The Martian desert was an unforgiving place, where silence stretched for miles, interrupted only by the soft hum of their transport as it cut through the air. Inside the vessel, Ryan sat in tense silence, his mind racing. The log from Dr. Solis played over and over in his head, the words haunting him: *"They're coming for me. I know they are."*
Beside him, Dain was a picture of calm. His eyes, narrowed and focused, remained fixed on the horizon outside, scanning for any signs of danger.
"I don't like this," Ryan muttered, his voice low.
Dain glanced over at him, his expression unreadable. "What don't you like? The mission? Or the fact that she knew they were coming for her?"
Ryan sighed, rubbing his hand over his face. "Both. And now we're just racing against time, hoping we can catch her before whoever did this finishes what they started."
"Don't think like that. We get in, we get her, we get out." Dain's voice was steady, but there was an edge to it—an unspoken tension that had been building since the moment they'd learned of Dr. Solis's disappearance.
The facility loomed into view as they approached—half buried beneath the shifting sands, the stark white walls giving it an almost ghostly presence in the dim Martian twilight. A place that should've been bustling with life was now nothing more than a silent monument to the unknown.
Ryan ordered the team to disembark, his tone sharp, cutting through the tension. The facility was eerily still as they moved in, the dim emergency lights casting long shadows down the deserted halls. Every step echoed in the empty corridors, amplifying the sense of isolation.
"Stay sharp," Ryan murmured to his team. "Keep your eyes open for anything unusual. And don't let your guard down."
They moved cautiously through the complex, the silence pressing in on them. It wasn't just the quiet that unsettled them—it was the knowledge that something terrible had already happened here. Dr. Solis had been the last hope, and now the team was desperately trying to find her before it was too late.
"Over here," Elyas said softly, his voice cutting through the thick silence. He motioned toward a darkened hallway leading to a small, forgotten room at the back of the facility.
Ryan led the way, his hand resting on the hilt of his weapon, ready for anything. As they stepped inside, the sight that greeted them froze them in their tracks.
Dr. Solis sat slumped in a chair, her lifeless body covered in blood. Her lab coat was stained crimson, the blood pooling beneath her and dripping down the legs of the chair. The room was cold, too cold, and the air smelled like iron and chemicals.
For a moment, no one spoke. The reality of the situation weighed heavily on them. But it was Dain who moved first, his eyes scanning the room for any sign of immediate danger. His movements were swift, methodical. He crouched beside Dr. Solis and gently placed his fingers on her neck, checking for a pulse.
"She's alive," Dain muttered, his voice almost inaudible.
Ryan's breath caught in his throat, and for a moment, he felt like the world had stopped. The urgency of the situation came crashing back down on him.
"Get her out of here," Ryan barked, his voice full of authority. "Now."
Together, they carefully lifted Dr. Solis from the chair, mindful of the blood that soaked her coat and the fragile state she was in. Every second felt like an eternity as they moved her through the facility and back to the transport, where they rushed her to the Goodie Hunters' palace.
Inside the palace, the medical team was already preparing for Dr. Solis's treatment. The sterile, fluorescent lights flickered overhead as she was placed on the operating table. Karael and Elyas worked in tandem, their hands moving quickly to stabilize her.
Ryan stood by, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, watching the medics work with focused intensity. The tension in the room was palpable, everyone waiting for a sign—anything—that would let them know if she would pull through.
Minutes felt like hours, and as the final moments of the operation dragged on, Ryan couldn't help but feel a gnawing sense of helplessness.
Finally, the doors to the operating room opened. The surgeon emerged, wiping sweat from his brow. "She's stable. Barely," he said, his tone serious but not without a hint of relief. "She's alive."
The words hung in the air like a fragile lifeline. For now, they had won.
The team gathered around as Dr. Solis was moved to a recovery room. Ryan sat beside her bed, his gaze fixed on her pale, bloodless face. Dain, Karael, and Elyas stood nearby, the weight of the mission still heavy on their shoulders.
It wasn't until several hours later that Dr. Solis stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, her breathing shallow but steady. She blinked a few times, as though trying to make sense of her surroundings.
Ryan leaned forward, his voice soft but urgent. "Dr. Solis… you're safe now. But we need your help. The virus—"
She cut him off with a weak, rasping whisper. "Where… am I?" Her eyes flickered around the room, her gaze unfocused, as if she couldn't comprehend what had happened.
For a moment, there was only silence. Her question hung in the air, unanswered.
Ryan's heart skipped a beat. He could see the confusion, the fear in her eyes. She had been through something unimaginable, and now, the weight of their mission pressed on them both.
"You're at the Goodie Hunters' palace, Dr. Solis," Ryan said gently, his voice steady. "But we need you to focus. The virus is spreading, and we need you to help us stop it. You're the only one who can."
Her eyes widened slightly, and a flicker of recognition passed over her face. She tried to speak, but her voice was barely audible, lost in the haze of confusion and exhaustion.
"I…" She coughed, then paused. "I didn't think… I didn't think anyone would find me." Her eyes closed briefly, as if gathering the strength to continue.
Ryan's heart ached at the vulnerability in her voice. He leaned closer, his voice a quiet promise. "We're here now. And we'll stop this virus. Together."
Her eyes met his, and for a brief moment, something like trust flickered in her gaze. Then she whispered, more to herself than to anyone else, "I hope it's not too late."