I woke up to the smell of something burning.
My eyes shot open and I nearly fell out of my bunk, disoriented and confused. For a moment, I thought the base was under attack again. But then I heard Fahad cursing loudly from the common area of our quarters.
"Cal, I told you to watch the heat!"
"I am watching it! You're the one who added too much oil!"
"I added the EXACT amount that you told!"
I climbed down from my bunk, my body still aching from yesterday's battle. I saw Fahad and Cal standing over a small cooking unit on top of the table, surrounded by smoke and what looked like charred vegetables set up in the middle of the dorm room.
"What... what's going on?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. I had slept most of the morning after the battle. Its always dark here, it always feels like it's night time regardless of the time anyway.
Korvet appeared beside me, grinning widely. "It's team dinner night, Wei Wei! We cook together once a week. Well, Cal and Fahad does the cooking. The rest of us try not to get in the way."
Team dinner?
Korvet stretched and yawned. "The base's cafeteria food tastes like recycled waste, so this is our one chance to eat something decent."
Melvin was already seated at our common room table, adjusting plates and utensils. He looked at me and said, "Cal and Fahad would take turns choosing which food to cook. Last week was Cal's turn - they made this tasty stew with actual vegetables from the greenhouse. This week is Fahad's turn, so..."
"So we're probably going to die from food poisoning." Vasila said, entering from the shower area with her hair still damp. She'd removed all her iron weights, and I was struck by how much pretty and more normal she looked without them. "Fahad's idea of cooking is burn everything until the smoke from it smells bad."
"I can hear you!" Fahad replied. "And for your information, this is a traditional recipe from my home region!"
"Your home region must have had terrible food.." Vasila whispered back, while putting her pants on. I looked away when she dropped her towel but it seems like this is quite normal for everyone else except me.
I watched everyone banter back and forth. For a brief moment, I was feeling like an outsider looking in on something precious. These people who had fought beside me yesterday, who had saved my life multiple times, were now arguing about cooking like a normal family.
"Wei Wei, stop standing there like a statue and come help me and melvin set the table," Korvet said, pushing me toward Melvin. "Melvin's too meticulous in arranging things - everything has to be perfectly symmetrical or he has a meltdown."
"I don't have meltdowns!" Melvin replied back, but I noticed his hands were shaking slightly as he aligned the plates. "I just... prefer order."
As I helped set the table, Cal put their hands into the bunker's trunks and took out a tray full of spoons and forks. Despite the earlier chaos, whatever we were cooking smelled good.
"Alright everyone, take your seats," Cal announced. "Dinner is served. And before anyone complains, yes, some of it is burned. That's Fahad's fault."
"It's called 'caramelization' and it's a legitimate cooking technique. Huh.. you wouldn't know that." Fahad snarked, and served what looked like grilled meat and vegetables. It smelled like a bit of garlic and honey arouma.
Apparently, Honey was a common ingredient in the past but now, it's a delicacy.
We all sat around the table - Vasila sat across me, with Fahad to her left, then me, Melvin, Cal and Korvet completing the circle.
It felt like i earned it, sitting here after yesterday's life-or-death battle.
"So, Shell boy," Fahad said as he served the food. "Since you're officially part of the team now, you need to understand how Unit Vasila operates. We're not like other Units - we don't follow standard rules."
"What he means," Vasila interjected, "is that we pick and fight our enemies based on our power types, rather than just following attack strategies blindly. Each of us has a specific role."
"The Guardian Force categorizes all pilots into five power types based on their combat style and mech. Understanding these types is crucial for team coordination."
"I'm the All-Rounder type," Vasila said, gesturing to herself. "I can adapt to any combat situation. offense, defense, support, i can do a little bit of all of that on my own."
"I'm Speed type," Korvet added, talking while shoving food into his mouth. "My mech is built for velocity and maneuverability. I scout ahead, gather intelligence, and strike faster than sound barrier. if you need help, always contact me, wei wei."
I nodded awkwardly, I hope he doesn't choke on the food.
"I'm a Defense type," Cal said quietly, raising their hand. "My mech, Rising Storm, is designed to take damage and protect others." Cal smiled at me, handing me a spoon.
"Attack type," Fahad said with obvious pride. "My mech specializes in long range firepower. I'm the one who makes sure enemies don't survive long enough to become a problem."
I turned to Melvin, who seemed to shrink under the attention.
