Trucker creaked south for Danford, a metal horror groaning with the heavy load of medicament and dark purpose. Inside, a bubble of high tension surrounded the roar of the engine, the silence between Reuben and Leyan heavy with unspoken weight. Reuben stared out at the country rolling by, his mind split between the specter of the coming refugee crisis and the thin thread he'd severed in Harbor City. The System's map was a constant, dancing vision before his mind's eye, the orange light of the border war a disquieting contrast to the green solidity of Riverbend.
Anna, navigating by a tablet on her knees, broke the silence. "Local news feed from Danford coming online. They're showing 'unconfirmed movements' along the border. They have no clue what's coming."
"They'll soon," Reuben muttered.
