As they were about to move, they saw another figure emerging from the smoke. It cleared, revealing General Peter. "Going somewhere?" General Peter said.
"Argh! Not again," Steve exclaimed. "Come on, big guy, let's get down to it," he said, maintaining a fighting stance.
"Well, if you say so."
Peter charged at Steve, his movements swift and deadly. Steve tried to dodge, but Peter's attacks came in rapid succession, leaving him no space to breathe.
Peter swung his leg, delivering a roundhouse kick to Steve's neck that sent him crashing to the ground. "You piece of crap," Steve cursed, charging at Peter, but Peter caught him off guard, holding him under the armpit and spinning him through the air, slamming him onto the ground at the perfect moment.
Peter pressed his foot firmly on Steve's chest. Steve's face was bloody and bruised. "You should have stayed out of this," Peter sneered.
"That's it, I've had enough!" Lucas shouted as he charged at Peter. Peter's instincts kicked in as he leaped backward and unleashed a deadly punch on Lucas's jaw, but Lucas barely flinched. Lucas smiled, caught hold of Peter's arm, and slammed him to the ground.
Peter struggled to get up, blood gushing from his mouth, but Lucas showed no mercy, punching Peter in the stomach and sending him crashing into the wall. "That will keep him still for now," Lucas said.
As Lucas and Steve stormed through the corridors of the facility, Steve remarked, "Man, this was tougher than I thought."
"Hey, guys, you have company. A bunch of soldiers are heading your way, but that's your only way out. You'll have to face them," Sam said through their communication device.
"Shit, we'll have to fight through," Steve said. "Lucas, we have company. Some soldiers are headed our way, and they're fast approaching."
"That's no problem. I'll handle them," Lucas said, running ahead of Steve.
Just as Lucas sped up his pace, soldiers poured out from the only exit corner in the hallway. "Okay, this is it," Lucas said, barreling toward the guards, his fists clenched and his eyes blazing with determination.
Lucas unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks, each one landing with a sickening thud. The guards tried to defend themselves, but Lucas's blows were too fast, too powerful. They crumpled to the ground, groaning in pain.
A guard tried to raise his gun, but Lucas was too quick. He grabbed the weapon and bent it in half, the metal screaming in protest. The guard's eyes widened in shock as Lucas tossed the broken gun aside.
A guard attempted to tackle Lucas, but he was no match. Lucas lifted the guard off the ground and slammed him into the wall, the impact sending shockwaves through the corridor.
A guard fired a bullet, but Lucas dodged it with ease. He weaved and bobbed, avoiding each attack with a fluid grace that belied his massive size. "I guess I'm not that slow after all," Lucas said.
Lucas took down guard after guard, his strength proving too much for them. "He's a one-man army, and look at all the damage he's causing!" one of the guards said, shaking in fear. The guard stumbled as Lucas approached him, ready to crush him to the ground. But at the last minute, Lucas saw the fear in the man's eyes and sensed the chill running down the guard's spine.
"Please, spare me. I beg you. I have a wife and a kid. I can't die like this," the guard pleaded, crying.
"Go, get out of here," Lucas said, turning his back on the guard. The guard immediately took to his feet and ran off.
Lucas burst through doors, smashing them off their hinges, with Steve following behind him. They ran out of the facility through the exit, heading for the van where Sam was waiting.
*****
Zane Morris sat at his desk in his office, watching the whole scene unfold before his eyes on a screen.
"You think I'll let you escape that easily, alien? I've worked all my life waiting for this moment, and now you think you can slip right out of my hands? That's not going to happen. I'll have you and the box, or nothing," Zane said, his brows furrowing.
Zane pushed a button under his desk, revealing a holographic display with a combination of a screen, keyboard, and steering wheels. Zane immediately got to work, his fingers flying across the keyboard. Data on Lucas's spaceship began to display on his screen.
"Now that's more like it. Let's fly!" Zane said, laughing as he hacked the ship's control system.
