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Ashton, Anna, and Kass landed the ship at the designated area in the Tower\'s hangar bay. They stepped out of the ship, and Tarek was carried out on a stretcher by two medical staff. The team then followed the stretcher into the Tower\'s infirmary.

Ashton walked alongside Anna, who clung tightly to his arm. He was grateful that they had completed their mission and returned safely to the Tower. 

However, the conversation they had earlier about the Orion Empire and the Xyrans still lingered in his mind, and he knew he would have to do something about it sooner or later.

Anna noticed Ashton\'s unease and squeezed his hand reassuringly. "Hey, we\'re back, and we did it. Don\'t worry about anything else now. Alright?"

"Yeah." Ashton smiled at her, grateful for her presence. 

He knew that she was right. He needed to focus on the present and not worry about the future. 

The group entered the infirmary, and Tarek was immediately taken to a medical bay. Ashton and Anna sat down in the waiting area while Kass went to gather the Ghosts or those who were informed about the operation prison break.

While they sat there, Ashton couldn\'t help but wonder what kind of manipulative tactics the Cult might have used to fool someone like Tarek. He couldn\'t comprehend any other way or reason why someone as brilliant as Tarek could have joined the Cult.

After all, no sane person would ever work for a group that wanted to destroy everything just for the sake of it. 

Also, if what Tarek said was true, that the Cult was conducting experiments to create a Behemoth of their own, then they could have had some success by now. If that happened... Ashton didn\'t know how he\'ll handle the situation. 

Anna noticed Ashton\'s change in mood and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

Ashton shook his head. "I\'m just trying to wrap my head around Tarek\'s past. It\'s difficult to understand how someone like him could have ended up working for the Cult."

Anna nodded in agreement. "Sometimes, people make the wrong choices because they think it\'s their only option. Tarek must have felt that way."

"I just hope that he can turn his life around now that he\'s away from the Cult\'s influence." Ashton sighed. 

"Stop doing something that isn\'t your forte." Anna laughed, caressing his hand. "We\'ll get our answers once Tarek is able to. Till then, don\'t think about anything and relax!"

The couple sat in silence for a few minutes, lost in their thoughts. Ashton couldn\'t help but feel grateful for Anna\'s presence. He knew he could always count on her to understand his worries and be there for him.

After some time, Tarek\'s medical team came out of the medical bay. One of the doctors approached Ashton and Anna.

"Dr Tarek is stable, but he needs to rest. He\'s been through a lot, and we want to monitor his condition for the next few days. You can see him tomorrow."

Ashton and Anna nodded, relieved that Tarek was in good hands. As they left the infirmary, Kass approached them along with Leon and Otiga. 

"Did you get him?" Leon asked.

Ashton nodded. "Yeah, we got him. He\'s being treated now."

"Good work. You two are something else." Leon let out a sigh of relief. He had been worried sick since he got to know about the Behemoth. 

Anna smiled at him. "Just doing our jobs."

Ashton turned to Leon. "What\'s the update on the Orion Empire and the Xyrans?"

"Nothing concrete yet, but we\'re working on it." Leon shook his head. "We\'ve got a few leads we\'re following up on."

"And what about Shian?"

"Still unconscious," Otiga replied. "Did you two get checked yourselves?"

Ashton nodded. "As you can see, we\'re in one piece. Thanks to our expert pilot here!"

"I don\'t you about you lot," Kass raised her hands over her head. "But I, for one, could use a lot of booze!"

"Sure, you more than deserve it." Ashton nodded, and the group left the medical bay. 

Ashton, Anna, Kass, Leon, and Otiga walked towards the Tower\'s bar, eager to celebrate their successful mission. The atmosphere was lively as people chatted, laughed, and danced to the music. The group sat at a large round table and ordered their drinks.

Being a dark elf, Kass ordered a barrel of her favourite ale while Otiga ordered a fruity cocktail. Anna opted for a glass of red wine while Ashton ordered neat whisky. Leon, as always, settled for water.

As they sipped their drinks, they reminisced about the prison break, with Kass recounting their experience in the pilot\'s cockpit while Ashton and Anna shared their experience on the ground.

Suddenly, a loud voice broke their conversation. "Finally back, are we?"

They turned to see Vulcan approaching their table. Aegis waddled behind him, wagging his three tails. Without warning, Aegis jumped straight into Ashton\'s hands, vigorously licking his face.

"Alright, alright, little guy. I missed you too!" Ashton said, laughing and smiling. 

However, Vulcan\'s expression remained serious as he stared at Ashton. "Would you accompany me on my walk for a moment or two?"

"Sure thing." Ashton placed the tiny creature into Anna\'s arms, and Aegis immediately began licking her face, tail wagging furiously.

eaglesnovɐ1,сoМ As the group played with Aegis, Vulcan and Ashton left the bar. Ashton didn\'t dare speak as he knew his master had something to say first. 

"You\'re too weak," Vulcan said bluntly. "and unprepared for what\'s coming."

Ashton\'s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"The Cult, Xyrans and now the Empire. Are you ready to face them if they attack tomorrow?" Vulcan asked, his voice low. He continued when Ashton didn\'t reply. "That\'s what I thought. They\'re preparing for war, and we need to be ready. You... more than anyone else."

Ashton felt a wave of panic wash over him. But at the same time, he felt relieved that his concerns weren\'t unfounded. 

"What can I do to help?" Ashton asked, eager to prove his worth.

"You can start by training," Vulcan said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Flintmace and I will be your trainers starting tomorrow."

Ashton nodded, understanding the seriousness of the situation. He knew that he needed to be stronger, faster, and more skilled if he was going to help protect the Empire.

Vulcan\'s expression softened slightly. "But for now, enjoy your time with your friends. This may be the last chance you get for a while."

Ashton breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the chance to enjoy the moment before everything changed. As Vulcan left the bar, Ashton felt a mixture of fear and excitement. He knew that the training would be intense, but he was ready to do whatever it took to protect the ones he cared for.