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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

X ara woke to the gentle chirping of the Graxlin pups and Ash’s absence from their bed.

She stretched languidly, her body pleasantly sore from the previous night’s activities.

The memory brought heat to her cheeks and a smile to her lips.

She’d never imagined finding something so profound on this alien world—not just survival, but connection. Love.

Dot tumbled over to her, her tiny bioluminescent patches glowing a contented blue-green. She climbed onto her stomach and chirped demandingly.

“Hungry, are you?” She gently stroked her feathery tendrils. “Well, I suppose we’d better find some breakfast for all of you.”

The other two pups perked up at the mention of food. Trouble burrowed deeper into the nest of blankets with a disgruntled squeak, while Soldier bounced excitedly at the edge of the bed.

Xara dressed quickly in the clothes Ash had salvaged from the wreckage and modified for her. She’d grown accustomed to the alien fabrics, lighter and more durable than anything she’d worn on Earth.

“Come on, little ones. Let’s see what we can find.”

She scooped up Dot, who immediately nestled into the crook of her arm, while Soldier and Trouble followed at her heels as she made her way through the cave system that had become home.

The morning air was crisp as she stepped outside, the crimson foliage no longer sinister but beautiful in its alienness.

She knew which plants were safe now, which fruits the pups preferred, which areas to avoid.

The knowledge gave her confidence as she moved through the jungle’s edge, gathering the sweet, pulpy orbs that grew in clusters along the lower branches.

Soldier darted ahead, her tiny claws digging into the soft earth as she sniffed out fallen fruit. Trouble stayed closer, occasionally butting his head against Xara’s ankle when she stopped too long in one place.

“Patience,” she told him, but couldn’t help smiling at his grumpy chirp in response.

The basket she’d woven from flexible vines was half-full when she spotted something glinting in the undergrowth about twenty yards away. She paused, squinting against the dappled sunlight.

“What’s that?” she murmured, more to herself than the pups.

Curiosity drew her forward. As she approached, she realized it wasn’t part of the natural landscape.

The object was metal, its surface unnaturally smooth and reflective among the organic textures of the jungle.

About the size of her palm, it had a sleek, almost aerodynamic shape, with what looked like tiny sensors embedded along one edge.

Xara frowned, setting her basket down. The device looked... wrong. Not weathered or damaged like the technology scraps they’d found in the ruins. This was pristine. New.

“It hasn’t been here long,” she whispered, a chill running down her spine despite the morning warmth.

The pups sensed her unease. Dot squirmed in her arm while Soldier retreated to hide behind her legs. Trouble let out a low, warning chirp, his bioluminescent patches shifting to an anxious amber.

Xara hesitated, then carefully picked up the device, turning it over in her hand. There were no obvious buttons or interfaces, just the smooth metal surface and those tiny, ominous sensors. It was lightweight but solid, clearly designed for some purpose she couldn’t determine.

“We should show this to Ash,” she decided, tucking it into her pocket.

She gathered up her basket and the pups, suddenly eager to return to the safety of their cave. The jungle no longer felt welcoming but watchful, its shadows deeper, its sounds more threatening. She found herself hurrying, eyes scanning the trees for any sign of movement that didn’t belong.

Ash was just returning from his morning hunt when she reached the cave entrance, a large predator bird slung over one shoulder. His silver eyes brightened at the sight of her, but quickly narrowed when he caught her expression.

“I found something,” she said without preamble, setting down her basket and reaching into her pocket.

She held out the metal device. Ash went utterly still, the carcass slipping from his shoulder to the ground with a dull thud. The pups scattered at the sudden movement, chirping in alarm.

His reaction sent a jolt of fear through her. “What is it?”

He took the device from her hand, his movements careful, controlled. Too controlled. His silver eyes had gone cold, his posture rigid as he examined it, turning it over just as she had done.

“Ash?” she prompted when he remained silent.

He looked up, and the expression on his face made her blood run cold. It wasn’t just anger or concern—it was a focused, lethal intensity she hadn’t seen since the day he’d saved her from the predator.

“Inside,” he ordered, his voice rough from disuse despite their night together. “Now.”

She didn’t argue, gathering the pups and hurrying into the cave. Ash followed, his movements swift and purposeful. He placed the device on a flat stone and began moving around their living space with deadly efficiency, pulling weapons from hidden caches she hadn’t even known existed.

“What’s happening?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “What is that thing?”

“Tracker,” he said tersely, strapping a wicked-looking blade to his thigh. “Zarkari design.”

The name sent a chill through her. Zarkari—his creators. The ones who had engineered him as a weapon, then exiled him when he refused to slaughter innocents.

“They’re here? On the planet?” Her voice rose despite her efforts to stay calm.

Ash nodded once, pulling what looked like a modified pulse rifle from beneath a loose stone in the wall. He checked its power cell, his movements precise and practiced.

“Why? After all this time?—”

“Doesn’t matter,” he cut her off. “Stay in the cave. Deep in the back chamber. Take the pups.”

The pups were already distressed, their bioluminescent patches flickering between anxious amber and frightened red. Dot huddled against her ankle while Soldier and Trouble paced in tight circles, chirping agitatedly.

“I’m not hiding while you face them alone,” she argued, even as fear knotted her stomach.

His silver eyes flashed. “You will.”

“Ash—”

“They are hunters,” he growled, moving closer until he loomed over her. “Killers. And they will not hesitate.”

She swallowed hard but stood her ground. “All the more reason you shouldn’t face them alone.”

