We finally reach the safe zone as the Crucible's artificial sunset bathes everything in amber light. The moment we cross the barrier, I feel a subtle shift, both physical and psychological, as the constant vigilance required in the wild zones gives way to relative security.

  Desta carefully transports the Resonant Mind Crystal while I've sheathed the resonance blade at my side. Sera extinguishes the small flames she'd been maintaining as a ready defense, running her fingers through her platinum hair to shake out twigs and leaves accumulated during our journey.

  "Home sweet temporary home," she quips as we make our way toward the central hub where Zix'ilit waits.

  Our sponsor spots us immediately, bouncing so enthusiastically I worry he might hurt himself. His frill expands to its maximum display, shifting through vibrant yellows and oranges that practically radiate excitement.

  "You're back! With the crystal! AND the quantum core! AND you're all in one piece after facing that time-seeing guy!" The words tumble out in a breathless stream as he bounces in circles around us. "This is AMAZING! Beyond my wildest hopes!"

  "Slow down," I tell him, unable to suppress a smile at his unbridled enthusiasm. "We're tired, need food and rest before we go into details."

  "Of course! Of course!" he agrees, leading us toward our temporary quarters in the hub. "Rest is essential after such a successful mission! But I have news that can't wait!"

  I raise an eyebrow. "What news?"

  His frill ripples with what might be pride. "Team Exodus is getting popular! Independent assets are actually asking to join you! I've set up meetings with potential candidates!"

  "You did what?" I stop walking, genuinely surprised. "We haven't even discussed expanding the team."

  "Four members is the ideal team size!" Zix'ilit reminds me, bouncing nervously now. "And these aren't Nulls like Sera was! These are established fighters choosing to join Team Exodus! High-quality candidates!"

  Sera looks intrigued. "People are actually lining up to join us? That's new."

  "Not just people," Zix'ilit clarifies, his frill shifting to a more controlled pattern. "All sorts of species want in! Each with abilities that would complement what you already have!"

  I sigh, too tired to argue. "We'll look at the candidates tomorrow after we've rested."

  "Actually..." Zix'ilit's bouncing intensifies with nervous energy, "the first candidate is waiting right now! She traveled really far to meet you! Her schedule is packed, so we can't really postpone!"

  Before I can protest, he's already guiding us toward our quarters, which have apparently been prepared for a meeting I didn't know about. The main living area has been arranged with refreshments and seating for what looks like a formal interview.

  "Just a quick hello!" Zix'ilit promises, sensing my reluctance. "You can do the full interview tomorrow if you're interested!"

  Seated in the common area is one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. Long silver hair frames delicate features with slightly iridescent skin and eyes of shifting violet. She rises gracefully as we enter, movements fluid in a way that reminds me oddly of Veridian, though distinctly different in quality.

  "Team Exodus," she greets us with a melodic voice and a smile that somehow seems both perfect and slightly off. "I'm Lyra. It's an honor to meet you all."

  Something about her doesn't quite fit, a subtle wrongness I can't immediately place. Not threatening, just... not human, despite her appearance.

  Zix'ilit bounces excitedly. "Lyra is a Morpharian! A shapeshifter with amazing biological adaptability! She chose this form to make you feel more comfortable!"

  That explains the subtle wrongness. She's not human at all, just wearing human form like a costume.

  "You're a shapeshifter?" Sera asks bluntly, clearly fascinated.

  Lyra nods, and as she does, ripples of change move across her skin. Her silver hair briefly shifts to blue before returning to its original color, a demonstration of her abilities.

  "My people can naturally change our forms," she explains. "The enhancements I received made this ability even stronger. I can adapt my body to overcome almost any challenge."

  "Her healing abilities are incredible!" Zix'ilit adds enthusiastically. "She can repair damage four times faster than normal! And she can even share her healing with teammates nearby!"

  "A tank with healing abilities," I translate, studying her with new interest. Such capabilities would indeed complement our existing team structure.

  Lyra tilts her head at my terminology, expression curious. "Tank? Oh, you mean someone who takes damage for the team? I find your human expressions so interesting."

