#us46

“More?” one of the men said, raising an eyebrow.

“Busy day?” Kent asked.

“Found that woman,” the man said. “Just brought her in not too long ago.”

Kent shifted the rifle in his arms, pushing it into Alex’s back. “Well, maybe they will be of use. They know of Stardew Valley.”

The guard grunted and waved a group of men over to them. “Bring them to Michaels,” he said.

Kent nodded as he followed the captives into the gate, but the soldier put a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.

“We have orders not to let in any grunts.”

“Excuse me?” Kent said sharply. “I found these fucking guys.”

“Then get back out there and do your fucking job.”

Kent jerked his arm out from under the guard’s hold. He watched helplessly as a group of men lead his team into the city. Alex looked back over his shoulder as they disappeared around the corner.

“Fucking awesome,” he muttered.

The Gotoro soldiers pushed them onward until they entered the back of a building where they passed a set of guards who didn’t even acknowledge their presence. The building was brightly lit and they blinked their eyes until they adjusted. They walked through the building, as gates opened and closed behind them until they were shoved into a large jail cell. Without a word, the soldiers locked the door and left them alone in the dim cell.

“Kent will find a way in,” John muttered as he pressed himself against the cell door, peering around the corner as best as he could.

“I’m not waiting for his rescue,” Shane hissed. He pulled two pins out of his pocket and slid his arms through the bars in an attempt to pick the lock.

“And then what?” Alex asked. “We raid this huge place?”

“I don’t have my rifle,” Gil muttered.

“We’ve got our guns still,” John said. “Stupid of them not to check.”

“They must have figured Kent took care of that,” Alex said.

Shane froze as a door slammed from around the corner. He slid his arms back inside the cell, listening as two men spoke.

“She won’t talk,” the first voice said.

“We’ve got four others from the valley,” the second said. “Maybe they’ll have information.”

“What do we do with the woman?”

“Kill her.”

“Michaels doesn’t want her dead,” the voice hissed.

“Then get her to start talking, at any cost.”

“Where are the others?”

“In the back cell.”

Footsteps echoed off the walls as the two men rounded the corner. They stopped in front of the cell, their arms crossed.

“Well, well, well,” the first voice said. “Look who got out of the canyon.” He shook his head as if disappointed. “I knew we should have just killed you while we had the chance.” He sighed. “Unfortunately, we’ll need you alive for just a little longer, hm?” He narrowed his eyes. “Someone’s missing. Where’s your friend?” He turned to the soldier beside him. “This is a set up. Find the other man. I want every soldier on patrol looking for him.”

The man nodded and hurried out to deliver the message.

The first man smiled at them. “Maybe I’ll have the pleasure of seeing you die after all.” He turned away and disappeared around the corner. The door slammed and clicked locked behind him.

Shane shoved his arms through the cell again, working frantically to pick the lock.

“Next time, we need a plan B,” Alex muttered.

“Get us out of here,” John hissed.

“I’m trying,” Shane grunted. He bit his lower lip as he felt around with the pins, his view blocked by the bars. No matter how he strained his neck, he couldn’t see enough of what he was doing. Finally, the lock clicked and the cell door swung open.

At that moment, red lights began to flash silently along the walls. They pulled out their guns, keeping them in front of them as they hurried down the hall and around the corner. On the other side of the door, two men stood guard.

“We’re going to kill humans,” Alex muttered. “Humans…”

“If you don’t, you’ll die,” Marlon hissed at him.

“They’re not Shadow Brutes,” Alex said. “They’re people. They’re supposed to be the good guys.”

“Snap out of it,” Gil said to him, grabbing his shoulder. “Its kill or be killed. You’ve got this, kid.”

Alex tightened his grip on his gun. “I never thought I would have to shoot another man again,” he muttered.

Shane kicked open the door, Marlon at his side, and they each grabbed one of the guards, catching them by surprise. Shane shoved his gun into the man’s back, firing once, and let the body slump to the floor. Marlon took out the other guard just as easily.

Shane stepped over the body and out the door, searching quickly for any sign of Najia.

“Where do we go now?” Alex muttered.

Shane peered into the corner of the room and shot at the security camera.

“Maybe we can find the room where all the security footage is,” John said, staring at the camera as it sparked.

“Front of the building,” Marlon said. “I think I saw some guards sitting at some screens.”

Marlon lead the way as they hurried into the main hallway and back around into the main lobby where they were brought in, keeping close to the wall as he peered around the corner.

“One, two, three… nine. Shoot them all,” he said. “Now.”

They leaned around the corner, firing immediately at their targets. The soldiers drew their guns and returned fire, but were quickly brought down. They sprinted across the room just as more soldiers rounded the corner, their guns drawn. They fired at the escapees.

Shane threw himself behind a desk as he reloaded. He peered around it, firing at the closest target. Within seconds, the room was cleared once more. They ran the rest of the way across the room to where the soldiers had emerged from the security room.

The wall was lined with screen after screen of black and white images. They searched each one quickly until they found Najia. She was slumped over in a chair, not moving.

“Where is that?” Shane hissed.

Alex peered at the controls at the computer, searching for any indication of what room she was in. “Basement level,” he said. “C’mon.”

They followed him quickly out of the room and around the corner down a dimly lit hall until they reached a stairwell. He jumped over the rail onto the next flight of steps as it wound it’s way down into the basement. They hurried down another hallway and through the door at the end. The door opened into another hallway, stretching to the left and to the right of them. In front of them, just to the right, was another door. The knob twitched and it opened. The man stepped out and smiled at them.

“Oh,” he said. “Are you here for her?”

Shane raised his gun and shot him. The man collapsed to the ground.

“We could have tricked him,” Alex muttered. “He didn’t have a clue.”

Shane pushed past Alex, stepping over the body and into the room. But it was empty.

His heart raced as his eyes scanned the room. Papers were scattered over a desk on the far side against the wall. Implements lay scattered on a metal table. He froze as he felt a blade against his throat. He met Alex’s confused gaze.

“What are you doing?” John hissed.

“You can’t kill me,” Najia shouted. “I won’t let you.”

Shane grabbed Najia’s arm and flipped her over onto the ground. He pinned her to the floor as she squirmed violently under him.

“No,” she shouted. “I’ll do it. I’ll jump again.”

“Najia, stop,” Shane hissed. He pressed his gun against her and she froze.

“I’ll tell you anything,” she said, staring into his eyes. “I’ll tell you everything.”

“We need to get her out of here,” Marlon warned.

“We’re getting you out of here, Najia,” Shane said.

“Please,” she sobbed. “Don’t hurt them. Don’t kill Shane.”

Shane loosened his grip on her, but Najia was quick to react, pulling him into her and bashing her head against him. She scrambled to her feet just as Gil and Marlon threw themselves on top of her. Marlon covered her nose and mouth with a cloth and she quickly lost consciousness.

Shane groaned as Alex helped him to his feet. His head throbbed painfully where she hit him.

“Kudos to Najia,” Alex said with a smirk.

“Shut up,” Shane hissed.