For a moment, something like pain flashed across his features. He reached out, one clawed hand cupping her cheek with impossible gentleness.

“I can’t fight if I’m worried about you,” he said, his voice softer now. “Please, Xara.”

The plea in his voice undid her. She nodded reluctantly, gathering the pups closer to her legs.

“How many?” she asked.

“Don’t know yet.” He turned back to his weapons, selecting several small, disc-shaped objects that she guessed were explosives or traps. “Tracker is recent. Scout team, maybe.”

“And they’re looking for you?”

He paused, considering. “Maybe. Or something else.”

The way he looked at her sent another chill down her spine. What if they weren’t here for Ash at all? What if they somehow knew about her—a human, far from Earth, with knowledge of alien biology?

“I’ll check the perimeter,” he said, moving toward the cave entrance. “Set defenses. Stay here.”

“Be careful,” she called after him, hating how inadequate the words felt.

He glanced back, his silver eyes softening for just a moment. Then he was gone, a shadow melting into the jungle.

Xara sank down onto their bed, the pups immediately climbing into her lap. Her mind raced with questions and fears. How had the Zarkari found this planet? What did they want? And most terrifying of all—what would happen if they caught Ash?

The memory of the data tablet’s fragments flashed through her mind: ‘Project: K-7... subject refused to execute target purge... deemed defective... exiled to planet.’ They had created him to be a weapon, then discarded him when he showed mercy. What would they do if they found him again?

She shuddered, pulling the pups closer. They sensed her distress, their tiny bodies vibrating with answering anxiety. Dot nuzzled against her hand, his oversized eyes looking up at her trustingly.

“It’s going to be okay,” she whispered, not sure if she was reassuring them or herself. “Ash knows this planet better than anyone. He’ll protect us.”

But as the minutes stretched into an hour with no sign of him, her worry grew. The pups became increasingly agitated, their chirps more insistent. Even Trouble, usually so independent, refused to leave her side.

Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore. She needed to know what was happening. Gathering the pups, she moved deeper into the cave system as Ash had instructed, finding the small chamber they sometimes used for storage. She settled the pups in a secure corner.

“Stay here,” she told them firmly. “I’ll be back soon.”

They chirped in protest, but she was already moving, retracing her steps through the winding passages. As she neared the main chamber, she heard movement—the heavy tread of Ash’s footsteps.

Relief flooded her, but it was short-lived. When she emerged into the main chamber, she found him gathering more weapons, his movements sharp with tension. Blood—not his own—spattered his chest and arms.

“What happened?” she gasped.

He whirled, eyes narrowing when he saw her. “Told you to stay hidden.”

“I was worried,” she said, moving closer. “Is that blood? Are you hurt?”

“Not mine.” His voice was clipped. “Found two scouts. Dead now.”

The casual way he said it should have horrified her, but all she felt was relief that he was unharmed.

“How many more?” she asked.

“Don’t know.” He strapped another blade to his forearm. “At least a squad. Maybe more.”

“A squad? How many is that?”

“Eight to twelve. Elite hunters.” His silver eyes locked with hers. “Trained to track and kill.”

The fear she’d been trying to suppress surged back. “What do they want?”

Ash’s expression darkened. “Found shuttle wreckage. Your scent.”

Understanding dawned, cold and terrible. “They’re looking for me? But why?”

“Human. Far from Earth. Valuable.” His tendrils writhed with agitation. “Resource to be exploited.”

The clinical assessment chilled her more than any emotional outburst could have. This wasn’t just about Ash’s past—it was about her future. The Zarkari wanted her as a specimen, a curiosity, maybe even a bargaining chip with Earth.

“What do we do?” she asked, forcing herself to focus past the fear.

“Fight,” he said simply, then hesitated. “Or you could surrender.”

“What?” she stared at him, incredulous.

“They want you alive.” His voice was flat, emotionless. “Might not hurt you.”

She understood then what he was offering—a chance for her safety, even if it meant their separation. The selflessness of it struck her to the core.

“No,” she said firmly. “I’m not leaving you. And I’m definitely not surrendering to people who would experiment on me or use me as leverage.”

Something like relief flickered in his silver eyes, quickly masked. “Then we fight.”

“Together,” she insisted.

He started to argue, then stopped, looking at her with a mixture of frustration and pride. Finally, he nodded once, reaching into his cache to pull out a smaller blade.

“Take this,” he said, offering it to her hilt-first. “Last resort.”

She accepted it, the weight unfamiliar but reassuring in her hand. “I know how to use it if I have to.”

He nodded again, then returned to gathering supplies. “Need to move deeper. More defensible.”

“The pups are already in the back chamber,” she told him. “I’ll get our food and water.”

As she moved to gather their supplies, the cave suddenly echoed with a high-pitched, frantic chirping. The pups’ distress call.

Ash’s head snapped up, his tendrils flaring. Without a word, he bolted toward the sound, Xara right behind him.

They found the pups huddled together in the storage chamber, their patches flashing urgent red. Dot squealed when he saw them, pointing one tiny paw toward the far wall.

Xara frowned, not understanding until she saw the almost imperceptible seam in the rock—a hidden passage she’d never noticed before. And from beyond it came the faint sound of movement.

Ash pushed her behind him, weapons ready. “Take pups. Hide,” he hissed.

But it was too late. The wall panel slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a dark tunnel beyond—and the gleam of advanced armor as the first Zarkari soldier stepped through.