GREEN RAGE AND RED RAGE

The night thickened around them as Jester and Luther moved swiftly through the industrial ruins of Ferrovale's outskirts. The hum of approaching drones grew louder, a sinister chorus echoing through the empty streets. Every step felt heavier, every shadow seemed alive with threat.

"Okay," Jester panted, flipping his blades in his hands like a showman, "running's not my style, but I'll admit: this is getting a little too hot for comfort."

Luther glanced at him, his glowing green eyes cutting through the darkness. "We can't outrun them. Too many."

"Yeah, I figured," Jester said, stopping to catch his breath. He looked around, his keen eyes scanning for an opportunity. Then his gaze landed on a nearby steel mill, its skeletal remains jutting into the sky like jagged teeth. "What do you say, big guy? Fancy a home-field advantage?"

Luther followed his line of sight, his massive frame still as he considered the idea. "We... can make a stand there."

Jester clapped him on the shoulder, wincing slightly at the solid muscle beneath. "Now you're talking! Let's give our mechanical friends a warm welcome."

---

The steel mill was a labyrinth of rusted machinery and crumbling walkways. Luther moved with a predator's grace, his massive frame blending into the shadows. Jester, on the other hand, darted about like a mischievous fox, setting traps with whatever scraps he could find.

"Explosive barrels? Check. Loose girders? Double-check. Questionable structural integrity?" Jester glanced at the sagging beams overhead. "Oh yeah, we're in business."

Luther crouched behind a pile of debris, his claws flexing as he listened to the approaching hum. "They're close."

Jester joined him, crouching low and grinning beneath his mask. "You know, for a guy who doesn't talk much, you've got a knack for understatement."

Luther growled softly, but the corners of his mouth twitched—an almost imperceptible smile.

The first drone entered the mill, its red eyes sweeping the darkness. Behind it came another, then another, until the air was thick with the hum of their engines. They moved with calculated precision, their sensors scanning every corner.

Jester leaned closer to Luther. "Wait for it... wait..."

A loud metallic clang echoed through the mill as one of the drones triggered a tripwire. A massive steel beam swung down from the rafters, smashing into the machine and sending it crashing to the ground. Sparks flew as its twisted remains twitched, its red eyes dimming.

"Now!" Jester shouted, leaping into action.

He dashed toward the nearest drone, his blades a blur as they carved through its legs. The machine crumpled, but another one swooped down from above, firing a volley of plasma bolts. Jester ducked and rolled, coming up behind a stack of barrels.

"Luther! Little help here?"

Luther responded with a guttural roar, charging into the fray. He grabbed one drone mid-air, slamming it into another with bone-crushing force. The resulting explosion lit up the mill, casting flickering shadows on the walls.

Despite their initial success, more drones poured into the mill, their numbers overwhelming. For every one they destroyed, two more seemed to take its place.

"We can't hold them off forever!" Jester called, narrowly avoiding a blast that singed his cloak.

Luther didn't answer, his focus entirely on the fight. He tore through the machines with savage efficiency, his claws leaving trails of sparks in their wake. But even he was beginning to tire, his movements slowing as the relentless assault continued.

Jester's eyes darted to the center of the mill, where a massive support column held up the decaying structure. A wicked grin spread across his face.

"Big guy! You trust me?"

Luther glanced at him, his glowing eyes narrowing. "What... are you planning?"

Jester didn't wait for a response. He sprinted toward the column, dodging plasma bolts and swiping claws. Reaching into his belt, he pulled out a small explosive device—one of the many "souvenirs" he'd picked up along the way.

"Cover me!" he shouted, attaching the device to the column.

Luther roared, throwing himself between Jester and the advancing drones. He took hit after hit, his green scales scorched but unyielding.

Jester set the timer, his fingers moving with practiced ease. "Alright, boys, time to vacate the premises!"

The timer began to beep, counting down from thirty seconds. Jester grabbed Luther's arm, pulling him toward the exit.

"Move, move, move!"

Luther hesitated for a fraction of a second, his gaze lingering on the remaining drones. Then he nodded, turning and following Jester out of the mill.

They burst through the entrance just as the timer hit zero. The explosion was deafening, a fiery blast that consumed the entire mill. The ground shook as the structure collapsed in on itself, burying the drones under tons of rubble.

Jester turned to watch the destruction, hands on his hips. "Now that's what I call a dramatic exit."

Luther stood beside him, breathing heavily. "You're... reckless."

"Guilty as charged," Jester replied with a bow. "But admit it, you had fun."

Luther didn't respond, but the faintest hint of a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

---

Far away, in the same shadowy command center, the mysterious figure watched the scene unfold on the monitors. They leaned back in their chair, steepling their fingers.

"They're more resourceful than I expected," the figure murmured. "But no matter. They can't run forever."

The screens flickered, showing a new location marked in red—a heavily fortified facility surrounded by endless wilderness.

"Let's see how they handle the next stage."

---

To be continued...