Etrius woke early. His eyes flicked to Zoey, curled up on the couch with her tail draped over the edge, twitching slightly in her sleep. He approached quietly, the worn soles of his boots barely making a sound on the cold floor. Her face was calm, though her chest rose and fell unevenly - an indication she was already on edge, even in sleep. Etrius hesitated for a moment before reaching out and placing a hand gently on her shoulder.
"Zosh. Wake up." His voice was low but firm.
Zoey's eyes snapped open instantly, sharp and alert. She tensed, her entire body stiffening under his hand, but relaxed when she recognized him. Her hands, though, trembled slightly as she rubbed her face, blinking the sleep away. "Ugh... what?" Her voice was groggy, laced with the usual irritation.
Etrius stepped back, giving her space. "I dug through the files on the base's server. There's a lot of interesting prewar stuff - nothing too relevant, but... it's something. There are some coordinates too, places that might be worth checking out once we get through this mess."
Zoey sat up, cracking her neck sharply before standing. Her movements were jerky, as if she was holding back from letting her agitation seep through. She stretched, her lizard-like tail curling and uncurling with the motion. "Coordinates, huh? Better not be a damn wild goose chase," she muttered, half under her breath.
She didn’t wait for a response, already heading toward the roof to check the jammer. Etrius followed, his tall frame moving quietly behind her, his steps deliberate and measured. Zoey's every step was sharp and impatient, her hand twitching every few seconds as she moved. They reached the top, and her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the jammer.
"Well... shit." She stared at the massive device, far bulkier than she had anticipated. "There's no way we're taking that with us." Zoey’s hand twitched toward one of her guns, her jaw tightening as if she were considering destroying it just out of frustration.
Etrius could sense her irritation building, the subtle tremor in her fingers giving it away. "We'll just have to work without it."
Zoey turned sharply on her heel, storming back down toward the Mantis, her tail swishing with a bit more force than usual. "Yeah, yeah... let’s pack up." Her voice had a sharp edge, but she bit back the full extent of her frustration.
They finished packing in silence, each working through their own routine. Zoey moved with an underlying tension, every motion seeming more aggressive than necessary, but somehow restrained, like she was holding herself back from snapping.
Once they were settled inside the Mantis, Zoey busied herself with cooking in the tiny kitchenette. The smell of hot food soon filled the small space. She plopped down in the driver’s seat next to Etrius, balancing two plates as they began eating together.
"Once we leave the jammer’s range, they’ll be on us again," Etrius said between bites, his gaze fixed on the map display ahead. "We’ll have to move fast."
Zoey nodded, chewing on her food with a bit more aggression than necessary. "Yeah, no shit. If we had more diesel, I could just stay in the Vulpes Titan. It’d solve half our problems right there."
"Fuel’s always a problem," Etrius muttered, glancing at her. He was used to her bluntness, but something in her tone was... sharper.
Zoey paused mid-bite, a thought crossing her mind. She dropped her fork onto the plate with a frustrated clatter and leaned back in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. "We need to go back to Germany. To the lab where they made me." Her voice was even, but her eyes glinted with a dangerous determination.
Etrius blinked, surprised. "Back to - ? Why? We’ve got enough heat on us already."
Zoey snapped, her voice rising suddenly. "Do you think I just pull this shit out of my ass?" She slammed her fist down on the console, her tail slapping the floor with an audible thud. Her eyes flashed dangerously, a fire burning behind them that made Etrius pause. He’d only seen that look when Zoey was on the warpath.
He took a slow breath, keeping his tone calm. "Alright. We’ll figure it out. No need to rush."
For a brief moment, the scales on Zoey’s face caught his eye. They had spread further, small red patches climbing up her cheekbones, but he kept quiet. No point in pointing it out when she was this wound up.
Zoey’s anger simmered, but she pulled back, muttering an apology under her breath. She stood abruptly, the tension in her muscles clear as she grabbed the tow cable. Her movements were fast, bordering on agitated, as she hooked it up to the KKP-40-2. Without a word, she returned to the driver's seat, her face tight with irritation as she set the Mantis into motion.
Etrius stood up, glancing at her once more before moving to the aft cabin. He lay down on the cot, stretching his legs out as the soft hum of the Mantis’ engine lulled him. Sleep crept over him again, pulling him under as the vehicle rumbled along the road back toward Sigma City.
