[103] Digging in

As we navigated the bustling hospital floor, the air hung heavy with a medley of iron-tinted blood and antiseptics. Stretched beyond their capacity, the hospital staff were rushing from one patient to the next, their faces masks of grim determination. Their efforts, however, were a bleak reminder of the humanity we all clung to amidst the chaos outside.

Eventually, we spotted Hazuki. Her petite figure was almost lost amidst the larger bodies surrounding her, but her distinctive silver hair made her easy to spot. Her once pristine nurse's uniform was now stained with the blood of numerous patients - a silent testament to her tireless efforts.

"Hazuki!" I called out, my voice barely audible over the noise of the hospital.

She turned at the sound of my voice, her eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other amidst the bedlam.

"Chang, what are you doing here?" she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

"We're here to get you out. It's not safe." I answered, trying to convey the urgency of the situation.

"But I can't leave," she protested. "These people need me."

"I know," I said gently. "And they're lucky to have you. But right now, we need to get out of here. It's only going to get worse."

"But... but what about the patients?" Hazuki asked, glancing helplessly around the hospital.

After a long moment of begrudging silence, I said:

"Fine." I couldn't believe I was saying this myself. "We are making our last stand here then." I looked to Cassidy and Kaya. They nodded in agreement.

"Are you sure about this, Chang?" Hazuki asked, her eyes filled with concern. Her hand, stained with the blood of the injured, reached out and grabbed my arm, her grip tight and desperate.

"I'm sure," I affirmed, meeting her gaze with determined resolve. "We stand here, together."

A moment of silence passed between us, the cacophony of the hospital acting as a stark reminder of the chaos outside. Then, she nodded, seemingly mollified by my conviction. "Alright. Let's do this."

Turning to Kaya and Cassidy, I saw the same determination mirrored in their eyes. They didn't say anything, they didn't need to. The nod of agreement was enough. We were a team, after all, and we would face this together.

"Kaya, find the highest vantage point," I ordered. "I want you to take out as many as you can from there."

Kaya responded with a crisp salute, the hint of a smile curling at the edge of her lips. "Consider it done."

Next, I turned to Cassidy, her expression serious. "Cassidy, I need you to help Hazuki. Get the patients who can't move to a safe place."

"Understood," Cassidy responded, already moving to Hazuki's side.

With our plan set in motion, I took a deep breath. The fear was there, lurking in the back of my mind, but I pushed it down. This was not the time for fear. This was the time for action. "Let's give 'em hell," I said, drawing my gun.

We were making our last stand here. For the injured, for the dying, for Hazuki. In the face of chaos, we would stand firm. We would fight, and we would survive.

Q: What would you do in this type of situation?