The supply depot is...well, it's just like the other one we raided. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. It makes sense for them to keep things consistent, especially when it comes to something as important as supplies. But still, it's a bit disappointing. I was hoping for something different, something we could use to our advantage.
We approach under the cover of darkness, our cycles silent, our movements careful. There are guards at the entrance, just like before, their bodies tense, alert. But we're ready for them. We have a plan, a strategy. We'll take them out quickly, quietly, before they can raise the alarm.
Maren and Alistair are the ones to take the lead, their weapons at the ready. They move with a fluid grace, their bodies low, their steps light. I follow close behind, my heart pounding, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. I'm ready for this, I tell myself. I can do this. I have to.
Maren signals for us to stop, her hand raised in a fist. We all freeze, our bodies tensing, our eyes fixed on the guards. They haven't noticed us yet, their attention focused on the depot, on their duties. Perfect.
Alistair raises his weapon, aiming at the nearest guard. Maren does the same, her sights set on the other. They wait, patient, calculating. Then, as one, they fire. The guards drop, their bodies hitting the ground with a dull thud. No alarms. No one noticed. At least not yet. It's impossible to imagine we can keep it stealthy the whole time, but the longer we can go before they mount a defense, the better. Which means, instead of quietly sneaking, we have to move fast.
At least, that's what we decided when planning this, back at the base. We just don't have the strength to take them in a fair fight, and the only element we have right now is surprise. It's better to use it fully, than try and fail to draw it out.
We move forward, our steps quick, quiet. We reach the door, and Maren gets to work on the lock, her fingers flying over the controls. It's not long before the door slides open, revealing the inner courtyard of the depot. It's quiet, dark, empty. Perfect.
Alistair gestures for us to split up, to cover more ground. We all nod, moving off in pairs, our weapons at the ready. I go with Alistair, and we make our way towards one of the smaller buildings, our eyes scanning for any signs of movement, any signs of danger.
We find none. The building is empty, the shelves bare. But there are supplies, stacked high in the corners, waiting to be shipped out. Alistair takes out a small, diamond shaped device and puts it on a shelf. We found a crate of these in the factory, and Rhea said to mark any place with promising supplies with it, so that we can quickly come back for it and collect it before this place goes up in flames. That way, we can scavenge while fighting, which... I suppose we have to do.
We move on, checking the next building, the next. Some have supplies, some have weapons, some have nothing at all. But we mark the ones that do, and we keep moving, keep searching. We're making good time, getting through the depot quickly, efficiently. Too quickly, almost.
Before I can start to worry that we might have walked into a trap somehow, I hear the sound of gunfire in the distance. The immediate grip of terror and of relief twists my insides, freezing me in place. Alistair grabs my arm, pulling me towards the sound. "Come on. They've found something."
We run, our feet pounding against the ground, our weapons held tight. The sound of gunfire gets louder, more intense. I can hear shouting now, the sound of metal clashing, of bodies hitting the floor. My heart is racing, my blood pumping. I'm scared, so scared. But I'm also excited. I want this fight. I want to face them, to take them down. I want to make them pay.
We round a corner and nearly slam into a group of aliens. They're armed, their weapons raised, their expressions twisted in rage. I don't hesitate.. I can't. We're too close. There's nowhere to run. I raise my weapon and fire, the sound deafening in the enclosed space. The aliens, turned to face our allies, are taken off guard. They fall, their bodies crumpling to the ground.
I look over at the others, at my friends. They're standing over the bodies of more aliens, their chests heaving, their faces flushed with adrenaline. Jess is bleeding from a gash on her arm, but she doesn't seem to notice, her eyes fixed on the fallen aliens. Mikhail is grinning, his expression feral, his weapon still raised. He looks more alive than I've ever seen him. Kael is checking the bodies, making sure they're dead, while Rhea is looking around, her gaze sharp, alert.
"You're late to the party." Jess says, turning to look at us. There's a wildness in her eyes, a fierce joy that I understand all too well.
"Sorry." Alistair grins, walking over to her. "Had to stop for a quick make-out session."
Jess rolls her eyes. "I'm sure."
I can't help but laugh, the sound bubbling up from inside me. It's ridiculous, absurd, but it feels good. It feels right. We're alive, we're winning. For now, at least.
"Hey," Rhea interrupts, "did anyone see where Ben and Hestia went?"
That sobers me, bringing me back to the moment, to the reality of the situation. I look around, my eyes scanning the area, but I don't see them. They're not here. Where did they go? My chest tightens, my stomach churning. They can't be far. They can't.
"Last I saw they were checking the storage units over there." Kael gestures to a row of large, metal containers. "But that was a few minutes ago."
"Alright." Rhea nods, her expression grim. "We'll find them. But first, let's clear this area. We don't want any surprises."
We all agree, moving to check the rest of the buildings, the rest of the rooms. We find more supplies, more weapons, but no more aliens. It's like they've all been drawn to this one spot, this one area. It's strange, but I'm not complaining. It makes our job easier.
