"Not common in these parts," Pierrot added, his voice thoughtful. "Their presence means something serious is stirring."
"Great," Quill muttered, "more bad news."
Sycamore's hands gripped the steering wheel tightly. "We'll deal with it. But first, we need to make sure we're prepared for whatever comes next."
The conversation trailed off as the weight of the situation settled over the group. As the SUV sped through the quiet streets, they were all too aware that this was just the beginning. Whoever had sent the shades wasn't done with them yet.
.....
When they finally arrived back at headquarters, the mood had shifted from tense to tired. The PCU building stood tall, a nondescript government structure tucked away in the heart of the city, just far enough from the hustle of downtown to be unnoticed. The fluorescent lights flickered overhead as the team made their way inside, the comforting hum of familiarity wrapping around them.
