After securing the Junker, demolishing the gas station, and rescuing Cole, Baird, and Anthony from a relentless swarm of Grubs and Kryll, Delta Squad pressed forward. Their path led them into a dense forest, where the towering canopy cast eerie, shifting shadows. Moving cautiously through the underbrush, they remained on high alert—every rustling leaf a potential threat.

As Marcus navigated the vehicle through the winding terrain, Maverick caught a faint glow flickering between the trees. Narrowing his eyes, he leaned slightly forward, instincts sharpening as the strange light pulsed deeper within the shadows.

Baird glanced over from the back. "The fuck are you doing?"

"Thought I saw something," Maverick muttered.

Before he could say more, a sudden explosion ripped through the night. The shockwave rocked the vehicle, rattling everyone inside. Dom spun around, eyes widening as flames erupted from the rear of the Junker, thick smoke curling into the darkened sky.

"Hold up!" Dom called out.

Marcus hit the brakes, bringing the Junker to a halt. The team stepped off, weapons drawn and scanning their surroundings.

"Okay, Delta—looks like we're walking," Marcus said.

"Are you kidding me?" Baird groaned.

"Oh, quit bitching, blondie," Maverick shot back.

Marcus tapped his comm. "Control, this is Delta Squad. Our vehicle is DOA, and we're on foot. Please advise."

"Copy that, Delta. The pumping station lift is offline. You'll need to enter the mines through the factory. Continue down this road."

Marcus nodded. "Affirmative."

Baird looked back at the Junker and shook his head. "Stupid Junker. Piece of shit."

"Can you fix it?" Dom asked.

"Baird can fix anything, man," Cole said with a smirk. "He just needs the right parts."

"Is an off-and-on switch for his mouth too much?" Maverick added, grinning.

Anthony chuckled softly, the sound barely audible over the eerie silence of the forest. Suddenly, a faint scuttling noise drew their attention upward. A pair of Wretches darted along the pipeline above them, their glowing yellow eyes and mouths casting unsettling light in the gloom.

"What was that?" Dom muttered, raising his weapon.

Marcus got on comms again. "Control. We've got what looks like glowing Wretches out here."

"Copy that. We've had reports of Lambent Wretches before, possibly due to direct Emulsion exposure. Be advised—they're extremely volatile."

"Uglier than the regular ones too," Anthony muttered.

"Nah," Maverick said. "Baird is uglier."

"Fuck you, asshole," Baird growled.

"What the hell does 'Lambent' mean?" Cole asked.

"Means they glow in the dark," Baird replied.

"Hell yeah, they do."

They reached a large door, and Marcus and Dom immediately started sawing and kicking at it.

"Open that door, will ya?" Baird said impatiently.

"How about instead of bitching, you give it a damn try?" Maverick snapped. "Or is that too much for you, princess?"

Baird opened his mouth to respond, but Marcus cut in. "It's locked."

"Just get Jack to open it," Dom suggested.

Jack decloaked and floated forward, torch heating up as he prepared to cut through.

"Won't work," Marcus muttered. "These doors are too thick."

Jack let out a low, disappointed whir. Maverick patted the bot's head before it cloaked again.

Marcus keyed his comm again. "Control, this is Delta. We're at the factory, but the entrance is blocked."

"Copy that, Delta. Sorry, but I don't see any other options on my screen."

Marcus sighed. "All right. This'll go faster if we split up. Cole, Baird, Carmine—you head that way. We'll go right. Radio us when you find an entrance."

"Aw, man," Cole grumbled. "I don't know... That sounds like a bad idea."

"I'll be sure to take that under advisement, Cole. Now move it."

Cole mock-saluted. "Yes, sir!"

Baird nodded toward the left. "Come on, guys. Let's move."

Marcus, Dom, and Maverick headed right.

"Damn, Marcus," Dom muttered once they were out of earshot.

"He'll get over it," Marcus replied with a shrug.

A Lambent Wretch suddenly darted up a nearby wall.

"Did you guys see that?" Dom asked, alarmed.

"Yep," Marcus said flatly. "Kinda wish I hadn't."

One of the Wretches dropped from above, unleashing a bone-chilling shriek. The sound echoed through the forest, summoning more of them. Without hesitation, Maverick drew his dual Gorgon pistols.

