The Alpha took a step towards the door.
Melisa kept her eyes on the camera.
“Hurry.”
The connection cut out.
“Melisa!”
Daniel kept running.
Nothing.
Only static.
“Melisa!”
Vega raised a hand.
“Save your breath.”
Daniel lowered the communicator.
Xenya was ahead.
Twenty-nine seconds.
She had said twenty-nine.
Daniel did not know how long they had been running.
He only knew Xenya had not split off yet.
Electricity ran along her daggers in small discharges.
Alyra ran behind her.
Iskander beside her.
Daniel looked at him.
His right arm no longer moved properly with his body.
“How are you doing?”
“Running.”
“I didn’t ask that.”
Iskander looked at him.
“Alyra’s rubbing off on you.”
“That’s serious.”
“Very.”
Daniel smiled.
So did Iskander.
It lasted a second.
A growl came from his left.
“Contact!” Vega shouted.
A canid emerged between the trees.
Xenya turned.
Alyra raised a hand.
“Don’t stop!”
Water.
Not in front of the animal.
Behind its paw.
Its footing changed.
Xenya understood.
Moved in.
One dagger struck its flank.
The second discharged.
The animal fell onto its side.
Xenya kept running.
She did not check whether it got up.
Vega looked at her.
“Good.”
It took Xenya a second to realise.
“Was that a compliment?”
“Don’t get used to it.”
“Too late.”
Another growl.
Further away.
Vega looked towards the support team members.
“Keep going!”
Daniel looked ahead again.
The structure of E-47 was beginning to show between the trees.
“I can see it.”
Xenya accelerated.
“Xenya!”
She checked the impulse.
Not the run.
“I’m still here!”
The blow against the door made the wall vibrate.
Melisa stepped back.
The technician looked at the screen.
“The north fence has given way.”
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then find out.”
Serrano sat against the wall.
His A.R.E. between his hands.
Ignis appeared and disappeared around the weapon.
“Melisa.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
“Breathe.”
Melisa opened her mouth.
Realised she had been holding her breath for several seconds.
Let it out.
“I am breathing.”
“Terribly, but yes.”
Another impact.
This time it was not against the door.
Metal.
Further away.
Melisa looked at the cameras.
A canid crossed the perimeter.
Then disappeared from view.
“Where’s camera four?”
“Down.”
“Five?”
“Interference.”
“Six?”
The technician switched.
Picture.
Empty.
“It works.”
Melisa came closer.
“Leave it.”
“But there’s nothing there.”
“Exactly.”
The technician looked at her.
“I don’t understand.”
“Neither do I.”
Melisa pointed to the screen.
“That’s why I want it.”
Another blow.
Serrano tried to stand.
Melisa immediately turned.
“Don’t even think about it.”
“If they get in...”
“If you fall again, I’ll have two problems.”
“You already have two problems.”
“Then don’t give me a third.”
Serrano looked at her.
For the first time, he smiled.
Very slightly.
“Understood.”
Melisa returned to the screens.
Camera six.
Nothing.
Five.
Nothing.
Three.
A canid.
Two.
The Alpha.
Melisa went still.
She was not attacking.
She was walking beside the perimeter.
Slowly.
Disappeared.
Melisa switched cameras.
Nothing.
Another.
Nothing.
“Where is she?”
The technician searched.
“I can’t see her.”
Neither could Melisa.
And she liked that even less.
“Down!”
Vega thrust her arm out.
Aeris swept through the forest.
A thick branch changed course before falling onto the injured woman.
Daniel caught her by her uninjured arm.
“Keep going.”
“I can manage on my own.”
“Perfect.”
He let go.
“Then keep going.”
The woman looked at him.
Then ran.
Iskander gave a laugh between breaths.
“Very tactful.”
“It’s working.”
“That’s the worst part.”
The station was close.
Very close.
Xenya pointed.
“Fence!”
Daniel saw it.
A section was bent inwards.
“They’ve got in.”
Vega raised her A.R.E.
“We don’t know how many.”
Alyra looked at the ground.
“Or where.”
Xenya tightened her grip on the daggers.
“Then we find them.”
“No,” Vega said.
Xenya turned.
“They’ll find us.”
Silence.
Iskander adjusted his shield.
