After securing the junker, blowing up the gas station, and rescuing Cole, Baird, and Anthony from a relentless onslaught of Grubs and Kryll, Delta Squad pressed on. Their journey led them into the dense forest, the canopy above casting eerie shadows as they moved cautiously through the underbrush, ever alert for the next threat.

As Marcus steered the vehicle through the forest, Maverick’s sharp eyes caught a faint glow emanating from the trees. Narrowing his gaze, he leaned slightly to get a better look, his instincts kicking in as the eerie light flickered among the shadows.

Baird: "The fuck are you doing?".

Maverick: "Thought I saw something".

Suddenly, a deafening explosion rocked the air, jolting the squad. Dom whipped around, his eyes widening as he saw flames erupting from the rear of the junker, smoke billowing into the night sky.

Dom: "Hold up!".

Marcus hits the breaks, and they step off the Junker comes down as they exit.

Marcus: "Okay, Delta-- looks like we're walking".

Baird: "Are you kidding me?".

Maverick: "Oh quit bitching blondie".

Marcus: [gets on comms] "Control, this is Delta Squad. Our vehicle is DOA, and we're now on foot. Please advise".

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

Marcus: [nods] "Affirmative".

Baird: [looks back at Junker, shakes head] "Stupid Junker. Piece of shit!".

Dom: "Can you fix it?".

Cole: [smirks] "Baird can fix anything, man. He just needs the right parts".

Maverick: [smirks] "Is an off and on switch for his mouth too much?".

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

Dom: "What was that?".

Marcus: [gets on comms] "Control. We've got what looks like glowin' Wretches out here".

"Copy that. We've had reports of Lambent Wretches before. Possibly due to direct Imulsion exposure. Be advised. They are extremely, volatile".

Anthony: "Uglier than the regular ones too".

Maverick: [smirks] "Nah, Baird is uglier".

Baird: "Fuck you, asshole".

Cole: "What the hell does 'lambent' mean?

Baird: "Means they glow in the dark"

Cole: "Hell yeah, they do".

Delta approaches a large door as Marcus and Dom try to saw and kick it open.

Baird: "Open that door, will ya?".

Maverick: [rolls eyes] "How about instead of bitching you give it a damn try or is that too much for you princess?".

Baird goes to respond but Marcus interrupts before he could.

Marcus: "It's locked".

Dom: "Just get Jack to open it".

Jack decloaks getting ready to cut it.

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

Jack whirs sadly and Maverick pats his head before he cloaks again.

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

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

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

Cole: [salutes] "Yes, sir!".

Baird: [nods left] "Come on, guys. Let's move".

Marcus, Dom and Maverick head right.

Dom: "Damn, Marcus".

Marcus: [shrugs] "He'll get over it".

Another Lambent Wretch runs by and jumps up the wall.

Dom: "Did you guys see that?".

Marcus: "Yep, kinda wish I hadn't".

A wretch drops down and makes a screech that attracted more of them, to this Maverick pulls out his dual Gorgon pistols.

Maverick: [cracks neck] "Let's do this".

The trio fired relentlessly at the Lambent Wretches, each creature collapsing into a grotesque pile of glowing yellow slime as it was taken down. Maverick lined up his shot on the last Wretch, pulling the trigger and causing it to explode in a violent burst of emulsion. The viscous substance surged toward him in a glowing wave, but Maverick reacted quickly, leaping out of the way just in time to avoid the searing liquid.

Maverick: "Nice try, I ain't getting that shit on me, God knows what will happen".

The trio come up on the elevator and get in.

Dom: "You guys know that nobody's been underground in years, right?".

Marcus: [nods] "I know".

Dom: "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--".

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

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

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

Maverick: "Several years ago before I got thrown in prison".

Dom: "Shit man, must be hard on you".

Maverick remained silent, a fleeting look of sadness crossing his face. For a moment, it seemed as though the weight of unspoken memories lingered, but he quickly shook it off, replacing it with his signature smirk. Without a word, Marcus climbed through a shattered window, the glass crunching softly underfoot. Dom and Maverick followed closely behind, their focus shifting back to the task at hand.

Marcus: [taps comm] "Baird, Cole, Anthony. We're in".

