A sharp crunch of boots on gravel behind him.
Kael froze.
A masked man stepped out from the shadows near the corner of the craft. He had broad shoulders, and the heavy rifle on his back shifted as he moved.
"What are you doing here?" the man asked, voice muffled behind the thick mask. His hand hovered near the hilt of his waist-sword, body tense.
Kael didn't flinch.He turned around slowly, calm as still water. His eyes met the man's through the tinted visor of the mask.
"Checking," Kael replied flatly.
"Checking what?"
Kael pointed lazily at the half-empty weapon racks.
"For missing content. Some of the inventory hasn't been logged. You wouldn't want to be blamed for that, would you?"
The man paused, hesitant.
Kael could almost see the gears in his head grinding. He looked at Kael's uniform which was stolen but still clean. The badge was straight. The mask is flawless. His voice didn't shake. His posture was too relaxed to be fake.
