The night had settled over the Red Crest Clan base like a heavy blanket, the sky above Mars painted in deep purples and blacks, punctuated by the cold glitter of distant stars.
The base itself had gone quiet, most of its inhabitants already retired to their quarters, the common areas dimmed and empty. Only the perimeter remained active, patrolled by guards whose silhouettes moved through the pools of light cast by the security lamps.
It was well past midnight when Lyra and Riven finally returned.
They approached the main gate on foot, their shopping bags hanging from their arms, their heels clicking softly against the paved pathway that led up to the entrance. Both of them looked tired but happy, their earlier energy from the mall trip faded into a pleasant exhaustion that came from a day well spent.