Zoey gripped the wheel of the Mantis tightly. The low, mechanical hum of the KKP-40-2 being towed behind them filled the cabin, a constant reminder of their precarious situation. Etrius’s steady breathing from the back told her he was already asleep, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
The rhythmic whirr of the Mantis usually calmed her, but now it only seemed to amplify the irritation simmering just beneath her skin. She flexed her fingers on the wheel, trying to suppress the twitching in her hands. The scales that had spread across her face burned slightly, a reminder that something inside her was changing, and she hated not being in control of it.
Germany. The lab. The very idea gnawed at her insides like rusted metal scraping bone. The place where she was created, where they had tortured her, was something she had tried to forget, to leave behind. Yet, every time she thought she was done with that hell, it found a way back into her life. Now it might be the only place left to find answers about what the hell was happening - and to stop whatever nightmare was hunting them.
Zoey’s tail flicked agitatedly, the tip slapping the floor with a dull thud. She tried to focus on the road, but her mind kept circling back to that same, dark thought. If they want me so badly, I’ll give them a reason to regret it. The dangerous fire Etrius had seen in her eyes still burned deep inside, pushing her closer to a reckless edge she wasn’t sure she could pull back from.
After a few hours of driving, Zoey spotted the outline of a small outpost up ahead. It was nothing more than a cluster of buildings, long abandoned by the looks of it, but there might be supplies - fuel, maybe food. She slowed the Mantis, the heavy vehicle creaking under its own weight as it came to a stop on the outskirts of the derelict settlement. Etrius stirred in the back as the rumbling ceased.
"We stopping already?" he asked, his voice rough with sleep.
"There's an old outpost here," Zoey replied curtly, already unbuckling her seatbelt. "Might have fuel or something useful."
Etrius stretched as he stood, his massive frame towering in the small space of the cabin. He glanced at Zoey, noticing the tension in her shoulders, the way her tail flicked nervously, though she was trying to keep it in check.
"Alright," he said, grabbing his rifle. "Let’s take a look."
Zoey didn’t wait for him as she stepped outside, her boots hitting the dusty ground with a heavy thud. She scanned the area, her instincts on high alert, though the place seemed abandoned. Still, something felt... wrong. Her tail coiled in closer, and she suppressed the impulse to draw her weapon. Etrius followed behind, his keen eyes sweeping over the horizon as they approached the buildings.
The structures were weathered and crumbling, barely standing after years of neglect. As they moved through the narrow streets, Zoey's sharp eyes caught a glimpse of what they had hoped for - an old diesel tank, half-buried in rubble. She moved toward it quickly, the faint hope of finding fuel sparking a small, momentary relief in her mind.
"Think there’s anything left in it?" Etrius asked, watching her pry open the rusty hatch with a grunt.
"Only one way to find out," Zoey muttered. She glanced inside, taking a deep breath. "Yeah. We’ve got some left. Not much, but enough to give us a boost."
Etrius nodded and grabbed a hose from the Mantis, helping Zoey siphon what little they could salvage into the APC’s tank. They worked in silence, both moving with efficiency born from years of working in hostile environments. Zoey could feel the weight of the silence, though - an unspoken tension between them that hadn’t been there before.
When the fuel transfer was complete, Etrius looked around. "We should sweep the rest of this place before moving on."
Zoey's ears flicked. "You think we’ll find anything worth taking? This place looks dead."
"Maybe not," Etrius replied, hoisting his plasma sword over his shoulder. "But it wouldn’t hurt to make sure."
She didn’t argue. She needed the distraction.
They moved through the crumbling buildings, their footsteps echoing through the hollow halls. Zoey’s senses were on edge, every creak of the floorboards beneath her sending a jolt through her nerves. Etrius moved with practiced stealth, his large frame somehow managing to blend into the shadows as he swept the area ahead.
When they entered what seemed like an old command post, Etrius paused. "Wait." He knelt, running his fingers over a thin layer of dust on the floor. "Something’s been through here recently."
Zoey’s eyes narrowed, and she unslung her PTRS-41 from her back. "How recent?"
"Hard to say," Etrius muttered, standing slowly. "Could be days, maybe less."
Zoey’s grip tightened on her rifle. Her tail twitched violently, and she let out a low growl. "I don’t like this."
Etrius’s expression darkened as he sniffed the air, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "They’ve found us."
The air grew thick with tension as both of them stood motionless, waiting for something - anything - to happen. The wind howled through the broken windows.
Zoey’s lips curled into a snarl. "We need to move."
Etrius nodded. "Let’s go."
