The Resistance was formed 15 years ago, with Jeromy carefully handpicking its members - choosing only those strong, smart, or bold enough to stand a chance against Dark Void(which also included some Dark Void defectors) and Dr.Aron volunteered to support him as a friend and healer.
Among the members, Sheila stood out. She wasn't just strong - she was dominant. Her refusal to back down, no matter how dire the situation, made her an obvious choice for leadership.
Jeromy trained her himself - the same way he trained Tim, but more intense. He pushed her until she either broke or became unbreakable.
She chose the latter.
And despite her fearless, reckless nature, there was always one constant: Aron.
The doctor who stitched her up after every battle, scolded her for taking too many risks, and silently worried about her each time she left.
Aron (in flashback): "You're always getting yourself injured."
Sheila (grinning despite her wounds): "That's what you're here for, right?"
Over time, their bond grew.
What began as a healer treating a warrior slowly grew into something deeper.
Sheila - the unyielding commander - realized Aron was the only one who ever truly saw her beyond the fight. And Aron, ever the calm and logical man, found himself captivated by the fiery force of nature that was Sheila.
They married 10 years ago - a rare moment of softness in their otherwise chaotic lives.
Tim finally shook his head. "So let me get this straight... Jeromy trained me... Heatsun trained me... Jeromy trained Sheila... Sheila married Aron... and now Aron and Sheila's kids are running around this Resistance base like it's their playground?"
Jim, still processing, muttered, "This sounds like a really weird family union."
Heatsun, stoic as ever, simply nodded. "Fate works in strange ways."
And for the first time in days - weeks even - Rei laughed softly.
A real laugh.
Aron (sighing): "And yet, you still get injured every time."
Sheila (laughing): "That's why I married the best doctor."
The team couldn't help but smile at their dynamic.
Rei looked around the Resistance base, a soft smile playing on her face - a rare sight.
For the first time in her life, she felt something warm, something unfamiliar yet comforting.
"...I'm actually pretty glad," she said softly, her voice steady but with an unmistakable trace of emotion. "To have such a big family now."
The room, which had been filled with the tension of war and strategy just moments before, seemed to relax. A wave of unexpected joy washed over everyone.
Darren and Maria clapped excitedly. "Yeah! We have a new big sister!"
Sheila smirked. "Guess you're stuck with us now."
Dr. Aron, standing quietly beside her, allowed himself the smallest smile.
But as the lighthearted atmosphere settled, Rei's gaze shifted to Jim.
He was standing a little apart from the group, his usual energetic self dimmed, his arms crossed, his face stiff. It didn't take much for Rei to figure out what was bothering him.
"Jim," she said softly.
He blinked, looking up, but didn't respond.
She stepped closer, her voice firm yet gentle. "You still feel guilty, don't you?"
Jim's jaw tightened. "I left you... with Deadbeat. I only thought about saving my parents. I didn't think about what would happen to you..."
There it was - the burden he'd been carrying since that day.
But before he could spiral deeper into guilt, Rei did something unexpected.
She pulled him into a hug.
It wasn't dramatic - just a simple, strong embrace.
"Jim," she said again, softly but clearly. "I'm safe now. You don't have to worry anymore."
Jim stood frozen for a moment, his eyes wide.
Then, slowly, his arms wrapped around Rei - a silent, unspoken apology and a wordless thank you.
And then -
THUD
Tim collapsed onto the floor, his legs giving out beneath him, his face frozen in exaggerated shock.
"Wha- TIM?!" Jim yelped, rushing to his side.
Everyone whipped around, stunned - even Jeromy, the usually stone-faced warrior, blinked in confusion.
Heatsun simply raised an eyebrow. "Tim?"
Henry tried his best to hold back his laughter while Marie just intently watched it unfold.
Tim, lying dramatically on the ground, mumbled, "My little brother... betr..."
The entire room went silent.
And then -
Sheila burst into laughter. "Are you seriously jealous right now?"
Even Moonsalt chuckled. "What a fool."
Jim, flustered, waved his arms. "It's not like that!"
Rei, her face slightly pink, quickly added, "It's not like that! Tim's just a big fool!"
Tim, still sprawled on the floor, peeked through one eye. "Then why'd you hug him and not me?"
"Because Jim needed it!" Rei shot back, her cheeks getting redder.
Jim groaned. "Seriously, bro?"
Tim sat up, brushing imaginary dust off his coat, his usual smirk creeping back. "Just checking."
Darren and Maria were giggling uncontrollably, whispering things like, "I think big bro Tim is jealous," and "Maybe he wanted a hug too!"
Dr. Aron shook his head with a sigh. "Unbelievable."
Rei, still a bit flustered, crossed her arms and turned to Jim. "Look - I'll always be here for you, okay? Think of me as your tough older sister."
