The Following Morning
Levi and Lily sat in the local law enforcement station, the aftermath of the previous night's battle etched into their bandaged limbs and bruised expressions.
Levi stole a glance at Lily, who was hunched over a stack of paperwork, her brow furrowed in focus. Even after everything, she was relentless.
Lily cleared her throat, not looking up. "You're taking your sweet time, Levi. We don't have all day. Finish those forms before I start freezing everything in this room."
Levi chuckled, catching the faint concern buried beneath her words. "No need to get frosty, Lily. I'm almost done. Just needed a second."
Lily huffed, a subtle blush rising to her cheeks. "You've had plenty of seconds. Hurry up."
The light banter was short-lived, interrupted by a message summoning them to Captain Irons' office—the highest-ranking officer at the post, and a sharp-eyed veteran of the Apprehension Core. His silver star badge gleamed with weight and history, marking him as both feared and fair among his peers.
As Levi and Lily entered the office, they found Irons standing silently by the window, arms crossed, back turned. His lieutenant stood nearby, clipboard in hand. The tension in the room was thick.
Levi recounted the events—the ambush, the explosive battle, Reed's betrayal, and the twisted fusion they'd barely survived.
Irons didn't respond right away. The silence lingered, heavy. Then, in a cold, flat voice:
"Damn it. They used Prototype Collar Compound X-9."
Levi blinked. "Wait… you knew what that thing was?"
Irons turned slowly. "I didn't want to believe it still existed." He approached, voice low. "X-9 wasn't a weapon. It was a restraint enhancer—originally designed to subdue high-tier outlaws. The brainchild of a rogue scientist: Dr. Hagan Kestrel. He was brilliant. Too brilliant. Believed he could fuse subjugation tech directly into a person's nervous system—turn them into walking enforcement units."
Lily's expression darkened. "You're saying this was government-sanctioned?"
"Once. A long time ago. Until we discovered the survival rate was ten percent. Those who did survive were unstable. The collars fed off the user's strength, emotions, even willpower. They weren't just tools—they were parasites."
Levi clenched a fist. "And the rest of the test subjects?"
Irons's eyes hardened. "They either lost their minds… or exploded. Like Reed."
Lily shook her head. "Why would anyone keep using something that dangerous?"
"Because it worked—for the right candidate, for a short time. Kestrel made an inhibitor formula to stabilize the effects, but it was a gamble. Too little and it failed. Too much, and the collar burned out the host faster. Kestrel sold black market versions. I suspect Reed didn't even realize the version he used would pull him into the fusion. He likely assumed the slave trader would go berserk, giving him a window to escape."
Levi exhaled sharply. "So this Kestrel's still out there?"
"He vanished years ago," Irons said grimly. "But if collars like that are showing up again… someone's resurrecting his work. And that worries me."
The room fell quiet again momentarily.
"Commander Levi, Lieutenant Lily," he began formally, From the victim accounts and debrief you gave I can see your dedication to justice as well as your combat prowess, You have my utmost gratitude for upholding the honor and respect of my division, Your actions in the recent events have definitely caught my attention, it's clear you acted with integrity, skill, and restraint—even if the body count suggests otherwise. You've done this post and the Five Points proud." ."
Levi leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Lily stood beside him, composed but alert.
"You've both demonstrated the level of teamwork and combat prowess I rarely see outside the core units. That's why I'm extending you an offer—join the Combat Core. Serve on a broader scale, where your talents can make a real impact."
Levi's interest flickered, but he said nothing at first. Lily gave him a subtle nudge, a quiet encouragement in her gaze.
After a pause, Levi spoke. "I appreciate the offer, Captain. But I have one condition—my sister Silvia needs to be able to live with me at the new station. I won't leave her behind."
Irons raised an eyebrow, then nodded slowly. "Commander Levi, your dedication to your family is admirable. If Silvia's willing to join the academy and train as a Medical Core soldier, she can live with you in the housing provided."
Levi gave a grateful nod and stepped out to make the call.
He spoke to Silvia with a calm but earnest tone, explaining the promotion, the new life they could build together, and the requirement of her joining the academy. She hesitated—nervous, unsure—but in the end, the promise of security, family, and a meaningful path won her over. She agreed.
Levi returned to the office, a renewed sense of purpose in his stride.
"I accept, Captain," he said firmly. "Lily and I will join the Combat Core—and we'll protect what matters, no matter the cost."
Captain Irons offered a rare smile. "Very well, Commander Levi. Your post will remain under temporary protection until a new chain of command is established, I look forward to witnessing the strength of the bond between you and your lieutenant and the impact you will make in the combat core."
With Silvia's enrollment into the Medical Core underway, and their transfer to a new Combat Core station imminent, Levi, Lily, and Silvia stepped into a new chapter. Bound by loyalty, forged through fire, and ready to face the growing threat that Kestrel's legacy posed—they stood united.
And as the sun set behind the station walls, a storm of change was already brewing on the horizon.