62

Your sudden arrival throws everything into chaos. At the sound of the engine, everybody spins in your direction. Sam skids in a wide arc around the corner of the rock, flooring the accelerator as they pull out of the skid and aiming directly for the cluster of armed guards.

Abdul and Esme start sprinting toward your truck, and the soldiers raise their rifles at you. You need to take your shot now.

It's a good shot. Your bullet pierces the fuel tank of the closest parked truck, and the entire back half of the vehicle erupts in searing orange flames. The two soldiers closest to the truck are knocked off their feet by blast; the other two, though still standing, are forced to shield their eyes, stunned by the explosion.

"Get in!" Sam bellows to Esme and Abdul, who are running hard through the chaos toward the truck. As they get closer, they leap for the back of the truck from opposite sides and start hauling themselves over the open top and into the back seat. Rifle shots start to ring out, and bullets zing off your truck's armored carapace.