Page 56 of Alien Warlord's Fury

Nirako nodded, all business now as he packed our remaining supplies. "There's a ridge overlooking the compound. It will give us clear sight lines without exposing us."

"Lead the way."

He paused at the cave entrance, scanning for threats before motioning me forward. As I passed him, he caught my hand, squeezing once before letting go. A simple gesture, but it said everything about our new reality.

We were no longer just allies of convenience. We were bonded. Connected. Whatever happened next, we would face it as one.

The morning sun cast long shadows through the ancient ruins as we made our way toward Hammond's compound. Nirako moved silently ahead of me, occasionally stopping to listen or examine something I couldn't see. I followed his lead, trying to match his quiet steps.

"The land feels different," I whispered as we paused in the shadow of a crumbling wall.

Nirako nodded. "The sabotage affected more than just Hammond's power supply. The energy is flowing differently now."

I reached out with my senses, feeling the currents of the Nexus beneath us. He was right. Where before the energy had been corrupted but predictable, now it surged and ebbed erratically, like a wounded animal thrashing in pain.

"Is that good or bad for us?"

"Both," Nirako said. "The instability will make it harder for Hammond to maintain control, but it also makes the terrain more dangerous."

As if to emphasize his point, a fissure opened in the ground several yards away, releasing a hiss of vapor that made my eyes water.

"Stay close," Nirako said, unnecessary but comforting.

We continued our careful progress toward the ridge he'd mentioned. The landscape grew increasingly unstable as we approached Hammond's compound. Twice we had to backtrack when our path was blocked by newly formed chasms or pools of something that smoked and bubbled.

Finally, we reached the ridge. Nirako gestured for me to stay low as we crawled the last few yards to the edge. Below us spread Hammond's compound, a sprawling collection of prefab structures surrounded by a perimeter fence.

From our vantage point, I could see the damage our sabotage had caused—one section of the compound was dark, its power clearly cut. But the rest hummed with activity.

"They've increased security," Nirako observed, pointing to the new guard posts that dotted the perimeter.

I squinted, counting. "Double what we saw before."

"Hammond knows someone is interfering."

I scanned the compound, my gaze drawn to the central building where I knew the children were being held. Even from this distance, I could see the energy signatures pulsing around it—sickly green and purple waves that made my stomach turn.

"He's accelerating the process," I said, the knot of worry in my gut tightening. "The energy patterns are all wrong. Too fast, too intense."

Nirako's jaw tightened. "He's desperate. Our sabotage must have set him back more than we realized."

"Or he knows we're coming and wants to finish before we can stop him." I focused on the energy patterns, trying to make sense of them. "He's connecting them directly to the Nexus now. No buffers, no protection."

"That will kill them," Nirako said, his voice hard.

"Eventually. But first it will amplify their pain, their energy. That's what he wants." I swallowed against the bile rising in my throat.

"I can feel them, Nirako. Their pain."

His hand found mine, his lifelines warm against my skin. Strength flowed between us, steadying me.

"How many guards at the east entrance?" he asked, redirecting my focus to the practical.

I counted. "Four visible. Probably more inside."

"And the service tunnel we planned to use?"

I scanned the area, frowning. "I don't see it. They must have covered the entrance."

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