Twenty one

POV Brynmor

Kalder leaned against his small workbench, his arms folded across his chest. I glanced around the room—it was filled with advanced technology, dangling cables, and holographic screens projecting data. Cluster Beta-Engineer was known for their technical skills, but I couldn't shake my suspicion about this man.

"What do you want in return?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Kalder looked at me with a thin, unsettling smile. "You get straight to the point, don't you? I like that."

"I don't have time for games," I replied coldly.

He chuckled quietly, but his eyes remained sharp. "Alright. I want access to the Commander’s neural-link system. You know, the main database you have at Cluster Aegis."

I tensed at his request. The Commander’s neural-link was the most secure system in the colony, and access to it could be a dangerous weapon in the wrong hands.

"That's impossible," I said firmly.

"Brynmor, wait," Fiora said, looking at me with pleading eyes.

I turned to her. "You don't understand what he's asking. If I give him access, he could hack all the information about our colony, including military strategies and security protocols."

"And you think I’m going to sell it to your enemies?" Kalder interrupted. "I need it to protect Cluster Beta-Engineer. If you want my help, I need something that will give me an advantage."

Fiora stepped forward, trying to bridge the tension between us. "Kalder, I know this is a big request, but we can't give full access. Maybe there’s another way?"

Kalder looked at Fiora with a softer expression, in contrast to his tone with me. "Fiora, I’m breaking a lot of rules just by letting you be here. Devlin and Jacob won’t stop looking for you, and if they know I’m helping, this Cluster will be the next target. I need guarantees."

I clenched my fist, holding back the anger rising within me. "I can guarantee protection," I said finally. "But I won’t give access to the neural-link Commander."

Kalder sighed, then nodded slightly. "Fine. I’ll trust you—for now. But if you break your promise, Brynmor, I’ll make sure Cluster Beta-Engineer knows who’s to blame."

I simply nodded, though I knew in my heart that this wasn't over.

♡♡♡

Night came, and Fiora and I sat in the small corner of the room Kalder had provided for us. It was simple but comfortable enough, with a small bed and a work table in the corner.

"You don't like Kalder," Fiora said suddenly, breaking the silence.

I turned to her, a bit surprised by her direct statement. "It’s not about liking or not liking," I replied. "I don't trust him."

She nodded slowly. "But he’s right. We need his help, and he won’t risk his Cluster without a good reason."

I sighed, frustrated with the situation. "I know. But that doesn’t make it any easier."

Fiora was silent for a moment before speaking again. "Kalder is a family friend. He’s always helped us, even when my father became obsessed with power. He’s not a bad person, Brynmor."

"Everyone can change, Fiora," I said softly. "Including Kalder."

She didn’t respond, only looked down, playing with her fingers. I knew she wanted to trust her friend, but I couldn’t afford to take that risk.

The next morning, Kalder took us to his workroom to discuss the next steps. He projected a holographic map on the wall, showing the territories controlled by Jacob and Devlin’s forces.

"If you want to fight Jacob, you’ll need more than just protection," he said, his voice serious. "You’ll need weapons, technology, and troops."

"We know that," I replied. "But where do we get them?"

Kalder tapped a point on the map, a region on the border of Cluster Beta-Engineer. "There’s a group of rebels here. They’ve been fighting Jacob for years, but they lack resources. If you can convince them to work with you, it’ll be a good starting point."

I studied the map closely, analyzing the risks and opportunities. "How do we approach them without getting attacked first?"

Kalder smiled faintly. "That’s where I come in. I have connections there. But they’ll only listen if you bring something to offer."

"What do they want?" Fiora asked.

Kalder looked at her, then answered seriously, "Information. They want to know the weaknesses in Jacob’s security systems."

I furrowed my brow. "You want us to betray our own colony?"

"Not betray," Kalder replied. "Just give them what they need to fight a common enemy."

I didn’t like the idea, but I knew we didn’t have many options.

The journey to the rebel territory was tough. We had to navigate through terrain full of traps and enemy patrols, but Kalder guided us through hidden paths only he knew.

When we finally arrived, I could feel the tension in the air. The rebel territory was filled with armed people, their faces showing they wouldn’t hesitate to kill anyone they saw as a threat.

A woman with short hair and sharp eyes stepped forward to greet us. She looked at Kalder with suspicion before turning her gaze to Fiora and me.

"Kalder, who are they?" she asked, her tone firm.

"They’re people who can help you," Kalder answered. "And they need your help, too."

The woman narrowed her eyes but finally nodded. "Follow me."

We followed her into a small room that looked like a meeting space. She projected a map on the wall, just like Kalder had done earlier, but this one showed weak points in Jacob’s territory.

"This is what we have," she said. "But it’s not enough. If you really want to work together, you need to give us better information."

I looked at Fiora, seeking her approval. She nodded slightly, and I knew she agreed with this decision.

"Alright," I said finally. "We’ll give you what you need. But in return, we need your troops to fight Jacob."

The woman gave a faint smile. "Let’s see what we can do."

When we returned to our temporary hideout, I felt an overwhelming fatigue. But for the first time in a long while, I felt that we might have a chance to win.

I sat on the edge of our small bed, massaging my temples to relieve the tension. Fiora sat next to me, looking at me with an unreadable expression.

"Are you okay?" she asked quietly.

I nodded, though I knew it was a lie. "I’m just tired."

She stared at me for a long time before finally speaking again. "Brynmor, I know this isn’t easy for you. But I want you to know that I trust you."

Her words surprised me. I looked at her, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, and it made me feel a little lighter.

"Thank you," I said quietly.

We sat in silence for a few minutes before Fiora finally spoke again. "Do you think we can win?"

I took a deep breath before answering. "I don’t know."