It was silent as he wandered through the forest. Marcus had followed Blair's footprints for close to an hour. She'd headed almost two miles west, away from the outpost. From her prints, Blair was having difficulty moving. Though it was the likeliest of possibilities, the thought of Blair traipsing through the forest injured didn't settle well with Marcus. Even injured, Blair could give anyone hell if she needed.
Then the silence was broken. A sharp cry echoed through the forest. Marcus had heard that cry several times before, though he'd always wished he never had to hear it again.
Marcus started running toward the source of the cry. His hearing picked up movement ahead of him. There were six people total. Five moving fast, one slow. He heard a kick, followed by a fall. Then another cry.
"Hold her down." He heard.
That was when Marcus found them. He charged at them at full force. The closest man turned right as Marcus slammed his fist into his face. The man flew back and fell to the ground. The next man was ready. He punched Marcus hard, but it had no effect on him. Marcus turned his head back to the man. The man tried to throw another punch, but Marcus caught it. He tightened his grip around the man's fist, breaking the bones in his hands in the process. The man screamed in pain and dropped to his knees. Marcus kicked the man to the ground and turned to the other three men.
The man pinning Blair's throat let go. He charged at Marcus swinging the branch around. Marcus ducked the swing branch. When the man swung the branch a second time, Marcus caught it in his hand. He ripped the branch out of the man's grasp. The man backpedaled, stumbling over his own feet.
Another man rose from Blair's side, raising a gun. He fired several times on Marcus. Each bullet hit him square in the chest. Marcus jerked as each bullet hit him direct. The man's eyes widened in fear and stepped back, still firing on Marcus. Marcus swung the branch in his hand and knocked the gun from the man's hand. The man cried out in pain as he cradled his hand. He looked up at Marcus and scrambled backwards.
Marcus dropped the branch and turned back to the last man. The man was lying on the ground unconscious at Blair's feet. Blair was sitting up, bracing her chest with her arm. Blair looked up as Marcus walked to her side.
"Took your sweet time, didn't you?" Blair said. She held out her hand.
Marcus smirked, helping Blair to her feet. "Hey, you're the one who went the wrong direction."
"Alright, you crash a chopper and tell me how disoriented you are." Blair replied. As she straightened up, she doubled over in pain groaning.
Marcus knelt in front of her, keeping her upright. "Let me have a look."
Ever since his liberation of Skynet's, Marcus was able to use his cybernetics to the resistance advantage. One of which being able to scan for injuries on a body.
Marcus focused his eyes and scanned Blair's chest cavity. His human vision adjusted. Blair clothes vanished. Her muscles and veins followed. Marcus looked over her rib cage. Four of her ribs were broken, but only a hairline fracture. He looked at her hand. Two metacarpi had been broken, her ring finger and pinky. Thankfully, her knee hadn't sustained any fractures, but Marcus figured Blair would have a bruise for a few weeks.
Marcus looked up at Blair, reverting his eyesight.
Blair met his eyes. "That bad, huh?"
"Four ribs and two in your hand." Marcus answered.
Blair winced as she shrugged. "Could've been worse. Did you guys make it to the outpost?"
Marcus rose to his feet. "Yeah. Lucas sent word to the base."
"And?" Blair asked.
"They're sending another transport at oh six hundred." Marcus answered.
"How much time do we have?" Blair asked.
"Five hours." Marcus replied.
"How far is the outpost?"
"Four miles."
Blair nodded. "We can make four miles in five hours."
"Not if you're walking." Marcus said.
Blair frowned. "Excuse me."
"You made two miles in three hours, Blair. And that was before you had your leg bashed." Marcus explained.
"I can make it." Blair replied.
Marcus chuckled. "Bull."
"Then what do you have in mind?" Blair asked.
Marcus took Blair's left arm and turned. He grabbed her left knee and lifted her up. He carefully pulled Blair onto his back. Blair's right arm slowly came around his neck.
"Interesting plan." Blair said.
"Careful, plan B was carrying you in my arms." Marcus replied.
Blair smiled next to his ear. "You would, huh?"
Marcus nodded. "In a heartbeat."