The alarms blared.
Red lights flashed across the underground base like blood stains on steel. Tara's voice barked orders through the comm system.
"Dive units incoming. Two waves. Heat signatures are verified. This is not a drill—repeat, not a drill."
Xin was still getting patched up by one of the medics when the concrete shook. A deep, rumbling boom echoed through the walls like something had dropped from orbit.
"Shit, they're here already?" Kaila gasped.
Andy stood in a daze, eyes wide. "We're dead. We're actually dead."
"No. We're not," Tara said, storming in with a rifle on her back and a sidearm in hand. "Prep evac. Sector 3 tunnels. All civvies first."
Xin stood up, wincing. "We need to go."
"You can barely stand," Kaila snapped.
"I don't care. We have to go sis"
Another explosion. This time, closer. Dirt rained from the ceiling. The base groaned under pressure.
Kaila and Andy followed Tara. But before they reached the hallway, a loud KRSSHHH tore through the far wall.
The concrete burst open.
And standing in the dust cloud was a man dressed in black Dive armor—sleek, matte, and sharp-edged. Twin energy blades hung from his arms like death itself. His face was calm. No emotion.
Cassius Devereaux.
"Targets confirmed," he said flatly. "Kill Everyone."
Kaila's heart stopped. "Wait… what?"
Cassius stepped forward. His voice stayed monotone. "Engaging."
Fight Begins
Cassius moved first at Xin
A blur of motion.
Xin's instincts screamed. He barely ducked, the energy blade slicing right above his head—close enough to burn a line across his hair.
WHAM.
Xin rolled backward, kicking off a pipe. He landed in a crouch, eyes wild.
"Holy Shit He's too fast," he muttered.
Cassius turned his head mechanically. "Subject exhibits early combat reflexes. Reaction time—above expected. Still within termination range."
He lunged again.
Xin dodged to the left—just in time—but the tip of the blade caught his ribs, tearing flesh.
"FUCK—!" he hissed, stumbling back.
Kaila screamed, "XIN!"
Cassius kept walking toward him.
Xin's vision blurred. Blood ran down his side. Every inch of him screamed to run. But he stayed standing.
He wiped his lip and spat. "Is that all you've got, bot-face?"
Cassius didn't respond.
Xin Tries to Fight Back
Xin charged.
Every step hurt, but he knew he couldn't let this guy get to Kaila.
He threw a punch. Cassius leaned back—barely. Xin followed up with a high kick. Blocked. He swept low.
Cassius dodged effortlessly.
Then—
SLASH.
Cassius drove a knee into Xin's gut and slammed him into the wall. The back of Xin's head cracked against concrete.
Xin gasped, blood pouring from his mouth.
"Damage severe. Spine intact. Proceeding to disarm."
Cassius lifted his blade, aiming for Xin's neck.
Suddenly—BANG!
A shot echoed through the corridor. Cassius tilted his head slightly, blade pulling back.
Tara stood at the end of the hall, rifle raised. "Get the fuck away from my people."
Cassius didn't hesitate.
He leapt toward her.
Tara and Xin vs Cassius
Tara fired rapidly—BANG BANG BANG—but Cassius weaved between the shots like smoke. His blade struck—but Tara sidestepped, drawing a combat knife and slashing upward across his chest.
Sparks flew. The armor deflected most of it.
Xin, bleeding and dazed, forced himself up. "Tara—left!"
She pivoted, blocking a low sweep. Cassius struck again, this time with both blades.
Tara barely dodged.
Xin threw himself forward with the last of his strength—punching Cassius in the side. The hit made him stumble half a step. Just enough.
Tara took the opening.
She pulled a flash grenade from her vest, jammed it into Cassius' chest, and kicked him away. BOOM. The light exploded, white-hot.
Cassius staggered, temporarily blind.
"This guy isn't dying anytime soon," Tara muttered. "Fall back!"
Xin coughed. "Gladly."
Meanwhile: Kaila and Andy – The Evac Plan
While the fight raged, Kaila and Andy reached the underground vehicle bay. Civilians were rushing into armored transports and old-school military trucks.
Andy spotted someone in a lab coat helping people into a transport. His eyes narrowed.
"Wait… that's him."
Kaila looked up. "Who?"
"That's… Dr. Alaric Ferrow," Andy whispered. "He used to work for Dive. He's one of the few who flipped."
Kaila rushed over. "Dr. Ferrow!"
The man turned. Late 40s, glasses cracked, tired but alert.
"You must be Kaila," he said. "I was told you might show up. We need to get you out now. Dive's using elite agents. We've only got minutes."
"Xin and Tara are still inside," she said.
"They'll have to fight their way out. You and I are getting the rest out the other side."
Andy grabbed a rifle from a nearby crate. "I'll help clear the south tunnel."
Kaila nodded. "Let's move."
Back to the Fight
Cassius recovered fast.
Too fast.
Tara and Xin were barely holding him off. Tara was fast, efficient, brutal. Xin was raw, dodging instinctively, throwing punches that would knock out anyone else—but they barely dented Cassius.
Slice—Tara got cut across the leg.
Thud—Xin got knocked down again, face-first.
Cassius raised his blade, about to finish Xin.
Suddenly—BOOM.
A wall exploded. Smoke and light poured in.
"Xin! Tara! Get in!" Kaila's voice rang out.
An armored vehicle screeched to a halt near them.
Tara grabbed Xin and shoved him toward the exit. "Go!"
Xin stumbled into the vehicle, coughing up blood.
Tara followed, firing a few last shots. Cassius stood there, watching. He didn't chase.
As the vehicle roared away, Cassius whispered:
"Subject: incomplete termination. Uploading data. Preparing for second engagement."
Final Scene – Escape
The convoy drove through the hidden tunnels, bumping and rocking. Resistance members held onto the walls, panting.
Xin sat slumped against Kaila, bleeding and half-conscious. His chest ached. His pride hurt more.
"I couldn't even hurt him," he muttered. "I couldn't do shit…"
Kaila tightened her grip around him. "You're alive. That's enough for now."
Tara sat across from them, bleeding, exhausted. Her eyes were fixed forward.
Andy sat in the back, staring at Dr. Alaric, something unreadable in his expression.
As they emerged out of the tunnels into a misty forest clearing, Tara spoke.
"This war just got bloodier. And it won't stop until we're all dead."
The trucks rolled on toward a new base.