Farwell

Fallow let out a long yawn as she opened her eyes the next day.

“Ugh… my head.” She groaned, rubbing her temples as a dull ache throbbed through her skull.

“What did you expect after drinking that much?”

She looked up, startled, to see SF standing in the doorway.

“Oh… hi.” Fallow’s expression shifted between confusion and embarrassment. Memories of last night were hazy, but she was certain SF had helped. “Thanks for the help yesterday.”

SF waved a hand dismissively as he set a backpack down on the table. “Yeah, yeah, no problem.”

Fallow sat up, her brows furrowing as she took a closer look at him. “Hey… what’s up with your clothes?” She squinted.

SF barely reacted. “Nothing.”

Fallow swung her legs over the bed and stood, stepping closer. “No way. This is the first time I’ve seen you out of those standard uniforms Carol gave you”

She inspected his new look—black baggy jeans, a red t-shirt, and a black leather jacket draped over a chair. His bag was packed, which was unusual for him. Something was definitely off.

Her curiosity piqued, she reached for his bag. “Hey, let me check this out—”

SF didn’t stop her as she rummaged through his things. Her hands paused when they landed on an object she hadn’t expected. She pulled out a wallet, flipping it open.

Her eyes widened. “Wait… where did you steal this from?”

Then she saw it—an ID card inside.

SF’s picture. A real name. An official government seal.

Her breath caught in her throat. “But… but we don’t exist. We can’t have ID cards.”

SF snatched the wallet back, his expression unreadable. “Normally, no. But Carol’s trying a new approach to dealing with the rebels.”

Fallow raised an eyebrow. “And that is…?”

SF thought back to the conversation he’d had with Carol the night before.

“Carol has put Unit Two on ice. She doesn’t want to use us anymore.”

SF sat down in the chair, his voice devoid of emotion.

Fallow frowned. “What does that even mean?”

SF closed his bag before answering. “Too many losses. Too many injuries. Havoc and Penny are officially out of commission. Blackout and Raven can’t go on missions alone.” He took a deep breath, his next words heavy. “And, according to the higher-ups, it’s my fault. So they’re giving me a new mission.”

Fallow’s stomach twisted at how coldly he spoke, as if he had no feelings about it. “What kind of mission?”

SF unzipped the side pocket of his bag and pulled out a phone. “They’re sending me to Varkadia. They think rebels are hiding there. Varkadia is in the direction where Alis came from, and where the last known rebel movements were heading.”

He extended the phone toward her.

Fallow hesitated. “Uh… why are you giving me this?”

“So I can call someone, at least.” SF’s voice was matter-of-fact. “It only has my number, and you can’t call anyone else. Carol had these made special.”

Fallow looked down at the phone in her hands, her fingers tightening around it. “Thank you.” A small, genuine smile crossed her lips.

SF shrugged. “Not much will change for you, though—except that you won’t have a drinking partner anymore.” He slung his bag over his shoulder, adjusting the strap. “But I think you’ll be fine, right—?”

He was cut off as Fallow suddenly stepped forward and hugged him.

SF stiffened for a moment.

What is this? This warmth?

His eyes widened slightly as he took in the moment. his arms started reaching around Fallow not touching her yet.

Then, with a sly grin, Fallow stepped back. “As long as you give me your key card to this room.”

SF sighed, rolling his eyes, but handed it over without a word.

“See you when I get back.”

And with that, he left.

Walking through the white corridors, he knew—this would be his last time here for a long while.

As he approached the elevator to the upper floors, a voice called out behind him.

“Hey, hold on!”

SF turned to see Salvator sprinting over, out of breath.

“Everything alright, doc?” SF asked, slightly surprised.

Salvator waved a hand, catching his breath. “Yes, yes, just—” He paused before holding out two cards.

SF grabbed them and examined them. One was a student ID. The other—a bank card.

SF frowned. “Thanks, but I don’t think I’ll need this. I don’t have any money.”

