Nucleus 1: The Dust of Moon [Mature Sci-fi Romance]

Harald's fingers flew across his console, pulling up a secondary display. "I have surveillance at Encampment 4. Let me see."

The new hologram bloomed to life, showing grainy footage from a concealed camera. Under the pale afternoon sunlight, shapes moved with purpose. A massive beetle-like mech dominated the frame, its green armor gleaming even in the gray light.

"Scarab," Xin breathed. While Lorna rested in the hospital after the Shashan mission, he had studied enough to identify the forces of the Alliance's enemies: the Imperium of Dragons, the Emerald Directorate, and more.

"Sharing the holo link with you, Sigrún. Do you recognize these soldiers?" Harald's hands paused above the console, looking at Lorna's hologram.

"That's Directorate." Her response was instant.

The camera adjusted, zooming on the ground forces. Soldiers in distinctive emerald exosuits advanced in formation, Plasma Rifles at ready. Among them, a young Maridian man stood out—powerful build, golden Vibro-Spear catching what little light filtered through the clouds.

But it was the figure beside him that made Xin's heart stop.

"Ume?"

She moved with confidence, an emerald Plasma handgun held with ease. Her combat suit—steel gray with green-gold embroidery—marked her as Directorate now. The android he'd freed, whom he'd tried to protect, had found her own path.

"You know that Imperial woman?" Lorna's voice sharpened through the static.

"She's... it's complicated." Xin watched Ume gesture to the spear-wielder, clearly communicating something. "But if she's with them, if the Directorate's here... that spear-wielding soldier must be Jabari."

"We're drastically outnumbered," Lorna finished. "Pa, I've got maybe twenty minutes before they find these tunnels. Olav and I can't take on a full Directorate strike team."

"Come back immediately," Harald commanded. "Abandon the Yosemite shard—"

"No." Lorna's jaw set in a stubborn line. "We're too close. But I need backup or a damn good distraction."

Håkon made an anxious sound, pointing at his mother's image with both claws.

Xin's mind raced.

"We need to contact Diego and Thomas. Before we fought Skarn, they were on their way." Xin said.

Håkon climbed up to Xin's shoulder, making approving chirps.

"Your Alliance teammates," Harald's expression darkened. "Absolutely not."

"Sir, listen—"

"I will NOT invite more vultures to pick at Moondust bones!" Harald's fist struck the console. "Your Alliance, the Directorate, they're all the same. Power-hungry factions that—"

"That Lorna is going to face alone if we don't act." Xin stood, Håkon adjusting his grip on his shoulder. "You say you want all of us united against the Fenris Horde? This is your chance to prove it."

"By trusting the people who dumped their nuclear waste in Nordling lands? Who kept my people in detention camps?"

"By trusting the people who've fought beside Lorna and me." Xin put on his green Quantum Watch, already accessing communication protocols. "Diego coordinated our extraction from Taiwan. Thomas is always the last man to quit. They're not perfect, but they care about us."

Through the hologram, Lorna watched the argument with sharp attention.

"You don't understand, boy." Harald's voice dropped dangerously. "I am a terrorist charged with Radi-Mon-related crimes. In the worst standing imaginable with the Corporate Chamber. The moment they learn I'm here—"

"Would they arrest you?" Xin met his glare steadily. "You're the father of someone they respect. That's got to mean something."

"Pappa-right!" Håkon chirped out human words suddenly, surprising everyone. He pointed at the surveillance feed where the Scarab mech had paused, scanning the area. "Mama-need-help!"

"Håkon understands," Xin said softly. "The Directorate team is going to search those tunnels. When they do, Lorna and Olav will be trapped between them and whatever Jokull forces are still down there. Unless we give them another option."

Harald's hands clenched and unclenched. On screen, the Directorate forces had spread out, clearly beginning a systematic search pattern.

"Pa," Lorna's voice came gentle but firm. "I know you've spent a decade hiding. But I can't fight everyone at once. If you can bring backup..."

