35. Blake
THIRTY-FIVE
Blake
My HUD flickers with constant updates. Altitude, windspeed, team positions, and RUFI status—a data stream that would be overwhelming if we hadn’t trained for this exact scenario.
Through it all, I focus on the top of the cliff, where our real mission begins. The wind whips around us, carrying the scent of ozone and sea spray, a stark reminder of the storm raging around us.
CJ’s voice crackles through our comms, steady despite the static. “Alpha team, status?”
The sound of distant explosions punctuates Max’s reply, the bass rumble reverberating through the ground beneath our feet. “We’re engaged at the main gate. Heavy resistance, but we’re holding. These bastards fight like they’ve got something to prove.”
“Bravo?”
“HALO insertion complete,” Brady reports, his voice slightly breathless from the high-altitude jump. “Air defenses neutralized. You’re clear to proceed, Charlie.”
“Copy that,” Ethan responds, his voice low and focused. “Charlie team, we’re green. RUFI, take point. Let’s move.”
The three RUFI spring into action, their sleek forms barely visible as they crest the cliff edge. We follow closely behind, the wind nearly knocking us off balance. Taking cover behind a low stone wall, we survey the compound before us.
It looms like a dark monolith against the stormy sky, its windows glinting ominously in the flashes of lightning. In the distance, muzzle flashes light up the night, accompanied by the staccato rhythm of gunfire. Alpha team is keeping Malfor’s forces busy, as planned.
Ethan signals silently, and we move out. The RUFI take the lead, and their advanced sensors scan for threats as we approach the villa. Our steps are careful and methodical, with the RUFI adjusting their pace to match ours. The rain pelts us relentlessly, but our gear keeps us dry and focused.
We reach the villa, its ornate stonework marred by bullet holes and scorch marks. One of the RUFI identifies a broken window on the ground floor—our entry point.
RUFI-2 takes point, slipping through the window first to secure the immediate area. The smell of ozone grows stronger as we follow, glass crunching beneath our boots despite our best efforts for silence.
The interior is dark, lit only by the occasional flash of lightning from outside. Our night vision kicks in, bathing everything in an eerie green glow.
“Mitzy, we’re in,” Ethan whispers into his comm. “Guide us to Sophia.”
Mitzy’s voice comes through clear and focused. “Routing to your HUD. She’s in the east wing, sub-basement level. Be advised, I’m detecting multiple hostile signatures between you and the target.”
“Copy that,” Ethan responds. “Charlie team, move out. RUFI, maintain perimeter scan. Blake, you’ve got point with RUFI-3.”
I take the lead alongside RUFI-3, my rifle at the ready. We move like shadows through the compound, our black tactical gear and the RUFI’s adaptive camouflage blending seamlessly with the darkness. The exosuits enhance our speed and agility, allowing us to cover ground quickly and silently. The smell of damp stone and mold grows stronger as we descend, the air growing noticeably cooler.
RUFI-3’s sensors highlight two heat signatures ahead. I raise a fist, signaling the team to halt. Two guards moving in our direction, unaware of our presence. I lock eyes with Gabe, a silent plan forming between us.
When the guards round the corner, Gabe and I strike. RUFI-3 provides cover. My suppressed rifle coughs once, twice. The guard on the left drops without a sound. Beside me, Gabe’s target falls just as silently.
“Hostiles neutralized,” I report, my voice barely above a whisper. “Moving on.”
We progress deeper into the compound, the sounds of the battle outside growing more distant with each step. The interior is eerily quiet, most of the guards drawn to the commotion at the walls. Our footsteps and the soft whir of the RUFI’s servos echo softly off the stone walls, the only sound besides our controlled breathing.
My HUD flashes, indicating we’re nearing our target. A heavy steel door blocks our path, and an armed guard is standing watch. Before he can react, RUFI-3 launches a non-lethal stun projectile, incapacitating him instantly. I move in to secure the guard while Ethan examines the electronic lock.
It’s high-tech, well beyond anything we’ve encountered so far. “Mitzy, we need access,” he murmurs into his comm.
“Working on it,” she replies. Seconds tick by, feeling like hours. Finally, a soft click echoes in the corridor. The door swings open, revealing a dark room beyond.
Heart pounding, I step forward, RUFI-3 at my side, its sensors sweeping the room for hidden threats. A figure huddles in the corner, barely visible in the dim light. My throat tightens as I speak, barely trusting my voice.
“Sophia?”
Sophia looks up, her eyes wide with shock and fear. She’s thinner than I remember, her face gaunt, but there’s fire in her eyes. She hasn’t given up.
“Blake?” she whispers, disbelief coloring her voice .
Mission accomplished.
I’m across the room in an instant. Sophia looks up, her eyes wide with disbelief and hope. I pull her into my arms, feeling her fragile form against me. Despite her weakened state, her grip on me is fierce and desperate.
“Sophia,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “We’re taking you home.”
For a moment, she clings to me, her body shaking with silent sobs. Then, suddenly, she pulls back, her eyes wild with panic.
“No,” she says, shaking her head vehemently. “We can’t leave. Not without Luke.”
Luke?
I exchange confused glances with the team.
“Who’s Luke?”