Guidestar Combatants

The Regenerate

The day was scorching hot, the sun's rays beating down on the black top road like a relentless hammer. Cullen trudged down the middle of the road, his thoughts consumed by the chaos that had consumed his world. He had been at GuideStar, the one place he thought was safe, when the lights went out. And now, he was alone, separated from both his friends and enemies.

As he walked, memories flooded his mind, each one more painful than the last. The President and his men, known as the Novembers, had infiltrated GuideStar and tranquilized everyone before shipping them off to PUMA camps. But somehow, the tranquilizer hadn't worked on Cullen. He lay in the back of the truck, surrounded by his loved ones, desperately searching for his girlfriend and son amidst the sea of people. But they were nowhere to be found.

As the truck rumbled on, Cullen's fear and desperation grew. He knew what awaited them at the PUMA camps - a fate worse than death. That's when he made the split-second decision to take action. With his heart pounding and his grip tightening on his son, he pushed aside the tarp that covered the truck and jumped out, landing on his back. He scooped up his son and ran into the nearby cornfield, the stalks whipping past him as he pushed through them, not daring to look back.

Finally, he burst through the other side and found himself on another road. Looking up, he saw a sign that read "Tavernwoods 4 miles, ArrowHood 20 miles." Tavernwoods - that's where he needed to go. And he needed to get there fast, before the Novembers caught up to him in their only working vehicle.

Cullen began to run, his heart pounding in his chest as he clutched his son tightly. He couldn't afford to lose him - not after everything they had been through. As he ran, he could feel the sweat trickling down his face, the sound of his son's breathing in his ears, the weight of the world on his shoulders. But he kept going, driven by his love for his family and his determination to survive.

The four mile walk had turned into an eternity of exhaustion. Every step felt like a thousand needles piercing his feet. The scorching sun beat down on him mercilessly, draining every ounce of energy from his body. And yet, he pushed forward, determined to reach his destination.

Finally, Cullen stumbled into the small town of Tavernwoods. His legs were like lead, and his throat was parched from dehydration. With aching limbs, he dragged himself to Aluminum Road, his feet dragging against the dusty ground.

As he made a left turn, Cullen's eyes caught sight of the looming building ahead - GuideStar. The place where he would find the answers he desperately sought. A glimmer of hope ignited within him, fueling him to push forward.

Ignoring the protests of his weary body, Cullen marched towards GuideStar, his heart racing with anticipation. He reached the entrance and climbed through the gate, his adrenaline pumping as he made his way inside.

But his excitement was short-lived as he came to a sudden halt. The once bustling and lively mainframe was now barren and desolate. Dust and cobwebs coated the abandoned gadgets, a stark reminder of the passage of time.

Cullen's breath caught in his throat as he sprinted towards the basement, his mind racing with questions. How could this be? What had happened to the place he once called home?

As he reached the elevator, he frantically pressed the up button, his heart pounding in his chest. But then reality struck him like a slap to the face. The power was out. The elevator wouldn't work without electricity.

Cullen felt his hope dwindling, his mind struggling to come up with a new plan. But before he could even process his thoughts, a ding echoed through the basement, and the elevator doors slowly slid open.

He turned to see a familiar face, his heart dropping at the sight of Terry holding a gun towards him. Cullen's mind raced with conflicting emotions - fear, confusion, and relief.