Page 51 of Fourth

He was already moving before the alert chimed through the capital village, where the Elaroin Council gathered and held authority. The Elders’ warning flared through his comms—any unauthorized ship entering Elaros airspace would be fired upon without question. Asharp jolt snapped through him, forcing him to assume the worst. It had to be the vessel that followed them. And there must have been more thanone.

He sprinted for his ship, sealing the ramp behind him as he activated systems. “Computer,” he ordered, voice cold. “Identify.”

“Three vessels approaching Elaros orbit. Transponder codes: Alpha Unit designations. Third. Fifth. Sixth. They’re signaling you.”

The tension in his spine didn’t ease. Alpha Unit Third—meant Tor’Vek. And probably his mate, Anya. But it could still be a deception. No ship landed on Elaros without invitation. And if they were fired on, it would not just mean the end of the crafts. It would sever Anya from Maya forever. Their bond as twins would be ripped apart, afinal, permanent silence that Maya would carry for the rest of herlife.

Riv’En turned from the edge of the settlement where he’d been scanning the horizon. Behind him, the village shimmered with quiet, untouched peace. Trees blurred in soft waves of color. Maya was there. Somewhere in that shifting light. He could not afford to make a mistake.

He activated comms. “Third. Identify yourself. Confirm command code.”

A beat. Then Third’s voice cut through the static: clear, clipped. “Fourth. Alpha Unit Third. Tor’Vek. Command code: Sentinel Nine Theta.”

The code locked into his system. Verified. He toggled a secondary comm channel immediately. “Elders, this is Fourth. Incoming crafts verified as Alpha Unit. Stand down defense grid unless I report otherwise.”

A pause crackled through the channel before the Elders responded, their tone sharpened with authority. “State their purpose, Fourth. If their intent is unclear, the defense grid will engage.”

“Purpose entering Elaroin airspace?” he demanded.

“Alpha Unit orders. Debriefing and confirmation of Maya’s status. Authorization to land. Reunification of the twins and verification Maya has not been contaminated.”

Riv’En’s paused, not ready to authorize landing. Not yet. “Maintain orbit. Iwill meet you.”

The ramp sealed with a final hiss, systems coming fully online beneath Riv’En’s hands. He activated thrusters, lifting smoothly into the sky. As the atmosphere fell away, the green-blue shimmer of Elaros shrinking beneath him, he focused only on the task ahead. The Elaroin Elders would expect caution. It was his role to keep their sanctuary protected.

Within moments, the three crafts appeared on sensors. He adjusted trajectory, angling his vessel to an intercept vector. No weapons deployed. No shield activation. But he was ready.

The three crafts hung in orbit like sentinels. One larger: Sixth. Two smaller: Third and Fifth. Standard Alpha Unit configuration.

As Riv’En neared visual range, Third’s voice came through once more. “Fourth. Permission to descend?”

Riv’En opened the comm fully now, so there was no lag, no distortion. His eyes tracked the sleek lines of Third’s vessel. His voice stayed low. Measured.

“You are authorized for full scan verification before descent. The Elders will review the data. Once cleared, permission granted. Escort only. Maintain formation behind me. Any deviation will result in defense measures. Understood?”

“Understood,” Third confirmed.

Riv’En angled his ship into descent, the other three falling into line behind him. Still, every muscle in his body stayed tight as a trigger not yet pulled.

He couldn’t relax. Not until all of Alpha Unit stood on Elaros soil, and he was certain they came as allies. The crafts touched down in the landing bay beyond the capital village. Vaeyra waited there, the only Elder present—asignal of formality, not full council alarm. Her posture remained calm, but her eyes tracked every motion as Riv’En disembarked and approached.

Vaeyra inclined her head slightly, her silver eyes catching the light. “We will retreat to your home for introductions and evaluation,” she said. “The Council requires discretion, but I will oversee this personally.” Her voice carried quiet authority, steady as stone. “If any of them pose a risk, we will not hesitate to neutralize them by any means necessary, including force.”

Riv’En acknowledged her with a brief nod, then watched as Third, Fifth, and Sixth disembarked in formation. Tor’Vek stepped down first—tall and rigid, his black-and-white hair stark against the sleek uniform of Alpha Unit, marked only by a healer’s insignia at the collar. His movements were measured, face impassive, each step an exact mirror of the last. Scanning tools lined his belt, each one gleaming faintly under the light of the dual suns. His face was cold and remote, every movement deliberate.

Anya remained aboard Third’s craft, visible through the viewport but unmoving. Her golden hair was braided tight against her skull, pale eyes sharp and searching as she tracked everything outside with quiet tension. She did not step out until Tor’Vek gave a subtle nod, signaling it was safe. Only then did she emerge, smaller but no less commanding.

From separate crafts, Fifth and Sixth disembarked next. Fifth emerged from his own vessel first, broader through the shoulders, his frame solid and imposing. His uniform was charcoal-black, similar to Tor’Vek’s but with heavier armoring at the joints.

Sixth stepped from his own larger craft a breath later, moving like a shadow made solid, silent and watchful. Adeep blue streak marked Sixth’s temple—arank designation unique to his Apex status. His dark uniform nearly blended into the crafts behind him, and his face remained expressionless as he fell into formation beside Fifth.

Both men approached steadily, joining Tor’Vek until all four stood facing Riv’En in an unbrokenline.

Anya stepped forward, unmistakable, her presence steady beside Tor’Vek, but her gaze flicked past Riv’En, searching for someoneelse.

Guards flanked Maya in the distance. She was already fighting them, shoving against their grips, clearly desperate to reach Riv’En. Her voice carried—sharp, furious—before her eyes caught sight of her sister.

Anya.

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