The train rattled violently as guards closed in from both ends. Aria grinned, already in her full chaotic mode, ready to turn the situation upside down.
Adam, sitting on top of a crate, calmly observed every movement—the patrols, the cameras, even the commander still yelling from his chair.
He tapped his fingers together. "Alright… time to use my big brain."
Aria cocked her head. "You say that every time, and it somehow works."
Adam didn't answer. His mind was already several steps ahead. Every guard's path, every possible distraction, every weak point in the train car—it all lined up perfectly.
A crate toppled. Aria darted to intercept a guard, spinning around him in a blur. Adam leaned back, calculating trajectories in his head. "If the left side gets blocked, the right side opens. And if he moves there, we…" He snapped his fingers.
"Boom. Got it."
Aria laughed. "You really do think about everything, don't you?"
Adam's calm gaze met hers. "Everything except… you being reckless."
She smirked. "That's your favorite part."
Minutes later, the guards were outmaneuvered, slipping and sliding like puppets in a show they didn't realize they were part of. The commander's voice bellowed from above:
"What?! How did they—?!"
Adam simply adjusted his bag, brushed off dust, and said softly:
"I told you. Big brain time."
Aria rolled her eyes but laughed anyway. "Yeah yeah, big brain saved the day… again."
The train continued forward, carrying them deeper into unknown territory, and for the first time, Adam allowed himself a small, satisfied smile.