The Guild hall looms like a cosmic coliseum, its holo-screens flashing mission boards and alien chatter echoing off metal walls. We're Squad Zero—me, Fiona, Dmitri, Lyra—striding in with half-masks covering our mouths, eyes sharp, hiding our human faces under the elder's Eldari cover. I adjust my fighting clothes, upgraded suit snug, plasma pistol and glowing blades clipped. Fiona's staff hums, Dmitri's spear and shield gleam, and Lyra's Veltari armor—sleek as her green-skinned agility—shines. Our A-rank aura ripples, turning heads as we cross the bustling floor.
We spot the Star Shatterers—Leo, Tara, and their D-rank crew—huddled by a board, picking low-tier missions. They don't clock us, but their whispers drift over. "Look at that squad," Leo mutters, eyeing us. "High-rankers, bet they're loaded."
Tara nods. "Their gear's insane. A-rank, maybe?"
I smirk under my mask, nudging Fiona. "Fans already?"
She chuckles, voice muffled. "Let's not sign autographs."
At the receptionist's desk—a floating holo-platform—a clawed alien scans our bracelets. "Squad Zero, Eldari, direct A-rank per the 13th Elder's request. No missions yet, but your aura's strong."
Dmitri leans in. "No missions? What's the play?"
The receptionist clicks. "Sparring test. Another A-rank team, four members. Win, you get 10,000 credits and solidify your rank. Lose, you consult your elder, reputation shaky."
Lyra's amber eyes glint. "We don't lose."
I nod. "Sign us up."
The Star Shatterers overhear, Leo's jaw dropping. "A-rank? Them?" He scurries over, all smiles. "You guys are legends! A-rank already? Got tips for us D-rankers?"
Fiona's eyes crinkle, cool. "Just train hard."
Tara beams. "You look unstoppable. What's your secret?"
Dmitri grunts, turning away. "Work."
I shrug, keeping it frosty. "Keep grinding." They retreat, whispering. "That's how you get strong," Leo says. "Total pros."
Lyra stifles a laugh. "Admirers, huh?"
We head to the sparring arena, holo-walls shifting to a rocky maze. Our opponents, an A-rank team, step up: four aliens, two girls, two boys, each a different species. Klyra, a tentacled Zynari with whip-like arms; Torv, a hulking Gorran with stone skin; Vexa, a winged Skree with razor claws; and Jyn, a sleek Felid with glowing fur and speed to rival Lyra's.
"Four on four," Klyra hisses. "One-on-one matches."
I crack my knuckles. "Like a gym showdown. Who's first?"
Fiona steps up, staff ready. "Me versus Klyra."
Her match kicks off, Fiona's staff slashing flux arcs. Klyra's tentacles whip, but Fiona dodges, firing a bow-mode arrow that pins a tentacle. "Gotcha!" Fiona shouts, weaving flux nets. Klyra falters, yielding after a flurry of arrows.
I'm next against Torv, his stone fists slamming. I spark an earth-flux wall, then hurl a glowing boulder. "Like a kettlebell toss!" I yell, dodging. My power fist cracks his arm, and a flux cage traps him. He grumbles, out.
Dmitri faces Vexa, her wings slicing air. His shield spins a fire-wind vortex, blocking claws. "Burn!" he roars, spear slashing flames. Vexa dives, but his vortex slams her down, forcing a yield.
Lyra takes Jyn, their speed a blur. Lyra's Veltari agility—honed on her crystalline-forest planet—outpaces Jyn's leaps, her kicks landing hard. "Too slow!" she taunts, pinning him with a spinning strike.
We win 4-0, the arena cheering. The receptionist clicks, crediting 10,000 to our bracelets. "A-rank solidified. You're the real deal."
Leo and Tara, watching, whisper. "They're untouchable," Tara says. "Squad Zero's elite."
Back home, we switch to regular clothes, sprawled in the living room. Fiona tosses me a fizzing drink, her grin warm. "We owned that."
I catch it, winking. "Teamwork makes the dream work."
Dmitri sips, eyeing Lyra. "You were a blur out there, Veltari."
She smirks, stretching. "Had to show you up, fire man."
laughing with Fiona's quip, Dmitri and Lyra's banter, and the buzz of our A-rank victory. Squad Zero's ready for the Arkvault's toughest fights, masks on, game strong.