Rokan

ROKAN

R adnaveru sprawled before us, a patchwork of grit and determination clinging to the fringes of the Crimson Sands. I watched Arilee's eyes widen as she took in the stark contrast between the barren wasteland and this beacon of stubborn survival.

"Welcome to the ass-end of nowhere," I said, guiding her through the bustling streets. The air was heavy with the scent of spices and machinery oil, an odd mix that always tickled my sinuses.

Arilee's gaze darted from the ramshackle buildings to the diverse crowd. "It's... not what I expected."

"And what did you expect?" I asked, genuinely curious about her perspective.

She shrugged, her shoulders brushing against my arm. "I don't know. More... desolate, I guess. This place feels alive."

I nodded, understanding her surprise. "Radnaveru's got a heartbeat of its own. Survival breeds a certain kind of vitality."

We passed The Rusty Nail, its entrance a chaos of noise and neon. Arilee's eyes lingered on the spectacle.

"Curious?" Part of me wanted to show her off, let her rest and bewitch everyone else in this ragged town like she had me. But we really, really didn't have time for that.

She shook her head, but I caught the flicker of interest in her eyes. "No. Maybe. A little. I just... I've never seen anything like it."

I steered her away from temptation, my hand resting on the small of her back. The scent of her skin seeped through her thin shirt, igniting a spark of desire I quickly suppressed.

We approached an abandoned warehouse, its metal walls rusted and pockmarked. Arilee bit her lip, obviously confused.

"This is where we're going?" she asked, skepticism clear in her voice.

I nodded, leading her to a seemingly solid wall. "Appearances can be deceiving."

With practiced ease, I located the hidden panel and input a series of codes. The wall shimmered and dissolved, revealing a sleek, high-tech elevator.

Arilee gasped. "How did you-"

I ushered her inside before she could finish her question. As the doors closed, I felt her tension ratchet up a notch.

"Relax," I murmured, my breath stirring the hair near her ear. "You're safe with me."

She shook, whether from fear or something else, I couldn't tell. The elevator descended rapidly, and I watched her knuckles whiten as she gripped the handrail.

When the doors opened, we stepped into a bustling underground complex. Davor stood waiting, his amber eyes scanning us both critically.

"About time," he growled, motioning for us to follow him. "We've got a lot to discuss."

As we trailed behind him, I noticed Arilee's wide-eyed amazement at the high-tech surroundings. Her wonder was... endearing, in a way I hadn't expected.

Davor led us to a secure room, its walls lined with screens and holographic projectors. As soon as the door sealed shut, he turned to face us.

"Alright, . Explain," he demanded, his gaze flicking between Arilee and me.

I explained the situation, laying out Gorin's demands and the potential consequences. As I spoke, I felt Arilee's hand brush against mine, a silent show of support that sent an unexpected jolt through my system.

When I finished, Davor's face was grim. "This complicates things," he muttered, tapping his fingers against the console. "We need a plan. A foolproof one."

"That's why we're here," I said. "You're the best strategist I know."

Davor's lips quirked in a half-smile. "Flattery will get you everywhere, old friend." He turned to Arilee, his gaze sharp. "And you, girl. Are you prepared for what this might entail?"

Arilee straightened, meeting his gaze head-on. "I'm not going back to Gorin. Whatever it takes."

Her determination sent a surge of... pride? Admiration? Something I couldn't quite name through me.

Davor nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Good. Because this won't be easy." He activated a holographic display, a 3D map of the Krelaxian Training Grounds materializing before us. "Let's get to work."

I studied the holographic display, my eyes tracing every detail. The complex sprawled before us, a maze of buildings, open areas, and fortifications. Arilee's sharp intake of breath told me she understood the magnitude of what we were facing.

Davor tapped a series of commands, and the image shifted. Suddenly, we were looking at a network of maintenance shafts and tunnels snaking beneath the facility.

"This is all the intel we have on the underground systems," Davor said, his voice tinged with frustration. "There may be more, but this is what we know for certain."

