Diego walked through Haven's warehouse area, scanning the bustling activity around him. Workers hauled crates and equipment while Kaito directed traffic with the precise efficiency of someone used to managing complex logistics. His tailored suit looked out of place among the dusty industrial environment, yet he moved through the chaos with practiced grace.

  The morning sun cast long shadows across the clearing as Diego approached, noting the careful organization of supplies. Each section had been marked and cataloged according to priority - medical supplies nearest the entrance, followed by electronics, raw materials, and general provisions.

  "Kaito," Diego called out, waiting for the younger man to finish instructing a group of workers on where to store a shipment of water purification components.

  Kaito turned, his expression shifting from focused concentration to polite attention. "Martinez-san. I trust you've reviewed the manifest I sent?"

  "I did. How are we looking with the ore processing units? We are down to nine more portal openings." Diego watched as another group of workers carried components past them, their faces strained with effort.

  Diego caught the slight falter in Kaito's usually impeccable composure. The younger man's gaze shifted away, focusing on a point in the distance. In all their years of working together, Diego had rarely seen Kaito's emotional control slip.

  "The processing units..." Kaito paused, his jaw tightening. "There's been a complication with the final shipment."

  Diego felt his muscles tense. Years of combat experience had taught him to read people, and Kaito's subtle tells spoke volumes. Whatever the complication was, it had rattled the normally unshakeable cartel leader.

  "What kind of complication?" Diego kept his voice low, stepping closer to maintain privacy.

  Kaito's hand moved to adjust his perfectly straight tie - another tell Diego had learned to recognize over the years. The gesture reminded him of that day in Osaka, when a much younger Kaito had straightened his school uniform after the drone attack, trying to maintain some semblance of control amidst the chaos.

  Kaito pulled out his datapad, his fingers dancing across the screen with practiced precision. "Three of my VTOL units were attacked during a riot in Osaka. The pilots managed to escape, but..." He showed Diego security footage of crowds overwhelming the landing pad, desperate people clawing at the aircraft as it lifted off.

  Diego's jaw clenched. The scene was too familiar - reminded him of all the riots he had seen through the years. Same desperation in their eyes, same primal need to survive driving ordinary people to violence.

  "The remaining units?" Diego asked, already calculating alternative transport options in his head.

  "Grounded. Local authorities have restricted private aircraft movement, citing 'civil unrest concerns.'" Kaito's voice carried a hint of frustration that most wouldn't notice. But Diego caught it - knew what it meant when Kaito's carefully maintained control showed even hairline cracks.

  "And the processing units?"

  "Secured in a warehouse outside of Phoenix proper. My people are protecting them, but..." Kaito straightened his tie again. "The situation is deteriorating rapidly."

  Diego watched another group of workers pass by, carrying water filtration components. Each piece of equipment, every supply run - all of it hinged on their ability to keep the portal functioning. Without those processing units, they'd lose their lifeline to Earth before they could bring everyone through.

  "What other transport options do you have?" Diego asked, though he already suspected the answer from Kaito's expression.

  "I'm negotiating with several private contractors, but with the current situation..." Kaito gestured at his datapad, showing a map dotted with red markers indicating riot hotspots. "Many are refusing to fly, regardless of the payment offered."

  Diego sighed and pulled his holo-comm from his belt. His fingers found Mia's contact without looking - muscle memory from countless urgent missions. The hologram flickered to life, revealing Mia's face floating in the air before him.

  "Hey boss, perfect timing. I just finished tweaking the stabilizers on the big VTOL." Mia's image showed her wiping grease from her hands with a rag.

  "How fast can you get the bird ready for a pickup outside Phoenix?" Diego kept his voice low, though Kaito had stepped away to give him privacy.

  "For you? about five hours." The casual confidence in her tone reminded Diego why he'd recruited her. "What's the cargo?"

  "Processing units. Heavy load." Diego glanced at Kaito's datapad again, memorizing the warehouse location. "And we might need to thread through some hot zones."

  Mia's hologram shifted as she moved, already heading toward her aircraft. "Riots again? Must be Tuesday." Her attempt at humor didn't mask the understanding in her voice. "You riding shotgun?"

  "Wouldn't miss it, but this time I have to." Diego's hand unconsciously touched his sidearm. "I'm going to send my Son-In-Law with you."

  Mia's hologram flickered as she raised an eyebrow. "Manuel? Didn't think you'd let SWAT anywhere near this operation."

  Diego caught Kaito watching him from the corner of his eye. The younger man's expression remained neutral, but Diego recognized the subtle tilt of his head - curiosity mixed with calculation.

  "Manuel's got those Phoenix streets memorized like nobody else. And bringing a few of his SWAT guys along might actually help - they've got a gentler approach when dealing with regular folks who're just struggling through rough times." Diego kept his tone casual, though his mind raced through contingencies. "And right now, I need to stay here and coordinate the next crossing."

  "Fair enough." Mia's image shifted as she climbed into her cockpit. "Tell him to pack light and be ready in four. I'll need time to modify the cargo holds."

  Diego ended the call and turned back to Kaito, who had moved closer during the conversation. The warehouse bustle continued around them, workers seemingly oblivious to the tension in their leaders' exchange.

  "Manuel Rodriguez is... an interesting choice," Kaito said, his tone carefully neutral. "Though I suppose his SWAT experience could prove valuable if the situation deteriorates further."

  Diego studied his old friend's face, remembering the scared kid from Osaka who'd grown into this calculating businessman. "Sometimes the direct approach works best. Manuel knows how to handle himself, and more importantly, he knows when not to handle himself."

  Kaito nodded once, sharp and precise. "I'll have my people update him on the warehouse security protocols." He paused, then added with the ghost of a smile, "And perhaps warn them about his tendency to quote action movies during operations."

  Diego pulled out his holo-comm again, this time selecting Manuel's contact. The hologram flickered to life, revealing Maria's face instead of her husband's. Her dark hair was tied back in a practical braid, and Diego could see the newly constructed greenhouse behind her through the translucent projection.

  "Papa! I was just about to call you." Maria's smile carried the same warmth it had since she was a child, though now he could see the strength of motherhood in her eyes. "Manuel's helping Jack with the irrigation system. Want me to get him?"

  "Please, mija. It's important." Diego watched his daughter's expression shift to concern. She'd learned to read his tones over the years, just as he'd taught her.

  "Is everything okay?" Maria stepped away from the greenhouse, her hologram walking alongside Diego as he moved to a quieter corner of the warehouse.

  "Just some complications with the supply runs. Nothing we can't handle." Diego kept his voice steady, not wanting to worry her unnecessarily. "But I need Manuel's expertise."

  Maria's hologram nodded, understanding passing across her features. "He mentioned his old team's been restless, wanting to help more." She turned, calling out to someone off-screen. "Manuel! Papa needs to talk to you!"

