The recon drone completed its work and settled onto the ground, powering down. After ten minutes of continuous labour – and two additional power-packs – it had carved four lines into the mountainside. A rectangle of red-hot stone surrounded a huge, gray block that was twice as tall as Anna and nearly as wide.
Drayvin had done their job; the rest was up to Nari.
The headmistress sat cross-legged on the stony slope with her eyes closed, her breathing slow and steady. Anna couldn’t even begin to guess what she was doing; she just wished that Nari would do it faster. Being out here left her feeling exposed.
Melissa was crouching further down the hill with a pistol clutched in both hands, searching for any potential threats. Claire just sat on a big rock, idly kicking her feet as she waited.
