Scout

Creed's POV

"Whoa..." I gasped

I walked out of the forest and onto this vast flat land. My mouth hung open as I saw giant mountains in the distance.

"The mountains look so big from this distance." said Nines

"Probably means that the mountains are huge." replied Avery

"It's all just flat land." I said

"This is where... I was spotted." said Samantha

"Did you go through the mountains?" I asked

Samantha shook her head.

"No. I ran through this flat land for miles." replied Samantha

"Which way?" asked Avery

Samantha seemed to think about it.

"When I was running I remember the mountains being on my right." replied Samantha

I nodded and we continued walking, with the mountains to our left.

"Let's hope we're going the right way." said A2

"Apollo I don't think scouting ahead is necessary." I said

He nodded.

"I have a gut feeling something's about to happen." sighed Josiah

"What makes you say that?" asked 4S

"I don't know, it's just a feeling." replied Josiah

"Don't worry, what can possibly happen here?" asked 4S

Suddenly Pooh stopped walking and I raised an eyebrow.

"Come on girl, we need to keep walking." I said

But Kong also stopped walking and looked to our right where the forest was. Pooh grunted and began to growl in the same direction as Kong.

"What's going on?" asked Ethan

"Something's coming." I said, "Samantha, get off of Pooh."

Samantha quickly got off and hid behind me. Everyone began to aim at the forest and Pooh stood on her back legs and roared while Kong smashed its fists on the ground. I began to hear metal clanking and I recognized the sound.

"Oh shit..." I whispered

"What's wrong?" asked 2B

"It's that tiger machine." I replied

"Creed is right, I'm detecting more than 1 tiger machine." said Pod 042, "Precisely, 4 machines."

"Open fire!" I yelled

Once I yelled all four tigers bursted out of the tree line. I began firing at one but they were too swift and agile causing me to miss.

'No no I don't want to lose anyone.'

I turned and watched as one of the tigers pounced on Avery.

"Captain!" I gasped

But Kong came and slapped the tiger so hard it flew into another tiger. I pulled out a grenade and pulled the pin and let go of the lever and began cooking it.

'1, 2, 3.'

I threw the grenade at the two tigers and it exploded upon impact.

"Creed look out!"

I turned around just in time to see a tiger lunge towards me. I pounced on me and I used my sword and blocked the tiger's mouth from biting me. I pushed back but the tiger was so strong that it was dragging me across the floor. Pooh roared and charged towards the tiger but another tiger came and tackled Pooh to the ground. 2B came and stabbed her sword into the tiger's neck but the tiger continued to jerk around, dragging me along. Evan came and stabbed his spear down impaling the tiger's head and I heard the machine die out and it fell on top of me.

"Oh geez, so heavy." I groaned

"The other two tigers are retreating." said Koi

Ella drew her bow and shot one last arrow and it exploded destroying one of the tigers. 2B picked up the tiger and Josiah helped me up.

"Thanks." I said

"Pod scan." said 2B

"Scanning... this model is a prototype designed to take out only humans." replied Pod 042

"No wonder they were only after Avery and Creed." said Nines

"Doesn't matter now, we need to keep moving." said Avery, "Is everyone good?"

Everyone replied.

"Let's keep moving." said Avery

"Wait." said 2B

She kneeled and examined the dead machines.

"Did you only see one when you were on your journey?" asked 2B

"Yea, just one." I replied

"Only one... the four of those were prototypes..." whispered 2B

"Is it strange?" I questioned

2B nodded.

"They probably have final products..." said 2B, "Are machines producing more machines?"

"That'll be bad." I said

2B touched one of the machines and rubbed her fingers together.

"Rust..." said 2B, "Pod scan."

"What exactly am I scanning for?" asked Pod 042

"Substances." replied 2B

"Substances?" questioned Nines

"Scanning... I found layers of rust formed by water but the rust has salt on them." said Pod 042

"Salt?" I questioned

I kneeled down and rubbed my fingers on the rust and I felt pebbles like things on the rust. I examined my finger and looked at Avery.

"It is salt." I said

"Can machines swim?" asked Avery

"Only some." replied Nines, "But if these swam all the way here..."

"How they got here shouldn't be the question." said A2, "The question should be, why are they here?"

I looked at the machines and shook my head.

"We shouldn't be focused on this. We should be moving." said Avery

We all got up and we continued moving.

"Machines coming here... that's not good." said Nines

"But why are they coming here?" questioned 12H, "There has to be a reason."

"I think I know the reason." I said

I looked at Avery.

"Back during the war, we would send a couple scouts to check up on our allies when they're not responding. We know if the land's clear when they come back, if they don't, then it's not clear." I said

"You're saying that they're scouts?" asked A2

"Possibly." I replied

"But why are they prototypes only programmed to kill humans?" asked Avery

"We'll never know for sure." said 2B, "Let's take this one step at a time."

I nodded and sighed.

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1 week later

Creed's POV

"It's been a week, are we there yet?" asked Evan, "Is this even the right way?"

"I'm sure this is the way..." said Samantha

"How can you be so sure? You were probably busy running in a random direction." said Koi

"That's enough." said Avery, "Creed, you and I will scout ahead."

"I'll come." said 2B

"No stay here, we'll be back." said Avery

"Don't worry." I said to 2B

"Samantha you're with us." said Avery

She nodded and she got off of Pooh.

"Wait here." I said to Pooh and I patted her neck

She grunted and I cocked my gun.

"Ready?" asked Avery

I nodded and Samantha just stood there. We crept through the woods following Samatha.

"I remember this place." said Samantha

She stopped at this place and stared at the ground.