  The hologram shifted and blurred as the comm changed hands. Manuel's face appeared, smudged with dirt from his work on the irrigation system. "Diego? What's going on?"

  "How do you feel about a quick trip back to Phoenix? Got some cargo that needs special handling, and Mia could use your knowledge of the streets."

  Manuel's expression hardened with professional focus, the transition from family man to SWAT officer immediate and complete. "When do we move?"

  Diego pulled up the portal calculations on his datapad while Manuel's hologram waited. The numbers scrolled past as he factored in the stabilization rates and cool-down periods. Four more openings left. Each one required precise timing to prevent cascade failures in the quantum matrix.

  He checked the timestamp from their last crossing - 1000 hours yesterday. The portal needed at least eight hours to restabilize between uses. Any less risked permanent damage to the quantum core. That put their next viable window at 1000 hours tomorrow.

  "Portal opens at 0600 hours," Diego said, making a note in his command log. "That gives you and Mia fourteen hours to secure those processing units and get back here." He glanced at the atmospheric readings, noting the increased seismic activity along the Pacific coast. "Weather's holding steady for now, but I don't like these tremor patterns."

  The math was tight. Too tight. If anything delayed the pickup, they'd miss their window. The next opening wouldn't be possible until 1400 hours the following day, and by then the riots might have spread beyond their ability to contain. They couldn't afford to waste a single portal activation - not with only four left.

  Diego pulled up the manifest of waiting evacuees. Over three hundred people still needed transport, and each opening could only safely handle forty-five at most. The processing units had to make it through - without them, the portal would fail completely after the fourth opening, stranding everyone left behind.

  Diego watched Manuel's hologram flicker as his son-in-law processed the mission details. The younger man's expression shifted to that familiar look of tactical assessment Diego had seen countless times during their joint operations.

  "I'll round up my team and be standing by to transfer over to Original Earth at 1000 hours," Manuel said, his voice carrying the crisp efficiency of his SWAT training.

  Diego nodded, noting how Manuel had picked up the habit of calling their home dimension "Original Earth" - a term that had spread through Haven's population. The distinction felt important somehow, a way to separate the world they'd left behind from the one they were building.

  "Good. Have Carlos and O'Reilly gear up too. Their experience with the local Phoenix PD might smooth things if we run into any checkpoints." Diego's mind already mapped out potential routes through the city, calculating risks and alternatives.

  Manuel's image nodded sharply, and Diego caught a glimpse of Maria in the background, her face a mixture of concern and pride. She'd grown up understanding this life - the sudden missions, the calculated risks, the weight of responsibility. Just like her mother had.

  "We'll be ready," Manuel confirmed, his tone carrying that steady confidence that had first impressed Diego years ago. "Should I bring the modified riot gear? Might help us blend in if we hit any police cordons."

  Diego considered Manuel's suggestion, weighing the tactical advantages against potential complications. The modified riot gear would help them move through checkpoints, but too much equipment might slow them down or draw unwanted attention.

  "Keep it minimal but pack the tear gas and non-lethal rounds as backup." Diego watched Manuel's hologram nod in understanding. "We don't want to look like we're expecting trouble, but I want options if things go sideways."

  The memories of his last operation in Phoenix flashed through his mind - desperate civilians clawing at the water distribution center's gates, the AI's cold efficiency as it deployed sonic deterrents. He'd seen how quickly ordinary people could turn violent when pushed too far.

  "And Manuel?" Diego added, his voice dropping lower. "Make sure everyone understands - those people out there aren't the enemy. They're just trying to survive."

  Through the hologram, Diego caught the slight softening in Manuel's expression. His son-in-law had been there during the water riots, had seen firsthand how the situation had spiraled out of control. He understood what Diego meant without needing further explanation.

  "Copy that," Manuel replied. "Non-lethal only, minimal profile, and we treat civilians with respect." He glanced off-screen, probably toward the equipment storage. "I'll have the team ready in three hours."

  Diego ended the call with Manuel, his mind already mapping contingencies for the Phoenix operation. The familiar weight of command settled on his shoulders - the constant calculation of risks, the responsibility for lives hanging in the balance.

  His holo-comm chimed again. Olivia's image materialized, her hair disheveled and lab coat stained with what looked like mineral deposits. Her eyes sparkled with that intensity he'd come to recognize - the look she got when something either went spectacularly right or catastrophically wrong.

  "Diego, you need to see this." Her voice carried an urgency that made him straighten. "Get over to the filtration plant. You won't believe what they did with the system."

  "They?" Diego's hand instinctively moved to his sidearm. "Who's they, Olivia?"

  "Jack and Alexis." She laughed, a sound that eased the tension in his shoulders. "Just... come see. You're going to want to witness this yourself."

  Diego studied her hologram, noting the excitement in her expression. Whatever Jack and Alexis had done, it had impressed Olivia enough to pull her away from the portal calculations. That alone made it worth investigating.

  "On my way," he said, already turning toward the path that led to the filtration plant. "Should I bring a fire extinguisher?"

  "Very funny." Olivia's hologram flickered as she moved. "Just hurry up. And try not to shoot anything when you see it."

  The call ended, leaving Diego to wonder what those two engineers had cooked up this time. Last week's "improvement" to the greenhouse irrigation system had nearly flooded the entire agricultural sector. But Olivia's reaction suggested something different - something that might actually help their situation.

  Diego watched Kaito's formal bow, noting the slight tension in his old friend's shoulders. Years of reading people had taught him to spot the subtle signs - the way Kaito's right hand twitched toward his tie, the measured control in his movements that spoke of underlying stress.

  "Additional matters?" Diego kept his voice neutral, though his mind raced through possibilities. Kaito rarely felt the need to be this formal unless something serious was brewing.

  "Yes. But they require..." Kaito glanced at the bustling warehouse activity around them, "more private discussion."

  Diego nodded once, understanding the unspoken message. Whatever Kaito needed to discuss wasn't for casual ears. The younger man's carefully maintained facade showed those hairline cracks again - the same ones Diego had first noticed during the Osaka incident, when a teenage Kaito had tried so hard to appear composed despite the chaos around them.

  "I'll find you after I check on Jack and Alexis' latest project," Diego said, watching Kaito's reaction. "Apparently they've done something interesting with the filtration system."

  "Of course." Kaito straightened his already perfect tie. "I have some calls to make regarding our Phoenix situation anyway. We can meet in your office in two hours?"

  Diego stepped into the water treatment facility, immediately spotting Jack perched precariously on what looked like a massive crystalline disk suspended above the main filtration tank. The engineer's cybernetic leg glinted as he made adjustments to the bizarre contraption.

  "Before you say anything," Alexis called from below, covered in mineral deposits, "we tested it on a smaller scale first."