His hand failed as he tried to fasten the strap.
Once.
Twice.
Alyra saw him.
Came closer.
“Give me that.”
“I can do it.”
The buckle slipped from his fingers again.
Iskander stared at them.
Alyra said nothing.
Held out her hand.
This time, he gave her the strap.
Alyra tightened it.
Firmly.
“Too much?”
Iskander moved his arm.
“No.”
“Can you feel it?”
He hesitated.
“Yes.”
Alyra raised her eyes.
Iskander added:
“Enough.”
She did not look satisfied.
“When this is over...”
“When it’s over, you can shout at me.”
“I wasn’t going to shout at you.”
“That’s scarier.”
Xenya looked back.
“Are you coming?”
Alyra stood up.
“Yes.”
Iskander raised his shield.
“Let’s go.”
The door of E-47 shook again.
Melisa watched the screens.
“No.”
The technician turned.
“What?”
Melisa pointed to camera two.
The canid had returned.
It was approaching the door.
“That’s not the Alpha.”
“I know.”
Melisa switched to six.
Empty.
Back to two.
The animal was advancing.
“Serrano.”
“I see it.”
“That’s not the one I mean.”
Melisa returned to six.
Nothing.
“The Alpha’s disappeared.”
Serrano’s expression hardened.
“How long ago?”
“Thirty seconds. Maybe longer.”
“Did you see her leave the perimeter?”
“No.”
The technician checked the other cameras.
“I can try to recover four.”
“Do it.”
The lights flickered.
The technician looked at the console.
“Another voltage drop.”
Melisa raised her eyes.
“Another?”
“The station’s been having them since before you arrived.”
Another flicker.
“What happens if the main supply goes?”
“We switch to battery.”
“Locks?”
“They stay on.”
“How long?”
“Depends on consumption.”
Melisa looked at the lights.
Then the cameras.
“Then start thinking about what we can switch off.”
Vega stopped short.
They all did.
E-47 was ahead.
Less than a hundred metres away.
And between them and the station stood three canids.
One beside the broken fence.
Two apart.
They were not attacking.
Xenya lowered her body.
Electricity.
Alyra extended a hand.
Water from the wet vegetation began to gather.
Iskander brought his shield forward.
Daniel drew his second blade.
Vega looked at the three support team members.
“When we make room, you go straight to the entrance.”
The operator shook his head.
“We can help.”
“You can help by obeying.”
The man tightened his grip on his A.R.E.
Did not argue.
Daniel watched the station.
“Melisa’s inside.”
“I know,” Vega replied.
Xenya looked at the animals.
“Three.”
Alyra scanned the perimeter.
“That we can see.”
Xenya looked at her.
Alyra kept her eyes on the trees.
“Three that we can see.”
Vega nodded.
“Good.”
Daniel tightened both grips.
“Plan?”
Vega pointed to the canid on the right.
“We open up that side.”
Alyra shook her head.
“It’s waiting for us.”
Vega looked at her.
Alyra pointed to the one on the left.
“That one has less room to retreat.”
“So do we.”
“Exactly.”
Vega understood.
“Iskander.”
He stepped forward.
“Yes.”
“You open the way.”
Iskander looked at the canid.
Then at his shield.
“All right.”
Daniel noticed he had stopped joking.
The animal charged.
Iskander did not move.
Ten metres.
Eight.
Six.
Alyra readied water.
Xenya waited.
Daniel waited.
Four.
Iskander lowered his centre of gravity.
Three.
Impact.
The sound of the shield cut through the forest.
Iskander stepped back once.
Only once.
The canid fell to one side.
“Now!”
Alyra moved water beneath its body.
Ice.
A paw was trapped.
Xenya went in.
Electricity.
The animal thrashed.
Daniel passed beside her.
One blade.
Then the other.
He was not trying to kill.
He was trying to make room.
“Go through!”
The three support team members ran.
Second canid.
Vega.
Aeris struck from the side.
The leap changed course.
The injured operator passed underneath.
Third.
Straight towards Alyra.
Daniel turned.
Too far away.
Xenya too.
Iskander was closer.
He saw it.
Turned his body.
Raised his shield.
The arm that was already failing.
“Iskander!”
Impact.
The shield struck his own chest.
Iskander fell onto his back.
