The flight to Nemesis Headquarters had been smoother than Ethan expected.
For the entire hour, the sleek black helicopter cut across mountain ridges, cruising above mist-choked valleys and forested peaks that looked untouched by man.
There was no turbulence, no chatter over the comms.
Just silence, broken occasionally by the soft hum of the rotors and the sound of wind brushing the glass.
When the helicopter finally began its descent, Ethan could feel the shift in weight.
Maya, seated beside him, tapped twice on her wrist console.
"We're here," she said simply, her voice calm but with an undertone that suggested the real journey was only beginning.
The landing was soft, precise. The helicopter touched down on a flat helipad carved into the crown of a mountain, hidden by cliffs on all sides.
As soon as the doors opened, a burst of cool air swept in. It was crisp, clean, untouched by the usual industrial haze of cities like Novan.
