Chapter 256:Relocating
The convoy moved through Valley beneath a sky that had completely lost the last traces of daylight. The headlights of the vehicles carved narrow paths through the darkness, illuminating sections of the rough road before the shadows swallowed them again.
After the battle with the mountain goat Alpha, nobody was in the mood for conversation. The fight had not been disastrous, but it had been the first encounter since entering the valley where Silver had genuinely felt the pain of being singled out in the world for being weak.
His arms still felt slightly heavy from the battle and his shoulder was sore where the Alpha had grazed him, but nothing was serious.
Ravenna occasionally glanced toward him from the passenger seat.
"You really are fine?"
Silver smiled.
"Yes Ravenna, stop asking every time."
"I’m just worried for God’s sake. What if youre hurt and just want to act "manly" for the sake of it. I can drive if its too much, it’s not bad to say you’re hurt."
"No, it’s okay it’s not really that bad. I’m not acting manly or whatever you call it. I am fine"
She narrowed her eyes.
"You also said getting thrown across the ground was nothing and now you’re fucking bleeding through your shirt." She rolled her eyes," you want me to believe you’re not trying to act "manly" with you bleeding on the seats. Are you a masochist or something?"
Silver suddenly braked the car before continuing forward.
Ravenna glared at him which Silver selectively ignored.
"I could have been hurt if I didn’t have my seat belt on. Stop being childish over something so stupid."
He glanced at her before looking back at the front.
"I’m not injured okay. Stop trying to throw things out of propositions. If I’m really hurt I’ll tell you, I wouldn’t put your life in danger for some pride... And please don’t use manly again, it’s cringe."
She turned fully to him, pointing at his injured and dirt covered side.
"You hit a rock on your ’heroic’ tumble, of course I’m going to be worried, it’s expected. I’m not blowing anything you’re the one who is underreacting at all of this. We fought a rank four for the love of God."
"It was a small rock and I just grazed it."
"It was bigger than you, dammit. I have perfectly fine eyes."
Silver looked at her.
"That’s an exaggeration and you know it."
"It isn’t."
Antony spoke from the back.
"It definitely isn’t. I think you two forgot you have a back seat passenger. I’m getting my own car when we reach there."
Silver looked at the mirror.
"I don’t remember asking you or inviting you into conversation in the first place. Mind your own business."
"I’m just supporting her."
Ravenna smiled pointing to Antony enthusiastically.
"See? I’m right."
Silver shook his head, giving up since they were going no where.
"Both of you are annoying."
Antony laughed.
The conversation was quiet afterward as the exhaustion from the battle was beginning to settle in.
Silver continued driving.
The convoy had slowed considerably because the road was difficult to see and even more difficult to navigate. Large rocks were scattered across the path, while steep slopes appeared on either side. Occasionally, Larry’s vehicle would stop for a few seconds while the people in front checked the road.
The darkness made everything feel larger. The cliffs seemed taller, the shadows seemed deeper, and every unfamiliar sound seemed closer than it really was.
Silver kept his attention on the road. His perception occasionally reached beyond the headlights. He searched for movement and found nothing.
The valley was strangely quiet but that didn’t reassure him. After another twenty minutes, Larry’s voice came through the communication system.
"We’re close."
Silver immediately became more alert.
"How close?"
"About fifteen minutes."
Silver looked ahead. There was still nothing visible.
"Can we see it?"
"Not yet."
Ravenna looked toward the darkness.
"How large is this observation centre?"
Larry answered over the radio.
"Large enough."
Antony laughed.
"That’s not an answer."
Larry ignored him.
"It’s a military facility. It doesn’t need to be pretty but it is large."
Silver smiled.
That sounded about right. They continued, then, slowly, something appeared in the distance. At first it looked like a faint cluster of lights.
Silver narrowed his eyes.
More lights appeared, then he saw the walls. The observation centre had been built into the rocky terrain.
Large reinforced walls stretched between two cliffs, creating a natural defensive barrier. Several towers rose above the walls, each equipped with powerful lights that swept across the surrounding valley.
There were structures built behind the walls. The barracks, storage buildings, observation towers, a communication facility, and what appeared to be a landing platform.
Silver stared.
"This isn’t an observation post."
Ravenna looked at it.
"It’s a freaking fortress."
Antony leaned between the seats.
"Now that’s more like it."
The convoy approached the entrance.
Several armed guards immediately stepped forward. The headlights illuminated their armor.
Silver’s eyes moved over them.
All of them were powerful. He couldn’t determine their exact ranks yet, but none looked like ordinary contractors.
Larry’s vehicle stopped.
He climbed out and approached the gate. After a brief conversation, one of the guards looked toward the convoy, then another.
The gates slowly opened and the vehicles moved inside. Silver followed. The moment they passed through the gate, he felt the atmosphere change. It was almost like entering another world.
Outside was wilderness but inside was civilization. Powerful lights illuminated the roads, buildings stood behind reinforced barriers and beople moved around carrying weapons and equipment.
Several vehicles were parked near the walls; some were military while others were clearly contractor vehicles.
But there was one thing Silver noticed immediately; almost everyone here was very strong. He looked at one contractor walking past with his Insight, a Rank Three. He couldn’t even identify the next ones.
Silver’s expression became slightly strange.
Ravenna noticed.
"What?"
Silver quietly answered.
"Everyone here is really strong."
She looked around, then she understood. They really stood out. It was not because they were powerful but because they weren’t.
Compared to the people inside the observation centre, Silver, Ravenna, and Antony looked like beginners.
Antony seemed amused by the situation.
"Everyone is staring."
Ravenna frowned.
"Ignore them."
"I am trying but it’s hard not to."
"You keep smiling at them of course they’re going to keep looking."
"Because it’s funny."
Silver parked their vehicle. The moment he stepped out, he noticed several contractors looking at him,mostly curious.
One man looked at Silver, then at Ravenna, then at Antony. He whispered something to the person beside him. The other person looked over.
Antony noticed.
"Do I have something on my face?"
Silver shook his head.
"They’re probably wondering why three Rank Twos are here."
Antony grinned.
"Maybe they’re impressed."
Ravenna rolled her eyes.
"Obviously."
Silver laughed. Larry approached them.
"Stay together."
Silver nodded.
"We will."
"This place is different from the checkpoints you’ve been using."
"I can see that."
Larry looked toward the large building at the centre of the facility.
"That building contains the administration office. I’ll handle registration." He pointed toward another structure. "There’s a dining hall over there."
Then toward the barracks.
"Sleeping arrangements will be handled there."
Antony raised his hand.
"Do they have a bar?"
Larry stared at him.
"No, this is a military station it’s hard to find alcohol."
Antony lowered his hand.
"Shame."
Larry turned back toward Silver.
"Don’t wander around, they’re not very friendly to strangers."
Silver nodded.
"Understood."
Larry left.
Silver looked around. Ravenna was staring at one of the towers.
"What?"
"Nothing." She pointed toward the tower. "That’s military equipment, it’s impressive. What the hell is it?"
Silver looked.
A large weapon system was mounted on the top. It was far more advanced than anything they had encountered in the Yellow Zone.
"I don’t know, but if something powerful attacks this place..."
Ravenna nodded.
"They can probably kill it without as much as a flinch."
Silver smiled.
"Probably."
They began walking toward the sleeping area. Several contractors passed them. Some glanced but mosr didn’t care.
One woman looked directly at Ravenna, then at Silver. She whispered something to her companion.
Ravenna ignored her but Antony didn’t.