"Support type.." he stammered. " If you don't know this already by now, i don't pilot a mech in combat - instead, I coordinate from a command position, directly in line with Vasila, and make sure everyone knows what's happening on the battlefield at all times. I give orders before Vasila.. I make calculated predictions so she could focus on the battle.."
"Melvin is actually a really important member, you just wouldn't know it from his looks!" Korvet added.
"Thanks.. for that." Melvin replied back.
I absorbed all this information, trying to process it. "So... what type am I?"
The table fell silent.
"You'll figure it out soon." Vasila answered, eating her plate full with bare hands. "Your mech, WX-8R is an ancient mech with a Blue and Red Core - it doesn't fit into modern categories. Your power type will depend on how you make use of your mech."
"Could be Attack type like me," Fahad suggested. "If you have what it takes."
"It most probably will be a Defense type.." Melvin countered. "WX-8R is built for endurance which was the main feature of a mech in those times."
"Let's not pressure him." Cal said gently. "Power types are assigned after you develop an affinity towards one through experience."
Vasila nodded in agreement. "For now, just focus on learning the basics. When the time is right, you'll know it."
As we ate, the conversation shifted to lighter topics. Korvet started telling embarrassing stories about everyone's first days in Unit Vasila.
"Oh man, remember when Cal first joined?" Korvet laughed so hard he nearly choked. "She was so polite and formal, calling everyone 'sir' and 'ma'am' even though we're all the same rank!"
Seems like Cal goes by She/they. Well, that's odd to me but I'll follow the way korvet address him.
Cal's face flushed. "I was trying to make a good impression! I didn't know you were all rude like this!"
"Rude? We're perfectly normal!" Fahad replied. "Except for Melvin, who organized all our ammunition by color code on his first day."
"It's more efficient that way!" Melvin defended himself.
"Speaking of first meetings," Vasila said, a rare smile crossing her face. "Fahad, remember how we met?"
Fahad smile faded away.
"Oh, we HAVE to tell that story," Korvet insisted, leaning forward eagerly.
Vasila's smile widened. "I was doing solo training when I encountered him. He challenged me to a fight, the minute he got into the base. Fahad comes from a specific family lineage who have a reputation for picking fights that they can't win. I nearly killed him."
"You did TRY to kill me, but need i remind you, i wasn't defeated." Fahad replied. "You punched straight through my cockpit shield, I survived and stood up before I was forced to stop fighting."
"You puked inside the mech from the impact." Vasila continued, struggling not to laugh. "That's why you were stopped! HAHAHHA"
"That's simply not true, shell boy! Do not believe her" Fahad turned to make sure I'm not smiling.
The whole table erupted in laughter.
"W-Well.. I don't believe that, I'm sure you put up a good fight." I replied to Fahad who got back to eating his food faster.
"What about you, Korvet? How did you meet the team?" I asked.
Korvet grinned. "Oh, thats a good question.. uhh.. This was a long time ago, i was assigned here from an another team.. you know the ones who stand guard outside and patrol? I was in that team. Vasila handpicked me one day and asked me to join her unit. I was the first one to join."
Cal and Melvin's story was similar. They'd met in the medical ward after both being injured in separate battles. Cal had been recovering from severe mech-related burns, while Melvin was dealing with the psychological trauma of losing his previous team members, who were fallen in battle. Vasila invited them to the team since no one wanted them.
"Cal was the only one that I talked with for a month.." Melvin said. "Even though she could barely move, she'd just... keep talking with me. About nothing important. About everything. Vasila took us in after everyone rejected us."
Cal smiled at Vasila, who was trying to play it cool.
"What about you, shell boy?" Fahad asked me. "Tell us about your life before the shell incident. What was it like?"
This question caught me off guard. I'd been trying not to think about the shells, about Kyle, about everything I'd lost.
"It was quiet." I said. "Peaceful, in a way. Boring, sometimes. I didn't do much - just existed in the chambers, praying to Wokan when i ate, and slept soundly. A certain caretaker was the only one who bought excitement in my life. She'd tell me stories.. about the outside world, about ancient humans and their festivals and families.."
I paused, the words are starting to stuck in my throat.
"She made me feel like I mattered. Like I was more than just a code number. When she died..." I couldn't finish the sentence.
Vasila stood up and put her hand on my shoulder - firm but gentle.
