"She's not wasting any time," Blue thought, his pulse quickening as Red's posture stiffened, her head snapping sharply to one side as if she could sense him. His breath caught in his throat. He could feel the weight of her presence, her focus sharpening as she began to survey the jungle around her. It was only a matter of time before she locked onto him, and Blue knew that Red never hesitated once she identified a target.
Stay calm, he reminded himself, but his body betrayed him, muscles coiled with tension, the heat of the moment crashing down like a tidal wave. This wasn't a drill. They were hunting him—his former team. He had trained alongside them, fought with them, and now, for the first time, they saw him as a threat.
"Blue, they're attempting to scan for your location," Nova's voice cut through his mental haze. Her tone was professional as always, but beneath it, there was an edge—something sharper. Even Nova couldn't hide her concern this time. "Prism is likely enhancing their sensor capabilities. Pink's scan will lock on soon."
Pink's already on the move, Blue thought grimly, his chest tightening as his HUD flickered to life, showing the incoming scans in real-time. Prism would be amplifying Pink's natural abilities, allowing her to track Blue's movements with near-inhuman precision. Every second that passed was another second closer to being found. He had mere moments, maybe less. Pink had always been good—no, exceptional—at finding what others couldn't. She had the patience of a sniper, and now, aided by Prism, there was no margin for error.
"Time to stay on the move," he thought, dropping lower to the jungle floor, his body pressed against the damp earth. The thick canopy overhead cast fragmented beams of sunlight through the foliage, painting the ground in a shifting pattern of light and shadow. It was nearly impossible to remain hidden, but he had to try. He couldn't afford to stop—not now.
"Echo is deploying sonic probes," Nova added, her voice a calm reminder of how rapidly things were escalating. "They're mapping the area through sound."
Blue clenched his jaw. Echo—of course. He should've known Yellow would utilize her AI to sweep the area with sonic waves, detecting any vibrations, any movement—no matter how slight. Yellow thrived in complexity; she was as comfortable navigating the unpredictable as she was in the depths of the ocean. The more variables there were, the more she seemed to intuitively know what to do. It wouldn't be long before Echo picked up on the faintest hint of his presence, and then the net would close in.
They're boxing me in. His mind raced, calculating every option. Once they narrowed in on him, they would close in from all sides, cutting off any retreat points. The jungle that had once felt like a sanctuary now felt like a trap. The trees loomed tall around him, the vines and dense underbrush seemed to weave together, sealing off potential escape routes. He had nowhere to run.
"They'll adapt to your movements," Nova cautioned, reading his thoughts even before he could form them fully. "Prism and Echo will compensate for the environmental variables. They're always adapting."
"Deploy sonic and friction dampeners," Blue ordered, his mind racing. Every second mattered right now—any delay could make the difference. His voice was steady, masking the intensity of his quick thinking. "Maximize camouflage."
His suit responded instantly, the quiet hum of its systems kicking into overdrive. The sonic dampeners engaged, swallowing the sound of his movements as the friction dampeners reduced the impact of his body against the jungle floor. He was moving silently now, his footsteps erased by the suit's advanced systems. But he knew this was a temporary solution at best. His suit would overheat within minutes if he kept pushing it to the limit like this.
"The dampeners won't hold for long," Nova reminded him, her voice colder now. "The suit is already running hot."
I don't have a choice, Blue thought back, every movement calculated, precise. His muscles were tense, straining against the growing heat within the suit. The jungle pressed in around him, the once lush and vibrant greens now nothing more than a suffocating labyrinth. The walls were closing in, and he could feel the weight of it in every step, every breath.
"Prism's scans are narrowing," Nova continued, her thoughts laced with urgency. "Echo is detecting vibrations—small tremors in the earth. They're going to triangulate your location any second now."
Damn it. Blue swallowed hard, trying to suppress the rising panic. His body was screaming at him to move faster, but he knew better. Any sudden movements would give away his position. The Rangers were too good at this, too coordinated. The neuro link gave them a huge advantage—they could share information and tactics instantly without needing to issue commands. They worked like a well-oiled machine, every member in sync, every action calculated. He couldn't afford any mistakes.
"Blue," Nova's voice cut through the fog of his thoughts. "There's an old mine shaft fifty meters to the north. I'm pulling up the schematics now."
"Incoming message from General Kassens," Nova said.
"Not now," he replied. "Route all communications to priority queue."
"Understood."
His HUD flickered again, highlighting the location of the mine shaft. It was hidden beneath thick vines and underbrush, nearly invisible in the dense jungle. But the scans showed it was still intact—just deep enough to provide cover.
"A mine shaft?" Blue thought, his mind racing. There could be unused dynamite down there, ready to go off at the slightest disturbance. The tunnels might collapse, burying him alive. He might need to create a new exit if things went south. There were so many risks, so many unknowns to this move. "What are the chances it'll hold?"
"It's structurally sound," Nova confirmed. "It'll block Echo's probes and Prism's scans, at least temporarily. You can use it to put distance between you and them. Plus, if it collapses, at least you'll have a good excuse for missing your next reunion."
Blue laughed quietly, appreciating Nova's attempt to lighten the mood, but he couldn't afford to hesitate right now. Fifty meters, he thought, his eyes narrowing as he mapped the best route to the mine shaft. I can make that.
