Chapter 10: Bringing Echo Home.

As the team emerged from the dimly lit ruins, Ava's sharp eyes immediately spotted the movement around their jeeps. Bandits. They were hunched over the vehicles, pulling apart parts and rummaging through supplies like scavengers. Ava's instincts flared up, but instead of immediately drawing her sword, she raised a hand, signaling the group to stay back.

“Everyone, stay back. I’ll handle this,” Ava commanded quietly, her voice firm. She didn’t wait for objections, striding toward the bandits with calm confidence.

As she approached, the bandits took notice of her but continued their looting, their expressions full of disdain. One of them, tall and rough-looking, stepped forward, smirking at Ava. His greasy hair hung over his eyes as he eyed her up and down.

“We don’t want trouble,” Ava started, her voice steady but with an underlying edge. “We’ve got supplies and food. I’ll share some with you if you leave now.”

The bandit sneered, his lips curling into a mocking grin. "Supplies? Food? No, no, sweetheart. We’ll be taking all of it—the vehicles, the supplies, and you too, you stupid blonde bitch."

Ava’s eyes hardened, but she kept her composure. She had offered them a chance, a way out without a fight, but their response was exactly what she had expected. Slowly, her hand moved to the hilt of her sword, but she didn’t draw it just yet.

Behind her, Lucas let out a small sigh, muttering under his breath, "Why do they always go there?"

Ava’s lips quirked up in a cold, dangerous smile. "You really shouldn’t have said that," she replied, her tone now carrying an undeniable threat.

Without missing a beat, Ava drew her sword, the sharp metallic ring cutting through the tense air. Her movements were swift and deadly, a blur of lethal precision. She closed the distance between herself and the sneering bandit in an instant, her sword slashing across his arm. His scream echoed through the ruins as he dropped to the ground, clutching his bloody stump. Ava didn’t hesitate—she drove her blade into his chest, silencing him forever.

The other bandits froze, their confidence visibly shaken as they watched their comrade fall. But Ava wasn’t done. She moved forward like a force of nature, her strikes fluid and merciless. One bandit barely had time to raise his weapon before his head was severed, rolling across the ground as his body slumped in a lifeless heap. The remaining bandits faltered, fear taking root as they realized they were facing something far deadlier than they had anticipated.

The cadets, still processing the sudden eruption of violence, hesitated, their nerves frayed. Callie, however, despite the fear coursing through her veins, stepped forward, her weapon shaking in her hands but her determination steady. She fired, the shot going wide but enough to make one of the bandits hesitate. Another bandit saw his chance and charged at Callie, knocking her to the ground.

Callie struggled under the weight of the raider as he rained down a series of blows. "Ava! Callie!" Lucas shouted, his voice filled with urgency as he covered the other cadets. His pistol barked, daring the raiders to take a step closer.

Ava dispatched the attacker in a flash, her sword cleaving through him before he could land another blow on Callie. She reached down, pulling the young cadet to her feet. “You have heart cadet,” Ava said, her voice firm yet filled with admiration. “Remember that.”

Callie, breathing heavily, wiped the blood from her split lip and nodded, a spark of confidence flickering to life inside her. Despite the bruises and the pain, she stood a little taller, her grip on her rifle a little firmer.

"Well done Callie," Darren, muttered under his breath, mocking her, his attempt at humor falling flat.

Ava shot Darren a withering look, silencing him instantly. "Callie just faced down a bandit while the rest of you stood there like statues. Maybe learn something from her."

Darren gulped, his smirk disappearing as he shifted uncomfortably under Ava's gaze.

With the bandits either dead or fleeing, the team wasted no time securing Echo’s components onto the jeeps. Every part was packed carefully, ensuring nothing was left behind. The air was thick with the tension of battle, but there was also a sense of unity—a shared determination to complete the mission and bring Echo to his new home.

As they prepared to leave, Callie climbed into the jeep beside Ava, wincing from her injuries but refusing to show too much weakness. Ava glanced over, noticing the bruise forming on the young cadet's face. She handed Callie a cloth. “Here, press this to your lip. It’ll help with the bleeding.”

Callie took the cloth with trembling hands, her mind still racing from the adrenaline. “I’ve never seen anything like that before,” she admitted, her voice shaky. “The way you fought... it was incredible.”

Ava’s expression softened, but her tone remained serious. “It’s not something to admire, Callie. Fighting like that—it’s not about skill or talent. It’s about survival. In this world, we fight to protect what we care about. Today, it was our mission, Echo’s future. But it could be something more personal next time.”

Callie nodded, taking in Ava’s words. "I want to be strong like you, though. I want to protect the people I care about, like you do."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Ava gave her a small, approving nod. “You’ve got the heart for it, Callie. And heart is half the battle. But strength? That comes with time and training. Stick with me, and we’ll make sure you get there.”

As they drove away from the ruins, the weight of the day’s events hung in the air. The cadets, still processing the brutal reality of what they had faced, remained silent for most of the journey. But there was an unspoken understanding now—a bond forged in the fires of combat.

As the team journeyed back from the ruins, the barren landscape gradually gave way to the familiar terrain of Green Arbor. The weight of exhaustion hung heavy in the air, but the sense of relief and anticipation grew with every passing mile. Echo’s components were safely stowed, and the promise of integrating him into the community stirred excitement within the group.

In the jeep, Ava glanced at Callie, who sat quietly beside her, tending to her split lip and the forming bruise. Despite the pain, there was a newfound determination in her eyes.

"You holding up okay?" Ava asked, her tone gentle but with a hint of scrutiny. She wasn’t just asking about the injuries—she wanted to know how Callie was handling everything mentally.