I nodded, unable to speak.
Korvet lightened the mood. "Well, you can relax here, you got us now, wei wei."
"Unfortunate for him." Fahad added with a smirk.
After dinner, we cleaned up together. Even Vasila helped with the dishes, though she complained the entire time.
As we finished, Yiovali's voice came through the comm system. "Unit Vasila, report to Training Hall 7 in twenty minutes. Standard combat drills."
"Let's get going!" Vasila dropped washing the plates half way and slipped out of the chore.
---
Training Hall 7 was massive - easily three times the size of the hangar where we kept our mechs. The floor was reinforced metal, scarred with countless impact marks from previous training sessions. Holographic targets flickered at various heights and distances.
Yiovali stood at the center, his officer mask covering his face. Behind him, several other trainers and teams I didn't recognize were training.
"Good, you're early," Yiovali said. "Wei la, step forward."
My heart sank.
He gestured me to come forward "Your performance yesterday was acceptable for a first battle. But 'acceptable' gets you killed in real combat. Today, we begin intensive training sessions for you along with other units."
"Each power type requires different training methods." Yiovali explained, pulling up holographic displays. "We'll cycle you through various exercises, analyze your core performance, reaction times, decision patterns, and combat instincts to predict your affinity."
"The rest of Unit Vasila will participate in training as well." Yiovali continued. "You'll need to learn how to coordinate with other Units. I hope you're aware that this battle is a rare case. Most of the time, we will not send a separate Unit alone to battle. You would always fight alongside different pilots from different Units. Understanding how you can leverage other unit member's speciality is crucial."
Over the next several hours, I was put through the most grueling training of my life.
First came speed trials - racing through obstacle courses while Korvet easily outpaced me, his movements fluid and instinctive where mine were clumsy.
Then precision shooting with Fahad, who could hit targets the size of my thumb from hundreds of meters away while I struggled to hold the gun properly.
Defensive drills with Cal. I was learning to position myself to protect others while maintaining situational awareness. I did a good job according to Cal, but knowing her, she probably is going easy on me. I need to improve more to actually be useful in battle.
Strategic planning with Melvin. I was given scenarios to analyze and make split-second tactical decisions. I failed miserably here. This job is a lot tougher than it looked.
And finally, all-rounder adaptability training with Vasila, who seemed to excel at everything and made it look effortless.
"You're overthinking." Vasila told me during a break. "Combat isn't about thinking - it's about instinct. Your body should know what to do before your brain catches up."
"Easy for you to say.. ah." I panted, exhausted. "You're gifted."
"Gifted, huh? Maybe." Vasila replied, "You can be just like me with way more effort which you aren't putting in."
As the training session wound down, Yiovali called me.
"Your performance was... mixed." he said bluntly. "You show potential in multiple areas but excel in none. Your speed is adequate to move around but it is not exceptional. Your precision improves, given enough time. Your defensive instincts are sound but you hesitate too much. Your tactical thinking is okayish but you second-guess yourself constantly. We cannot have someone who is not confident in their decisions."
I'd failed again.
"However, this isn't necessarily a weakness. It suggests you might develop into an All-Rounder type like Vasila - capable of adapting to any situation rather than specializing in one area. Time will tell."
"For now, continue training across all disciplines. We'll reassess in two weeks."
As we walked back to the quarters, exhausted and sore, Korvet threw an arm around my shoulders.
"Not bad for day two, Wei Wei. At least you didn't pass out this time."
"I almost did." I admitted.
"Almost also counts!" Fahad said loudly, from behind which startled me. "Keep up the pace, shell boy. you need to prove yourself again. Next time, you'll have a sparring match with me."
I nodded. I can't tell him no, anyway.
That night, as I collapsed into my bunk bed, my body screamed from head to toe in pain.
I thought about everything I'd learned on training. About power types and team roles.
I didn't know what kind of pilot I would become yet. But I knew one thing with absolute certainty: I will become worthy of fighting beside them.
[Your determination is admirable, First One,] WX-8R's voice whispered in my mind.
[But remember - strength without rest leads to collapse. Sleep now. Tomorrow we train harder.]
For once, I didn't argue with it. I agreed.
As I drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the sounds of snoring of Korvet and Fahad sleep talking about how he missed his brothers, along with some gibberish. I don't know what that meant so I plugged my ears with another pillow and fell asleep.