Chapter 51: My lost Cadet.

The early afternoon sun cast a warm glow over Green Arbor as Ava sat perched on the edge of the Sentinel post’s desk, her legs swinging idly. She gazed out the window, watching the village go about its business, her restlessness clear in the way she absentmindedly tapped her fingers on the desk.

"Do you have to sit on the desk?" Miko asked, barely glancing up from the stack of papers he was sorting through. "There are lots of chairs."

"I like the view from up here," Ava replied with a smirk, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Miko chuckled. "You’re bored, aren’t you?"

"Maybe a little. Why, got something exciting for me to do?" Ava’s grin widened.

"You could help with these," Miko suggested, holding up a stack of paperwork that seemed to multiply every time he looked at it.

Ava grimaced dramatically, laughing as she shook her head. "Oh, please, anything but that. Let me clean your rifle—I'll be careful this time."

"No way," Miko retorted, shooting her a wary look. "Last time, you fiddled with my sights. My first shot nearly hit the moon!"

Ava’s laughter echoed through the room, just as Lucas entered, arms full of cables and equipment. He set them down, looking distracted as he sifted through wires. Ava and Miko exchanged a curious glance, watching him as he muttered to himself, then hurried out and came back in with more pieces.

"Um, Lucas…?" Ava raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, sorry. Me and Echo were discussing upgrades," Lucas explained, pointing to the setup. "We’re adding a monitor to help with Sentinel operations. It’ll be like having an extra set of eyes and ears."

Miko’s curiosity was piqued, and he set down his papers. "How is this supposed to work?"

"Here, let me show you." Lucas began setting up the monitor on the desk, navigating around Ava, who stayed perched as if daring him to complain. "By the way, you know there are chairs in here," he teased, glancing at Ava.

"Not you too!" she groaned, rolling her eyes, but a playful smile tugged at her lips.

After some more adjustments and a bit of bickering about where each cable belonged, Lucas finally stepped back, gesturing toward the screen with pride. The monitor came to life with a hum, and Echo’s cheerful face appeared.

"Hello!" Echo greeted them warmly. The screen flickered to display a detailed map of Green Arbor, with indicators showing Sentinel patrols, ADF movements, and other essential updates. “This new monitor will help track who’s on duty, manage operations, and provide live updates from patrols. It’s all touch-screen, too, Miko, so you don’t have to type.”

"Thank you, Echo. This is impressive," Miko said, his gaze fixed on the screen. He reached out to touch the map, marveling as it zoomed in on the village layout. "Finally, I don’t have to rely on my radio for every little thing."

"And keep Talon away from it," Lucas warned with a grin. "He’d have it out of commission in a week.”

Ava laughed, imagining Talon’s usual tinkering tendencies wreaking havoc on the equipment. “Yeah, let’s keep him at arm’s length from anything with more than one button.”

Echo began to explain additional features, and the group listened intently. Then, a static-filled voice cut through on one of the radio channels, causing everyone to freeze.

“Echo, can you amplify that?” Miko asked.

The static softened, and a voice came through, tense and garbled. “—repeat, this is ADF convoy unit. We have... visual on Sentinel Callie. She’s… down the bank.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Ava shot up, her face a mask of worry as she listened.

Another voice crackled over the line. “Callie’s missing. We saw her fall... bank’s too steep. Radio’s… static.”

Miko’s brow furrowed, his expression mirroring Ava’s. “She fell down a bank?”

“Looks like it,” Lucas said, hands hovering over the controls, his mind racing. “She’s not responding, so it’s likely her radio’s busted.”

Without a second thought, Ava was up, grabbing her gear with hurried determination. “We need to go. Now.”

As they strapped on their gear, Lucas glanced up from the monitor, his own face reflecting the unease in the room. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on the channels. I’ll monitor everything with Echo and keep you updated.”

Echo’s screen displayed a concerned expression. “Be careful, everyone.”

Miko stepped in front of Ava, his expression hard. “You’re not at a hundred percent yet. Let Talon and me handle this.”

But Ava’s glare could have melted steel. “That’s my cadet out there, Miko. She’s my responsibility.”

