Filu awoke to the familiar sounds of her squad members' snoring. Her eyes opened just a sliver, allowing her to peer around the dimly lit barracks. The room, a long, narrow space lined with bunks, was filled with the other Agents of Squad 2, all fast asleep.

  She sat up on her bunk, her green skin glistening in the faint light that seeped in from the small window above her bed. She ran a hand through her thick brown hair, smoothing it out of her face. As she stretched her arms above her head, she heard a satisfying pop in her shoulders and let out a contented sigh.

  Filu glanced around the room once more, taking in the various figures sprawled across their beds.

  Urgan was sprawled out on the bunk next to hers, his massive form making the bed seem comically small. His snoring was so loud it made the metal frame of his bunk vibrate.

  On the other side of the room, Rakk and Vraza were tangled together in a mess of limbs and blankets. Filu wasn't sure how they could sleep so peacefully in such a twisted position, but the two goblin twins always managed to make it work.

  Near the door, she could just make out the shape of Skitters, who slept alone. He always seemed to prefer his solitude, even when surrounded by his squadmates. He had one arm draped over his eyes, snoring softly.

  Filu swung her legs off the edge of the bunk, her bare feet touching the cold metal floor. She shivered at the chill but didn't mind it too much. As an orc, she was used to tougher conditions than this. Compared to the forests she'd grown up in, the Tower was a luxury.

  She stood up and made her way to the communal washroom at the end of the barracks. The room was empty, and she was grateful for the chance to freshen up without an audience. She stripped off her sleeping shirt and stepped into the shower, turning on the water. The lukewarm spray hit her skin, and she closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation.

  After a couple of minutes, she turned off the water and grabbed a towel. She dried herself off and wrapped the towel around her body. As she stepped out of the shower, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and paused to examine her reflection.

  Her orcish heritage was evident in her strong, muscular build and proud tusks, but there was something about her face that always seemed softer, more approachable than most orcs she'd encountered. Maybe it was the slight upturn of her lips, or the gentle curve of her brow. Whatever it was, Filu knew it made her stand out among her kin.

  The sound of rustling fabric and soft footsteps pulled Filu's attention away from the mirror. She turned to see Urgan entering the washroom, his hulking frame filling the doorway.

  "Morning," he grunted, giving her a nod as he made his way to the toilets.

  "Good morning, Urgan," she replied, tightening the towel around her body. She watched as the big orc relieved himself, not bothering to close the stall door behind him.

  Filu shook her head and turned back to the mirror. She began brushing her teeth, trying to ignore the sound of Urgan emptying his bladder. When he was finished, he washed his hands and walked over to her.

  "Any idea what the plan is today?" he asked, leaning against the counter beside her.

  Filu shrugged, rinsing her mouth out with water. "The same as yesterday, and the day before. Three missions in the marshlands, and two around that port city."

  Urgan nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "Think the Chieftain will send us to the third-floor missions soon?"

  "Maybe," Filu said, putting her toothbrush away. "He's been focused on the second floor lately, though. I guess it depends on how the other squads are doing."

  Urgan grunted in agreement. Filu could tell he was eager to move on to the next level of the Tower. They all were. The repetitive nature of their missions was starting to wear on them. "Well, let's get some breakfast and see what today brings."

  Back in the barracks, Filu and Urgan found most of their squadmates already awake. Rakk and Vraza were play-fighting on the floor, their squeals and laughter echoing off the walls.

  Skitters was sitting on his bunk, cleaning his crossbow with a rag. He looked up as Filu and Urgan entered, giving them a nod before returning to his task.

  The two orcs went to their respective beds to get dressed. Filu slipped on her undergarments before pulling a clean set of clothing from the footlocker at the end of her bed. She pulled on a pair of tight black leggings and a loose-fitting shirt, then sat down to lace up her boots. As she worked, she noticed Urgan watching her from the corner of her eye.

  "See something interesting?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Urgan cleared his throat and looked away. "Nothin' you don't got, orc-woman."

