As Ethan maneuvered the hover truck through the narrow mountain pass, the wind whipped harder, throwing sand and debris across the trail. The storm was intensifying, making visibility even worse. His HUD compensated, highlighting the edges of the pass and marking the positions of the remaining bandits, but the treacherous terrain still made it difficult to move quickly.
"Two hostiles closing in from the left," Iris reported, her voice devoid of emotion. "One approaching from the rear."
Ethan cursed under his breath. He had dealt with bandits before, but the combination of a sandstorm and a narrow mountain path made this situation particularly dangerous. He had to stay focused. The truck's shields flickered as another volley of laser fire glanced off the side.
"Rear plasma turret, fire on the one behind us," Ethan ordered.
The turret on the back of the truck swiveled, locking onto the bandit's hoverbike. A bright burst of plasma shot out, hitting the bike squarely and sending it careening into a rock formation. The explosion lit up the storm briefly before being swallowed by the swirling sand.
"Two remaining," Iris stated.
Ethan tightened his grip on the wheel, veering sharply to the left to avoid a sudden drop-off. The remaining two bandits were relentless, weaving through the storm with their smaller, more agile bikes. They were trying to flank him, one coming in from the left while the other stayed out of sight, likely planning an ambush from above.
"Iris, can you pinpoint the second rider?" Ethan asked, glancing at the radar.
"Hostile is maintaining distance, likely waiting for an opening. I recommend prioritizing the closer target."
"Got it," Ethan muttered, his mind racing. He needed to take out the one on his left before the other could close in.
He pulled the truck into a tighter turn, bringing it closer to the mountain wall. The bandit followed, thinking they had the upper hand, but Ethan was ready. Just as the bandit moved to fire, Ethan slammed on the brakes, sending the truck into a skid. The bandit's bike shot ahead, right into the line of fire of Ethan's laser pistol.
A single well-aimed shot hit the bike's engine, and it exploded in a fiery blast, debris scattering across the rocky path.
"Only one left," Ethan said, exhaling a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
The final bandit, realizing they were outmatched, made a desperate move. They accelerated, trying to circle around the truck, but the sandstorm was now in full force, reducing visibility to nearly zero. Ethan squinted through the windshield, barely able to make out the swirling shadows.
"Hostile is approaching from above," Iris warned.
Ethan's eyes flicked up just in time to see the bandit dropping down from a ledge above, aiming for the truck's exposed roof. He had to act fast. Without hesitating, he activated the truck's emergency boost, sending it rocketing forward just as the bandit's bike came crashing down where the truck had been moments before.
The bandit lost control, their bike spinning wildly in the storm. Ethan didn't wait for them to recover. He spun the truck around, firing the plasma turret one last time. The bike exploded in a flash of light, and then there was silence.
"All hostiles neutralized," Iris said, as calm as ever.
Ethan leaned back in his seat, his heart still racing. The storm raged around him, but for the moment, he was safe. He couldn't afford to let his guard down just yet, though. The outpost was still hours away, and the storm was only getting worse.
"Let's get out of here," he muttered, pressing the accelerator.
As the truck surged forward, Ethan kept his eyes on the road, determined to complete the mission. The storm might slow him down, but it wouldn't stop him. Not today.