  Something else clicks. "You're not just an asset, are you?"

  Her smile widens, revealing teeth just slightly too perfect. "You noticed! I'm what you'd call a 'player' in human terms. A sponsor who decided to experience the games firsthand by becoming an asset myself."

  "Wait," Sera interjects, "you voluntarily became an asset? You could have been a sponsor, but chose to compete instead?"

  Lyra nods, silver hair shimmering with the movement. "Exactly! Watching from the sidelines only teaches you so much. Being in the arena myself gives me the full experience."

  I approach this revelation with caution. "So why Team Exodus specifically? There must be dozens of teams you could join."

  "Three main reasons," she responds, counting on delicate fingers. "First, your team is advancing incredibly fast, which means you'll likely reach the highest levels of competition that I want to experience. Second, humans are new to the games, and I'm curious about your species. And third," her expression becomes almost childlike in its enthusiasm, "you're fascinating!"

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  The last reason takes me by surprise. "Fascinating how?"

  "The way you use your abilities is completely different from standard approaches! The way you adapted to fight that precognitive was amazing! Your telekinetic control is something I'd expect from someone ranked much higher!" She leans forward, eyes bright with genuine curiosity. "I need to see how your team works from the inside!"

  Despite my wariness, there's something disarmingly sincere about her excitement. She reminds me of a researcher who's discovered something unexpected and can't wait to study it further.

  "What can you bring to the team besides healing?" I ask, still not entirely convinced.

  In response, her arm transforms before our eyes, elongating and hardening into what appears to be a crystalline blade. "I can create weapons with my body." The blade reshapes into a shield-like structure. "Or defensive tools, depending on what's needed."

  Her body returns to its human appearance. "And I'm really excited to learn! I may not have combat experience, but I'm a quick study."

  "Wait," I interrupt, catching this new detail. "How much arena experience do you actually have?"

  Lyra's perfect smile turns slightly sheepish. "Well... this is actually my second arena cycle. I just joined the games three weeks ago."

  "You're brand new?" Sera asks, surprise evident in her voice.

  "As an asset, yes," Lyra admits. "But I've been studying the games as a sponsor for years! I know all the rules, all the zones, all the typical enhancement paths. I just haven't... actually participated until now."

  Desta, who has been silently analyzing throughout this exchange, finally speaks. "Experiential deficit contradicts optimal team integration parameters. Statistical analysis indicates 83.7% failure probability for novice assets in advanced combat scenarios regardless of innate capability metrics."

  Lyra tilts her head, processing Desta's clinical assessment. "I think she's saying I might get us all killed because I'm new?" She smiles brightly. "That's a fair concern! But my adaptive biology compensates for my inexperience. Even if I make mistakes, my regeneration keeps me in the fight."

  I'm increasingly skeptical. "So you're a complete rookie who wants to join an A-rank team heading into high-level competition zones?"

  "Exactly!" Lyra responds with undiminished enthusiasm. "Where better to learn? Most new assets start with the basics, fighting the same simple opponents in the same simple zones. So boring!" She leans forward eagerly. "I want to jump straight to the exciting parts! With Team Exodus, I'll see things most rookies never get to experience!"

  "She's using us as a shortcut," Sera translates, though she seems more amused than offended.

  Zix'ilit bounces anxiously. "Don't worry about her being new! Her body adapts super fast to anything! Morpharians are perfect for learning on the job! Even if she makes rookie mistakes, she heals right up, no permanent damage!"

  "So if you're brand new to the games," I ask, studying her with increasing curiosity, "what rank have they assigned you?"

  Lyra's expression brightens. "Oh! I'm B-minus rank! My biological adaptation abilities tested really well in the Labyrinth, even though I have little actual combat experience."

  "B-minus rank with zero arena fights?" Sera sounds impressed despite her skepticism. "That's just for your natural abilities?"

  "Morpharian physiological baseline exceeds standard asset parameters," Desta observes clinically. "Inherent adaptability metrics justify elevated rank classification independent of experiential factors."

