Ch 87: The Search Begins

Kael stepped out of the crawler, the heat of Baku's sun beating down on him. The city was alive with the sounds of merchants haggling, the hum of generators, and the distant thrum of vehicles weaving through the narrow streets.

Baku was a city of movement—a gateway between the familiar lands of Gron and the unknown territories beyond.

"If she's anywhere, she'll leave a trail."

Mira had sent him a message before leaving Gron, and Kael had followed. But the question remained—where exactly was she now?

Kael moved through the streets, keeping a low profile. Unlike Gron, Baku wasn't under heavy military rule, but that didn't mean it was safe.

His first stop was a market square where black-market traders and information brokers worked in plain sight. He approached a stall selling hacked security chips and forged IDs, the kind of place where people traded secrets like currency.

The merchant, a wiry man with cybernetic fingers, looked up.

"Looking for something specific, traveler?"

Kael slid a small encrypted drive across the counter.

"Information. Someone passed through here—Mira. I want to know where she went."

The merchant picked up the drive, plugged it into a handheld scanner, and scanned its contents. His eyes flickered with interest.

"Ah, her. She didn't stay long. Paid well to keep her movements quiet."

Kael's expression didn't change.

"But you still know."

The merchant smirked.

"I make a living by knowing."

"And I make a living by ensuring bad deals don't happen," Kael said flatly. "Where is she?"

The merchant considered him for a long moment before sighing.

"She asked about a convoy heading east. Something about an old-world ruin."

Kael's mind sharpened.

"She's after something important."

The merchant nodded.

"She left two days ago. If you want to catch up, you'll need a fast ride."

Kael tapped the crawler's remote interface on his wristpad.

"I have one."

As Kael turned to leave, he felt eyes on him.

Baku was neutral territory, but powerful players operated here—mercenaries, corporate spies, bounty hunters.

And Kael wasn't exactly subtle.

He made his way toward a repair station at the city's edge, a place where smugglers refitted stolen vehicles and mercenaries stocked up on supplies. The crawler had taken damage from the last fight, and he needed it in top condition before heading out again.

The station was a massive underground garage, its entrance hidden behind layers of shipping containers. Kael drove the crawler inside, parking it next to a row of modified vehicles.

A mechanic, covered in grease and wearing a welding visor, waved him over.

"You need a full check?"

Kael nodded.

"Armor patch-up, treads reinforced. And I need an additional fuel cell."

The mechanic whistled.

"You planning on driving through a warzone?"

"Something like that."

As the repairs began, Kael leaned against the wall, watching. He had one hour before the crawler was ready. Enough time to dig deeper.

Baku wasn't a place Kael had ever stayed in, but he knew someone here.

A weapons dealer named Garan, who operated from a secure club known as The Spire.

The Spire was built into an old communications tower, its top levels converted into a private lounge for criminals, mercenaries, and information brokers.

Kael entered through the side entrance, passing by armed guards.

Inside, the air was thick with smoke and tension. Conversations were held in low voices, and deals were being made at every corner.

He found Garan seated at a table, counting energy cartridges.

"Kael. Didn't expect to see you here."

"I need information."

Garan laughed.

"You always do."

Kael slid a small case across the table. Inside were high-grade ammunition rounds—not easy to find.

Garan opened it, raised an eyebrow, then nodded.

"Alright. Ask."

"Mira. She passed through here. Where was she headed?"

Garan leaned back.

"She wasn't alone. Picked up a few people. Looked like ex-military. Whatever she's chasing, she's not going in blind."

Kael frowned.

"That means it's serious."

Garan smirked.

"You just figuring that out?"

Kael took a slow breath. If Mira had ex-military backing her, she was either hunting something dangerous… or running from it.

"She left east. You following?"

Kael nodded.

"Then take this."

Garan tossed him a data chip.

"It's a transmission I intercepted. You'll want to hear it."

Kael plugged it into his wristpad.

A distorted voice came through the speaker.

"…Unit Five confirms sighting. She's moving. Orders?"

"…Continue observation. Do not engage until further notice."

Kael narrowed his eyes.

"Someone's tracking her."

Garan shrugged.

"Seems like it. But the real question is—what happens when they decide to act?"

Kael didn't have an answer yet.

But he would soon.

Preparing to Leave

By the time Kael returned to the repair station, the crawler was ready.

The reinforced plating had been patched, and a fresh fuel cell was installed. The Expo generator hummed, its energy flow stable.

He checked his weapons, ensuring they were fully stocked. If things got violent, he wouldn't be caught unprepared.

With everything set, Kael climbed into the crawler's driver seat.

He pulled up a map on the navigation console.

The path ahead was dangerous—stretching across desert terrain, through lawless zones, and into old-world ruins where technology from before the war still lay buried.

But Mira was out there.

And he was going to find her.

"Time to move."

With a deep rumble, the crawler roared to life.

The journey to the east began.