"Let's do this," he growled, cracking his neck.

The trio opened fire, bullets shredding the Lambent Wretches. Each one collapsed into a grotesque pile of glowing yellow sludge. Maverick lined up his final shot, squeezing the trigger and blasting the last Wretch into a violent burst of Emulsion. The liquid surged toward him, but he reacted fast, leaping aside to avoid the searing wave.

"Nice try," Maverick muttered. "I ain't getting that shit on me—God knows what'll happen."

They reached an elevator and stepped inside.

"You guys know nobody's been underground in years, right?" Dom said, glancing around.

"I know," Marcus replied, quiet and focused.

"Look, man. It's enemy territory. I mean, it's bad enough when we're fighting these things outside, in broad daylight. But underground—in the dark—"

"Yeah. Could be bad," Marcus admitted. "But, hey, don't tell Baird that. He's scared shitless as it is."

"Shit, you've got that right," Maverick said. "My daughters are braver than the blonde princess."

"Shit, man," Dom said, pausing. "I gotta know—when was the last time you saw them?"

"Several years ago," Maverick answered quietly. "Before I got thrown in prison."

"Shit, man. Must be hard on you."

Maverick didn't respond. A flicker of sadness passed through his eyes, but he shook it off with his usual smirk. Without a word, Marcus climbed through a shattered window, the glass crunching softly beneath his boots. Dom and Maverick followed close behind.

Marcus tapped his comm. "Baird, Cole, Anthony. We're in."

"What took you so long?" Baird's voice came back. "We've been here for at least two minutes."

"Well, good for you, smartass," Marcus replied. "Give us your location?"

"The basement. And it's a dump."

"Sounds like you should feel right at home, princess," Maverick said into the comm.

"Suck my nuts, asshole."

"Aw, I always figured you were gay for me, princess," Maverick teased, drawing out the last word.

Before Baird could fire back, Marcus broke in.

"Control, this is Delta. We're in."

"Copy that. Keep moving through the factory till you find the cart control room. I'll use the carts to get you to the mine."

Marcus nodded. "Delta, let's not waste any time meeting up. Let's just find the cart control room."

"Watch out for the Boogeyman," Baird said ominously.

"I knew you had the heart to warn us, princess," Maverick said with an eerie laugh. "But you're in the basement—he'd come for you first."

https://youtu.be/db6QIx11vMA

A chill ran through every member of Delta as Maverick's unsettling laugh echoed down the hallway, sending an involuntary shiver through them. Pressing forward, they entered a room heavy with the stench of death. Mangled bodies lay scattered across the floor, blood streaking the walls in grotesque patterns. Maverick scanned the carnage, his expression hardening as he shook his head. The grim scene spoke for itself.

"Fucking hell," he muttered. "Did Three Fingers and his brothers come to visit?"

"Hey! I think I got it!" Baird called out.

"Yeah, Baird. You did," Marcus said, his tone flat.

"Yeah, turn 'em off, will ya?" Dom added.

"Huh? What?" Baird replied, confused.

"Don't worry about it," Maverick cut in. "Dom's just overreacting."

Marcus pressed a button, and the door slid open with a mechanical hiss. Suddenly, a Stranded sprang up from behind a tattered couch, firing wildly. The shot struck the wall, narrowly missing the trio. Instinctively, they raised their weapons, eyes locking onto the target.

"Cease fire!" Marcus barked.

The Stranded hesitated, then dropped his gun and raised his hands in surrender.

"You've got some shitty fucking aim, dipshit," Maverick growled.

"Finally! The rescue team!" the man gasped with relief.

"What are you doing in here?" Dom asked, stepping forward.

"Waiting for you. I'm ready to go!"

"We're looking for the cart control room," Marcus said. "Where is it?"

"Well, uh, you have to get down to the factory floor, through that door. But it's locked."

"How about you help us unlock it?" Maverick asked, deadpan.

"Who, me? Aren't we leaving?"

"Not yet. Come on," Marcus ordered as he tapped his comm. "This is Delta-One. Still proceeding as planned. But we have a Stranded with us."

"No shit!" Baird's voice crackled over comms. "Ask him if he's seen any Geobots. I still need one for our Junker."

