the door gently.

  Varryance let out a sigh as he covered his face with a tired grunt - he had slept well.

  He rose to his feet, searching for his clothes. Though he didn't remember where he left them, he eventually found them and put his shirt and pants on. He really needed to change clothes or wash - he smelled awful. He walked to the door, listening through the wooden frame. Laughter and clattering filled the air. With these people, it didn't feel like they were living in an apocalyptic world.

  "Good morning, sunshine!" said Troy, as everyone began to chant the same thing after him.

  Varryance walked up to Jax, sitting beside Silas, and offered a bro-handshake. Silas ignored it completely and just stared.

  Varryance took a closer look at Silas. The mask was still on from before, his long curly hair almost like Luci's, and his brown, stern eyes gave a hopeless stare. Varryance's first thought was, "What did this guy see?"

  Silas only nodded toward him before rising and leaving the building.

  Varryance took a seat at the table with Mack and Tanner. Troy sat with the girls.

  As chatter and clattering continued in the background, Varryance and Jax began to talk.

  "Hey Jax, mind if I ask something?"

  "Shoot."

  "That guy... Silas, was his name?"

  "Mhm... what about him?"

  Varryance began, "What's his deal? Compared to everyone... except Mack... no offense."

  Mack just waved it off with a chuckle.

  "He's like, I don't know... cold? Not as lively or chirpy as the rest of you."

  Jax sighed. "Yeah, I thought you'd ask..."

  "Really?"

  "Yeah... well, Silas is the newest member of our group. This bunch here - we're basically the most efficient 'Barge task force,' you could call it. I found him randomly while doing my routine patrol around Marrow Bay."

  "Marrow Bay, the town?"

  "Or Newport - where we saved you. I personally think he came from Mount Hood, and before you ask - yeah, that's where the NURO quarantine base is located. Keeps us in check for quarantine zones. You pass over that zone, and three minutes later, they're behind you with hellfire missiles."

  "So... let me get this straight. He comes from a NURO base, and you just take him in?"

  Jax sighed again. "Varry... I'm also from IARO. So is Tanner, so are you, Silas, Mack, and Celene."

  Varryance looked at the table. Tanner and Mack both nodded seriously.

  "All of you..?"

  "Not all," said Mack.

  "Who isn't?" began Varryance, but Tanner quickly jumped in defensively.

  "We're... not supposed to talk about it. Celene hates it. She says what matters is who we are now - who we were before or after the flash doesn't matter. 'You're different from yesterday,' she usually says."

  "Noted..." said Varryance, as Jax continued.

  "Celene sees something in him. He's only different around her and me. To everyone else, he acts like a professional colleague."

  "Potential love interest?" asked Varryance, as Tanner gave a humph.

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Jax shook his head.

  "Leadership and respect. For him, love doesn't exist."

  "Jesus..." murmured Varryance. He was surrounded by his ex-enemies, in a way. But then he realized - so was himself his own enemy.

  "Food is ready! What are you boys talking about?" said Celene in a chipper, girlish tone. Isabel and Vanesa giggled alongside her.

  "Oh, just... you know, the mission and all," said Jax, nodding toward Celene.

  "Well, let's not get worried now - we're eating! Where's Silas?"

  "He's uh... outside. He'd come if he was hungry," said Jax.

  "Yeah well... you know the rules. Eat and do your needs before we go - not like before, Tanner, when you had to take a leak in the MIDDLE OF THE MISSION!"

  "I'M SORRY WE HAVE ONLY ONE BATHROOM AND A TIGHT SCHEDULE- AHH!" he screamed as Celene slapped his neck, giggling afterward.

  Varryance was stunned - the group's dynamic was genuinely heartwarming.

  "Oh well... he's an adult. He knows what he needs," said Celene, sitting down. The others followed as Isabel placed the food on the table.

  "Fish... guess that's our only diet nowadays?" said Varryance. He wasn't complaining - it beat canned tuna.

  "Hey... beggars can't be choosers, right? Eat!" said Celene in the same teasing tone she used with Tanner. She already seemed comfortable with the new addition to the team.

  Everyone ate quietly. Varryance looked around the table - it felt like a family. Vanesa caught his gaze, both smiling, before Troy asked Celene:

  "Oh, Celene, will Kael come too?"

  "Of course he'll come. He's part of the group, no?"