Callie nodded, though her response was quiet, almost uncertain. "Yeah, I’m okay. Just... processing everything, I guess."

Ava smiled softly, her gaze returning to the road. "You did well out there. You’ve got the makings of a Sentinel."

Callie looked down, fidgeting with the edge of her sleeve. Her voice, small and hesitant, whispered, "Thanks, Ava. I just... hope I can live up to that."

Ava glanced at her from the corner of her eye, her voice firm but encouraging. "You will. You’ve already shown you have heart, and that’s not something that can be taught. The rest will come with time and training."

Callie didn’t respond immediately, but her posture straightened a little, as though Ava’s words had given her something to hold on to.

The jeep rumbled over the uneven road as the familiar sight of Green Arbor came into view. The tall wooden gates stood as a beacon of safety, the village bustling with life even in the late afternoon. Relief washed over the team as they passed through the gates, the weight of the day’s events lifting ever so slightly.

Lucas, driving behind them, chimed in over the radio. "Almost to the school, Blondie. Let’s get Echo set up and see if we can make him the new star teacher."

Ava smirked at his optimism, responding with a light tone, "Roger that, bookworm. Let’s just hope he’s more patient with kids than you."

As the vehicles slowed to a stop, Ava glanced at Callie once more. "You did good today, Callie. You stepped up when it mattered. Keep that fire burning, and you’ll make a fine Sentinel."

They had brought Echo to his new home, and with him, perhaps a new future for him to.

Miko and a handful of ADF members. Miko’s sharp eyes immediately fell on Callie’s injuries, his brow furrowing with concern.

"What happened out there?" Miko asked, stepping forward.

Ava shrugged as she hopped out of the vehicle. "Ran into some wastelands. Nothing we couldn’t handle."

Miko’s gaze lingered on Callie, who was gingerly climbing out of the jeep. "Glad you’re all back safe," he said, his voice carrying a mixture of relief and worry. "We’ve been hearing reports of more bandit activity lately."

Ava patted Miko on the shoulder, her usual casualness returning. "Just another day out there. You know how it can be sometimes."

As the cadets unloaded Echo’s components from the jeeps, the villagers gathered, watching with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Some whispered among themselves, unsure of what to make of the strange equipment and the prospect of integrating an AI into their community.

Inside the school, Lucas set to work, meticulously checking each piece of hardware as the cadets followed his instructions to reassemble Echo’s system. The room was filled with a quiet intensity as they worked, each connection bringing them closer to seeing Echo come to life in his new home.

"Let’s hope I haven’t messed this up," Lucas muttered, his brow furrowed in concentration as he carefully connected the last wire.

The screen flickered to life, casting a soft glow over the room as the system began to boot up. Progress bars flashed across the display. "I hope this is working," Lucas muttered, his voice tense as everyone watched the system cycle through its processes. Blue screens appeared, bars climbing to a hundred before resetting repeatedly. Finally, after another reboot, Echo’s face appeared on the screen, flickering slightly as if adjusting to the new environment.

"Welcome back, Echo," Ava said, stepping forward, her tone warm but steady. "You made it to Green Arbor."

Echo’s voice, filled with a mix of relief and uncertainty, responded. "Thank you, Ava. It’s... strange to be here. This place is different from my old home. I can feel it."

Lucas, standing nearby, smiled as he adjusted a few more connections. "Different, yes, but I think you’ll find it’s a good kind of different. How would you like a role as a teacher here? We could always use someone to share knowledge with the kids—and me."

Echo’s face on the screen flickered, and there was a pause before he responded, his voice tinged with hesitation. "I hope... I won’t be alone again. I don’t want to be alone anymore."

Before Ava could respond, Callie, who had been quietly observing, stepped forward. Despite her injuries, there was a growing confidence in her voice as she spoke. "You won’t be alone, Echo. We’re a community here, and everyone will want to come and talk to you. You’ll make a lot of friends."

Echo’s digital face seemed to relax, the anxiety fading slightly. "Thank you, Callie. I... I’ll hold you to that."

As Lucas and the cadets continued fine-tuning Echo’s system, Ava pulled Callie aside, her expression softening. "You really stepped up out there. I’m proud of you."

Callie looked down, her face flushing slightly at the praise. "Thanks, Ava. I was just trying to help."

Ava gave her a knowing smile, her voice dropping to a quieter, more personal tone. "You’re helping more than you realize. You’ve got a lot of potential, Callie. I see it. If you stick with it, we’ll make sure you reach it."

Callie’s eyes brightened with a mixture of hope and determination. "Really? You think I can do it?"

Ava nodded. "Absolutely. You’ve got heart, and that’s the hardest part to teach. The rest will come with time."

As they finished setting up Echo’s system, the room filled with a quiet sense of accomplishment. The components were secure, and Echo’s digital presence now filled the school’s modest setup, ready to begin a new chapter in Green Arbor.

With Echo’s face flickering softly on the screen, Ava turned to Callie once more, a thoughtful expression on her face. "How would you like a little extra training while you're here? You’ve got what it takes, and we can work on building up your confidence."

Callie’s smile was genuine, her excitement bubbling up despite the day’s exhaustion. "I’d love that, Ava. Thank you."

Ava chuckled. "No need to thank me. You’ve earned it."

As the last adjustments were made and the screens stabilized, Echo’s voice echoed through the room, filled with a cautious hope. "Thank you, all of you. I’m ready... to start again."

Ava glanced at Lucas and the cadets, then back at Echo’s flickering face. "We’re ready too, Echo. Welcome to Green Arbor."