Page 128
Story: Broken Sentinel
"Try focusing on one sense at a time," I suggest. "Filter out everything else temporarily."
She nods, silver eyes closing in concentration. Her breathing steadies gradually, tension easing from her small frame.
"Better?" I ask.
A small smile touches her lips. "Better. Though I still can'tbelieve how many different kinds of birds there are. I can hear seventeen distinct species just in this clearing."
"Eighteen," Vex corrects, returning from his perimeter check. "There's a hawk circling about half a kilometer east. Hunting patterns suggest it's tracked us for the past hour."
"Is that bad?" Lily asks, suddenly concerned.
Vex's lip quirks in that not-quite-smile of his. "Not unless you're a field mouse."
As we rest, Trent joins me at the clearing's edge, his shoulder brushing mine in a touch that seems casual but sends warmth through me nonetheless.
"Unity drones have adjusted course," he reports quietly. "Still outside detection range, but moving to expand their search grid."
"They're being methodical," I note. "Standard containment protocols, starting from the outpost and working outward."
"We have maybe fourteen hours before they reach this position," he calculates. "Less if they deploy additional aerial units."
I glance back at Lily, now engaged in quiet conversation with Vex about different bird calls. "She's tough, but not at full strength yet. Pushing too hard risks compromising her recovery."
"Agreed," Trent says. "We need shelter for the night. Somewhere defensible if necessary."
As if the universe has a personal vendetta against our planning, a distant rumble sounds from the western sky. Heavy clouds now darken the horizon, moving toward us with concerning speed.
"Weather front," Vex observes, joining us. "Major storm system based on barometric pressure."
"Perfect," I mutter. "Just what we needed."
"Actually," Trent says thoughtfully, "it might work in our favor. Storm will disrupt drone scanning capabilities, provide natural cover for our movement."
"And soak us to the bone, drop temperatures at least fifteen degrees, and create potential flash flood conditions in the valley," Vex counters.
"I'll take wet and cold over captured by Unity's modified operators," I tell them.
We resume our journey, pace quickening as the storm approaches. The forest grows denser, older trees giving way to secondary growth that clutches at our clothing and scratches exposed skin. My modifications handle the minor injuries automatically, accelerated healing sealing cuts almost as they form.
Mind-blowing.
Lily keeps up admirably despite her fatigue, the coming storm seemingly lending her new energy. The data crystal pulses more frequently now, its internal light occasionally visible through her pack fabric.
"The resonance is stronger," she reports as we navigate a particularly dense thicket. "We must be getting closer to something."
"The Northern Archive?" I suggest.
She shakes her head. "Different signature. Less structured, more...alive."
Before I can question her further, the storm arrives with startling suddenness. One moment we're moving through twilight forest, the next we're being drenched by sheets of cold rain driving through the canopy. Wind whips through the trees, branches creaking ominously overhead.
"We need shelter," Trent shouts over the storm's fury.
Vex points to a rocky outcropping visible through the trees. "There. Might be caves."
We make for the formation, rain turning the forest floor treacherous underfoot. Lightning splits the sky, thunder cracking seconds later with enough force to vibrate my chest cavity. Not just a storm—a full-blown tempest.
As we approach the rocks, my enhanced vision picks out adark opening near the base—a small cave or at least a deep overhang. Better than nothing in this deluge.
Table of Contents
- Page 1
- Page 2
- Page 3
- Page 4
- Page 5
- Page 6
- Page 7
- Page 8
- Page 9
- Page 10
- Page 11
- Page 12
- Page 13
- Page 14
- Page 15
- Page 16
- Page 17
- Page 18
- Page 19
- Page 20
- Page 21
- Page 22
- Page 23
- Page 24
- Page 25
- Page 26
- Page 27
- Page 28
- Page 29
- Page 30
- Page 31
- Page 32
- Page 33
- Page 34
- Page 35
- Page 36
- Page 37
- Page 38
- Page 39
- Page 40
- Page 41
- Page 42
- Page 43
- Page 44
- Page 45
- Page 46
- Page 47
- Page 48
- Page 49
- Page 50
- Page 51
- Page 52
- Page 53
- Page 54
- Page 55
- Page 56
- Page 57
- Page 58
- Page 59
- Page 60
- Page 61
- Page 62
- Page 63
- Page 64
- Page 65
- Page 66
- Page 67
- Page 68
- Page 69
- Page 70
- Page 71
- Page 72
- Page 73
- Page 74
- Page 75
- Page 76
- Page 77
- Page 78
- Page 79
- Page 80
- Page 81
- Page 82
- Page 83
- Page 84
- Page 85
- Page 86
- Page 87
- Page 88
- Page 89
- Page 90
- Page 91
- Page 92
- Page 93
- Page 94
- Page 95
- Page 96
- Page 97
- Page 98
- Page 99
- Page 100
- Page 101
- Page 102
- Page 103
- Page 104
- Page 105
- Page 106
- Page 107
- Page 108
- Page 109
- Page 110
- Page 111
- Page 112
- Page 113
- Page 114
- Page 115
- Page 116
- Page 117
- Page 118
- Page 119
- Page 120
- Page 121
- Page 122
- Page 123
- Page 124
- Page 125
- Page 126
- Page 127
- Page 128 (Reading here)
- Page 129
- Page 130
- Page 131
- Page 132
- Page 133
- Page 134
- Page 135
- Page 136
- Page 137
- Page 138
- Page 139
- Page 140
- Page 141
- Page 142
- Page 143
- Page 144
- Page 145
- Page 146
- Page 147
- Page 148
- Page 149
- Page 150
- Page 151
- Page 152
- Page 153
- Page 154
- Page 155
- Page 156
- Page 157
- Page 158
- Page 159
- Page 160
- Page 161
- Page 162
- Page 163
- Page 164
- Page 165
- Page 166
- Page 167