I nodded, my mind already racing with possibilities.

"Gorin chose this location for a reason," Davor zoomed in on a central courtyard. "It's a trap, plain and simple."

My fist clenched and unclenched as I thought it through. "We expected as much. Gorin won't honor any deal, no matter how much we offer for Arilee's papers."

Arilee's hand found mine under the table, her fingers intertwining with my own.

"Precisely," Davor agreed. "And that's not the worst of it." He tapped a section of the map, and it exploded into a maze of red lines. "They've upgraded their security systems. Non-Krelaxian biosignatures trigger immediate lockdown."

"Shit," I muttered. Arilee's grip on my hand tightened.

"As soon as you walk in the front door, Gorin will know." Davor scowled. "He's expecting two guests. No more."

"That's not all," he continued. The map zoomed out, revealing a shimmering dome surrounding the entire complex. "Dampening field. No unauthorized communications in or out."

I felt the weight of the situation settling on my shoulders. "We can't bring in backup, can we?"

Davor shook his head. "If I had time, I could figure out a way to get the rest of the team in there with you. Better yet, I'd get them in early, place them around the entire damn site and turn their lock-down against them. But with the time we have left…" He scowled. "Our options are limited."

Arilee leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. "So we're on our own?"

Davor's grim nod confirmed our worst fears. "Yup. But remember, I said the options were limited. Not completely gone. We'll just have to get creative."

I felt Arilee tense beside me, her fingers tightening around mine under the table.

"What do you have in mind?" I asked, keeping my voice steady despite the turmoil roiling inside me.

Davor's lips curled into a predatory grin. He reached into a hidden compartment beneath the console and pulled out a sleek, metallic case. "I've had a few goodies come in that might help. First things first. Concealed pulse disruptors."

He flipped open the case, revealing a set of small, innocuous-looking devices. I leaned in, my curiosity piqued. Arilee shifted closer, her body heat radiating against my side.

"These beauties," Davor continued, "can disable Gorin's weapons and communication devices within a ten-meter radius. Completely undetectable until activated."

I picked one up, turning it over in my hand. It was lighter than I expected, barely larger than my thumbnail. "How long does the effect last?"

"About thirty seconds," Davor replied. "More than enough time to gain the upper hand in a firefight."

Arilee's breath hitched. "You really think it'll come to that?"

I met her worried gaze. "We hope for the best, prepare for the worst."

She nodded, a determined set to her jaw. This human continually surprised me with her resilience.

Davor cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to him. "That's not all I've got for you." He produced another device, this one even smaller than the pulse disruptors. "Bone conductor communicators."

"How does that work?" Arilee asked, leaning in to get a better look.

"It allows for silent communication, bypassing the dampening field," Davor explained. "The device is implanted directly into the mastoid bone behind your ear. Undetectable by standard scans."

I frowned. "Implanted? Is that safe for a human?"

Davor waved off my concern. "Perfectly safe. The procedure takes less than five minutes, and it's completely reversible."

Arilee straightened, her eyes narrowing. "You want to put that thing in my head?"

"It's your choice," I said softly, fighting the urge to reach out and comfort her. "It's always your choice."

She held my gaze, gnawing at her lower lip, conflict clear in her eyes. Finally, she nodded. "Alright. Let's do it."

Davor watched our silent exchange with a knowing smirk. "Good. Now for the final piece of equipment." He rolled up his sleeve. "The nano-blade injector."

Arilee frowned. "The what?"

"It's a last resort weapon," Davor explained. He held up his arm, demonstrating. "When activated, it rapidly forms a sharp blade from compressed nanomaterials, deployed through the skin."

I watched in fascination as a wicked-looking blade emerged from Davor's forearm, gleaming in the harsh light of the briefing room. It retracted just as quickly, leaving no trace of its existence.