  Filu rolled her eyes, but she couldn't help but smirk. Urgan had never been subtle about his attraction to her, and truth be told, she didn't mind it. In another life, maybe they could have been something more. But here, in the Tower, they were comrades. Anything beyond that would just complicate things.

  As she stood up and smoothed out her shirt, she could hear Rakk and Vraza still roughhousing in the background.

  "Get off me, you scrawny little twerp!" Rakk shouted, his voice high and shrill.

  "You get off me!" Vraza yelled back, her tone just as fierce.

  Their wrestling match continued, and Filu couldn't help but smile at their antics. For all their bickering and fighting, she knew they were close. She'd seen them defend each other fiercely on the battlefield, even risking their own lives to protect the other. It was an endearing quality, one that made her fond of the goblin twins despite their chaotic nature.

  Once she was fully dressed, Filu made her way over to Urgan. He had finished lacing up his boots and was adjusting the fit of his armor. "Ready?" she asked.

  "Yeah," he replied, giving his breastplate a final thump. "Let's go eat."

  In the cafeteria, the squad sat together, enjoying a hearty meal provided by the Tower. Filu savored her plate of roasted meat and vegetables, appreciating the quality and flavor. It was far better fare than what she'd grown up with back in the forest.

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  Beside her, Urgan wolfed down his own food, barely stopping to chew. She watched him with a mixture of amusement and disgust as he licked his fingers clean between bites.

  "How do you even taste anything?" she asked, shaking her head.

  "Everything tastes good if you eat it fast enough," he replied with a grin.

  On her other side, Rakk and Vraza ate with just as much enthusiasm, though they also paused to argue over the choicest bits of meat.

  "You's such a glutton!" Vraza snapped, snatching a juicy piece from Rakk's hand.

  "You is too!" he retorted, trying to snatch it back.

  The two descended into a brief scuffle, their hands grabbing and pulling at each other as they fought over the morsel.

  Skitters, ever the quiet one, ate his meal in silence, occasionally glancing up at the twins with a mixture of annoyance and amusement.

  As Filu finished her own food, she couldn't help but think about how different her life had been before he found herself in this strange place. As a young orc, she had grown up in the forest with her clan, learning to hunt and fight from an early age. It had been a simple existence, focused on survival and honor. She remembered the camaraderie of her fellow warriors, the pride she felt in defending her people from their enemies.

  But that all seemed like a distant memory now. Here, in the Tower, she was just another Agent, fighting for her Chieftain's goals.

  Despite the unfamiliarity of her surroundings—metal walls instead of trees, the hum of machinery instead of birdsong—she had grown accustomed to it. In many ways, life in the Tower was easier than in the forest. There was no need to hunt for food or worry about shelter. Everything she needed was provided for her, as long as she continued to serve her Chieftain well.

  She still wasn't entirely sure what his ultimate plans were, but she knew he was powerful. He had the ability to command them, after all, and his magic was unlike anything she had ever seen. Whatever he wanted from them, it must be important. And Filu would do her part to help him achieve it.

  As they finished eating and left the cafeteria, they headed toward the briefing room where they would receive their instructions for the day's mission. Filu could feel the familiar rush of adrenaline building inside her as they walked. They were ready. She was ready.

  The day's combat mission was as straightforward as it had been every other day. The squad was assigned a series of objectives, mostly monster hunting or recovery missions. These tasks weren't difficult for the group, even with the twins' antics.

  Filu led them through the Tower and into the portal that took them to their destination. The squad materialized on the outskirts of a swampy region, with thick, gnarled trees looming overhead and murky water stretching out before them.

  As always, Filu took point, scanning the area for any threats. Behind her, she knew her team was doing the same. Urgan hefted his shield and mace, ready to defend them from any ambushes. Rakk and Vraza crouched low, their eyes darting back and forth as they searched for signs of movement. Skitters held his crossbow at the ready, his finger hovering over the trigger.

  They moved cautiously through the swamp, stepping over rotting logs and skirting around deep pools of water. Every so often, one of the twins would point out a potential hazard—a hidden sinkhole or a venomous plant—but they managed to avoid these dangers without issue.

