Death does not comes easy-1

"Are you sure you want to do this? Your chances of survival are less than fifty percent even with all the attachments and performance enhancers," Ariella warned him once more as Theo geared up for the rescue mission.

Along with the nanosuit, he pulled out some of the big guns for this operation. The propulsion pack, typically used during spacewalks for navigation, could also be repurposed for battle—allowing him to evade attacks or levitate out of harm's way. He strapped it on carefully, knowing it might be the only thing standing between him and certain death.

He also packed plasma and incendiary grenades, normally reserved for dire situations like cave collapses. The prototype laser rifle was a recent addition, and though untested in live combat, he had a feeling it would slice through the enemy better than conventional weapons. To further increase his odds of survival, he layered light physical armor over his nanosuit, ensuring his vital organs had an added layer of protection—he had no intention of getting battered like in his last fight.

"I know what I'm doing, so just watch over the ship and wait for me," Theo said, securing the last strap. "If I don't make it back... well, I hope you find someone else to help you fix the power source. I'm sure you can use your persuasive—let's say deceptive—techniques to convince them to work for you."

He chuckled as he glanced at the screen, where Ariella was making faces at him through the interface.

"This isn't a joke, Theo. You're taking half our supplies, and we don't have a way to replenish them anytime soon. You need to think this through. There could be bigger problems ahead."

"We'll cross that bridge when we get there," he said dismissively. "If we save them, we earn their goodwill. Who knows? Maybe we'll get lucky."

Ariella sighed in frustration. "Your damn stubbornness will be the death of you someday."

She knew she couldn't stop him, so instead, she focused on increasing his chances of survival. "Take a few battery packs," she said, tossing them onto the console. "I've configured them to enhance the signal so I can better track movements around you. Try to conserve ammunition—use physical attacks when possible. I'll be with you the entire time, watching everything."

"Thanks. Maybe after this, we can design some cool swords or something," Theo mused. "I don't know much about swordplay, but I've got plenty of targets here for practice."

"We'll discuss that only if you survive this," she shot back. "I've marked the locations of the remaining survivors. Start with the nearest ones, but I don't think they'll hold out much longer. There were around three hundred at the beginning, but most smaller groups have already been wiped out. I can only confirm four potential survivors. The others... it's too late."

"Understood." He didn't waste any more words and prepared to head out.

The area surrounding the craft was eerily quiet. Theo expected resistance but encountered none. Instead of his usual sleek armor, he wore heavier gear with additional components on his limbs and back—advanced jet propulsion technology, but these particular versions ran on an unconventional energy source, eliminating noise and airflow disturbances.

"The closest heat signature is a kilometer away. A drone is circling the area. From here, the situation doesn't look good. I've charted a flight path you can follow. Now move."

Theo didn't hesitate. Within seconds, he was airborne, streaking through the air like a bullet. The propulsion pack barely left a trace, and as he neared his target, his visor displayed a horrifying scene.

As Ariella had said, only four to six people remained standing, fending off an overwhelming horde of zombies. They had taken shelter in a narrow alleyway with steel-barred roofing. The only entry points were two open ends, where the survivors had positioned themselves to fight off the relentless swarm. However, the zombies were disturbingly intelligent—after sustaining a dozen losses, they had stopped charging and instead began hammering the structure, trying to bring it down. All the while, they taunted the humans with the bodies of their fallen comrades, pressing the corpses against the bars.

"How long does it take for the infection to take effect?" Theo asked, his grip tightening on his rifle.

"Anywhere from a few minutes to half an hour. I haven't seen anyone last beyond that, but my data is limited."

Theo scanned the survivors. Two were severely injured, lying in the middle of the alley, while the remaining four fought desperately at the entrances. If he didn't act now, they wouldn't last much longer.

He landed on the steel-barred roof with a loud thud. The survivors below recoiled in fear, their faces contorted in horror as they assumed a new threat had arrived. But instead of another grotesque creature, they saw a hooded figure clad in an advanced black suit, glowing with faint neon lights. He looked like something out of a comic book.

"Take cover! Leave everything to me!" Theo shouted, hoping the translator in his suit accurately conveyed his words. It was set to Hindi, the most widely spoken language in the region.

As the stunned survivors hesitated, Theo pulled two plasma grenades from his belt and lobbed them toward the massive swarm at each entrance. The devices exploded in bursts of unnatural white light, instantly vaporizing the zombies into mist. The heat emanating from the blasts was enough to sear the air, leaving behind nothing but scorched earth.

"Fifty-nine hostiles remaining," Ariella reported. "Some might be inside buildings, so stay alert. I'll keep updating you. Stick to open spaces."

Theo took to the air again, raising his rifle and methodically mowing down the remaining threats. Within a minute, silence fell over the alley.

The survivors stared at him in shock and awe. He landed before them, facing two men standing in front while two others supported the injured. His visor scanned their wounds, confirming what he feared—dark tendrils of infection had already spread.

"Thank you for saving us," one of the men finally spoke. "Are you the one from—"

"No time for questions. More people need my help," Theo interrupted. "But before I go, you need to deal with them." He pointed at the two injured men.

"What?" The survivors tensed, gripping their weapons.

Theo raised his hands. "They're infected. I don't know when they were bitten, but it's only a matter of time before they turn. Keeping them with you is a death sentence."

"You're wrong! They were hit by stray bullets! Our leader fell, and in the chaos, some panicked and fired at each other!"

"Maybe. Or maybe they got scratched in the struggle. Either way, that blackening is a telltale sign. The infection spreads through blood contact. You're not in a sterile environment. Listen to me before it's too late."

"No! We're not leaving them behind! We—"

A weak voice interrupted them. One of the injured men had pushed himself up, his body trembling from fever. "Stop..." he rasped. "He's right. I can feel it. I know what's happening to me. Raj, you agree, right?"

The other injured soldier, barely conscious, weakly raised a thumbs-up.

"No... we can find another way..." one of the survivors choked out.

"You know the rules," the injured man said firmly. "We don't turn on our own. We take care of it ourselves."

He patted his pistol and forced a grin, ready to meet his fate.

Theo had seen this before. He didn't have the heart to stay and watch. As he lifted off into the air, the remaining four survivors exited the alley, just as two gunshots echoed behind them.

"This kind of thing is commonplace in their world," Ariella said softly.

Theo remained silent for a moment. "I know. Chart the course for the next location. Maybe we will have better luck next time."