"I tripped and fell and one of the thugs tried to drag me back but I was able to kick him away." said Samantha

She looked in a certain direction.

"We should be near." said Samantha

I nodded and we crept through the woods for about another 8 minutes when Samantha stopped walking.

"There." said Samantha

She pointed in a direction and my eyes slightly widened.

"Get down." whispered Avery

The three of us laid on our stomachs and examined the complex.

"It's not just one big building, it's multiple buildings." I observed

The trees around it were all cut down. I looked down the cliff area and sighed.

"We're completely exposed if we go down there right now." I said

"Agreed." I said

"It's hell." whispered Samantha

"We'll strike at night." said Creed

"Do they have lights on?" asked Avery

Samantha nodded.

"I escaped at night and there's spotlights at every corner." said Samantha

"Okay, we'll proceed with the plan." I said

Avery nodded and scanned the complex.

"It looks abandoned. Almost like no one's home." said Avery

"It's always like that." said Samantha

"No patrols... no snipers..." whispered Avery, "Where's the main entrance?"

"In the middle of the entire complex." said Samantha

"Samantha, where exactly did you escape from?" I asked

"Through a window, I had to break it to get out." replied Samantha

I nodded.

"Let's get ready. We strike at night fall." said Avery

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12 hours later

Creed's POV

"Everyone ready?" asked Avery

Everyone nodded.

"Koi go set up a sniper perimeter." I said

She nodded and she took half of the platoon, Kong and Pooh with her.

"Let's go." said Avery

She quietly walked through the woods until we got to the edge of the cliff.

"We go in groups of three." said Avery, "Go go go."

Once the spot light passed us I slid down with Nines and 4S. We ran through the cut down woods as fast as we could until we reached the wall of a building. The others began to move in until all of us were against the wall.

Avery nodded to me so I took the lead and we stayed low but swiftly moved towards the window Samantha told us to go to. We stayed close to the wall and we began to draw our weapons. I got to the window and looked around. I nodded to 2B and she signaled Pod to do it. Pod 042 came up and began to laser the window which was blocked by a piece of wooden plank.

Once Pod 042 finished I took off the glass and plank and gently placed them on the floor. I jumped in and scanned the room. I quickly turned off the lights and helped Nines and the others in.

"Okay, now we split. 2B, you take your team and find the girls while we find the main leader." said Avery

We all nodded and quietly opened the door and split ways. The hallway was so gloomy and ghetto, everything looked old and broken. The colors of the paint were dull, just red and brown, not even the bright red, almost like it's been here for decades.

"So boring..." I heard a distant voice.

We all stopped and aimed our weapons at the door in front of us.

"Inside. Now." I whispered

Ethan opened a random door and entered the room. I quickly closed the door and looked through the peephole on the door. I waited as I listened to the approaching footsteps. After about a few seconds someone passed by the door. I nodded to the others and quietly knocked on the door, trying to get the thug's attention.

"Huh?" questioned the thug

He approached my door and opened it. Once his hand was in sight, I grabbed it and pulled him in. I pinned him on the ground and 4S gagged his mouth. He started to scream but his screams were muffled as Josiah tied his hands. 2B closed the door and we dragged the thug and put him on the chair.

"Where are the girls?" I asked as I pointed the tip of my sword at him.

He glared at me.

"I'll handle this." said 2B, "Go and secure this floor."

I nodded so I left the room with Josiah and Ethan and we secured the floor. I heard quiet, muffled grunting and screams in the room for about a few seconds before silence. 2B and the others came out and nodded.

"8th floor." said 2B

I nodded and we continued to walk through the hallways until we got to the center. The center was shaped like a square and in the middle, you could look up to see other floors. We found the staircase and walked up the flight of stairs.

'Why's there no one here?'

We got to the seventh floor but the staircase to the eighth was broken. I signaled everyone to get back to the center hallway. We got out and I looked down from the catwalk at the first floor then up to the top floor, the 15th floor.

"Let's go." said 2B

I nodded but the lights suddenly went out.

"Down!" I quietly yelled

We all stayed low and leaned against the parapet and looked around in confusion.

"Captain, come in." I whispered into the communication device

"I'm here but it's pitch dark." replied Avery

"Calling residents." said a voice that sounded like it was coming from a loudspeaker.

'What the...'

"We currently have unwanted guests right now in this complex currently on the seventh floor. Now I want them out of here, those who stand up and fight will be able to stay here rent free and will be able to use any of the girls we have of your choice." said the voice, "Let the hunt begin."

"What the fuck..." whispered Evan

I heard distant gunshots from outside.

"Koi come in." I whispered

"We're taking fire, two of our guys are injured but not dead. I think they're trying to use them as bait." replied Koi, "There's snipers everywhere so we're pinned down."

"Shit..." I groaned

Evan and Apollo quietly moved a bit but then I heard a door squeak behind me. I looked and barely saw a door slowly open. Evan and Apollo each took a side and aimed their guns at the door.

'Where is everyone? They know we're here.'

I looked up at the other floors and then it hit my head.

"Wait Evan." I quietly whispered

But Evan shot his shotgun creating a bit of light for me to see but I still saw nothing. The door exploded to bits but no one was behind it.

"There's no one." said Evan as he slowly stood up.

Suddenly, Evan was shot in the shoulder and he gasped as he fell to the ground. I looked up at the 9th floor but saw nothing.

"Pod light." whispered 2B

Pod shined his light and my eyes widened when I saw a whole line of thugs lined up on the ninth floor aiming their guns at us.

"Get down!" I yelled