Chapter 47: A New Alliance

Chapter 47: A New Alliance

Silvia's POV

The underground base hummed with tension as the resistance scrambled to process the stolen data. Engineers worked feverishly on decrypting the files, their screens casting eerie blue light over their tired faces. Silvia paced near the command center, her mind restless. Everything they had fought for led to this moment, and yet the weight of uncertainty settled heavily on her shoulders.

Dragon leaned casually against a support column, arms crossed. "You're going to burn a hole in the floor if you keep pacing."

She shot him a look but didn't stop. "I just want to know what's on that drive. If we're going to strike, we need more than just speculation."

Seraphine Vale entered the room, her expression grim. The veteran leader of the resistance had seen countless battles, but even she looked troubled. "We're close to breaking through Titan's encryption. Whatever's inside this drive… it's important."

Silvia folded her arms. "How long?"

"An hour. Maybe less," Seraphine replied, rubbing her temple. "Until then, I need you and your team to prepare for what comes next. We have an opportunity, but we're going to need allies."

Silvia exhaled. "Who did you have in mind?"

Seraphine's eyes narrowed. "The Outland Clans."

A beat of silence passed between them.

Raleth, who had been listening from the far side of the room, whistled low. "You mean the people who barely tolerate outsiders? Sounds like a great idea."

Silvia wasn't thrilled either. The Outland Clans were fierce and independent, a mix of former soldiers, survivalists, and nomadic warriors who refused to live under corporate control. Gaining their trust would be difficult—but if they succeeded, they would have a powerful force at their backs.

She turned to Dragon, whose expression remained unreadable. "Thoughts?"

He smirked. "Well, I do love a challenge."

Dragon's POV

He didn't say it out loud, but his mind was elsewhere. Watching Silvia, seeing the intensity in her eyes as she planned their next move, always left him in awe. She wasn't just a fighter—she was a force of nature.

Ever since the moment he had bonded with her, an unbreakable connection tied them together, pulling him toward her no matter how much he tried to mask it with sarcasm. He had never wanted anything more than he wanted her—not just as a leader, but as something far more dangerous. Something far more permanent.

She didn't see it, though. Not yet. And maybe that was for the best.

Dragon let out a slow breath, forcing himself to focus on the mission. "We'll need a backup plan if this goes south," he said finally.

Silvia nodded. "I already have one. Let's just hope we don't have to use it."

The Journey to the Outlands

The next morning, Silvia, Dragon, Raleth, and Tarren departed the underground base. Their transport skimmed across the cracked wastelands, dust kicking up in their wake. The barren landscape stretched for miles, remnants of a world long lost to war and decay.

Raleth sat in the back, adjusting her rifle. "The last time anyone from the resistance tried to contact the Outland Clans, they barely got out alive."

Silvia tightened her grip on the vehicle's controls. "Then we make sure we don't give them a reason to shoot first."

Dragon chuckled beside her. "Or at least, not right away."

Tarren sighed. "That's not reassuring."

Hours passed before the first signs of the Clans' territory appeared—makeshift watchtowers built from scavenged metal, reinforced bunkers blending seamlessly with the rocky terrain. As they approached the outer perimeter, Silvia slowed the transport, signaling their arrival.

Within moments, armed figures emerged from hidden vantage points, weapons trained on them.

"Hands where we can see them!" a voice barked.

Silvia raised her hands, stepping out of the vehicle. "We come in peace. We need to speak with your leader."

The Outlanders exchanged glances before one of them, a towering man clad in reinforced leather and metal plating, stepped forward. His cybernetic eye whirred as he studied them. "You have guts showing up here. State your business."

Silvia met his gaze without flinching. "We have something that could change the course of this war—and we need your help."

The man regarded her for a long moment before finally nodding. "Follow me. But be warned—if you lie, you won't leave this place alive."

Dragon's POV

As they followed the Outlanders through their settlement, Dragon kept close to Silvia's side, his senses alert. He wasn't just watching for threats—he was watching her.

She had that determined fire in her eyes again, the same one that had captivated him from the start. He wanted to protect her, to be the one she turned to when things got dangerous. And yet, Silvia was stubborn. She always carried everything alone.

He glanced at her, debating whether to say something, but instead, he smirked and leaned close. "If this all goes sideways, at least we'll die together."

Silvia rolled her eyes. "Romantic."

Dragon chuckled, but beneath it, he meant every word. He would follow her anywhere. Even into death.

Silvia sighed. This was going to be interesting.