The hum of laughter and music filled the STF common room that evening. The air smelled faintly of coffee and engine oil, the familiar scent of off-duty soldiers trying to forget the war for a few hours. A pool game was in progress near the center. Ian leaned lazily against the table, cue in hand, lining up his next shot while a crowd of troopers cheered or groaned with every strike.
From across the room, the doors slid open fast and loud.
"Ian!"
The voice boomed like a cannon. Optimus strode in, grinning from ear to ear, armor polished, cape swaying behind him as though he were still mid-mission. Conversation halted for a moment; he had that effect, but Ian only looked up from his game, one eyebrow raised.
"You trying to give someone a heart attack, or just announce yourself to the whole floor?" Ian asked.
Across the room, Blade turned from the food counter where he was preparing something simple, steamed dumplings and noodles, his casual dinner of choice. He looked over his shoulder with mild amusement.
Optimus motioned them both over. "It's been a minute since all three of us hung out. Come on, let's get out of here. Let's go to Valora Downs for the night."
Blade's grin was immediate, the spark in his eyes the same one he always got before a fight or a good time. "I've been waiting for this moment."
Ian chuckled and set his pool cue down. "We could all use a break."
The trio boarded a hover minivan from the HQ's upper hangar, a casual civilian model borrowed from the STF motor pool. Optimus insisted on driving, something Ian clearly regretted five minutes into the flight when the vehicle lurched through traffic like a comet with bad steering.
Blade laughed the whole way. Below them, the sprawling cityscape of Valora Downs glowed alive. Neon lights shimmered across skyscrapers, and the air was filled with the pulse of distant bass and chatter.
The streets were packed, civilians, merchants, and off-duty soldiers moving like a tide through glowing walkways and hovering trams. When the minivan touched down, the three stepped out into a sea of color.
The night was alive, holographic billboards flickering across towers, music spilling from open doors, laughter echoing through the warm air.
Optimus stretched his arms. "Now this, this is living."
They made their way into one of the city's busiest nightclubs, The Halcyon Rift, a massive structure of glass and light that pulsed in rhythm with the music. The interior was like stepping into another world, with glowing floors, mirrored walls, and crowds dancing beneath a ceiling of shifting holographic constellations.
They didn't get far before spotting someone familiar. At the VIP section near the back, Deadshot Valor, Ian's student and one of the STF's rising stars, was already partying. His jacket was half-unbuttoned, a drink in one hand, and a group of admirers around him.
Optimus leaned toward Ian, his grin mischievous. "That's your student."
Ian sighed, watching as Deadshot laughed with a pair of club patrons. "He's just a partying type of guy. Let's off steam his own way."
"Yeah, by starting a rave every night," Blade muttered, half-amused.
They stayed until closing, dancing, talking, losing themselves in the rare feeling of normalcy. The crowd thinned, the music faded, and soon the three of them were standing under the open sky again, the city lights stretching endlessly below. Their final stop of the night was a sushi restaurant perched atop one of Valora Downs' tallest skyscrapers.
The building's glass floor overlooked the city's glowing arteries; transport ships drifted by like fireflies beneath them. They sat at a circular table near the edge, their armor replaced by casual jackets, the faint sound of city wind mixing with quiet jazz.
Ian leaned back in his chair, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That was a fun night."
Blade nodded, still nursing his drink. "We need to do that more often."
Optimus laughed, a deep, genuine laugh that turned heads at nearby tables. "I forgot how much fun Ian can actually have. I was starting to think he was made of stone."
Ian smirked. "Only sometimes."
The three sat there for a long while, watching the city lights below. For one rare night, the galaxy didn't feel like it was on fire. There was no talk of war, no strategies, no reports, just three old soldiers, brothers in arms, remembering what it felt like to live.