The valley looked deceptively peaceful from the ridge—lush grasses peeking through the frost, distant trees moving like whispers in the breeze. But Kael knew better. So did Aria. The Smugglers' Camp had a reputation built on blood and bartered lives.
They moved cautiously down the slope, keeping to the shadows of jagged rocks and broken terrain. Rhea stuck close to Aria, eyes wide but focused. She was learning fast.
As they neared the outskirts of the camp, the stench hit them—smoke, old oil, and something metallic. Half-sunken buildings made of scrap and ship parts stood crooked like drunken teeth. Men and women in scavenged armor watched from makeshift towers.
Aria raised a hand. "Stay close. Don't speak unless you have to."
Inside, the camp buzzed with movement. Children darted between booths. Traders barked prices. Armed guards lounged with eyes that never stopped calculating.
A tall woman with silver braids stepped into their path. She wore a long jacket stitched from different fabrics and a pistol strapped to each thigh. Her face was all scars and sharp angles.
"Well, well," she drawled. "Look what the thaw dragged in."
Aria stepped forward, holding out the chip. "I have information."
The woman didn't even glance at it. "Everyone has information. Most of it's worth piss. Who the hell are you?"
"I used to work inside CryoSector 9," Aria said. "I escaped with data on the experiments. The truth."
That made the woman pause.
Kael stayed quiet, one hand near his weapon. Rhea watched everything, absorbing.
The woman finally reached for the chip. "If you're lying, I'll feed you to the dogs."
Aria didn't blink. "If I'm lying, you won't get the truth before the world burns."