Author's Note: Sorry for the wait, had a bit of writers block, and sorry this is a short one, things are starting to become complicated with this story now. Enjoy.

Chapter 9: Midnight Run

Hunter and Axel immediately scrambled from their places, Hunter quickly putting the fire out with some dirt, so they wouldn't be spotted easily. Then they pressed their backs against one of the tree trunks. "Where did the alarm sound?" Hunter asked, both taking out their blasters.

Axel took a moment to sense around, trying to feel where there might be a presence. Taking a sec he then pointed north of them, "That way, there's about four or five or them."

"You think they noticed the traps?"

"Possibly, they're staying where they are if I'm sensing it right. What should we do?"

Hunter took a bit of time to assess what they knew, right now chances were that their enemy didn't know where they are at the moment, but could have been tipped off that they're in the area. So it was best for them to take the stealthy approach. "Well they don't know where we are, so we best keep it that way. Grab your stuff and follow my lead." Axel nodded as he retrieved his stuff, while Hunter took a peak over the tree so he could find anything. Luckily their enemies were using flashlights, so they could pinpoint their positions easily, but yet if the light hit them it could expose them real quick. Moving back he retrieve his pack, just ask Axel joined him, together they stayed crouched and moved alongside the tree trunks.

But then they froze when they heard one of their EMP mines going off, they could hear one of their enemies yells before it faded. After it died down nothing could be heard, but then someone yelled out. "We know you're behind those trunks, come out and surrender!"

Panic then started to fill the two; they were cornered, and couldn't escape. They needed to think of something fast before something bad happened. "What now?" Axel asked.

Hunter responded by pulling a flash grenade from his vest, "Pull, throw, and run." Axel quickly followed as they pulled the pin from their flash grenades and threw then before running in opposite directions. A giant flash illuminated the area as the soldiers yells could be heard as they blindly fired. The two Rovers dodged the fire as they jumped behind some trees for cover. Pressing themselves against their cover they held their weapons close and waited for an opportunity for them to fire back.

Once the fire stopped they could hear movement going around, and the troop's voices, from what they could hear none of them saw where they went and now were looking for them. Axel took that as a good sign, so he looked around and tried to see if he could find Hunter, but because of the darkness he couldn't. Knowing it was a risk but deciding against it he used his comm. "Hunter, where are you?"

No answer came at first but then Hunter's voice came through, only at a whisper "I'm behind some trees, where are you, I can't see anything but the flashlights?"

"Same thing, hold on for a sec," Axel responded as he shut his eyes and concentrated before opening them, the pupils had changed to purple, activating his aura sight. Looking behind the tree he searched and could see four gray auras, obviously the soldiers that were pursuing them. Noting their location he turned his eyes to the side opposite of himself. Sure enough he found a blue aura like twenty five meters away, sure enough he knew it was Hunter, and by the looks of it he was safe. "Ok I'm using my aura sight and I can see you."

"How about our enemies?"

"Yeah, I can see them."

"Good, here's what's going to happen," He responded as he shifted in his spot. "I'm going to draw their attention and I'm going to need you to sneak up and take them out."

"No that's too risky."

"It's the only way right now," He argued. "Besides I can lure at least one of them to one of our traps."

Axel debated it for a moment, he wasn't sure if it could work out ok, chances were that Hunter could get hurt because of it and that's something they didn't need right know. But they had to take them out and escape, chances were that they called backup so they needed to get out quick. "Fine, but if things get to hot then speed on out of there."

"Ok, but be quick," The transmission was then cut as Hunter stood back up, taking a breath he turned from cover and fired at their foes then got back into cover just as the fire was returned to him.

Axel took the chance and moved from his cover, the first soldier wasn't that far away so he quickly got to him. Thankfully he didn't seem to notice him, the sound of his gun firing drowned out the sound of his footsteps. Approaching from behind Axel cover the guy's mouth and punched him in the neck, the man's body then fell limp in his arms as he laid him on the ground. One down and four more to go.

Hunter turned back to cover, reloading his weapon as he waited for another chance to fire back. His ears flicked as he heard one of them approaching but then smiled as he hear one of their mines go off, knocking him out. Getting back to his feet Hunter readied himself, but stopped when he saw that something was tossed next to him, taking a look at it he saw it was a grenade, a lethal one. His heart raced a bit as he turned and used his speed to run out of there just as the object exploded. But as he was running another one of their enemies started shooting at him, but Hunter was quick enough to dodge them as he jumped back behind the fallen logs from before.

The gun fire kept up as the incoming bullets impacted the fallen wood, but just then Axel came up and took a hold of the gun so it was shooting up. Kneeing him in the back he sent the man stumbling a few feet, the gun being wrenched from his grasp just as Axel fired one of his shots at the man. As the guy fell to the ground, knocked out, the last one standing turned his attention and fired at Axel, who then dove to the ground.

That was a bad move for him as he felt a small bit of wind hit him from behind, but he didn't have time to react as he felt pressure being applied to a spot on him neck. Hunter held that spot for a few seconds till the man was on the ground, knocked out. The battle was over as it left both Rovers panting; they were a little bit out of breath from the small battle. "You alright?" Hunter called out just as Axel rose from the ground to join him.

The retriever could see the glowing purple in his eyes, but as he blinked the eye color returned back to normal. "Yeah, I'm good. What do we do now?"

"We best find a new place to camp out, and we best leave this area now." Axel couldn't agree more but then their hear thunder ring into their ears, looking up they then felt water hit their faces, a sign of rain.

"Great, this isn't what we need right now."

"I agree, let's go find some shelter, anything that'll keep the rain from us."

There were about to leave but then some static come to their ears as someone's voice was heard. Looking down they found the source of the voice coming from the man's radio. Kneeling down Hunter reached for the object and turned up the volume so the both of them could hear what was being said. "Base this is patrol three, does anyone read me?"

"This is Colonel Havoc, what have you found?" Both Hunter and Axel's eyes widen as they heard the man's voice, bits of anger filled them just hearing it.

"Sir we won't be able to make it back to base until the morning, there's rain that's about to fall, it'll make our journey back harder. We're going to be camping out here."

"Understood, be careful and keep an eye out for anything."

"Understood, and there's one last thing we have to report."

"And that is?"

"We may have found the plant you are looking for." Both Rovers eyes widen as they hear this, concern filled them as they began thinking that they were too late.

"You have!"

"Yes sir, but we're keeping our distance; we're not sure what properties this thing may have."

"Understood, we'll send some of the scientists to come and collect it in the morning, keep it guarded until that time!" Havoc responded with a huge commanding voice.

"Yes sir," The voice seems to stutter a bit, he knew the tone from Havoc was a serious one.

"Base out!" With that the radio fell silent, as did the other Rovers, both at a loss for words. The plant that they were desperately seeking out was in the enemy's hands.

A/N: Hope you like, sorry it was short, but I'm having trouble at the moment. Hopefully all this clears up, and I thank you for your patience.