The base hummed like a throat that had remembered how to swallow fear. The siren was silent. The dragon on the wall had teeth now.
“Yard in twenty," Jones said, already moving. “Perimeter. Debrief."
Kevin checked his phone. “North teams reset. East gate patched. Service road gets steel bars today, not tomorrow."
“Do it," Jones said.
He looked at me again. For a breath it was almost private. “You did well," he said.
“I did necessary," I answered.
He nodded once, as if that distinction mattered, and was gone with two squads flowing after him like language that had been spoken too many times to forget.
Kevin lingered. “You sure about the yard?"
“Yes."
“Stay behind me," he said, which was adorable.
We cut across the field. The breeze tasted like adrenaline that hadn't admitted it was
