Leik opened her eyes. The dim, amber glow of the corridor lights filtered through the cracks in the doorframe. She lay still for a moment and let the heaviness of sleep drain from her limbs. She stretched her arms above her head, and her spine popped with a series of satisfying cracks.

  She reached out across the mattress. Her hand met only cool, rough wool.

  "Strider?"

  She patted the empty space beside her, then checked the smaller cot pushed against the wall. The blankets were tossed aside in a heap, but the twins were gone.

  "Where are those little buggers?"

  She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. The bunkroom was silent. Usually, the morning air in the Biome carried the distant hum of ventilation fans and the murmur of waking families, but today it felt heavier, settled.

  Leik swung her legs out of bed. Her feet touched the cold concrete floor. She moved through her morning routine with practiced efficiency. She splashed a meager handful of recycled water on her face from the basin, scrubbed her teeth with a frayed neem stick, and pulled on her fresh tunic and trousers.

  She exited the bunk area and stepped into the corridor.

  A neighbor, an old man named Herns who repaired shoes, sat on a crate outside his door. He looked up as she passed.

  "Morning, Leik. Or should I say, good afternoon?"

  Leik paused and frowned slightly.

  "Afternoon? Did I sleep in that late?"

  Herns chuckled and returned his attention to a boot sole.

  "Something like that. You look rested, though. The color is back in your cheeks."

  "Thanks, Herns."

  She continued down the tunnel. She navigated the maze of pipes and wires that lined the ceiling. Her stomach grumbled, a deep, hollow sound that demanded attention. She turned toward the mess hall.

  A woman hurried past with a basket of scrap metal. Leik caught her arm gently.

  "Hey, Marly. Is breakfast still being served?"

  Marly stopped and looked at Leik with wide eyes.

  "Breakfast? Honey, breakfast finished hours ago. The kitchen crew is already serving lunch."

  Leik blinked.

  "Lunch? But the lights..."

  "Time moves fast when you're out cold. You better hurry if you want the fresh batch."

  Marly patted her arm and rushed off.

  Leik stood there for a second. She shook her head to clear the confusion and quickened her pace.

  She entered the mess hall. It was a cavernous space carved out of the bedrock, supported by thick steel pillars that were painted with anti-rust coating. Long tables made of flattened scrap metal filled the room. The air hung thick with the scent of roasted meat and earthy spices.

  A few people stood in line by the serving counter. They held crude ceramic bowls with chipped edges.

  Leik walked up to the kitchen area. Steam rose from large iron vats behind the counter. A woman with a stern face but kind eyes presided over the ladles. Her hair was tied back in a severe bun, and her apron was stained with grease and flour.

  "Lafaith. Good to see you."

  Lafaith looked up from the stew she stirred. A smile broke through her tough exterior.

  "Leik! We were wondering when the Sleeping Beauty would grace us with her presence."

  Leik leaned against the counter.

  "Everyone keeps saying that. I must have really crashed. What's on the menu today? I could eat a whole Decayer."

  Lafaith laughed and tapped the spoon against the rim of the pot.

  Clang-clang.

  "Don't eat those. They give you indigestion. Today we have the usual delicacies. Roasted sand-lizard; we got a fresh catch from the traps this morning. And clay bread with veggie mash from the Garden."

  "Sounds perfect. Load me up."

  Leik took a bowl and waited as Lafaith piled a generous helping of stringy meat and a dense, gray-brown loaf onto it.

  She turned to find a seat at the nearest table.

  "Well, look who decided to rejoin the living!"

  Gustov lumbered toward her. His jovial smile stretched wide across his face, and his belly shook with his laughter.

  Leik set her bowl down and sat.

  "Gustov. What is going on? Everyone is acting like I rose from the dead. Is something wrong with having a good night's sleep?"

  Gustov pulled out a stool and sat opposite her. The metal groaned under his weight.

  "A good night? Leik, you've been asleep for two days."

  Leik froze. A piece of lizard meat hovered halfway to her mouth.

  "Two days?"

  "Forty-eight hours, give or take. You didn't wake up yesterday at all. Strider was worried sick. He had Dr. Thin come over and check on you twice."

  Leik lowered the food. Her mind raced.

  "I... I had no idea. Dr. Thin said I needed rest, but I didn't think my body would shut down like that."

  Gustov nodded sympathetically.

  "The Doc said you were exhausted. The pregnancy, the Adamantine sword, the stress... your body just pulled the emergency brake. But he said you were fine, just recharging."