  Diego's eyes traced the intricate network of crystalline formations arranged in concentric circles. The design reminded him of ancient water wheels, but these crystals pulsed with an inner light that matched the rhythm of the water flow. Haven's unique minerals had been incorporated into what appeared to be a self-sustaining filtration system.

  "It works," Olivia said, stepping up beside him. She held up a tablet displaying water quality readings. "The crystals naturally attract and bind with the problematic minerals. Jack discovered it by accident when he dropped one of our samples into the old filtration tank."

  "More like the sample jumped out of my hands," Jack corrected, climbing down from his perch. "These crystals have some weird properties. They seem to respond to electrical currents, so we rigged up a low-power circuit that-"

  "In English, Jack," Diego interrupted, watching as crystal-filtered water flowed into the collection tank. The liquid looked clearer than anything their previous systems had produced.

  "Right. Short version - we built a filter that cleans itself. The crystals trap the bad stuff, and when we run a current through them, they basically shake it off into a separate collection chamber. No more clogged filters, no more daily maintenance."

  Diego moved closer to inspect the setup. The engineering was crude but effective, exactly what they needed in Haven. "And you're sure it's stable?"

  "Been running for six hours," Alexis reported. "Water quality is actually improving as the system learns to recognize and filter specific mineral patterns."

  Diego's gaze tracked upward, following the maze of exposed wiring that powered the crystal array. The cables snaked precariously close to the water, held together by what looked like standard electrical tape. His jaw clenched.

  "You've got live wires hanging over an open water tank." He gestured at the makeshift harness Jack had used. "And that safety line wouldn't hold against a strong breeze."

  Jack opened his mouth to protest, but Diego cut him off. "I know it works. But I need this facility running long after we're gone. That means proper safety protocols, proper wiring, and equipment that won't electrocute the next maintenance crew."

  He walked the perimeter of the tank, noting at least three major code violations that would have given any safety inspector a heart attack. The crystal array itself was brilliant - exactly the kind of adaptation they needed to survive in Haven. But the execution...

  Diego shook his head, torn between admiration for their ingenuity and concern over the haphazard implementation. The crystal array hummed with potential - both for solving their water problems and for causing a catastrophic accident.

  "What's your plan to make this not become my next emergency, Jack?" Diego fixed the engineer with a stern look.

  Jack's cybernetic leg whirred as he shifted his weight. "Already on it, boss. Got the schematics here." He pulled out a tablet, fingers dancing across the screen. "We can route the power through proper conduits, install emergency shutoffs every ten meters. Alexis found some industrial-grade sealant in the last supply run that'll waterproof everything."

  "And the safety harness situation?" Diego gestured at the frayed rope still dangling above them.

  "That was temporary," Alexis chimed in, wiping mineral dust from her hands. "We're building a proper maintenance platform with guard rails. The crystals need checking every few days, so we designed it to fold down when needed."

  Jack nodded enthusiastically. "Plus, we're adding backup filters in case the crystal array needs maintenance. No more scrambling if something goes wrong." He paused, then added with a grin, "Though these crystals are pretty much indestructible. Dropped one from the top of the tank yesterday-"

  "Save the demolition stories for poker night," Diego cut in, though he couldn't quite hide his amusement. These two would be the death of him, but their crazy ideas kept Haven running.

  Alexis wiped more mineral residue from her hands with a rag. "Speaking of backup systems, those engineers from the exodus ships? They're worth their weight in stabilization metals. they already redesigned our power distribution grid."

  Diego's attention shifted at the mention of the new personnel. The exodus ship rejects had proven to be a goldmine of talent - people deemed "non-essential" by the APU's efficiency algorithms but crucial for Haven's survival.

  "What about the new generator?" Alexis asked, tossing the dirty rag aside. "When is it going to show up? We have the foundation for it and are ready to assemble."

  Diego rubbed his temples, the constant stream of technical details and urgent requests beginning to take their toll. A dull throb pulsed behind his eyes, a reminder of too many hours spent reviewing reports and managing crises.

  Olivia cocked her eye at the temple rubbing. "Are you ok?"

  "Just tired," Diego said, dropping his hand. The water treatment facility's hum seemed to intensify his headache. He'd been running on minimal sleep since the exodus ships announcement, coordinating everything from security rotations to resource allocation. The weight of keeping everyone alive and safe pressed down on him like a physical force.

  Jack and Alexis were still talking about power grids and generators, their voices blending into the background noise. Diego tried to focus on their words, but the technical jargon slipped past him like water through cupped hands.

  Olivia stepped closer, her voice low enough that only he could hear. "When was the last time you actually slept?"

  Diego stared at the crystal array, buying time as he tried to remember his last real night of sleep. The dull throb behind his eyes intensified. Three days ago he'd dozed off during a security briefing. Before that, maybe four hours in his quarters while reviewing agricultural reports. Everything else blurred together in a haze of coffee and stims.

  "That's what I thought," Olivia said, reading his silence. Her voice carried that mix of concern and determination he'd come to expect. The same tone she used when tackling complex quantum calculations.

  Jack and Alexis' technical discussion faded into background noise as Diego rubbed his temples again. The facility's hum seemed to match the pounding in his head. He'd pushed through worse during combat operations, but Haven wasn't a battlefield. Here, a wrong decision from fatigue could cost them everything they'd built.

  "I can't afford downtime," Diego muttered, more to himself than Olivia. "Not with the water system upgrades, new personnel integration, security, …"

  "And you can't afford mistakes either," Olivia cut in. She gestured at the crystal array. "Jack and Alexis just showed us what happens when brilliant people work while exhausted. They built something amazing, but the safety protocols..."

  Diego grimaced. She had a point. He'd been riding the engineers about proper safety measures while ignoring his own limits. The irony wasn't lost on him.

  "The next security rotation isn't for four hours," he said, doing the mental math of what he could postpone. His body felt heavy, the accumulated fatigue of days finally catching up now that he'd acknowledged it.

  Diego's headache spiked as he remembered the fusion generator. Shit. He'd meant to confirm the transport details with Kaito three days ago. The generator was crucial for powering Haven's expanding infrastructure, and the window for moving it safely from Nevada was rapidly shrinking.

  He pulled out his satellite phone, checking the signal strength. The connection to Earth was spotty at best, and he'd need a clear channel to reach Kaito.

  "There's one more thing I need to handle," Diego said to Olivia, already moving toward the facility exit. The fusion generator would require specialized transport, security details, and precise timing to avoid APU patrols. They couldn't afford any delays, not with their power needs growing daily.

  "The fusion generator?" Olivia asked, following him. "Kaito mentioned it yesterday during the resource allocation meeting. The one you slept through."

  Diego stopped mid-stride. He'd dozed off during a meeting? The gaps in his memory were becoming concerning. The past few days blurred together in an exhausted haze.

