CHAPTER TEN: A SECOND MEETING

The Marshal's office smelled of gunpowder and stale coffee grounds, an aroma that clung to the walls like a bad memory. Kael's machete vibrated against his back, its Nsibidi glyphs pulsing in time with the flickering lumen-strips. He stepped inside, the heavy door creaking as it swung open. Dain, the Marshal, didn't look up from his paperwork—just tapped the tribal tattoo on his neck with a grease-stained finger."You're early," he said, his voice gravel wrapped in leather. "Either brave or stupid."Kael planted his palms on the scarred metal desk, feeling the cold bite through his gloves. "How about determined?"Dark eyes lifted, studying Kael with the intensity of a predator assessing wounded prey. A smirk crept across Dain's face, the silver in his close-cropped hair catching the dim light. The mind on this one, he thought. "Let's see what that determination buys you, young blood."As Kael scanned the office—walls papered with yellowed mission reports, a broken Shrieker talon mounted like a trophy—Dain reached for a long-stemmed pipe resting in a chipped ceramic ashtray. The antique glinted as he lit it with a practiced flick of his wrist. Sweet, earthy smoke curled through the air in languid spirals, wrapping around them like a shroud.Kael waved a hand through the haze, grimacing. "What is that?""This," Dain exhaled a perfect smoke ring that dissolved near the ceiling, "is tobacco. One of the few good things the old world left us." His grin widened when Kael coughed. "Along with that machete of yours."Kael unsheathed the blade in one fluid motion and laid it between them on the desk. The glyphs along its spine pulsed faster, casting jagged shadows across Dain's face like living scars. The weapon felt alive, a part of him that had survived the chaos of the world outside.Dain didn't touch it. "Two Sectors have spent fifteen years trying to replicate that design," he said, eyeing the weapon like it might bite. He tapped a command into his console, and a holographic schematic materialized—an identical machete, its glyphs writhing like serpents. "Every prototype either melts its wielder's hands—" he tapped his temple "—or their mind. But yours? It always comes home."Kael's fingers twitched toward the weapon. He remembered that night after his father's death, hurling both machetes into the Dead Zone's acid pools, only to wake with them crossed over his chest like funeral offerings. The way the steel had sung during the warlord attack, moving through enemies like they were wheat before the scythe. It was more than a weapon; it was a legacy.Dain stood abruptly, his shadow swallowing the room. "If that's all—""It's not." Kael met his gaze, unflinching. "Gamma Outpost needs aid. After the titan—""Your walls are crumbling, your food stores are ash, and the UWN would rather piss on your graves than send help." Dain's tone was flat, devoid of sympathy. He scribbled coordinates on a scrap of flimsy with a charcoal stick, the lines sharp and precise. "Be at these docks at moonset. Ask for the Marrow's Mercy." His filed teeth gleamed in the low light. "And Kael? Don't bring Jabari."Kael felt a knot tighten in his stomach. Jabari was a skilled scout, but there was something darker lurking beneath his charm. "Why not? He can help."Dain leaned back, crossing his arms. "Help? Or hinder? You think he cares about Gamma? He's got his own agenda, and it doesn't include saving your people."Kael clenched his jaw, frustration boiling within him. "We need every hand we can get. The titan left us vulnerable. If we don't act now, we might as well dig our own graves."Dain's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, the smoke from his pipe curling between them like a barrier. "You think I don't know what's at stake? I've seen outposts crumble, seen people turn on each other when the supplies run low. Jabari's not the ally you think he is. Trust me."The weight of Dain's words hung in the air, thick and suffocating. Kael felt the urgency of the situation press down on him. He had seen the desperation in Gamma's eyes, the way hope was fading like the last rays of sunlight before a storm."Fine," Kael relented, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "I'll go alone."Dain nodded, satisfied. "Good choice. Now, get moving. You don't have time to waste."Kael turned to leave, the door creaking as he pushed it open. Outside, the salt wind stung his eyes as he approached the docks. The Marrow's Mercy sat low in the water, its