Chapter 3

RAYNA

The cell was quiet, almost eerily so. I sat with my back against the cold metal wall, my mind still reeling from the conversation I'd just had with Krull'rak. An orc. My cellmate was an honest-to-god orc, like something out of a fantasy novel. Except this was no fantasy—it was a nightmare of alien prisons and lost hopes.

I glanced at Krull'rak, his massive form a dark silhouette in the dimly lit cell. He sat motionless, eyes closed, but I could tell he wasn't asleep. There was a tension in his posture, a readiness that spoke of years spent in constant vigilance. I wondered, not for the first time, what horrors he had endured in this place.

A shiver ran down my spine, and not just from the perpetual chill of the cell. Something felt off. The air seemed charged, as if a storm was brewing. Back on Earth, I'd always had a knack for sensing when trouble was coming. That same instinct was screaming at me now.

"Krull'rak," I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Something's wrong."

His eyes snapped open, immediately alert. He gave me a curt nod, silently acknowledging my warning. We both tensed, listening intently.

That's when I heard it—the sound of approaching footsteps, heavy and purposeful. My heart raced, adrenaline flooding my system. This wasn't the usual patrol. No, this was something else entirely.

The energy barrier at the entrance to our cell flickered and died. For a split second, I entertained the wild hope that this might be our chance to escape. But that hope was quickly dashed as a group of Vorash guards burst into the cell, led by a particularly nasty-looking specimen.

"Well, well," the lead guard chittered, his mandibles clicking in what I'd come to recognize as amusement. "Looks like we've got some troublemakers here."

I scrambled to my feet, my body instinctively moving into a defensive stance. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Krull'rak rise as well, his massive form seeming to fill half the cell.

Time seemed to slow as I took in the scene. Five guards, all armed with energy batons. The lead guard, his carapace adorned with markings that probably denoted some higher rank. The cramped confines of the cell limited movement, but also provided potential advantages.

My gaze met Krull'rak's for a brief moment. In his fierce eyes, I saw the same determination I felt coursing through my veins. We didn't need words. In that instant, we both knew—we'd fight together or die trying.

The lead guard raised his baton, and all hell broke loose.

I ducked under the first swing, the crackle of energy so close I could feel my hair stand on end. Muscle memory kicked in, and I silently thanked my past self for all those self-defense classes I'd taken. Who knew they'd come in handy fighting alien insect creatures?

I spun low, sweeping the legs out from under the nearest guard. He went down with a satisfying crunch, his exoskeleton no match for the hard metal floor. Without pausing, I rolled away from a second attack, using the momentum to spring back to my feet.

My heart pounded as I dodged another blow. I caught sight of Krull'rak, and for a moment, I could only stare in awe. He moved with a fluid grace that belied his size, each motion precise and devastatingly effective. A guard rushed him, baton raised high, only to be swatted aside like a toy. Another tried to flank him, but Krull'rak's fist found its mark with a sickening crunch of chitin.

It was like watching a force of nature—unstoppable, primal, beautiful in its raw power. I felt a thrill run through me, equal parts fear and admiration. This was the warrior he'd told me about, the fierce protector of his clan. And right now, he was fighting for us.

A searing pain across my arm snapped me back to my senses. I'd let myself get distracted, and a guard had taken advantage. The energy baton had left an angry red welt on my skin, but the pain only fueled my determination.

I grabbed the guard's arm, using his own momentum to slam him into the wall. As he staggered, disoriented, I delivered a sharp knee to what I hoped was a vulnerable spot in his anatomy. He went down with a high-pitched keen that made me wince.

Suddenly, I felt a presence at my back. I tensed, ready to strike, only to realize it was Krull'rak. We'd unconsciously moved into a back-to-back position, covering each other's blind spots.

"Not bad, for a human," he rumbled, his deep voice vibrating through me.

I couldn't help but grin, despite the dire situation. "You're not so shabby yourself, for an overgrown green bean."

We moved as one, a synchronized dance of survival. Where Krull'rak was all power and frontal assault, I darted in and out, striking weak points and using the guards' size against them. It was like we'd been fighting together for years, not minutes.

The guards kept coming, their energy batons leaving scorching trails in the air. I was tiring, my movements becoming slower, sloppier. A quick glance at Krull'rak showed that even his formidable stamina was flagging.

