SAGEThe creature's words hung in the air like poison.
Come out and we talk. Stay inside and you die when dawn comes.
Sage stood frozen at the cave entrance, weapon raised. Behind her, everyone had woken. Human and Nex soldiers alike stared at the darkness beyond the firelight.
Something that massive shouldn't be able to speak. Shouldn't know their language. Shouldn't be negotiating.
This changed everything.
What do we do, Dr. Kross whispered. Her voice shook.
Sage's mind raced. They couldn't fight something that size. Their weapons barely scratched the smaller creatures. This thing would tear through them like paper.
But going outside meant exposing themselves. Trusting a predator.
Kieran appeared at her shoulder. His presence steadied her somehow.
Can we trust it? he asked quietly.
I don't know. The scout reports never mentioned creatures that could speak.
Then we're in unknown territory.
The creature outside shifted. The ground trembled. Its breathing filled the silence.
I wait one minute, it said. Then I leave. Then my pack hunts you at dawn. Choose.
Sage met Kieran's eyes. Saw her own uncertainty reflected back.
Together? she asked.
Together, he agreed.
They stepped toward the cave entrance side by side. Weapons lowered but ready. Behind them, Marcus and Dr. Kross moved to follow.
No, Kieran said. We go alone. If this goes wrong, the rest of you run deeper into the caves.
Sir, Marcus protested.
That's an order.
Sage and Kieran walked into the darkness beyond the firelight. The night air hit them cold and humid. The jungle sounds had stopped completely. Everything was silent except for breathing.
The creature stood maybe twenty feet from the cave entrance.
It was enormous. Even bigger than Sage had imagined. Fifteen feet tall at least. Four legs thick as tree trunks. A body covered in scales that glowed faintly in the darkness. And a head that was almost human in shape.
Almost. But not quite.
Its eyes were intelligent. Too intelligent. They studied Sage and Kieran with calculation that felt uncomfortably human.
You lead the small ones, the creature said. Its voice came from somewhere deep in its chest. Not your kind. Different tribes. But you lead together now.
It wasn't a question. It was observation.
Yes, Sage said. Her voice came out steadier than she felt. We're survivors. Working together.
The creature's head tilted. Survivors. Yes. I understand survivors.
It took a step closer. Both Sage and Kieran tensed but didn't retreat.
You flee from sky-fire. From metal birds that fall and burn. You flee from your own tribes who hunt you.
How do you know that? Kieran asked.
The creature made a sound that might have been laughter. Might have been something else.
We watch. We learn. We remember. Your kinds come to our world before. Long ago. They also flee. They also hide in caves.
What happened to them? Sage asked.
The creature's eyes fixed on her. Some survive. Make peace with jungle. Live quiet. Others fight. Try to conquer. Die screaming.
The message was clear.
We don't want to conquer, Sage said. We just want to survive until we can leave.
Leave. The creature considered this. You call for sky-birds to take you?
If we can. Our communication is damaged.
The creature was quiet for a long moment. Then it did something unexpected.
It sat. Lowered its massive body to the ground. The movement was deliberate. Non-threatening.
I make offer, it said. You stay in caves. Hunt only what you need. Respect the jungle. We let you live. We protect you from other packs who want human meat.
Why would you protect us? Kieran asked.
The creature's eyes glowed brighter in the darkness. Because you different. You tribes who hate each other now work together. That is wisdom. Wisdom is rare. We protect rare things.
Sage's throat tightened. This creature, this supposed monster, understood what was happening better than most humans.
We accept, she said.
Kieran looked at her sharply. Then nodded. We accept.
The creature stood. Good. When sun comes, you may leave caves. Hunt small prey only. Stay away from nesting grounds in the red flower valley. Stay away from the sacred pools to the north.
We will, Sage promised.
The creature turned to leave. Then paused.
Your tribes in the sky still hunt you. I hear their metal birds searching. I hear their voices on the wind-that-talks. They want you dead.
We know, Kieran said quietly.
Then you are wise to hide. The creature looked back at them one final time. Survivors should live. Warriors who become wise should live most of all.
Then it walked into the jungle and disappeared. The sounds of the forest gradually returned. Insects. Birds. Normal things.
Sage released a breath she didn't know she'd been holding.
That just happened, Kieran said. We just negotiated a peace treaty with a dinosaur.
Despite everything, Sage felt a laugh bubble up. It came out shaky but real.