  It didn't take long before they encountered their first monsters. A pack of four-legged, canine beasts with putrid green fur and slavering jaws burst from the underbrush, charging straight towards them. The creatures were called bog hounds, Filu remembered from their briefing.

  Filu acted quickly, conjuring an arcane shield around herself and hurling blasts of magical energy at the approaching beasts. Her spells slammed into their targets, knocking them off course and leaving them vulnerable to her companions' attacks.

  Rakk and Vraza surged forward, cleavers in hand. They hacked away at the wounded bog hounds with reckless abandon, their blades slicing through flesh and bone with ease. The twins moved as one, dodging and weaving around each other as if in some deadly dance. Any monster that came close was met with a flurry of blows.

  Urgan stayed back, guarding Filu's flanks while she focused on casting spells. Whenever one of the bog hounds got too close, he lashed out with his mace, sending the creature flying back with a sickening crunch.

  Skitters hung back even further, finding cover behind a fallen tree. From his vantage point, he picked off any stragglers that managed to escape the others' onslaught.

  Within minutes, the bog hound pack lay dead or dying, their corpses strewn across the swampy ground. The squad quickly looted what valuables they could find before moving on.

  The rest of the day passed in much the same way; they cleared out several more groups of monsters and retrieved various items requested by their Chieftain.

  Once back in the Tower, the group split up. Urgan headed off for some sparring practice while Rakk and Vraza wandered away to explore some other part of the facility.

  Skitters disappeared into his room without a word, leaving Filu alone once more.

  She decided to make her way to the commons area, where a small library was available for Agents' use. While reading in the human tongue had been a relatively new skill for her, it had been growing easier by the day. A book or three would be the perfect way to relax before dinner.

  The library was empty when she arrived, which was just fine with her. She enjoyed having some time to herself every now and then. After perusing the shelves for several minutes, she selected a couple of novels written by famous human authors. Settling down into an armchair, she cracked open the first book and lost herself in its pages.

  Hours passed, and she became engrossed in the stories unfolding before her eyes. It wasn't until her eyelids grew heavy that she realized how late it had gotten. Putting the books aside, Filu got up from her seat and stretched her arms above her head.

  On her way back to her quarters, she spotted Skitters standing near a window, staring out at the starry expanse beyond. His expression was thoughtful, almost wistful.

  "What are you looking at?" she asked, coming up beside him.

  "The city outside," he said softly. "It's so big."

  She followed his gaze out the window, taking in the sight of tall buildings stretching off into the distance. Lights twinkled everywhere, creating a dazzling display that never seemed to end. It truly was something to behold.

  "Do you miss home?" Filu asked after a moment. It wasn't something she had ever really considered before. But now, looking at this strange place they found themselves in, she wondered what it must be like for Skitters.

  He shrugged. "Sometimes, I suppose. But there's nothing for me back there anymore."

  "Where are you from originally?"

  Skitters hesitated for a moment before answering. "The Hills of Ash'laar," he finally said. "My tribe used to live there til we's got chased out by another one, a bigger one. Most of us were killed, but I managed to escape."

  Filu nodded, remembering how she had also fled her homeland after her clan was destroyed. She understood what it felt like to have nowhere else to go.

  "What do you think of this place?" she asked, gesturing around them.

  Skitters grinned. "I likes it alright," he replied with a chuckle. "Food tastes good, beds is comfy, and there ain't much rules. Plus, I'm learning stuff I never thought I would know."

  Filu returned his grin, feeling oddly comforted by his words. It was nice to know someone else felt the same way she did about their new home.

  Soon, the twins wandered in, arguing over who had slain more monsters during the day. Their bickering continued as they sat down at one of the tables in the room. It wasn't long before Urgan emerged from his training session, looking tired but satisfied.

  He joined the others, and they soon fell into a discussion about their latest exploits, each one trying to outdo the other with tales of bravery and skill. Filu watched them interact, marveling at how close they had become in such a short time.

  It seemed no matter where they came from or what they had done before arriving here, they had all found something special within these walls. Something worth fighting for. And though she might not share their enthusiasm for everything, Filu knew that she shared their desire to survive and thrive.