The morning started like any other.
Vance was in the garden with his daughter, teaching her how to plant tomatoes. Her small hands were covered in dirt, her face smudged with soil. She was singing a song she'd made up, her voice bright and carefree.
Echo was on the porch, watching them with a smile. His mother was inside, cooking breakfast.
For a moment, everything was perfect.
Then the drone appeared.
It was small, barely visible against the sky. But Vance saw it. His instincts screamed.
"Get inside!" he shouted.
He grabbed his daughter, ran for the house. Echo was already at the door, her pistol drawn.
The drone fired.
Vance dove, covering his daughter with his body. The bullet struck the ground where they'd been standing.
Echo fired, hitting the drone. It spiraled into the tre
