𝐻𝑜𝑤 𝑇𝑜 𝐷𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑒𝑎𝑟

15.

I finally reached Kate's side, helping her up urgently. "Move, go!" I shouted over the relentless gunfire. She winced and groaned in pain, leaning on me for support as we hurried forward. I fired shots to provide cover while she struggled to her feet, returning fire until we managed to stumble into a room. Our fall was cushioned by large bags of who knows what, but we didn't have time to dwell on it.

Breathing heavily, we quickly shed our torn blazers and shredded white shirts, revealing the black tanks beneath, both equipped with bulletproof plates. I leaned over to grab a fresh gun, the silence in the room now oppressive after the cacophony of battle outside. Glancing down at my leg, I winced, and Kate approached, feeling around under my slacks.

"How's it look?" I muttered, bracing myself as she used a torn shirt to fashion a makeshift bandage around my thigh. "Piece of cake," she said with a hint of endearment in her voice, poking fun at my discomfort.

Handing her a machine gun, I cautioned, "Watch this one, they tend to jam." She nodded, loading it efficiently. "You take the left, sweetheart. I'll cover the right," I instructed, pausing for a moment. She looked at me, her eyes reflecting a mix of determination and affection.

"There's nowhere I'd rather be than right here, with you," she said softly. I managed a smile. "Shut up," she replied playfully, knowing my tendency to get mischievous in dire situations.

With that, we rose to our feet, our brief moment of peace shattered by the impending chaos outside. Without further hesitation, we swung open the doors, stepping out to face whatever awaited us.
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In the midst of the crumbling warehouse, the chaos of battle erupted with a deafening intensity. Kate and Kodiak stood back to back, their shoulders brushing against each other as they fought off waves of agents from A.G.I. and C.D.D. Bullets whizzed through the air, pinging off metal beams and concrete pillars, as both agencies converged on their position.

Kate swung her rifle left, taking down two A.G.I. agents advancing from the shadows. Kodiak ducked and rolled to her right, firing precise shots with her pistol, dropping a C.D.D. operative aiming from an elevated platform. The warehouse shook violently as explosions rocked its foundations, sending debris cascading down around them.

"We need to move!" Kate shouted over the cacophony of gunfire and crumbling structure. Kodiak nodded grimly, tossing aside her spent pistol and snatching up an A.G.I. agent's submachine gun. Kate switched to her shotgun, blasting through a barricade of crates that obscured their path forward.

As they pushed through the chaos, Kodiak's eyes flicked to Kate, a silent understanding passing between them. They weren't fighting for the bounty on their heads or the vendettas of their respective agencies. They were fighting to survive, for each other.

They ducked behind a crumbling concrete pillar as a barrage of grenades exploded nearby, sending shockwaves through the air. Kodiak scanned the room, spotting a cache of explosives stacked near the warehouse exit. With a nod toward Kate, they sprinted toward the explosives, shooting down agents who attempted to block their path.

Reaching the explosives, Kodiak grabbed a handful of detonators while Kate set up a defensive perimeter, her shotgun roaring defiance. With a click and a twist, Kodiak armed the explosives, setting a timer for a minute.

"Cover me!" She yelled, and Kate unleashed a torrent of gunfire, keeping the agents at bay as Kodiak sprinted back toward her.

Kate and Kodiak stood amidst the rubble, their chests heaving with exertion and adrenaline still coursing through their veins. The once bustling warehouse now lay in ruins around them, smoke billowing into the night sky and the distant wail of sirens approaching.