"Alright, see you then," Maria replied, turning to put on her helmet before Colonel Parker stopped her.
"Wait, one more thing," Parker called out, causing Maria to turn back. "Where are Mr. Emberweave and Mr. Stenmark? I haven't seen them for the past few days. Have they already left?" he asked.
"Something like that. You don't need to worry about them," Maria vaguely answered, and Parker didn't press further, merely curious about their whereabouts.
Within the city of Austin, under strict Confederate martial law, especially during the curfew hours, the once bustling streets now fall into eerie silence. They are illuminated sporadically by flickering street lights or the harsh beams of military vehicles patrolling the area intermittently.