Chapter 88

Kage, Fields, Camille, and Mathis arrived at the safe house, a dimly lit room tucked away in a nondescript building on the outskirts of La Paz. The air was thick with tension as they settled around a worn-out table. Kage glanced at Camille, his expression serious.

"We need more information on what Greene wants from that location," Kage said, leaning forward slightly.

Camille frowned, clearly deep in thought. "Can I have a map?"

Kage gestured to Fields, who nodded and rummaged through a nearby cupboard. He soon found a folded map, worn from use, and handed it to Camille.

With the map in her hands, Camille quickly unfolded it, tracing her fingers over the various landmarks. "Here," she said, pointing to a specific location. "All the information I found said there was nothing of value there, but Greene's geologist had proof that there was something important."

Kage studied the map, his mind working quickly. "My sources tell me you're with the Bolivian Secret Service—well, you used to be. You infiltrated Greene's organization to get revenge on Medrano."

Camille's expression hardened, her frown deepening as memories surfaced. "Yes," she began slowly. "My father worked for the military junta. He was a cruel man, but he was still my father." She paused, her voice growing quieter. "When I was a child, General Medrano came to our house. He shot my father. Then he did unspeakable things to my mother and my sister before strangling them. I was forced to watch."

Her voice wavered, and she blinked back tears. "I was too young to be a threat, so he just smiled at me and set our house on fire." She lifted her sleeve slightly, revealing an old burn scar. "He left his mark."

Fields and Mathis exchanged a glance, pity and sympathy clear in their eyes. Fields placed a gentle hand on Camille's shoulder, offering silent support. Camille gave him a grateful nod, steadying herself.

"I waited years for my chance," she added bitterly.

Kage's eyes softened. "I'm sorry for what you've been through. I'll help you get him next time."

Camille looked at him, surprised by his sincerity, and simply nodded in response. There was an unspoken understanding between them now, a shared sense of purpose.

Kage leaned back in his chair, thoughtful. "I have a hunch about what Greene is after... but I need to confirm it."

Fields, Mathis, and Camille turned to him, curiosity evident in their faces. Fields broke the silence. "What do you think it is?"

Kage glanced at the map once more. "Water. Think about it. Remember the taxi driver talking about the lack of rain? Greene's company owned the previous logging rights, and now he's buying up pipelines. It fits perfectly."

There was a pause as Camille, Fields, and Mathis processed what Kage had said. Mathis muttered, "The bastard must be cutting off the water supply. If Medrano signs those papers, Greene controls the lifeline of the people."

Camille clenched her fists. "I can't let him do this. I won't let him torture my people. I'm coming with you."

Fields nodded, determination in his eyes. "This is my first mission, but I'm not sitting this one out. I'll be there."

Kage smiled at both of them, appreciating their resolve. Mathis, however, sighed. "I'd love to join you, but my old bones would only slow you down. Besides, someone has to keep an eye on Medrano and Greene. I'll make sure to track their movements from here."

Kage nodded in agreement. "Alright. Keep us updated, Mathis."

Mathis gave a firm nod. "You can count on it."

Kage, Fields, and Camille approached the Quinjet, the aircraft's sleek, angular body gleaming faintly in the low light. The ship stood waiting for them on a remote airstrip, its rotors silently spinning in standby mode. Kage led the way, his black tactical gear blending into the night, while Fields and Camille followed closely, their movements brisk but quiet.

As they neared the Quinjet, the rear hatch hissed open, a ramp lowering smoothly to the ground. Inside, the dark, polished interior was lit by a faint blue glow from the control panels. The trio wasted no time, their steps echoing lightly on the metal floor as they boarded.

Kage moved directly to the cockpit, taking his seat in the pilot's chair, his fingers dancing across the control panel. Fields and Camille strapped into their seats, the low hum of the ship's power systems filling the air around them.

"Systems online," Kage muttered to himself, checking the flight diagnostics. The Quinjet responded instantly to his touch, lights flickering across the dashboard as it came to life. He flipped a switch, and the forward canopy dimmed, giving him a clear view of the dark runway ahead.

"Ready when you are," Fields called from the back, securing his equipment in a nearby compartment.

Camille leaned forward, glancing at Kage. "Won't we appear on the radar?

Kage's eyes stayed locked on the flight path as he replied, "Nope, we have that covered."

Kage glanced over his shoulder and nodded before focusing on the controls. "Activating cloaking system," he said, his voice calm and composed. His fingers hovered over a glowing red button, then pressed down.

A faint shimmer rippled across the Quinjet's hull, and within seconds, the entire aircraft seemed to vanish, blending seamlessly into the surrounding darkness. The cloak was perfect—silent, invisible, and undetectable.

"Here we go," Kage announced, gripping the control stick. The Quinjet's rotors whirred louder, tilting as the ship began to lift off the ground with smooth precision. The aircraft rose vertically, hovering above the runway for a moment before Kage angled the wings forward.

In an instant, the Quinjet surged ahead, cutting through the night sky with impossible speed. The jet engines roared softly as they kicked in, but outside, the aircraft remained completely hidden. The landscape below blurred as they left the ground far behind, flying high and fast, a shadow in the sky.

With the cloaking system engaged, they soared higher, unseen and unstoppable, cutting through the night like a ghost.

Kage gripped the controls of the Quinjet, his eyes scanning the landscape below as they soared at high altitude. The faint glow of the instrument panel illuminated his focused expression. Camille, seated next to him, glanced out of the side window, her brow furrowing as they passed over a series of deep gashes in the earth below.

Camille leaned closer to the window, peering down at the dark, jagged rifts that marred the landscape. "That's a sinkhole," she confirmed. "There are a few around here. The ground in this region is unstable—caves beneath the surface collapsed long ago. It's part of what made this area so difficult to map."

Fields glanced back from her seat, his interest piqued. "And why do I get the feeling we are heading straight for another one, aren't we?"

Kage didn't respond immediately, his eyes fixed ahead as they neared the coordinates Camille had marked on the map. The Quinjet's systems pinged softly, indicating they were closing in on the location. Sure enough, a massive sinkhole came into view, yawning wide in the earth like a dark void.

"We're here," Kage said, his hands deftly moving over the controls.

He angled the wingtips down, engaging the Quinjet's vertical take-off and landing mode. The ship's large rotors hummed, adjusting automatically to his inputs as the aircraft slowed to a hover above the sinkhole. The whir of the engines shifted pitch, more subdued, as Kage brought the Quinjet to a full stop mid-air. The craft remained perfectly still, its position suspended in the air as if it had defied gravity itself.

Camille leaned over the console, staring down into the black maw of the sinkhole below them. "This is it. This must be where he is blocking the water."

The Quinjet's adjustable wingtips and rotors made it seem weightless, hovering effortlessly in place. Kage made subtle adjustments to the controls, keeping the craft steady despite the drafts of wind that swirled up from the depths below.

"We're right on top of it," Kage said, his voice low and focused. "Let's gear up. We'll rappel down from here."

Fields unbuckled her harness, rising from his seat. "Hope you're not afraid of heights," he joked, strapping his equipment tighter.

The Quinjet hovered silently, an invisible guardian above the massive sinkhole, waiting as Kage and the others prepared to descend into the unknown. With the Quinjet's incredible maneuverability, they had reached the most inaccessible place with ease—and now, the real mission was about to begin.