The courtyard was quiet after the women dispersed, the morning sun casting long shadows across the stone pavement. Ravina, her presence commanding yet respectful, suddenly walked over to me, her dark eyes meeting mine.

"King, what is your order now?" she asked, her voice steady and sure.

I didn't hesitate. "You guys take everyone and go training with Lisa," I instructed, my tone firm. "She will help you all understand the customs and how to use various things here."

They all nodded in unison, their expressions determined, before turning to follow Lisa toward the training grounds. I watched them go, a sense of satisfaction settling over me. Order was being established, and they were falling into place.

Angela then approached me, her lips curling into a knowing smile. "Come with me, Dexter," she said, her voice laced with intrigue. "I'll show you something good. You will surely like this."

Curiosity piqued, I nodded and followed her. She led me to a building tucked away in a quieter part of the fortress. Inside, Veronica and Mary were already waiting, their faces lighting up as soon as they saw me.

"Dexter!" they greeted in unison, their voices warm and welcoming.

Angela gestured toward a large screen mounted on the wall. "Show him what we found," she instructed.

Veronica nodded and tapped a few keys on the console. The screen flickered to life, displaying a satellite image. My eyebrows rose slightly.

"You guys already launched the satellite?" I asked, turning to Angela.

She nodded, a hint of pride in her voice. "The first thing we did here was launch a satellite to monitor the situation," she explained.

The satellite feed flickered on the screen, the image sharpening into focus as the green hue pulsed in the center of the display. It was unlike anything I had seen before—a luminous, ethereal ribbon cutting through the darkness of space, its edges shimmering like liquid energy.

The color was unnatural, almost alive, as if it were breathing, expanding, and contracting in slow, rhythmic waves. It stretched across the sky like a celestial wound, a tear in the fabric of reality itself.

I stepped closer to the monitor, my eyes locked onto the phenomenon. "This isn't natural," I murmured, my voice low, my mind racing with possibilities. "It's too structured. Too... deliberate."

Angela stood beside me, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of fascination and concern. "We detected it late last night," she said, her voice steady but laced with urgency. "At first, we thought it was some kind of atmospheric anomaly, but the energy readings... they match the signatures from the Exodus Protocol."

I turned to her, my gaze sharp. "You're saying someone is trying to cross over?"

Angela nodded, her eyes reflecting the eerie glow of the screen. "Or something is being sent over," she replied, her voice dropping to a whisper. "The scientists are still analyzing it, but the energy fluctuations are identical to what we recorded when we first arrived here."

Veronica stepped forward, her fingers dancing over the console as she pulled up more data. "Look at this," she said, pointing to a series of graphs and readings. "The space-time distortion is increasing. Whatever this is, it's not stable. It's like something is pushing through."

I clenched my jaw, my instincts flaring. "Or someone," I muttered, my voice darkening. "If it's another traveler, they could be a threat. Or an ally. Either way, I need to see this for myself."

Angela's eyes met mine, a spark of excitement flickering in their depths. "You're going out there?" she asked, her voice tinged with both concern and anticipation.

"I have to," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "If this is another Exodus event, I need to be there when it happens. If it's an invasion, I'll stop it. If it's an ally, I'll bring them in. Either way, I'm not letting this go unchecked."

Angela nodded, her expression resolute. "Then we'll prepare the team," she said, already moving toward the door. "Lisa can handle the training. Veronica and Mary will monitor the phenomenon from here. And I'll go with you."

I turned to her, a slow smirk spreading across my lips. "You don't have to—"

"I know," she interrupted, her voice firm. "But I want to. If this is another traveler, or worse, another Walter, I'm not letting you face it alone."

I chuckled, the sound low and approving. "Good. Because I could use someone like you watching my back."

Angela's smirk matched mine. "Just don't forget who's really in charge," she teased, though her eyes were serious.

I turned back to the screen, the green hue pulsing ominously. "Oh, I haven't," I replied, my voice dark with promise. "But whoever—or whatever—is coming through that rift is about to learn a very important lesson."

Angela's gaze followed mine, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And what's that?"

I didn't look away from the screen, my voice cold and unyielding, my gaze locked onto the pulsing green hue that seemed to warp the fabric of space itself. "This world belongs to me," I declared, my tone leaving no room for doubt.

Angela chuckled, a dark, knowing sound that sent a shiver down my spine. She turned away from the screen and activated the comms, her voice sharp and commanding. "Lisa, status report."

Lisa's voice crackled through the speaker, clear and efficient. "All tribe members are accounted for, Angela. We've covered basic customs, survival training, and weapon handling. They're adapting faster than expected."

"Good," Angela replied, her tone approving. "Prepare to leave. We're moving out."

I turned to Angela, my expression firm. "We don't need the full army," I said, cutting through her next command before she could issue it. "Just the three of us. This is just monitoring. No need for a show of force—yet."

Angela raised an eyebrow, her arms crossing over her chest. "Dexter, we don't know what we're walking into. That rift could be anything—a new threat, another Walter, or worse. We should be prepared."

I stepped closer, my voice low but unshakable. "Trust me," I said, my gaze boring into hers. "If it's a threat, I'll handle it. If it's nothing, we don't waste resources. Three of us are enough."

Angela held my gaze for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line before she finally nodded. "Fine," she conceded, though her tone made it clear she wasn't entirely convinced. "But if things go south—"

"They won't," I interrupted, my voice final.

Angela exhaled sharply, then turned to Veronica and Mary. "You two, keep monitoring the phenomenon. If anything changes—anything—you alert us immediately."

Veronica nodded, her fingers already flying over the console. "Understood, Mom"

Mary glanced at me, her expression serious. "Be careful, Dexter."

I smirked, adjusting the strap of my gear. "Always am."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.