Ch.5: Impending doom

Ray was distant when they were walking through the darkening forest. He made everyone stop for a moment and listen to their surroundings.

"Stop," Ray demanded.

Ashley stopped in her tracks holding an awkward pose.

"We're not playing red light green light." Scott interrupted.

Todd became quite lively when he turned his flashlight on. "there gonna have a pretty hard time fighting us in the dark."

"If it gets any darker I'm not going to see anything through my shade," Ashley removed her ray bans placing them in her pocket. "black over black isn't going to help our field of vision you know."

"I gotta hand it to you," Scott decided to the same thing as was his friend Todd. Both of them slipped their glasses off as well. "I do find it more comfortable when I have an upper hand in battle."

"This is so unsettling," Todd's back was to a tree. "we don't even have a back up plan?"

Scott's eyes darted around the woods. Walking backwards he faced his back towards the same tree Todd was standing by.

Ray and Ashley were standing beside each other. Which felt really awkward, but the closest Ashley was going to get to her secret crush. She felt her heart thumping in her chest. The blood in her face rushed to her cheeks. He was really beside her. This felt like the perfect opportunity to get to know him better.

"Ray this is getting kinda scary," Ashley had no idea Ray wasn't standing next to her anymore.

He was too self absorbed in himself to notice. "hey, Ray where'd you go?" Ashley's voice became high then tapered down into a whisper. Her eyes narrowed seeing him walking off beyond where Scott and Todd were standing.

"What-what's wrong with him?" Ashley really didn't consider Ray's feelings in the situation. Scott and Todd knew exactly what was going on.

Scott rolled his shoulders signaling to Todd that he was uncomfortable. He wanted to help Ashley understand that her girlish cries for Ray's attention could never be met.

Todd being bold decided to explain it to the young woman himself. "it's nothing personal, Ashley it's just-" he walked up to her grabbing her hand gently. Pulling her close to him he whispered in a cheerless tone. "lately between the two of us-you know between us guys. We've been figuring that Kowalski's becoming more than just a-" he stopped a moment in his sentence then blurted. "a 'friend,'"

Ashley merely stared at her feet. "so that's how it is?" after Todd let go of her hand she let it drop to her side.

Ray finished soon with his thinking then returned to his team. "you know I was just thinking-" Ray stopped then looked to Ashley. "what's wrong with her?"

Ashley only stared at the ground. Her feelings felt hurt because she now knew her love would never be reciprocated. "it's nothing," she muttered under her breathe.

The group suddenly fell silent for a few moments.

They all heard the crackling of a tree branches. Ray pushed Ashley behind himself when he noticed shadows in the distance.

"Ray what are you doing?" though Ashley was the youngest of the group. Ray still had felt he had some obligation in keeping her safe.

"You sexist b-" before she could finish what she was about to call Ray. A ray gun was pointed behind her back instantaneously.

Just as Ray and his teammates were suddenly huddled into a group. They were soon, surrounded by T.H.E.M., agents trapping them inside their tight circle. Agents of every different colors and sizes they kept their mean demeanor.

Scowling at the U.Z.Z. agents that dared to cross the forest. Ray felt that they were in no bargaining position. So becoming very calm he comically cleared his throat calling attention to himself. "allow me to introduce myself-" trying his best to be civil he straightened his tie while speaking.

He was rudely interrupted by a T.H.E.M. agent sticking the maw of his gun to his chest. "we don't need you're introductions you're coming with us."

Ray shoved his hands into his pockets replying in a defeated tone. "what more can I say?"

Scott nudged his friend for sounding so weak. "what are you talking about?" he whispered in a hiss.

Ray turned his head to the side replying as low as he could. "follow my lead,"

Kowalski and Kent had no trouble getting past security. They were confronted by a door marked "woman's room" which was engraved on a brass plate on the door. Kowalski skidded just behind Kent as he swung the door open.

Kowalski's eyes popped open to the discovery. "there are woman residing in this base?"

"Doors don't lie now do they?" Kent blushed before pushing the door open for her. "now scoot," ordering her into the woman's bathing quarters.

Kent was leading to her a hamper which contained female delicates. Though this isn't where the suits were stored. He couldn't help, but feel a little attracted when he saw their undergarments.

Kowalski smacked the back of his head. "you pervert,"

"I was just kidding," Kent fell to his knees quickly.