"Who cares right now?" Maverick snapped. "We've gotta set off the Resonator—look for one later."

The squad reached the door. The Stranded reluctantly approached the panel, punching in the key code. The panel beeped, and the lock disengaged. As Delta-One and their reluctant companion stepped inside, a low, guttural growling echoed from the vents above. The unmistakable sound of Lambent Wretches sent a wave of tension through the group.

"Delta-Two, come in. Watch the vents," Marcus warned over comms.

"Roger... You're not going to believe where we are," Baird replied.

"Hey, sis," Maverick said. "Where are they?"

"GID readings are faint. Looks like... the sewer system," came the response.

"It's fucking disgusting down here," Anthony groaned. "I can smell it through my damn helmet."

"C'mon, Carmine!" Cole laughed. "Little bit of this is good for ya! Builds your immune system!"

"Yeah, it also builds disease," Baird muttered. "Delta-Two out."

"No way," Dom said quietly.

"Sucks to be them," Marcus added.

The squad stepped into the next room, their boots echoing softly against the floor. At the center of the space was a massive metal grate, its bars offering a view of the level below. Suddenly, footsteps rang out beneath them. Peering through the grate, they spotted familiar figures—Baird, Cole, and Anthony—moving below.

"Hi, boys," Marcus said with a smirk.

"I can smell you three a mile away," Dom added, grinning.

"Screw you, man," Baird snapped. "Get down here and see how much you like it! There's room for one more. It's a fucking party down here."

"Nah, I think we're good," Maverick replied. "Hey, Anthony. You doing alright?"

"Yeah," Anthony called back. "Other than the terrible smell, I'm all good. Baird is hella annoying though."

"Keep moving," Marcus ordered. "We'll see you at the carts."

Baird, Cole, and Anthony continued down the pipelines as the rest of the squad advanced along the catwalk above.

"Can we please just leave?" the Stranded whined.

"No," Marcus said bluntly. "We've got work to do."

"Please! If we stay here, they'll kill us for sure!"

"Relax, will ya?" Dom muttered.

"You relax! You Gears all suck—bunch of bloodthirsty, fascist pigs!"

The words barely left his mouth before Maverick snapped. In a blur, he grabbed the Stranded by the throat, hoisting him off the ground like he weighed nothing. The man's breath caught as his feet kicked in the air, helpless. Maverick didn't just slam him into the wall—he drove him into it, the impact rattling the catwalk. Dust and rust shook loose from the ceiling as the Stranded clawed at Maverick's grip, panic overtaking him.

Maverick leaned in close, his voice low and venomous.

"You listen, and you listen well, you spineless little shit. Say that again—call us bloodthirsty fascist pigs one more goddamn time—and I will rip your fucking arm off and ram it so far down your throat you'll be shitting fingers for a week."

The Stranded whimpered, choking.

"You think we fight for fun?" Maverick snarled. "You think we enjoy bleeding so ungrateful cowards like you can scurry around in the dark, too weak to even fight for your own survival? My mother died for the COG, and I swear on her grave, I will not let a worthless rat like you spit on her sacrifice. So if you value your pathetic excuse of a life, you will shut your goddamn mouth. Do you understand me?"

The Stranded's face flushed red as he gasped for air.

"I—I understand! I swear!" he croaked.

Maverick held him there a moment longer, letting the fear sink in before cracking the ghost of a smirk.

"Good boy."

He dropped the man like garbage, letting him crumple to the ground in a coughing, gasping heap. The Stranded scrambled away, limbs shaking, and kept his distance. He didn't say another word.

Delta moved forward, descending to the lower level. The air reeked of old blood. A shattered floor, hastily covered with wooden planks, hinted at a violent past. The Stranded glanced at it, then at Maverick—then quickly looked away.

"If we cut through here, we'll be alright," he mumbled.

He cautiously stepped onto the wooden boards, his movements stiff and unsure. Suddenly, one of the boards splintered beneath him with a sharp crack. A panicked scream tore from his throat as he plummeted into the darkness below.

A split second later, guttural growls filled the space. Lambent Wretches swarmed the fallen Stranded, tearing into him with savage, feral hunger. His screams were brief—then silence.

