While Jet drove us, Sunny asked about the situation and inquired about the numbers.
"So, Master Jet, what exactly are we supposed to do?" I asked, intrigued.
"I'll let you know in a bit. The officer roster of our company is only waiting for you. We'll hold our first briefing as soon as we arrive."
"Do we need to know anything beforehand?"
"No. Everyone knows more or less the same, so I'll bring everyone up to speed all at once."
"We'll get you settled in after the briefing. For the sake of efficiency, we're skipping proper procedures. Not like many people can resist my charms anyway."
"What exactly is your current rank?" Sunny asked curiously.
"I am now Colonel Jet, senior officer of the First Awakened Irregular Company of the Northern Quadrant Corps of the Evacuation Army. Nice and long, right?"
"What do you mean by 'Irregular'?" I asked.
"In nutshell, we're somewhat outside the normal army hierarchy."
After a few turns and elevator rides, we arrived at a chamber where five Masters were already waiting. They all stood up and saluted as Jet entered the room.
"At ease. We're all Ascended here," she said.
They hesitated at first but then relaxed and took their seats.
Even though I couldn't see because of my blindfold, I knew what they looked like. I also felt Sunny looking around nervously. Deciding to tease him, I said,
"What is it, Sunny? Don't know where to look?"
"Yeah, with these bodysuits, there's barely any place I can rest my eyes without inviting trouble," he blurted out—then realized what he'd just said. "You bastard."
"Hahaha, just easing the tension a bit."
"Excuse me, ma'am," one of the Masters spoke up. "Who are these… young men? Are they your new adjutants?"
"These two? Hell no," Jet scoffed. "These young men are Master Sunless and Master Christopher, the final additions to our command structure for the First Irregular Company."
She gestured at Sunny. "He is one of the youngest humans in history to reach the rank of Ascended, but he has a higher kill count than most of you combined."
Then, pointing at me, she continued, "And he is the famous hero—probably the only human who cleared the Second Nightmare alone while still just a Sleeper. So, give them a warm welcome, I guess."
The Masters were surprised but quickly recovered from their shock.
"Wait… if you're talking about the 'famous hero', wasn't he stuck in the Dream Realm just two weeks ago?" one of the women asked.
"Yes, that's me. I came back exactly eleven days ago," I said proudly.
They seemed skeptical, hearing that I had only been a Master for two weeks.
"Don't let his careless demeanor fool you," Jet said. "He contained a Category Three outbreak almost entirely by himself six days ago and even killed the Corrupted Devil Guardian."
I could feel their eyes widening in disbelief.
"Enough of this. We'll get to know each other better later."
Jet explained everything she knew and answered any questions that arose. Once the other Masters left, only Sunny, Jet, and I remained.
"This is a bit overwhelming," Sunny admitted, unsure of what to think.
Jet reassured him. "Don't think too much about it. Everyone here is just as inexperienced as you. But you're really good at adapting—and that's what will help you the most."
"Come on, let's get you two settled in," she said, leading the way.
"What do we do now?" I asked.
"There are a few important things you need to take care of before we head to Antarctica. Don't rush your decisions—think them through carefully. All necessary features and permissions have been added to your comms."
"What kind of decisions?" Sunny asked.
"You're now officers in an elite combat unit. That entitles you to a fair share of the equipment and resources the government can offer. You'll need to pick six Awakened from the available candidates to form your cohort. Then, you can allocate your contribution points however you see fit—whether you use them for yourself or to equip your cohort with Memories and Echoes. It's all up to you."
"Any conditions?" I asked.
"None. Also, since you two are the youngest, you get to pick first. Don't take too long." She left without another word.
With everything settled, I turned to Sunny and said,
"Captain Sunless, it's a pleasure to serve alongside you." I saluted mockingly.
"Yes, yes—very funny."
"With all that done, we should head to our rooms and think through our decisions carefully. Don't hesitate to ask me if you need anything," I said, turning away.