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The console hummedbeneath my fingers as I recalibrated the communication array, my mind fully absorbed in the intricate dance of alien technology that somehow recognized my touch. Hours had passed since I’d disabled the facility’s defenses, yet adrenaline still coursed through my veins, keeping me sharp, focused. This place—this impossible facility built by human-adjacent beings from another dimension—was becoming our sanctuary. And if I was going to make it truly safe, we needed a way to communicate with potential allies without broadcasting our location to every Legion patrol in the sector.

“Just a few more adjustments,” I muttered, more to myself than to Zehn, who stood nearby with arms crossed, his golden eyes tracking my every movement. Khaaz had gone to scout the perimeter again, his restless energy needing an outlet after our earlier conversation.

The communication array was sophisticated but oddly familiar, like finding a different dialect of a language you already speak. I input the frequency from Zehn’s prowler, then layered in encryption algorithms based on the Kridrin protocols I’d discovered in the facility’s database. The system accepted my commands with an ease that still unnerved me.

“There,” I said finally, leaning back from the console. “I’ve set up an automatic relay that will only accept communications on your prowler’s frequency. Anything else gets blocked before it even reaches our systems.”

“Will it alert us if someone tries?” Zehn asked, practical as always.

“Better than that.” I couldn’t help the pride that crept into my voice. “It’ll feed them false coordinates—a decoy signal about two hundred kilometers southeast, near that abandoned mining complex we passed on our approach.”

Zehn’s lips curved in a rare smile. “Clever.”

“I have my moments,” I replied, stretching my arms above my head to release the tension in my shoulders. My body ached from hours of standing hunched over the console, not to mention the earlier adrenaline rush of disabling the bomb and fighting off sentinel drones. “Is there any chance this place has functional plumbing? I would literally kill for a shower right now.”

“East wing, third door on the right,” Zehn said. “Khaaz found living quarters there during his patrol. The facility’s life support systems are still operational.”

I raised an eyebrow. “You were going to tell me this when?”

“When you finished securing our communications,” he responded smoothly. “Priorities.”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t argue with his logic. “Fair enough. I’m going to check it out. Keep an eye on the relay—it’ll ping if it makes contact with any of the frequencies we’ve programmed in.”

The hallways of the facility had stopped feeling quite so alien as I made my way to the east wing. Lights activated automatically as I approached, a soft blue-white glow that illuminated the smooth, curved walls. Despite its original purpose, the place felt almost welcoming.

The living quarters Zehn had mentioned turned out to be a small suite of rooms—sparse but functional, with what looked like sleeping platforms, storage units, and a circular doorway that led to the bathroom facilities. My heart leapt at the sight of what was unmistakably a shower, albeit one designed for beings slightly taller than the average human.

I stripped off my grimy clothes with a sigh of relief, letting them fall to the floor in a dirty heap. The control panel for the shower responded to my touch just like the main console had, and after a moment of experimentation, I managed to activate a spray of warm water from multiple directions.

The sensation was heavenly. I closed my eyes and let the water cascade over me, washing away days of sweat, dirt, and fear. For a few blissful minutes, I could almost pretend I was back home on Earth, in my apartment’s cramped shower after a long day at work. Not stranded in an alien facility with two massive leopard men who apparently considered me their mate.

Their mate. The thought sent a shiver through me that had nothing to do with the water temperature. My mind flashed back to Khaaz’s stunned expression when I’d kissed him, to the heat in Zehn’s eyes whenever I caught him watching me. The unity dreams we’d shared had been intense, but the reality of being with them—actually with them—was something I’d barely allowed myself to contemplate.

By the time I emerged from the shower, my skin flushed and my hair dripping wet, twilight had fallen outside the facility’s few windows. I found clean clothing in one of the storage units—simple garments that seemed designed for human proportions, further evidence of the Kridrin’s connection to humanity. The fabric was soft against my skin, almost silky, and I wondered what material it was made from as I made my way back to the main chamber.

The scent hit me first—something rich and savory that made my stomach growl in response. I followed my nose to a small adjoining room where Zehn and Khaaz had set up what looked like a makeshift dining area. A portable heating unit held some kind of stew, and neatly arranged on a flat surface were various fruits and what appeared to be bread.

“You cooked?” I asked, unable to keep the surprise from my voice.

Khaaz looked up from where he was slicing something purple and fruit-like into thin sections. His scarred face remained impassive, but there was a gentleness in his movements that hadn’t been there earlier.

“We hunted and prepared food for ourselves long before Legion rations,” Zehn explained, setting down three simple bowls. “The facility’s stores had preserved supplies, and Khaaz found edible plants nearby.”

“I analyzed them for compatibility with your digestive system,” Khaaz added quietly. “They’re safe.”

The thought of these two fierce warriors preparing a meal for me—for us—created a warm feeling in my chest that spread outward. Something domestic and tender amidst all the danger and uncertainty we’d faced.

We ate in companionable silence for a while, the food surprisingly good—hearty and flavorful, with the purple fruit adding a sweet-tart contrast. As my hunger eased, my mind returned to the research I’d been studying before setting up the communications relay.

“I found something interesting in the facility’s archives,” I said, setting down my bowl. “Records about Rodinian physiology and mating practices. Including their interpretation of fate-mates.”

Zehn’s hand stilled halfway to his mouth. Beside him, Khaaz went utterly motionless, not even breathing.

“The data mentioned shared dreams,” I continued, watching their reactions carefully. “Physiological responses. Bonding rituals. It was part of the Kridrin’s comparative xenobiology research.”

“Why were you looking into this?” Zehn asked, his deep voice carefully neutral.

I met his golden eyes directly. “Because I wanted to understand what’s happening between us. The unity dreams we shared weren’t just dreams, were they? They mean something specific in your culture.”

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