She runs out the door and pushes it shut as I arrive. I place my hand on the scanner and speak. “80.”
The latch clicks, and I push the door open. When I step outside, I see her running toward the field with the tall plants. I take a wider turn to enter the plants from a different angle and avoid the cameras if my memory serves me right.
As I walk into the tall grass, I listen to her movement. She is running toward the center. This works to my advantage; she'll be harder to find. Even if the sound of my gun raises alarm, they'll struggle to find her quickly.
When the sound of her feet stops, I crouch down to the thinner parts of the plants and spot her legs a few yards away from me. I move quietly toward her, and when I feel I have a good shot, I raise my rifle and pull the trigger.
The bang is followed by the thump of a body falling to the ground. I run to where her body lies on the ground, and I can see blood pooling around her. Even if she's not dead, she will be soon. I'm about to shoot her once more, but the sound of voices reacting to the first gunshot gets my feet moving. They'll be listening for more to try to pinpoint the location.
I run to the back wall of the compound, to the door Farouk and I walked through. I place my hand on the scanner, say my name, and run through. Once outside, I edge my way along the exterior wall toward the front of the compound.
The gunshot's commotion inside the compound has turned the drones' attention from the top of the wall inward. I sprint to the first building under cover of the night's darkness.
I'm about to continue my path to Petros when I catch a glimpse of flowing blonde hair out of the corner of my eye.
“KJ?” I step away from the cover of the building toward the girl with the blonde hair.
She turns, and the rush of blood that was pumping to my heart slows. It's the blonde Genesys girl. I believe her name is Fe.
Recognizing me from the Breekbal game, she takes a step forward, but two outsiders rush her and grab her by the arms. She struggles to break free, her eyes pleading for my help. I don't move. I watch as Dr. Peters joins the two outsiders and forces Fe to swallow some kind of liquid.
Her body goes limp, and the three of them drag her deep into the city. I feel bad for not helping her, but this can only work in our favor. The Genesys would not leave one of their own behind. Even if Dr. Anfang would, I know Atom will come after her.
I run around the other side of the building and head to where I recall meeting Petros. Dozens of outsiders guard the building. They raise their weapons when they see me running at them. I see the four Integers standing next to Petros. One of them leans in and says something to him.
“Stand down,” Petros yells. All the outsiders lower their weapons.
“Is this all you got?” I ask as I look around at the small army.
“Most,” Petros responds.
I'm grateful that Brianna had the four Integers stay behind. They do legitimize this part of the operation a little more. “Alright. Remember, we are fighting our way down the ramp to get to the hangar. Let's go!”
The outsiders and four Integers scream and run forward. Petros steps up to me. “Let's hope you know what you’re doing, 80.”
We run off to start the assault on the compound. When we are a hundred feet away, I begin to hear the shots that have already started going off. That must be 13 and the others. I hope they were able to thin out the number of drones.
We approach part of the wall that has yet to be rebuilt and are met with shots from drones protecting the area. We return fire and clear them out of our way. A few of the outsiders lie lifeless, and as I move forward, I see an Integer dead on the ground.
Once inside the compound, I'm assess everything that is happening. To our right, the Integers are fighting through a group of drones. A handful of drones and scientists run toward us from our left, abandoning their posts from the compound's side and back. In front of us, some of the Integers and even a couple of scientists are shooting down to the bottom of the ramp.
“You six, help them on the right.” I bark my orders at some outsiders, then point to the three remaining Integers. “You three with me here on the left. The rest of you, get down that ramp!”
Everyone does as they are told, including Petros. The three Integers and I run for cover behind a couple of rubble piles that still litter the field, where we open fire on the incoming drones and scientists.
We make easy work of them, but as I turn to shout my next orders, the Integer right next to me is shot through the head. His blood splatters the debris pile and my face. I turn and find a drone crouched at the top of the wall aiming his rifle right at me. I turn my gun toward him, but a shot rings out, not mine, and the drone falls from the top of his perch.
I look around and see 13 with his rifle aimed at the top of the wall. He smiles at me and then runs to the ramp. I look over at the two remaining Integers near me and point for them to head to the ramp.
They rush to join the battle, and I see that the ramp's entrance is
