Page 65

"I'll go," I say into the comm. "My audio range means I can track the Unity vehicle's movements while en route."

"Too dangerous," Trent says immediately. "You've barely had time to adjust to your enhancements."

"Which makes me unpredictable," I counter, glaring at him. "An advantage if things go wrong."

The logic is sound and Trent knows it. His jaw tightens, but he doesn't argue further.

"Meet me at the eastern gate in two minutes," Vex's voice confirms.

I'm already moving, clambering down from the platform with a grace that would have been impossible days ago, Trent following.

"Zara," he says as we reach the ground. "Be careful."

There's something in his voice that makes me pause. For a moment, we're partners again—Sentinels looking out for each other in the field. My heart can’t help but flutter.

"Always am," I respond automatically, our old mission sign-off.

A ghost of a smile touches his lips, gone almost before I register it. Then we're moving again, heading toward the eastern gate where Vex awaits.

He's changed into darker clothing, a pack slung across his back. Something about his posture reminds me of Sentinelstrike teams prepping for high-risk missions—the coiled readiness, the focused energy.

"Four minutes to reach the monitoring station, two to activate the beacon, three to return via the concealed route," he says. "Unity vehicle is eight minutes from decision point based on current speed."

"Cutting it close," I observe.

He hands me a small device. "Emergency transponder. If we get separated, activate it. Settlement security will find you."

The fact that he's planning for contingencies tells me more about the mission risk than any direct assessment would. I tuck the transponder into my pocket.

"Stay on my path exactly," Vex instructs. "The route avoids sensor tripwires and natural hazards."

"Copy that."

He gives me an appraising look. "Ready to run, Sentinel?"

I nod once, settling into a ready stance.

"Then keep up." With that, he's gone, moving with that liquid speed that seems impossible despite my own enhancements.

I launch after him, surprised to find my body responding with equal velocity. The landscape blurs around us as we race through the forest, following a winding path only Vex seems to see. My enhanced vision processes the surroundings at speed, cataloging potential threats and escape routes automatically.

The freedom of this movement is intoxicating. No Unity corridors with their precise measurements and regulated spaces, just wild terrain and wind in my hair and the challenge of navigating it at superhuman speed. Despite the mission urgency, I find myself enjoying the pure physical thrill.

I feel like I’m actuallyliving.

Vex glances back once, catching my expression. A flash ofunderstanding passes between us, the shared exhilaration of bodies pushing beyond normal human limits, embracing capabilities Unity would label "contamination."

We reach the monitoring station in just under four minutes, an old Unity outpost abandoned after the climate shifted, making this region less valuable for resource extraction. The structure stands like a skeleton of the world I left behind, all sharp angles and unity-standard gray, now weather-worn and partially reclaimed by native vegetation.

"Cover the perimeter," Vex instructs, already moving toward the control access. "Your hearing range is our best early warning system."

I take position near the structure's edge, extending my senses outward. The Unity vehicle is still moving along the ridge, but I catch a fragment of conversation that makes my blood run cold.

"Signal's stronger toward the east now. Might be worth checking out."

"Vex," I call quietly. "They're considering investigating this direction. Two minutes, maybe less."

He curses under his breath, fingers working faster on the access panel. "Need three minutes minimum to bypass the security and activate the beacon."