The canid landed.
Turned towards him.
Iskander tried to raise the shield.
His arm did not respond.
Alyra extended both hands.
Water.
The animal shifted its footing.
Vega reacted.
Aeris exploded between them.
The canid was thrown away.
“Up!”
Daniel reached Iskander.
Held out a hand.
Iskander took it.
Daniel pulled.
Iskander stood up.
“Your arm?”
“Still there.”
“That doesn’t answer...”
“Later.”
Daniel was going to insist.
Iskander picked up the shield with his other hand.
“Later.”
They reached the door.
“Melisa!”
Daniel knocked.
“Melisa!”
The lock opened.
The door had barely begun to move when a hand appeared.
Melisa.
“Inside!”
They went in.
One.
Two.
Three.
Alyra.
Xenya.
Iskander.
Daniel.
Vega was last.
The door shut.
A blow came from outside almost immediately.
They all stepped back.
Xenya raised her daggers.
“That was close.”
Melisa looked at the group.
Her eyes moved over each of them.
Daniel.
Xenya.
Alyra.
Iskander.
Stopped.
“What happened to you?”
Iskander looked at his arm.
“Nothing.”
Alyra answered for him.
“He can’t feel his hand properly.”
Melisa walked straight towards him.
“Sit down.”
“I’m fine.”
“I don’t care.”
“Melisa...”
“Sit down.”
Iskander looked at Daniel.
Daniel raised his hands.
“I would.”
Xenya nodded.
“Me too.”
Iskander looked at Alyra.
She pointed to the ground.
“Sit down.”
Iskander sighed.
“What a supportive team.”
He sat down.
Melisa took his hand.
“Squeeze.”
He did.
“Again.”
Iskander squeezed.
Less.
Melisa raised her eyes.
“Pain?”
“Yes.”
“Tingling?”
“Yes.”
“Since when?”
Iskander did not answer.
Alyra did.
“Since earlier.”
Iskander protested:
“Thank you.”
Alyra kept her eyes on Melisa.
“He’s taken too many impacts.”
Melisa examined his forearm.
“You’re not using this arm again.”
Iskander gave a laugh.
“Of course.”
Melisa looked at him.
“It wasn’t a suggestion.”
A blow shook the door.
They all turned.
Iskander began to stand.
Melisa pushed him back down.
“I said no.”
“And I heard the blow.”
“So did I.”
“Then...”
“You have another arm.”
Iskander stopped.
Melisa pointed to the shield.
“If you’re going to do something stupid, do it with that one.”
Xenya smiled.
“I like her when she’s angry.”
“Shut up.”
“A lot.”
Serrano was beside the wall.
Daniel came over.
“How are you?”
“Fantastic.”
Daniel looked at his leg.
“Right.”
Serrano raised his A.R.E.
“I can still use this.”
Ignis appeared around the weapon.
Weaker than before.
But stable.
“I don’t need to run to burn something.”
Vega crouched beside him.
“You’re not going out.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
“I was planning to fire from here.”
Vega looked at him.
“That you can do.”
Melisa returned to the screens.
“We have another problem.”
Xenya came closer.
“Only one?”
“The power supply’s dropping.”
The technician added:
“And it takes longer to recover every time.”
Daniel looked at the lights.
“How long can it hold out?”
“I don’t know until the battery kicks in.”
Melisa pointed to the screens.
“Switch off everything we don’t need.”
The technician began.
One screen.
Another.
Secondary lights.
Part of the room fell into darkness.
Xenya looked around.
“This keeps getting cosier.”
Alyra watched the remaining cameras.
“Where’s the Alpha?”
Melisa shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Silence.
Xenya stopped smiling.
“What do you mean, you don’t know?”
“I lost her before you got here.”
Daniel looked at the screens.
“Has she come in?”
“I haven’t seen her come in.”
“Has she gone out?”
“Not that either.”
Alyra came closer.
Camera one.
Door.
Two canids.
Camera three.
Fence.
One.
Camera six.
Nothing.
The technician touched the console.
An alarm appeared.
MAIN POWER SUPPLY UNSTABLE.
“I don’t like that,” Xenya said.
“Nobody does,” Melisa replied.
The light flickered.
Once.
Twice.
The console beeped.
Then:
darkness.
