Dealing with Lotus/9 with everyone like this is definitely going to be quite the challenge. I don't even know who's left out of the people we did have here.
"Just stick with me in here for the time being. We'll handle them when they enter the room." I said with a serious tone in my voice.
I did a quick check on my ammo, definitely enough to hold them back for a little bit. Rezex could also buy time when needed as well so this shouldn't be that bad.
Though I'm still wondering what happened to the guy who fired the cannon out of his arm, I don't think I ever killed him. My memory is drawing a blank on that whole situation.
He only came to mind because it made me wonder what kind of metal lotus/9 has.
They are bound to have some pretty crazy modifications to use against their targets since they prioritize killing above all else. A group like them will pick us off if we aren't careful.
I suddenly heard footsteps enter the room, dead ahead of me is where it came from. I lifted my rifle without wasting a second just to see that it was Pinky and Reika.
"There's no sign of anybody else here. I'm thinking Tess got some people out, that would be the most logical reasoning for it to be empty otherwise." Reika spoke with a bit of concern in her voice.
Tess. The second in command of Karma.exe, one of the main people who helped behind the scenes with planning. She was on board with the mana port raid as well.
People died here today and she is nowhere to be found.
That does seem kind of suspicious to me but I guess that's because I don't trust a lot of people. I've slowly started to trust Reika and Pinky a bit, but that's about it.
Rezex is still sitting funny in the back of my mind since he originally approached me without hesitation. It was also like he read my mind that day.
None of that sits right with me.
"The team who got the mana from the port haven't said much either. I'm starting to wonder if Tess is behind this in a way." Rezex chimed in.
"That is kind of odd. Glad someone noticed it as well." Pinky responded while crossing his arms.
Reika looked a bit stressed out about the current situation but it was normal. Everything was a bit stressful to begin with since we raided a mana port and it almost went south.
"We should grab some more from the armory and do one last sweep. Make sure no one else is dead or missing. I'd like to believe a lot of people survived but this does look pretty messy." I said while getting up from behind cover.
"Let's try not to stay separated long, Rezex go with Pinky. I think it'll do some good to have someone to make up for the speed and I can trust Zero as a guard." Reika responded while heading over to me.
"Yes ma'am." Rezex said respectfully.
He really is a man of mystery, one that I don't understand a damn thing about. It isn't the end of the world or anything but I do wonder what goes through his mind.
Surely he must be thinking the same way as me. Work hard with Karma until the time is right to leave and make the rise.
At least that's how it seems.
Either way it was time for us to look for Doc since he was the one other person I really wanted to find. I temporarily threw the LZR-01 back over my shoulders for the time being so I could keep the deagle out.
"Rezex has never been so compliant before, it is kind of surprising." Reika said as we walked.
"I was thinking it was weird as well. He didn't seem for the plan originally and then all of a sudden you tell me he's on the team for it." I responded while taking a few glances around.
"Rezex is very skilled so it would be dumb to leave him out of the raid. I wasn't going to turn him down for it, but I think we are coming up on Doc's room." Reika said while gripping onto her pistol.
I didn't notice any blood coming from underneath the door or around the entrance to the room. That was a bit hopeful at least.
"Let me go first." I said with a calm, yet serious tone.
"Yeah. I'll watch your back." Reika replied.
As I pushed the door open to the room I could see that there wasn't any blood splattered throughout the room. It was actually relatively clean in here, where was Doc though?
I didn't see him anywhere so this was just getting weirder and weirder.
"Doc?" I said just loud enough for someone to hear.
"I'm starting to think he didn't stick around either." Reika chimed in with worry in her voice again.
Doc being gone is definitely a shocker since he is definitely committed to karma, he wouldn't betray them. Someone must've taken him out of here or maybe Tess isn't against us.
There's still a the possibility that she got the important people out without anyone dying.
It is just odd that she's been so radio silent since the raid started. You would think that the second in command would actually be communicating.
I'd want to know how everything went or how it is going so I'd actively been in communication with the people at the raid.
"Doc is probably hiding somewhere or maybe Tess really did help get the important people out. She might not know who can be trusted too." I tried to rationalize with Reika about it.
"Yeah, I don't think Tess would betray us... Just the possibility is there. That goes with anyone but she knows I'll know where to find them." Reika responded while pacing around the room.
"Then we know where to go." I said with confidence.