  Leik exhaled slowly.

  "Two days. I missed so much. What happened with the prisoner? Reiner? Is he still in lockup?"

  "He is. Still in the holding cell. Kingham and Strider decided it's best to keep him on ice for now until we're sure no one is looking for him. But don't worry, we aren't mistreating him. He gets his sludge, he gets his water. He's been on his best behavior. Quiet as a mouse."

  Leik nodded.

  "That's good. And Strider? He better not have gone on a raid without telling me."

  Gustov chuckled.

  "Relax, Mama Bear. He's at the training ground. He took the two brats with him. He's trying to teach them which end of the sword goes into the Ruster."

  "Good."

  Just then, Lafaith bustled over to the table. She carried a plate of extra bread. She placed it down and wiped her hands on her apron.

  Gustov’s eyes lit up. He reached out and squeezed her rear end with a playful, meaty hand.

  "And where is my plate, woman? Watching Leik eat is making me hungry."

  Lafaith spun around and swatted his hand away with a stinging slap.

  Thwack.

  "Unhand my rump, you bottomless pit! You already ate three servings. If you don't keep your hands to yourself, you won't get any dinner tonight, let alone anything else."

  Gustov raised his hands in surrender. He feigned terror.

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  "Okay! Okay! Mercy! I starve in silence."

  Leik burst out laughing. The sound startled a few diners at the next table. She shoveled a spoonful of mash into her mouth, then another.

  "Woah, slow down," Gustov warned. "You're going to choke."

  Lafaith looked at Leik with a softer expression.

  "Let her eat. She's growing another human in there. She needs the nutrients. I'll bring another bowl, Leik. You look like you need it."

  "Thank you, Lafaith. You're a lifesaver."

  Lafaith bustled back to the kitchen.

  Gustov watched Leik eat for a moment. He glanced around the mess hall to ensure no eyes were lingering on their table. He dipped his hand into the deep pocket of his cargo pants.

  He slid a cylindrical object across the table, hidden beneath his palm.

  "Take this."

  Leik peeked under his hand. The silver gleam of a Plastinium can reflected the overhead light. W-H2O.

  She jerked back slightly. She scanned the room nervously. Drinking that in the open would attract too many envious eyes.

  She whispered harshly.

  "Gustov! Are you crazy? Put that away."

  “Take it.”

  “Fine.”

  She snatched the can and shoved it into her trousers.

  "Did you smuggle this from storage? Kingham will skin you alive."

  Gustov shook his head. His voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper.

  "No. I took it from my own share. I saved it."

  Leik frowned.

  "Then you drink it. I have my own allocation. You don't have to do this."

  Gustov leaned in. His face was serious for once.

  "Leik, you slept for two days. Your body is drained. You need heaven more than I do right now. For the baby. Just drink it later."

  Leik looked at him. She saw the genuine concern in his eyes. She touched his hand briefly.

  "Thank you, Gustov. I appreciate it."

  Lafaith returned with the second bowl of stew and placed it on the table.

  "Eat up. Put some meat on those bones."

  Leik nodded and dug in. She did not drink the water there. She kept it hidden in her pocket, a cold, hard secret.

  ...

  After finishing her meal, Leik thanked Lafaith and left the mess hall. She felt the energy returning to her limbs. The food had settled the gnawing hunger.

  She headed for the training ground. It was located in a large, reinforced chamber near the perimeter wall. This was where the Galvanizers brushed up on their skills and trained new recruits. It was also a general area for anyone who wanted to work up a sweat.

  As she approached the heavy double doors, the sounds of combat grew louder.

  Clang. Thud. Hiyah!

  Metal struck wood. Voices shouted commands.

  Leik entered the area. The air was dusty and smelled of old sweat and sawdust. Mats covered the floor in the center, and weapon racks lined the walls.

  Kai leaned against a pillar by the entrance. He held a can of fizzy sludge in his hand.

  "Leik! You're up!"

  He raised the can in a toast.

  "How's the health? We thought you were going into hibernation."

  Leik smiled and walked over.

  "I'm fine, Kai. Just needed to recharge. Have you seen the little ones?"

  Kai pointed toward the far corner of the room.

  "Over there. Class is in session. Professor Strider is lecturing."

  Leik looked in the direction he pointed. Strider stood in the center of a sparring ring. He held a wooden practice sword. Sophie and Aidro sat on the mat before him, their eyes wide with a mix of boredom and fascination.

