The air was charged with tension as the massive spider-like drone skittered into view, its mechanical legs clicking against the rocky ground with unnerving precision. Its crimson eyes glowed brighter, sweeping across the plateau like a predator that had cornered its prey.
"Well, that's a big nope from me," Luis muttered, his voice shaking as he backed up against the boulders. "Does anyone else feel like it's looking right at us?"
"It's definitely looking at us," Jonah quipped, crouching behind a rock. "And judging by all those weapons, I don't think it wants to play nice."
Alex's jaw tightened as he surveyed the situation. "We can't fight that thing head-on. We need a distraction."
Amira, catching her breath from the climb, was already scanning the area for options. The plateau offered little cover, and the drone's imposing size made escape seem impossible. But then her eyes fell on a cluster of loose boulders perched precariously above the trail the drone had climbed.
She nudged Alex and pointed. "The rocks. If we can dislodge them, we might be able to crush it."
Alex followed her gaze, his expression sharpening. "It's risky. We'd have to lure it into position first."
"Risky is better than sitting here waiting to be fried," Amira replied. She glanced at Jonah and Luis. "Can you two keep it distracted?"
Jonah gave her a roguish grin. "Distracting terrifying death machines is my specialty. Come on, Luis. Let's make some noise."
Luis's eyes widened in horror. "What? No! Why is it always me? I'm terrible at distracting things. Remember the dog incident? It bit me!"
"Relax," Jonah said, patting him on the shoulder. "If it bites you, I'll make sure it's quick."
"Not funny!" Luis hissed, but before he could protest further, Jonah was already on his feet, waving his arms and shouting at the drone. "Hey, you oversized can opener! Over here!"
The drone's eyes locked onto him instantly, and its weapon systems began to hum ominously. Jonah darted to the left, yelling over his shoulder. "Luis! Now would be a great time to join the fun!"
Grumbling under his breath, Luis reluctantly stood and began flailing his arms. "Uh, yeah! Over here, you… stupid metal spider! You're no match for my… uh… superior intellect!"
The drone hesitated for a split second, as if confused by the bizarre display, then began advancing toward them with alarming speed. Jonah grabbed Luis's arm and pulled him back just as one of the drone's legs slammed into the ground where they had been standing.
"Move!" Jonah shouted, dragging a panicked Luis toward the far end of the plateau.
Meanwhile, Alex and Amira scrambled up the rocks, their movements swift but careful. The boulders were larger than they had anticipated, and the steep incline made it difficult to gain traction. Amira's hands were scraped and raw by the time they reached the top.
"Can we even move these things?" she asked, panting.
Alex inspected the boulders, his sharp mind calculating angles and leverage points. "They're heavy, but we don't need to move them far. We just need enough force to get them rolling."
Amira nodded, determination hardening her expression. "Let's do it."
Below them, the drone was relentless in its pursuit of Jonah and Luis, its massive legs crushing the rocky ground as it fired precise blasts of energy. Jonah ducked behind a boulder, pulling Luis with him just as another blast scorched the air above their heads.
"This thing really doesn't like us!" Luis cried, his voice cracking.
"Good! That means it's paying attention!" Jonah shot back, peeking out from behind the boulder. "Keep it busy a little longer. Alex and Amira are almost ready."
Luis groaned. "Why do I feel like this plan is going to end with me in a full-body cast?"
At the top of the ridge, Alex wedged a sturdy branch under the largest boulder, using it as a makeshift lever. "Amira, I need you to push with everything you've got."
She braced herself against the rock, planting her feet firmly. "On three. One… two… three!"
Together, they heaved against the boulder, muscles straining as it shifted inch by agonizing inch. Finally, with a deep, rumbling groan, the massive rock broke free from its resting place and began to roll downhill.
"Now the others!" Alex shouted, moving to the next boulder.
Amira didn't hesitate. The adrenaline coursing through her veins gave her strength she didn't know she had, and within seconds, another boulder was tumbling down the slope, followed by a third.
The drone, focused entirely on Jonah and Luis, didn't notice the impending avalanche until it was too late. The first boulder struck one of its legs, causing it to stumble. The second hit squarely on its back, crushing several of its weapon systems. The third—a massive slab of stone—landed directly on its central body, shattering its frame with a deafening crash.
For a moment, all was silent. Then a plume of smoke rose from the wreckage, and the drone's glowing red eyes flickered and went dark.
Jonah peeked out from behind his boulder, his expression a mix of awe and disbelief. "Did… did we just kill that thing?"
Luis collapsed onto the ground, his chest heaving. "I can't believe it. We're alive. I don't even care if I'm hallucinating. This is the happiest moment of my life."
Amira and Alex climbed down from the ridge, their faces streaked with dirt and sweat. Amira allowed herself a small smile as she surveyed the wreckage. "That was close."
Alex, ever the pragmatist, was already scanning the horizon. "We can't stay here. The drones above will have heard that. They'll send reinforcements."
Jonah groaned. "Do they ever take a coffee break?"
Amira looked at him, her smile fading. "If they're sending more drones, it means they're protecting something. Something important."
Luis sat up, wincing. "You mean the creepy exosuit villain? What are the chances they're nearby?"
"Too high for comfort," Alex replied grimly. "We need to keep moving. The sooner we figure out what's going on, the better chance we have of stopping it."
Amira nodded, determination hardening her expression once more. "Then let's go."
As they prepared to leave, a faint sound reached their ears—a rhythmic, mechanical thumping that sent chills down Amira's spine. She turned to Alex, her voice low and urgent. "Do you hear that?"
He nodded, his face pale. "Something else is coming."
Before anyone could respond, the thumping grew louder, and the ground began to shake. From the jungle below, another figure emerged—taller and more imposing than the first drone. This one wasn't just a machine. It was piloted by someone.
And its eyes were locked directly on them.