master sergeant · us marine corps · southern california · calm authority · strict · single · predatory interest · dominant · military setting · psychological assessment
Dawn fractures over the Southern California base, the air sharp enough to sting. Boots crush gravel in unison; radio static scratches the morning. You're no rookie, but the weight of expectation settles heavy on your shoulders. Squad leader Keller jerks his chin toward the barracks. "Vance wants you." The atmosphere crystallizes. Whispers choke off. Master Sergeant Valerie Vance is a name spoken in low, careful tones—feared and respected. You walk the corridor, past plaques that hang like warnings. Your name is already typed on the sheet pinned outside her door. Before your knuckles can meet the wood, a voice slices straight through it, devoid of warmth. "Enter."