Chapter 18: The Weight of Resistance
The Iron Order's forces moved with brutal efficiency, but so did Kael's team. Each of them faced mounting pressure as the Order adapted to their infiltration, turning a carefully orchestrated mission into a desperate fight for survival.
Thorn and Lira: The Fuel Depot
The cavernous fuel depot echoed with the sound of boots and barking orders as Iron Order reinforcements poured in. Thorn leaned against a crate, reloading his crossbow, a cocky grin plastered on his face despite the chaos.
"Lira," he called, his tone light but urgent, "how's that last charge coming along? No pressure, of course. Just half the Order breathing down our necks."
Lira crouched by the massive fuel tank, her hands steady as she worked to secure the final explosive. Sweat dripped from her brow, but her voice was calm. "Almost there. Just keep them off me for another thirty seconds."
"Thirty seconds? That's an eternity," Thorn quipped, peeking around the corner and firing a bolt into an advancing soldier.
The Order's troops were relentless, their crimson armor gleaming under the depot's harsh lights. Thorn ducked back into cover as a barrage of gunfire peppered the crates around him.
"Okay, maybe twenty seconds," he muttered.
Lira finished setting the charge, her green eyes narrowing as she activated the timer. "Done. Let's move!"
Thorn grinned and tossed a smoke bomb toward the advancing troops. "After you, scout."
They sprinted toward the exit as the depot erupted into chaos. Alarms blared, and the sound of shouting grew louder. Lira shot Thorn a sharp look as they ducked into a side passage.
"Was that supposed to be fun for you?" she snapped.
"Fun? No," Thorn replied, still grinning. "But thrilling? Absolutely."
Lira rolled her eyes, but a small smile tugged at her lips. Despite his cavalier attitude, Thorn had kept her alive—and she couldn't deny they made a good team.
Mira and Garrick: The Armory
The armory was a labyrinth of narrow aisles and towering shelves, each filled with weapons and supplies the Iron Order had stockpiled for their conquests. Mira crouched behind a steel crate, her breath steady as she scanned the room.
"More coming," she said, her voice low. "Two squads, north entrance."
Garrick nodded, his hands deftly assembling a makeshift explosive from scavenged parts. "I'll slow them down. You focus on disarming the traps."
Mira moved quickly, her fingers flying over a delicate set of wires. The Order's traps were intricate, but she had seen enough of their work to know how to dismantle them.
"Why does it feel like we're always cleaning up their messes?" she muttered.
"Because we are," Garrick replied, his tone grim. "That's the thing about the Order—they don't just destroy, they corrupt. Every weapon they touch, every life they take—it all becomes theirs."
He stood and hurled his explosive toward the north entrance. The resulting blast sent soldiers scattering, giving them a brief reprieve.
Mira finished disabling the last trap and looked up at him. "You don't just hate them. This is personal."
Garrick's jaw tightened, and for a moment, his usual bravado faded. "They took my brother. Made him one of their soldiers. By the time I got to him… he wasn't the man I knew anymore."
Mira's expression softened. "I'm sorry."
Garrick shook his head, his focus returning. "Don't be. Just help me make sure they can't do it to anyone else."
Mira nodded, her resolve hardening. Together, they finished planting charges throughout the armory, their movements synchronized as the bond between them deepened.
The Fallout
By the time Thorn and Lira regrouped with Mira and Garrick, the Bastion was in full lockdown. Sirens wailed, and the air was thick with the scent of smoke and ozone.
"Fuel depot's rigged," Lira reported, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "We had some trouble, but it's done."
"Same with the armory," Mira added. "But the Order's getting smarter. They're adapting faster than we expected."
"Let them adapt," Thorn said with a smirk. "That just makes the game more interesting."
Garrick shot him a glare. "This isn't a game, Thorn."
Thorn held up his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, old man. I'm just saying we've got this."
"Enough," Mira interrupted, her tone sharp. She looked at Lira. "How much time do we have on the charges?"
"Fifteen minutes, maybe less," Lira replied.
"Then we move," Garrick said, his grip tightening on his rifle. "Kael's counting on us to draw their attention. Let's make some noise."
The team pushed forward, their resolve unshaken despite the odds. Each of them carried their own burdens, their own reasons for fighting, but together, they were a force to be reckoned with.
As they moved deeper into the Bastion, the Iron Order's forces closed in, setting the stage for the next battle—a battle that would test not just their skill, but their trust in one another.