The Questioner System (Ask Me Anything)

Chapter 41: Whispers in the Dark

The cabin was silent except for the occasional creak of wood as the group settled in. Outside, the forest loomed like a living entity, its nocturnal sounds filling the air. Victor sat at the table, sharpening his knife with slow, deliberate strokes. Marcus leaned against the door, his rifle resting beside him, while Lex tinkered with her tablet, her face illuminated by its faint glow.

Adam sat on the edge of his cot, staring at the floor. His body was exhausted, but his mind wouldn't stop racing. The questions he had for the system churned in his thoughts, but with only three allowed each day, he couldn't waste them. He glanced at Victor, who was still focused on his blade.

"How long do you think we have until Nexus finds this place?" Adam asked, his voice breaking the heavy silence.

Victor looked up briefly. "Not long. We've bought ourselves a few hours at best. By dawn, we need to be gone."

Lex sighed, setting her tablet down. "And where exactly are we going? Another depot to blow up? Another patrol to dodge?"

Victor didn't respond immediately, his gaze hardening. "We need a bigger target—something that will force Nexus to pull back. Hitting supply chains isn't enough anymore."

Marcus snorted. "Oh sure, let's just march into Verdan's headquarters and ask him nicely to stop."

Adam frowned, the mention of Verdan's name sending a chill down his spine. The man had become a phantom in their lives—a presence that loomed over every decision, every mission.

"System," Adam whispered, "where is Verdan right now?"

Adam exhaled sharply. He didn't need the system to tell him how impossible it was to face Verdan directly. Still, the thought of letting him continue unchecked gnawed at him.

Lex leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable. "We don't need to take out Verdan yet. We just need to make him bleed. Hard enough that he has to look over his shoulder."

Victor nodded slowly. "That's where we're headed. Zone Gamma has a Nexus facility rumored to house experimental tech. If we take it out, it'll hurt them more than a hundred depots."

Marcus raised an eyebrow. "Experimental tech? Sounds like a death trap."

"Most likely," Victor said. "That's why we'll need help."

Adam looked up, surprised. "From who?"

Victor's lips pressed into a thin line. "The Crimson Fang."

The name hung in the air like a ghost. Adam could feel the unease ripple through the group.

"The Crimson Fang?" Marcus said, his tone laced with disbelief. "You want to work with a bunch of mercenaries? Those guys are criminals, not freedom fighters."

"They're not freedom fighters," Victor admitted. "But they hate Nexus as much as we do, and they have resources we don't."

Lex frowned. "Resources like what? Guns? Drones? Or just a knack for stabbing people in the back?"

Victor's jaw tightened. "They have intelligence on Zone Gamma. They've been hitting Nexus outposts for months. If we're going to pull this off, we need their data."

Adam hesitated, the weight of Victor's words sinking in. He didn't trust the idea of working with mercenaries, but he also knew they didn't have many options.

"System," Adam whispered, "what's the likelihood of the Crimson Fang cooperating with us?"

Adam relayed the information. Lex leaned forward, her arms crossed. "Fifty-eight percent isn't exactly reassuring."

"It's better than zero," Victor said. "We make contact at their last known location. If they're willing to talk, we take it from there."

"And if they're not?" Marcus asked.

Victor's expression darkened. "Then we improvise."

The group rested in uneasy silence. The hours crept by, the cabin's dim light giving way to the faint glow of dawn filtering through the trees. Victor woke them just as the first rays of sunlight touched the forest floor.

"We move now," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The journey to the Crimson Fang's territory took them deeper into the wilderness, where the forest grew wilder and less forgiving. Vines hung like curtains between the trees, and the ground became treacherous with roots and hidden ditches.

By mid-morning, they reached a clearing where the remnants of a Nexus convoy lay in ruins. Trucks were overturned and burned, their metal skeletons twisted and blackened. Bullet casings littered the ground, and the faint smell of smoke still lingered.

"Looks like the Fang's work," Victor said, scanning the wreckage.

Adam's stomach churned at the sight. "They don't mess around."

"No," Victor said. "They don't."

They found the Crimson Fang's camp nestled in a ravine, hidden from prying eyes. Makeshift barricades of scrap metal and salvaged parts lined the entrance, and guards armed to the teeth stood watch. The group approached cautiously, hands raised to show they meant no harm.

One of the guards, a burly man with a scar running across his jaw, stepped forward. "State your business."

Victor met the man's gaze evenly. "We're here to talk. We need to speak with your leader."

The guard snorted. "And why would they want to talk to you?"

"Because we're the ones who just blew up the Nexus depot in Sector Delta," Victor said.

The guard's eyes narrowed. He gestured for another sentry to take over before disappearing into the camp. Minutes later, he returned.

"Follow me," he said gruffly.

The leader of the Crimson Fang was a wiry woman with a commanding presence. Her hair was cropped short, and her sharp eyes missed nothing as she studied the group.

"You've got guts walking in here," she said, her voice calm but dangerous. "So, what do you want?"

Victor didn't flinch. "We want to take down Nexus. You have data on Zone Gamma. We can help you hit it harder than you ever have before."

The woman leaned back in her chair, her lips curving into a sly smile. "And what's in it for you?"

Victor's tone was steady. "The same thing that's in it for you: a chance to bring Nexus to its knees."

She considered this for a moment, then glanced at her second-in-command. "Bring me the maps."

Adam felt a flicker of hope. The Fang might be rough around the edges, but they were a force to be reckoned with. If they could work together, Nexus wouldn't stand a chance.