"Well," Maverick muttered. "Saves me from killing him."

"You're a fucked-up man, Maverick," Dom said.

"I know," Maverick replied. "That's why Alex married me."

"Careful," Marcus warned. "We need to keep moving. Just watch your step."

They cautiously crossed the unstable floor, avoiding the weak planks. As they reached the next area, Maverick's eyes caught a glint of metal buried in the debris.

He crouched down, retrieving a set of COG tags from the bloodstained ground. Turning them over in his hand, he read the name etched into the metal.

"I'll make sure these get back to your family, Nektarios Lestrange," he said quietly.

The squad pushed forward, soon engaging in a brief but brutal skirmish with a few more Lambent Wretches. Delta dispatched them with lethal precision before regrouping and pressing on.

As Marcus led them down a dimly lit hallway, a Lambent Wretch lunged from the shadows, its glowing form streaking toward him. Before he could react, Maverick shoved him aside, his hidden blade snapping into place with a metallic hiss.

In one fluid motion, Maverick decapitated the creature. The headless body crumpled to the ground, and without hesitation, he followed up with a powerful kick, sending the corpse flying. It detonated mid-air in a blast of Emulsion—just far enough to spare the squad from the explosion. His blade retracted with a sharp click as he turned to Marcus.

"You're welcome," Maverick said with a smirk.

The trio pressed forward, their footsteps echoing in the heavy silence. Suddenly, the door at the far side of the room burst open with a loud crash. Instinctively, they raised their weapons—only to lower them as Cole, Baird, and Anthony stormed in, weapons ready but faces familiar. They were battered but still standing strong.

"Can't stop the train, baby!" Cole shouted with a laugh.

"You guys look good... ugh, smell good too," Dom said with a chuckle.

"I don't wanna hear it, man. Not a word," Baird muttered.

"Always knew shit would be your color, Princess," Maverick quipped.

Baird flipped him off without missing a beat, grumbling under his breath. Maverick just chuckled and kept moving.

"What about the Resonator, Cole?" Marcus asked. "Still in one piece?"

"You know it," Cole grinned. "The train is a smooth ride."

Maverick strode over to the control wheel, gripping it tightly before turning it with deliberate force. The metal groaned in protest as the heavy gates began to rise. As the gap widened, Dom's eyes flicked toward the shadows—something had moved.

"I saw something," he muttered.

"Up high!" Baird shouted, his eyes catching a flicker of motion.

"Cart control room's that way!" Maverick called out, raising his weapon.

Before anyone could react, Lambent Wretches shrieked as they dropped from the ceiling, their glowing bodies casting eerie light across the chamber. Marcus and Maverick opened fire first, their rifles barking in tandem. The squad surged forward, laying waste to the oncoming wave with relentless gunfire.

Dom reached the next door and delivered a hard kick. It didn't budge. More Wretches screeched behind them, closing in.

"It won't open!" Dom shouted.

"Jack! Rip the door!" Marcus ordered.

Jack decloaked with a soft whir and zipped toward the lock, torch flaring to life. The squad kept their weapons up, nerves on edge.

Then, from the far side of the room, came a new sound—the grinding clatter of machinery. They turned just in time to see an elevator descending. Its rusted metal cage rattled under the weight of something massive.

"Boomer!" Anthony shouted.

"Boom!"

Maverick calmly loaded his Torque Bow and leveled it at the towering Boomer. With a precise shot, the explosive arrow struck dead center, detonating on impact and sending the massive creature crashing to the ground. Without missing a beat, he reloaded and fired two more arrows in rapid succession. Both found their marks, erupting in fiery explosions that obliterated two nearby Drones.

For a moment, Delta Squad stood in stunned silence, barely able to process the sheer speed and efficiency with which Maverick had handled the Torque Bow.

"Damn," Dom muttered.

"Oh, look at me, I'm a big Locust with a big boom stick," Maverick mocked in a low voice. Then, with a snort, he added, "You're pathetic, you know that."

Marcus shook off his surprise and pointed forward. "Let's move, Delta."

They pushed forward and reached the cart control room.

"Control, this is Delta. We're at the cart control room," Marcus reported over comms.

"Copy that, Delta," came the response.