  "He's arranged transport through his contacts in Nevada," Olivia continued. "But they need confirmation within the next twelve hours, or they'll have to postpone until next week."

  The thought of delaying the generator's arrival sent a fresh wave of tension through Diego's shoulders. They needed that power source operational before bringing the next group through the portal. The current system barely handled their existing needs.

  "I'll contact him now," Diego said as he called Kaito.

  The holo-call came to life, Kaito's image flickering in the dim light of the facility corridor. Even through the unstable connection, Diego noted the dark circles under his old friend's eyes. Seemed he wasn't the only one running on empty.

  "Diego. I thought we were meeting in two hours?." Kaito's voice came through with minimal distortion. "Ahh The fusion generator?"

  "That's why I'm calling. We need it moved as soon as possible." Diego leaned against the cool metal wall, his headache pulsing in time with the hologram's flickers. "What's the status?"

  "The transport team is ready, but there's a complication." Kaito's image stabilized, his expression grave. "APU patrols have increased along our planned route. They're searching vehicles, especially anything large enough to move industrial equipment."

  Diego cursed under his breath. The APU's sudden interest in ground transport couldn't be a coincidence. "Do they know about the generator?"

  "No, but they're looking for anything that could be used for unofficial exodus preparations. A fusion generator would raise questions we can't answer." Kaito's fingers moved off-screen, presumably checking data. "I have an alternate route through Mexico, but it will require additional security and coordination with local authorities."

  Diego's attention shifted to Olivia as she stepped closer to the holo-projection. The idea sparked something in his exhausted mind, cutting through the fog of fatigue.

  "Luna's been monitoring APU communication protocols," Olivia continued. "She mentioned finding vulnerabilities in their patrol scheduling system."

  Diego straightened, his back leaving the cool metal wall. Luna's skills with network systems had proven invaluable before. If she could create a diversion in the APU's patrol routes...

  "How long would she need?" Diego asked Kaito's flickering image.

  "The transport team needs a six-hour window," Kaito replied. "Any shorter increases the risk of detection."

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  Diego rubbed his jaw, considering the angles. Luna had pulled off more complicated hacks with less time. But this would require precision - one wrong line of code could alert APU cybersecurity.

  "Get Luna on the call," Diego told Olivia. "If she can redirect the patrols without raising suspicion, we might have our window."

  Olivia tapped her comm unit. Moments later, Luna's voice crackled through, her usual sarcasm notably absent. "Already ahead of you, boss. Been monitoring the APU's patrol algorithms since Kaito mentioned the problem. Their system's running on outdated protocols - probably too busy with the exodus ships to patch security holes."

  "Can you do it without leaving traces?" Diego asked. The last thing they needed was the APU realizing their systems had been compromised.

  "Please." Luna's eye-roll was audible even through the comm. "I'll make it look like a standard patrol optimization update. They'll think their own AI suggested the route changes."

  Diego let out a heavy sigh of relief, his shoulders sagging as some of the tension drained away. Luna's confidence wasn't misplaced - he'd seen her work miracles with computer systems before. If anyone could slip past APU security protocols without leaving traces, it was her.

  "How soon can you implement the changes?" he asked, leaning back against the wall. His headache had receded slightly, replaced by the first glimmer of hope he'd felt all day.

  "Give me two hours," Luna replied through the comm. "Their next scheduled system update is at 0300. I'll piggyback the route changes then. By the time anyone notices, the generator will be halfway to Haven."

  Diego caught Olivia's approving nod. The plan was coming together, despite his exhaustion-addled brain trying to find problems. Sometimes the best solution was letting his people do what they did best.

  "Kaito, get your transport team ready," Diego said to the flickering hologram. "Once Luna confirms the patrol routes are changed, you'll have your six-hour window."

  "Already on it," Kaito replied. "I'll send you the final coordinates when we're en route."

  The holo-call ended, leaving Diego alone with Olivia in the dim corridor. The facility's hum seemed quieter now, or maybe his headache was finally easing. Either way, one more crucial piece of Haven's infrastructure was falling into place.

  "Now that's handled," Olivia said, fixing him with a stern look, "you're going to get some sleep before you fall over."

  Diego started to protest, but his body betrayed him with a jaw-cracking yawn. The adrenaline from solving the generator problem was fading fast, leaving behind bone-deep exhaustion.

  Her fingers wrapped around his wrist as she tugged him toward the exit. She raised her voice to address the others behind them, "We'll have the generator here before tonight's portal gap ends, or worst case by tomorrow's window. And I swear, if either of you wake Diego up in the next four hours, you'll regret it."

  Diego let Olivia pull him through the facility's corridors, too exhausted to argue. His feet moved on autopilot as she guided him past the hydroponics bay and through the residential wing. The familiar scent of recycled air and the distant hum of environmental systems washed over him.

  "I can find my own quarters," he muttered, but his protest lacked conviction. His body felt like it was moving through water, each step requiring more effort than the last.

  "Of course you can," Olivia replied, not slowing her pace. "Just like Jack can install proper safety protocols without supervision. You are coming to my lap and sleeping on my office couch where I can keep an eye on you!"

  Behind them, he heard Alexis' muffled laughter and Jack's indignant "Hey!" echo from the water treatment facility. The sound faded as Olivia pulled him around another corner.

  Her grip on his hand was firm but gentle, her fingers intertwined with his. Despite his exhaustion, Diego found himself focusing on that simple contact. When was the last time he'd allowed anyone to take charge like this? The thought slipped away as quickly as it formed, lost in the fog of fatigue.

  "Almost there," Olivia said, keying in the access code to her office. The door slid open with a soft hiss. "Four hours, Diego. That's an order from your quantum physicist."

  Diego wanted to point out that he outranked her in the command structure, but her couch looked too inviting. She dimmed the lighting the couch called to him like a siren's song. He managed a tired nod as Olivia gave his hand a final squeeze before releasing it.

  "Four hours," he agreed, already moving toward the couch. Behind him, he heard Olivia's clear voice warning off any potential disturbances, but sleep claimed him before he could make out the words.

  Diego jerked awake, his combat instincts kicking in before his mind fully registered where he was. Raised voices filtered through the door - multiple people arguing with Olivia. Her sharp tone cut through the others, though he couldn't make out the words.

  The familiar scent of lavender and ozone surrounded him, and memory clicked into place. Olivia's office. Her couch. She'd practically dragged him here to rest. Diego rubbed his face, trying to shake off the lingering fog of sleep. His watch showed he'd been out for just over three hours.

  "I don't care what the priority level is," Olivia's voice came through clearer now. "He needs rest, and you need to wait."

  Diego swung his legs off the couch, muscles protesting the awkward sleeping position. His boots had been removed, placed neatly beside the couch - Olivia's doing, no doubt. The thought brought an unexpected warmth to his chest.

