The tunnel shook as another distant detonation rippled through the concrete, dust drifting from the ceiling.
Mike stood near the front of the civilian column, one hand raised and scanning the branching passageways ahead.
"Let's take the East exit, whatever is behind that door, we take it head-on." Mike said, his voice amplified by the external speakers from his suit.
Viktor gestured and the remaining Russian troops shifted positions, forming a loose perimeter as the civilians were urged forward.
Maya leaned heavily against Ryan's shoulder as they walked. "When this is over." she said lightly, forcing a grin. "Drinks are on me."
Ryan glanced sideways at her. "I'm definitely holding you to that, Maya."
Suddenly, a Russian scout came sprinting down with his eyes wide with terror.
"The East exist has been breached!" the soldier screamed, his arms waving wildly. "They're already inside!"
Screams echoed from deeper in the tunnel, followed by the unmistakable sound of plasma fire. Behind him, Elyrians flooded the way ahead.
"Fall back!" Mike shouted, his arm cannons already firing. "Everyone, fall back now!"
Formations collapsed into motion, instantly. Panic surged and civilians turned screaming, they ran stumbling over one another.
Maya grabbed a young boy who tripped and hauled him back to his feet, pushing him forward. "Run! Don't stop!"
Mike was already shouting again. "Everyone, to the north exit! Move!"
Ryan sprinted ahead, arm raised and signaling the turn. "This way! This way!"
Viktor caught up to Mike and grabbed his arm hard. "What are you doing? The north exit leads to the long way. It adds kilometers to the route."
Mike shoved Viktor back. "Do you have a better plan, Colonel?"
Viktor opened his mouth, then closed it.
"Exactly, what I thought." Mike said. He turned back to the civilians. "Keep moving!"
Several Russian soldiers broke away, planting themselves at the corridor mouth, holding the back.
Jace reached the north exit first. He paused, peering out into the ruined street beyond. "We're clear!" he called out.
The civilians poured out into the open, Viktor stepping through last. He didn't look back as he slammed his fist into the emergency shut-down panel. And the doors slammed shut behind him.
Ryan glanced back, then looked at Viktor with disgust. "You seriously just left your own men in there? You're a monster, dude."
Viktor ignored him and just kept walking.
The march was in slow-motion. Children were sobbing, their small feet struggling over the rubble. Maya moved among them, handing out lollipops with a forced and trembling smile.
An old woman collapsed, her legs giving out and a Russian soldier wordlessly rushed to her side, lifting her gently.
Mike moved to the center of the line, handing his canteen to a pregnant woman before stooping down to pick up two crying toddlers, carrying one under each arm.
Jace walked near the middle of the column, his hand drifting repeatedly to his abdomen.
Ryan pulled up beside him. "You okay, Jace?"
Jace forced a breath, then another. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Viktor turned cause he thought he heard something and suddenly, the ground behind them was beginning to fracture, spiderwebbing outward.
"Everyone run!" Viktor shouted.
And the ground tore open. A massive sinkhole erupting behind them, swallowing a derelict bus and two Russian troops in an instant.
Ryan reached the front and spun around, waving his arms wildly. "Right turn! Now!"
They turned as one, barely making it around the corner as the ground behind them collapsed and swallowed everything.
And few meters ahead, Elyrians emerged through the smoke, raising their weapons in unison.
"Inside!" Jace shouted. "Get inside that building!"
The civilians surged toward the broken entrance of a half-collapsed structure. And the Russian troops took up positions and fired to hold the line.
Maya, Ryan and Viktor joined them but the Elyrian numbers were overwhelming. And one by one, the Russian soldiers were picked off.
"We have to go! Now!" Ryan yelled.
They turned and ran into the building, Elyrians fire tearing through the doorway behind them.
Maya was struck square in the back. She screamed, collapsing forward and panic flooding her face as blood spread across her suit.
"Maya!" Ryan spun instantly, planting himself between her and the enemy, firing nonstop.
Viktor rushed to Maya's side, shielding her body with his own as another shot sparked off his shoulder plating. He hauled her up, throwing her over his shoulder.
"Ryan, we're good! Move!" Viktor shouted.
Ryan rushed back, grabbing Maya's other side and helping Viktor carry her faster as they retreated deeper into the building.
Ahead, Mike stood at the entrance to an underground garage, waving them forward. "This way!"
They burst through the gate.
Mike slammed his hand down on the control panel. And the gate shuddered but didn't move.
"Come on!" Mike growled, hitting the control again and again. "Come on!"
Ryan stopped and turned slowly, looking at the gate, then at the dozens of civilians behind it. He turned back toward the gate.
Mike sensed the movement and turned to grabbed Ryan's arm. "What are you doing? We have to run!"
"Someone has to stay, Mike." Ryan said quietly.
"No!" Mike shouted, tightening his grip. "Nobody stays!"
Ryan met his eyes, calmness settling over him. "You said every life matters, Mike. So let mine matter."
"Ryan! No, that's not what I meant!"
"Come on, guys!" Viktor shouted from behind them. "We don't have much time!"
Ryan smiled, peaceful and sure. "Tell the Captain who the European's greatest hero is."
Mike stared at him, his chest heaving. He raised his hand and gave him a salute. Ryan simply nodded and Mike ran to the exit.
Ryan turned to the opening. He tapped his wrist console. "Suit? Maximum self-destruction."
"Command accepted." the suit's AI replied. "Self-destruction in T-minus ten seconds."
Nanotech shifted and flowed over his arms, forming two blades that crackled with blue energy.
The Elyrians opened fire as he charged forward. He dodged the first three shots, vaulted over a fallen pillar and jumped directly into the center.
His blades sliced through dozens of armored aliens as he spun. Then, one Elyrian leapt at him and it's head was cut instantly. Another lunged from the side and was cut from the shoulder to the hip.
He spun again, the blades tearing a path through the charging horde. And behind him, a collapsing wall threatened to pin him but he leapt over a jagged edge, slashing two Elyrians mid-air.
With three seconds left, he vaulted onto a higher ledge, cleaving through the largest cluster of enemies in one fluid motion.
Ryan landed on the ground, his eyes scanning the remaining foes. He dropped the blades.
All the remaining Elyrians were charging at him. He raised his middle fingers toward the Elyrians and a smile crossed his face.
The suit flared violently, as the explosion erupted around him, swallowing him and the horde in a blinding cathedral of flames.
The shockwave hurled everyone outside to the ground. Mike, being the last in line was thrown hard as the blast tore through his suit from behind.
Two civilians rushed to Mike, pulling him up by his scorched arms.
Viktor stood up, coughing. He pointed toward a perimeter fence. "There! The extraction point!"
Everyone pulled themselves together, running toward the point. European troops rushed out to meet them, medics already moving.
Suddenly, Jace fell. Blood poured freely as he collapsed hard into the mud, spreading instantly beneath him. He was barely conscious, his eyes rolling back.
"Jace!" Maya screamed, trying to scramble toward him but her own injury made her fall. So, she shoved Viktor. "Go get him!"
European medics were already there though, lifting him onto a stretcher.
Everyone was ushered into the medical bay. And the European Colonel walked into the tent. He looked at the three battered soldiers of the Clyck Squad.
"Who is in charge here?" the Colonel asked.
Mike sat on a bench, his back a mass of bandages and he looked up slowly. "Currently... I am."
The Colonel nodded and gave him a salute. "Well done, sir. You and your team successfully escorted twenty-three civilians out of the dead zone. Against those odds... it's a miracle. Thank you."
Mike looked around, ignoring the Colonel. "The Captain." he whispered. "Where is the Captain?"