An Old and Unknown Friend

**Shaira’s POV**

I woke up in a room that was too bright, the white lights surrounding me with a clarity that made me uncomfortable. Everything around me seemed sterile, impersonal. I tried to sit up, but a feeling of strangeness overwhelmed me. I still felt out of place, as if this room and this fortress weren’t part of my life, even though everything suggested otherwise. My body still ached with exhaustion, and the stabbing pain in my muscles reminded me of what had happened in the previous days.

I looked around, observing the softly humming monitors on the walls. I had barely slept, not due to physical discomfort but because of the whirlwind of thoughts that had trapped me. Thoughts of Assu, of Angro... of everything I had left behind.

The sound of the door sliding open made me turn my head. A young man entered, maybe in his thirties, with a perfectly composed demeanor. His clear eyes analyzed me calmly, but his tense jaw revealed that he wasn’t here for a friendly chat.

“Second Lieutenant Shaira,” he addressed me in a deep, firm voice, though not harsh.

“Captain,” I responded, forcing myself to smile as I sat up on the bed. My body was still stiff.

Captain Roger was a man who knew how to impose his authority without raising his voice. He approached with firm steps and gestured for me to remain seated. I was relieved not to have to stand; I didn’t want to show any weakness, but my body still resisted moving.

“We need to talk about your automatic translation device,” he said, his gaze piercing through me. “It’s working perfectly, which is how we managed to track you down. However, according to your preliminary report, you claim you couldn’t understand or communicate with the natives. Is that correct?”

My lips tightened as I felt the weight of what I was about to say. I had to protect the opranchi. I had risked too much to throw it all away now.

“That’s true, Captain,” I replied, not breaking eye contact with him. “Since the accident, I believe the device was damaged. I couldn’t understand anything they said.”

Roger frowned, leaning slightly forward as if trying to detect a crack in my façade.

“That’s strange,” he said, his words coming out with calculated calm. “Because our systems show that the device continued transmitting your signal, and according to our readings, it’s in perfect working order. If it was functioning to track your position, there’s no reason why the translator wouldn’t work.”

The discomfort in my chest grew. The captain was methodical, no doubt about that. I had to stick to my story.

“That doesn’t mean the translator was working correctly. I didn’t understand anything. They kept me imprisoned, with no contact with anyone.”

Roger stared at me for several long seconds, his eyes locked on mine, trying to detect any sign of a lie. I forced myself to maintain my composure. I couldn’t let my emotions betray what had really happened.

“Then explain something to me, Lieutenant,” he continued, pulling out a device from his jacket pocket. He activated it, and a holographic image was projected in the air between us. It was a map of the region, showing my movements during the days I had been missing. I could clearly see the points marking my route from Zuwua to Sagoria, and how I had ventured into territory occupied by the colonists.

“This shows that you’ve been moving around, covering various areas, and somehow communicating with the natives. How do you explain these movements if, as you claim, you were locked up the entire time?”

I swallowed hard and forced myself to stay calm. Every word I spoke could be the beginning of my downfall.

“There must be a malfunction with the device,” I insisted, trying to keep my voice steady. “I don’t understand those data, but I can assure you I was imprisoned. I couldn’t move or interact with anyone.”

The captain drummed his fingers on the table next to my bed. His expression remained hard, skeptical. I knew he didn’t fully believe me.

It was then that the door opened again, and a young officer entered the room. Her uniform was as impeccable as the captain’s, and her demeanor showed discipline and authority. Seeing her, I felt a pang of recognition, though my mind couldn’t place her. I knew I should know her.

“First Lieutenant Xandria,” Roger greeted her with a nod. “You’ve arrived just in time.”

“Captain, Shaira,” Xandria said with a smile, trying to convey warmth. Her eyes gleamed with a mix of relief and something that resembled affection, as if we shared a history I couldn’t remember. I felt a pang of recognition, but my mind was blank. Did I really know her? Or was there something else I just couldn’t grasp?

“It’s good to see you again, Shaira,” she added, approaching me with familiarity.

