The next two days were grueling.
Dr. Aron worked tirelessly, his advanced medical equipment humming softly in the background as he carefully treated Rei's internal injuries.
Despite her strong Lunar powers, the damage inflicted by Deadbeat's relentless assault was severe - and for someone as resilient as Rei, even Aron admitted the process was more critical than expected.
Tim stayed close by her side, refusing to leave the medical bay. Whenever Aron asked for silence, Tim would simply sit there, his presence a silent anchor for Rei.
But it wasn't just Tim.
Jim often dropped in, pacing nervously or talking softly to Rei when she stirred. "You're gonna be okay," he'd whisper. "We all want you to be okay." His usual carefree demeanor was gone, replaced by genuine worry.
Henry and Marie were giving Rei and Tim constant company trying to cheer up the mood.
Jeromy was steady and practical, ensuring everything Aron needed was at hand - a quiet but vital pillar of support.
Even Heatsun, stoic as ever, made sure to check in - his presence a reminder of the discipline and strength that had shaped Tim.
And then there was Moonsalt.
Rei, in her haze of pain and exhaustion, watched as her former mentor stood at a distance - arms crossed, an unreadable expression on her face. It wasn't the cold glare Rei remembered from years of brutal training under Dark Void's regime. It was... concern.
It struck Rei like a wave.
She wasn't alone.
For the first time in her life, people cared whether she lived or died.
Not because she was a weapon. Not because they needed her for war. But because she mattered.
The realization unraveled something deep within her - a knot she hadn't even known existed.
By the end of the second day, Dr. Aron finally stepped back, wiping the sweat from his brow. "She's stable now," he announced. "Her recovery will still take time, but... she's out of danger."
The room let out a collective breath of relief.
Tim, who hadn't moved from his spot for hours, finally spoke. "Thanks, Doc."
Aron gave a small nod, then added softly, "She's strong - that helped."
Rei, still weak, opened her eyes.
Her gaze swept over everyone in the room - Tim, Jim, Heatsun, Jeromy, Moonsalt, Henry and Marie.
The words came before she could stop them. "Why... are you all still here?"
Jim blinked. "Uh... because we care?"
Rei's throat tightened. "But why? I don't... deserve this."
Tim's expression hardened. "Rei, don't start that again."
She shook her head lightly, the movement almost too much for her fragile state. "All my life... I fought for Dark Void. I was a weapon. No one ever... no one ever cared if I was hurt - not him,not the others." Her voice broke. "Why would you?"
Jim's face softened. "Because you're not a weapon to us."
Rei's vision blurred - not from pain, but from something else entirely.
Tim leaned forward, his voice firm but gentle. "You're part of this now, Rei. Whether you like it or not, you've got people who actually give a damn about you."
Heatsun nodded solemnly. "You're not alone anymore, remember."
Jeromy didn't say much - but the way he stood close, as if ready to help if Rei so much as twitched the wrong way, spoke volumes.
Henry and Marie stayed near as silent supports.
And then there was Moonsalt.
She finally stepped forward, her gaze softening in a way Rei had never seen before. "I didn't train you to be a weapon," she said quietly. "I trained you to survive. If I didn't show you kindness then... it's because I didn't know how. But that doesn't mean I didn't care."
Rei's breath hitched.
She didn't know how to process this - this sudden flood of support, of warmth.
It wasn't a battlefield.
It wasn't a brutal training session.
It felt like... a family.
For the first time in her life, Rei realized what it meant to belong - not as a pawn, but simply as herself.
She didn't know how long the tears fell, but for once, she didn't stop them.
The Next day...
The air in Dr. Aron's medical center felt different - tense, but charged with purpose.
Jeromy led the way in the Centre. His mere presence was enough to make the atmosphere heavy, his scarred face and cold eyes a reminder of the brutal world they were up against. The group followed behind.
Rei walked slowly, still a little weak, but more determined than before.
Tim stayed close by her side, just in case.
Jim, kept glancing around the medical center like he was waiting for some secret passage to pop open on its own.
"Where are we going?" Jim finally asked.
Jeromy didn't respond. He stopped in front of a plain wall near the back of the medical bay - sleek, metallic, and unassuming.
Then, he pressed his hand onto a small panel. A glowing digital lock appeared, displaying an encrypted password screen.
Jeromy's fingers moved with calculated precision, typing a complex code. The panel flickered once, then the entire wall shuddered and began to shift.
With a low mechanical groan, the wall slid open, revealing a hidden passageway. Cold, sterile air rushed out - and beyond the entrance lay something none of them expected.
A sprawling underground base.
The room was massive, lined with high-tech equipment, strategic holographic maps flickering mid-air, and weapon racks along the walls. There were workstations buzzing with data, and several people - all dressed in combat-ready gear - moved about with purpose.
Tim stepped in calmly - he had been here before - but the others...
Jim's jaw dropped. "Whoa... this is awesome."
Rei blinked, still processing the sheer size of the operation hidden beneath the medical center.
Henry's jaw dropped. "I can't say it... but it's way better than our base... and these people look pretty serious."
Marie just saw everything with interested eyes as she responded. "Obviously it has to be. Because they are a real organization who had been opposing Dark Void for years."
Even Heatsun, as composed as ever, allowed a flicker of surprise to cross his face.