One second.
Two.
The emergency lights came on.
Red.
The technician ran to the console.
“Main supply’s down.”
Melisa came closer.
“Damage?”
“I can’t tell from here. It could be the line, the generator, an exterior connection... it was already failing.”
“Battery?”
The technician checked.
“Twenty-six minutes with the current systems.”
“Less if we use the doors.”
“Yes.”
Melisa pointed to the cameras.
“Leave one.”
“Which?”
Melisa looked at the images.
The main door.
Two canids.
“That one.”
The rest went off.
Xenya watched the only screen.
“Then we leave before that.”
Serrano shook his head.
“With injured people.”
“We leave and they’re waiting for us.”
“We stay and they get in.”
“Then tell me which you like.”
“Neither.”
“Perfect. We agree.”
Vega intervened.
“Enough.”
They all went quiet.
Vega looked around the room.
The injured.
Serrano.
Iskander.
The three support team members.
The technician.
The candidates.
“We need a route.”
Melisa was already studying the plan.
“I’m working on it.”
She spread the map across a table.
Daniel came closer.
“Main road ruled out.”
“Why?”
Melisa pointed.
“That’s where any second support vehicle should come in.”
“That sounds good.”
“It’s also where there’ll be the most noise.”
Daniel understood.
Alyra came closer.
“And where we already saw readings.”
Melisa pointed to another path.
“North.”
The technician shook his head.
“Ravine.”
“Depth?”
“Eight metres in places.”
Xenya raised an eyebrow.
“Ruled out.”
“No,” Alyra said.
They all looked at her.
Alyra studied the map.
“Water below?”
The technician thought.
“A small stream bed.”
Iskander came closer.
“How much?”
“I don’t know.”
Melisa looked at Alyra.
She was calculating.
“Not to cross the ravine.”
She pointed to a line.
“To follow it.”
Daniel leaned in.
The stream bed ran around part of the station and came out near a service road.
Melisa followed it with her finger.
“Here.”
Alyra nodded.
“The ground gives us cover.”
Xenya added:
“And if there’s water, she can use it.”
Iskander raised his shield.
“We can.”
Alyra looked at him.
He corrected himself:
“You can.”
“Better.”
Melisa studied the route.
“There’s a problem.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
Melisa pointed to the first stretch.
“To reach the stream bed, we have to go out through maintenance.”
They all looked towards the rear door.
A noise came from the other side.
Something scraped the metal.
Xenya tightened her grip on the daggers.
“Of course.”
An impact struck the rear door.
They all turned.
Another.
One of the fixings creaked.
Serrano raised his A.R.E.
Ignis.
Vega extended a hand.
Aeris began circulating through the room.
Xenya charged electricity.
Alyra gathered water from two open bottles and a damaged pipe.
Daniel drew both blades.
Iskander stood up.
Melisa saw him.
“No.”
He put the shield on his uninjured arm.
“This one works.”
“Iskander.”
Another blow.
The door gave way a little further.
He walked towards it.
Melisa caught him by his uniform.
“I told you, not that arm.”
Iskander raised the other.
“It’s not that one.”
“You know what I mean.”
Iskander looked at the door.
Then at Melisa.
“If something comes through there, it reaches you first.”
“You’re here too.”
“Exactly.”
He freed himself carefully.
Not forcefully.
Melisa opened her mouth.
Found nothing to say.
Iskander stood in front of the door.
Shield up.
Daniel took a step to stand beside him.
Iskander shook his head.
“No.”
Daniel frowned.
“Don’t be an idiot.”
“I’m not.”
He gestured with his head.
“You cover anything that gets through.”
“I can cover it from here.”
“Daniel.”
Another blow.
Iskander swallowed.
Daniel saw it.
The breathing.
The fingers of his uninjured arm closing too tightly around the shield.
The fear.
“If that comes in and I go down, you stop it.”
Daniel stared at him.
Iskander tried to smile.
Could not.
“That’s the plan.”
Daniel stepped half a pace back.
Not because he agreed.
Because he understood.
The door caved in.
A claw appeared through the opening.
Xenya took a step.
“Wait,” Vega ordered.
The claw disappeared.
Another impact.
The gap grew.
A muzzle.
Teeth.
Iskander raised his shield.
