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The turret’s firing pattern had a three-second pause between bursts. I counted silently, monitoring its rhythm through sound and the subtle vibrations of its charging cycle.

“Now,” I commanded as it paused, guiding Zara forward several meters before pulling her down again as another burst fired, the energy pulse so close I felt its heat against my skin. Two more cycles brought us to the edge of the compound.

Beyond lay rough terrain—a minor ravine, then the geothermal field we would need to cross to reach our planned extraction point. The smell of sulfur grew stronger, mixed with the distinctive mineral scent of the hot springs.

But first, we had to clear the final stretch of exposed ground. “One final push,” I told her, feeling her exhaustion and pain through our bond.

Her body temperature was elevated, breathing shallow, heart rate too fast—all signs of system shock from the energy surge. “Thirty meters to cover.”

She nodded, her unseeing eyes fixed ahead. A line of sweat traced her temple, and her markings responded to the environment around us.

“What’s the terrain?” “Uneven. Follow my lead exactly.”

I wrapped my arm around her waist, supporting more of her weight. My tail maintained contact with her other side, creating a balanced framework.

“Ready?” Instead of answering, she sent determination through our bond, straightening her posture despite the pain.

The sensation was distinctly human in its stubborn refusal to yield, yet familiar to a warrior’s spirit. “Left foot forward,” I guided, moving us as one unit.

The synchronization was immediate, our bond facilitating a level of coordination impossible otherwise. “Step down. Now right.”

We crossed the final stretch in this manner, synchronized through touch and bond. Once beyond the compound’s immediate perimeter, I pulled her into the shelter of a rock formation, scanning for pursuit.

The chaotic response to my diversion still occupied most of the compound’s security, but organized search parties would follow soon. The breeze carried distant voices, shouted orders.

They were regrouping faster than I’d hoped. Zara’s breathing was labored, her skin hot to the touch.

Through our bond, I felt the cost of her actions—the strain of interfacing with technology never meant for human connection. The pain radiated from her eyes, her neural pathways overloaded with alien data structures.

My clan elders would say she was fortunate to be alive after such reckless connection. “The ravine is ahead,” I told her, allowing a brief rest against the rocks.

The rough stone offered some protection from thermal sensors, and its mineral composition would help mask our energy signatures. “Then the geothermal field. It’s unstable.”

She nodded, her face turned toward my voice despite her blindness. Her fingers pressed against the rock face, exploring its texture.

“I can sense the energy patterns. Not clearly, but enough to help navigate.” She lifted her hand, the silver beneath her skin revealing new capabilities.

“Like a map in my head. Different from sight, but... functional.”

I looked at her with new understanding. Even blind, her markings were functioning as a sensor network, giving her a different kind of perception.

It wouldn’t compensate fully for vision, but it might keep us alive. Our bond had facilitated this adaptation, I realized—her human mind processing the alien data in new ways.

“We need to move,” I said, scanning the compound behind us. Searchlights were beginning to sweep the perimeter, their beams cutting through the darkness.

The mechanical whir of automated drones reached my sensitive hearing—Hammond’s scouts would be deployed soon. “Can you continue?”

Her hand found mine, squeezing once. The touch sent a surge of determination through our bond.

“Lead the way.” I guided her to the edge of the ravine, describing the descent path as we began the next phase of our escape.

“The stone is loose here. Place your foot where mine was.” My tail remained in light contact with her side, offering additional stability as we navigated the steep slope.

The rocks shifted beneath our weight, small cascades of pebbles betraying our passage. Her trust in my guidance was absolute, just as I was now trusting her unique perception of the energy fields ahead.

The realization was sobering—neither of us would survive alone. The bond between us hummed with shared purpose as we disappeared into the wilderness, leaving Hammond’s compound behind.

Ahead lay greater dangers, but also the promise of freedom—if we could reach the extraction point alive. The scent of the geothermal field grew stronger as we descended—sulfur,mineral-rich water, the distinctive plants that thrived in its harsh conditions.