While Moonsalt just silently observed the technology with high curiosity.
Jeromy broke the silence. "Welcome to the Resistance Base."
Tim, with a small smirk, leaned against the wall. "Told you there was more to this place than bandages and scalpels."
Dr. Aron followed behind, a rare softness in his usual no-nonsense expression. "This is where we fight back."
Then, a sudden interruption - the sound of small, hurried footsteps.
"Dad!"
Two kids - a boy around 8 years old and a girl about 7 - came running out from behind a console. The boy had intelligent eyes,with a cool style while the girl had a observant but playful grin.
The boy, Darren, tugged at Aron's coat. "When's Mom coming back? She promised she'd tell me about her new battle!"
The girl, Maria, pouted. "Yeah, she said she'd bring me something cool this time!"
Tim blinked. "Wait... Dad?" He looked at Aron, stunned. "You have kids?"
Before Aron could respond, a voice - strong, confident, and carrying a dangerous edge - echoed from behind.
"Relax, I'm here."
A woman strode into the room, exuding raw power and authority. She was 34 years old, with crimson hair, and a long combat coat draped over her shoulders.
Her presence was fierce - the kind of person you'd expect to lead armies and walk away from explosions without looking back.
Darren and Maria lit up. "Mom!"
Her name plate displayed Sheila, the Commander of the Resistance.
She knelt down, ruffling their hair as they bombarded her with questions about her latest battle.
Tim just stared. "...Is she...?"
Aron, standing a little too straight, cleared his throat. "Yes. My wife, Sheila."
Jim nearly choked. "Your wife?! Commander Sheila?!"
Jim always heard of her liberation missions when he was training in Celestic Justice.
The news of her every successful missions used to spread like wildfire inspiring the cadets.
Jim had always associated her name with strength, boldness and courage. But here she was now, right in front of them.
Jeromy, arms crossed, let a rare smirk tug at his lips. "You're looking at the strongest fighter in the Resistance."
Rei, still absorbing everything, finally spoke. "You're the one who freed an entire planet from one of Dark Void's Commanders control... and liberated another just now?"
(Rei previously heard it from Jeromy during her treatment when he was talking about Resistance organisation.)
Sheila's gaze shifted, locking onto Rei like a laser. "That's right." Her voice was steady but firm. "And this time... I got something that might finally match Cannibal Deadbeat's power."
The room fell silent at those words.
Dr. Aron's hand subtly curled into a fist. "How badly were you hurt this time?"
Sheila laughed - a rough, fearless sound. "Come on, Aron. You know I've had worse."
He didn't look convinced. "That doesn't mean I will ignore it, as a doctor."
Jeromy cut in. "Sheila's a battle freak. She pushes herself harder than anyone here that's why I trained her to lead this group."
It all started making sense as Jeromy described it.
Then, a sudden interruption - the sound of small, hurried footsteps.
"Dad!"
Two kids - a boy around 8 years old and a girl about 7 - came running out from behind a console. The boy had intelligent eyes,with a cool style while the girl had a observant but playful grin.
The boy, Darren, tugged at Aron's coat. "When's Mom coming back? She promised she'd tell me about her new battle!"
The girl, Maria, pouted. "Yeah, she said she'd bring me something cool this time!"
Tim blinked. "Wait... Dad?" He looked at Aron, stunned. "You have kids?"
Before Aron could respond, a voice - strong, confident, and carrying a dangerous edge - echoed from behind.
"Relax, I'm here."
A woman strode into the room, exuding raw power and authority. She was 34 years old, with crimson hair, and a long combat coat draped over her shoulders.
Her presence was fierce - the kind of person you'd expect to lead armies and walk away from explosions without looking back.
Darren and Maria lit up. "Mom!"
Her name plate displayed Sheila, the Commander of the Resistance.
She knelt down, ruffling their hair as they bombarded her with questions about her latest battle.
Tim just stared. "...Is she...?"
Aron, standing a little too straight, cleared his throat. "Yes. My wife, Sheila."
Jim nearly choked. "Your wife?! Commander Sheila?!"
Jim always heard of her liberation missions when he was training in Celestic Justice.
The news of her every successful missions used to spread like wildfire inspiring the cadets.
Jim had always associated her name with strength, boldness and courage. But here she was now, right in front of them.
Jeromy, arms crossed, let a rare smirk tug at his lips. "You're looking at the strongest fighter in the Resistance."
Rei, still absorbing everything, finally spoke. "You're the one who freed an entire planet from one of Dark Void's Commanders control... and liberated another just now?"
(Rei previously heard it from Jeromy during her treatment when he was talking about Resistance organisation.)
Sheila's gaze shifted, locking onto Rei like a laser. "That's right." Her voice was steady but firm. "And this time... I got something that might finally match Cannibal Deadbeat's power."
The room fell silent at those words.
Dr. Aron's hand subtly curled into a fist. "How badly were you hurt this time?"
Sheila laughed - a rough, fearless sound. "Come on, Aron. You know I've had worse."
He didn't look convinced. "That doesn't mean I will ignore it, as a doctor."
Jeromy cut in. "Sheila's a battle freak. She pushes herself harder than anyone here that's why I trained her to lead this group."
It all started making sense as Jeromy described it.