FANG V2 Compound – Inside the Control Room
Mike, Johnny, and Tory had made it inside the compound, but the cost of their progress was apparent. Johnny's ribs were bruised, Tory's arm was bleeding from a graze, and Mike could feel the sharp, painful throb in his shoulder—wounds that would slow them down, but not stop them. Not today.
They sprinted through the hallways, the distant rumble of Erebus shaking the ground beneath their feet. Every second counted. Kessler had already started her final phase. If they didn't get to the control room and shut down the compound's systems, they'd all be dead.
"Get to the control room," Mike ordered, his voice grim but steady.
Johnny looked over his shoulder, his face hard. "Any surprises waiting for us?"
Mike didn't answer. He couldn't. The truth was, they had no idea what Kessler had in store. But he'd learned long ago that surviving was all about keeping the fight on your terms.
Germany – FANG V2 Compound – Control Room
Kessler watched the trio through the security feeds, her face twisted in a mix of amusement and irritation. She had underestimated them, but that mistake was coming to an end. She turned to her technician.
"Activate the final lockdown. Lock all exits. Seal every door. No one leaves. We finish this now."
The technician nodded and began typing furiously on the console, initiating the lockdown sequence. The compound groaned as metal doors slammed shut, trapping the three intruders inside. Kessler's gaze remained cold, calculating. They had gotten too far, but they weren't going to finish it. Not with Erebus still alive.
The countdown began.
"Phase Five initiated. Prepare for termination," Kessler murmured to herself.
FANG V2 Compound – Hallway
Mike slammed through a door, narrowly dodging a burst of machine gunfire from a turret hidden in the hallway above them. It missed, but the ricochet hit a nearby wall, sending dust and debris flying.
Johnny was the first to push forward, his movements swift and precise. "We're almost there," he growled, his eyes sharp with focus.
Tory, still favoring her wounded arm, gritted her teeth and pushed forward as well. "Then let's make sure we finish it."
As they neared the central control room, they heard the distinct thud of footsteps—the heavy, mechanical march of Erebus coming for them. Mike's pulse quickened. They were running out of time.
"Get to the door. NOW!" Mike barked, his voice cutting through the tension.
FANG V2 Compound – Control Room
Inside the control room, Kessler could feel the air growing thick with anticipation. The lockdown was complete. All exits were sealed. Her plan was almost in motion.
The intercom buzzed, and Kessler's voice echoed through the hallways. "Mike Harris. Johnny Lawrence. Tory Nichols. You have no escape."
She turned back to her screen, her fingers dancing over the console to initiate the final sequence. She watched as her creation, Erebus, approached the trio in real-time, a weapon designed to end this. She had no doubt it would.
Kessler's lips curled into a smile. "This is where it ends."
FANG V2 Compound – Hallway
The hallway ahead was lined with steel walls and flashing warning lights. There was no turning back now. They had made it to the final door—the control room. Mike could feel the pressure in his chest, the weight of every second ticking away.
He slammed his palm against the door's sensor, triggering the mechanism, but the door didn't open. It was locked down from the inside.
"Dammit!" Mike cursed under his breath. He pulled back, his mind racing. The lockdown. Kessler had sealed the room.
Johnny, looking around, saw a ventilation shaft above them. He pointed. "We go up."
Mike followed his gaze. "No time for stealth, Johnny. We need that door open."
Tory gritted her teeth. "I'll handle it." She stepped forward and placed her hand on the locked door's panel. Her eyes flared with determination. "It's wired, but I can override it. Just keep Erebus off me."
Before Mike could respond, a massive crash echoed from the hallway behind them. Erebus had arrived. The ground shook with each of its steps as it neared.
"Move!" Mike shouted.
Johnny and Tory rushed forward to the nearest cover, and Mike turned to face the oncoming monstrosity.
Erebus was upon them, its glowing red eyes locked onto Mike. The massive, machine-like creature swung its fist at him, aiming for his head. Mike dove to the side, narrowly avoiding the crushing blow. The force of the punch left a crater in the concrete floor where he had just been standing.
"Come on, Mike!" Johnny yelled from behind cover, his voice desperate.
Mike gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet. He rushed at Erebus, using its own momentum against it. He ducked under its swing, getting close enough to land a quick, punishing punch to its exposed side. The machine staggered but quickly retaliated, its arm sweeping through the air and sending Mike crashing into the wall.
He coughed, pain flaring through his body, but he knew he couldn't stop now. He staggered to his feet again, pushing through the agony.
Tory, working quickly at the control panel, shouted, "I've got it! Just hold him off a little longer!"
Mike nodded through gritted teeth, barely able to keep his focus. He was barely standing, but his will was stronger than ever. With every ounce of strength, he dodged another strike from Erebus, knowing it was only a matter of time before Tory would finish what they started.
Finally, with one last push, Tory hit the final key. The door to the control room slid open with a mechanical whine.
"GO!" she screamed.
Mike barely spared a glance at the door before launching himself at Erebus one last time. With a desperate cry, he aimed for the creature's neck, striking it at the weak point he'd identified earlier. Erebus staggered back, its movements slowing, then freezing entirely as Mike's final strike disabled its systems.
"Now!" Mike shouted, as he collapsed to the ground, breath ragged.
Johnny rushed forward, pulling him into the control room. Tory quickly followed.
FANG V2 Compound – Control Room
Inside the control room, Mike barely managed to stay on his feet. Kessler's calm, emotionless voice came through the intercom. "You think you've won, don't you? You've only scratched the surface."
Mike's eyes locked onto the main console, his hand trembling as he reached for the system's shutdown controls.
"Shut it down!" Johnny growled.
With everything he had left, Mike hit the shutdown button.
The compound rumbled again, and then, the lights flickered and died. The hum of the machines stopped.
Kessler's voice, distorted and full of venom, echoed over the speakers, but the system was failing, cutting her off mid-sentence.
Mike let out a breath of relief. They had done it.
------
The final showdown with Erebus has ended, and Mike's team has made it to the control room. With Kessler's plans finally put to rest, they have one final chance to escape. But what lies ahead now that the compound has fallen silent? Will the truth of Kessler's twisted experiments be uncovered, or will they disappear into the shadows forever? The answers are still out there.