The ship's engine roared to life, and the vessel began to shake and tremble. The ship blasted off into the sky, leaving rubble from the broken roof behind.
*****
Just as Lucas and Steve were about to hop in the van, they heard a loud thud. Turning around, they saw Lucas's ship levitating above Ray Tech's facility. "Get out of the van!" Steve shouted, as he reached for Sam, pulling him with all his might.
*****
Zane Morris had a wide smile on his face as he saw the alien below his hacked ship. "Fire!" Zane said as he pushed a button on the hologram, aiming to hit the alien.
*****
The ship shot out a missile, aiming at the trio, but they jumped out of the way. The missile hit the van and exploded. "No! My systems—they're all lost," Sam said.
"Get yourselves to safety. He's here for me. I'll handle this," Lucas said, gesturing to Steve and Sam.
"No, Lucas, you can't do this alone. I believe they've hacked your ship," Sam said.
"Yeah, I'll keep that in mind. Go, now!" Lucas shouted.
The ship fired an alpha-energy blast at Lucas, but Lucas absorbed it. He felt a surge of power flow into him. "That feels good. I believe you forgot I live on alpha energy," Lucas said as he lifted a military van and threw it at the ship. The van hit the ship, but it barely made a scratch.
*****
"How stupid of me. That was a mistake, silly, and it won't go that way anymore. Now let's see what you've got," Zane said as he pushed another button on his keyboard.
*****
The ship shot a missile at Lucas, but Lucas dashed off with his super speed. The ship continued to chase after him, firing a barrage of missiles. Lucas dodged them all. "Now I'm a lot faster than I was when I landed. This should help me go up against it," Lucas said as he grabbed another van and threw it at the ship. In an instant, he dashed off again.
*****
"He can't do this alone. I've seen the ship. You can fly it if you can fly a jet," Sam said, turning to Steve.
"Wait, why me? I only came for the gold, and I've done my part. I busted him out, and that should be enough. Sorry, I can't help you. I can't put my life on the line for someone I barely know," Steve replied.
"Look at him. He needs help," Sam said. Steve turned and saw Lucas fighting with all his might, throwing vans and rocks at the ship and running around. As Steve watched, a missile hit Lucas in the chest and exploded, sending Lucas skidding across the facility.
Lucas could barely stand upright. He had been hit by several missiles and had cuts all over his body, with blood gushing out of them. Yet, Lucas was relentless, his eyes blazing with determination.
"You're the fighter I know you can do this," Sam said. Steve turned back to Sam. "Fine, I'll do it. But where do I start?"
"Okay, you'll climb up to one of the buildings close to the ship. When you're on the ship, get in and control it manually. That should disrupt his hacking," Sam said.
"Okay, here I go," Steve said as he picked up a gun from a fallen guard and ran up the stairs with speed. In minutes, he was at the top of the building, and he could see the ship levitating very close. Steve took a few steps back before running forward at full speed. He jumped from the building and landed on the ship's thrusters while the ship fired at Lucas, who continued dodging and running from the blasts.
Steve climbed to the control seat and pulled out the gun, shooting the glass covering the control seat. The bullets only made a crack in the glass. "Damn, nobody ever told me the glass would be this strong," Steve said as he smashed the gun into the cracked part of the glass repeatedly until the glass broke.
Steve climbed down to the seat. "Okay, Sam, what do I do? I'm in," Steve said through the communication device.
"Take hold of the steering wheel and pull it down gently. That should land it," Sam replied.
"Wait, what! You're not even sure?" Steve screamed.
"Just do as I say," Sam replied.
Steve pulled down the steering wheel. It immediately deactivated the override system, and the ship landed.
*****
"What! How did it happen? I've been cut out of the ship's system. That leaves me no choice but to activate the bomb," Zane said, pushing a button on a remote-like device.
*****
Immediately, the ship exploded with Steve in it. "Take cover!" Lucas shouted as he dashed to Sam's side, covering him from the bomb blast.
"Steve!" Sam screamed in tears, mourning the loss of his friend.