But we still don't find Ben and Hestia. My worry grows, my fear mounting. Where are they? Are they okay? Did something happen to them? I don't know, and the not knowing is killing me.
"Sarah." Alistair's hand on my arm pulls me from my thoughts. "We'll find them. This place is huge. They're elsewhere." He gives me a smile. "I'm sure they're just making out in a closet somewhere."
"There is. No chance. They are doing that." I hiss between my teeth. But it's... A little bit reassuring. Nice, maybe. Not that I believe him but just saying it seems to help a little. I... I'm sure they're fine. I have to be. I don't know what I'll do if they're not.
We finish our sweep of the area, marking the buildings with supplies, collecting anything we can carry. It's not much, but it's something. It's a start.
There are small knots of aliens and robots that are already lying in wait. We manage to ambush most of them, but there are still a few fights that break out, a few moments of intense, terrifying combat. But we make it through, all of us still alive, still breathing.
We don't let our guard down, though. We can't afford to. We still need to find Ben and Hestia, still need to finish our mission. So we push on, moving deeper into the depot, our eyes peeled, our weapons ready.
That's when we hear it - a sound, faint, but unmistakable. It's Hestia. I'd know her voice anywhere. She's screaming.
I don't think. About anything. I just run. I don't care about the plan, about being careful. All I care about is getting to her, making sure she's okay. The others follow, their footsteps echoing behind me, their shouts lost in the wind. I don't know where I'm going, don't know what I'll find. But I have to keep moving, have to keep running.
I turn a corner and there they are. Ben is lying on the ground, his body crumpled, his chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. There's blood, so much blood, pooling beneath him, staining the ground. He's hurt, badly hurt. My heart lurches, fear gripping me.
But it's not just him. There's an alien standing over Hestia, his weapon pointed at her, his words a harsh, guttural growl. She's on her knees, her hands raised, her face pale, her eyes wide with fear. She's shaking, tears streaming down her face, but she's not backing down. She's not giving up.
I raise my weapon, but before I can fire he grabs her hair and hauls her to her feet in front of him. He roars something I can't even hope to understand.
But I know what it means. Stop. Drop your weapons. Or he'll kill her.
I freeze, my finger hovering over the trigger.
I can't feel my hands. I can't feel my feet. My ears are ringing, and I can't understand what he's saying. I can't understand anything. I just see her. Hestia. The one I promised to get home. The one who clings to me, who trusts me. Who I promised to protect. What do I do? If I shoot, he might kill her. I... I can't aim! I might even be the one to shoot her if I try! I've never been good at aim! Eric- Eric was-....
Eric...!
Eric, where-
Why-?
The others arrive behind me, their weapons raised, their expressions grim. They see the situation, understand the stakes. But they don't hesitate, don't falter. They're ready to fight, to risk it all. But I... I can't. I can't risk her life. I can't...
There's a thud, and I see Mikhail, tossing his weapon to the ground and swearing violently. "Pizdets!" He snaps. "Yob tvoyu mat'! Idi na khuy!"
He's not the only one. The others look like they're barely keeping themselves from shooting. Jess, especially, is gritting her teeth, her knuckles white on the handle of her gun. Alistair is glaring, eyes narrowed. His jaw is clenched, sweat on his brow. He looks at me, and I can see the conflict in his eyes, the fear, the anger. I know he wants to fight, to take the shot. But he's waiting for me, waiting for my decision.
I don't know what to do. I don't know how to choose. I just... I can't lose her. I can't. But I can't let the others die either, can't sacrifice them for her. What do I do? What's the right choice?
"Sarah!" Alistair hisses. "You have to-"
"NO!" I shout, my voice raw, desperate. "No! I can't!" I can't choose, can't decide. I can't lose her, can't let her die. But I can't let the others die either. I just... I can't.
The alien shouts again, his grip on Hestia tightening, his weapon pressing against her head. She's crying, shaking, but she's not looking at him. She's looking at me. Her eyes are begging, pleading, for me to do something, to save her. But I can't. I don't know how.
Then, something changes. Her expression shifts, her eyes hardening, her jaw setting. She's made a decision, a choice. And before I can react, before I can understand what's happening, she moves.
She throws herself backward, into the alien, her body slamming into his. He stumbles, his grip on her loosening, his weapon wavering. I can see her hand, reaching into her pocket, pulling out something small, metallic. A detonator. It's one of the things that Maren scavenged from the factory. It's not meant for... it's just supposed to be what we use to start the fire! She can't-!
"Hestia, no!" I scream, my voice breaking. But it's too late. She's already pressed the button, already activated the detonator. There's a flash of light, a deafening roar, and then the world is chaos, confusion.
I can't see, can't hear, can't think. All I can do is feel - the heat of the explosion, the force of it knocking me off my feet, the pain as my body hits the ground. I'm disoriented, dazed, my head spinning. But I force myself to move, to push through the pain, the confusion. I have to find her, have to make sure she's okay.
I have to.
I have to.
I have to...
