Tales from the Former Universe

18. The Nest

The neon lights clashed against the shadows of towering skyscrapers, Brogan stood before his rebel division, a flicker of determination in his eyes as he addressed his comrades.

"Today, precipice of change, we stand on my comrades," Brogan's voice echoed through the dimly lit room, his words carrying the weight of their mission. "You've bled for this your whole lives, and now, we're ready to take the fight to them."

He looked at his team. Each person's face showed they had been in tough fights before and never gave up. There was Orama, the planner, whose eyes seemed to know a million strategies. Then there was Han-Cho, the quiet fighter whose swords were more powerful than talking. Derace was the tech expert who could type incredibly fast and accurately. Xala was the young, brilliant one, full of energy and with a very sharp mind. And finally, Horcras, the sharpshooter who never missed.

"We've got one shot at this," Brogan continued, his voice steady. "But remember, if we never meet again, we never met at all. It never happened, and if it did, it wasn't us. I love you all."

With those words hanging in the air, Brogan turned on his heel and strode out of the apartment, his determination blazing like a beacon in the night.

As the ground team assembled at Carcano State, they were equipped with the tools of their trade: Night Vision goggles to pierce the darkness, Rebreathers and Scuba Suits to navigate the cooling tunnels, and an arsenal of weapons to fend off any who dared stand in their way.

With a rush of adrenaline, they parachuted down to the facility's parking lot, blowing the garage door's control panel and bursting into action. Bullets flew, grenades exploded, and bodies fell as the ground team fought their way through the labyrinthine corridors of Nest.

Finally, they got to where they needed to be. The heat tensed as they all put in their keycards at the same time and opened the inner room. Derace, staying calm, used the computer to download the important information they had risked everything for.

But their success didn't last long because everything suddenly became chaotic. Guards rushed in like angry ghosts, shooting their weapons as they fought hard to protect their place. As the fighting surrounded them, Orama was shot. A sharp pain went through his chest as a bullet hit him. He stumbled back, holding his wound tightly and trying hard to stay awake as he struggled to breathe.

"Argh, I'd rather die!" Orama struggled.

"You dare abandon this mission?!" Derrace questioned.

"What else can we do?!" Orama remedied.

"We die fighting!" Horcas said.

"We die fighting!" Han-Cho followed.

"We die fighting!" Derrace followed. "FOR THE REBELLION!!"

Derrace stood up and shot two guards. Horcas jumped from his cover, shot three guards in the head in the air, and landed back to cover flawlessly. He aimed, AND HIS SNIPER WAS SHOT AWAY.

At the same time, Han-Cho moved like a smooth hunter, his swords shining in the low light as he quickly and accurately took down guard after guard. But even he wasn't completely safe. A shot just missed him, cutting his side as he moved through the fight, reminding him of the danger everywhere. Derrace, who was usually calm under pressure, suddenly had a problem when a guard shot his weapon out of his hand. He panicked and quickly looked for a safe place, trying to think of a way to help them.

Then, just when things looked really bad, tear gas came out of the vents, filling the air with a stinging cloud that made the team cough and tear up. They had no choice but to run, their eyes burning as they stumbled through the haze, just wanting to get away.

In a desperate moment, Orama grabbed a grenade in the chaos, holding it tightly. With a quick throw, he sent it into the middle of the people chasing them, a silent promise to get even as the explosion shook the building. Through the smoke and confusion, Horcras, the sharpshooter, aimed and fired. His shots sounded like loud thunder as he hit the remaining guards perfectly, making a clear path for them to escape.

With every step, the team moved forward, still determined even though things were against them.

As they escaped through the cold tunnels, they thought they had won another battle. But as the water closed in around them, they knew the fight wasn't over. Horcras used the flare gun to signal for help, their hearts beating fast as they waited for someone to rescue them.

But something terrible happened: Xala, the young, smart one, was caught while trying to hack remotely. His cries for help were met with a cold, unfeeling look as Interpol agents dragged him away, his young bravery gone because of the enemy's cruelty.

In their successful escape, there was nothing that can be done, but the necessary action to protect the rebellion.