"Diego's StarWhale could provide support. So can our Space Rover—assuming it's operational." Xin pressed, his eyes darting to the white vehicle, noting damage repaired, likely courtesy of Harald. "We draw the Directorate's attention while Lorna completes the mission. Then we extract together."

"And if your Alliance 'friends' decide I'm too valuable to leave free?"

"Then I'll stand between them and you." The words came without hesitation. "Just like I'll stand between anyone and Lorna. Or Håkon."

Something shifted in Harald's expression. He studied Xin for a moment, then looked at his grandson perched protectively on Xin's shoulder.

"You'd choose my family over your employers?"

"I chose your daughter over my employers the day I left Taiwan." Xin activated his watch's communication array. "Will you choose your pride over her life?"

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The silence stretched taut. On the surveillance feed, the Maridian man standing next to Ume pointed toward a ventilation grate. The same type that led to the tunnel system.

"Do it," Harald said. "But on my terms. They approach from the north while we take the Rover from the east. Pincer movement."

Relief flooded through Xin as he opened a secure channel. "Diego? It's Xin. We have a situation..."

"¿Xin?" Diego's cleanly shaved form in ballistic weave business suit sat straight, his voice cracking with shock. "You're alive! We've been trying to reach your Rover for hours. Nothing but static since this morning. ¿Dónde diablos—where the hell have you been?"

"It's complicated. We're with—" Xin glanced at Harald, who curtly shook his head. "We're safe, and the Moondust shard is almost ours. But Lorna's in trouble. Directorate forces are converging on her position in the tunnels under Mount Lyell."

"Directorate? Mierda." Engine sounds rustled through the connection. "Thomas, get over here! It's Xin!"

"Thomas's with you, too?" Xin's heart soared.

"Yeah, Doc Nikki said I'm good to go. Took an Interstate Maglev from Chicago to Bay Area." Heavy footsteps accompanied the baritone voice, then Thomas's silver-armed frame stepped into sight, short cropped blonde hair catching the light: "About damn time! Thought the Jokull got you for lunch."

"The Space Rover's comms were... disabled," Xin explained quickly, watching Harald's jaw tighten at the half-truth. "But we've got visual confirmation. Full Directorate strike team with a Scarab mech, closing on Lorna's position. She and—well, she's not alone, but she needs backup. Now."

As Xin spoke, Håkon watched his mother's hologram with worried eyes. She gave him a small smile, pressing her hand to her heart in a gesture he immediately mimicked.

Diego's eyes narrowed, his tactical mind clearly working. "You two got separated somehow, and managed to set up surveillance out there? ¿Y cómo sabes all this?"

Xin hesitated. "We have... local assets. The important thing is the Directorate's about to breach the tunnel system where Lorna's retrieving the shard."

"'Local assets,'" Thomas repeated flatly. "Right. And I'm the King of England."

"Okay, hermano. I see there's no time for twenty questions," Diego cut in. "How many Directorate soldiers we talking?"

"Eight to ten Ologun marines, one Scarab, and... that looks like a monk of some kind." Xin's voice caught slightly as he looked at the surveillance feed once more, noting a Nordling man with green eyes in brown and white robes stepping into sight. The man wasn't quite Harald's age, but carried himself with the bearing of a seasoned warrior. "The Ologuns are led by one with a golden spear."

"Hmm. Jabari Adomako," Diego said, stroking his chin. "Saw the threat analysis reports last week. That's the newest member to join the Kimaris Warband. Not the type to step aside. ¿Qué necesitas?"

"Diego, it's Lorna." Her hologram leaned into frame, already tapping on her Quantum Watch's sapphire dial. "Sending my location now. That's where you can expect to find the Moondust shard."

"Good to see you alive, amiga." Diego sighed in relief as his hands moved across unseen controls. "Mount Lyell. 37.7419° North, 119.2763° West. Deep in the backcountry. Gonna take some creative flying to reach."