They walked back to the Mantis, their boots soft on the ground. Zoey was already behind the wheel, moving before Etrius had even climbed in. The Mantis sped off, the massive vehicle lurching forward as they sped down the road, kicking up dust in their wake.
Etrius stood, bracing himself as he glanced through the rear window. "They're not going to stop this time."
Zoey’s grip tightened on the wheel, her jaw clenched. "Good. Let them come."
Zoey drove the Mantis hard, her fingers gripping the wheel with a tense, restless energy. The hum of the electric motors thrummed through the cabin, a constant, low vibration that matched the tension in the air. Etrius had drifted off again in the back, taking what little rest he could. Zoey’s mind raced with the possibility of an ambush. Every shadow along the road seemed too deep, too dark.
A sudden blip on the Mantis's radar display snapped her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, her eyes narrowing as she took in the details. A large, fast-moving object had just entered the radar’s range. And it was closing in, hostile.
“Fucking damn it,” Zoey hissed, slamming her fist on the dashboard. The radar pinged again, confirming her worst suspicions. She reached back and kicked Etrius’s boot sharply. “Etrius, wake the fuck up!”
He stirred, groggy but quickly alert at the edge in her voice. “What is it?”
“Trouble. Big fucking trouble.” She jerked her head toward the radar screen, then unbuckled her seatbelt and leapt into the back, grabbing her rifle and gear. “Take the wheel! I’m going for the KKP-42. This bastard’s gonna need a heavier response.”
Etrius was already moving, slipping into the driver’s seat with his usual fluid grace. “You’re sure about that? That thing’s not built for you.”
“I’ll make it fit,” Zoey snapped, already swinging open the side hatch of the Mantis. The cool air whipped at her face as she climbed out, moving quickly along the side of the armored vehicle.
The Mantis’s electric engines kept humming along quietly, allowing them to maintain speed without drawing too much attention - for now. But the blip on the radar kept closing in, faster than Zoey would have liked.
Zoey made her way to the KKP-42, its wedge-shaped hull barely visible in the dusty haze trailing behind the Mantis. She climbed over the front of the hull, cursing under her breath as she wrestled with the tank's hatch, her hands moving in a blur despite the tremor running through them. Finally, the hatch gave way, and she squeezed herself down into the commander’s seat, muttering as she adjusted to the cramped space. “Goddamn small-ass fucking bullshit - no room for anything in here...”
The KKP-42’s interior was tight, designed for operators far smaller than her eight-foot-plus frame, but she managed to wedge herself in. Her tail curled uncomfortably around her legs, and she could feel her horns brushing against the roof. The compact command interface glowed to life as she powered up the systems, the 40mm Bofors L/70 gun whirring as it ran a quick diagnostic.
Etrius’s voice crackled through the comms, a steady, low rumble. “You in?”
“Barely, but I’m good.” Zoey glanced at the display, tracking the blip on the radar. It was massive, some kind of heavily armored vehicle or dropship - hard to tell at this range, but she knew it was bad news. “Looks like our new friends brought a fucking present. I’ll soften it up, keep this beast steady.”
“Copy that,” Etrius replied, and she felt the Mantis shift slightly as he adjusted their course, aiming to give her the best firing line from the KKP-42. Zoey grinned, feeling a rush of anticipation flood her veins.
“Time to see if this little tankette’s got some bite,” she muttered to herself. Her fingers danced over the controls, adjusting the Bofors’ elevation. The targeting reticle zeroed in, the assisted targeting system locking onto the blurry silhouette closing in on them. “Come on, you piece of shit... show me your face.”
Zoey adjusted her grip on the cramped controls of the KKP-42, her body squeezed into the tight space as she lined up the shot. Through the targeting optics, she could just make out the outline of their pursuer - a dark, hulking shape moving fast, tearing through the dust and heat waves of the desert.
“Etrius, you better keep us moving steady,” she growled into the comms, focusing on her aim. The Bofors gun’s servos whined as she adjusted its position, the targeting reticle tracking the blur of movement.
“Just keep that trigger finger ready, Zoey,” Etrius shot back, his voice steady despite the tension. The Mantis rumbled as he pushed it harder, the weight of the KKP-42 dragging slightly behind them. “We’ve got about thirty seconds before it’s on us.”
Zoey sneered, her sharp teeth glinting as she locked in the target. “Oh, I’m ready. Let’s see how this bastard likes some 40mm in the face.”