  The argument outside grew louder. He recognized Kaito's voice now, and someone else - Dr Chen maybe? The words "critical" and "needs immediate attention" drifted through the door.

  Diego reached for his boots, the familiar routine of lacing them helping clear his mind. The office looked different in the dim lighting, more personal than professional. A half-empty coffee mug sat on her desk beside stacks of data pads. A worn sweater draped over her chair. Small glimpses of the woman behind the brilliant physicist.

  "If you don't back off right now," Olivia's tone held steel, "I will personally ensure you're assigned Jack to set you as his target for the next month."

  Diego pushed himself up from the couch, shaking his head at Olivia's threat. Anyone who'd experienced Jack's pranks knew better than to risk becoming his designated target. The memory of Emily's blue hair last month brought a slight smirk to his face.

  He grabbed his datapad from the side table, then froze. The timestamp couldn't be right. Six hours? She'd let him sleep for six hours?

  "Doctor Smith, this can't wait-" Kaito's voice carried through the door.

  Diego pulled the door open, finding Olivia squared off against Kaito and Mei Chen in the hallway. All three turned at his sudden appearance.

  "Six hours?" The words came out rougher than intended. "You let me sleep for six hours?"

  Olivia crossed her arms, lifting her chin. "You needed it."

  "We have critical-"

  "Everything's handled," she cut him off. "Jack and Alexis finished the safety modifications on the filtration system. Sarah coordinated the new arrival processing. And yes, Kaito secured the route for the generator transport."

  Diego ran a hand through his hair, processing the lost time. The fact that operations had continued smoothly without him sparked conflicting feelings of pride in his team and frustration at his own vulnerability.

  "The world didn't end because you got some sleep, Diego." Olivia's expression softened slightly. "Though these two seem determined to wake you for their non-emergency concerns."

  Diego yawned, stretching muscles stiff from the awkward position on Olivia's couch. He studied Kaito and Mei, noting their stances and expressions. After years of working with both of them, he could read the urgency levels in their body language.

  Kaito held his datapad with white knuckles, jaw clenched - probably something about medical supplies or emergency food stores. The man never showed this much tension unless resources were involved. His perfectly pressed suit looked slightly rumpled, another tell that he'd been working non-stop.

  Mei shifted from foot to foot, clutching soil sample containers. Her usual calm demeanor cracked with excitement rather than stress. New test results then, probably about those strange mineral formations they'd found last week. The soil scientist had been practically giddy about their potential applications.

  "Alright," Diego rubbed the last traces of sleep from his eyes. "What couldn't wait six more hours?"

  Diego watched as Kaito gave a polite bow to Mei, yielding the floor. The gesture seemed to catch Mei off guard, her fingers tightening around the sample containers before she composed herself.

  "The embryo test results are in," Mei said, her excitement bleeding through her professional demeanor. "We've detected some minor mutations in the genetic sequences, but nothing that appears life-threatening. We'll know more once the livestock complete their gestation period."

  Diego's shoulders tensed. Even minor mutations could spell disaster for their breeding program. They needed viable livestock to sustain the colony. "Define minor mutations."

  "Mostly cosmetic variations," Mei clarified, pulling up data on her tablet. "But the good news is the chicken eggs have already hatched. One rooster and the rest are hens, all healthy despite some unusual coloring patterns."

  Diego released a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Chickens were one of their test cases - if they could successfully breed and thrive in Haven's environment, it would validate their plans for larger livestock. The fact that they'd hatched healthy chicks, even with slight variations, was the first real win they'd had in weeks.

  "Show me the genetic analysis," Olivia stepped forward, her scientific curiosity clearly piqued.

  Diego watched as Mei handed her tablet to Olivia, the screen displaying complex genetic sequences he couldn't begin to understand. The two women huddled over the data, trading rapid-fire technical terms that might as well have been a foreign language.

  Kaito cleared his throat, drawing Diego's attention. The man's rigid posture hadn't relaxed. Whatever news he carried still needed addressing.

  "Let them work," Diego said quietly to Kaito. He stepped away from the scientists, giving them space to analyze the data. "What's your situation?"

  "The APU has increased patrols along our planned route," Kaito's voice dropped to match Diego's volume. "They've added drone coverage we weren't expecting. The window for moving the generator has shrunk significantly."

  Diego's jaw clenched. The fusion generator was critical - they needed its power output for the remaining portal operations. Without it, they'd lose the ability to safely transport the remaining refugees.

  "How long?"

  "Twelve hours at most," Kaito pulled up a map on his datapad, showing the patrol patterns. "After that, the risk becomes unacceptable."

  Behind them, Olivia's excited whisper caught Diego's attention. "These protein markers - they're actually incorporating Haven's mineral structure at a cellular level."

  "Yes!" Mei's voice carried her enthusiasm. "The embryos are adapting to Haven's environment even before birth. If this pattern holds true for the larger livestock..."

  Diego turned back to Kaito's map, forcing himself to focus on one crisis at a time. The patrol routes created a complex web of coverage, but there was always a weak point. He just had to find it.

  "Here," he pointed to a section of coastline. "The drones will have to adjust their sweep patterns to account for the magnetic interference from these cliffs. That's our window."

  Diego traced the patrol routes on Kaito's map again, his mind shifting to more aggressive options. Emily's combat drones had proven themselves against that massive bird-creature last week. Their stealth capabilities could make quick work of the APU's monitoring drones.

  "What's our drone inventory looking like?" Diego asked, already running tactical scenarios.

  Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Emily has three full swarm units prepped. The new quantum shielding makes them practically invisible to standard detection systems."

  The plan crystallized in Diego's mind. Take out the drones, create a blind spot, and slip the generator through before the APU could respond. Simple. Clean. Effective.

  But the risks... If they were caught actively sabotaging APU equipment, it would draw exactly the kind of attention they couldn't afford. The APU would investigate, and investigation meant scrutiny. Scrutiny meant discovery. Discovery meant failure.

  Behind him, Mei and Olivia's excited chatter about protein markers and cellular adaptation continued. Everything they'd built here, everything they were trying to protect - it would all be at risk if he made the wrong call.

  Diego's fingers drummed against his thigh as he studied the map. Emily's drones could do it. He was certain of that. But should they?

  Diego pulled up his holo-comm, his fingers finding the familiar controls. "Emily, Luna - secure channel, now."

  The air shimmered as two translucent figures materialized. Emily's avatar showed her at her drone control station, multiple screens visible behind her. Luna sat cross-legged, surrounded by floating data streams that she casually swiped through.

  "I need options for dealing with APU drones," Diego said, angling his comm so Kaito could join the conversation. "We've got increased patrol coverage along our generator transport route."

