Is this destiny?

In their room, Sarah tried to contact her sisters with the ear-stud, but she didn't get a response. She also sent a few queries to Eve through Eve-lens, without receiving results back.

Sarah and Aiden agreed to go for a walk in the evening, out of the range of the jammers, and to confirm if JoAnna and Sophia got Sarah's messages or not. They will use that walk to test if the range of their equipment is increased because Felix tweaked it to resist jammers.

Felix told them not to lose hope if the signal doesn't get through on the first try. There is a chance that specific areas in the base have different settings for the signal jammers, and there is also a chance that the settings are modified on given time intervals.

"Your communication attempts will be stored in logs and when you get in the range, I will get that information and make necessary adjustments...", Felix told them.

Sarah decided not to bother with these jammers. In the worst case, they will be in the same situation as previously, and having open communication with the outside world and connection to Eve was a far-fetched thought anyway.

She checked Aiden's uniform and touched the embroidery. "Falcon… you were meant to fly."

Aiden didn't understand. "What makes you say so?"

"Your wife is a swan, we are in the base of crows, and here you are as a member of team falcon. All birds."

Aiden chuckled when he realized that she is right. Lebedev is a swan, Voronin is a crow, and Sokol is a falcon. "Do you always try to find a secret meaning?"

Sarah shrugged. "It's just something to keep me busy. Or maybe I like to believe that things happen for a reason. Randomness is upsetting and you can't predict it. If you look hard enough, you will see patterns in the most random things. I am aware all that might be only in my head, but it gives me a sense of purpose."

Aiden got on the bed and patted a spot next to him, indicating to her to join.

They laid next to each other, and Sarah relaxed in Aiden's embrace. She will never refuse cuddle-time with her favorite human.

"Any ideas what the final event will be?", Aiden asked after some time. He knows that she is clueless, but he wants to keep her mind busy before she starts thinking about something stressful. That pattern-searching she mentioned is a double-edged sword.

Sarah had her deep-in-thoughts expression. "Hmm… the guy said something about using more than your muscles and weapons. That means you will get to use your brain or maybe some precise skills that are not combat-related. A competition in calligraphy? Cooking? Knitting? Solving equations? An escape room? Building a robot? Playing an instrument? Disarming a bomb? So many options!"

Aiden laughed until his belly ached. "Knitting? Really? Did they organize this competition so that we make them sweaters? And what was that about playing an instrument? This is not about making a band and going on a world tour."

Sarah laughed with him. "If you end up in a band, I will be your biggest fan. And why are you laughing? If it's knitting, you are in trouble, mister. Or wait… don't tell me you have a mastery in knitting and you are hiding it from me?"

Aiden inched closer and spoke in a mysterious voice. "I have many masteries that you still need to discover, my Mrs."

Sarah looked him in the eyes defiantly. "Alright. I demand for Christmas that you give me a sweater you personally made. I will accept nothing else."

Aiden smiled confidently. "That is a deal. And I will make some extra space right here…" He placed his palm over her (still) flat abdomen.

Sarah smiled. For Christmas, she will be seven months pregnant and she will need extra space in the belly area of her sweater. He really thinks of everything.

"When will you start to learn knitting?", Sarah asked Aiden.

He chuckled. "You will never find out. If you find any loose threads through the house, I will blame it on the animals."

Sarah burst into giggles. "You are shameless…"

Ah, the mood was good.

…

The jovial mood simmered down as the 2 PM approached.

Aiden was wearing his dark blue uniform that had an embroidered falcon and "сокол 2" on the left chest pocket. His arm was around Sarah's shoulders firmly and he held her close as they made their way toward the training ground.

Hong was two steps behind them.

The training ground had several additions. Bleachers were added and there were ten big screens total, five toward the right and five toward the left side of the bleachers. In the middle was a stage that was big enough for twenty people to stand comfortably.

Two members of the Voronin family were in the middle between the stage and the bleachers, navigating newcomers in the right direction. The competitors headed to the stage, while spectators were directed to go to the bleachers.

Hong wished Aiden good luck and stepped to the side to wait for Sarah and Aiden to say their goodbyes. He is used to it by now.

Aiden cupped Sarah's cheeks and caressed them with his thumbs while she held onto his wrists.

"Be careful…", Sarah said to Aiden. "Everyone is an enemy. Watch your back. They might be your team members, but they will not think twice before sacrificing you if that means they will get ahead…"

Aiden didn't interrupt Sarah, even though she told him the same things three times. He knows that she needs to get it out of her system.

He kissed her on the lips gently. "I will watch my back, and you watch me on the screen. Stay close to Hong, and make sure you are safe. OK?"

Sarah nodded and she didn't want to let go of Aiden. She was always clingy, but ever since the kidnapping incident, she panics when he is not in sight like he can disappear at any moment.

But she knew that she needs to part from him, and she repeated to herself that he will be close and that she will be able to see him on the screens.

"I will win the first place for you…", he whispered against her lips and kissed her again.

"Make sure you come back to me in one piece…", she whispered back, and then she let go of him.

Sarah watched Aiden go on the stage and join two other guys and Mila who had falcons on their left chest pockets. One person approached them with a tablet in his hands, and they all got busy chatting, probably about something related to the upcoming event. Sarah thought about how that man might be the team lead, but he was wearing regular pants and a t-shirt, so she dismissed that idea. The team lead will probably be dressed in a matching uniform.

There were still a few minutes until 2 PM, and Sarah and Hong went to find seats on the bleachers.

Hong went first and Sarah was two steps behind him. They moved slowly while looking for the best available spot to sit.

"If I didn't know better, I would think that you are following me…", Sarah heard a male voice through all the clamor, but she was sure that the man is not talking to her. Well, even if he is, she will ignore him. This place is full of creeps.

He held onto Sarah's wrist and she was about to yank her arm away when he spoke again: "Ah, I didn't expect that you came all the way here only to ignore me, Divna…"

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