Eric raced through the bustling streets, his steps quick and uneven. Gerald's voice over the phone still echoed in his mind, sharp, urgent, laced with an intensity Eric had never once heard from the composed division leader. That alone had set him on edge.
Gerald is not one to lose his cool over nothing. If Eric taking the day off was the problem, he would have been contacted since morning and asked to resume with immediate effect.
However, the call came in the afternoon when 6 to 7 hours of work resumption had gone by in a flash.
Then they decided to reach out to him? It didn't feel right.
It took him roughly twenty minutes to reach Upstate and dash into the Second Division headquarters. The moment he swung the door open, his chest rose and fell in rapid succession as he gasped for air.
"Huff! Huff! I-I'm here!" Eric stumbled into the room, one hand on his knee, the other bracing against the wall as he fought to steady his breath.
"Where the hell have you been, Eric?!" Gerald barked, eyes narrowed. "You skip out on duty the moment you resume work?!"
Eric flinched at the rebuke, the guilt pressed on his shoulders. Before he could stammer out an excuse-
"Save it. Grab your gear, we're leaving now." Gerald snapped, already turning on his heel and storming toward the exit with purposeful strides.
Eric blinked. That was fast.
"Nicely done, rookie." Xander clapped him on the back with a grin. "You're finally getting the hang of things. You're not really part of the Second Division until you've pissed off the captain at least once. Welcome aboard."
Wait... was that supposed to be praise? Eric wasn't sure whether to feel reassured or insulted. He glanced over to Joseph, hoping for a less sarcastic take on the situation.
"I'm not getting dragged into your mess," Joseph said plainly as he walked past. "Just follow orders and keep pace. Otherwise, stay out of the way."
Well, that was... cold. Then again, what else could he expect from someone whose entire life revolved around handheld games and minimal interaction?
—
The car sped along the Sector A highway, weaving past vehicles as it took the main route linking the three divided states, Upstate, Midstate, and Downstate. Xander manned the wheel, whistling under his breath. Gerald sat silently in the front passenger seat, his expression unreadable. In the back, Eric sat beside Joseph, who was deeply immersed in the tiny gaming device in his hands.
Even in a moving vehicle during an emergency call, the guy was still glued to his game.
Gerald finally broke the silence. "Time for the debrief before we reach the site."
Everyone's attention shifted toward him.
"We're dealing with a Walker. It showed up at the central square of Downstate." His tone was grim.
Xander was the first to react. "A Walker? And in Downstate of all places? Isn't that under the Seventh Division's control?"
"It is," Gerald confirmed. "But every single member of Division Seven is currently occupied. They're handling a Catastrophe-ranked Walker near the northern gates."
Eric's heart skipped a beat.
"A Catastrophe Walker?" he echoed, his voice thin with disbelief.
He wasn't exactly a mystic veteran, but he knew enough to recognise that title for what it was, an unholy destruction waiting to swallow a city whole. And the three men in front of him were discussing it as casually as one would a change in the weather.
"Relax, rookie." Xander glanced at him through the rearview mirror. "You won't be facing the Catastrophe Walker today."
Eric exhaled, tension slightly easing from his spine. "Not today" wasn't the most reassuring phrasing, but at least it meant survival was on the table for now.
Gerald continued, "While Division Seven's attention is pulled toward the north, we're stepping in to handle the breach they've left behind. Anyone got an issue with that?"
"No complaints here," Xander said without hesitation.
"Same," Joseph added, eyes never leaving his screen.
Gerald tilted his head slightly, waiting. Only after a long pause did Eric realise he was expected to voice his own agreement.
"I'm in as well. No objections."
"Good." Gerald nodded. "Then I'll keep it simple. Watch each other's backs, stay sharp, and most importantly, don't die to a Predator-ranked Walker. We don't need the Second Division's name tainted by carelessness."
That last part wasn't just a warning; it felt like a challenge.
Eric looked around. His teammates were serious for a change. At last, a fieldwork for his new job.
"Couldn't have said it better myself, Captain," Xander said with a smirk. "You heard him, rookie. Chin up. If the Predator class feels a little too spicy for your first mission, don't be ashamed to fall back. Let your seniors handle the heavy lifting."
Eric frowned. Was that encouragement... or shade? With Xander, it was always hard to tell. He decided to take it as the former. Positivity helped, right?
Then Joseph broke his silence.
"Watch your mouth, muscle-head. He's an Aldaman."
Xander raised an eyebrow. "So? You want me to be scared of his last name?"
"You should be," Joseph said coolly. "Ever heard of the title Youngest LORD's Candidate?"
"Yeah," Xander replied, confused. "What does that have to do with him?"
Joseph leaned forward, voice low and measured. "Then you've heard of Dwayne Aldaman, right? You do know his relation to the youngest LORD's Candidate?"
Xander paused, the realisation dawning slowly. "Wait... are you saying—
"Exactly." Joseph nodded. "Eric Aldaman isn't just any rookie. Don't be surprised if he's leading his own division a month from now."
Eric stiffened.
Joseph's words were too much. That kind of praise felt suffocating. Captain of his own team? A month in? It was absurd. He wasn't Dwayne Aldaman. He wasn't some prodigy touched by destiny. He was just... Eric. A guy trying to figure things out without getting himself killed.
He preferred no expectations. It was easier to fail when no one expected anything of you.
But reality didn't care for his comfort.
Not what he believed, only what the data said.