Before the crack of dawn, Brooke, Captain of the Seventh Brigade of the Security Department, returned to headquarters after another fruitless all-night search.
He had intended to continue the search, but the area had expanded. He needed more manpower, and with his terminal still without a signal, he had no choice but to return to the department to report.
He still wasn't sure if the culprit actually had a female in their possession. The matter had wide-reaching implications, and his superiors had ordered him to keep it quiet. He was to report any developments personally.
Hurrying into the building, Brooke brushed the snow from his shoulders and checked his terminal—still no signal.
The network had been down for over a day. It wasn't just the headquarters building; it seemed all of Zone 15 was offline.
Brooke stopped in his tracks, an increasingly strange feeling creeping over him.