"The blade can cut through almost anything," Davor continued. "But use it sparingly. It's incredibly lethal, and the energy drain on your body is significant."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of such a weapon. But when I turned to gauge Arilee's reaction, I found her face had drained of color. Her eyes were wide, fixed on Davor's arm where the blade had emerged.

"Arilee?" I asked, concern flooding through me.

She took a shaky step back from the table. "That's... that's inside you? Like, under your skin?"

Davor's expression softened as he looked at Arilee's pale face. "It's a recent development," he explained, his voice gentler than before. "I've only tested it on Vinduthi subjects so far. Our regenerative abilities make it safe for us." He shrugged. "Mostly. So far."

I felt a knot form in my stomach. Ice clawed down my back at the idea of Arilee using untested technology. I wished there was a way I could protect her from all of this. Keep her here while I dealt with Gorin.

But there wasn't. She would have to be dragged into this fight, whether I liked it or not.

"What about humans?" Arilee asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Davor sighed, but didn't look away. "Honestly, I'm not sure. Human physiology is different. There could be risks we haven't anticipated."

I couldn't hold back anymore. "She's not using it," I growled, surprising myself with the intensity of my reaction.

Arilee's head snapped towards me, her eyes flashing. "Don't I get a say in this?"

Her defiance, even in the face of potential danger, stirred something in me. Admiration mixed with frustration, creating a potent cocktail of emotions I struggled to suppress.

"Of course you do," I said, trying to soften my tone. "But the risks-"

"I know the risks," she cut me off. "I've been living with risks ever since Gorin..." She trailed off, her jaw clenching. "I need to think about it."

Davor nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That's reasonable. Take your time to consider it, Arilee." He turned to me, switching gears. ", go get the bone conductor communicators from storage room B. Third shelf on the left, blue case."

I hesitated, not wanting to leave Arilee alone. But she spoke up before I could voice my concerns.

"I'll stay here with Davor," she said, her eyes meeting mine. Something in her gaze made me pause, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was.

"Alright," I agreed, pushing down the unease growing in my gut. "I won't be long."

As I left the room, I caught a snippet of conversation between two techs in the hallway.

"Did you hear about the new security protocols at the Krelaxian compound?"

"Yeah, nasty stuff. Wouldn't want to be caught in there without clearance."

Their words only heightened my anxiety. What were we getting ourselves into?

The storage room was a maze of shelves and crates, dimly lit and filled with the scent of ozone and metal. I found the blue case easily enough, but as I reached for it, my hand froze.

What was I doing? Dragging Arilee into this mess, risking her life for... what? My own selfish desires? The realization hit me like a punch to the gut. I cared for her, more than I should, more than was safe for either of us.

I stood there, lost in thought, for longer than I realized. By the time I made it back to the briefing room, carrying the case of bone conductors, it was clear I'd missed something.

Davor and Arilee were huddled close, their conversation ending abruptly as I entered. Arilee's cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright with an emotion I couldn't quite place. Davor, for his part, looked... satisfied?

"Took you long enough," Davor said, moving quickly to take the case from me. "Let's get these implanted and be on our way."

I frowned, watching as he efficiently prepped the devices. "What were you two talking about?"

Arilee's gaze flickered to mine, then away. "Nothing important. Just... clarifying some details about the mission."

Something about her tone set my teeth on edge, but before I could press further, Davor was already moving to implant the communicators.

"This won't hurt a bit," he assured Arilee, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

I watched, a knot forming in my stomach, as he carefully placed the device behind her ear. Arilee winced slightly, but otherwise remained still.

"There," Davor said, stepping back. "All done. How does it feel?"

Arilee reached up, touching the spot gingerly. "Strange. But not uncomfortable."

I didn't realize I'd been holding my breath until I let it out in a rush. "My turn, I suppose?"

As Davor moved to implant my communicator, I couldn't shake the feeling that something had shifted while I was gone. Arilee's gaze kept darting to me, then away, as if she was trying to avoid my eyes.

What had they discussed in my absence? And why did I suddenly feel like an outsider in my own mission?