CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 9.5: THIS UNIFORM DOESN’T MAKE ME A HERO. BUT I’LL TRY ANYWAY PART 2

Unlike Sera’s more laid-back reaction, Rosa was definitely the opposite. She let out a low whistle, clearly impressed, and her smile kept getting bigger as she checked him out from head to toe.

With a playful wave, Rosa pointed out his freshly cleaned uniform and his slightly damp hair, clearly enjoying every second of it.

"Well, well. Look what the bath module spat out." Rosa gestured dramatically at his clean uniform and still-damp hair. "I barely recognize you without the eau de apocalypse cologne."

Clara glanced at Jin, then quickly looked away, her voice dropping to barely above a whisper. "You look... um... much better. Cleaner. Not that you looked bad before! I just meant"

"Clara," Jin said gently, saving her from her own embarrassment. "Thank you. All of you. For taking care of me while I was asleep"

He ran a hand through his still-damp hair, his usual earnest expression tinged with sheepishness. "I guess I got so focused on making sure everyone else was okay that I forgot to take care of myself."

"That’s very like you, idiot" Sera said, and despite her measured tone, there was something almost fond of her voice.

"The bath module was incredible, though," Jin continued, settling into a chair across from them. "I’ve never seen anything like it. The way it combines traditional design with advanced purification systems..."

The conversation was interrupted by a soft chime in Jin’s HUD, followed by Asha’s voice cutting through his consciousness.

"Jin. Just a heads-up, we got a priority alert specifically, two additional cryo-pods have successfully attained stable revival parameters, indicating that the conditions necessary for reviving the occupants are now optimal."

Asha continues "Further analysis of the systems involved reveals that both cryo-pods are exhibiting green indicators across all relevant life support matrices. This is a positive sign that suggests all critical functions—such as temperature regulation, oxygen supply, and waste removal—are operating within established safety thresholds. Please advise on the next steps for initiating protocol for the revival process, as these findings are crucial to our ongoing mission."

Jin’s expression shifted subtly, he was lost in the middle of Asha’s explanation. The easy atmosphere in the room began to tighten as the others recognized his "listening to Asha" face.

Asha’s urgency grows as she states, "An intricate issue has emerged that demands immediate attention. Long-range motion sensors have detected a significant biomass convergence nearby, specifically showing heat signatures typical of a Crawler pack. Estimates suggest around 30 to 40 entities moving deliberately toward the Command Wing. This coordinated behavior raises serious concerns about safety and security. We must investigate further to grasp the threat and devise effective countermeasures."

The color drained from Jin’s face as the full implications hit him. Two more lives hanging in the balance, and a small army of nightmares gathering at their doorstep.

"Jin?" Sera’s voice was sharp with concern. "What is it?"

He looked up, meeting each of their gazes in turn. "We have good news and very bad news. Two more pods are stable and ready for revival—but Asha’s detecting a massive Crawler swarm heading straight for us."

The response was swift. Clara’s tablet almost fell from her suddenly weak grip, and Rosa’s relaxed attitude vanished. Sera was already standing up before Jin had finished his sentence, her gaze shifting.

"How many?" she demanded.

"Thirty to forty," Jin replied, watching as the number seemed to physically impact each of them. "They’re moving in packs"

"Clara," Sera’s voice cut through "I need full sensor data on our perimeter, now."

Clara was tapping away at her tablet like a pro. Suddenly, the big holographic screen in the room flickered and then burst into a 3D map of their area.

It was filled with red heat signatures zigzagging all over the display—lots of them squeezing through vents, maintenance areas, and service passages. They were gradually gathering around the Command Wing.

"Look at that. They’re everywhere," Rosa whispered, her voice barely audible above the hum of the display systems.

Rosa leaned forward, studying the tactical readout with suddenly serious eyes. "That’s not a random movement.." Her usual smirk was nowhere to be seen. "How the hell did they get so organized?"

"Analysis suggests pack learning behavior. Each encounter allows them to adapt tactics and coordinate more effectively.."

Sera began pacing, her mind clearly racing through possibilities and contingencies. "Time frame?"

"Current convergence rate suggests full encirclement in approximately 90 minutes. The cryo-pods have a 24-hour window for safe revival."

Jin relayed the information from Asha, watching as Sera’s expression hardened into the mask of command he’d come to recognize and respect. When she spoke, it was with the authority of someone born to lead in crisis situations.

"Emergency strategy session. Now." She gestured to the holographic display. "Clara, I need you to map every possible route to the cryo-bay. Include maintenance shafts, emergency passages, anything that might give us an alternative path. Rosa, inventory our weapons and equipment—we need to know exactly what we’re working with."

Clara’s stuttering nervousness evaporated as she locked into her technical expertise, fingers flying across multiple interface panels simultaneously. "I-I can access the environmental systems too. Fire suppression, atmospheric controls, emergency lighting—all of it could be weaponized if we’re creative."

"Fire suppression," Rosa said suddenly, snapping her fingers. "The nitrogen flooding system. It’s designed to displace oxygen in case of electrical fires, but it would also create a dense fog bank. Perfect cover for movement, and the temperature drop might confuse their thermal tracking."

Sera nodded approvingly. "Good thinking. What else?"

Clara pushed her glasses up nervously, but her voice gained confidence as she outlined possibilities. "The ventilation system has emergency purge protocols—I could create localized pressure differentials to disorient them. And the maintenance tunnels have automated lockdown capabilities. If we trigger them at the right moment..."

"We could funnel them into kill zones," Sera finished, her tactical mind already several steps ahead. "Create chokepoints where superior numbers become a disadvantage."

Rosa’s grin returned, though it held a predatory edge. "I like where this is going. What about a distraction? Something big and loud to draw them away from the main routes?"