- Astrid -

  Joining the Pink Division had never been part of Astrid's pn. She had envisioned herself in the Bck Division, or perhaps the Red Division—roles that seemed to align more naturally with her skills and aspirations. The frontliion, the diregagements, the opportunity to make swift, decisive impacts—that was where she saw herself.

  However, after almost two months of interaining, Astrid began to uand the nuahat set each division apart. She discovered how deeply she resonated with the Pink Division's mission. Many of these Rangers had a medical or nursery background, having pursued those degrees after joining the division. Their expertise was indispensable during rescue operations and provided critical medical support otlefield.

  Due to a she of qualified professionals, Astrid hadn't had the luxury of pleting the full medical training or even the basiger training. Her superiors needed boots on the ground, and quick. She was assigo focus on first aid and casualty extra teiques—skills essential for immediate field deployment. It was enough to seo Olympus, grantihe first taste of practical experience.

  She could say without a doubt that it had been a singur experiehe fine liween life ah was something she'd flirted with during the Academy and uood a bit from stories shared by her family—several of whom had served in the NEA. But witnessing the chaos of battle firsthand and saving a colleague was unparalleled.

  ‘With the war cooling down on Olympus, at least I'll have time to finish the basic training for the Pink Rangers,’ Astrid thought, sitting inside one of the escort trucks.

  The vehicle rumbled steadily beh her—a boxy, armored transport remi of the ones used to ferry freshly recruited cadets. Astrid was apanied by two Yellers handling the driving duties and another Pink Ranger seated across from her in the rear partment. They weren't the only tru the voy; several identical transports followed in a tight formation.

  ‘This should be easy enough. Just spend the day sitting, patrolling the city while they hold the event,’ she mused, gng out through one of the tiny side windows.

  The city was abuzz with anticipation for the grand ceremony taking pce at the White House, a reli Earth's earlier days now serving as a symbol of unity for the human ies scattered across the stars.

  Upourning to the Pink Division base after her st mission, Astrid had been swiftly reassighe higher-ups wao bolster the number ers present during the event, more for ceremonial presehan any real expectation of trouble. Along with the other voy trucks, they were tasked with cirg the perimeter he White House. In the unlikely event of an emergency—which hadn't occurred in decades—they would be ready to act.

  ‘Only the Bck Rangers were held atable on missions like this,’ Astrid thought, her gaze drifting upward to the t skyscrapers that framed the city skylihose buildings must be swarming with drones and snipers from every angle,' she mused, mentally marking the strategitage points that overlooked the White House.

  The transport truck made aeady turn, its engine humming softly as they navigated the familiar route along stitution Avenue. From there, they would proceed to 15th Street, loop back via H Street, and finally circle around on 17th Street. Throughout the journey, Astrid observed squads ers and officers patrolling diligently, their uniforms crisp against the backdrop of the bustling city.

  'There's no way someone could get into any of these buildings without them knowing,' Astrid reassured herself. 'I've never seen so many Mechs at one of these events. Must be extra precautions because of the Lot uprising.'

  "It's starting," annouhe Pink Ranger seated beside her, nodding toward her gau. "Should st about oo two hours, then we'll ."

  "Right," Astrid replied, a brief smile.

  'I wish I'd received a medal,' she thought wistfully. 'Then I wouldn't be stu this b assig.' The thought lingered for a moment before she pushed it aside. 'Nah, I hate wearing those tight formal uniforms. I'd rather stay iruck.'

  Miretched into monotony as the voy tis path. Astrid found herself fighting the lull of routine, f her seo stay sharp.

  "There's someone on top of that building," one of the Yellers driving the truck said suddenly, breaking the silence.

  "Whie?" his panion asked, gng over.

  "The Eisenhower Building."

  "Impossible. We've gers stationed up there."

  Astrid perked up, listening ily to their exge. The urgen their voices was unmistakable. The driver quickly activated the open unication el, broadcasting to all units involved in the operation.