My eyes adjust to the smoke and dust, my ears ringing with the aftershocks of the blast. I can see shapes moving, shadows in the haze. I stumble towards them, my hands reaching out, my voice calling her name.
And then I see her, lying crumpled against the wall of a different building, her body broken, her blood pooling beneath her. My heart stops, my breath catching in my throat. No. No, no, no. This can't be happening. This can't be real.
I fall to my knees next to her, my hands shaking as I reach for her. For a moment, I'm afraid to touch her. My hand recoils on its own.
"No... no. No...." I murmur, and I don't even know who I'm talking to.
My hand touches her neck, and for a moment I can't feel anything. Can't- I-
Then I feel it. Under one of my fingers, an awkward position, no doubt because I don't really know what I'm doing. But it's there. Reedy, thin.
A sob tears from my throat. She's alive. She's alive. She's hurt, badly hurt, but she's alive. I can't believe it, can't process it. But it's true. She's breathing, her pulse weak, but steady.
"Sarah!" Alistair's voice cuts through the haze, his hands gripping my shoulders, pulling me back. "Sarah, come on! We have to-"
"No!" I scream, curling over Hestia's body. I won't. He can't be suggesting I-
A hand grips my arm and yanks me, hard enough to rattle my skull. My vision blurs and whips up to see Mikhail in my face, extremely close.
"Little cub. Listen." His voice is low. Rough. "This is your role."
"M-my..."
His gaze turns down to Hestia. There's a gentleness in his face before he looks at me again. "Get the girl to safety. We will finish this. You must trust us. That is your role." His eyes meet mine, and there's a wildness in them. A feral sort of promise. "We will protect you."
I stare at him, my chest heaving, my mind racing. I don't want to leave her, don't want to let them face this alone. But I can't stay here, not if I want to keep her safe. He's right. This is my role. This is what I have to do. And I do trust them. I have to.
"Okay." I whisper, nodding. "Okay. I'll... I'll take her. Just... be careful."
He nods, his expression serious. "Always."
He helps me lift Hestia, her body limp, her head lolling against my shoulder. She's so light, so fragile. It scares me, how easily she fits in my arms, how vulnerable she is. I don't know how I'm going to get her out of here, how I'm going to keep her safe. But I have to try. I have to.
I turn away from the others, away from the fight, and start to make my way back the way we came. I can hear the sounds of battle behind me, the shouts, the gunfire. I can hear the others fighting, risking their lives for us, for me. And I'm... I'm just running away. I'm just leaving them to it.
I bite my lip, forcing myself to keep moving, to not look back. I have a job to do, a role to play. I have to get Hestia to safety, have to make sure she's okay. That's what matters right now. That's what I have to focus on.
But it's hard. So hard. My chest is tight, my throat thick with unshed tears. I want to stay, want to fight. But I can't. I can't risk her, can't risk losing her. Not again. Not ever again.
I reach the courtyard, my steps quick, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps. The others aren't here yet. They're still fighting, still holding the line. I hope they'll be okay, hope they'll make it out alive. I don't know what I'll do if they don't.
I can't think about that right now. I have to keep moving, keep going. The transport is close enough that I can carefully lay her down on it. Jess appears next to me, close enough that I recoil and fall backward in surprise.
She sets Ben down. "Sis, I need you to lock in. You're field medic with me right now." She holds up a small kit, which... it barely looks like it has anything in it. But it's what we have. "I'm going to start with him. He's... bad."
I swallow and nod. "Right." My voice is hoarse, foreign. I don't know if I can do this. But I don't have a choice. So I just open the small kit and stare down at the little tools. "What do I..."
She looks at Hestia, and I can see the way her jaw tightens. "She's bleeding out. We... have to slow that as much as possible. Soon as we get back to Lena, she's got the good stuff. Our job is to make sure they make it there. Got it?" She looks at me and holds out the kit.
My hands are shaking as I take it, and I have to blink to focus. "Right. I've... I've got it." I look down at Hestia's body, trying to assess the damage. She's burned, her clothes charred, her skin blistered. There are cuts, too, deep and ugly, from the shrapnel of the explosion. It's bad, so bad. But I can't let that stop me. I have to help her. I have to try.
I start with the bleeding, using the limited supplies to try and stem the flow. I don't...
I don't know what I'm doing. I don't. I'm not a medic. I'm not a leader. I'm not a soldier, I-
"Sarah!" She snaps. "Don't think! Just do!"
I take a breath and do as she says. I don't think, I just act. I use the bandages, the antiseptic, whatever I can find in the kit. I do what I can, what little I can. And then, when I'm done, I sit back, my hands covered in blood, my body shaking. I did it. I don't know if it's enough, if it'll make a difference. But I did it. I did what I could.
But the others still aren't here.
I look over at Jess. Ben is stabilized, but still unconscious. She's breathing hard, her face pale. But she's alive. She's still alive. That has to count for something.
My hands are covered in blood.
Hestia's blood.
I-
My vision blurs. And I start to scream.
I can't seem to stop.