Page 100 of Rescuing Ally: Part 2

“Thought so.” Halo flicks a switch. The drones blink to life—engines whining, wings flexing, sensors pulsing with predatory intent.

The swarm awakens.

I exhale hard. The sight of those drones—vengeful metal angels—sends fresh adrenaline flooding my system. My anger shifts, refocusing on Malfor and finding Ally.

“As you know, Collins pulled together a team of scientists for a Trojan horse project—some of you pulled guard duty, if I remember right.” Ghost’s voice drops low, charged with dark electricity.

“Yeah.” Rigel grunts. “We didn’t think it was done.”

“It is. Those little stingers are full of it. Live, locked, and loaded.” Ghost juts his chin toward the drones now vanishing into darkness. “They’ll map the facility, locate your women, and infect Malfor’s entire nanobot network at the source.”

“This swarm isn’t just recon—it’s a kill switch?” The brilliance of it hits me in waves.

“You catch on quick.” Ghost’s smirk sharpens to a blade edge. “This Trojan horse doesn’t just get us in. It burns his system to the ground from the inside out. We’re not just saving your women. We’re destroying everything that sick bastard built.”

The swarm hum fades, but something inside me surges hotter—relentless, electric, impossible to extinguish. Vengeance taking flight.

Time to end this.

“The bees are weaponized?” Walt’s eyes widen.

“They carry a nano payload.” Halo taps the case. “Once the hive releases, it finds the primary node Malfor’s network uses to route updates. The Trojan horse piggybacks from there.”

“Like a virus.” Understanding clicks into place. “It’ll look like a regular update to the system, but once it’s in…”

“It corrupts everything.” Whisper speaks for the first time. His voice sounds oddly gentle for a man bristling with enough firepower to level a village. “Malfor’s nanobots will tear themselves apart.”

“We didn’t know it was finished.” Hank’s voice roughens. “Didn’t know how it was going in.”

“You do now.” Ghost’s eyes flick to mine.

The hum starts before we see movement—soft, electric. The swarm lifts and slips into the night through the cave mouth. I watch them disappear, knowing these tiny machines carry not just the hope of finding the women, but also of destroying Malfor’s empire.

“Once they’re inside, they’ll start mapping.” Brass checks a tablet screen. “They won’t last long. Malfor’s resident nanobots will identify and neutralize them quickly.”

“But not before they deliver the payload.” Ghost rubs his stubbled jaw.

“That’s all well and good.” Ethan gestures to our soaked, tattered gear. “But we lost everything in the crash. Our clothes are probably infested with nanobots already.”

“Not likely.” Ghost jerks his chin toward the pilots. “They EMP’d everything before going down.”

The pilots nod in confirmation. Another round of crucial information they kept to themselves.

“That three-mile swim was good punishment for keeping that quiet.” Carter laughs without humor. “Look at them—exhausted.”

“Brought you boys some party favors.” Ghost kicks a stack of waterproof bags I hadn’t noticed before. “Clean gear. No nanobot infestation. Full tactical kits, helmets, headsets, ballistic vests, body armor, new boots, dry socks.”

Brass tosses a box toward Blake. “MREs. Three thousand calories each. Swimming through three miles of ocean tends to burn through your reserves.”

Blake tears into the packaging like a starving wolf. “Chili mac. Jackpot.”

“Trade you for my beef stew.” Walt already has his MRE open and eyes Blake’s meal with naked envy.

“Not a chance.” Blake clutches his MRE protectively. “I pulled this fair and square.”

“Jalapeño cheese spread?” Rigel dangles the packet. “Prime trade material right here.”

“Done.” Walt snatches it instantly, surrendering his M&Ms without hesitation.