The atmosphere in the mineshaft shifted as soon as Black charged in, confident and surefooted. The hum of the Rangers' helmets echoed faintly in the cold air as real-time data from Aegis and Echo's mapping drones streamed across their HUD displays. Black could see the layout clearly—an uncomplicated path through the shaft, a perfect scenario to trap their quarry. Shock combat, just like they'd trained for. In his mind, this was going to be over quickly.
"I'm going in," Black growled, not waiting for Red's confirmation. The weight of his steps reverberated through the narrow walls, his focus singular—get in, take down the target, and end this hunt. His grip tightened on his weapon as he advanced into the tunnel, his confidence building with every step. This unknown operator didn't stand a chance against him.
"Black, proceed with caution," Red called out, her voice tense but calm. "Stay alert."
"Don't worry, Red," Black grunted, his eyes locked on the tunnel ahead. "I've got this."
But as soon as he entered the deeper part of the mine, something felt off. The air was thicker, almost heavy, and there was a faint, barely perceptible hum in the atmosphere that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. He frowned, scanning the area, but everything seemed normal.
Until it wasn't.
Without warning, a sudden surge of energy shot through the walls, thin strands of electricity erupting from the surrounding rock. They coiled around Black's arms and legs, binding him in place before he even had time to react. His body jerked, muscles straining against the electric web, but it was no use—he was stuck, suspended several feet off the ground, completely immobile.
"What the hell—?!" Black roared, his voice reverberating through the mine. He struggled, thrashing against the bindings, but the more he fought, the tighter the web became. "Coward! You think this will stop me?!" His eyes flashed with fury as he scanned the area, trying to locate the operator. "Face me like a man!"
"Black's down!" Red's voice cut through the comms, sharp and urgent. "He's caught in a trap—electric web. He's immobilized but unharmed. Stay alert, everyone."
"I told him not to rush in," Yellow muttered, annoyance creeping into her tone. She moved in next, her steps more cautious, her senses on high alert. As she approached Black's position, her body tensed, every instinct telling her something wasn't right.
Just then, she heard it—a faint metallic clatter, the unmistakable sound of a grenade being tossed.
"Grenade—!" Yellow started to shout, but before she could finish, a blinding light filled the tunnel. The flash grenade exploded, the burst of light and sound overwhelming her senses. Her vision blurred, her HUD flickered, and her camouflage faltered.
"Damn it!" Yellow cursed, blinking rapidly to clear her vision. Her suit's cloaking mechanisms failed to re-engage, leaving her exposed. She tried to steady herself, but the disorientation made it nearly impossible to focus.
Red's heart raced as she watched the situation unravel. Black was trapped, Yellow was disoriented, and the operator was still out there—moving, but unseen. Every shadow in the mine seemed to shift and twist, playing tricks on her senses. She scanned the area, trying to find the source of the attack, but there was nothing—just the oppressive silence of the mine and the ever-present threat lurking in the darkness.
"He's like a ghost," Red muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing. "A damn ghost."
"Echo is recalibrating," Yellow's AI chimed in, its tone clinical and unwavering. "He's controlling the current—flow of battle is in his favor. We need to shift it back. Disrupt the circuit."
"Shift the current," Yellow echoed quietly to herself, nodding as she regained her focus. She needed to get Black out of the web first if they were going to regain control. Her hands moved quickly, reaching for her twin daggers, their edges glinting faintly in the dim light of the tunnel.
"I'm on it," Yellow said into the comms. She moved toward Black, her eyes scanning the web of electricity that bound him.
"Hurry it up!" Black barked, his frustration evident. "I want a piece of this guy! Let me loose so I can rip him apart!"
"Hold still, or you'll fry us both," Yellow shot back, her tone sharp but focused. She examined the web, looking for the weakest points where her daggers could cut through without triggering another surge. Her fingers itched, knowing they were running out of time, but she couldn't rush it—not with Black's life on the line.
Bastion's voice cut in through the neuro link, urging Black to stay calm. "We'll get him, just stay focused. Let her do her job."
Yellow made quick work of the webbing, her daggers slicing through the strands with precision. Sparks flew as she severed the last connection, and Black dropped to the ground with a heavy thud. He was free.
"Thanks," Black grunted as he stood, shaking out his limbs. "Now let's finish this."
"You're welcome," Yellow replied coolly, already moving into position. "But I'm the one who's going to finish it. You'll slow him down; I'll circle around and apply the paralytics."
"Whatever," Black muttered, readying himself. "As long as I get a shot at him."
Meanwhile, Pink was still stationed at the rear, her excitement building as she watched the chaos unfold. Her holo decoys moved deeper into the mine, their movements mimicking her perfectly.