Miko held her gaze, then sighed, handing her an extra magazine. “Fine. But you’re hanging back.”

Ava didn't answer, she just gestured to Lucas to help her with her plate carrier.

"Your to stubborn at time's Blondie, you know" Lucas tells her as Ava winced a little as he tightened her rig.

Miko’s expression darkened, his jaw tightening. “Echo, connect me to that convoy now.”

Echo complied, and a new voice came through, clearer this time. “Sir, the bank is too steep to climb down safely. We can’t see her from here. We’ve tried the radio—nothing.”

Miko’s tone was firm. “You have thirty minutes to scan the area. If you can’t locate her, leave a vehicle behind, mark the location, and get back to Green Arbor.”

Ava bristled at his words, turning to him sharply. “You’re pulling them out? That’s my cadet, Miko! They need to stay—”

“Ava, you know the rules.” Miko’s voice cut through hers, calm but firm. “The convoy can’t wait out in the open, not for anyone. Even for Callie.”

Ava clenched her fists, frustration burning in her chest. “Fine,” she said through gritted teeth, turning away and loading her rifle as she slapped the magazine in.

Lucas glanced at Miko for confirmation. Miko nodded, his expression grim, and Lucas quickly relayed the order. Ava paced like a caged animal, her mind racing. She hated the logic behind Miko’s decision, but she couldn’t argue with it.

Lucas tried to lighten the tension. “I’ll stay here and monitor everything. Echo and I will keep you updated.”

With that, Ava and Miko bolted out of the post, their footsteps echoing through the street as they hurried toward the North Gate. Talon was already waiting there, alert and ready, his face tense.

“What’s the situation?” Talon asked, eyes darting between his teammates.

“Callie’s missing. She fell down a bank, and her radio’s out. We need to reach her last known coordinates and assist,” Ava replied, her voice sharp with urgency.

Talon’s jaw tightened, and he adjusted his rifle. “Then let’s not waste any time.”

The three of them moved swiftly into the forest, each step bringing them closer to Callie’s position. The canopy cast dappled shadows across their path, the soft sounds of the forest contrasting with the thundering of Ava’s heartbeat. She pushed her own fears down, focusing on each task, each step, refusing to let herself imagine the worst.

As they navigated through the dense underbrush, Ava’s mind raced. Images of Callie flashed through her mind—her eager smile, her determined eyes, her relentless dedication. *Hold on, kiddo. We’re coming for you.*

They moved as one, each trained in the silent language of the Sentinels, their breaths measured, their eyes scanning for any sign of their cadet. They didn’t need words; their shared purpose was enough to drive them forward.

After a few hours, and now the night starting to draw in, they reached a clearing, where they spotted signs of a struggle—footprints in the soft earth, broken branches, and disturbed leaves. Ava knelt, studying the scene, her jaw clenched. “This is where the convoy must have stopped. She was here. But where did she go?”

Miko surveyed the area, his gaze intense. “If she fell, the bank should be nearby.”

Following the trail, they came to a steep embankment, leading down into a dense thicket of trees below. Ava’s heart clenched as she peered down, her fingers tightening on her weapon. She could feel the steepness of the drop, the unforgiving rocks below. Her mind swam with worry, but she forced herself to stay calm.

“Look down there,” Talon whispered, pointing to a few torn branches near the base of the bank. “Could be where she hit.”

Ava’s stomach twisted at the thought. She turned to Miko and Talon, her eyes hard. “We’re getting her out of here. Whatever it takes.”

With nods of agreement, they began their descent, moving carefully but with urgency. The forest seemed to hold its breath around them, the usual sounds of wildlife absent, as if even nature understood the gravity of their mission.

As they moved deeper into the woods, Echo’s voice crackled over the radio in Ava’s earpiece. “Ava, Talon, Miko—I’m getting reports of gun fire from the woods in your area. Stay cautious.”

“Copy that, Echo,” Ava replied, her voice steady despite the tension coiled within her. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

They pressed on, every step taking them closer to where Callie was last seen. The weight of responsibility bore down on Ava’s shoulders, but she held her head high, her determination unwavering. She would find Callie. She would bring her home.