The forge hummed like a tired heartbeat.
Sparks flickered over the metal floor, lighting Oris's face in brief flashes as he hunched over a projection table littered with fuel estimates, alloy readings, and neural-link schematics.
Kael stood nearby — arms crossed, his expression unreadable as always.
Oris didn't look up when he spoke.
"Next one's close. Two days northwest."
Kael's voice was low. "Terrain?"
"Rocky, shallow plateaus. Minimal canopy cover. But signs of underground tunnels."
Kael grunted. "Burrower?"
"Maybe. Definitely not an airborne type."
Kael tapped the side of the map. "What's the extraction rate if we get a clean kill?"
"Blood-wise? Maybe 300 liters. Spine metal's unpredictable. Depends on age."
Kael leaned in. "We need 600 more to build the new ship and refill Lugger."
Oris turned to face him. "Then we need at least two more clean kills... before we even think about testing Wraithcraft."
Kael didn't respond for a while.
Then, "We need to split up."
Oris raised a brow.
Kael explained, "Girls are losing it. They need purpose. Give them something that doesn't require watching us bleed every day."
Oris nodded, slowly. "Something controlled."
"Something far from me," Kael added under his breath.
---
Inside the cave, the temperature felt hotter than normal.
But it wasn't from the forge.
It was from three women locked in a quiet war of glances and silences — words left unspoken pressing against each of them like weights on their chests.
Kira finally broke it.
"You think you're special because Kael let you ride in Lugger once?"
Lisette didn't look up from her gear. "You jealous?"
Kira's voice dropped. "No. I'm disgusted."
Freya, sharpening her boot knife, muttered, "You're both exhausting."
Lisette stood.
"No, let's clear the air. You act like I'm the problem, but you're both tiptoeing around him like love-struck cadets."
Freya looked up sharply. "At least we're subtle about it."
Kira added, "And not building altars in our heads."
Lisette snapped, "I admire strength. I never pretended otherwise. He saved me. You can't handle that someone might actually care for him."
Freya stepped forward. "You think you care? You think you even know him?"
Lisette didn't blink. "I know enough. Enough to respect what he's been through."
Kira shook her head. "We're all broken. He just bleeds quieter."
Silence again.
Sharp, bitter silence.
---
Further back in the cave, near the secondary storage room, Trask and Draan sat alone — for once, not laughing or dozing off.
Draan rubbed his beard.
"You feel it too?"
Trask nodded. "They're snapping. One by one."
Draan sighed. "It's time we did something."
Trask smirked faintly. "Since when did you grow a conscience?"
"Not conscience," Draan said quietly. "Regret."
They both stood and walked over to Oris, who looked up mid-weld.
"You want something?" Oris asked, annoyed.
Trask cleared his throat.
"We want in."
Oris blinked. "In?"
Draan spoke. "Help with the launch plan. The escape ship. We know old warframe design. We can tune core frames."
Oris raised a skeptical brow.
Trask continued, "We've been worthless so far. We get that. But we've survived this long for a reason."
Oris leaned back. "Kael wants you both on Wraithcraft's first launch. Suicide mission, maybe."
Trask grinned. "Sounds like the end we deserve."
Oris stared at them both.
Then handed Trask a coil extractor and Draan a list of alloy requirements.
"Don't mess this up."
---
That night, the girls sat silently around the low fire pit, each cooking their own bland meals — no shared tasks, no smiles.
Kael walked through the center, not saying a word.
But each of them watched him.
Lisette with hope.
Kira with conflict.
Freya with a fire she didn't understand.
---
Near midnight, Oris found Kael standing outside the cave — staring into the misty jungle.
"Can't sleep?" Oris asked.
Kael didn't answer right away.
"Something's coming," he said finally.
Oris frowned. "Another tremor?"
"No," Kael replied. "Something worse."
---