Baird: "What took you so long? We've been here for at least two minutes".

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

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

Maverick: [taps comm] "Sounds like you should feel right at home, princess".

Baird: "Suck my nuts, asshole".

Maverick: "Aw, I always figured you were gay for me, princess~".

Marcus interrupts the two before Baird can reply to Maverick's teasing.

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

Baird: [teases ominously] "Watch out for the Boogeyman"

Maverick: "I knew you had a heart to warn us princess but you're in the basement, he'd definitely come for you first". [laughs eerily]

[A/N: 17-23 seconds]

A chill ran through every member of Delta as Maverick’s unsettling laugh echoed through the hallway, sending an involuntary shiver down their spines. The team pressed forward, stepping into a room that reeked of death. Mangled bodies lay scattered across the floor, and blood was smeared across the walls in grotesque patterns. Maverick scanned the carnage, his expression hardening as he shook his head, the grim scene speaking volumes without a word.

Maverick: "Fucking hell, did three fingers and his brothers come to visit?".

Baird: "Hey! I think I got it!".

Marcus: "Yeah, Baird. You did".

Dom: "Yeah, turn 'em off, willya?".

Baird: [confused] "Huh? What?".

Maverick: "Don't worry about it. Dom is 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 hit the wall, narrowly missing the trio. Instinctively, they raised their weapons, aiming directly at the Stranded, their eyes sharp.

Marcus: "Cease fire!".

The Stranded drops his gun and holds up his hands.

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

Dipshit: "Finally!" [Sigh in relief] "The rescue team!".

Dom: "What are you doing in here?".

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

Marcus: [steps forward] "We're looking for the cart control room. Where is it?".

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

Maverick: "How about you help us unlock it".

Dipshit: "Who, me? Aren't we leaving?".

Marcus: "Not yet. Come on". [taps comm] "This is Delta-One. Still proceeding as planned. But we have a stranded with us".

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

Maverick: "Who cares right now, we've gotta set off the Resonator, look for one later".

The squad reached the door, and the dipshit nervously punched in the key-code, the panel beeping as the lock disengaged. As Delta-One and their reluctant companion stepped into the room, a low, guttural growling echoed from the vents above. The unmistakable sound of Lambent Wretches sent a wave of tension through the group.

Marcus: [taps comm] "Delta-Two, come in. Watch the vents".

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

Maverick: [taps comm] "Hey, sis. Where are they?".

"GID readings are faint. Looks like... The sewer system?".

Anthony: [groans] "It's fucking disgusting down here, I can smell it through my damn helmet".

Cole: [laughs] "C'mon Carmine! Little bit of this is good for ya! Builds your immune system!".

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

Dom: "No way".

Marcus: "Sucks to be them".

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, the sound of footsteps reached their ears. Peering down through the grate, they spotted familiar figures—Baird, Cole, and Anthony—moving beneath them.

Marcus: [smirks] "Hi boys".

Dom: [chuckles] "I can smell you three a mile away".

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

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

Anthony: "Yeah, other than the terrible smell I'm all good. Baird is hella annoying though".

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

Baird, Cole and Anthony continue down the pipelines as the quad then enters the next room along the catwalk.

Dipshit: "Can we please just leave".

Marcus: "No. We've got work to do".

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

Dom: "Relax, will ya?".

Dipshit: "You relax! You Gears all suck. Bunch of bloodthirsty, fascist pigs!".

Maverick’s patience snapped, and without hesitation, he grabbed the Stranded by the throat, lifting him effortlessly off the ground. He slammed him against the wall, the impact echoing through the room. The Stranded gasped for air, his hands clawing at Maverick’s wrist, sheer terror reflecting in his wide, panicked eyes.

Maverick: "You’re going to listen, and you’re going to listen well. If you call us bloodthirsty fascist pigs again, I swear I’ll rip your arm out of its socket and shove it down your goddamn throat. I won’t stand for you disrespecting the people who fight and die to protect ungrateful cowards like you—people who can’t even lift a finger to save their own sorry asses. My mother died fighting for the COG, and I’ll be damned if I let you tarnish her legacy with your bullshit. So, if I were you, and you value your pathetic life, I’d shut the hell up. Do you understand me, dipshit?"

