The transport was unmarked. Flat steel, open sides, no seating. They rode with knees locked and shoulders tight, surrounded by soldiers who never lowered their rifles.
The road was unpaved, ruts and cracks deep enough to shake teeth loose, and the sky hung too low, a thick gray like dust that hadn't finished falling.
They didn't speak.
The soldiers didn't either.
Nathan glanced at Merlin once but didn't ask. Didn't need to.
Merlin didn't answer.
He kept his eyes on the horizon.
Where the road ended, the outpost began, blunt walls carved from stacked metal and concrete, topped in sensor spines and coiled wire.
A checkpoint waited. Gates slid open without sound. Lights tracked their movement.
No names. No salutes.
Just containment.
The truck braked sharp. Doors opened. Orders barked.
Untranslated.
[Parsing… Translation Restored.]
"Out. Hands visible. No resistance."
Merlin stepped down first.
