Lost Protocol

Flight To The Final Stand

He glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting the android to reappear at any moment. The forest around them seemed to grow darker, more oppressive with each step.

This wasn't over-not by a long shot.

His friends stared, a mix of disbelief and relief on their faces. Carrie broke the silence, her voice trembling. "He hurt you?"

Logan rubbed his neck. "No, but my neck kinda hurts."

Joe shook his head, sighing in relief. "Glad you're okay. But why did it let you go?"

Logan thought for a moment. "Might've been the blowtorch and that red chip on its neck. The moment it was aimed, the android started to weaken."

"Count your blessings," Joe said, admiration in his tone. Everyone nodded, sharing in the relief.

Logan's face grew serious. "Guys, the android said something about ending humans."

Joe's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Logan glanced toward where the android had fled. "Maybe it's heading toward civilization."

Laura looked puzzled. "Why would it go there?"

"Maybe we should follow its path," Logan suggested. "It might lead us out of this forest. We need to get away from here."

"But what if it's a trap?" Carrie asked, cautious. "It's smart, remember?"

"It's worth a shot," Logan insisted. "And we know what can take it down if it returns."

"Alright, I'm in," Joe said, excitement flickering.

Logan turned to the girls. "You two coming?"

Laura nodded reluctantly. "It's not like we have another choice."

They set off, pushing onward with dwindling supplies. After hours of exhausting trekking, a faint road appeared through the trees.

"Oh, look!" Laura gasped, her eyes lighting up. "A road!"

Their excitement faltered as they realized it was still distant, about 100 kilometers away. The sun beat down, adding to their struggle against the heat.

Logan shielded his eyes, calculating the distance. "That's far. We'll have to move fast to make it before night."

Carrie wiped sweat from her brow, determined. "No choice. Let's keep going."

They trudged onward, heat bearing down as fatigue set in. Hours passed, water running low, but none complained-they knew survival depended on pushing through. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they reached the road's edge, cracked and worn but unmistakably leading to civilization.

"We made it," Laura whispered, sinking to the ground.

Logan stayed alert, scanning their surroundings. "Don't celebrate yet. We don't know what's out here."

Suddenly, Laura screamed, pointing.

Meanwhile, Mercury Labs' creation-the android-had left ruin in every town it touched. Buildings crumbled, and anything human-made fell to its power. The military's defenses failed; bullets ricocheted, and missiles missed. Created to boost their nation's might, Mercury Labs kept the project secret, designing it to adapt and learn from every encounter.

The android continued, seeking new targets, each town falling to its wrath. Logan and his friends encountered the aftermath: cars smoldering, bodies lying across the road.

"What happened here?" Carrie gasped.

Logan's heart raced. "The android-it's started its revenge."

Amidst the wreckage, they spotted an undamaged army truck with fallen soldiers nearby.