  Leik walked quietly toward them so as not to interrupt.

  Strider paced the length of the sparring mat. He held the wooden practice sword like a pointer. He stopped in front of a faded chart taped to the concrete wall, where crude charcoal drawings depicted the hierarchy of the threat.

  He tapped the first figure.

  "There are five main classes of Rusters. To survive out there, you cannot just use your eyes. You must know them by sound and by smell before they ever break the horizon."

  He pointed to the smallest sketch, a cluster of jagged shapes.

  "First, the Rotter. Small. Parasitic. They hide in the gaps of old machinery. You will hear them first. It sounds like loose change rattling in a tin can. Skritch-skritch. If you smell old copper or pennies, a swarm is nearby. They are weak alone, but they will overwhelm you if you let them close."

  He moved the sword tip to the next drawing, a beast on four legs.

  "Second, the Decayer. These are pack hunters, like wolves made of scrap iron and hate. They do not rattle; they grind. Their joints screech like bad brakes on a truck. They smell of wet fur and heavy grease. If you see one, five more are flanking you."

  Strider’s face darkened as he pointed to the third figure. It looked vaguely human, but twisted.

  "Third, the Decomposer. Never let these get close. They are horrifying humanoid constructs, humans who fell to the Rust and transformed into walking hives. They wheeze when they breathe. It sounds like a bag of dry leaves being crushed. Hhhzzzhhh. They release spores that rot your lungs from the inside out. They smell of sulfur and rotting meat."

  He tapped the fourth, a bulky, tank-like shape.

  "Fourth, the Corroder. Similar to the one your mother killed. These are tank-killers. They are heavy, loud, and usually slow, but some can be fats. Their blood is a concentrated acid that melts most metals. If the air suddenly smells sharp, like burning batteries, you are in a Corroder's territory."

  He lowered the sword and looked his children in the eye. The silence in the room grew heavy.

  "And fifth... the Oxidizer. The Apex Leviathans. They mostly surface during the rain to feed on the lightning. They are the size of buildings. You won't hear them over the thunder, and you won't smell them over the ozone of the storm."

  He leaned in close.

  "If you see an Oxidizer, you do not fight. You do not hide. You run."

  Aidro raised his hand.

  "But Dad, we don't need to fear the Rotters, right? They are the weakest. They are just tiny bugs. I can stomp on them."

  Strider stopped pacing. He opened his mouth to correct him, but Leik stepped into the ring.

  "That is the mistake that gets you killed, Aidro."

  Strider turned, and his face lit up.

  "Leik."

  "Mom!"

  The kids scrambled to get up, but Leik held up a hand to stop them.

  "Sit. Listen."

  She looked down at her son.

  "Rotters are dangerous because of their speed and their ability to blend seamlessly into their environment. They look like a rusted bolt, a piece of pipe, a stone. Until you step on them."

  She crouched down to be at eye level with him.

  "And they divide. You cut one in half, now you have two angry Rotters. They are a colony. A parasite. If a Rotter crawls onto your skin, it burrows. It doesn't bite; it dissolves you."

  She lowered her voice to a whisper.

  "Do you know why Divento is in a wheelchair?"

  Aidro shook his head. Sophie leaned in close.

  "Divento used to be one of the fastest runners in the Biome. But on a raid, he ignored a Rotter. He thought it was just a bug. It divided and burrowed into his legs. He didn't feel it at first. But the Rust spreads fast. Within minutes, his legs turned to iron. It began to flake away."

  Leik made a chopping motion with her hand.

  "Grandpa Kingham saw it. He knew there was no time for medicine. He took his axe and chopped Divento's legs off right there in the sand. Chop. Chop. To save his life."

  Sophie gasped and covered her mouth. Aidro’s eyes were huge.

  "Grandpa did that?"

  "He had to," Leik said firmly. "Never underestimate the Rust. Not even the smallest speck."

  Strider nodded in agreement.

  "Your mother is right. Size does not equal danger."

  He dropped the wooden sword and stepped over to Leik. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight embrace.

  "I'm glad to see you awake. I thought you were going to sleep for another day."

  Leik blushed and buried her face in his chest.

  "I didn't know how long I was out until Gustov told me. I guess I was tired."

  "You needed it."

  Sophie ran into her mother's legs.

  "Mommy! Pick me up! Pick me up!"

  Strider frowned.

