Ultima Ratio

Chapter 56: Out with a Bang

After sprinting for over five minutes, they finally spotted the end of the tunnel, along with their go-bags neatly waiting for them against the wall. The packs' presence was taunting in a way, as if they knew the squad would inevitably fail and have to come back for them. Akira forced the thought from her mind as she shouldered the pack Elodie handed her, then accepted the remaining one to hand-off to Danya.

Danya rejoined them just as they verified the coast was clear above them. A few seconds and a thick cloud of dirt later, they finally emerged above ground again, this time surrounded by an old cemetery.

"They're fanning out," Navin muttered as he examined the sky above the capitol with his rifle scope. "A dozen manned aircraft, almost three dozen drones."

"Must be the after party," Danya grunted as she carried the large boulder she had previously staged and dropped it on top of the hole she just remade.

"Not the fun kind though," Jivan grumbled, gazing wistfully at their mask before shoving it into their pack.

They continued on their way shortly after, heading southeast in full camouflage. At first, they struggled to keep a low profile as they navigated the urban roads of downtown Austin, not wanting to bump into the busy nightlife while they were nearly invisible. Even after they entered the quiet residential areas, they felt exposed with no dark alleys or oversized dumpsters to hide behind.

Their fears became a reality when they passed an unassuming residence and a pack of dogs began to bark from the inside of the fence.

"Run," Akira hissed just as the house's lights flicked on.

They did, sprinting towards the next block and not looking back when they heard a door slam open. Akira had hoped their camouflage would at least protect them from the worst damage, but she quickly found out otherwise when Danya pushed her to the side. A second later, a bullet's gunshot echoed through the night, and Danya hissed in pain behind her.

"Keep going!" Danya grunted as she stumbled at the back of the group, just before she jerked forward after another shot rang out through the neighborhood. Her uniform's camouflage flickered a few times before vanishing completely, leaving only her helmet and boots blending in with the background. "I'll heal, just go!"

They did, but Akira only obeyed when she had Danya's hand in her own, dragging her forward as the gunfire continued.

Subtlety went out the window as they sprinted through the neighborhood, and it took less than a minute for every front yard to be illuminated with their residents out on their porches, armed and waiting. But there was nothing the squad could do to stop them; even though Concordia and their allies flaunted the rules of war, the UN didn't allow the same freedoms for their own, and their squad was forbidden from attacking civilians until they attacked first. Of course, by then it was too late, and Danya's lack of disguise made her a perfect target for the defensive residents before the rest of the squad could retaliate with their stunning shots.

By the time they reached the Colorado River, Danya was littered with bullet wounds. Even the shielding on her uniform had cracked long ago, and Akira could feel blood lathering her hands as she tried to keep Danya upright.

"I'll be fine," Danya hissed through strained breaths as Jivan and Elodie hauled out a raft from the dry shrubbery, and Quyen and Navin kept their guns sweeping over their surroundings. "It just...hurts a little. Like a thousand papercuts."

Akira sighed as Danya chuckled at her own joke, but she still supported Danya's weight when Danya began to wobble unsteadily.

After they clamored into the raft and its protective camouflage enveloped them, Akira carefully eased Danya down at the back of the craft. She stayed by her side as Elodie positioned herself on the other, deftly removing the bullets to accelerate Danya's healing. Even though Danya boasted about her superior strength and pain tolerance, she still groaned when Elodie had to dig around for a shotgun's shrapnel, and Akira gripped Danya's hand tightly throughout it all.