KIERANThey made it inside the cave with seconds to spare.
Kieran counted heads as people collapsed against the stone walls, gasping for air. Fifteen total. Eight human. Seven Nex. Everyone alive.
For now.
Outside, the roaring continued. The creatures circling. Hunting. Waiting for someone to make a mistake and come back out.
Nobody was that stupid.
Kieran's crew clustered on one side of the cave. The Nex soldiers on the other. Even after running together, even after surviving together, old habits died hard.
Marcus appeared at Kieran's shoulder. His second in command looked exhausted and worried.
Sir, we need to talk.
Kieran knew what was coming. He'd seen the looks his crew had been giving him. The questioning glances. The whispered conversations.
Make it quick.
Marcus pulled him deeper into the cave. Away from listening ears. His voice dropped low.
The crew thinks you've lost your mind. Working with the enemy. Trusting Commander Voss. Half of them think she's planning to kill us in our sleep.
Kieran met his friend's eyes. And what do you think?
Marcus hesitated. Then spoke honestly.
I think she saved our lives with that creature. I think her intelligence officer showed us real evidence of conspiracy. But sir, she's still the woman who destroyed our fleets. Who killed thousands of our people. Trusting her feels wrong.
Wrong how? Wrong tactically or wrong emotionally?
Both.
Kieran looked back at Sage. She was organizing her soldiers. Checking injuries. Doing exactly what he'd been doing with his own people.
She was a commander. Just like him.
Listen, Kieran said quietly. I don't trust her because I like her. I trust her because the math works. We have supplies she needs. She has knowledge of this planet we need. Separated, we all die. Together, we might survive.
And when we get rescued? When we're back in friendly territory? What then?
Kieran didn't have an answer for that. Hadn't let himself think that far ahead.
One problem at a time, Marcus. Right now, the problem is staying alive tonight.
Marcus studied his face for a long moment. Then nodded slowly.
Understood, sir. I'll keep the crew in line.
Thank you.
Marcus started to walk away, then paused.
But sir, be careful. With her. I see the way you look at each other. That's complicated territory.
Kieran felt heat rise in his face. I don't know what you're talking about.
Marcus gave him a look that said he absolutely knew what he was talking about. Then walked back to the crew.
Kieran stood alone for a moment, letting his friend's words sink in.
The way you look at each other.
Was it that obvious?
He forced the thought away. Focused on practical matters. They needed to secure this cave. Make it defensible. Figure out food and water.
He moved toward the cave entrance. Started examining the structure. Multiple passages branching off the main chamber. Good sight lines. Choke points where small numbers could hold off larger forces.
His tactical mind cataloged everything automatically.
This is defensible, Sage's voice said behind him.
Kieran turned. She'd approached silently. Military training. Always aware of her surroundings.
It is, he agreed. Multiple exits in case we need to evacuate. Fresh water source in the back. Good defensive positions.
You're thinking like we're fortifying against an army.
Aren't we? Those creatures seemed pretty organized.
Sage nodded. Her expression serious. The scout reports said they coordinate attacks. Use pack tactics. They're not mindless predators. They're strategic.
Wonderful. Strategic dinosaurs. That's exactly what we needed.
A small smile touched Sage's lips. Gone almost immediately. But Kieran caught it.
She had a nice smile.
Stop it, he told himself. Focus.
We should map the cave system, Sage said. Make sure we know all the exits. Check for weak points.
Agreed. Let's split the work. Your people handle water and food. Mine will gather firewood and secure the perimeter.
Sage looked surprised. You're trusting my soldiers to handle essential supplies?
You trusted me to lead your people to safety. Fair is fair.
Something shifted in her expression. Softened slightly.
Fair is fair, she repeated quietly.
They organized the groups together. Human soldiers gathering wood from just inside the cave entrance. Nex soldiers locating water sources and checking for edible plants.
The mixing was awkward at first. People avoiding eye contact. Staying in their comfort zones.
But necessity broke down barriers fast.
A human soldier needed help moving a heavy log. A Nex soldier stepped in without being asked. They lifted together.
A Nex soldier got her hand cut on sharp rock. A human medic bandaged it without hesitation.
Small moments. But they added up.
Kieran and Sage worked together mapping the cave passages. Moving deeper into the system. Testing each branch.
