The Following Morning
The Following Morning
Levi and Lily sat beneath humming lamps in the local station, the night's battle etched into their bruises and bandages. Paperwork towered between them like a punishment.
"You're taking your sweet time, Levi," Lily muttered without looking up. "Finish those forms before I freeze this entire room."
Levi chuckled, catching the concern hidden in her edge. "No need to get frosty. I'm almost done. Just needed a second."
"You've had plenty of seconds," she said, a faint blush rising. "Hurry."
Their banter ended when a runner appeared at the door."Captain Irons will see you now."
Captain Irons
Irons' office was spare and orderly. He stood at the window, arms folded, his Silver Star badge catching the morning light—old metal, well-earned. His lieutenant waited nearby, clipboard in hand.
Levi gave a clear account: the sting at the shelter, the auction in the warehouse, Reed's ambush, the collars—and the fusion they had barely survived.
Silence lingered until Irons finally spoke, his voice flat as a verdict."Damn it. They used Prototype Collar Compound X-9."
Levi frowned. "You knew what that thing was?"
"I hoped it was gone." Irons turned, his voice low. "X-9 wasn't meant as a weapon. It was a restraint enhancer—built to subdue high-tier outlaws. The brainchild of Dr. Hagan Kestrel. Brilliant. Dangerous. He tried grafting subjugation tech directly into the nervous system, turning people into walking enforcement units."
Lily's jaw tightened. "Government sanctioned?"
"Once. A long time ago," Irons admitted. "Until we discovered the survival rate—ten percent. Those who lived became unstable. The collars fed on strength, emotion, willpower. Not tools—parasites."
Levi's fist tightened. "And the rest of the test subjects?"
Irons' eyes hardened. "You already know."
"Then why keep it alive at all?" Lily asked.
"Because it worked—for some, for a while. Imagine stopping a criminal instantly, no bloodshed, no civilian deaths." He shook his head. "Kestrel brewed inhibitors to keep the effect stable, but it was a gamble. Too little, and it failed. Too much, and it burned the host out. He sold black-market versions to run test off the books. My guess? Reed didn't realize his dose would pull him into the fusion. He probably thought the trader would go berserk while he slipped away."
Levi exhaled. "So Kestrel's still out there?"
"Vanished years ago," Irons said grimly. "But if X-9 is surfacing again… someone's resurrecting his work. And that worries me."
The Offer
The room fell silent until Irons straightened, his tone formal.
"Commander Levi. Lieutenant Lily. Your reports and victim statements speak clearly. You showed integrity, restraint, and exceptional combat judgment—even if the hospital ledger suggests otherwise. You've done this post, and Five Points, proud."
Levi leaned against the wall; Lily stood steady at his side.
"You two operate at a level I rarely see outside the core," Irons continued. "I'm extending an offer—transfer north to the Combat Core. A broader mandate. A bigger impact."
Levi's interest flickered, but he kept quiet. Lily nudged him, her gaze urging him forward.
"I appreciate it," Levi said at last. "But I have one condition. My sister, Silvia—she comes with me. I won't leave her behind."
Irons arched a brow, then nodded. "Your loyalty does you credit. If Silvia joins the academy and trains with the Medical Core, she can reside in Corps housing."
"Thank you," Levi said, dipping his head. He stepped into the hall and placed the call.
His voice softened as he spoke to Silvia—laying out the transfer, the chance at safety, and the path through the academy. She hesitated, torn between fear and the promise of stability. But in the end, family won. She agreed.
Levi returned with new purpose in his stride. "I accept, Captain. We'll join the Combat Core—and protect what matters, no matter the cost."
Irons allowed a rare smile. "Very well. This post will remain under protection until a new chain of command is established. I look forward to seeing what you two accomplish with a wider field."
A New Chapter
With Silvia's enrollment into the Medical Core underway and transfer orders pending, Levi, Lily, and Silvia stood at the threshold of a new chapter. Bound by loyalty. Forged through fire. Ready to face the rising shadow of Kestrel's legacy.
As the sun slipped behind the station walls, wind stirred along the eaves. Somewhere beyond the capital skyline, a storm of change was already gathering.