e air was thick with dust and the smell of old wood. Ethan crouched over a tattered map, tracing routes with a finger. Mara s

ice was low but firm. "They know we're h

what's the plan? We can't

ters east. Abandoned mine shafts beneath the mountains. Orion's la

ve never been anywhere like th

the dictionary for this mission. Yo

. She knew Ethan had faced impossible odds before. This wou

xplosives, extra ammunition, and a few surveillance devices salvaged from their previou

sea of sand. Every footstep left a mark, every sound carried. Shadows move

an whispered. "

casting long, skeletal shadows across the dunes. Every step

e mountains rose before them-a jagged line cutting across the horiz

to a narrow crevice partially

traps, or hidden sentries. The desert had been silent unti

avier. Dust motes danced in the weak light that filtered through cracks

Ethan said.

ved silently, rifle at the ready. The echo of their footsteps bounc

ion in the floor. Ethan froze,

Mara whispered.

e move slow. One mistake, a

nt lights flickered ahead-artificial, controlled, like the heartbea

e corridor. A panel hissed, and Ethan acted without thinking. He pressed Orion t

er breath. "That wa

teeth. "No time

onitors lined the walls, displaying streams of data, blueprints, and maps. And the

yes wide. "Tha

uards-silent, armed, waiting for intruders. And then Mara spotted it: a fig

Mara whispered. "So

ole. Orion, you stay close. Mara, cover the

sole and began working quickly, bypassing security protocols. His

time to react, knocking the attacker back. The assailant was skilled, fast, a

een fear and the chaos arou

, punching another attacker into

ng the codes Ethan called out. Machines hummed

to the activation of the weapon's failsafe. Al

ve triggered something. They know we'

aster this time. The facility itsel

Ethan. "What...

done is survive. And now, we make sure this does

gunfire, shouts, and chaos. Every

s a test-a crucible of survival, trust, and courage. And only those

at dawn. And somewhere deep within the facility, the se

or as ready as anyone could be whe