The Blanks were no longer safe. Consortium scouts were becoming bolder, their presence making every interaction tense and dangerous. Whispers of raids, disappearances, and ambushes circulated through the dwindling settlements. Kael and Mira had seen enough to know that it was only a matter of time before the Consortium turned its full attention to them.
Kael sat in the cramped interior of his crawler, hunched over a small device that emitted a faint, rhythmic hum. His fingers moved deftly, adjusting screws and wires with the precision of a surgeon. The scent of burnt metal and oil filled the air. Outside, Mira leaned against the side of the vehicle, her rifle slung casually across her back. Her eyes, sharp and alert, scanned the desolate horizon for any signs of movement.
"This place is becoming more trouble than it's worth," she said, her voice carrying just enough irritation to cut through the silence.
Kael didn't look up. "Agreed. We've overstayed our welcome."
Mira shifted her weight, her boots crunching against the dry, cracked earth. "So, what's the plan, then?"
Kael finished tightening a final screw and set the device down carefully on a makeshift workbench. Only then did he meet her gaze. "We leave. For good."
Mira raised an eyebrow. "Just like that? You do realize the borders are swarming with Consortium patrols, right? It's not exactly a casual road trip."
"I'm aware," Kael said, his tone even. "But staying here is no longer an option. The question isn't if they'll come for us—it's when."
Mira smirked, though the tension in her shoulders betrayed her unease. "Good thing I'm here, then. I know a thing or two about Consortium patrol patterns."
Kael leaned back, crossing his arms. "Knowing is one thing. Outrunning them is another."
Before Mira could retort, a distant roar broke through the quiet. The sound of engines—heavy, methodical, and unmistakable—echoed across the barren landscape. Both of them froze, their eyes locking for a brief moment before Mira swung her rifle into her hands.
"Patrol," she said, her voice low and serious.
Kael grabbed a pair of binoculars from the dashboard and climbed up onto the crawler's roof. Through the lenses, he spotted a convoy of heavily armed Consortium vehicles cutting across the horizon. There were at least five of them, their sleek, black exteriors glinting in the sunlight.
"Too close," Kael muttered as he climbed back down.
Mira frowned. "They're not supposed to be this deep into the Blanks. Something's changed."
"Maybe," Kael said, already gathering his tools. "Or maybe they've picked up our scent."
Mira slung her rifle back over her shoulder. "Either way, we don't have much of a choice now, do we?"
Kael gave her a grim nod. "Agreed. We need intel, and we need it fast."
That night, the duo camped in the shadow of a jagged rock formation, the crawler parked strategically to provide cover. Mira sat by a small fire, the flames dancing in her reflective eyes. Kael was inside the crawler, tinkering with a device that emitted soft beeps.
Mira broke the silence. "You really think we can make it out of here?"
Kael didn't look up. "We don't have a choice. We either leave or die here."
Mira poked at the fire with a stick. "I've been thinking about what's out there. Beyond the Blanks, I mean. Do you think it's any better?"
Kael paused, considering her words. "Better is relative. But the Consortium's grip is weaker in the neutral zones. We'll have more room to move, more options."
Mira nodded slowly. "And more people trying to kill us, I imagine."
Kael smirked. "That's a given."
Before Mira could reply, the faint sound of engines reached their ears again. Both of them sprang into action, Kael grabbing his pistol and Mira extinguishing the fire with a swift kick of dirt.
"Scouts," Mira whispered.
Kael gestured for her to follow him. They climbed up a nearby ridge, staying low to avoid being seen. From the top, they spotted a single Consortium scout vehicle, its searchlights sweeping across the terrain.
"Just one," Kael murmured.
"For now," Mira replied.
The vehicle stopped, and two figures stepped out, scanning the area with handheld devices.
"Recon team," Mira said. "They're looking for something—or someone."
Kael's jaw tightened. "We need to move. They'll call for backup if they find anything."
By morning, they were on the move again, the crawler rumbling across the cracked earth. Mira sat in the passenger seat, studying a map displayed on a tablet.
"There's a settlement about 30 klicks from here," she said. "It's small, off the radar. We might be able to find someone who knows a safe way out."
Kael nodded, his eyes focused on the horizon. "Let's hope they're not too friendly with the Consortium."
As they approached the settlement, the sight of makeshift buildings and wandering scavengers greeted them. The air was thick with the smell of oil and rust. Mira pulled her rifle closer, and Kael adjusted his coat to conceal the weapons strapped to his sides.
"Keep your guard up," Kael said.
"Always," Mira replied.
Inside the settlement, the atmosphere was tense. People cast wary glances their way, their hands never straying far from their weapons. Kael and Mira made their way to the heart of the market, where a collection of stalls and tents buzzed with activity.
Mira spotted an older man sitting at a table covered in maps and charts. He had the look of someone who knew his way around dangerous territory.
"This guy looks promising," Mira said, nodding toward him.
Kael approached the man, dropping a small pouch of credits onto the table. "We're looking for a way out of the Blanks. Quietly."
The man's eyes flicked to the pouch, and a sly smile spread across his face. "Quietly, huh? You're asking a lot."
"Consider it incentive," Kael said.
The man opened the pouch, inspecting its contents before spreading out a map. He traced a route with his finger. "There's a supply route used by smugglers. It's risky, but it'll get you past the patrols. Mostly."
"Mostly?" Mira asked.
The man chuckled. "There's a new officer in charge of the border. Captain Elias Thorn. He's not the kind to let anyone slip through."
Kael studied the map. "We'll take our chances."
As they left the market, Mira glanced at Kael. "Thorn, huh? Sounds like trouble."
Kael smirked. "Good. Trouble's what I'm best at handling."