The Stranded gasped for air, struggling to breathe, but Maverick tightened his grip, his hand like a vice around the man's throat.

Dipshit: [chokes slightly] "I understand, I promise!".

Maverick: "Good boy".

Maverick released his grip, letting the Stranded drop to the ground. The man collapsed, gulping down air in desperate gasps as he scrambled to his feet. Without a word, he started walking again, careful to keep his distance from Maverick, clearly wary of provoking the imposing Gear further. The group continued their descent, eventually reaching a lower level. There, they were met with a grisly sight: a bloodstained floor partially concealed by hastily placed wooden boards, the scene hinting at a violent past.

Dipshit: "If we cut through here, we'll be alright".

The Stranded cautiously stepped across the wooden boards, his movements tense and unsteady. Suddenly, one of the boards splintered beneath him with a loud crack. He let out a panicked scream as he plummeted into the darkness below. The sound of his cry was quickly drowned out by the guttural growls of Wretches swarming him. The creatures descended upon him in a frenzy, tearing into him with savage ferocity as his screams were replaced by chilling silence.

Maverick: "Well... Saves me from killing him".

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

Maverick: "I know, that's why Alex married me".

Marcus: "Careful! We need to keep moving. Just watch your step".

The trio cautiously made their way across the unstable boards, their steps deliberate to avoid the same fate as the Stranded. As they reached the next area, Maverick's sharp eyes caught a glint of metal among the debris. He bent down, retrieving a set of COG tags from the bloodstained ground. Turning them over in his hand, he paused for a moment of reflection before reading the name etched into the tags aloud, his voice steady but laced with solemnity.

Maverick: "I'll make sure these get back to your family Nektarios Lestrange".

The trio had a brief but intense skirmish with a few more Lambent Wretches, dispatching them with precision and regrouping quickly.

As Marcus led them down a dimly lit hallway, a Lambent Wretch suddenly lunged from the shadows, its glowing form aimed directly at him. Before Marcus could react, Maverick shoved him aside, his hidden blade snapping into place with a metallic hiss. In one swift motion, Maverick decapitated the Wretch, its headless body collapsing to the floor. He followed up with a forceful kick, sending the corpse flying away just as it exploded, sparing the group from being showered in its volatile emulsion. Maverick straightened, his blade retracting with a sharp click as he glanced back at Marcus. "You're welcome," he muttered with a smirk.

Maverick: "Piece of shit".

The trio entered the next room, their steps echoing in the tense silence. Suddenly, the door on the far side of the room burst open with a loud crash, drawing their attention. To their relief, Cole, Baird, and Anthony emerged from the doorway, their weapons at the ready, looking equally battle-worn but determined.

Cole: [laughs] "Can't stop the train, baby!".

Dom: "You guys look good". [chuckles] "Ugh, smell good, too".

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

Maverick: [smirks] "I always knew shit would be your colour, Princess".

Baird flips Maverick off with the mentioned chuckling under his breath.

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

Cole: "You know it! The train is a smooth ride".

Maverick strode over to the wheel and began turning it with deliberate effort, the metal groaning as the heavy gates slowly lifted. As the gate rose higher, Dom’s eyes caught a flicker of movement in the shadows—a shape scampering away into the darkness.

Dom: "I saw something".

Baird: [looks up] "Up high!".

Maverick: "Cart control room is that way!".

Lambent Wretches screeched as they dropped from above, their glowing forms illuminated in the dim light. Marcus and Maverick opened fire, their weapons barking as they picked off the Wretches with precision. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad sprinted toward the door, carving a path through the Locust with bursts of fire from their Lancers.

Reaching the door, Dom gave it a forceful kick, but it didn’t budge. He stepped back, frustration etched on his face, as the battle raged on behind them.

Dom: "It won't open!".

Marcus: "Jack! Rip the door!".

Jack decloaked with a faint hum, quickly getting to work on the lock. The group remained on edge, their weapons ready, when the faint sound of machinery drew their attention. They turned to see an elevator descending, the metal cage creaking under its weight.

Anthony: "Boomer!".