"That's not what we're here for." Kowalski replied looking upon the stunned man.

Kent recovered then followed her to the lockers where valuables were stored. "I'm sorry I have to do this." she felt sorry for the woman's clothes that she'll be using. Pounding on the locker door she gave up knowing she couldn't possibly get in.

"This is gonna need force." Kowalski pulled out her gun and aimed for the lock.

With one shot the laser broke the locker open. The blast nearly took the door clean off, but to their luck. It was left, hanging with only, one hinge that, kept it from, falling to the floor

Kent pushed her away to help examine what the locker contained. "pink really does suit you," he giggled facing the disguise.

"Shut up," she grunted.

Ashley was running after her teammates. "you guys-wait up-for me-" she panting trying to keep up with them.

Ray fell behind Scott and Todd who were fending the scourge with each others help. Blasting another THEM agent he ran through another group just in time.

"Well make you our hostage," one of the henchmen bellowed.

Ashley was caught between two expendable soon two became four, then four became six, they were rapidly multiplying. Ray just kept charging past them as they kept grasping his clothes. "don't worry," he shouted to her.

Ashley encouraged by his courage tried to break free as well. "I'm coming, Ray," jabbing her arm square into the first THEM agents chest broke loose a free arm. Sending the agent on the ground, Ashley using the free hand, connected her fist straight into the second exppendable's face.

With no hesitation she ran into the arms who she'd thought could protect her. "where'd Scott and Todd go?" her eyes became glassy thinking of the other two. "if they were caught-" whipping her around tried to search for them in the darkness.

Ray roughly grabbed Ashley by her shoulders. "don't worry about them they can take care of themselves!"

"But-" Ashley cried.

Ray began shooting his gun as they began running through the forest again. Rushing through many of their enemies they soon found themselves tired. "we don't have any other weapons or self-defense." Ashley weakly said. The footfalls of other THEM agents were upon them. They were drastically closing in on their location. They were seeking refuge on a small bridge underneath a brook.

"We made it this far," Ray replied to the scared agent. They were in the midst of hostile territory now.

"nothing save a miracle will save us now." Ashley muttered before dropping to her knees. "it won't be long now."

Ray was watching the spectacle hoping she was just kidding. "are you okay?" this time he was serious before he realised what signals the young girl was sending him.

"What does it look like?" she snapped.

Ray kneeled down to where Ashley was now hugging her knees to her chest. "I'm sorry," he whispered with only the earnest attempt to comfort her.

"It doesn't matter much now does it?" Ashley replied squeezing her eyes shut.

"Yes it does," Ray held an arm out briefly touching a hand on her head. Ashley countered by pushing his hand away as soon as he touched her.

Kowalski and Kent scurried outside of the bathroom and were heading down the hall. To their dismay they came upon quite disturbing news. Two new prisoners had just been captured. Kent and Kowalski were overhearing Doctor Doctor herself report of the capture.

"Delightful," she cackled.

Right beside the open door Kowalski was tempted to wipe the smirk off her face. Kent held her back urging her not to do anything stupid.

"And their names would be?" Doctor Doctor was considerate when addressing her prisoners.

"Scott and Todd were the only names they would go by," the informant told her.

Kowalski's blood turned to ice as her stomach churned. Looking to the door then to Kent she felt that somehow she let them down. But in her heart she there must be someway of freeing her friends. Now that she was on the outside there must be some ray of hope.

"Let's go," Kent said pushing her forward.

"Are you hurt," Ray asked.

Ashley didn't speak nor try to communicate.

"You have to tell me what's going on." Ray stood up he was in no mood to ask twenty questions.

Ashley gasped seeing the hordes of THEM agents before answering him.

Pointing a finger to see behind himself Ray was brutally picked up by the collar of his shirt. His feet was an inch off the ground before he knew it. He was struggling against the brawny muscled man. That seemed like he was suffocating the life out of him.

"Put him down," Ashley screamed.

The THEM agent dropped him letting him collapse to the ground. Ashley was a foot away from his body trembling like a leaf. The last images of the THEM agent they would encounter was a fleeting memory. To the noble efforts that brought them this far.

Ashley fainted from the thoughts of her impending doom. Nobody she felt could possibly save them now as she fell to the ground with Ray.