"Got a full squad of Vanguards on our shuttle, though the Fenris and Jokull don't seem to care much about us." Thomas added with a grin. "They're all after that crashed Imperial Dragonfort and main Moondust stone. Feels good to be unpopular for once, huh?"

"Thomas." Lorna's voice softened slightly. "Good to hear you made it out. How's your hand?"

"Still got ten fingers and both thumbs. I'll manage." His grin widened. "More worried about you playing tunnel rat with Directorate topside."

"I'll drive us in the Space Rover, approaching from the east." Xin watched the surveillance feed as Ume pointed toward another access point with the Plasma Handgun in her small hand. "Can you provide air support? Approach from the north, draw them topside, away from the tunnels. Give us a window to extract Lorna."

"'Us?'" Thomas's suspicion was palpable. "Who exactly is—"

"I can explain once we get the Moondust shard." Xin interrupted. "Sorry, but Lorna needs help. Everything else is secondary."

A pause. Then Diego spoke: "We're seven minutes out in the StarWhale. But, if things go sideways with the Directorate..."

"They shouldn't be as cruel as the Imperium," Xin said, eyes on Ume's image. "At least, they too have people to protect."

"You'd hope so," Thomas noted. "But those folks are after the same thing as us."

"If the worst happens, we'll fight," Xin replied. "Then, we get everyone on our side home safe. With the Moondust shard."

"Bueno. That's good enough." Diego's voice shifted to operational mode. "We'll come in loud from the north, give them something to think about. You better have extraction ready."

"We do," Xin assured him, though Harald hadn't actually agreed to that part yet. The Nordling elder frowned, worry etching his weathered face.

"Hermano—" Diego's tone turned serious. "That 'local asset' of yours better not be setting us up. Because if anything happens to Lorna..."

"Nothing will," Xin promised. "You have my word."

"Tu palabra better be good. Seven minutes. Diego out."

Xin closed the channel and found Harald already moving, gathering gear with purpose.

"Your Space Rover's prepped," the older man said. "Fusion cells at 88% charge. We can reach the eastern tunnel access in twelve minutes if we push it. Sigrún should have cleared the underground passage."

"Mama-okay?" Håkon asked, still watching her hologram.

"I'll be fine, sweet boy," Lorna assured him. "You help Pappa and Grandpa, okay?"

The little Diabolisk nodded solemnly, then brightened. "Håkon-help!"

"That's my good boy." Her smile was genuine now. "Pa, Xin—be careful."

"We'll try not to die," Harald muttered, but fondness colored his grumbling.

"I learned from the best," she shot back. "Olav's signaling. We'll be at the Yosemite shard's root."

"We'll be there." Xin urged. "See you."

Lorna's image flickered, her hand reaching out as if she could touch them through the projection. "See you soon."

The hologram died.

"Right then." Harald secured the last of his equipment. "Time to see if your Alliance friends are as reliable as you claim."

They rushed toward the cave entrance where the Space Rover waited, its white armor scarred but solid. Xin took the driver's seat, muscle memory from Lorna's training guiding his hands across the startup sequence. Harald climbed into the passenger side, clearly uncomfortable being driven but practical enough not to argue.

"Hold tight, boy," Xin murmured as Håkon perched between them, tiny claws gripping the console.

The fusion engine roared to life under Xin's practiced touch. He'd come a long way from that first terrifying lesson on the deserted highway.

"East access tunnel?" Xin confirmed, already calculating the route through the snow.

"Twelve minutes if you don't crash us," Harald replied, one hand bracing against the door. "Can you handle mountain terrain?"

"Lorna's a thorough teacher." Xin shifted into gear, remembering her patient corrections, her hand over his on the steering wheel. "Let's go get her back."

The Rover lurched forward into the storm, three unlikely allies racing against time. Behind them, warmth and safety vanished in the snow. Ahead, convergence awaited—Directorate, Alliance, and whatever trap the Jokull and Fenris Radi-Mons had waiting.

But they'd face it together.