“Package secured,” Dale said finally, tucking the weighted training satchel he’d found beneath one of the storge shelves under one arm.
That’s when the alarms blared.
Not the Ridge’s usual drill tone.This was sharper.Real.
“Motion sensors just tripped in south module,” Marsh’s voice cut in over the general comms.“Not one associated with the training exercise.”
The change was instant.No more training pace—now it was live.
“On me,” Dale ordered.They regrouped at the warehouse door, Ty already checking his sidearm, Oren flipping the safety off his rifle.
They moved low and fast toward the south module, floodlights throwing long spears of light across the open ground.Dale’s gut tightened—too much exposure.
Halfway there, a figure darted from the shadows.Small, fast.Definitely not Ridge security.
Ty lunged, cutting off their path, while Oren covered from ten feet back.The intruder froze under Ty’s grip, a trainee badge flashing in the light, eyes wide.
“Kid,” Dale growled, “what the hell are you doing in here?”
“I—I was told to move gear from the barracks storage to the south module—” The trainee’s voice cracked, confusion genuine.
“By who?”Oren demanded.
The kid hesitated, glancing toward the dark beyond the floodlights.“I ...don’t know.Didn’t see a face, but they seemed like they knew what needed to be done.Had the same sense of authority all of you guys have.”
The three of them locked eyes.This wasn’t coincidence.
Dale handed the satchel to Ty.“Escort him to Marsh—he can have a little chat.Oren, with me.”
They cleared the south module in silence, moving with practiced precision.Nothing else moved, but Dale caught a flicker of movement at the very edge of the floodlight—a human shape, gone in an instant.
Inside, the air was still.No intruder.No obvious breach.Just a faint smell of fresh machine oil ...and a toolbox shoved half a foot off where it should have been.
“Clear,” Oren said, though his tone was tight.
They searched again and found nothing, then went back to the Humvee.
Ty was already there waiting for them, leaning against the hood.“Marsh has the kid.He’ll dig, but I don’t think he’ll find much, kid was scared shitless.”
Oren handed the satchel to Dale.“We good?”
Dale looked at them both—really looked.Sweat at Ty’s hairline, Oren’s steady hands despite the tension.They’d moved like a team tonight.Trusted without question.
“We’re better than good,” Dale said.“We’re solid.”
Oren smirked.“That your way of saying you’re proud of us?”
Ty snorted.“Careful, he might get emotional.”
Dale stepped in close, his gaze shifting between them.“I am proud.And if I haven’t said it—this works.The three of us.Not just when it’s easy but also when it counts.”
For a moment, none of them moved.The night seemed to hold its breath.
Then Ty grinned, slow and deliberate.“We should celebrate being solid.Someone promised me dinner.”
Oren’s laugh was low, dangerous.“I thought you didn’t mix work and pleasure.”
Ty looked at Dale.“Exception?”