Daniel tightened his grip on the blades.
Alyra kept the water suspended.
Serrano aimed from the ground.
Melisa watched.
Not the canid.
Iskander.
The door gave way.
The animal came in.
Struck the shield.
Iskander was driven backwards.
One step.
Two.
He stopped.
“Now!”
Alyra sent water at its paws.
Ice.
The canid lost its footing.
Xenya came in from the side.
Electricity.
The animal roared.
Daniel struck.
One blade.
The second.
The canid thrashed.
Iskander pushed.
Forced it back towards the opening.
Serrano fired.
Ignis passed through the gap.
The animal disappeared.
Silence.
Iskander still held his shield up.
“Has it gone?” he asked.
Daniel was breathing hard.
“Yes.”
Iskander did not lower the shield.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Nothing.
“Iskander.”
The shield was trembling.
Not from the impact.
From him.
Daniel came closer.
“It’s over.”
Iskander slowly lowered his arm.
Looked at his own hand.
It was trembling.
“Fuck.”
Alyra came closer.
“Sit down.”
Iskander shook his head.
“No.”
“Iskander.”
A growl came from outside.
He raised the shield again.
“No.”
Alyra stared at him.
This time, she understood it was not pride.
It was fear.
Iskander did not want to sit down because he knew he would have to get up again.
Melisa looked at the indicator.
BATTERY: 21 MIN.
Then the plan.
The injured.
Serrano.
Iskander.
The exit.
And something clicked.
“Vega.”
“What?”
“We can’t all leave at once.”
Xenya turned.
“We’re not leaving anyone.”
“I didn’t say that.”
Melisa pointed to the rear exit.
“If we open it and run, the injured slow us down. If we defend this place, we lose battery.”
Daniel came closer.
“Then what do you suggest?”
Melisa looked at the only camera.
Two canids in front of the entrance.
Then the rear exit.
“Make them look in the wrong place.”
Alyra understood first.
“The main entrance.”
Melisa nodded.
“We have the maintenance vehicle.”
The technician shook his head.
“It doesn’t work.”
“I don’t need it to work.”
They all looked at her.
Melisa pointed to the system.
“Can you activate the exterior alarm on battery?”
“Yes.”
“Lights?”
“Some.”
“Garage door?”
“For a few seconds.”
Melisa looked at Vega.
“We make noise at the front.”
“Draw them over.”
“We don’t know if it’ll work.”
Alyra looked at her.
Melisa nodded.
“No.”
A pause.
“But I don’t need all of them to go either.”
She pointed to the screen.
“I only need to know where the ones that don’t are.”
Daniel watched her.
Vega smiled faintly.
“Do it.”
The technician prepared the system.
Melisa assigned positions.
“The injured go out first.”
Xenya opened her mouth.
“No.”
Melisa looked at her.
“What?”
“You too.”
“Xenya...”
“You don’t have a combat A.R.E.”
Melisa raised her forearm module.
“I have this.”
“You know what I mean.”
“And I know what I’m doing.”
Xenya looked at her.
Melisa continued:
“I need to confirm everyone crosses the stream bed. If someone falls, I need to be there.”
“It could be me.”
“Exactly.”
Xenya closed her mouth.
Melisa pointed.
“You go ahead with Vega.”
“No.”
“Xenya.”
“No.”
Vega intervened.
“Yes.”
Xenya looked at her.
Vega pointed to the route.
“If something appears ahead, you’re the only one who can get in and out before it reaches the injured.”
Xenya clenched her jaw.
Melisa added:
“And this time, you don’t have to come back for us.”
Xenya looked at her.
“We’re behind you.”
A spark ran along one of her daggers.
“You’d better be.”
The technician raised his hand.
“Ready.”
Melisa looked at everyone.
“When it opens, we have eight seconds before the lock starts drawing battery power again.”
Serrano raised his A.R.E.
“I’ll cover.”
Vega shook her head.
“You’re coming.”
“I can’t run.”
“Then we carry you.”
Serrano was going to argue.
Melisa pointed to a folding stretcher.
“For once, I have the solution before you speak.”
Daniel smiled.
Serrano looked at her.
“I’m starting to dislike you.”
“Perfect.”
Iskander stood beside the exit.
Shield up.