Then I saw it—an opening. The lead guard, hanging back and directing the others, had left himself exposed. If I could just reach him...

I feinted left, then sprung right, using the wall as a springboard. Time seemed to slow as I flew through the air, my target's compound eyes widening in surprise. But I'd miscalculated. A guard I hadn't seen raised his baton, ready to strike me down mid-leap.

In that moment, I knew it was over. I'd taken a risk, and I was about to pay for it with my life. I closed my eyes, bracing for the impact.

But it never came.

Instead, I heard a roar of pure rage, followed by the sound of a body being slammed against metal. I opened my eyes to see Krull'rak standing over me, the guard who'd been about to strike me now in a crumpled heap on the floor beside me where I'd fallen.

Our eyes met, and I saw something there I hadn't expected—concern, protectiveness, and something else I couldn't quite name. But there was no time to dwell on it. The lead guard was still vulnerable.

"Krull'rak!" I shouted, pointing.

He understood immediately. With a grunt of effort, he lifted me bodily and hurled me towards the lead guard. Okay, not a move I expected. I tucked into a roll, coming up right in front of my target. Before he could react, my fist connected with what passed for his jaw, enhanced by all the momentum Krull'rak had given me.

The lead guard went down hard, his subordinates freezing in shock. For a moment, the cell was absolutely silent.

Then Krull'rak was there, his massive presence filling the space. "Anyone else want to try their luck?" he growled, his voice promising pain to anyone foolish enough to take him up on the offer.

The remaining guards looked at each other, then at their fallen leader, then back at us. As one, they backed away, dragging their unconscious comrades with them. The energy barrier flickered back to life as they retreated, leaving Krull'rak and me alone once more.

For a long moment, we just stood there, chests heaving, adrenaline still coursing through our veins. Then, almost in unison, we sank to the floor, our backs against the wall.

"That," I panted, "was too close."

Krull'rak nodded, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Indeed. But we prevailed."

I looked at him, really looked at him, taking in the bruises forming on his green skin, the way he favored his left side, the fierce pride in his eyes. This warrior, this orc from a distant world, had saved my life. He might have also used me as a bowling ball, but hey, I'll take my wins where I find them.

"Thank you," I said softly. "For having my back there."

He turned to me, his expression softening slightly. "And you had mine. We fought well together, Rayna of Earth."

A warm feeling spread through my chest at his words. "Yeah," I agreed, a smile forming despite my exhaustion. "We did, didn't we?"

As the adrenaline faded, I found myself acutely aware of every ache and pain. But along with the physical discomfort came something else—a growing sense of hope. We'd faced a seemingly insurmountable challenge and come out on top. We'd worked together, two strangers from different worlds, and formed a team that was more than the sum of its parts. Even if we were still in a prison. In a cell. Okay. Maybe come out on top wasn't the correct turn of phrase. Still. We were alive. That had to count for something.

I glanced at Krull'rak, noting how he seemed more relaxed now, more... present. The haunted look that had been ever-present in his eyes had dimmed, replaced by a spark of something I dared to think might be hope.

"So," I said, breaking the comfortable silence that had fallen between us. "I guess this makes us officially partners in crime now, huh?"

Krull'rak chuckled, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. "It would seem so. Though I prefer to think of us as warriors in arms."

I nodded, liking the sound of that. "Warriors in arms. Fighting for our freedom."

He turned to look at me, his gaze intense. "It will not be easy, Rayna. The path ahead is fraught with danger."

"I know," I replied, meeting his gaze steadily. "But after what we just did? I think we stand a pretty good chance." I held out my hand to him, ignoring the twinge of pain from my various bruises. "Together?"

Krull'rak looked at my outstretched hand for a long moment. Then, slowly, he reached out and clasped it in his much larger one. "Together," he agreed, his voice firm with resolve.

As we sat there, hands clasped, I felt a shift in the air between us. This was more than just an alliance of convenience now. We'd bled together, fought together, saved each other's lives. Whatever happened next, whatever challenges we faced, we'd face them as a team.

Krull'rak squeezed my hand. "Rest now," he rumbled. "We have much planning to do when you wake."