Tim, still dramatically holding his chest like he'd been betrayed, muttered, "So now I'm the third wheel...All this time I thought I was the main character. Now,it seems like I am reduced to just a mere side character."
Jim, finally smiling again, nudged Tim with his elbow. "Relax, Tim. You're still my brother - now I just have two older siblings watching my back."
Tim blinked, processing the words - and for a moment, the teasing stopped.
Rei was Jim's older sister figure.
Tim was like his older brother.
And though none of them were related by blood... they were still a family.
It was ironic - Heatsun trained Tim for 15 years, Moonsalt trained Rei for 15 years, and now both Tim and Rei stood side by side, watching over Jim in their own way.
A strange, tangled family - but a family nonetheless.
Finally, Tim got to his feet, dusting himself off. "Well," he said "at least we know one thing for sure."
Rei tensed. "...What?"
Tim scratched his hair nervously. "That you and I clearly have nothing going on between us."
Rei's face lit up a shade of red so bright it could rival Tim's Solar powers.
"You-! You-!" she stammered, flustered beyond words. "You're such a big fool, Tim!"
Jim burst into laughter. "Looks like you're both fools."
And for the first time in what felt like forever - amidst all the battles, betrayals, and scars - they simply laughed together.
A family born not from blood, but from bonds.
As the laughter echoed through the hidden Resistance base, a sense of unexpected warmth settled over the group - a rare moment of light in their otherwise war-torn lives.
Rei, still flustered, crossed her arms and looked away, her cheeks slowly returning to their normal color.
Tim was trying to make an excuse about the scene he caused while Henry and Marie constantly tried to prove him wrong.
Jim, shaking his head with a smirk, finally broke the silence. "Alright, alright... let's not forget why we're here." His voice was light, but there was a seriousness underneath. "We still have a war to fight."
Jeromy nodded, his arms folded. "Jim's right. Dark Void is still out there, and Deadbeat's going to wake up in less than two weeks."
The mood in the room shifted immediately - from playful to determined.
Sheila, standing beside Dr. Aron, spoke up. "Our forces are growing stronger, but we need a plan. With Deadbeat down for now, this is the best chance we have to regroup and prepare for what's next."
Tim nodded. "Rei and I need to figure out how to combine our Solar and Lunar powers. Because I somehow think that may work out."
Rei glanced at him. "If we can master that, we might stand a chance against Deadbeat's... thing."
Moonsalt, arms crossed, added, "It's not just Deadbeat. We still have Dark Void himself."
Jeromy's gaze hardened. "And let's not forget - Deadbeat's power is only a part of what Dark Void holds. He's on another level entirely."
A heavy silence fell over the group.
Then, breaking the tension -
"Maybe I should train to become a warrior!"
Everyone turned to see Darren standing boldly with his fists clenched, his little sister Maria beside him, nodding fiercely.
"Yeah! We can fight too!" Maria echoed.
Dr. Aron immediately stepped forward. "Absolutely not." His voice was firm, though there was a slight tremble of concern underneath.
Sheila knelt beside the two children, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "Your job is to stay safe and support us from here, okay?"
Darren frowned. "But Mom-"
Sheila's voice softened. "You're both brave - but this isn't your fight yet."
Maria looked down at her feet, pouting. "We just wanna help..."
Rei watched the interaction quietly, her gaze lingering on the two children.
Something about the scene struck a chord in her - the way Aron and Sheila protected their kids, the way they were surrounded by people who cared about them.
It was something Rei had never known.
Tim seemed to notice the look in her eyes and gently elbowed her. "Thinking of adopting them or something?"
Rei blinked, snapping out of her thoughts. "Shut up, Tim."
He grinned. "Admit it - you'd be a great big sister."
Rei rolled her eyes but didn't deny it.
Jim, watching the two bicker, smiled softly. They're starting to act like a real family...
Jeromy cleared his throat, pulling the focus back. "We'll focus on strategy tomorrow - tonight, everyone rests. We need our strength for what's ahead."
Sheila agreed. "And don't worry, Darren, Maria - you'll have a role to play when the time comes."
The kids perked up at that.
Dr. Aron clapped his hands. "That's enough for today. I need to check on a few things in the lab. Sheila-" He hesitated, his voice softening. "Don't get yourself into another fight tonight."
Sheila smirked. "No promises."
Aron sighed, but there was a fondness in his exasperation.
As everyone began to disperse, Tim lingered by Rei's side. "Hey... you okay?"
Rei blinked, then nodded slowly. "Yeah... I just... never thought I'd have something like this. People who actually... care."
Tim's voice softened. "Well, get used to it. You've got us now."
She looked at him - and for the first time, there wasn't a single trace of annoyance in her expression. Just something softer. Something real.
And for a brief moment - just a flicker - Tim felt a strange warmth in his chest.
Neither of them said anything.