  Emily's eyes lit up. "The new quantum shielding on our combat drones makes them practically invisible. We could-"

  "No direct engagement," Diego cut her off. "We need something subtle. Something that looks like equipment failure rather than sabotage."

  Luna's fingers danced through her data streams. "The APU's using Mark VII patrol drones. Standard detection systems, but they've got a nasty habit of magnetic sensor drift when exposed to certain frequencies."

  "Could we exploit that?" Diego asked, watching Luna's calculations scroll past.

  "Better." Luna grinned. "We could make it look like their own magnetic interference is causing cascade failures. Those cliffs you're planning to use? They're full of magnetite deposits. One properly timed electromagnetic pulse would send their whole drone network into reset mode."

  "How long would that buy us?"

  Emily pulled up a simulation. "Twenty minutes minimum before their systems auto-correct. Longer if we time it right and their tech support has to manually reset each unit."

  Diego nodded, the pieces falling into place. "No direct contact, no evidence of tampering. Just a 'natural' phenomenon causing some temporary technical difficulties."

  "Exactly," Luna's grin widened. "And I've got just the frequency to make it happen."

  Diego studied the holograms of Luna and Emily, weighing the risks against their capabilities. "Alright, that will work. Emily, I want you in position with a drone swarm for backup. We don't go hot unless absolutely necessary, but I want the option if things go sideways."

  Emily's hologram nodded sharply. "I can have three units staged within five minutes of the transport route. Quantum shielding will keep them invisible to APU detection."

  "Luna," Diego turned to the other hologram, "you're running point on this. You've got the data feeds and know exactly what you can pull off without detection. Make the call if Emily needs to go aggressive."

  Luna's fingers danced through her floating data streams, rearranging information with practiced efficiency. "Copy that. I'll coordinate the timing of the electromagnetic pulse with their patrol patterns. Emily's drones will only engage as an absolute last resort."

  "One thing," Emily cut in, her expression serious. "If we do have to go hot, those APU drones will get a clear look at our tech. Even if we destroy them all, they'll know someone's operating well above their technological level."

  Diego's jaw tightened. She was right - engaging the APU drones would leave evidence of their advanced capabilities. Even a successful engagement could raise dangerous questions.

  "Understood," Luna said before Diego could respond. "I'll make damn sure we don't need that option. These APU techs won't know what hit their sensors - they'll be too busy running diagnostic checks to notice our window."

  "Good." Diego looked between the two women. "Get it done. I want updates every five minutes once we're in position."

  Diego ended the call, the holograms of Luna and Emily fading from view. He turned to Kaito, noting the slight relaxation in the man's shoulders. Even after all these years, Kaito's tells were subtle - most wouldn't notice the minute changes in his perfectly composed demeanor.

  "Your people can handle the generator transport once we create the window?" Diego kept his voice low, conscious of Mei and Olivia still discussing genetic markers behind them.

  "Already staged and waiting." Kaito's fingers tapped his datapad, bringing up logistics details. "Two teams, redundant routes, and enough legitimate paperwork to satisfy any routine inspection. Once Luna creates our opening, we'll have the generator moving within three minutes."

  Diego nodded, scanning the transport details. Kaito's thoroughness hadn't changed since he was a kid. Every contingency planned, every angle covered. It had saved both their lives more than once.

  "Good." Diego handed the datapad back. "Keep me updated on-"

  A crash from down the hallway cut him off, followed by Jack's distinctive laugh and Alexis' creative cursing. Diego pinched the bridge of his nose, already dreading whatever new chaos his engineers had created.

  "I should probably deal with that," Diego said, watching Kaito's carefully neutral expression crack slightly with amusement.

  "Probably," Kaito agreed, his lips twitching. "Though I imagine Dr. Thompson and O'Connor have the situation well in hand. They usually do, despite appearances."

  Another crash echoed through the corridor, followed by what sounded suspiciously like the whir of a drone motor and more cursing.

  Diego chuckled, sharing a knowing look with Kaito. "Five credits says Emily's their target again."

  "I don't take losing bets," Kaito's composed facade cracked further. "Though after that stunt she pulled with their coffee supply last week, I'm surprised they waited this long for revenge."

  The whirring drone sound grew louder, accompanied by Emily's voice echoing down the hallway. "Jack O'Connor, I swear if that thing comes near me with paint again-"

  "Paint?" Kaito raised an eyebrow. "Rather tame for those two."

  "That's what worries me," Diego shook his head, remembering the last time Jack and Alexis had started simple. The base's plumbing had never quite recovered from their 'escalation.' "Simple usually means they're just getting started."

  Emily's shout of outrage confirmed his suspicions, followed by the distinctive splat of paint hitting something - or someone. Jack's triumphant "Got her!" echoed through the corridor, quickly followed by the sound of running boots and Alexis' breathless laughter.

  "Think we should intervene?" Kaito asked, though his amused expression suggested he already knew the answer.

  "And deny Emily the pleasure of plotting her revenge?" Diego grinned. "I'm not that cruel."

  Diego turned his attention back to Kaito, remembering the white-knuckled grip on his datapad earlier. "You had something about medical supplies?"

  Kaito's amusement faded, his expression returning to its usual composed mask. He pulled up a different screen on his datapad. "The imaging systems we requisitioned for the medical bay. There's been a... complication."

  "What kind of complication?" Diego felt his muscles tense. They needed those systems - proper medical imaging could mean the difference between life and death out here.

  "The supplier backed out," Kaito's jaw tightened slightly. "APU conducted an audit of their facilities last week. They've suspended all 'non-essential' equipment sales pending review."

  "Convenient timing." Diego's voice was flat. The APU's sudden interest in medical equipment suppliers couldn't be a coincidence.

  "Indeed." Kaito swiped through several documents. "I have alternative suppliers, but the quality won't match what we originally planned. The best option is a reconditioned unit from a clinic in Singapore. Seventy percent operational capacity, but it's available immediately."

  Diego rubbed his temples. A seventy percent operational system was better than none, but the reduced imaging quality could pose risks during complex procedures. "What's wrong with it?"

  "The quantum processor needs replacement, and the holographic rendering system is outdated." Kaito pulled up the unit's specifications. "But the core scanning functionality is intact. Dr. Thompson believes she can compensate for the reduced resolution with additional scanning passes."

  Another crash from down the hallway punctuated the conversation, followed by Emily's threats of drone-based revenge. Diego ignored it, focusing on the immediate problem. They needed those imaging systems, and they needed them soon.

  Diego heard Olivia's footsteps before she spoke. Her excited energy from the genetic analysis had shifted to something more focused.

  "The Singapore clinic's imaging system won't work," Olivia said, stepping between them. "The quantum processor degradation will compound with each scan. We'd get maybe two months of reliable use before total failure."

