NOVA BASE – COMMAND ROOM – MORNING
Zevor's voice echoed calmly through the base as the team stretched and yawned, still in their casual clothes.
ZEVORNo anomaly activity detected. No threats in local orbit or dimension folds. You are cleared for a non-combat day.
JETT(arms raised)We have a day off?! Zevor, say it again, but slower.
LYRA(grinning)Don't jinx it. Let's go before a wormhole opens out of spite.
DAIKI(jumping)Can we go to the market?! I want to see the new VR hoverboards!
KAELLet's make a plan. We split up. Be back before sunset—just in case.
EXT. ORION CITY – DOWNTOWN MARKET – MIDDAY
The sun was out, the streets buzzing with activity. Colorful stalls stretched across the square—selling everything from gadgets to grilled octopus.
LYRA and DAIKI strolled side by side.
DAIKI(picking up a hoodie)This one looks cool. Too expensive though...
LYRA(handing him a different one)This one's on me. Just don't modify it into a jetpack, okay?
DAIKI(smirking)No promises.
They passed a booth selling handmade music boxes. Lyra paused, watching one with tiny glass stars spin.
LYRA (softly)Mom used to have one like this...
Daiki glanced at her, then gently took her hand.
DAIKIThen let's get it. We've saved the world a few times. We deserve this one thing.
She smiled, nodding.
INT. CITY RESTAURANT – WINDOW TABLE – EARLIER
ZAYN, RAYNA, and KAEL sat at a booth surrounded by menus and the faint aroma of ramen.
RAYNA(eyeing the menu)They have 9 different kinds of soy broth. What happened to just... soup?
ZAYNComplexity is beauty in disguise.
KAEL(glancing at the door)Lyra and Daiki are taking their sweet time.
RAYNALet them. She's earned it. So has he.
KAEL(sipping tea)Still feels weird, y'know? A day without explosions.
ZAYNEnjoy the silence. The galaxy won't stay quiet forever.
EXT. MARKET – CLOTHING AREA
Meanwhile, JETT leaned on a stall counter, grinning as he chatted with a trio of students from another school.
JETTSo yeah, I fix satellites in my spare time. What about you?
GIRL(raising an eyebrow)You fix satellites?
JETTWith personality. And sometimes duct tape.
GIRL 2(laughs)You're full of it, aren't you?
JETTOnly 70%. The rest is charm.
Suddenly, Lyra and Daiki walked by, and Lyra gave him the deadpan big-sister glare.
LYRAYou know flirting doesn't count as fieldwork, right?
JETT(shrugging)Don't knock diplomacy until you've tried it.
INT. RESTAURANT – MOMENTS LATER
Lyra and Daiki finally joined the others. They squeezed into the booth as Daiki held up his hoodie like a trophy.
DAIKIDo I look like someone who saves the world and rocks streetwear?
KAEL(smirking)You look like someone who's gonna lose an arm if you take Rayna's spring rolls.
RAYNA(already guarding her plate)He knows better.
ZAYNEnjoy this, Daiki. Balance isn't just about homework and battle. It's also knowing when to live.
Lyra looked at Daiki, surprised by how seriously he took that in.
DAIKI (quietly)Yeah... I think I'm starting to get that.
EXT. ORION CITY SKYLINE – SUNSET
The team walked back toward the base, the sun dipping behind the skyline. For once, the city was calm.
No monsters. No shards glowing. Just… peace.