**Beyond the Facade**

Sage couldn't shake off the feeling of unease that lingered long after she left Viper's quarters. The cold, calculated words still echoed in her mind, making her skin crawl with every step. She had been hoping for a connection, a spark of understanding, but instead, Viper had reduced her to nothing more than a physical object. The memory of those piercing eyes, the glint of malice in their depths, made Sage's heart heavy with a sense of foreboding. As she walked through the corridors, lost in thought, Sage couldn't help but wonder if she had been blind to the warning signs. Had she been so caught up in her own desires, her own hopes for a connection with Viper, that she had ignored the obvious? The way Viper had spoken to her, the way she had looked at her, it was all so... calculated. So deliberate. Sage's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her comms device beeping. She hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice cautious. "Sage here." "Hey, it's Guess," the voice on the other end said, sounding cheerful. "I just wanted to check in and see how you're doing. I know Viper can be... intense." Sage smiled wryly to herself. Intense was one way to put it. "I'm fine," she said, trying to sound casual. "Just processing some things." Guess's tone turned serious. "If you're talking about what happened during the training exercise, I think I should warn you... Viper's not exactly known for her empathy." Sage felt a shiver run down her spine. "I think I can handle myself," she said, trying to sound confident. "I'm sure you can," Guess replied, "but just be careful around her, okay? She's not exactly... stable." Sage's mind flashed back to their conversation earlier. She had been so focused on trying to understand Viper, on trying to connect with her, that she hadn't stopped to consider the potential risks. But now, as she thought back on their conversation, she realized that Guess had been right. Viper was not someone to be trifled with. "Hey, Guess?" Sage said, her voice low. "Yeah?" "Do you know anything about Viper's past?" Sage asked, her curiosity getting the better of her. There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Not really," Guess said finally. "I mean, I know she's been through some tough stuff, but... I don't know, Sage. I think it's best if you just steer clear of her, okay?" Sage nodded, even though Guess couldn't see her. "Yeah, okay. Thanks for the advice." As she ended the call, Sage couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Viper's story than met the eye. And she was determined to find out what that was. That night, as Sage lay in her bunk, she couldn't help but think about Viper's words. The way she had looked at her, the way she had spoken... it was all so calculated, so deliberate. Sage felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized that she had only scratched the surface of Viper's true nature. And then, just as she was drifting off to sleep, Sage heard a faint knock on her door. She hesitated for a moment before getting up to answer it. When she opened the door, she was surprised to see Guess standing in the corridor, a concerned look on her face. "Hey, Sage," she said softly. "I think we need to talk." Sage raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "About what?" Guess glanced around nervously before leaning in close. "About Viper," she whispered. "And what you're getting yourself into."