  Diego exchanged a glance with Kaito. Of course she'd been listening while appearing absorbed in the genetic data with Mei. It was one of the things he'd learned about Olivia - she could track multiple conversations while appearing completely focused on something else.

  "The alternative is no imaging system at all," Kaito replied, his tone carefully neutral. "Unless you have another suggestion?"

  "Actually," Olivia pulled up her own data feed, fingers dancing through the holographic interface. "There's a research facility in Auckland that's shutting down next month. They have two quantum imaging systems that exceed our original specifications. The facility director owes me a favor from our quantum mechanics days."

  Diego studied the specifications scrolling past. The Auckland systems were indeed superior to their original plan, with better resolution and power efficiency. But...

  "Auckland's under direct APU oversight," Diego pointed out. "Any equipment transfers will be heavily scrutinized."

  "True," Olivia's lips curved into a slight smile. "But the facility's closing due to budget cuts. They're liquidating their assets through third-party vendors to recover costs. The paperwork's already in the system - they just need a buyer."

  Diego's arms moved before his brain could catch up, pulling Olivia into a tight hug. The moment his mind registered what he'd done, he quickly stepped back, his heart hammering against his ribs. Heat crept up his neck as he cleared his throat.

  "For a change, we can do this above board - completely legal and official," he said, trying to cover his momentary lapse in control.

  Olivia's eyes widened slightly at the unexpected contact, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. She adjusted her lab coat, her fingers smoothing nonexistent wrinkles.

  Kaito's perfectly composed expression didn't change, but Diego caught the slight crinkle at the corners of his eyes - the closest thing to a smirk the man would allow himself in company.

  Another crash echoed from down the hallway, followed by Jack's distinctive laugh, providing a welcome distraction from the awkward moment. Diego seized the opportunity to focus on the datapad, studying the Auckland facility's specifications with far more intensity than necessary.

  Diego forced his attention back to the matter at hand. "Can you get a bid in for the Auckland systems? We'll need transport arranged too."

  "Already drafting the paperwork." Kaito's fingers moved across his datapad with practiced efficiency. "I have a shipping company in Sydney that won't ask questions. They can have the equipment here within seventy-two hours of purchase."

  Diego did the mental calculations. Four portal openings left. They'd need one tomorrow for the scheduled crossing, then hold the remaining three until they had all the critical supplies on the ground. The fusion generator would arrive tonight if Luna's plan worked. The imaging systems would take another three days minimum.

  "Good. Get it done." Diego glanced at the chronometer on his wrist. "We've got six hours until the generator transport. I want those bids submitted before then."

  "I'll have preliminary offers ready for your review in two hours." Kaito paused, his expression shifting minutely. "There may be competing bids from other facilities. The equipment's value is well known."

  "Match whatever they offer," Diego said firmly. "We need those systems, Kaito. The medical facility can't operate at full capacity without proper imaging. Please proceed time is coming to a close timing is more important than money."

  "Understood." Kaito made a final notation on his datapad. "I'll ensure our bid is competitive. The facility director's connection to Dr. Smith should give us priority if the offers are close."

  Another crash from the hallway interrupted them, followed by the distinctive whine of Emily's combat drone powering up. Diego pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering if he'd have any engineers left by the end of their paint war.

  Diego watched Kaito's retreating form, noting how the man's perfect posture never wavered even after hours of tense negotiations. The sound of his measured footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving an awkward silence in their wake.

  Olivia stood close enough that Diego caught the faint scent of her shampoo - something floral he couldn't quite place. The corridor's harsh lighting cast shadows under her eyes, evidence of too many late nights working on the portal calculations.

  "I should check on Jack and Emily before someone actually gets hurt," Diego said, more to fill the silence than from any real concern. Those two had been playing these games since their first deployment together.

  "They're fine." Olivia's hand brushed his arm, light enough that he could have imagined it. "Jack's modified drone can't actually hurt anyone. I made sure of that before I signed off on his 'recreational engineering project.'"

  Diego raised an eyebrow. "You knew about this?"

  "Of course. Who do you think suggested the non-toxic paint formula?" A smile played at the corners of her mouth. "After that stunt Emily pulled with their coffee, they needed a safe way to get even."

  The tension in Diego's shoulders eased slightly. Of course she'd been keeping tabs on their engineers' pranks. Olivia never missed details, especially when it came to potential safety concerns.

  They stood there, neither moving toward her office door nor back toward the main corridor. The silence stretched between them, filled with things unsaid. Diego's arms still remembered the feeling of hugging her earlier, an impulse he hadn't quite managed to suppress.

  Heat crept up Diego's neck as his mind lingered on the memory of hugging Olivia. He shifted his weight, trying to focus on anything else - the distant sounds of Jack and Emily's ongoing paint war, the hum of the facility's ventilation system, the datapad still clutched in his hand.

  Olivia stepped closer, her eyes searching his face. "I've been thinking about earlier too." Her voice was soft, barely above a whisper. "When you hugged me. It was... nice. Unexpected, but nice."

  Diego's pulse quickened. The corridor suddenly felt too small, too intimate. He opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. The datapad in his hand beeped with an incoming message, but he couldn't bring himself to look at it.

  "You're blushing," Olivia said, a small smile playing at her lips. Her hand reached up, fingers ghosting over his cheek. "I didn't think hardened combat veterans could blush."

  "I'm not-" Diego's protest died in his throat as Olivia's fingers traced along his jawline. The heat in his face intensified, betraying his words. Combat he could handle. Firefights, crisis management, impossible odds - those were straightforward. But this gentle touch, the warmth in Olivia's eyes, the way her smile reached all the way to those eyes - his tactical training offered no defense against that.

  "Really?" Olivia's eyebrow arched playfully. "So this distinct reddening I'm seeing is what, a tactical response? Some new combat technique I haven't heard about?"

  Diego cleared his throat, fighting the urge to step back. Or forward. He wasn't sure which would be worse. "It's just warm in here. The environmental controls-"

  "Fascinating," Olivia cut him off, her smile widening. "So the great Diego Martinez, who can face down armed insurgents without breaking a sweat, who can coordinate complex operations under fire, who literally walked through a quantum portal to another dimension... gets flustered when there aren't any bullets flying or crises to manage. Who knew you could actually be human under all that tactical gear?"

  The teasing lilt in her voice made his heart skip. Diego opened his mouth to respond, but his usual sharp wit failed him completely. The datapad in his hand beeped again, ignored.

  Diego's mind went completely blank as Olivia's hands cupped his face. Before he could process what was happening, her lips pressed against his. The datapad slipped from his fingers, clattering forgotten to the floor. Her kiss was fierce and determined, like everything else about her.

  His arms moved on instinct, pulling her closer as he returned the kiss. The scent of her shampoo filled his senses - jasmine, he realized. That's what it had been. One of her hands slid to the back of his neck while the other gripped his shirt.