  "Unknowy sighted atop the Eisenhower Building. Repeat, unknowi—"

  Before he could finish, a deafening explosion rocked the area. The bst cut off the transmission, and the truck shook violently. Even from 15th Street, Astrid saw a massive plume of smoke billowing upward, fragments of debris, and shredded grass raining down across the avenue.

  Chaos erupted over the s. "All units, report in!" Voices overpped, tinged with panid fusion. Dozens of teams were scrambling to make sense of the sudden attack.

  A anding voice sliced through the cacophony. "Maintain radio discipline! Bck Rangers, I need someone on that rooftop immediately! Rescue teams, proceed to the target area without dey!"

  Astrid didn't reize the speaker, but the authoritative tone indicated someone high in and. Her fellers snapped into a, their movements precise and purposeful.

  Without hesitation, the Yeller at the wheel yahe truto the sidewalk, its sirens bring to clear pedestrians as they barreled across the grassy expaoward the explosion's epiter.

  "Upon disembarking, focus on seg the Emperor's safety," the senior Pink Ranger ordered, her eyes steely beh her helmet's visor. "After that, tend to the wounded. Uood?"

  "Uood!" came the unified response from everyone iruck.

  They weren't the only rescue team rag toward the chaos, but they appeared to be among the first on the se. As they closed in, the magnitude of the devastation became apparent.

  The once-pristine grounds of the White House were scarred with craters, fmes lig hungrily at shattered structures. Smoke hung thi the air, ced with the acrid smell of burnial and scorched earth. Shouts and screams echoed amid the wail of sirens and the distant rumble of sedary explosions.

  Astrid and the Pink Ranger vaulted through the double doors at the back of the transport truck, sprinting toward the spot where the Emperor was supposed to be seated. Behind them, the Yellers maneuvered the vehicle into position, creating a makeshift barricade to shield against any threats from the surrounding rooftops.

  Dust, dirt, and fragments from the ret explosion filled the air, but Astrid pushed forward, her senses on high alert. She needed visual firmation of the Emperor's status. Even with an attack of this magnitude, the Silver Armor he wore should have protected him from lethal harm, but it also made him a promiarget.

  Breaking through the swirling clouds of smoke, Astrid spotted a Ranger pristine white armor, standing protectively before the Emperor, who was regaining his footing.

  "Sir, we o evacuate you," Astrid urged, her voice steady despite the chaos.

  "Don’t approach. What's your badge number?" the White Ranger demanded, his tohoritative and unyielding.

  Astrid reized that he must be someone of high rank—perhaps a desdant of one of the Great Houses. She responded promptly, "ZX2614."

  The White Ranger paused, likely verifying her credentials. After a brief moment, he nodded. "Very well."

  Together, they assisted the Emperor in standing. The bst had thrown him aside, and though his armor had absorbed much of the impact, he moved with a slight stiffness. Astrid couldn't see his face—a moment that struck her with a mix of awe a—but she could hear the faint groans of paiered.

  "You know," a voice echoed from ahead, ced with icy disdain, "it hurt me quite a bit not to be on that list."

  Astrid's attention snapped forward. She hadn't noticed anyone approag, but now, emerging slowly from the veil of smoke and debris, was an imposing silhouette.

  The man was tall and lean, his posture exuding effortless fidence. He was draped in a rugged coat of dark shades, ated with bluish-green and gold details that caught the fading light. His eyes were slightly almond-shaped, a rare trait that Astrid had only seen in Oliver.

  A heavy rifle rested casually on his shoulder as if it weighed nothing at all. His hair was tied ba a messy bun, with a few rogue strands falling carelessly across his face.

  "Who are you?" the Emperor demanded, a hint of anger seeping into his voice.

  "For fuck sake. Not even knowing my name. How sad," the stranger replied mogly. "We are the Children of the Past, and I've e to show that you and all the Rangers are just mortals—just like us."

  that you and all the Rangers are just mortals—just like us."