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Dreadhorse Chapter 13
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Druun navigated the dimly lit corridors of the sprawling research facility with practiced ease. Night missions were routine for him, but tonight felt different. He was not officially part of the operation, yet his instincts told him something was amiss. His mission was unofficial: observe and protect Orna, the lead scientist whose groundbreaking work they all depended on.
As he approached Sector 7, the hum of machinery and the distant chatter of technicians filled the air. The corridor was abuzz with activity, but Druun’s eyes were drawn to a group of young girls huddled near a workstation. They were part of the facility’s outreach program, often assisting with basic tasks and learning about the scientific endeavors around them. Their innocent presence contrasted sharply with the high-stakes environment.
Druun nodded to them silently, a gesture of reassurance. He continued down the hallway, his boots echoing against the metallic floor. Suddenly, the building plunged into darkness. Alarms blared, and red emergency lights flickered on, casting an eerie glow on the surroundings.
“What just happened?” one of the girls whispered, clutching her friend’s arm.
Before Druun could respond, the main access panel at the corridor’s end began to malfunction. The security code interface flashed erratically, sparks flying from its circuitry. The system was clearly under attack—or failure.
Without warning, the elevator doors to the right burst open on the wrong floor, revealing Valen and his cadre of security officers. Their faces were stern, their intentions unmistakable. They moved with purpose, weapons drawn, eyes scanning for any resistance.
Druun’s pulse quickened. He realized the glitch was no accident—it was a diversion. Valen was making his move to seize Orna’s lab, using the confusion to mask their approach. Time was of the essence.
“Girls, stay back!” Druun shouted, stepping forward to intercept. But before he could act, the lights flickered again, and the entire facility seemed to shake. The technology glitch had escalated into a full-blown system failure. Screens went black, and automated doors malfunctioned, sliding open and closed unpredictably.
Amid the chaos, the young girls found themselves disoriented. One of them tripped, spilling a tray of tools that clattered loudly on the floor. The noise drew Valen’s attention momentarily, but he quickly refocused, pushing past the girls and advancing toward the lab.
Druun seized the momentary distraction. He tapped into his comm, sending a rapid signal to his team. “Backup needed at Sector 7, now! Valen’s here.”
His squad responded instantly, emerging from their designated hiding spots to flank Valen’s forces. Gunfire erupted as the two groups clashed in the narrow corridor. The girls huddled behind a reinforced desk, eyes wide with fear as the battle intensified around them.
In the midst of the turmoil, the technology glitch reached its peak. A cascading failure triggered the facility’s lockdown protocol, sealing all exits and trapping everyone inside. Sirens wailed louder, and robotic guards activated, their mechanical arms sorting through the conflicting signals of battle and security breaches.
Druun fought his way through the melee, his focus unwavering. He reached the control panel beside the lab door, struggling to override the lockdown. Sweat beaded on his forehead as circuits fried under his relentless attempts to regain control.
Meanwhile, Orna had sensed the disturbance and was preparing to secure her research. Unaware of the immediate threat, she adjusted her equipment, the hum of her devices blending with the tumultuous sounds around her.
Suddenly, the comm system crackled, a garbled message overlaying the chaos. “System override failed. All personnel must evacuate through the emergency tunnels.”
Druun glanced at the young girls, their fear palpable. He made a split-second decision. “Girls, follow me! We’ll get you to safety.”
Leading them through the labyrinthine corridors, Druun navigated the maze-like facility, the glitch continuing to disrupt their path. Explosions of sparks and intermittent power made every step uncertain. Behind them, the battle raged on, Valen’s forces desperately trying to breach the lab.
They reached an emergency door, but the glitch had jammed the locking mechanism. Druun kicked it open, revealing a dimly lit tunnel extending into darkness. “Stay close,” he instructed, pulling the girls inside. They hurried after him, the sounds of conflict fading as the tunnel swallowed them.
As they moved deeper into the safety of the emergency passages, the full extent of the technology glitch became apparent. The facility was a fortress of chaos, each malfunctioning system adding layers of danger and unpredictability.
Druun glanced back toward the sealed corridors, determination etched on his face. He knew their mission was far from over, but tonight, he had protected not just Orna’s work, but these innocent lives caught in the crossfire of ambition and survival.