The hangar bustled with the new squad. Echo recognized a few types: Gravorgs (stone-like bruisers), Zephyrians (wind-manipulating avians), Tech-Adepts (cyborg humans), and two silent, hooded Drakani—reptilian humanoids known for their psychic resistance.
Their assigned squad leader was a Zephyrian named Korvax, his feathers the color of storm clouds. "Listen up! The Nexus is on a fungal world called Mycelia Prime. The atmosphere is toxic, the ground is unstable, and the native life is hostile. The Corrupted have already landed a vanguard. We drop, secure the Nexus spire, and hold until reinforcements arrive. Move as a unit. Your quirks and prejudices stay here."
As they boarded the dropship, Echo's blood sense expanded cautiously. He could feel the strong, slow pulse of the Gravorgs like distant drums. The Zephyrians had a rapid, fluttering rhythm. The Tech-Adepts' blood was laced with nanites, creating a strange, buzzing harmony.
But it was the two Drakani that felt… off. Their blood rhythm was dual-layered. A surface layer matched their reptilian physiology, slow and cold. But beneath it, almost imperceptibly, was a second rhythm—a faint, discordant violet echo.
Corruption. Not full transformation, but taint. Influence.
They were the traitors Kaelen warned about.
He caught Leyla's eye and gave a subtle nod toward the Drakani. Her nostrils flared, and she shifted her stance minutely—ready. Mira touched her wrist-band, a signal that she'd monitor spatial anomalies around them.
The game was already on.