Simni sat in front of the glowing console, her blue eyes reflecting the flickering lights of the command hub. Her metallic fingers moved swiftly across the interface, trying for what felt like the hundredth time to reestablish contact with the lost drone. Static filled the speakers again.
"Signal still lost…" she muttered, her voice low but edged with frustration. "The last ping came from the outskirts of Berbeign City. After that, nothing."
Across the room, Noir stood motionless, his black eyes unreadable as he analyzed multiple data streams. "You've been at it for hours," he said in his usual monotone voice. "If the drone went offline completely, then either it was destroyed… or someone shut it down deliberately."
Simni looked up, meeting his gaze. "You think Milly did it?"
Noir's silence was enough of an answer.
Moments later, the heavy doors of the command chamber slid open. Basei entered, his calm but commanding presence immediately filling the room. "Report," he said firmly, his deep voice echoing slightly against the metal walls.
Noir turned toward him. "Still no trace of Milly, Commander. Simni is attempting to reconnect with the surveillance drone, but it seems the signal was cut clean no interference, no corruption. It's like it was erased."
Basei's brows furrowed beneath his mask. "Erased?"
Simni nodded, her voice quieter now. "It's not just offline. It's as if it never existed in the network. I've never seen anything like it."
For a moment, the room fell silent the only sound being the hum of machinery and faint crackles of static.
Basei finally spoke, "Keep searching. I want every corner of Berbeign monitored. She's out there… and I want her found before anyone else does."
Simni gave a small nod, determination in her glowing eyes. Noir, expressionless as ever, turned back to the data streams, already preparing to scan deeper through encrypted channels.
Somewhere far away, the city of Berbeign continued its restless hum unaware that the search for Milly, the dragon girl who vanished, was only beginning again.