Chapter 74: Backup

Vyran PoV

*Earlier*

Varia and I sent flares into the sprinklers, creating a diversion for the others. The fire alarms on the west side of the base rang loudly, echoing through the underground corridors. Smoke and steam began billowing from the sprinklers, creating a chaotic scene.

"That should do it," Varia said, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement.

I nodded, my senses heightened. "Let's hope it draws all the Titanos soldiers here. The others need as much time as we can give them."

Almost immediately, we heard the sound of boots thundering in our direction. Titanos soldiers, alerted by the alarms, were converging on our location. Varia and I exchanged a quick glance, knowing we had to stay hidden until the right moment.

We took cover behind a series of large crates, peering out cautiously. The soldiers were heavily armed, their expressions tense as they tried to figure out the source of the disturbance. Varia gave me a nod, signaling that it was time to escalate our diversion.

"Time to make some noise," I whispered, pulling out a small explosive device from my belt. I set the timer and hurled it towards a cluster of enemy equipment.

The explosion was immediate and deafening, sending a plume of smoke and debris into the air. The Titanos soldiers shouted in alarm, their attention fully diverted to the growing chaos.

"Go, go, go!" Varia urged, and we moved swiftly through the narrow corridors, keeping low and out of sight. The soldiers were now fully occupied with the fire and the explosion, giving our team the precious time they needed.

As we zigzagged back and forth between concrete pillars to a safer distance, I couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. The diversion was working perfectly. The enemy was in disarray, their attention completely focused on the west side of the base.

Varia and I found a vantage point where we could keep an eye on the situation without being seen. The Titanos soldiers were frantically trying to contain the fire and secure the area, their confusion evident.

"Looks like we did it," Varia said, a small smile playing on her lips.

I grinned, feeling a surge of pride. "Yeah, but we can't let our guard down. We need to stay ready in case they regroup or send reinforcements."

Just then, my earpiece crackled to life. It was Arare's voice, calm and composed. "Diversion successful. Retas, Aiden, and Sarudei are inside the control room. Extraction in progress."

I felt a sense of relief wash over me. "Good to hear, Arare. Keep an eye out for any changes. We'll hold our position for now."

"Actually, you need to go to the east side. Kaeii got discovered according to Zane. He is engaging the enemy."

Sis sighed. "Alright, we'll go save them," Sis said into her device. "Let's go, Vyran."

I felt a surge of adrenaline as Varia gave the order. The mission was far from over, and Kaeii needed our help. "Alright, let's move," I said, my voice resolute.

We navigated swiftly through the labyrinthine corridors of the enemy base, the echoes of distant alarms and shouts creating an ominous backdrop. My senses were on high alert, every muscle in my body primed for action.

As we approached the east side, the sounds of gunfire and shouting grew louder. Kaeii was indeed engaged with the enemy, and it sounded like he was heavily outnumbered.

"Stay low," Varia whispered, her eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement.

We moved cautiously, using the shadows and debris for cover. I could see flashes of light from muzzle fire up ahead, and the clanging of metal on metal indicated that Kaeii was putting up a fierce fight.

"There," Varia pointed to a narrow corridor where Kaeii was holding his ground against a group of Titanos soldiers. His movements were a blur of precision and strength, but he was clearly being pushed to his limits.

Without hesitation, I pulled out my blaster and took aim. "Cover me," I whispered to Varia.

She nodded, readying her own weapon. "On your mark."

I took a deep breath, steadying my aim. "Now!"

We burst from our cover, our weapons blazing. The sudden onslaught took the Titanos soldiers by surprise, and several of them fell before they could react. Kaeii, recognizing the opportunity, fought with renewed vigor, cutting down the enemies closest to him.

"Vyran! Varia!" Kaeii shouted, relief evident in his voice as he fought his way towards us.

"Fall back to our position!" Varia called out, her shots precise and deadly.

Kaeii moved quickly, his agility and combat skills allowing him to evade the remaining soldiers. Within moments, he was by our side, panting but unharmed.

"Thanks for the save," he said, a grateful smile on his face.

"No problem," I replied, keeping an eye on the corridor. "But we need to move. More are bound to come."

We regrouped and made our way back towards the rendezvous point, moving swiftly but cautiously. The sounds of pursuit were growing fainter, but we couldn't afford to let our guard down.

"Where do you think you lot are off to?" a male voice called out.

I turned and saw a guy who looked a lot like me. But his hair was white instead of black. In his hands were a pair of blue energy sabers.

"Another Vyran?" Kaeii said, eyes wide.

"Has to be his Titanos counterpart," Zane said. He snickered. "Seems mine outranks your, Vyran."

Varia sighed. "This is no time to compete—" She spun around and leapt to the side as my counterpart aimed for her head. He was fast.

The guy and sis moved around the room as they tried to off the other.

"This is bad! Sarudei and the others are in trouble! Tira is heading their way!" Arare said. "And several more—" His voice cut off.

"Arare!" Zane yelled into his own headset. "Darn! Kaeii, we need to move! Else we are gonna be surrounded by more of those soldiers!"

My eyes widened as I glimpsed into the future. More lieutenants were coming...