Mercer kept his gaze forward, but he was aware of Silas standing just off to the side, watching ominously. Asher, as usual, didn't let that kind of silence sit for long.
"I'm Asher," he said, stepping forward slightly with an easy smile. He raised his fist in a casual gesture. "Might as well know who we're working with."
Silas looked at the gesture, then back up at Asher. There was no reaction in his face. No irritation, no amusement. Just that same flat, unreadable expression. After a second, he spoke.
"Let's keep this simple," he said, his voice low and steady. "I'm not here to make friends. You do your job, I'll do mine, and we won't have any problems."
His eyes moved across the group briefly, lingering for half a second longer on Mercer.
"Anything beyond that isn't necessary."
The words weren't loud, but they landed hard enough. Mercer felt his jaw tighten.
There was something about the way Silas said it that rubbed him the wrong way, it wasn't just the attitude, but the certainty behind it. Like he had already decided what this team was, and none of them factored into it.
Mercer met his gaze without backing down, his expression hardening. For a moment, neither of them looked away.
Then Elliot shifted awkwardly beside them, breaking the tension before it could stretch any further.
"…Alright," he said, rubbing the back of his neck slightly. "Well, we're up next, so we should probably figure out who's leading."
There was a brief pause.
"I vote Mercer."
Mercer blinked, caught off guard.
Asher nodded immediately. "Yeah, I'm with that."
Mercer looked between them, clearly not expecting it. For a second, the weight of it hit him all at once.
Leading meant responsibility. Decisions. Mistakes that wouldn't just affect him. He felt the nerves rise, sharp and immediate.
'Why me? There are people here way more experienced than I am…'
His thoughts flicked briefly toward Silas. But that didn't feel like an option. Mercer exhaled slowly, forcing himself to settle.
'Doesn't matter. They chose me. I don't get to hesitate now.'
Elliot and Asher both turned toward Silas.
He didn't say anything, nod, nor object.
He just looked at Mercer for a moment, then shifted his gaze back toward the town. That was answer enough.
"…Alright," Asher said, a small grin returning. "Guess that settles it."
Before Mercer could respond
"Next!"
The drill sergeant's voice cut through everything. It was their turn. The four of them moved into position at the edge of the town, lining up along the outer wall of the first building. Weapons came up instinctively, the earlier exhaustion pushed aside by something sharper, focus.
Mercer took a breath and stepped forward first. The others fell in behind him without hesitation.
As Mercer crossed the threshold into the silent streets, rifle raised and heart steadying, he realized this wasn't just another test anymore… it was the first time someone else's outcome would depend entirely on the decisions he made next.