One Month after the Invasion.
The base had changed shape in a month.
The perimeter berms were higher now.
The guard towers had doubled.
The training lanes had been redrawn around two blackened impact zones from the early drone attack.
Nobody tried to cover the scorch marks.
They'd bolted new plates over the damaged concrete and left the burned edges exposed like a warning label.
Aiden knew those patches by heart.
He'd run past them so many times his feet adjusted automatically.
He was lacing his boots when Parker dropped onto the cot across from him and began tearing at a protein bar with his teeth like it had personally offended him.
"You sleep?" Parker asked through a mouthful.
"A little," Aiden said.
Parker snorted. "That means no."
Across the tent, Sarah was tightening the straps on her vest and checking them again even though she'd already checked them twice.