The enemy closed in, its profile becoming clearer - some sort of armored walker, towering with a lumbering gait, but shockingly fast. Its surface bristled with weaponry, sleek and predatory, almost alien in design. It let loose a rapid series of shots, explosive rounds slamming into the ground near the Mantis, spraying dirt and shrapnel.
Zoey gritted her teeth as she swung the cannon toward the walker, the targeting system pinging her confirmation. “Eat this, asshole.” She pulled the trigger, the 40mm cannon roaring to life, the recoil slamming through the KKP-42’s frame as it rocked on its tracks. A stream of high-velocity rounds streaked through the air.
The rounds slammed into the walker’s forward armor, exploding on impact with a deafening boom. It staggered, parts of its plating shattering under the force, but it recovered quickly, firing back with renewed fury. A volley of explosive shells screamed through the air, one narrowly missing the Mantis and slamming into the ground beside it, sending a shockwave through the cabin.
“Goddamn it, Etrius, stop driving like an old man!” Zoey snapped as she adjusted her aim, firing another burst of 40mm shells. She could feel the sweat on her palms as the temperature inside the cramped tankette rose, the heat of battle seeping in. The walker’s weapons rattled against the Mantis’s armor, a few rounds pinging harmlessly off the reinforced plating, but the heavier hits left dents and cracks in the outer layers.
“I'm trying,” Etrius replied tersely, throwing the Mantis into a sharp swerve to dodge another incoming shot. The Mantis groaned under the strain, but its motors hummed smoothly as he pushed the APC, skimming across the rough terrain.
Zoey cursed under her breath as she adjusted her aim, firing again. This time, the 40mm rounds struck the walker’s leg joints, sending a spray of sparks and shattered metal into the air. The enemy staggered, one leg buckling under the impact, but it didn’t fall. Instead, it turned its focus on the KKP-42, its weapons swiveling to target her position.
“Shit!” Zoey braced herself instinctively as a burst of autocannon fire rattled off the tankette’s front, sparks flying as the rounds ricocheted off the sloped armor.
“We’ve got more coming in,” Etrius warned, glancing at the radar. More hostile blips flickered into view, smaller drones flanking the walker as it continued its relentless advance. “Looks like they brought friends.”
Zoey grit her teeth and fired another round, but the drones swarmed in too fast, forcing her to adjust her aim. “Goddamn pests! Hold them off while I focus on the big one!”
“On it,” Etrius replied. The Mantis’s automated turret systems whirred to life, targeting the smaller drones as they swept in from the flanks. The KPV machine guns barked out a deadly rhythm, filling the air with rounds that cut through the dust. A few drones spiraled out of control, exploding as they hit the ground, but more kept coming.
Zoey focused back on the walker, her hand trembling slightly on the controls as she tried to keep her aim steady. Her tail twitched with pent-up frustration, but she forced herself to focus, adjusting the targeting reticle over the walker’s exposed joints. “Come on, come on...”
She fired again, the Bofors kicking back with a satisfying thud as another pair of 40mm rounds streaked toward the target. This time, the shots struck true, tearing through the walker’s leg joint with a thunderous explosion. The enemy machine stumbled, its forward momentum faltering as it tried to regain balance. Zoey grinned fiercely, baring her sharp teeth. “Got you now, you piece of - ”
Her victory was short-lived. A sudden explosion rocked the Mantis, sending a shockwave through the KKP-42’s frame. Zoey barely had time to brace herself as the world tilted, the tankette skidding to the side as the Mantis lurched.
“Fuck! What was that?!” Zoey shouted, her head slamming against the cramped interior.
Etrius’s voice crackled through the comms, strained with effort as he fought to stabilize the Mantis. “Took a hit to the rear wheels - might’ve lost a tire.”
Zoey glanced out through the optics, her vision swimming as the dust cleared. The walker was still coming, but now with a noticeable limp, its movements jerky and erratic. The smaller drones were swarming around them, peppering the Mantis with fire that pinged off the damaged armor, but a few shots had punched through weaker sections, leaving smoldering scars on the vehicle’s side.
“Keep it together, Etrius, I’m not fuckin' done yet!” Zoey snapped, correcting her aim again. Her whole body tensed as she fired another shot, targeting the walker’s exposed internals. This time, the rounds struck home, punching through the damaged leg joint and detonating inside. The walker crumpled, collapsing onto one knee as flames burst from the damaged limb.
