"In baiting a mousetrap with cheese, always leave room for the mouse."
― Saki, The Square Egg And Other Sketches

The sleek interceptor sub sliced through the murky waters like a shadow, its silent propulsion system cloaking it from detection. Inside, the atmosphere was tense. Nathan sat rigid in the co-pilot's seat, one hand gripping the armrest, his vision blurred and his thoughts clouded by the lingering effects of his concussion. Sweat beaded along his brow as he fought the disorientation clawing at the edges of his awareness.

"How close are we?" Nathan asked, his voice hoarse, barely masking the pain thrumming in his skull.

"Forty meters," Lucas responded, his eyes scanning the control panel. "We've got visual on the pod—it's beached, just ahead on the shoreline."

Ford stood behind them, arms crossed, his posture rigid with anticipation. "We can't take any chances. Casero might've rigged the pod. Sabotaged it."

Nathan's stomach churned. The possibility had been gnawing at all of them: Casero was too clever to simply run without leaving a parting gift. One wrong move, and they could be dealing with explosives, jamming devices, or worse. And the technology he was escaping with—the data he'd stolen—could put entire nations at risk.

Nathan's head throbbed harder, but he forced himself to focus. He couldn't afford weakness. Not now.

"Deploy the WSKRs," Ford ordered.

Lucas hit a sequence of keys, sending out their WSKR, sleek form darting toward the pod. The holographic display lit up as it approached the beach, where Casero's escape pod rested like a stranded whale, half-buried in mud and dense foliage.

Ford's brow furrowed as the feeds came back clean. "No explosives. No tech interference. But I don't like it. He's too smart to make it this easy."

Nathan's knuckles turned white as he tightened his grip on the seat. He pushed himself upright, ignoring the surge of nausea. "We don't have time to second-guess. If we hesitate, he could be long gone. We need to move. Lucas, stay on board."

"But Captain-"

"No buts," said Nathan grimly. "This is dangerous. I need you on board."

The sub coasted to a stop just off the shore, the ramp lowering with a mechanical hiss. Nathan, Ford, Krieg, and Crocker disembarked into the thick, humid air. The jungle loomed behind the pod, an endless wall of green, the wet earth squelching under their boots.

"Keep sharp," Ford muttered, his hand on his weapon. "No telling what Casero has planned."

As they approached the pod, Nathan's pulse quickened. The hatch was already open, its yawning entrance facing the jungle. Casero could be anywhere by now. The silence was unnerving, the absence of any traps felt like one itself.

Suddenly, there was movement—a flash of shadow from within the pod. Casero stepped out, calm, unhurried. His dark eyes glinted with cold amusement as he surveyed the approaching crew.

"Captain Bridger," he said with a slow, mocking smile. "Still playing the hero, I see. I was wondering when you'd show up."

Nathan swallowed the bile rising in his throat, trying to steady his vision. "It's over, Casero. There's nowhere left for you to run."

Casero's smile widened. "Is that what you think? You still don't understand, do you? I'm not the one trapped here."

Before anyone could react, there was a sudden scuffle behind them. From the lowered ramp of the sub, a figure emerged—a flash of red hair. Kristin. She must have stowed away, unnoticed by the crew. Her eyes were blazing with determination, but before she could take another step, Casero lunged forward with shocking speed, grabbing her and yanking her toward him.

A blaster was at her temple before any of them could draw their weapons.

"Kristin!" Nathan staggered forward, but his balance wavered, dizziness overwhelming him. Ford grabbed his arm, steadying him.

"One more step, and she dies," Casero warned, his grip tightening on Kristin. She struggled for a moment, then went still, her chest rising and falling rapidly as the cold metal of the blaster pressed against her head.

Ford's eyes flicked to Nathan, his expression grim.

"Kristin," Nathan rasped, taking a shaky step forward. "Why...?"

"I couldn't just wait," she said through gritted teeth. "I couldn't let him get away."

Casero chuckled darkly. "Isn't this touching? The brave doctor. Too bad she's now my insurance policy."

"Let her go, Casero!" Nathan barked, forcing himself to remain upright despite the pounding in his skull. His vision blurred, but he refused to look away from Kristin. The stakes had just skyrocketed. One wrong move, and he'd lose her.

Casero's voice was calm, chillingly composed. "Here's the deal, Captain. You let me walk away with what I've taken, and she lives. If you don't—" He pressed the blaster harder against Kristin's temple. "Well, you can imagine the alternative."

Ford's grip on his weapon tightened, but he didn't dare raise it. Nathan's mind raced, trying to think through the fog of pain and exhaustion. Casero was a step ahead of them. If they made a move, Kristin wouldn't survive. And they couldn't risk firing, not with her so close.

Lucas, keeping his voice low, spoke into his comm from the ship. "I can try to disable the escape pod remotely, but we need more time. Distract him."

Nathan nodded, his throat tight with fear. He locked eyes with Kristin, willing her to stay strong. "Casero, you think you can make it out of here alive? Even if you take her, we'll find you. You can't outrun us."

Casero sneered, eyes gleaming with malice. "That's where you're wrong, Captain. I've planned for every eventuality. I've already won. And now, I have your precious doctor as leverage."

Nathan took a deep breath, trying to steady the whirlwind of emotions tearing at him. He could see the strain in Kristin's eyes, the way she was calculating her next move. He just needed to buy Lucas a few more seconds.

"You think you can control everything, Casero? You've made one fatal mistake." Nathan stepped closer, his voice low but filled with conviction. "You underestimated us."

Casero laughed, but it was a hollow sound. "You've already lost, Nathan."

Just then, Lucas's voice crackled through Nathan's earpiece. "Pod's disabled. He's grounded."

Nathan moved quickly. "Now!" he shouted.

Kristin reacted instantly, slamming her heel into Casero's shin with all her strength. He stumbled, momentarily loosening his grip. Ford raised his weapon and fired in a single smooth motion, striking Casero's arm and sending the blaster skidding into the mud. Kristin broke free, scrambling away as Casero fell to his knees, clutching his bleeding arm.

Nathan rushed forward, pulling Kristin into his arms, relief washing over him so fiercely that his knees nearly buckled. She was breathing hard, but she was safe. He held her tightly, pressing his forehead against hers.

"It's over," Nathan whispered, though his voice shook with the weight of everything that had just happened.

Ford moved in, securing Casero with restraints, while Lucas emerged from the sub, tension in his frame slowly unraveling. The beach fell into an eerie stillness, the only sound the distant rustle of the rainforest.

Nathan's head still pounded, and the world around him felt unsteady, but as long as Kristin was in his arms, the chaos of the moment faded into the background.

Ford stepped up beside them, nodding grimly. "Casero's not going anywhere. He's done."

Nathan let out a slow, shaky breath. "Let's get off this beach," he said softly, keeping Kristin close as they turned back toward the sub. "It's over."