Twelve

Jessyn is marched blindfolded by a knife-wielding man through rough terrain, fearing execution yet clinging to the hope that her captor needs her alive. A young woman intercepts them, tempers the man’s anger, and guides Jessyn into a cliffside cave. Jessyn suffers a mounting panic attack in the dark until the woman steadies her with quiet attention.

In a limestone chamber lit by blue-green tripods, a dozen bedraggled children emerge. As Jessyn recognizes their fear and grief, a black, asymmetrical humanoid sentry—missing much of one arm and leg—unfolds from the wall. It asserts control, demonstrates a gun with a warning shot, and identifies itself with a name Jessyn parses as “Gor-fall.” The man treats it deferentially; Jessyn counters fear with anger and establishes minimal communication.

While the adults lead a ritual or lesson, Jessyn reflects that these are people like her—potential enemies of the Carryx and possible allies. A girl offers food, and Jessyn eats cautiously, staying nonthreatening under the sentry’s gaze.

Shifting to rest, Jessyn discovers her notebook was never confiscated and still syncs to the Carryx research network. Realizing it broadcasts the cave’s location, she debates summoning a rescue that could also doom the survivors. Instead of a direct alert to Third Gardener, she appends a note with the cave’s coordinates to Garral Pär’s recent report, framing it as a request to compare findings.

Jessyn turns the notebook face-down and waits, aware she may have just invited salvation, annihilation, or both to their hidden refuge.