rusted hull streaked with luminous algae, a ghost of a ship that had seen better days. A woman stood at the gangplank, her coat stitched from UWN body bags, a testament to the grim realities of their world."Doc," she rasped, surgical scars pulling tight as she smiled. Behind her, crewmen loaded crates marked with Gamma's coordinates. The sight of the supplies brought a flicker of hope, but it was quickly overshadowed by the weight of his mission."Kael," she continued, her voice steady despite the chaos around them. "I've been expecting you."Kael eyed the cargo—medical kits, dried rations, even pulse rifle parts. "How—""Old tunnels. Deep ones the UWN forgot." Doc tossed him a vial of black powder, its contents swirling ominously. "Sprinkle this on your perimeter. Keeps Shriekers from smelling blood."A metallic screech came from belowdecks, and Doc didn't flinch. "My engineer's prepping the route. Your supplies beat dawn to Gamma." Her gaze dropped to his machete, a knowing look in her eyes. "Dain said you'd ask about bringing others."Kael's jaw tightened. "Jabari doesn't know about this.""Smart." She leaned close, her breath smelling of antiseptic, the scent mingling with the salty air. "Because men like him? They don't retrieve assets. They terminate them."The sub's engines growled to life, a low rumble that resonated through the dock. As Kael turned to leave, Doc called out: "That inn near the eastern wall—he's waiting. Watch where he puts his hands."The inn's sign swung in the gathering storm, its rusty chains screaming in the wind. Through the warped glass, Kael saw Jabari at a corner table, cleaning his knife with methodical strokes. The blade glinted under the dim light, a reminder of the danger that lurked in every shadow. The machete's vibration became a snarl, a warning of the tension that crackled in the air.Kael touched its hilt, feeling the glyphs burn under his fingers. Whatever game Jabari was playing, the pieces were in motion now. Doc's supplies would reach Gamma by dawn, but he needed to tread carefully.Pushing the door open, he stepped inside, the warmth of the inn wrapping around him like a blanket. Jabari looked up, his dark eyes glinting with mischief. "Kael. You finally decided to show up.""Cut the small talk," Kael replied, his voice firm. "I know what you're after."Jabari leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. "And what's that? You think I'm here to play hero?"Kael narrowed his eyes, the air between them thick with unspoken tension. "You're not the hero, Jabari. You're just a pawn in someone else's game."Jabari's laughter echoed off the walls, a sound that sent chills down Kael's spine. "You've got it all wrong. I'm the one holding the pieces. But I like your spirit, kid. It's refreshing."Kael stepped closer, lowering his voice. "I'm not here to play games. Gamma needs help. The titan left us vulnerable, and I'm not letting you turn this into a personal vendetta."Jabari's expression shifted, the amusement fading. "You think I care about Gamma? This is about something bigger, something that could change everything."Kael felt a surge of anger. "What could possibly be more important than saving lives?"Jabari leaned in, his voice a conspiratorial whisper. "Power, Kael. The kind that can reshape the world. And the machetes? They're the key."The revelation hung in the air, heavy and foreboding. Kael took a step back, his heart racing. "You're willing to sacrifice everything for power?"Jabari shrugged, a nonchalant gesture that belied the seriousness of his words. "Everything is a sacrifice in this world. You either take what you can or get ground into dust."Kael clenched his fists, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "I won't let you drag Gamma into your schemes."Jabari's eyes narrowed, a glint of danger flashing within. "You think you can stop me? You're just a kid with a fancy blade."Kael's resolve hardened. "Maybe so, but I'm not afraid to fight for what's right."The tension between them crackled like electricity, both men standing on the precipice of confrontation. Kael knew he had to tread carefully, but he also understood that he couldn't let Jabari's ambition jeopardize the survival of Gamma Outpost."Stay out of my way, Jabari," Kael warned, turning to leave. "I'm not playing your game."As he stepped back into the storm, the weight of his mission pressed heavily on his shoulders. The path ahead was fraught with danger, but he was determined to protect his people, no matter the cost.