Without a second thought, Blue shifted direction, his body low as he weaved through the dense jungle. His movements were quick but calculated, each step precise as the dampeners continued to cloak his sound. The heat in his suit was growing unbearable, beads of sweat running down his face, but he couldn't stop. Not now.
"They're closing in faster than expected," Nova warned, her voice sharp in his mind. "Echo's drones are mapping the area—30 meters from your position. They're moving in quicker than projected, the box is closing."
His chest tightened, his breathing becoming ragged. I need to keep moving, he thought. Every instinct screamed at him to run, to push harder, but he couldn't think about staying hidden anymore. The box was closing in, faster than he'd anticipated, and he had no choice but to move. He had to push forward, regardless of the risk.
The entrance to the mine shaft loomed ahead, barely visible beneath the thick vines and roots. His heart pounded in his chest as he pushed forward, his body moving on instinct. He could feel the weight of his former team pressing down on him, their presence like a predator chasing its prey, relentless and unyielding. The feeling of being hunted pushed him harder, every step driven by the knowledge that they were closing in.
Suddenly, a plasma bolt seared through the air just past his shoulder, the heat from the blast grazing his skin. It struck a nearby tree, the plasma eating into the bark, sizzling and bubbling as it carved through the wood. His body jerked instinctively, diving behind another tree, the acrid scent of burning wood filling the air.
"Pink has taken a shot," Nova's voice was sharp, a warning. "Another plasma bolt is ripping through the forest—burning through branches and underbrush. The heat is spreading fast, scorching everything it touches. Stay alert."
Blue's breath came out in short, ragged gasps as he scanned the treeline. His HUD zoomed in, pinpointing Pink's location. She was perched high in the trees, her sniper rifle still smoking from the recent shot. Her eyes were trained on his position, but her body was tense, waiting for the next move.
As his gaze flicked toward Pink's feet, Blue's heart sank. A faint glow pulsed beneath her, Red's grid boundary shimmering, amplifying Pink's already dangerous precision.
Goddamn it, Blue thought, his chest tightening. She can't see me. She can't hear me. And yet she aimed right at me… He gritted his teeth, feeling the weight of the connection between them. Lady luck is purring for her tonight.
Pink had always been lucky—too lucky. But this wasn't just luck. Red was amplifying her, boosting her instincts, making her an even deadlier shot. If she took another, she wouldn't miss. Sorry Pink, not letting you have your way with me tonight.
"Red's boosting Pink," Nova confirmed, her voice tight with concern. "They're locking in on your position."
Blue's stomach churned as he weighed his options. He could feel the walls closing in; his former team had no idea it was him they were hunting. They were chasing an unknown target, but their precision and training were just as deadly. He had to think of something else—anything that could give him a chance to break free. He couldn't let them trap him.
"We need to move," Nova urged. "Echo's drones are cycling. Red's grid boundary needs a moment to recharge and reboost. Move now, soldier!"
With a burst of energy, Blue sprinted toward the mine shaft, his muscles screaming in protest as he pushed himself harder. His heart pounded in his ears, the jungle blurring around him as he closed the distance. He dove into the entrance of the shaft just as another plasma bolt tore through the air, striking the metal frame at the entrance of the mine.
The bolt hit with a deafening crack, and the plasma began to eat into the metal, sizzling and bubbling as it melted away. The acrid scent of scorched steel filled the air, and Blue could hear the frame groaning under the immense heat. The metal warped and twisted, the once sturdy entrance now buckling, threatening to collapse. Sparks flew, and pieces of molten metal dripped to the ground as the plasma chewed through the structure relentlessly. Blue didn't dare look back, his focus solely on getting deeper into the mine before the entrance gave way.
The darkness swallowed him, the cool air inside the mine a stark contrast to the oppressive heat of the jungle. His breath came fast, his chest heaving as he pressed his back against the stone walls. He had made it—but only just.
Inside the shaft, the air was damp and thick, heavy with the scent of earth and decay. The narrow walls were slick with moisture, glistening faintly in the dim light filtering through the entrance. The tunnel stretched out before him, its darkness yawning and uninviting, with jagged wooden support beams lining the walls, some cracked with age and neglect. The faint echo of dripping water reverberated through the passage, each drop amplified by the emptiness around him. Rusty metal tracks ran along the ground, remnants of an old mining cart system, and the occasional clatter of loose pebbles added to the eerie atmosphere. The silence was oppressive, broken only by the sounds of the mine settling and the distant dripping water.
"Tunnel appears stable," Nova assessed, her voice steady. "For now."
Blue exhaled slowly, the tension in his muscles finally releasing. His suit's systems powered down, the dampeners disengaging as the internal temperature began to drop. His body ached, his muscles burning from the sprint.
"They're sweeping the perimeter," Nova continued, her thoughts pressing into his mind. "The Rangers are approaching the entrance—moving cautiously, but they're preparing to come inside. They know you're down here."
"Let's hope it's enough," Blue muttered, his voice low as he pushed off the wall and began to move deeper into the mine shaft.
The cold air wrapped around him like a shroud, a brief reprieve from the sweltering heat outside. His chest still ached, his heart still raced, but for the moment, he was safe. But it wouldn't last. It never did.
His mind wandered back to his former team, to Red, to Pink, to all of them. They had been so close once, but now? Now they were hunting him. The people he had trusted with his life, the people he had fought beside, were now the ones closing in on him.
He couldn't hide forever. They would find him eventually.
And when they did?
I'll be ready.