“One of our comrades disabled the heating systems in Craatia a few days back,” Klarisa told him with a smirk. “It used to be as warm as a summer’s day, and now? Well, let’s just say the good citizens of Craatia are mourning their summer fashions now that they have to don their best winter gear. You’ll be safe in your suits and helmets—that will do as a disguise, for a time.”

“Good,” Andi said. “In that case, will you take us to Arachnid?”

“We have skills to offer,” Dex added, raising a brow at his old comrade. “We made a vow to each other, Klarisa. Ages ago. To protect each other, and to protect the galaxy.”

The woman considered, looking him up and down before glancing at Andi and Lon again. She was a good soldier, having earned top marks at the Academy, and Dex would never forget all the late nights they’d spent together during their years of training, with countless other Guardians, playing games of Fleet and swapping bottles of Griss until the suns rose.

The very best kind of bonding happened when bottles were passed around.

“We’ll give you a ride to the domed sector,” Klarisa said at last. “As for joining the Underground, Arachnid wants every free mind to decide for themselves. But there’s a gatekeeper. You’ll have to get past her if you wish to join. She’ll check to be certain you’re not a Solis spy.”

“And if she lets us in?” Andi asked.

“Then Arachnid will welcome you into a tangled web of—” Klarisa’s response was cut short as a boisterous crack split through the valley. All nine heads turned toward its origin, past the Marauder, as the very ground trembled.

A wave of dread swept over Dex’s body, making his hair stand on end. Wind gusted across the ice field, sweeping snow from the ground, tossing it into the skies so that everything looked clouded.

Another crack sounded out, and the ground shook again.

“Defensive positions!” Klarisa exclaimed. Andi followed suit, pulling her swords free of their sheaths as a deafening roar resonated around them, the sound unlike anything Dex had ever heard.

He pulled his gun from its holster and Andi ignited her swords, swaths of electricity casting a hazy purple glow on the snow swirling around them.

“What the hell is that?” Andi asked. Dex didn’t have an answer—he was just as confused as she was.

“The locals mentioned a beast in the icelands,” Klarisa said. Her comrades closed in around her in a half circle. Dex, Andi and Lon joined them, backs pressed together. “We thought it was just a story rooted in superstitious lore. We’ve been out in the icelands many times, but never encountered anything living. But if the stories are true—”