With swift movements, Tom slipped on his night- vision goggles. He had ventured so deep into that cold, dark tunnel that the daylight from the entrance was now a distant memory, offering no light to guide his way. He noticed another path branching off to the right. Without hesitation or overthinking , he shoce it. He was holding his weapon low but always on alert. His steps were steady and slow, cautious not to stumble on the uneven ground.


CRACK!


A sharp sound echoed through the tunnel, its resonance carrying far into the depths. Tom froze. His odds in that situation were slim.


“ A quick leap back. That’s all, Tom. Let’s go. “ the voice in his head urged, and he obeyed. With a swift jump, he retreated, then remained completely still. The crack echoed again! Calm and composed, Tom started stepping back slowly.


Suddenly, the ground beneath him crumbled and he was plunged into a freefall! His qun slipped from his grip and he made a desperate attempt to latch onto anything that could slow his descent. But as the speed of his fall increased, he realized his hope was slipping away- there was nothing to grab, nothing to stop the inevitable.


He landed with a painful thud on something solid, crying out as the impact sent him tumbling down a steep, snow-covered slope. The light ahead grew brighter as he skidded uncontrollably. His body was battered by the rough terrain and his face whipped by the cold wind. By the time his fall ended, he was sprawled out on his back, breathless on the snowy ground.


His gun landed beside him, as loyal as ever.


Tom pushed himself up, shaking the snow from his hair and checked for broken bones. Despite the searing pain coursing through his body. he was still feeling strong. He rose to his feet, collected his backpack, and then he saw them. Four tall figures, standing in formation. They wore gray, full-body suits with wires protruding from them. Their faces were hidden behind gray masks but their hair stood like crowns in high ponytails. They had him surrounded with their weapons trained on him – sleek, transparent guns with sharp, massive bullets in the chambers, aimed menacingly at him.


“ This wasn’t exactly how I planned to meet the Plersizians…but so be it…” he thought and his lips curved into a sly smile. Still, he knew what needed to be done. If there was a quicker way to reach the Plersizians headquarters, this was it – surrender.


He raised his hands high into the air.