  "Sophie, your mother is pregnant. The stress would..."

  Leik ignored him. She bent down and scooped Sophie up into her arms. She kissed her daughter’s adorable, dusty face.

  "I can hold my daughter, Strider. She's not made of lead."

  Sophie wrapped her arms around Leik’s neck.

  "Mommy, Daddy is being mean! The training is so hard. My arms hurt. I want a break. Please take me to the Little Garden! I want to see the flowers."

  Leik laughed and looked at Strider.

  "I think she's earned a recess. I'll take her."

  She looked at Aidro.

  "Are you coming?"

  Aidro picked up his wooden sword. He set his jaw.

  "No. I'm staying. I want to be stronger. I don't want to get my legs chopped off."

  Strider grinned proudly.

  "That's my boy. Go on, Leik. We'll continue here."

  Leik waved goodbye and carried Sophie out of the training hall.

  As they walked down the quieter corridor leading to the agricultural sector, Leik reached into her pocket. She pulled out the W-H2O can Gustov had given her.

  "Here, Sophie. For your hard work."

  Sophie’s eyes widened. She grabbed the cold can with reverent hands.

  "Heaven water!"

  She didn't open it. Instead, she stuffed it deep into her pocket.

  Leik raised an eyebrow.

  "Why aren't you drinking it now?"

  Sophie patted her pocket.

  "I'm saving it. I want to drink it with Aidro later. It tastes better when we share."

  Leik smiled warmly. She didn't press the matter.

  They arrived at the Little Garden. The entrance was sealed by a thick plastic quarantine sheet. Leik pushed through the flaps.

  The air inside was different, humid, warm, and rich with the smell of wet earth and vegetation. Special air filters hummed in the corners, and banks of UV lights bathed the room in a purple-white glow.

  Rows of hydroponic racks and soil beds lined the room. It was a stark contrast to the gray concrete of the rest of the Biome.

  Women in dirty jumpsuits moved among the plants. They pruned leaves and checked irrigation tubes.

  Monika, the portly caretaker, looked up from a bed of radishes.

  "Leik! And little Sophie. I wasn't expecting a visit today."

  Leik set Sophie down.

  "It wasn't planned. I kind of popped in because this one demanded a break from her father's boot camp."

  Monika laughed and pinched Sophie’s cheek playfully.

  "Well, you came to the right place. Come, let me show you the new produce."

  She led them through the rows.

  "These are the tubers we planted last month. They are taking well to the UV cycle. And here..."

  She pointed to a rack of leafy greens.

  "Spinach. It's struggling a bit, but it's edible."

  Monika’s face grew serious as she stopped by a bed of carrots. The soil looked gray and dusty.

  "We have a problem, Leik. We are short on dirt. Real dirt. The type that is free from the Rust and good for planting. We've been recycling the same soil for years, treating it with UST, but it's losing its nutrients."

  She plucked a leaf from a plant. It had a faint, reddish-brown spot on it.

  "See this? Rust fungus. A few of the plants are showing signs. It's common, and we can treat it, but it's not healthy to consume long-term. We need Divine Earth to continue with the expansion. If we don't get fresh soil soon, the yield will drop."

  Leik touched the spotted leaf.

  "Divine Earth... that means a surface raid to the old agricultural zones. It's dangerous."

  "I know," Monika sighed. "But we have to eat."

  Leik nodded.

  "I will relay this to Kingham. He will make the necessary assignments with the Galvanizers. We'll get you your dirt, Monika."

  "Thank you, Leik. You're a good soul."

  They finished the tour, and Leik led Sophie back toward the exit.

  "Are you satisfied now, little leaf?"

  Sophie skipped beside her.

  "Yes! I had fun. Being with Mom is much better than training with Dad."

  Leik stopped and knelt down. She held Sophie’s shoulders.

  "I'm glad you had fun. But Sophie... you need to get used to the training too."

  Sophie pouted.

  "But it hurts."

  "I know. But listen to me. As a female in this world, you have to train twice as hard as the boys to get stronger. The Rusters don't care if you are a girl. They don't care if you are small. Mommy won't be able to protect you forever. Learning to fight at a young age is the right thing to do. It is the only way you stay safe."

  Sophie looked into her mother's eyes. She saw the seriousness there.

  She nodded slowly.

  "Okay, Mom. I promise. I will take training seriously from now on."

  "Good girl."

  Leik kissed her forehead and stood up.

  "Now, let's go find Divento."