The sleek, matte-black Vanguard helicopters cut through the torrential downpour, their twin rotors deafening as they flew low over the dense pine forests of the Pacific Northwest.
Inside the lead chopper, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense, bathed in the dull red glow of the tactical lights. Kaya stood at the center console, balancing flawlessly despite the severe turbulence. She was dressed in full, modern tactical gear—dark combat fatigues, a reinforced Kevlar vest, and a communications headset.
To her right sat Veer, looking entirely out of place yet completely lethal. He had refused a tactical uniform, insisting on wearing a bespoke, water-resistant charcoal suit. However, he had compromised by strapping a heavy, modern combat harness over his blazer, holstering two high-caliber sidearms and his signature twin curved steel blades.