"Everybody, grab some ammo," Marcus ordered, activating the carts.

Dom glanced at the rest of the team. "Man, you shitheads need to get in your own carts. No way am I standing next to you."

"What?" Cole said, confused.

"Let's just get this over with," Baird muttered.

The team climbed into their mine carts, bracing themselves as the doors creaked open. The carts rumbled forward, rolling over rivers of glowing Emulsion. Along the way, waves of Locust ambushed them, forcing a brutal onslaught of nonstop firefights. Their weapons blazed, cutting through the enemy forces until the carts finally screeched to a halt at the end of the line.

As Maverick and Marcus climbed out, a distant yell caught their attention. They turned just in time to see another cart barreling down the track at full speed. It slammed into Maverick's cart with a thunderous crash, sending Baird flying through the air. He landed awkwardly in Marcus's cart before quickly scrambling out, shaking his head.

"Oh, that was fun," Baird muttered.

"It was," Maverick said with a quiet laugh.

"Control, this is Delta. Do you read?" Marcus asked.

"I copy. You're almost there. The drilling platform is straight ahead in the core room."

"You guys hear that?" Marcus said.

"Yup," Dom answered.

"Can we get this shit over with?" Anthony groaned. "My legs are killing me."

The two squads advanced toward the core room, clearing out a few Lambent Wretches along the way.

"Control, this is Delta," Marcus called. "We've entered the core room."

"Stand by, Delta. I'm raising the platforms for you."

"While my sister does that," Maverick said, "let's check our ammo and weapons."

"And why would we do that?" Baird snapped.

Before Maverick could respond, a Boomshot round screamed past them, narrowly missing both him and Baird. The explosive shell detonated behind them, forcing them to dive for cover as the wall blew apart in a deafening eruption. Shrapnel and dust rained down as the rest of the squad scrambled into position.

"You were wondering why, Princess? That's why!" Maverick shouted over the blast.

"I get it! Hop off my fucking dick, you cocksucker!" Baird barked back.

Springing to their feet, Baird and Maverick unleashed a punishing barrage on the advancing Boomer. Marcus quickly joined them, firing with controlled precision. Across the catwalk, Cole, Dom, and Anthony hammered another Boomer with suppressing fire, whittling it down with heavy rounds.

"Keep me covered!" Maverick yelled.

But he didn't wait.

With a raw, guttural roar, Maverick vaulted over cover and charged straight for the Boomer. Bullets zipped past him, but he didn't slow. He slammed into the creature like a battering ram, the sheer impact knocking it off balance. It staggered, then crashed backward in a seismic thud.

But Maverick wasn't finished.

He pounced, landing on the downed Locust with brutal force. His first punch shattered the Boomer's nose with a wet crunch. The second caved in part of its skull. The third, fourth, and fifth followed without pause—his fists a blur of violent fury.

His screams echoed through the chamber as he pummelled the Boomer's head into a mangled ruin. Blood coated his hands, splattered across his face and chest. He didn't stop. Fists slammed again and again and again until the skull gave way with a grotesque pop—bone and brain matter spraying across the catwalk in pulpy chunks.

Still straddling the body, Maverick sat hunched over, his chest heaving. His breath came in uneven bursts, like a predator that hadn't finished feeding. Slowly, he wiped a bloodied hand across his armor, then stood.

Without a word, he drove his boot into what was left of the Boomer's face. The corpse rolled from the platform, vanishing into the dark abyss below.

Marcus and Baird climbed onto the platform beside him, weapons still raised. Across the way, Cole, Anthony, and Dom regrouped on the adjacent platform, keeping their area secured.

"You gonna be alright, Mav?" Marcus asked.

Maverick didn't answer. His eyes stayed locked on the void where the Boomer had fallen. His face was unreadable—stone-like—as silence settled over him.

"Control, this is Delta," Marcus said into his comm. "We're on the drilling platforms."

"Copy that. Sending the platforms down now. Once you're in the mine, you'll need to find the pumping station and plant the Resonator. Get it done before dawn—you don't want to be there when the Kryll come back."

"Copy that, Anya. We'll probably lose contact, so we'll hear from you soon." Marcus replied.

"Copy that. Keep safe down there."