Julian stirred from his sleep, his eyes slowly fluttering open. His vision was hazy at first, the dim interior of the helicopter spinning slightly until everything came into focus.
The low hum of the rotor blades and the gentle sway of the aircraft confirmed, they were still airborne, and night had already fallen.
"Julian… are you awake?" Dori's soft voice called out, filled with quiet relief.
He turned his head slowly toward her, blinking a few times. "How long… have I been out?" he asked, his voice rough from sleep.
Rogan, who was monitoring the radar nearby, glanced back. "Six hours. You've been asleep for six straight hours."
"Six hours…?" Julian murmured, surprised. "That long? Has everything been okay?"
Cindy gave him a reassuring smile from across the cabin. "Everything's fine, Captain. There's been no trouble."