Melisa looked at him.
“You’re not going last.”
“Melisa.”
“No.”
“I can cover.”
“I know.”
Iskander went quiet.
Melisa came closer.
Lowered her voice.
“That’s exactly why.”
He looked at her.
“You’ve been covering us since we set out.”
Iskander tried to joke.
“It’s literally my equipment.”
Melisa did not smile.
“I know.”
A pause.
“Now let someone cover you.”
Iskander lowered his eyes.
The shield was still trembling.
Very slightly.
Finally, he nodded.
“All right.”
“Now.”
The technician pressed.
The exterior alarm erupted in front of E-47.
Lights.
Siren.
The main garage door began to rise.
On camera, the two canids turned.
One ran towards the sound.
The other hesitated.
Melisa pointed to it.
“That one.”
Vega looked.
The animal did not advance.
It watched.
“I see it.”
“We wait.”
Xenya looked at the counter.
“Melisa.”
“Wait.”
The canid took two steps towards the alarm.
Stopped.
Alyra whispered:
“It won’t go in.”
Melisa looked at the rear exit.
Then the screen.
“I don’t need it to go in.”
The animal was now sideways.
Looking towards the garage.
“Now.”
The maintenance exit opened.
Xenya went out first.
Vega behind.
“Clear!”
Injured.
Operator.
Technician.
Serrano on the stretcher.
Daniel and Alyra.
Iskander.
Melisa.
The canid turned.
Xenya charged electricity.
The animal came out from the side.
Everyone looked at Xenya.
Melisa did not.
She looked at its head.
Its ears.
Its eyes.
They were not on Xenya.
They went past her.
Further back.
The stretcher.
Serrano.
“XENYA, NO!”
Xenya stopped short.
“THE STRETCHER!”
Daniel turned.
The canid had already accelerated.
“Serrano!”
Daniel moved in.
Two blades.
The first impact made both A.R.E. vibrate.
The animal pushed.
Daniel stepped back.
One step.
Two.
The jaws passed centimetres from his face.
Aeris struck from the side.
Vega altered its course.
Daniel was thrown into the mud.
The canid regained its footing.
Looked at the stretcher again.
Iskander appeared.
Shield.
Impact.
This time, he held.
“Now!” Alyra shouted.
Water from the stream bed.
It struck the paws.
Xenya went in.
Discharge.
The animal backed away.
Serrano raised his A.R.E. from the stretcher.
Ignis.
A short burst of flame passed over Iskander.
The canid disappeared towards the trees.
Silence.
Melisa reached Serrano.
“Did it touch you?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Melisa looked towards Daniel.
He was getting to his feet.
Then towards Iskander.
He was still behind his shield.
Xenya came back beside them.
Looked at Melisa.
“I thought it was coming for me.”
Melisa checked the stretcher.
“I know.”
Xenya went quiet.
One second.
Then:
“Thank you.”
Melisa raised her eyes.
“Later.”
Another growl came from the trees.
“Now we leave.”
Daniel came over to Iskander.
“How are you?”
“Don’t ask.”
“That doesn’t sound good.”
“I’m changing strategy.”
Iskander tried to move his shoulder.
Stopped.
Pain.
Melisa saw him.
“You’re not taking another one like that.”
Iskander gave a laugh.
“I’ll explain it to the next one.”
“I’m not joking.”
“Neither am I.”
Melisa stood beside him.
“If you start losing strength, tell me.”
“All right.”
“Before you fall.”
“That narrows the window quite a lot.”
Melisa looked at him.
Iskander raised his uninjured hand.
“All right.”
Alyra picked up the end of the stretcher.
“We have to move.”
Vega looked towards the forest.
“Now.”
They reached the stream bed.
There was water.
Not much.
Enough.
Alyra extended a hand.
The water rose around her boots.
Xenya looked back.
“They’re coming.”
Daniel heard the growls.
So did Vega.
“How many?”
Xenya peered between the trees.
“I don’t know.”
Alyra looked at the stream bed.
Then the ground.
“This way.”
“Are you sure?” Daniel asked.
Alyra looked at him.
A pause.
“No.”
Daniel waited.
She pointed to the stream bed.
“But it’s the best I’ve got.”
Daniel nodded.
“That’ll do.”
