Sam nodded, her grip firm on her Glock, ready for any possible threat that might lie ahead.
We proceeded stealthily, navigating from building to building like shadows in the darkness. Russ's radar showed only one blip, indicating the presence of a single human. My AUG rifle was firmly held, my senses on high alert. The building we approached appeared to be an ordinary hospital, oddly operational in this desolate place. Cautiously, we entered, scanning the clean interior that seemed strangely devoid of activity, except for scattered electronics. The radar precisely located the person in the radiology room. I motioned to Sam, gesturing for her to stay put.
With determination in her eyes, Sam nodded, and Russ maintained his position, ready to back us up at a moment's notice. Slowly, I approached the door, unable to get a glimpse inside due to the absence of windows. My heart pounded in my chest, unsure of what awaited us beyond that door. Was the person inside waiting to ambush us?
Summoning my courage, I took a deep breath and kicked the door open, the sound of shattering wood echoing through the silent room. I swiftly pointed my gun into the room, my eyes locking with those of a teenage girl. Surprise flickered across her face, but there was also a hint of fierceness and playfulness in her voice as she spoke, "Hey, mister! Who the heck are you?"
"Get on the ground now!" I commanded, my voice firm, and my gun trained on her, my senses still alert to any sudden movements.
She wore gray sweatpants and a t-shirt that boldly proclaimed "Bad Girl" in white letters, her fiery red hair adding to her defiant appearance. Crossing her arms, she seemed determined to defend herself. "Hey! That's rude. We can talk about this-" Before she could finish her sentence, I fired a warning shot, causing her to drop to the ground in fear. "Please! Don't hurt me. I took the rover, not my sister. Please bring her back," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.
Gesturing for Sam and Russ to join me, I motioned for them to approach.
Russ entered the room first, his mechanical tentacles ready for action as he assessed the situation. His radar quickly located a 9mm Glock and the remnants of the stolen rover on a nearby table.
Glancing back at the teenager, I realized the awkward position I unintentionally put her in. "Oops, my bad. Sorry about that," I said, lifting myself off her and offering a hand to help her up.
Gustav's voice crackled through Russ. "Alexander, is that your way of making new friends?" Gustav's teasing remark echoed through the room.
"Gustav?" I replied, standing up but keeping a watchful eye on the teen.
"Yeah, I added a camera and voice feature to Russ. No need for the radio anymore," Gustav explained, trying to stifle his laughter. "So, you accidentally pinned her down with your big Maro buddy there?"
I let out an exasperated sigh. "It was a complete accident, okay? I'm not that kind of guy."
Gustav chuckled. "Sure, sure. Let's focus on getting this girl back with us. We've got some questions to ask."
"I've got a name, you know. It's Sandra Gutierrez," the teen interjected, seeming unfazed by the situation.
Gustav snorted. "Alright, Sandra the Thief. Thanks to you, I almost missed a whole army of skinwalkers. Good thing I have my trusty drones. Now spill the beans. Why are you so thrilled about being pinned down by a guy who could have taken advantage?"
Sandra blushed and stumbled over her words. "I-I've never been touched by a guy before, especially not in, um, sensitive areas."
Gustav burst into laughter again. "Haha, I've heard Alexander's got quite the reputation for his 'touching' skills."
I felt my face turning beet red, a mix of embarrassment and irritation flooding through me. "Come on, Gustav, cut it out. We've got more important stuff to deal with."
Gustav chuckled, finally managing to compose himself. "Alright, alright. Let's figure out how to transport Sandra back to the mothership."
Sandra spoke up, still a bit flustered. "I could totally drive there myself without causing any trouble. Trust me."
In an instant, a bone-chilling howl reverberated through the dense forest, sending shivers down our spines. With urgency, I glanced at Russ's radar, and there it was—fifty red dots rapidly converging from the north. My face turned serious once more. "Time is running out. Sandra, stick close to us on the road."
Determination flickered in her eyes as she nodded, and without hesitation, she dashed out of the room. I scooped up Sam, who beamed at me with admiration. "You're one tough big brother."
"Thanks, Sam, but we can't slow down now," I replied, my heart pounding with the weight of our situation. We needed to move swiftly to stay ahead of the encroaching danger.
With Sam in my arms, we hurriedly made our way out of the hospital, the earth trembling beneath the thunderous stomps of approaching creatures. "Alright, Russ, switch to battle mode," I commanded, my voice firm as I prepared for the imminent threat.
Russ unleashed his holy silver tentacles, all ready to kick some monster butt. "I'll arrange for a jet fighter to bomb the village," Gustav blurted out.
"You've gotta be kidding me, Gustav!" I exclaimed, making a beeline for the waiting motorcycle.
Gustav's voice turned serious. "This village is a lost cause, even after we clear it out. It's like a freakin' magnet for monsters."
I let out a frustrated sigh, facing the harsh truth. "Fine, but don't go overboard with the bombing, okay?"
With the jet's roar growing louder, Russ beat me to the motorcycle, settling into the compartment. I quickly hoisted Sam onto the seat, her wide eyes reflecting a mix of fear and trust.
With a swift rev, I pushed the motorcycle to it's limits.
Sam clung tightly to me, her exhilaration evident in her voice. "This thing is so fast!"
Sandra's voice echoed from behind, straining to keep up. "I overheard you talking about bombing the place!"
Glancing back briefly, I remained focused on the road ahead. "Yeah, it wasn't our first choice, but that village has become a real monster hotspot lately. We had no other option but to take action."
As the roar of the jet fighter intensified, my eyes followed its path, witnessing three bombs being released into the sky above us. The metallic projectiles streaked through the heavens, leaving a trail of smoke in their wake.