Salvator raised a hand as if to silence him. “It’s fine. It’s connected to my account. Use it as you see fit. Also, there’s an apartment being paid for by that card in Varkadia—feel free to use it as well.”, SF looked at the doctor somone he once had threathend to save Rey’s life is now helping him “hey i hate to do this but i need to ask you something” Salvator nodded slight before he replied “sure just name it” SF waited a few seconds before he spoke “i know you don’t usually do this but that Fallo Unit i told you about, Fallow can you make sure she survives, i want you to treat her like you would any other patient” Salvator stood and nodded “its nice to see you caring for people SF, for you i will i owe you after all” a confused look appeared on SF face at Salvators words

A small, genuine smile crossed Salvator’s face. “Well, I’ll be off. Best of luck, my friend.”

SF gave him a short nod, watching as the doctor walked back toward the med bay.

SF eventually reached the upper floors of the lab. Overseers stood guard, their cold stares following him as he passed. Ahead, waiting for him, were his new teammates.

His eyes immediately landed on one familiar face.

Fidus.

SF’s mind drifted back to his meeting with Carol the night before.

“SF, I don’t know what to tell you. Unit Two is being shut down.”

Carol’s voice held something rare—genuine sadness.

SF’s jaw clenched. “Fine. So I’m going into Varkadia as a spy. With what backup, exactly?”

Carol flipped through some documents. “Unit Seventeen is free, so you’ll be joined by all of them. Additionally, we have a few undercover operatives positioned around the capital.”

SF was silent for a moment before he spoke again. “I have a request.”

Carol raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? That’s unlike you. Fine. What is it?”

SF exhaled slowly. “I want Fidus from Unit Nine to come along.”

Carol considered it for only a second before nodding. “I don’t see a reason to deny that. He’s in.”

SF had thought about his new team. His squad was set—himself, Fidus, Bonum, Vale, Canis, and Vita. Five in total.

So why were there six people waiting for him?

His eyes narrowed.

SF inspected the six people lined up ahead of him. They were all dressed in civilian clothing, each with a distinct style—probably to avoid drawing attention by looking too similar. As he stepped closer, Fidus spotted him.

“Sir!” Fidus exclaimed, stepping forward with enthusiasm. “I’m honored you selected me for this mission. I’ll do my best not to disappoint you!”

SF looked down at him, his expression unreadable. “Thank you. Now, who are the rest?”

A man with short brown hair stepped forward first. “Captain Bonum, nice to see you again.” Bonum’s voice dripped with sarcasm

Next, a taller man with black hair followed. “I’m Vale.”

A short woman with slightly tousled colored hair stepped up next. “I’m Canis,” she said, placing a hand over her chest.

“And I’m Vita,” added the other girl with a ponytail.

Bonum gestured toward the last person at the end of the line—a girl standing slightly apart from the others. “We’re all from Unit 17 except for Fidus, and we all took part of the UAF raid team you commanded, i bet you remember it. And that is our newest member.”

The girl bowed her head slightly. “I’m Lilli. Nice to be working with you all.”

SF observed them carefully, taking in the mix of personalities and appearances. His team was finally assembled—but whether they would work well together was yet to be seen.

A big sliding door opens to their right letting in blending sunlight, outside stood multiple cars ready for them

SF stepped forward first, his silhouette sharply outlined as he moved into the light only to stop in the doorway. “Well then, let’s go,” he said, glancing back at his new team as they followed, passing him one by one into the brightness ahead.

His gaze lingered on the vast space around him, but his focus remained locked on the elevator. In his mind, he saw them—Fallow, Henry, Rey, Penny, and even Billy. It hit him then, a realization he hadn’t fully grasped before.

He had People he felt at ease with here, people he might miss.

Billy, especially, often talked about leaving this place—not to march toward an inevitable death, but to truly live.

“I’ll make that walk for you, Billy… and for the rest of you.”

With that silent vow, SF shifted his eyes forward and stepped fully into the light.

He had walked outside countless times before.

But this time felt different.

This time felt different.