"Boom!".

Maverick calmly loaded his Torque Bow, taking aim at the towering Boomer. With a precise shot, the explosive arrow struck its target, detonating on impact and bringing the massive creature down. Without missing a beat, he reloaded in one fluid motion, firing two more arrows in rapid succession. Both found their marks, obliterating the two drones in quick, fiery explosions.

Delta Squad stood momentarily stunned, their disbelief evident at the sheer speed and efficiency with which Maverick handled the Torque bow

Dom: "Damn".

Maverick: [mocking] "Oh look at me, I'm a big Locust with a big boom stick". [regular voice] "You're pathetic you know that".

Marcus: [shakes out of his surprise] "Let's move, Delta".

Delta makes it to the cart control room.

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

"Copy that, Delta".

Marcus: "Everybody, grab some ammo".

Marcus activates the carts.

Dom: "Man, you shitheads need to get in your own carts. No way am I standing next to you".

Cole: "What?".

Baird: "Let's just get this over with".

The team climbed into their mine carts, bracing themselves as the doors creaked open. The carts rumbled forward, carrying them over rivers of glowing emulsion. Along the way, they battled waves of Locust, their weapons blazing as they fought to keep the tracks clear. Eventually, they reached the end of the line, the carts screeching to a halt.

As Maverick and Marcus climbed out of their carts, a distant yell caught their attention. They turned just in time to see another cart hurtling down the track at breakneck 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 to join Maverick and Marcus.

Baird: [shakes head] "Oh, that was fun".

Maverick: "It definitely was". [laughs quietly]

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

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

Marcus: "You guys hear that?".

Dom: "Yup".

Anthony: "Can we get this shit over with, my legs are killing me".

The two trios make their way to the core room but not without dealing with a few Lambent Wretches.

Marcus: [taps comm] "Control, this is Delta. We've entered the core room".

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

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

Baird: "And why would we do that?"

Before Maverick could respond, a Boomshot round whistled past, narrowly missing him and Baird. The explosive sailed between the two Gears, forcing them to dive for cover as it smashed into the wall behind them, erupting in a deafening explosion. Shrapnel and debris flew in all directions as the rest of the squad quickly followed their lead, taking cover to avoid the deadly blast.

Maverick: "You were wondering why, Princess. That's why!".

Baird: "I get it, hop off my fucking dick you, cocksucker!"

Baird and Maverick sprang to their feet, unleashing a relentless barrage of fire on the Boomer in front of them. Marcus quickly joined in, his shots precise and controlled. Meanwhile, on the opposite catwalk, Cole, Dom, and Anthony engaged another Boomer, their combined firepower tearing into the hulking Locust as they worked to bring it down.

Maverick: "Keep me covered".

Maverick burst out from cover, sprinting full force toward the Boomer. With a thunderous impact, he slammed his shoulder into the massive creature, driving it backward in a brutal spear tackle. The Boomer hit the ground with a heavy thud, and Maverick wasted no time. Climbing on top of it, he unleashed a flurry of punches, each blow fueled by raw fury. His rage-filled cry echoed through the air as his relentless strikes battered the Boomer’s head, leaving no chance for the creature to recover.

After a relentless minute of pounding, the Boomer’s head finally gave way, exploding into a gruesome spray of blood and brain matter. Maverick stood, his chest heaving, and wiped his hand on his armor before delivering a powerful kick to the lifeless body. The Boomer’s corpse toppled over the edge of the platform, disappearing into the abyss below.

Marcus and Baird climbed onto the platform beside him, their weapons at the ready. Across the way, Cole, Anthony, and Dom secured their own platform, regrouping.

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

Maverick remained silent, his gaze fixed on the void where the Boomer's body had disappeared. He didn’t respond, lost in thought as he stared down at the spot, the weight of the moment etched on his face.

Marcus: "Control, this is Delta. 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 get back".

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

"Copy that, keep safe down there".

Chapter done, if you've got any questions let me know and I'll try and reply to them and while I'm at I might as well ask you some myself.

°What was your favourite part of this chapter?

°Why do you think Maverick let out an anger filled roar while beating down the Boomer?

°Was their anything you'd change about the chapter?