The courtyard felt different with light spilling out from every window.
Not the frantic, scattered light of an hour ago, when half the base had been holding its breath waiting to hear whether anyone was coming back at all. This was purposeful light, every room lit and full, voices carrying from the mess hall where someone had already started passing out whatever food remained. Someone had even dragged out a few old space heaters, and the smell of reheated stew drifted faint across the courtyard, ordinary and strange all at once against the backdrop of everything that had happened tonight.
Areum found Jin first, crossing the courtyard at a near run, Do-yun a step behind her.
"You're back," she said, relief cracking clean through her voice. "We heard it went quiet. Didn't know if that meant good or bad."
"Bit of both," Jin admitted. "We've got two hours. After that, it finishes what it started."
Do-yun's jaw tightened. "Then what do you need from us."
