Chapter 34: X-Ray
Elias turned to see Kikaru approaching. She wore a damp tank top, the fabric clinging from a recent workout. A towel hung casually over her shoulder, and her black track pants were flecked with faint streaks of dust. Her sharp eyes focused on him, expectant.
"I'm not really sure yet," Elias admitted, scratching the back of his neck. "I am concerned about the stat metrics we were given recently, though. And a few other things."
"You said four? Do the other three take part in the regimen?" he asked, shifting the conversation.
"For the most part," she replied with a nod. "Paul, Faye, and I follow the full program. And I add another workout at the end of the day, just to stay ahead."
Elias tilted his head, recalling a recent comment. "The guy with the knife—Tid Well—mentioned you were a military brat. Is your dad in the military?"
Kikaru paused, her gaze flicking away for a moment before she answered simply, "No." Her voice was curt, her tone guarded.
She stepped past him, the air between them feeling heavier. "If you want to work out, just know we start at 5:30 a.m. sharp," she added without looking back. After a brief pause, she muttered, "It's my grandfather. My father was killed three years ago... so, yeah."
Elias stood still, absorbing her words, but she didn't give him a chance to respond. Kikaru disappeared into her pod, the metal door sliding shut with a quiet mechanical hum.
Before Elias could gather his thoughts, Oliver's voice broke the silence from across the room.