Chapter 3: Pilot (3)

Lando's routine was the same every day, but that didn't make it any less important to him. He knew that if he didn't take care of himself, he wouldn't be able to perform at his best. He stepped into the shower and let the warm water cascade over his body, washing away the remnants of sleep and leaving him feeling refreshed.

After finishing his shower, he brushed his teeth with meticulous care, ensuring that every tooth was clean and shiny. He ran a comb through his hair, making sure it was perfectly styled before donning his uniform. The uniform was his pride and joy, it was a symbol of his dedication to his duties and his loyalty to the Nephalem.

As he walked towards the door, he could feel his heart pounding in his chest with excitement for the day ahead. The door beeped and slid open, revealing the bustling hallways of the Nephalem headquarters. The sound of footsteps echoed off the walls as people rushed to their duties.

Hana's cheerful voice caught his attention and he turned to see her waving at him. A smile lit up his face and he walked over to her. "Hey, Hana! How are you doing today?" he asked.

"I'm doing great, thanks for asking!" she replied with a grin.

As they strolled down the hallways, Lando couldn't help but admire the cleanliness of the walls. The white paint was pristine and unblemished, as if it had just been freshly painted. The lights on the roof and walls were arranged in a neat pattern, illuminating the entire hallway and making everything look bright and welcoming.

Hana noticed Lando's fascination with the hallway and decided to let him indulge in it. She knew that he had a keen eye for detail and that he enjoyed analyzing his surroundings. So she walked beside him, letting him take in every aspect of the hallway.

The hallway wasn't just clean and bright, it was also spacious. The walls were far apart, giving the impression that the building was massive. Lando felt a sense of comfort in this, knowing that there was plenty of room to move around and that he wouldn't feel cramped or confined.

As they walked, they passed by several doors, each one identical to the other. The doors were white, with a silver handle that gleamed in the light. Lando wondered what lay behind each door, imagining the different rooms and what they might be used for.

The sound of their footsteps echoed through the hallway, bouncing off the walls and creating a rhythmic pattern. Lando found this soothing, as if he was walking to the beat of his own drum. Hana, on the other hand, found the sound unnerving, as if they were being watched or followed.

As they reached the end of the hallway, Lando realized that he had been lost in thought and hadn't been paying attention to where they were going. Hana smiled, knowing that he had been enjoying himself. She motioned towards the door at the end of the hallway, indicating that it was their destination.

Lando smiled back, grateful for the brief moment of tranquillity. He knew that their daily duties could be tiresome and monotonous, but he also knew that moments like these made it all worthwhile. As they approached the door, he felt a sense of excitement for what the day would bring.

Hana and Lando strolled into the bustling cafeteria, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling bacon filling the air. They scanned the room, and their eyes locked onto the familiar faces of their comrades from the night before. The clinking of silverware and the murmur of conversation surrounded them as they made their way to the table.

Hana took a seat and poured herself a cup of steaming hot coffee, while Lando reached for the stack of pancakes piled high on a plate in the middle of the table. He drizzled golden syrup over the stack, and as he cut into them, the fluffy cakes oozed with melted butter.

Hana followed suit, grabbing a plate of scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. She scooped up a forkful of eggs, savoring the creamy texture and smoky flavor of the bacon.

As they ate, they chatted with their tablemates about the mission ahead, but Hana couldn't help but steal glances at Lando's pancakes. The warm, buttery scent filled her nostrils, and she made a mental note to grab a stack for herself before they ran out.

"Aqua wanted us to investigate the target, his name is Renan Cosmos, known for the deaths of 60 of our people a couple years back. He is one of The Vulture's best commanders. That's what I know so far." Hana looked at Lando as he nodded every few seconds.

"We will go back to the spot where we killed those Vultures and try to learn more about them. After all this is the first general we captured alive in years. They don't usually bring them out from what I know." Hana nodded.

"It won't just be us, right?" Lando shook his head and entered the cafeteria. He turned to look at Hana and shook his head. 'No.' He sat at the same table as last night. Zander was comforting a Bale, who now has a hangover. "God why did I drink that much!" He looked at Zander. "We told you to stop." He sighed. "But you should have stopped me at drink 3!" He waved his arms around.

"I tried. But you insisted." Bale tried to hit him across the head but Zander simply backed off, Bale fell onto the long seat and looked up at him. "If I get to drink 3 just drag me out of here!"

Zander nodded and patted him. "Okay, okay." He looked up and saw Lando and Hana. "We need your help." Zynkara and Mara looked over. "What do you need help with?" Zynkara asked, looking at Mara in which she shrugged.

"Aqua wants us to investigate the target who's named Renan Cosmos, who is known for causing the deaths of 60 of our people a few years ago. He's one of The Vulture's best commanders," Lando said, catching everyone's attention at the table.

Zander leaned forward, his eyes widening. "Renan Cosmos? I've heard of him. He's a dangerous one."

Hana nodded in agreement. "That's why we need to gather as much information as we can about him. We're heading back to the spot where we killed those Vultures to learn more about their operations."

Mara raised an eyebrow. "Do you think they'll just let us walk in and investigate?"

Lando shrugged. "We don't know for sure, but it's worth a shot. Plus, we have a valuable asset with us." He gestured towards Bale, who was still recovering from his hangover.

Bale groaned, holding his head. "I don't know how much help I'll be in this state."

Zander placed a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, we'll have your back."

As they finished their breakfast, Lando went over their plan. They would head out in three teams: two would provide backup while the other went to gather intel. It was risky, but they didn't have much of a choice if they wanted to take down The Vultures.

After finishing their breakfast, the team headed to the armoury to gear up. Lando could feel the tension rising as they prepared for their mission. It was a dangerous one, but they were willing to risk everything to stop The Vulture.

"Are you guys ready for this?" Hana asked with a sense of determination in her voice as she and Lando stepped into their Nephalems. As soon as they turned them on, Azia, the robot, greeted them warmly. "Good morning, how was your rest?"

Lando flashed a grin. "It was fantastic." He quickly settled into his seat, his fingers itching to take the controls. Hana, on the other hand, took a deep breath, trying to calm the adrenaline coursing through her veins.

The rest of the team joined them, each climbing into their own Nephalems which were lined up neatly in a row. The air hummed with the sound of engines coming to life.

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