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The Core Breach
Author: Tim
last update2025-08-08 17:56:29

Thirty-five seconds.

The sentry’s red eye slices across the corridor.

One blink, then another.

Click, click, as it scans, hunting.

Chen’s weight drags on my shoulder. Kid’s limp now.

The bandages Kira threw on earlier are soaked through, blood warm against my jacket, creeping down my side.

Feels like he’s pouring out faster than I can hold him in.

“Devon!” My voice bounces off the walls, jagged.

He’s already at the blast door controls, fingers hammering the interface like it insulted his mother.

Hydraulic groan’s getting louder, but the gap is still just wide enough for a single desperate person.

Twenty-eight seconds.

The sentry’s head snaps toward us.

Click-click-click. It locks on

Something flashes past my ear.

Rynn’s EMP grenade. Blue sparks trail it like dying fireflies. The burst swallows the corridor in electric glare.

The sentry stiffens mid-step, twitching, then collapses in a heap, sparks fizzing from its joints.

“That was the last one,” Rynn pants. No victory in it.
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    Thirty-five seconds.The sentry’s red eye slices across the corridor. One blink, then another. Click, click, as it scans, hunting. Chen’s weight drags on my shoulder. Kid’s limp now. The bandages Kira threw on earlier are soaked through, blood warm against my jacket, creeping down my side. Feels like he’s pouring out faster than I can hold him in.“Devon!” My voice bounces off the walls, jagged.He’s already at the blast door controls, fingers hammering the interface like it insulted his mother. Hydraulic groan’s getting louder, but the gap is still just wide enough for a single desperate person.Twenty-eight seconds.The sentry’s head snaps toward us. Click-click-click. It locks on Something flashes past my ear. Rynn’s EMP grenade. Blue sparks trail it like dying fireflies. The burst swallows the corridor in electric glare.The sentry stiffens mid-step, twitching, then collapses in a heap, sparks fizzing from its joints.“That was the last one,” Rynn pants. No victory in it.

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