Cruzer stared at the communication terminal in his hand, the glowing screen reflecting his own furrowed brow.
His thumb hovered over the device, hesitating for a moment before finally pressing the call button. The soft hum of the connection tone filled the air, each chime stretching his nerves taut.
"Come on, Elara... pick up," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
The seconds dragged on like hours, and when the call finally ended with no response, Cruzer felt his heart sink.
He tried again, his determination outweighing the gnawing doubt creeping into his mind. The same result.
"She's not picking up," he murmured, his grip on the terminal tightening.
Gin's voice, calm and steady as always, resonated in his mind.
"Relax, kid. Jumping to conclusions won't help. She's probably just preoccupied. You know how meticulous she is about her missions."
Cruzer exhaled sharply, trying to take Gin's advice to heart.
