18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 586

Stella had been at the base for a year and had never encountered anything like this before.

Was the base under threat of an attack?

Who would have the audacity to strike? China, Russia, or perhaps the mysterious Union Base?

After waiting at the dock for twenty minutes, the outgoing team still hadn't returned, so it seemed there wouldn't be any quick resolution.

Jasper drove them home, saying, "Let's wait for some news before we do anything."

Back in Griffith, the military headquarters was calm and quiet, seemingly unchanged from any other day.

Jasper went to check in, while Stella headed home.

Life at sea had been rough - the food was bad, rest was scarce, and relaxation was non-existent. By the time she got back, the four little ones were gone, probably weaned and taken for military training.

The old hound, known for his loyalty yet fickle as the wind, was also absent, likely frolicking on the farm where there was ample space for him and his mate to romp to their hearts' content.

After a meal and a long bath, Stella slid into bed to catch up on some much- needed rest.

She woke up to a dusk-veiled room, the silence pronounced, the neighboring houses equally quiet.

It made her feel like she was the one slacking off.

Had Daniel gone straight back to his relentless work routine after returning from the sea?

Just as she was about to step out, Bran showed up.

It had been a while since she'd seen him, and he looked different - clad in a crisp military uniform, his figure sturdy and fit, a smile on his face that made him approachable.

He really was a chameleon.

In the fields, he wasn't above shoveling manure, at the docks he was drenched in sweat, and here in the military HQ, he was all neat and proper.

Dedicated to his work, loving what he did.

Stella was puzzled, "What brings you here?"

"Come on, sis," Bran frowned, "I'm on duty at the base, naturally, I'm here to bring you the latest scoop."

Stella teased him, "Serving two masters now, are we?"

Bran bristled at that, "My loyalty is to you, through thick and thin."

'Through thick and thin?' Stella almost blurted out: Don't love me; there's no future in it.

Knowing he was jesting, she got back on track, "What's your position at the base?"

had ambition,

a secretary," Bran admitted

asked,

long way off," he

small feat - many high-ranking officials had started in such a position. With time, they became adept at reading between the

saw potential in

not being Daniel's, visiting

here for a casual

asked seriously, "What's going

looked around, lowering his voice, "High command from Willowbrook

The staff officers?

talent, they should have come right after the

couldn't fathom their

had left behind a cruise ship, and ever since then, everything at the base seemed calm - at least

so many of them arriving, had they caught wind of something? Regardless, until their intentions were

Bran had snuck

the Kindle Chests at the docks hadn't

was to lay low at

pride, a place she once considered setting down roots, only to leave in haste due to various

If the Willowbrook high command wanted to, they could likely figure out quite a

here could Daniel hold them

indoors, feeling the weight of

everything, the familiar sounds of the old hound echoed from outside, followed by

but her expression was tinged with

unease and asked, "Rosie, is something

"Sis, I just came back from the farm. Snowflake wanted to see Delta, so I took him and

hadn't expected to run into

recognized her in

furrowed slightly,

by name, by a

had racked her brain but couldn't

"Rosie, it's me, Dylan."

smile before her, struggling to reconcile this image with the frail

she remembered was delicate and pale, a

and well-built, with sun-kissed skin

the smile was

transformed them beyond their most familiar appearances, yet Dylan had recognized Rosie

Point Naval

moment, she asked, "How did your

didn't really talk, just exchanged greetings," Rosie replied,

people from Ocean

Naval Station doing here?"

was palpable, with Stella harboring secrets, their arrival was