The Five Evolution

『"Houston, we have a Yuri problem."』

The holographic screen flickered to life, and everyone in the conference room went quiet as a woman’s face appeared on the holographic screen.

She had sharp brown eyes that missed nothing, vibrant purple hair cut to neck-length, and a smile that looked painted on.

She looked to be somewhere in her late forties, judging by the faint crow’s feet around her eyes, among other features.

When it came to her attire, she wore a sleeveless black shirt that revealed dragon tattoos coiling around both arms.

"Daniel," she said a little too warmly, and Amara could tell it was posturing. "It’s been so long. Too long, some might say."

"Director Yuri," Hale replied politely. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

"Oh, come now. No need for formalities between old friends." Her smile widened fractionally. "I hear congratulations are in order. Tokyo was quite the success, despite the... complications."

Director Hale cleared his throat and stood up. "My team performed admirably."

"I’m sure." Director Yuri’s gaze shifted, taking in the five of them standing around the round table. Her expression didn’t change, but something in her eyes sharpened. "I take it these are the Five?"

Director Yuri observed them through the projection. Her eyes moved from face to face with the kind of precision that made Amara feel like she was being dissected.

Nobody seemed particularly comfortable under that gaze. But Ethan and Sophia did a good job of keeping their expressions carefully neutral. Whether through genuine indifference or good acting, Amara couldn’t tell.

As for Raj, he tried not to look intimidated and failed immediately. Hiro, unfortunately, went in the opposite direction entirely.

"Hey," he said, lifting a hand in an awkward wave. "Hi. Wow, okay, this is weirdly intimidating. You’ve got that whole ’knows seventeen ways to kill a man with a pencil’ vibe going on."

Raj slowly looked at him. "Why would you say that?"

"What? We’re all thinking it," Hiro said, before tapping thoughtfully against his lips like he just realized his blunder. "I’m sorry..."

Director Yuri’s painted smile widened by maybe half an inch. "You must be the one the file refers to as Hiro."

"Oh good, so my reputation precedes me." Hiro nodded his head. "That’s either a good thing or deeply conce—wait, did you just say file?"

From beside Ethan, Amara lifted her hand, pinching the bridge of her nose as she let out a slow breath. Hiro... she thought.

Director Yuri barely glanced at him. "Charming," she said absently, in the way someone might after hearing a child interrupt a meeting.

Something in her tone and the way she casually dismissed him made Amara’s jaw tighten immediately, but the Director raised one hand subtly—a gesture that clearly meant ’stay silent’.

"Was there something specific you needed?" Hale asked.

"The Council would like a word," Director Yuri said, and the temperature in the room seemed to drop. "We’re convening the Convergence. Fifteen days from now. You’ll attend, of course."

"The Convergence?" Hale’s voice remained neutral, but it clearly came as no surprise to him. "We haven’t held one in over a decade."

"Fifteen years, actually. Not since the Berlin incident." Yuri’s smile turned sharp. "But recent events have made it... necessary."

"I suppose so," Director Hale said.

"The emergence of premature Malices changes everything." Her gaze narrowed. "And so does Sun branch’s continued investment into the Five."

Raj blinked. "Wait." He looked between Hale and the hologram. "What?"

But Yuri continued smoothly, as if he hadn’t spoken.

"The rifts are spreading faster than projected. The Malices are manifesting ahead of schedule. And then there’s the matter of the Apostles making direct contact with your precious Five."

"And what does that have to do with us?" Ethan finally spoke.

She looked at Ethan with sudden interest, then answered. "Multiple branches have raised concerns regarding resource allocation and risk concentration. I’m just the messenger."

Her smile went cold. "Though I imagine you understand that better than most, Ethan." She paused for a second before finishing, "being raised by the Institute and all."

"We did not ask for this," Amara said, keeping her voice calm.

"Be that as it may," Yuri replied evenly, "the Institute cannot afford emotional decision-making. If the Sun branch wishes to continue dedicating this level of protection, funding, and prioritization toward your group..."

Her eyes sharpened. "Then justification will be required."

Yuri’s image held for one more second on the screen with that painted smile frozen in place. Then the hologram flickered out, and silence filled the conference room.

"Okay, wow." Raj pointed at the area where the holographic screen once was. "She’s a bitch." He looked around. "It’s okay to call her a bitch right?"

"Oh, yeah. One hundred percent," Hiro agreed instantly. "If there was a contest for bitchery, she’d be disqualified for being too much of a professional."

Amara folded her arms. "You’ve got to be kidding me."

"We got dragged into this," Hiro added. "Against my will, I might add. I would like the record to show that."

"Hmm," Ethan grunted with an irritated look on his face, though his expression remained calmer than the others.

"They think we’re a waste of resources?" Raj muttered. "After everything we just did?"

But even as the anger rose, something else was creeping in. A darker question in Amara’s head.

What if they don’t think we’re worth it?

If the convergence voted against them, what happens then? Do they get reassigned? Retired? Left to fend for themselves without any support from the Institute?

Director Hale raised a hand. "I understand your frustration—"

"Do you?" Amara asked in all honesty. "Because from where I’m sitting, it sounds like we’re being put on trial for not dying fast enough."

The Director turned his back to them, facing the window. "Then I suggest you prove them wrong in fifteen days." His voice was quiet. "Because I can’t do it for you."

Meanwhile, Sophia said nothing. She just stared at the table quietly.

Under normal circumstances, Sophia would have been the one to lash out. To verbally tear into Director Yuri. Instead, she just stared at the table in silence.

The Director let the frustration settle for a moment before speaking again. "The Convergence will happen in fifteen days," he said. "Until then, your priority is recovery."

Finally, he exhaled quietly. "You’re all dismissed."

Chairs slid backward as they all marched out of the conference room. But before Ethan could reach the threshold—

"Ethan," the Director called calmly.

He stopped and the others took a quick glance back.

"A moment," the Director said, sitting down.

Amara watched as the subtle tension returned to his shoulders instantly. Everyone at that point could take a good guess what this was all about.

Ethan glanced toward Amara briefly, and she gave him the smallest smile.

Then the others slowly exited the conference room one by one, leaving Ethan alone with the Director as the heavy doors slid shut behind them.