Ava paced the length of the main hall, her face a mask of determination and guilt. She glanced towards the makeshift medical facility, where their injured ally lay. "I should have anticipated this," she muttered, her voice tinged with frustration.
"Blaming yourself won't help us now," Lucas said, stepping beside her. His voice was calm, a steadying force against the storm raging within her. "We need to focus on what comes next."
Ava nodded, her eyes reflecting a fierce resolve. "We have to regroup and reassess our strategy. The Phantom won't wait for us to recover."
In the medical room, Dr. Harris, a renowned medical expert they had managed to bring on board, worked diligently on their injured ally, Ethan. The sterile scent of antiseptics mixed with the faint coppery smell of blood. Ethan winced as Dr. Harris applied pressure to a wound on his side.
"You're lucky to be alive," Dr. Harris remarked, his tone professional yet caring. "That was a close call."