Strangest diplomatic meeting I've ever had.
They walked back to the cave together. Everyone rushed them with questions. What did it want? What did it say? Were they safe?
Sage explained the arrangement. The offer of protection in exchange for respect.
The relief in the cave was palpable. People actually smiled. Some even laughed.
For the first time since the crash, they weren't about to die.
The watch rotations continued. People settled back down to sleep. But the mood had changed. Hope instead of despair.
Hours passed. Sage took over the watch while Kieran slept. She sat at the cave entrance, listening to the jungle symphony. The normal sounds were almost peaceful now.
Dr. Kross appeared beside her quietly. Sat down without asking.
They were silent for a while. Just listening. Then Kross spoke.
You know him.
It wasn't a question. Just a statement of fact.
Sage didn't pretend to misunderstand. She looked back into the cave where Kieran slept near one of the fires. His face was relaxed in sleep. Younger without the weight of command pressing down on him.
I've read his military file, Sage said. He's the one who lost people at Meridian Nine when we were ordered to strike it. I was supposed to hunt him and kill him.
But? Kross prompted.
But I'm starting to think we were both played. The coordinates we received for that colony. The routing we used for this battle. It all feels orchestrated. Like someone wanted specific outcomes.
General Hax.
And Admiral Reeves. Working together. Manufacturing the war.
Kross nodded slowly. Processing this. If you're right, then you and Captain Hayes aren't enemies. You're both victims of the same conspiracy.
Sage felt the truth of that settle in her chest. Heavy and complicated.
And Captain Hayes? Kross asked carefully. On a personal level?
Sage didn't answer immediately. Couldn't. Because the answer was complicated and terrifying and completely inappropriate.
She looked back at Kieran sleeping. Watched the firelight play across his features. Strong jaw. Long lashes. Lips slightly parted in sleep.
He was beautiful in a way that made her chest ache.
I'm supposed to hate him, Sage said finally. For six months I've been hunting him. Planning his death. Memorizing his tactics so I could destroy him.
But you don't hate him.
No. I don't.
The admission felt like betrayal. Betrayal of her training. Her orders. Her entire identity as a soldier.
But it was the truth.
He's a good man, Sage continued quietly. He cares about his people. Questions his orders when they don't make sense. Chose to work with the enemy rather than let pride get everyone killed.
He reminds you that honor still exists.
Yes.
And you're attracted to him.
Sage's head snapped toward Kross. The doctor was watching her with gentle understanding.
I didn't say that.
You didn't have to. I see how you look at each other. How you move together like you're synchronized. How you trust him already when you've never trusted anyone except me.
That's tactical partnership. Survival instinct.
Kross smiled slightly. If that's what you want to call it.
Sage wanted to argue. Wanted to deny everything. But she was tired of lying. Tired of pretending.
It doesn't matter what I feel, she said. We're on opposite sides of a war. When we get rescued, assuming we survive that long, we go back to being enemies. Him to his people. Me to mine.
Are you sure? The war was manufactured. The conspiracy is exposed. Maybe the war is over.
And maybe it's not. Maybe our governments bury the evidence. Court-martial us both. Execute us for treason.
Kross was quiet for a moment. Then spoke carefully.
Or maybe you're both free for the first time in your lives. Free to choose what you believe. Who you serve. Who you love.
The word love hung between them.
Sage's heart hammered against her ribs.
I don't love him. I barely know him.
But you could. If you let yourself.
Sage looked back at Kieran. Watched him sleep. Felt something dangerous unfurl in her chest.
She'd been trained to feel nothing. To be a weapon. To follow orders without question.
But Kieran made her feel everything.
Made her question everything.
Made her want things she'd never allowed herself to want.
He woke suddenly. His hand went to his weapon automatically. Military reflexes. Then his eyes found hers across the distance.
Sage was staring at him. She knew it. Couldn't stop.
The firelight caught the emotions on her face. All the things she was trying to hide. The longing. The fear. The desperate hope.
Kieran's expression changed. Softened. His eyes held hers with an intensity that stole her breath.
He knew.
Somehow, he knew what she was feeling.
And from the way he was looking at her, the way his breathing had changed, the way he couldn't seem to look away either, he felt it too.
Dr. Kross stood quietly. Disappeared into the deeper caves. Leaving them alone.
Kieran sat up. Held Sage's gaze across the dying fire.
Neither of them spoke.
But everything had changed.