  Time seemed to stop. The distant crashes and shouts from Jack and Emily's ongoing paint war faded away. Even the constant hum of the facility's systems disappeared. There was only this moment, the warmth of her body against his, the taste of coffee on her lips.

  For once in his life, Diego Martinez had no tactical assessment to make, no threats to analyze, no contingencies to plan. There was just Olivia, and the way she smiled against his lips as she kissed him.

  Olivia smiled up at him, her fingers smoothing her lab coat as she stepped back. She ran a hand through her mussed hair, attempting to restore some semblance of professional appearance. Diego's heart still hammered against his ribs, his tactical mind struggling to process what had just happened.

  The datapad lay forgotten at his feet, probably cracked from the fall. He should care about that - it contained critical mission data. But watching Olivia try to hide her own flushed cheeks while pretending to organize nonexistent papers, he couldn't bring himself to worry about equipment damage.

  His fingers tingled where they'd touched her. The taste of coffee and something sweeter lingered on his lips. The jasmine scent of her shampoo still filled his senses, making it hard to focus on anything else.

  The distant sound of Jack's laughter and Emily's threats of revenge filtered back into his awareness. The facility's constant hum returned. Reality crashed back in, but it felt different somehow. Softer around the edges.

  Diego reached down to retrieve the datapad, more to give his hands something to do than out of any real concern for the device. The screen was intact - small mercies. He straightened up, catching Olivia's eye as she finished adjusting her coat.

  Olivia paused at her lab door, her eyes trailing over Diego with an intensity that made his pulse quicken. "You know, for someone who plans tactical operations, you can be remarkably slow to recognize an opening when it's right in front of you." Her lips curved into a knowing smile before she disappeared into her lab.

  Diego stood rooted to the spot, his mind struggling to process what had just happened. The last time he'd felt this way... Maria's mother. The thought of his late wife sent a familiar pang through his chest, but it wasn't accompanied by the usual crushing guilt. Instead, he found himself wondering what Maria would think about this unexpected development.

  His daughter had been pushing him to "get out more" for years, insisting that Sandra wouldn't have wanted him to spend the rest of his life alone. He'd always brushed off her concerns, throwing himself into his work instead. There hadn't been room for anything else - or anyone else. Until now.

  Diego ran a hand over his face, still feeling the ghost of Olivia's touch. The tactical part of his brain tried to analyze the situation, to break it down into manageable pieces like any other operation. But this wasn't a mission. This was... something else entirely. Something that made his carefully maintained control slip, leaving him standing in a corridor with a probably-broken datapad and the lingering scent of jasmine in the air.

  The sound of Jack's victory whoop echoing down the hallway snapped Diego back to reality. He had a fusion generator arriving in less than six hours, and here he was, standing like a lovesick teenager outside Olivia's lab.

  Diego stared at the cracked screen of his datapad, the holographic display flickering pathetically before dying completely. The damage wasn't just cosmetic - he could hear something rattling inside the casing. Great. Luna would never let him hear the end of this.

  He traced the crack with his thumb, his mind still buzzing from Olivia's kiss. The tactical part of his brain tried to focus on the lost data and replacement costs, but the lingering scent of jasmine made it hard to care about broken equipment.

  Shaking his head, Diego started down the corridor toward the sound of celebration. Jack's voice echoed off the walls, punctuated by what sounded suspiciously like a victory dance. The floor was slick with paint in various neon colors, creating abstract patterns that would probably give the maintenance crew fits.

  As he rounded the corner, Diego found Jack performing an enthusiastic if uncoordinated dance, his cybernetic leg leaving colorful footprints with each step. The engineer's usually grey uniform was now a rainbow of paint splatters, and his face bore the biggest grin Diego had seen since their last successful demolition run.

  "You should see Emily's face!" Jack called out when he spotted Diego. "She thought she had me cornered, but she forgot about the maintenance shaft access. The look on her-" He stopped mid-sentence, noticing Diego's expression. "Uh, sir? You okay? You look a bit... different."

  Diego held up the broken datapad, grateful for the distraction from his racing thoughts. The cracked screen flickered weakly, casting a sickly blue glow across Jack's paint-splattered face.

  "Think you can fix this?" Diego kept his voice steady, professional. "Dropped it during your little war zone creation here."

  Jack wiped his hands on his already ruined uniform and took the device, turning it over with practiced precision. His cybernetic fingers probed the casing, finding the hidden catch that opened the maintenance panel.

  "Dropped it, huh?" Jack's knowing smirk made Diego's neck heat up again. "Must've been quite a fall to crack the quantum storage matrix. These things are built to survive combat zones." He tapped the flickering screen. "Usually takes more than a simple drop to do this kind of damage."

  Diego crossed his arms, refusing to rise to Jack's bait. "Can you fix it or not?"

  "Sure, give me an hour. Might need to borrow some parts from Luna's stash, but-" Jack's eyes narrowed, noticing something on the casing. "Is that... lipstick?"

  Diego watched Jack saunter away, the engineer's laughter echoing through the paint-splattered corridor. The datapad dangled from Jack's cybernetic hand, its cracked screen catching the light with each swinging step.

  "Don't forget about the generator prep!" Diego called after him, trying to regain some semblance of authority. But Jack just waved his free hand without turning around, his shoulders shaking with barely contained mirth.

  Heat crept up Diego's neck again. He'd faced down armed insurgents, survived quantum portals, and managed crisis after crisis without breaking a sweat. Yet here he stood, undone by a kiss and being laughed at by his chief engineer.

  The taste of coffee still lingered on his lips, mixed with something sweeter. Jasmine filled his senses, though Olivia was safely behind her lab door now. Diego touched his mouth without thinking, then quickly dropped his hand when he realized what he was doing.

  Jack's laughter carried back to him, punctuated by the distinctive click of his cybernetic leg on the floor. "You should see your face, boss!"

  Diego straightened his shoulders and turned toward the command center, determined to focus on the generator transport. But he couldn't quite suppress the smile tugging at his lips, even as Jack's amusement followed him down the corridor.

  Wait.

  Diego stopped dead in his tracks. Olivia never wore makeup. Not once in all their months working together had he seen her with anything but her natural face, usually buried in quantum calculations or peering through a microscope. She'd even complained about the impracticality of cosmetics during portal operations.

  So what had Jack seen on the datapad?

  Diego patted his shirt collar, fingers coming away with a smear of red. Paint. His mind flashed to the fresh coating on the maintenance corridor walls where he'd been standing with Olivia. She must have leaned against it at some point during their... encounter.

  The memory of her kiss made his pulse quicken again, but this time it was mixed with relief. At least he could blame the paint war for any suspicious marks. Though judging by Jack's knowing smirk, that excuse wouldn't hold up under much scrutiny.