But even as it fell, it raised its remaining weapons, firing a desperate salvo at the KKP-42. Zoey swore as the tankette rocked under the impact, the blast knocking her head against the side of the turret. Pain flared through her skull, but she fought through it, gripping the controls as she forced the Bofors to line up one last shot.
“Die, you piece of shit!” she snarled, pulling the trigger.
The 40mm rounds slammed into the walker’s torso, piercing through its armor before detonating inside. The explosion tore through its core, blowing out chunks of metal and machinery as the walker convulsed, its remaining limbs twitching before it finally fell, motionless.
Zoey slumped back in the cramped seat, panting heavily as she watched the wreckage burn. But even as the walker went down, the remaining drones circled back, swarming toward the Mantis with renewed aggression.
“Etrius! They’re coming in hot - ”
“I see them,” he growled, the Mantis swerving sharply as he swung the turret to meet the oncoming threat. “Let’s finish this.”
Zoey’s frustration boiled over as she saw the damage to the Mantis and the relentless advance of the drones. Her breath came in sharp, angry bursts as she forced open the cramped hatch of the KKP-42, clambering out with a growl. Dust swirled around her as she leapt back onto the Mantis, her muscles coiling beneath the weight of her anger.
She reached the back of the Mantis, nearly ripping the hatch open as she slid inside the cargo compartment. The Vulpes Titan suit awaited her, its sleek, powerful frame gleaming even in the dim light. Without hesitation, she disconnected the power core harness she had jerry-rigged to the Mantis, cutting off the extra power supply. The Mantis shuddered as its systems adjusted, switching fully to battery power, the hum of the electric motors deepening in pitch.
“Etrius, engage the autopilot! Keep the Mantis moving!” she barked over the comms, her voice dripping with fury.
“I’m on it!” Etrius’s voice crackled back, and she felt the slight shift as the autopilot engaged, the Mantis maintaining its course.
Zoey slid into the suit, the armor sealing around her with a series of mechanical clicks and whirs. She barely gave the systems time to finish calibrating before she lunged up through the top hatch of the Mantis, her now armored form towering over the moving vehicle. She reached down to Etrius, who handed up her PTRS-41, the massive rifle a familiar weight in her hands. The heat radiating off the gun was nothing compared to the fire burning inside her.
“Keep those drones busy! I’m going for the big one!” she shouted.
Etrius gave her a grim nod. “Just don’t get yourself killed, Zoey.”
Zoey leapt down from the Mantis, her armored form hitting the ground with a thunderous impact that left cracks spidering through the dirt. Her eyes burned with anger behind the visor of the Vulpes Titan suit. The suit’s servos whirred as she adjusted her grip on the massive PTRS-41, the heavy anti-materiel rifle feeling like an extension of her own fury.
Without a second glance at the Mantis, Zoey broke into a sprint toward the wreckage of the downed walker. Behind her, the Mantis continued its escape, the KPV machine guns chattering as they laid down suppressive fire, keeping the pursuing drones at bay. Etrius was in control, guiding the vehicle with a practiced hand, but Zoey had her own target in mind. The wrecked walker loomed like a broken beast against the dusty landscape, its frame smoldering from the damage she had inflicted earlier.
As she closed the distance, Zoey’s sensors picked up faint heat signatures through the charred remains of the hull. She slammed a shoulder into a weakened section of the armor, tearing open a larger gap and forcing her way inside. Her suit’s servos amplified the motion, sending chunks of metal clattering to the ground as she entered the dim, smoke-filled interior of the command center.
Inside, the air was thick with the acrid scent of burning electronics. Sparks crackled from shattered consoles, casting erratic shadows across the walls. Zoey’s visor flickered, adjusting to the low light as she raised her rifle, ready to shoot anything that moved.
Her eyes swept the ruined command center, and she spotted several shadowy figures still struggling to recover from the impact of her entry. They barely had time to register her presence before she squeezed the trigger of the PTRS. The rifle bucked against her shoulder, the recoil absorbed by the suit as the heavy round tore through the air. One of the figures exploded in a spray of blood and shattered armor.
She pivoted, firing again, her movements precise and deadly. Another shot rang out, reducing a second figure to a mangled mess of limbs. But as she turned to line up her next target, a deeper shadow shifted in the corner of her vision - a shape that seemed to blend with the darkness itself, as if the shadows clung to it like a second skin.
Zoey’s finger tightened on the trigger, but the creature moved faster than she expected, slipping out of her line of fire with a serpentine grace. It lunged at her, closing the distance in an instant, its claws raking across the Vulpes Titan suit. Sparks flew as the claws met the suit’s reinforced plating, and Zoey staggered back, gritting her teeth as the impact jarred her inside the armor.
