Page 43 of Across the Crimson Sands

“These beauties,” Davor continued, “can disable Gorin’s weapons and communication devices within a ten-meter radius. Completely undetectable until activated.”

I picked one up, turning it over in my hand. It was lighter than I expected, barely larger than my thumbnail. “How long does the effect last?”

“About thirty seconds,” Davor replied. “More than enough time to gain the upper hand in a firefight.”

Arilee’s breath hitched. “You really think it’ll come to that?”

I met her worried gaze. “We hope for the best, prepare for the worst.”

She nodded, a determined set to her jaw. This human continually surprised me with her resilience.

Davor cleared his throat, drawing our attention back to him. “That’s not all I’ve got for you.” He produced another device, this one even smaller than the pulse disruptors. “Bone conductor communicators.”

“How does that work?” Arilee asked, leaning in to get a better look.

“It allows for silent communication, bypassing the dampening field,” Davor explained. “The device is implanted directly into the mastoid bone behind your ear. Undetectable by standard scans.”

I frowned. “Implanted? Is that safe for a human?”

Davor waved off my concern. “Perfectly safe. The procedure takes less than five minutes, and it’s completely reversible.”

Arilee straightened, her eyes narrowing. “You want to put that thing in my head?”

“It’s your choice,” I said softly, fighting the urge to reach out and comfort her. “It’s always your choice.”

She held my gaze, gnawing at her lower lip, conflict clear in her eyes. Finally, she nodded. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

Davor watched our silent exchange with a knowing smirk. “Good. Now for the final piece of equipment.” He rolled up his sleeve. “The nano-blade injector.”

Arilee frowned. “The what?”

“It’s a last resort weapon,” Davor explained. He held up his arm, demonstrating. “When activated, it rapidly forms a sharp blade from compressed nanomaterials, deployed through the skin.”

I watched in fascination as a wicked-looking blade emerged from Davor’s forearm, gleaming in the harsh light of the briefing room. It retracted just as quickly, leaving no trace of its existence.

“The blade can cut through almost anything,” Davor continued. “But use it sparingly. It’s incredibly lethal, and the energy drain on your body is significant.”

I nodded, understanding the gravity of such a weapon. But when I turned to gauge Arilee’s reaction, I found her face had drained of color. Her eyes were wide, fixed on Davor’s arm where the blade had emerged.

“Arilee?” I asked, concern flooding through me.

She took a shaky step back from the table. “That’s... that’s inside you? Like, under your skin?”

Davor’s expression softened as he looked at Arilee’s pale face. “It’s a recent development,” he explained, his voice gentler than before. “I’ve only tested it on Vinduthi subjects so far. Our regenerative abilities make it safe for us.” He shrugged. “Mostly. So far.”

I felt a knot form in my stomach. Ice clawed down my back at the idea of Arilee using untested technology. I wished there was a way I could protect her from all of this. Keep her here while I dealt with Gorin.

But there wasn’t. She would have to be dragged into this fight, whether I liked it or not.

“What about humans?” Arilee asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Davor sighed, but didn’t look away. “Honestly, I’m not sure. Human physiology is different. There could be risks we haven’t anticipated.”

I couldn’t hold back anymore. “She’s not using it,” I growled, surprising myself with the intensity of my reaction.

Arilee’s head snapped towards me, her eyes flashing. “Don’t I get a say in this?”

Her defiance, even in the face of potential danger, stirred something in me. Admiration mixed with frustration, creating a potent cocktail of emotions I struggled to suppress.

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