Alyra began to move.
The stream bed was narrow.
Vegetation covered part of the route.
Xenya was ahead.
Vega with her.
Alyra guided them using the water.
The injured moved in the centre.
Serrano behind, on the stretcher, still holding his A.R.E.
Daniel walked beside Iskander.
Melisa on the other side.
The growls continued.
Sometimes on the right.
Sometimes behind.
Never too close.
That was worse.
Iskander stumbled.
Daniel supported him.
“Hey.”
“I’m fine.”
Melisa looked at him.
Iskander immediately corrected himself.
“I’m conscious.”
“Better.”
“I’m learning.”
“A miracle,” Vega said from ahead.
Xenya turned.
“That was mine!”
For a moment, someone laughed.
Daniel did not know who.
Perhaps several of them.
Then:
a branch snapped.
They all went quiet.
Xenya raised a dagger.
Vega a hand.
Alyra stopped the water.
Silence.
Daniel looked towards the trees.
Nothing.
Then a growl answered from ahead.
Xenya went motionless.
Another on the right.
Another behind.
Iskander raised his head.
Melisa moved a little closer to him.
Alyra looked at the stream bed.
Then the trees.
“No.”
Daniel looked at her.
“What?”
Alyra pointed ahead.
Two eyes appeared between the vegetation.
Then others on the right.
Vega slowly turned.
Behind.
Movement.
Xenya stepped back once.
Not on impulse.
To move closer to the group.
Daniel drew both blades.
Iskander looked at his shield.
Raised it with his uninjured arm.
It was difficult.
Very difficult.
Alyra saw him.
“Iskander.”
“I still can.”
“I didn’t say you couldn’t.”
The water around her boots began to rise.
Electricity ran along Xenya’s daggers.
Aeris moved the leaves around Vega.
Serrano raised his A.R.E. from the stretcher.
Ignis.
Small.
But still there.
Melisa looked at everyone.
Then the ground.
The stream bed.
The injured.
The positions.
She looked for a way out.
To the left.
Too enclosed.
To the right.
A drop.
Behind.
Movement.
Ahead.
Another canid appeared.
Melisa returned to the map in her head.
The service road.
The station.
The ravine.
The stream bed.
Nothing.
She searched again.
A way out.
Any way out.
She found none.
“Vega...”
Vega looked at her.
Melisa took a moment to speak.
That was enough.
Vega understood.
There was no route.
So did Iskander.
He looked at Melisa.
Then at the injured.
Moved forward.
One step.
Stood in front.
Melisa caught him by his uniform.
“No.”
Iskander did not turn.
“I can’t run like Xenya.”
He raised the shield.
“I can’t move the water.”
Alyra looked at him.
“Or do that.”
An Aeris current ran along Vega’s arm.
Iskander breathed.
“But this, I can.”
Melisa tightened her grip on the fabric of his uniform.
“You’re injured.”
“Yes.”
“Your arm’s shaking.”
“Yes.”
“You’re afraid.”
Iskander took a second.
“Very.”
Melisa closed her eyes.
Just for a moment.
Then let go of his uniform.
Iskander took another step forward.
The shield was trembling.
So was he.
“I can’t hold off many.”
Silence.
Another canid appeared between the trees.
Iskander swallowed.
“So try to make sure there aren’t many.”
Xenya tightened her grip on the daggers.
Alyra raised the water.
Vega took position.
Daniel closed both hands around his A.R.E.
Melisa looked at the ground again.
Though she already knew the answer.
There was no way out.
Then:
something large moved between the trees.
The canids stopped advancing.
One after another.
As if waiting.
Xenya stopped breathing.
Vega slowly raised her A.R.E.
Daniel looked into the darkness between the trunks.
A silhouette appeared.
Large.
Familiar.
The Alpha.
She stopped on the other side of the stream bed.
Iskander raised his shield a little higher.
His arm barely responded.
But he raised it.
The Alpha’s gaze swept across the group.
Stopped on Iskander.
On the shield.
On the arm trembling behind it.
Iskander took one breath.
Then another.
“Well...”
His voice came out quieter than he wanted.
He gritted his teeth.
The shield stopped dropping.
“...then hold on.”
CUT TO BLACK.
END OF EPISODE 20 — HOLD ON