  Zix'ilit bounces excitedly. "B-minus rank in less than one arena cycle! Imagine how high she'll go with actual combat experience! Perfect addition to team structure!"

  I nod thoughtfully. A B-minus rank with room to grow could be exactly what Team Exodus needs, powerful enough to contribute immediately, but with potential that training and experience could unlock further.

  "Precisely!" Lyra beams. "I heal quickly, can take damage for the team, and I'm a blank slate ready to be molded by your expertise!"

  Despite my reservations, I can't deny the appeal of her regenerative abilities. A tank who can heal themselves and extend that healing to teammates would be invaluable, even if inexperienced. And there's something disarmingly genuine about her enthusiasm.

  "Adaptive physical parameters provide substantial contribution to team survival metrics despite tactical inexperience," Desta observes. "Cost-benefit analysis indicates positive value proposition."

  "She means your powers make up for your lack of experience," Sera translates.

  I'm still not entirely convinced. "Let me be clear about something. If you join Team Exodus, you follow my lead exactly. We train together, fight together, and nobody goes off-script during missions. I need someone I can count on, not a tourist looking for entertainment."

  Instead of being offended, Lyra appears delighted by this condition. "Perfect! I need a good teacher to show me how things work!" She stands straighter, almost at attention. "I'll follow all your orders and learn everything I can!"

  "There would be a trial period," I decide finally. "To make sure you fit in with the team."

  Lyra's face lights up with genuine enthusiasm. "Agreed! A trial period makes perfect sense! When do I start?"

  "Let’s just start now," I tell her, finally allowing exhaustion to show in my voice. "I’m starving, how would you like to join us for a meal?"

  “Oh! I have heard about this social bonding custom among humans!” Lyra exclaims. “Yes! I would love to participate!”

  "Wonderful!" Zix'ilit exclaims, bouncing excitedly. "Team Exodus is almost at full strength! Four members gives you so many more tactical options!"

  Just great.

  ---

  The team gathers in our common area after the meal, just relaxing after a long day. Lyra has been observing everyone intently, silver hair framing her perfect features as her eyes track every movement and interaction.

  "I have a query about human social customs," she announces suddenly, leaning forward with intense curiosity. "Why do humans expend so much energy vibrating their facial muscles at each other? The constant small movements around your mouth and eyes seems extraordinarily wasteful."

  I blink, taken aback. "Are you talking about... smiling?"

  "Yes! Those tiny movements around your eyes and mouth!" Lyra demonstrates by cycling through several exaggerated expressions. "The information transfer rate is remarkably limited compared to proper vibrational communication."

  Sera raises an eyebrow. "Vibrational communication? What, like bees dancing?"

  "Morpharians communicate through micro-vibrations across our cellular structure," Lyra explains proudly. "I can transmit an entire emotional spectrum with precise gradients in less than a second." Her skin subtly trembles in a way that's barely perceptible. "I just conveyed what you would need seventeen different facial expressions to communicate."

  "Facial expression serves as non-verbal communication enhancement," Desta observes clinically. "Visual cues that supplement or replace acoustic information exchange."

  "In normal human speak: it helps us understand what people are feeling without them having to say it," Sera translates, her lips quirked in amusement.

  Lyra's eyes widen with realization. "Oh! It's a primitive form of telepathy! How fascinating!" She immediately begins practicing different expressions, cycling through smiles, frowns, and look of surprise with mechanical precision.

  "Not exactly—" I begin, but stop myself. "Actually, that's not far off."

  "Is this one correct for indicating pleased acceptance?" Lyra asks, frozen in a smile so wide it looks almost painful.

  "Maybe dial it back about 50%," I suggest gently.

  "Remarkable," she murmurs, adjusting her expression to something more natural. "Humans developed physical telepathy to compensate for your evolutionary limitations. I have so much to learn about your species!"

  For the rest of the evening, I catch Lyra carefully watching our faces during conversation, occasionally mirroring our expressions with increasing accuracy, her way of trying to understand this strange human custom of "physical telepathy."