I forced a smile. “Likewise, Xandria.”

My response was automatic, devoid of genuine emotion. I didn’t know how I was supposed to act, so I simply remained neutral. If she noticed my coldness, she didn’t show it.

Xandria stopped by my side, her hand lightly brushing my arm. Her gesture was meant to be comforting, but it made me uncomfortable. I wanted to remember who she was, to know why she treated me with such familiarity, but I couldn’t. All I could do was pretend everything was fine.

“Captain,” Xandria continued, turning toward Roger. “I received orders this morning to lead an investigation. There’s a sergeant, a corporal, and a soldier who didn’t return from a mission in the colonists’ territory. Their disappearances have raised suspicions.”

The mention of the three men made the air around me feel denser, heavier. I knew exactly what had happened to them. Angro had killed them when they tried to assault me in the doctor’s house. The memory of their bodies falling to the ground still haunted me, but I couldn’t let that moment betray me now.

“Shaira,” Xandria continued, looking at me with an expression of enthusiasm, as if she was about to offer me an exciting opportunity, “I’d love for you to join my investigation team.”

My mind clouded for a moment. She had no idea what she was asking. If I accepted, I’d be going back to the crime scene, facing everything that had happened. But if I refused, it would raise suspicion. Xandria looked at me expectantly, and the captain followed the conversation closely. There was no way out.

“Of course,” I replied, trying to sound natural. “It would be an honor to join you.”

Captain Roger kept his gaze fixed on me, scrutinizing every word I said. I felt like each of my movements was being analyzed, each of my gestures evaluated. I couldn’t afford any mistakes.

“Excellent,” Xandria said, seemingly satisfied with my response. “We leave tomorrow morning. It’ll be good to work together again.”

Again. That word echoed in my mind like a mockery. How many times had we worked together? How many missions had we shared before all this? I knew I couldn’t keep pretending much longer, but there was no other choice.

“Yes, I’m looking forward to it,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

Xandria smiled at me again, but before she could say anything else, Captain Roger intervened.

“Shaira, I need to remind you that this is a mission under strict supervision. You’re being watched and evaluated constantly. If during this investigation any evidence arises that you’ve been lying, you’ll be taken before a military tribunal. Do you understand?”

I felt a pressure in my chest, as if all the air had been knocked out of my lungs. The captain said it so calmly, so naturally, but his words were clear: my life was at risk. If he discovered the truth, there would be no escape.

“I understand, Captain,” I replied, keeping my expression neutral despite my mind racing.

Xandria looked at me with concern. Her expression had changed, no longer as cheerful as before. “Don’t worry, Shaira,” she said softly. “I’m sure everything will be fine. You’re an excellent officer. We’ve been through this before, and I know you can handle it.”

I smiled faintly, but the feeling of unease remained. I couldn’t tell her what was really going on, or what had happened in the doctor’s house. Every word of encouragement from her only sank me deeper into the pit of my lies.

“Thank you, Xandria,” I murmured. “I appreciate your words.”

Captain Roger stood up and looked at me one last time before leaving. “You should rest, Lieutenant. Tomorrow marks a new phase for you.”

When he left, the room seemed to breathe a little easier, but the tension didn’t fully disappear.

“Are you okay, Shaira?” Xandria asked, moving even closer with the familiarity of an old friend.

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I was. “It’s just... a lot to process.”

“I understand. You’ve been through a complicated situation. But trust me, this won’t last long. Once we finish this investigation, everything will go back to normal.”

Normal. That word sounded strange to me. What was normal for me now? I had been living among the opranchi, pretending to be one of them. I had seen how they lived, how they fought, and I had felt closer to them than to anyone in this place.

Xandria patted my arm before leaving. “Rest well, Shaira. Tomorrow will be an important day.”

When the door closed, I let myself fall onto the bed, exhausted. I knew I didn’t have time to waste. This mission would be my chance to escape, to return to Angro, to the opranchi. But I would have to do it without raising suspicion, and that was what terrified me the most.