Chapter 637:
His protective suit was torn, his supplies long depleted, and mineral samples lay scattered around him.
“We’ve found them! Medics, now!” Brad’s urgent voice cut through the storm.
The team rushed in, checking pulses and giving first aid.
Brad knelt by Felix, tapping his cheek. “Felix? Stay with me. Don’t drift off.”
Felix gave the weakest nod. His trembling fingers lifted, pointing toward the dark mineral shards glimmering nearby. A harsh rasp tore from his throat.
Brad understood at once. He spoke into the communicator, his tone heavy. “We’ve located them. Most are unconscious, poisoned, vitals fading fast.”
In the command tent, Rylie showed no surprise at her brother’s state. Her tone was calm, steady as stone. “Don’t move them more than necessary. It’ll spread the toxins faster. Collect air samples, rock dust, those colored fragments, and any secretions from lips or wounds. Bag them all in sterile packs. No skin contact. I’ll need everything to work on an antidote.”
“Understood,” Brad replied sharply, signaling his team to move with care.
Brock, hands steady but tense, sealed rock dust and mineral shards into a bag, while another teammate carefully wiped the stains from the unconscious.
They were nearly done. A breath of relief passed through the group. Brad was about to order preparations for transport when—
A deafening roar split the sky, louder and more violent than the last collapse. It was as if the mountain itself had awakened in rage.
The ground shook wildly. Ice and stone rained down as the rock walls quivered under the fury.
“Avalanche! Take cover!”
Brad’s warning was lost in the roar. The screen jolted and flickered. Within seconds, every signal point tied to his team blinked in chaos before vanishing. The display went black.
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“Brad!” Rylie’s face was drained of color. She lunged for the computer, fingers flying over the keys. Line after line of code filled the screen as she fought to restore the signal.
But the avalanche had shattered the satellite feed. The image was gone.
Inside the camp, a wave of unease swept through the personnel, as if their guiding star had gone dim. But soon, they recalled Brad’s earlier orders. With steady hands, they pulled themselves together and carried out the plan with exact precision.
Brad had prepared for the worst. He had told them clearly — if something went wrong during the rescue, the news must remain hidden for a week. If they failed to return by then, it meant the mission had collapsed and there was no hope for him or his men. Only at that point could the truth be made public.
Rylie learned of his words from the team. Brad had thought of everything. He had even shielded her from blame, declaring that if he died, it would be as a soldier who fell in the line of duty.
A heavy knot tightened in her chest, and every breath felt like a struggle.
Three days slipped by, and the satellite signal remained dead. Rylie spent night after night without sleep, trying to restore it, trying to carve out a path for rescue.
But the mountains showed no mercy. The weather turned with cruel speed. After the blizzard came heavy rain, as if the skies themselves were determined to block the way.
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