Operation: Threads of Connection

Getting Her

Yuri grabbed my arm, pulling me toward the east corridor. "Come on, kid," he muttered, his tone clipped. "Let's move."

As we hurried away, the faint sound of Loid's footsteps echoed behind us, heading toward the central control room. I glanced back once, just in time to see him disappear into the shadows, his movements silent and deliberate.

"Stop looking back," Yuri snapped, his grip on my arm tightening. "Focus on what's ahead. If you mess this up, it's not just you who'll pay for it."

I nodded, forcing my attention forward. The east corridor stretched out before us, dimly lit and eerily quiet. The tension in the air was almost suffocating. Every creak of the floorboards, every distant sound, made my heart leap in my chest.

Franky's voice crackled in our earpieces. "Yuri, there's a tripwire about ten feet ahead. Watch your step."

Yuri slowed, his eyes scanning the floor until he spotted the faint glint of the wire. He motioned for me to stop, then carefully stepped over it, gesturing for me to follow. My breath caught as I stepped over the wire, my foot hovering just above it before I landed safely on the other side.

"Good," Franky's voice came again. "You're clear for now, but stay sharp. They've got motion sensors rigged in the next hallway."

As we moved forward, my mind kept drifting back to Loid. He was walking into the heart of the danger, and we were leaving him behind. I wanted to believe he'd be okay—that he'd get Yor back and make it out alive—but the nagging voice in my head wouldn't let me rest.

A sudden shout broke through the silence, followed by the sound of gunfire. My chest tightened. "Loid..." I whispered, unable to stop myself.

"Keep moving!" Yuri barked, his eyes blazing. "He can handle himself. Focus on what we have to do."

I clenched my fists, swallowing down the fear and guilt threatening to overwhelm me. Loid was counting on us, and I couldn't afford to let him down.

Not now. Not ever.

The floor rumbled beneath us, the vibrations growing stronger with each passing second. A low, mechanical hum filled the air, followed by the grinding of gears. Massive, automated turrets emerged from the walls of the loading bay, their barrels swiveling toward us. Yuri's eyes widened, and he grabbed my arm, pulling me behind a stack of crates. "Stay down!" he ordered, his voice sharp.

I didn't argue. The turrets opened fire, the sound of bullets ricocheting off metal filling the air. Splinters of wood and shards of concrete rained down as the crates around us began to splinter under the assault.

Yuri peeked out from behind the crates, his face grim. "There's a control panel near the far wall," he said, pointing toward a flashing console in the distance. "If we can disable it, we can stop the turrets."

"I'll go," I said without thinking. The words left my mouth before I could second-guess myself.

Yuri shot me a look that was equal parts surprise and disbelief. "Are you insane? You're not trained for this!"

"I know," I admitted, my heart pounding. "But you can't do it alone. If I distract the turrets, you'll have a clear shot at the panel."

"That's suicide," Yuri growled, his grip tightening on his weapon.

"Maybe," I said, swallowing hard. "But we don't have time to argue. If we stay here, we're dead anyway."

Yuri hesitated, his jaw clenched so tightly I thought it might break. Finally, he let out a frustrated sigh. "Fine," he snapped. "But don't do anything stupid. Keep low and move fast."