They didn't talk much. Just worked in comfortable silence. She held the light while he marked passages on a salvaged data pad. He steadied her when the floor became slippery.
Professional. Efficient.
Then they reached a narrow passage blocked by a large stone. Too big for one person to move.
We need to shift this, Kieran said. See what's behind it.
They positioned themselves on opposite sides of the boulder. Gripped the rough surface.
On three, Sage said. One. Two. Three.
They pushed together. The stone moved an inch. Then another. Kieran's shoulder screamed where it had been dislocated earlier. He ignored the pain.
Almost there, Sage grunted. Keep going.
One final push and the boulder rolled aside. Revealed a larger chamber behind it.
Their hands brushed in the darkness. Just a moment of contact. Warm skin against warm skin.
Neither of them pulled away immediately.
Kieran felt electricity shoot up his arm. His breath caught. He was suddenly very aware of how close they were standing. How the dim light made her eyes look silver instead of gray.
Sage was staring at him. Her expression unreadable. But she hadn't moved her hand.
This was dangerous. This was stupid. This was exactly what Marcus had warned him about.
Kieran pulled his hand back. Cleared his throat.
The chamber looks clear. Good space for injured personnel.
His voice came out rougher than intended.
Sage stepped back. Put professional distance between them.
Yes. Good thinking.
They moved into the chamber. Both very carefully not touching. Not looking at each other.
But Kieran could still feel where her hand had been. Could still feel the warmth.
They finished mapping in silence and returned to the main cave. The sun had fully set outside. Darkness absolute beyond the cave entrance.
Fires had been lit. People gathered around them for warmth. Human and Nex sitting closer together now. Sharing rations. Comparing injuries.
The barriers were breaking down.
Marcus caught Kieran's eye from across the cave. His expression said everything. I told you so. Be careful. This is complicated.
Kieran ignored him. Focused on organizing watch rotations. Making sure everyone had a place to sleep. Checking on the injured.
Being a captain instead of a man noticing how Commander Voss looked in the firelight.
Hours passed. People settled down to rest. Exhaustion won out over fear and suspicion. Human soldiers slept near Nex soldiers. Everyone too tired to care about old enemies.
Kieran took first watch near the cave entrance. Staring out into the darkness. Listening to the jungle sounds.
The creatures were still out there. He could hear movement. Breathing. Patient predators waiting for dawn when prey would have to emerge.
Sage appeared beside him. Sat down without asking.
Can't sleep? he asked.
Can't stop thinking.
About what?
About my father. General Hax. How he set me up to die. How he's been manufacturing this war from the beginning.
Her voice was quiet. Hurt.
Kieran understood that pain. Admiral Reeves had done the same to him.
They used us, he said. Made us into weapons. Pointed us at each other. Profited from the death.
Sage nodded. And we followed orders. Never questioned. Never asked why.
We were soldiers. That's what soldiers do.
Is it? Or is that just what we tell ourselves to feel better about following evil orders?
The question hung heavy between them.
Kieran thought about Meridian Nine. About all the operations he'd led without questioning. About the trust he'd placed in his superiors.
Had he been complicit? Had his obedience enabled the conspiracy?
I don't know, he admitted. But I know we're not following those orders anymore.
Sage looked at him. Really looked. Her eyes searching his face.
What are we doing instead?
Surviving. Finding the truth. Exposing the people who betrayed us.
And then what?
Kieran met her gaze. Face whatever comes next. Together.
The word together hung in the air between them. Heavy with meaning neither of them was ready to examine.
Outside, something massive moved through the jungle.
Not the creatures from before. Something bigger. Much bigger.
The ground trembled slightly. Trees cracked under immense weight.
Both Kieran and Sage stood. Weapons drawn. Others in the cave woke. Everyone alert.
The footsteps came closer. Each one making the cave floor shake.
Whatever this was, it was huge.
It stopped just outside the cave entrance. Breathing. They could hear it breathing.
Everyone froze. Nobody moved. Nobody spoke.
The breathing continued. Deep. Rhythmic. Waiting.
Then a sound that made Kieran's blood run cold.
Not a roar. Not breathing.
Words.
In human standard language.
Come out, the thing said. Its voice like grinding stone. Come out and we talk. Stay inside and you die when dawn comes.
It could speak.
The creature could speak.