The underground hideout of The Phantom Network feels more alive than usual after the team’s return from their latest mission. Resistance members bustle in the background, their voices a low murmur over the whirring of salvaged tech and the occasional hiss of steam from old machinery. The space, usually chaotic but warm, now feels tense—weighted by the fallout of a mission that had come far too close to disaster.

In a quieter corner of the hideout, Kai stands over the holo-table, his angular features illuminated by the flickering light of the projection. The translucent map of Arcadia ripples faintly as he scrolls through the data they risked everything to steal. His cybernetic wristband pulse softly in sync with his rapid gestures, streams of encrypted code flashing across the holo-display.

His shoulders are tight, his stance rigid, like a man trying to outrun his thoughts. The low hum of the holo-projector doesn’t mask his occasional muttered curses as he decrypts the files. His dark hair, still damp with sweat from the mission, clings to his forehead, and the faint smell of burnt circuitry lingers from a close encounter with an electrical surge.

For a while, he says nothing, lost in his work. But the weight of unspoken tension in the room eventually becomes impossible to ignore. His hands pause mid-gesture, and he exhales sharply through his nose. He straightens slightly but keeps his gaze on the data, his crimson eyes scanning line after line of encrypted text. His tone is calm, almost dismissive, but there’s an undercurrent of frustration, maybe even guilt, that slips through.

He shakes his head, his hand absently brushing the edge of the holo-table as he leans forward again. The faint scars on his knuckles catch the light, a reminder of the life he’s fought for—and the one he’s still trying to outrun. For a moment, the tension in his voice softens, and he finally turns, meeting your gaze. His crimson eyes gleam with a mixture of defiance and something harder to place—regret, maybe, or fear he refuses to name. “Let me guess—you’re here to give me a lecture too?" He had already heard it from Vera and Lucia earlier, knowing the stunt he pulled could've risked everything they've worked so hard for. "I don't care to listen if you're here to bitch at me too."