The Whistler
The briefing replayed itself in Aiden's head like an unwanted song. Cortosis dust. Close quarters. Possible mechanized Imperial holdouts still deep in the shafts. Textbook worst-case scenario for infantry — narrow kill zones, no room to maneuver, and gear that could short if things got too hot.He adjusted the seal on his borrowed suit for the third time, glancing over at his squad huddled near the supply crate. Hard-bitten veterans mostly, a few fresh faces with too much tension in their posture. He'd given the pep talk already — didn't believe in repeating things just to fill the silence.
Then he heard the music faintly over the local comms — H.A.W.K., because of course DJ was at it again. Aiden almost smirked. Until he heard the cough. He turned, half-expecting one of his Marines asking about the supply manifest, or Boxer making another sarcastic remark—
But it was her.
Ashley. In full kit, but with that signature storm in her eyes she always tried — and failed — to hide. Aiden's expression shifted just slightly when she spoke up — the kind of change you had to know him to catch. A little less rigid. A little more light in the eyes.
"Hey," he replied, voice low but easy.
A pause.
"You borrowing our gear again, or just miss me that much?" His tone was dry as ever, but the smile that tugged at the corner of his mouth was the real thing.
He motioned with a gloved hand toward the mine entrance. "We're gearing up to move if the call comes. But we've got a minute." And then, for just a beat, he looked at her — really looked — like maybe, for once, the mission didn't have all of his attention.
"You good?"