  "Wait, who's Kael?" asked Varryance.

  "A real charm, you'll see," replied Jax with a chuckle that dripped with sarcasm.

  After half an hour of eating and chatting, everyone was done. Celene began to order around.

  "Alright, boys, get yourselves ready. We'll clean up here. Jax, you took the gear from Vanesa's?"

  "Yeah, it's all outside in the truck. Got it last night."

  "Alright, Vanesa, show Varryance what to wear. I'll clean with Isabel," said Celene.

  "Alright, come on, Varry," said Vanesa, grabbing his hand as they headed outside with the rest checking the gear.

  "Basic clothing... eugh, it's one of those boring missions," said Tanner.

  "Don't act like you didn't know it was a disguise mission! At least you're safe, Varryance is risking his butt!" said Troy.

  "Hey, he has a point," said Varryance, pointing toward Troy.

  "Weaponry... where's the weaponry?" asked Tanner.

  "It's a scouting mission, dumbass - the actual heist is tomorrow!" replied Troy.

  Jax, Varryance, and even Mack chuckled. Those two were too much.

  "Everything seems to be here... disguises, tapped IDs..." began Mack.

  "So we ready?" asked Varryance as Celene and Isabel came outside, shutting the door behind them.

  "Yup! Everyone dress up. Let's not stress it - Stormers like their deliveries late!"

  Mack handed out the clothes for each person. Varryance examined his disguise: "203rd Crane Mountain Complex" stamped across the back. His red-blurred vision returned, flashing images of the old logo and layout - trauma resurfacing.

  "You okay?" said Isabel, grabbing his shoulder. Vanesa and the others turned to look.

  "Yeah... yeah, I'm okay... eugh, this..."

  "Varryance, it's fine. You don't have to mention it," said Celene softly, nodding with a smile. Varryance smiled back - she was kind.

  "Everyone, dress up!" said Celene once more. Everyone, except Tanner, went inside to change - including Varryance, who followed Troy.

  As Troy and Varryance dressed, Troy broke the silence.

  "I understand you."

  "What do you mean?"

  "That look on your face... trauma. I understand it. It'll be fine. That place is in ruins. With us, you're safe - we'll make sure of it."

  Varryance wanted to tear up. A young kid consoling him - it was something else. He put a hand on Troy's shoulder.

  "Thank you, Troy..."

  As he did, he heard a roaring vehicle approaching. Both of them hurried out.

  By the time they reached the gate, everyone else was already dressed. The girls' outfits were clearly tight - Isabel looked uncomfortable. Everyone stood by the gate as a pickup truck approached. The passenger was Felicia, and the driver was a ripped man in his mid-thirties.

  "SUUUUUUPPPP!" shouted the man, rushing up to Troy, lifting him effortlessly, and headlocking him with a scalp rub. He greeted no one else, mostly unintentionally.

  "Varryance, that's Kael," said Jax, pointing.

  "Oh shit, you're the one Jax had to save - good save, bro!" said Kael, pointing jokingly at Jax.

  "Yeah... hi to you too," said Jax dryly.

  Kael turned to Varryance. "Sorry bro, I'm Kael, the demolitions expert. And this is Felicia. She ran some tests on me, y'know... to see if I'm stable enough for the mission and all that crap."

  "Clearly..." whispered Tanner - luckily, Kael didn't hear.

  "Hey Varry!" greeted Felicia with a nervous wave.

  "Hey Felicia!" replied Varryance.

  "Alright everyone! Let's move out - we're on time. Kael, Felicia, Vanesa, Isabel, and Jax in the back of the rig. Varryance rides up front with Mack and Tanner," ordered Celene.

  Everyone followed. Mack climbed into the driver's seat, Tanner beside him, and Varryance next to the door.

  "Who's guarding the place?" asked Varryance. Tanner replied while Mack stayed focused.

  "Some goons from The Barge - don't worry!"

  "Everyone ready?" said Mack into the microphone. Silence.

  "Why no response?" asked Varryance.

  "They can't. Sound suppression - Mack does it to test if it's working," replied Tanner.

  Mack flicked several knobs and buttons. The rig began to hum with a charging sound before roaring to life. The cockpit stayed steady, but outside, the ground trembled violently.

  "Alright... let's do this thing," said Mack, pressing a button as the gate opened.

  The massive rig rolled forward.