She caught her first real look at the creature, and her eyes narrowed in a mix of surprise and fury. It was tall, nearly her own height in the suit, with dark green scales that shimmered with an unnatural sheen. Its digitigrade legs ended in clawed feet that dug into the metal floor, and a long, whip-like tail lashed behind it. Its face was draconic, with slitted eyes that glowed with a malevolent light, and its curled ivory horns mirrored her own, though marked with strange, glowing runes.
For a moment, the two combatants sized each other up, the tension between them crackling like the broken electronics around them. Then the creature bared its fangs, hissing out a taunt in a raspy, alien voice. “The little thief returns...”
Zoey’s response was a wordless snarl as she drove forward, swinging her armored fist at its head. The creature ducked beneath the blow with unsettling speed, twisting to the side as it lashed out with a clawed hand. Zoey caught the strike on her forearm, the impact sending a jolt through her suit’s servos, but she held firm, using her other arm to grab the creature by its throat.
“Not today, asshole!” she growled, lifting the reptilian being off its feet and slamming it into a broken console. Metal crumpled beneath the force, but the creature twisted free with a hiss, slashing at her midsection. Its claws left grooves in the suit’s armor, but they didn’t penetrate. Zoey’s tail snapped forward, catching it across the face, sending it reeling.
They clashed again, Zoey driving forward with a barrage of heavy punches, each blow powered by the Titan suit’s hydraulics. The creature ducked and weaved, dodging some hits but taking others, the impacts sending shockwaves through its body. It retaliated with vicious strikes, claws leaving trails of sparks as they scraped against the plates of Zoey’s suit.
Zoey was relentless, forcing the creature back step by step until it was cornered against the crumpled wreckage of a control panel. She delivered a bone-crunching knee to its gut, the servos in her suit whining under the strain, and the creature doubled over with a pained hiss. She followed up with a brutal uppercut that sent it sprawling across the floor.
But the creature was far from defeated. It rolled to its feet with a snarl, launching itself at Zoey with claws outstretched. They grappled, claws raking against armor and fists hammering into scaled flesh. The creature managed to get a grip on Zoey’s shoulder, leveraging its weight to push her off balance, but she twisted with the motion, driving her elbow into its ribs. She felt something crack beneath the impact, and the creature let out a ragged hiss, staggering back.
Zoey didn’t give it a chance to recover. She raised the PTRS-41 again, sighting down the barrel as the creature’s eyes widened in realization. She squeezed the trigger, the shot roaring through the wreckage as the heavy bullet slammed into the creature’s side. It howled in pain, its body twisting as the round tore through its flesh, but to her frustration, the scales absorbed much of the impact, slowing the bullet’s penetration.
The creature fell to one knee, clutching the wound as blood seeped between its claws, but it managed to raise its head, fixing Zoey with a hate-filled glare. “You... cannot... escape your fate, stray,” it rasped, voice thick with pain but still defiant.
Zoey leveled the rifle at its head, her finger hovering over the trigger. “You’ve got one last chance, lizard-face. Who the fuck are you? Why are you after me and my suit?”
The creature bared its fangs in a twisted grin, blood staining its teeth. “We... are the shadows you left behind... and we will see you drown... in them.”
Zoey’s patience snapped. She stepped forward, planting her armored boot on the creature’s chest, pinning it to the floor. “Wrong answer.”
She shifted her weight, pressing down with a slow, crushing force. The creature’s mocking grin faltered as it realized her intent, its claws scrabbling at her leg, but Zoey didn’t relent. The metal beneath her foot creaked, the pressure building until the creature’s skull began to give way.
Its final words were a choked, guttural laugh. “You... know nothing... of the pain you carry...”
With a growl of frustration, Zoey applied more pressure, the creature’s head collapsing with a sickening crunch beneath her boot. She stepped back, breathing heavily, her mind racing with unanswered questions. But there was no time to dwell on them - not yet.
She turned, sprinting out of the wreckage at full speed, her comms crackling as she reached out to Etrius. “Etrius, I’m done here. Status?”
His voice came through, steady but with an edge of relief. “Drones pulled back as soon as you engaged. Guess you spooked them. I’m a few miles out, holding position.”
Zoey adjusted her grip on the PTRS-41 as she ran, the landscape blurring around her. “Good. Stay put. I’m on my way.”
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