As I exited the elevator, I was suddenly confronted by another black-clad operator, with a knife in hand. This one was larger, dressed head-to-toe in bulky armor that made it impossible to even discern their gender.

I was able to grab their wrist just in time. They shoved me against the wall. I could barely move. All my strength was going into holding back the operator's hand. They were stubborn. Their grip was tight.

While one hand was literally clinging for dear life, my eyes tried to scan my opponent, looking for any possible weaknesses. I noticed two. The neck was fortunately unarmored, and there was a small patch in their lower torso, right where the groin would be. It was the only advantage I had.

I quickly lunged my knee into their groin and watched as they stumbled backwards. Although I couldn't see their face, something about the way they looked at me seemed to suggest anger, and hatred.

With a moment to breathe, I was better able to process my surroundings. I was in another hallway. Two my left was a window looking into a room full of computers. I could see several bodies—five or six marines, plus a scientist.

The operator had one advantage at first—taking me by surprise and unprepared. Now that advantage was gone. It seemed about the only thing going for me at that point. Here I was with nothing but my fists against a heavily armored opponent who looked like he could easily crush me without a second thought.

He might have succeeded had I been a civilian. Even as a soldier I still wasn't completely sure I could take him.

I watched as the operator charged toward me. I quickly rolled out of the way, allowing them to crash into the window which immediately shattered.

The operator turned and looked at me, but they was now staggering. It was very slight, but still noticeable. They started to lunge toward me before I heard a gunshot from behind them.

They turned, and I saw Grimsberg brandishing his smoking shotgun.

The operator turned their attention towards Grimsberg, who was looking noticeably worried. They lunged toward him, grabbing him and forcing him to the ground. They threw several punches into Grimsberg's face, shattering his goggles in the process.

I quickly noticed that one of the fallen marines still had their combat knife. I grabbed it and moved toward the operator.

I jammed that knife into his back, just below the neck. Though their stagger had grown they seemed to be more angry than hurt. They turned towards me, grabbing me and shoving me against the wall. They wrapped their hands around my neck.

Grimsberg got to his feet and drew his shotgun, firing yet another shot into the operator. They turned toward him. I grabbed the knife out of the operator's back, and ran it into their neck. I drew the knife immediately, just before they turned their head towards me. I ran the knife in again, and made sure to shove it in further.

I drew it again and shoved it once again into their throat.

Grimsberg approached, his shotgun ready to fire. The operator reached for his belt, drawing a glock pistol and aiming it towards him.

I ran the knife in again. And again. I must have stabbed them somewhere around twenty times before I was finally willing to stop.

I reached for the operator's pistol, and placed it at my side.

"It won't take long before they follow us. You have any thing that might buy us some time."

"I could set up some tripmines," Grimsberg replied. "I've got… two left."

"Good, do it. That might buy us a few minutes."

He quickly set up the two mines against the wall, one above the other, marked by a faint blue laser.

"Where next?"

I looked around for a clear path. I could already footsteps.

Finally, I noticed an open vent against the wall. "THERE!"

"A vent? Are you serious?"

"You want to get out of here or not?" I ran and ducked into the vent. Grimsberg paused for a moment, but quickly caught up once the noise of footsteps started getting louder. We managed to round a corner in the vent, crouched down and moving slowly, when I heard an explosion.

"Sounds like the tripmines worked," Grimsberg said.

"Yeah, but it won't hold them for long. We'll need to follow this vent to see where it leads.

We tried to walk slow, but the faint sounds of our boots against the metal vent continuously broke the silence.

That was when the vent collapsed. Under our weight it fell, and we rolled out into another corridor. Fortunately, it seemed like we'd lost our pursuers for now. No way Adams was going to give up, but it would probably take some time to locate their new position.

I sat down against the wall. I was hurting all over, breathing heavily, and feeling defeated. It seemed the world was conspiring to keep me from getting out of here.

Grimsberg sat down next to me, and held out his pack of cigarettes. Only one remained. I took it, and he gave me a lighter.

I let my head fall against the wall.