Under Attack

After Juliet and Ulises stepped through the gate, the rest of the enclave held its breath.

All eyes turned to Harris, who stood near the podium, a small receiver gripped tightly in his hand.

Everyone waited.

The air was thick with tension, the only sounds being the occasional murmur and the crackling of the static-filled radio.

Several minutes crawled by before the receiver buzzed to life.

"Sir, everything looks fine," Juliet's voice finally broke through the static.

"We think it's a new island. Send a team to start looking for materials before anyone else arrives."

The message sparked a ripple through the crowd.

Some members of the enclave cheered, exchanging relieved smiles.

Others simply nodded and returned to their tasks, treating it like any other day.

Meanwhile, Julian stood by Emma's side, adrenaline starting to pump through him.

This would be his second time crossing through a newly made gate.

His first real exploration since arriving here.

Excitement warred with nerves inside him.

Emma barely gave him time to think.

"Let's hurry," she said, grabbing Julian's hand and pulling him toward the shimmering portal.

"We need to find some resources before the island moves too far and leaves us stranded."

Julian stumbled a little but quickly matched her pace.

As they crossed the threshold, he felt it.

The world around him twisted — a kaleidoscope of swirling colors, like walking through a liquid rainbow.

It was breathtaking.

Far more intense than he remembered from the warp to the enclave from the island where the plane crash happened.

And then, just like that, they emerged on the other side.

The scene before them was a harsh contrast to the lush greenery they had left behind.

A world of ice stretched out endlessly.

The biting cold cut through the air like knives.

Julian immediately shivered — but thankfully, the suit offered some protection, keeping the worst of it at bay.

They paused, taking it all in.

Nearby, Juliet and Ulises were already setting up a device — a scanner of sorts — to track valuable materials scattered across the island.

Julian pulled his helmet tighter.

This was it.

His first real step into the unknown.

"Alright, we'll need someone to watch over the gate," Juliet said, turning toward Julian.

Her voice was firm, leaving little room for argument.

"Kid, since you're new to all this, you'll be tasked with informing those back home."

She handed him a small device — a control baton linked to the gate.

"If you see anything dangerous, close the gate immediately. Just push this button," she instructed, pointing.

"But make sure you're inside the gate with both batons first. Otherwise…" She gave him a pointed look.

"You'll cause a disaster that could make you be stuck inside the time gate."

Julian nodded quickly, trying to seem confident.

Still, her warning made him pause.

For the first time since stepping through, he wondered if he had made the right choice coming here.

"We should be back in about… an hour," Ulises added, checking his equipment.

"So relax. But don't stop checking your surroundings."

He gave Julian a serious look.

"I doubt there are any dinosaurs here with the biting cold, but bears, dires, or sabers might still be lurking."

With that, the three older members moved off, following the soft beeping of their tracking device deeper into the snowy wilderness.

Julian stayed behind, standing near the shimmering portal.

In his hands was a small but powerful gun — one of the enclave's few high-grade weapons.

It wasn't much comfort, but it packed a serious punch if he needed to defend himself.

He kept his back to the portal, eyes constantly scanning the ice-coated trees and drifts of snow around him.

Minutes passed.

Then, through the crackling static of his radio, a voice came through.

"Harris to Team A, what's your situation?"

Julian stayed silent for a few seconds thinking about what he would say.

And yet he had no new information to share.

A few seconds later, Juliet's voice answered back.

"We've just passed through a dense forest covered in snow," she reported calmly.

"We're proceeding cautiously. Expect to reach Alpha in about an hour."

There was a short pause, and then she added:

"Send reinforcements to keep an eye on the kid. We'll provide further details if needed."

Julian's grip on the gun tightened slightly.

Reinforcements? Was he really that much of a liability? he thought bitterly.

Harris's voice came back, calm and commanding.

"Roger. Team B is almost ready. What's the danger level, so we can have them prepared?"

This time, it was Emma who answered, her voice cutting sharply through the static.

"Winter island. Low on beasts. So far, just mammals and some avians — nothing we can't handle."

Julian let out a slow breath.

For now, at least, the biggest threat wasn't dinosaurs or rogue enclaves.

But something still gnawed at the back of his mind.

He had a feeling this wasn't going to stay quiet for long.

Within ten minutes, Julian spotted two figures stepping through the gate.

They wore full helmets, their faces hidden, but they waved at him in a friendly way as they approached.

"Boy, you need to relax," said the first figure, hefting a massive warhammer over her shoulder.

It was Sarah tamer of the large dire wolf — recognizable now by her confident stride and booming voice.

"Just sit down by that rock," she added with a grin.

"This is going to be a quick one."

"Yeah, no need to be on edge," the second figure said.

It was Valor, one of the enclave's best archers.

"I'll take a look around — maybe find some good plant seeds we can use."

Taking their advice, Julian lowered himself onto the rock, trying to ease the tightness coiling in his stomach.

The two hunters spread out, keeping an eye on the area.

For a little while, everything stayed calm.

The snow drifted gently around them, and Julian found himself starting to relax — almost to the point of boredom.

But then, the radio crackled sharply to life.

"Valor, Sarah," came Ulises's voice, tense and quick.

"We're going to need help. Big haul this time. Go northwest, a bit further then mile in. We'll meet you halfway."

There was a short pause, and then his voice grew more urgent.

"Try to make it fast — I've detected another gate that opened a few seconds ago."

Without hesitation, both Valor and Sarah broke into a run.

Julian watched them vanish into the snowy trees, feeling a fresh wave of anxiety creeping up his spine.

Now he was truly alone.

He tightened his grip on the small gun at his side, scanning the landscape with sharp, nervous eyes.

Minutes ticked by.

Just as he started to shift uncomfortably and was about to sit again, the radio lit up — this time, the light flashing an ominous red.

Julian's heart skipped a beat.

He remembered what Juliet had said:

If it flashes red, press the button and stay alert, it is a signal for being under attack.

With a shaky hand, Julian pressed the designated button.

Immediately, Harris's voice came through, serious and controlled.

"I know you're new, kid, but it seems something happened with the team," Harris said.

"Be ready."

Julian's fingers clenched around the radio.

He heard a faint click on the other end, then Harris's voice returned — this time grim.

"Two red, one green."

Julian's breath hitched.

He remembered the code.

Two red, one green.

That meant two hostile signatures had been detected... and one friendly.

"Get ready, Julian," Harris said.

"They should be near you. Watch for any traps. They've sent out a code for rogues, so you need to be prepared to close the gate immediately if necessary."

Julian swallowed hard.

Rogues.

The one thing more dangerous than any dinosaur or wild beast.

Humans who had turned to piracy, scavenging, and killing just to survive.

He could feel his heartbeat thundering in his chest.

Still, he stood firm.

He was determined to do his job — no matter how terrified he was.