The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 38: The Calm Before the Storm

The forest felt like a sanctuary after the tension of Zone Alpha. The hum of insects and the rustling of leaves replaced the sharp crack of gunfire and the mechanical buzz of surveillance drones. Adam, Victor, and Marcus pressed deeper into the woods, putting as much distance between themselves and the enemy base as possible.

When they finally stopped to rest, the first light of dawn was breaking through the trees. Victor scanned the area with practiced eyes, then nodded. "We'll camp here for a few hours. We need to review the data before moving forward."

Adam sank onto a fallen log, his muscles aching from the night's exertions. He glanced at Marcus, who flopped onto the ground with a groan.

"That was intense," Marcus said, running a hand through his hair. "I don't think my heart's stopped racing since we got inside that base."

Victor gave a small smile. "You did well. Both of you."

Adam felt a surge of pride at the compliment but quickly tamped it down. There was still too much to do, too many questions unanswered.

"Victor," he said, "what's the plan now? We have the data, but what do we do with it?"

Victor pulled the portable drive from his pocket and held it up. "We find out what's on here. If the system is right, this could give us the edge we need."

Victor connected the drive to his rugged laptop, its screen casting a pale glow in the dim forest light. Adam and Marcus gathered around as lines of code and schematics began to fill the screen.

"System," Adam whispered, "analyze the data. What's the most important information here?"

Victor's eyebrows rose as the schematics appeared on the screen. "This is more detailed than I expected. We've got a full layout of Zone Alpha, including the weak points."

Marcus leaned closer, his eyes scanning the map. "Look at this. There's a storage depot here, and another here. What do you think they're keeping in there?"

"Supplies, most likely," Victor said. "Weapons, equipment—maybe even intel on their other operations."

Adam pointed to a section of the map marked with faint red lines. "What about this? It looks like a secondary power source."

Victor nodded. "Good catch. If we hit that, we could shut down their entire grid. No power means no surveillance, no alarms, and no reinforcements."

Marcus grinned. "I like the sound of that. So what's the plan? Are we going back in?"

Victor hesitated, his gaze shifting to Adam. "Not yet. We need more information before we make our next move. Adam, can the system help us prioritize targets?"

Adam nodded and focused on the system.

"System," he said, "what's the most strategic target to hit next?"

Victor's expression hardened. "The power source it is, then. But we'll need to be careful. If they catch on to what we're doing, they'll tighten security even more."

The group spent the next few hours refining their plan, using the data to identify the safest routes and potential obstacles. As the sun climbed higher, Victor finally called for a break.

"Get some rest," he said. "We'll move out this evening."

Adam lay back against a tree, exhaustion tugging at his eyelids. But even as sleep threatened to claim him, his mind buzzed with questions.

"System," he whispered, "what's the likelihood of success if we follow this plan?"

"Yes," Adam murmured.

Adam frowned. The system's suggestions made sense, but implementing them would take time—time they might not have.

"System," he asked, "do we have enough time to prepare and still act before the enemy recovers from the relay attack?"

Adam nodded to himself. They had a narrow window, but it was doable.

By the time evening rolled around, the group was back on their feet, their plan honed and their determination renewed. Adam couldn't help but feel a mixture of anxiety and excitement.

As they began their journey toward the power source, Victor fell into step beside him.

"You're handling this well," Victor said quietly. "Most people would've cracked under the pressure by now."

Adam gave a small smile. "I don't think I've had time to crack. There's too much to do."

Victor chuckled. "Fair enough. Just remember to trust your instincts. And if the system gives you any warnings, don't hesitate to speak up."

"I won't," Adam promised.

The trek to the power source was uneventful at first, the forest offering a comforting shield. But as they drew closer to their destination, the atmosphere grew tense.

"System," Adam whispered, "are there any hostiles nearby?"

Adam relayed the information to Victor, who frowned. "We'll need to get closer to assess their movements. Stay low and keep quiet."

They crept toward the power station, the faint hum of generators growing louder with each step. The building itself was small but heavily guarded, with two sentries posted at the entrance and two more patrolling the area.

Victor motioned for them to stop, his eyes narrowing as he studied the guards. "We'll need to take them out quietly. Marcus, you handle the patrolling guards. Adam and I will deal with the ones at the entrance."

Marcus grinned. "Stealthy it is."

The operation went smoothly at first. Marcus disappeared into the shadows, his movements swift and silent. Victor and Adam approached the entrance, their footsteps barely making a sound.

Adam's heart pounded as he raised his weapon, his hands trembling slightly.

"System," he whispered, "any advice?"

Taking a deep breath, Adam steadied his aim and fired. The guard crumpled silently, and Victor dispatched the second sentry with ease.

By the time Marcus rejoined them, the area was secure.

"Not bad, rookie," Marcus said with a grin.

Adam managed a small smile, his adrenaline still coursing through him.

Inside the power station, Victor quickly located the control panel. He began setting charges while Marcus kept watch.

"System," Adam whispered, "how much time do we have before someone notices the guards are gone?"

"Victor," Adam said urgently, "we've got less than twelve minutes."

Victor nodded, his hands moving faster. "Almost done. Get ready to move."

As the charges were set, the group retreated into the forest, their pace quick but controlled. The explosion, when it came, was even louder than the one at the relay.

Smoke and fire billowed into the sky, and the lights of Zone Alpha flickered before plunging into darkness.

Victor turned to Adam, a rare smile on his face. "That's two wins in a row. Let's see how long they can hold out without power."

Adam felt a surge of satisfaction. For the first time, it felt like they were truly turning the tide.