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"How can you tell?" Vex asks, skepticism evident.

"Because I ran those missions for Unity," Trent says evenly. "This isn't a hunter team. It's routine survey, probably updating terrain maps after the recent storms."

Vex looks like he wants to argue on principle, but Nora intervenes. "Can we be certain?"

I focus my enhanced hearing in the direction Rae indicated, stretching my new abilities to their limit. Faintly, I catch the hum of an engine, the crunch of tires on uneven terrain, and then—voices.

"Two people," I report. "Complaining about assignment rotation. Something about drawing the short straw for wasteland duty." I concentrate harder. "They're saying the sensors need recalibration after the dust storms. Readings are inconsistent."

Everyone stares at me.

"You can hear that from two kilometers away?" Rae asks, impressed.

I shrug, uncomfortable with the attention. "Enhanced auditory processing. You know, apparently."

"Useful," Vex acknowledges, looking at me with new respect. “Very useful.”

"If they're having sensor issues, that works in our favor," Trent points out. "But we should still take precautions in case they decide to investigate anomalous readings."

"I'll monitor their approach," Rae says. "If they alter course toward us, we'll have approximately seven minutes warning."

Nora nods. "Maintain alert status. Vex, position your team at the northern perimeter. Nonlethal deterrents only if they approach."

"Understood," Vex responds, then looks at me. "Want to put that enhanced hearing to good use?"

"What did you have in mind?" I ask, eager to be put to use even though it’s against the only world I’ve ever known.

"Early warning system. You can hear them before our equipment can detect them." He gestures to a platform built into one of the taller trees at the settlement's edge. "From up there, you'd have clear audio line of sight."

It's a good tactical suggestion. I nod, moving toward the tree. "I'll need someone monitoring communications in case I hear something significant."

"I'll handle that," Trent says, stepping forward.

Vex looks like he wants to object, but practicality wins out. "Fine. You two take the north post. I'll coordinate ground response."

As Vex moves away to organize his team, Trent and I head for the lookout position. The climb up would have been challenging before; now my enhanced strength and balance make it almost effortless.

The platform sits nestled among branches thirty feet up, providing excellent visibility while remaining concealed from below. I settle into position, Trent beside me with a compact communications unit similar to Rae's. Luckily I’ve never had a fear of heights.

We sit in awkward silence for several minutes, the mission providing convenient focus that allows us to avoid addressing the tension between us .

"You're adapting quickly," Trent says finally, eyes fixed on the horizon. "To the enhancements."

"Apparently that was the plan all along," I say, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. "Elara Thorne's perfectly designed modifications."

He doesn't rise to the bait, just nods. "They suit you."

Something about his simple statement catches me off guard. Not "they're impressive" or "they're useful," but "they suit you." As if these changes are bringing out something that was always meant to be part of me.

Before I can respond, I catch a new sound—the Unity vehicle's engine changing pitch as it navigates rougher terrain.

"They're turning west," I report, focusing my hearing. "Following the ridge line now." I listen harder. "They're discussing signal anomalies. Something about unusual energy readings from this valley."

Trent tenses beside me. "The settlement's power systems might be registering on their scanners."

I strain my enhanced hearing further. "They're debating whether to investigate or mark it for followup. One of them is saying they're already behind schedule."

Trent relays this information through the comm unit. Moments later, Vex's voice crackles back: "If they decide to investigate, we need to create a diversion. Something to explain the readings without revealing the settlement."

My mind races, Sentinel training kicking in despite everything. "The old monitoring station two kilometers east," I suggest. "It's on their maps already. If we could activate its emergency beacon, they'd assume that's the source."

There's a pause before Vex responds. "Good idea. But the station's systems are dead. Would need to be manually activated."

"We could reach it in time," I say, calculating distances. "With our enhanced speed?— "

"Too risky," Trent counters. "If they spot you en route, it defeats the purpose."

"Better than them finding the entire settlement," I argue.

Vex's voice cuts through again. "Thorne's right. It's our best option." A pause. "I'll go."

"Alone?" The question slips out before I can stop it.

"Unless you're volunteering, Sentinel."

I look at Trent, seeing the conflict in his eyes. This is a tactical decision—sending the fastest, most capable operative on a critical mission. But it's also personal now, in ways neither of us anticipated.

"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 Sentinel strike 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 actually living .

Vex glances back once, catching my expression. A flash of understanding 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."

"Can I help?" I move closer, watching his hands manipulate the control systems with practiced ease.

"Know Unity emergency protocols?" he asks without looking up.

"Sentinel training included facility security," I confirm. "What are you trying to access?"

"Level three emergency beacon. Needs authorization override and power reroute."

I study the panel, recognition clicking into place. "This is an earlier model than what I trained on, but the core architecture is similar." I point to a secondary access point. "Try the maintenance bypass. Should let you circumvent the authorization protocols."

Vex follows my suggestion, and the panel responds with a soft hum. "Good call." He sounds genuinely impressed. "Cover the western approach. I'll have this active in ninety seconds."