The mothership stood tall and mighty, a flying fortress guarded by auto-turrets, an impressive setup. But Gustav always reminded Sam to stay vigilant and not get too complacent.
Approaching Sam's and Sandra's room, I noticed the door adorned with colorful crayon drawings, proudly declaring it as the "Room of SS Squad." It was a nice touch of creativity.
I knocked on the door, and Sam's head popped out with a smile. "Hey, big brother."
"Hey, Sam," I greeted warmly, "What's up?"
"Come inside," she invited, opening the door wider.
Stepping into the room, I marveled at the vibrant and colorful ambiance. The walls were adorned with posters of beloved cartoon characters, and two beds stood with delightful My Little Pony designs. It was evident that Sam and Sandra had put their heart into making this space their own, even though it could easily accommodate more people.
Sandra sat on her bed, engrossed in her paper art project. "Look who's back," she quipped with a grin.
Setting the jar of cookies on the table, I replied, "Help yourselves."
Sandra's eyes widened with surprise. "Cookies?!" she exclaimed, hopping off the bed.
"Cookies?" Sam questioned, casting a curious glance my way, not quite familiar with the delightful treats.
Sandra's eyes sparkled with delight as she twisted open the jar lid, releasing the mouthwatering aroma of the cookies. With her eyes closed, she carefully selected one with her right hand, savoring the sweet scent that had been absent from her life for far too long. "Oh my... How long has it been since I've had one?" she wondered aloud.
"Cookies are a type of pastry, and they are quite delicious," I explained, gesturing towards the jar.
Before I knew it, Sandra had already devoured three cookies and extended the largest one towards Sam. "Here, give it a try."
Sam eagerly accepted the offering, marveling at its size. "It's bigger than my hands," she remarked before taking a bite. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she made a satisfied "hmm!" sound. "It's so delicious!"
Their reactions warmed my heart, especially considering that the cookies had been baked a few days ago.
Finding a wooden chair to sit on, I noticed some drawings on the table next to the drawers. "So, how's your stay been, Sandra?"
"It's been good. I mean, it's been like... nine years since I've felt safe," Sandra replied, her voice tinged with emotion as she took another bite of her cookie.
As she finished the cookie, she gestured towards the drawings. "They may look like an elementary student drew them, but I was planning to use these to infiltrate the fleshling base."
Sandra stood up and stretched, determination etched on her face. "I'm still working on it. I really want my sister back."
With a sense of purpose, she walked over to the other side of the room, picked up the drawings, and handed them to me. Each piece of paper depicted a different part of the fleshling base, showing a keen eye for detail despite their simplicity.
"I've been studying the base's layout, trying to find any weak spots that might help me sneak in and rescue my sister," Sandra explained, her gaze unwavering. "Well... using the drones and rovers to bomb the beef base."
The drawings lay spread out on the table, a chaotic yet intriguing display of Sandra's intricate planning. The sketches depicted a sequence of strategies, a blend of bombs and drones, all centered around the damnation base. Her stolen rover was the focal point of her ambitious scheme, as she believed she could modify it to soar through the skies and precisely drop miniature bombs onto the enemy's stronghold. The entire base, sprawled across the paper, captivated my attention with its fascinating intricacies.
"What do you think? Could it work?" Sandra's eyes sparkled with anticipation as she eagerly sought my opinion, her gaze shifting between the map and me.
As I studied her work, I couldn't help but notice the signs of her dedication. Though the drawings appeared disorganized, each stroke conveyed her passion and determination to save her sister.
"It could have worked," I said, trying to convey my admiration for her efforts. "Maybe, it might need some more thinking."
In her depiction, the base spanned a vast area, stretching a mile from west to east and two miles from north to south. The SAM sites were indeed present, just as Gustav had warned, but in Sandra's rendering, there were over a dozen of them strategically scattered throughout the periphery.
The map showcased various structures within the base, each labeled with care. The Armory, Ritual Site, Breeding Grounds, Feeding Room, and a particularly chilling detail—a large red circle marked as the "Slave Chamber." Right beside it, her handwriting conveyed the depth of her emotions, stating, "Big Sister is here."