"Come on, baby," Pink purred, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. "Come out and play. I promise I'll be gentle… at first."
Prism's decoys fanned out, their holographic forms flickering as they advanced further into the mine, searching for any sign of the operator. Pink's fingers twitched on her rifle, the anticipation of a kill lighting a fire in her belly.
But then, one of the decoys flickered out—gone, just like that.
Pink's eyes narrowed. "Oh, you're gonna make me work for it, huh?" she muttered, her voice thick with desire. "I like it when they play hard to get…"
Another decoy fizzled out, disappearing before her eyes.
"Oh, come on!" Pink's frustration was palpable now, her fingers tightening around her weapon. "You think you can just take them out one by one and leave me hanging? Not cool, baby, not cool."
Prism's voice purred in her ear, fanning the flames of her growing irritation. "He's toying with you, darling. He knows how to get under your skin."
"He's under more than my skin," Pink growled, her lips curling into a predatory smile. "But if he thinks I'm giving up that easy, he's got another thing coming."
Another decoy blinked out, and Pink's frustration boiled over. "Oh, I am going to make you beg, baby," she hissed, her voice a dangerous blend of anger and lust. "When I find you, you're going to wish you'd just come out and taken me up on my offer."
"Pink, stay focused," Red barked over the comms, clearly annoyed. "You're supposed to be tracking him, not playing games."
"Oh, I'm tracking him alright," Pink muttered, her eyes scanning the tunnel ahead. "And when I get my hands on him, I'll show him exactly what happens when you mess with a girl like me."
Her decoys were dropping fast, and with each one that disappeared, Pink's excitement only grew. She could feel the hunt, the thrill of the chase coursing through her veins. This was the part she lived for—the anticipation, the tension, the moment right before the kill.
"He's close," Pink whispered, her voice low and sultry. "I can feel it."
Prism's voice echoed in her mind, urging her on. "He's slipping through your fingers, darling. Don't let him get away."
"Oh, don't worry," Pink purred, her grip tightening on her rifle. "I'm just getting started."
I'm right here, she heard from behind her, the words spoken with such chilling calm that her body reacted before her mind could catch up.
She froze, feeling the unmistakable sensation of a hand pressing firmly on the small of her back. Her eyes widened in shock, her pulse spiking as her brain struggled to register what was happening. The touch was real—he was real. Her breath caught in her throat, and for the briefest moment, fear cut through the haze of adrenaline.
But it was already too late.
Blue's hand had planted a mine right against her, and the concussive blast detonated at point-blank range.
The shockwave slammed into her back, the explosion erupting with a deafening crack. Her suit's systems flared red with warnings, but none of that could stop the sheer force of the blast from lifting her off her feet. The explosion sent her body hurtling forward, straight into Red. Her world spun wildly as she crashed into her leader, the impact knocking them both to the ground in a chaotic tangle of limbs and armor.
"What the hell?!" Red barked, the wind knocked out of her as Pink slammed into her from behind.
Pink hit the ground hard, her head spinning as the blast's aftershock rippled through her. Her HUD flashed warning after warning—concussion risks, armor integrity compromised, internal injuries likely—but the only thing Pink could think about was the humiliation burning through her chest.
That bastard had gotten close enough to touch her.
"He planted it—he was right behind me," Pink groaned, her voice strained with fury as she pushed herself off the ground. "He… he touched me, and I didn't even see him. I didn't feel him until it was too late."
Red shoved her off, her own pistols raised and ready. "Focus, Pink! We don't have time for this. Get back in formation."
Pink's breath was ragged, anger mixing with the pain as she scrambled to her feet. Her body still trembled from the blast, but her rage was the only thing keeping her moving. No one touched her. No one. And the fact that this operator had managed to sneak up behind her—place a mine on her back—and detonate it, was enough to make her blood boil.
She swore under her breath, her mind already racing through thoughts of revenge. Her lips curled into a snarl as she grabbed her rifle and locked her gaze on the shadows.
"I'll kill him," she spat. "He's dead."
"Pink, now," Red snapped, her patience wearing thin. "Get back into formation. He's playing defensive."
Prism's voice echoed softly in Pink's mind, dripping with amusement. "Oh, darling, he's got you all worked up, hasn't he? Look at you… you're practically trembling. Isn't it exciting?"
"I'll make him regret it," Pink hissed, her fingers twitching against the trigger. "He's playing with fire."
"Oh, I know," Prism purred. "But isn't that what you want? To catch him, to teach him a lesson? Make him beg."
Pink's body hummed with tension, her rage fueling her every move. She wasn't about to let him get away with this. Not after what he'd done.