Mars, July 15, 2027. 1030 Hours.
The Sumerer vault trembled, drones whirring like a storm of steel. John Mitchell led the charge, shard secured in Xiaotong’s pack. His voice was steady, commanding respect. “Zheng, lead us out. You’ve got the map.”
Xiaotong Zheng’s eyes gleamed, her brilliance on display—IQ over 150, sharp as a blade. Her science officer suit hugged her super figure, a big chest that turned heads but never overdone, captivating every male fan’s gaze. She traced the rune map, her sleek bun catching the rune-glow. “This way, Mitchell. Tunnels split ahead—left avoids the drones.”
Yuri Leonov blasted a drone, grinning. “Smart and pretty, Zheng. You’re killing me.”
“Focus, Leonov,” Xiaotong shot back, her tone teasing yet firm, a smirk playing on her lips. “Unless you want to be drone food.”
Rachel Voigt fired a flare, lighting the path. “Left it is. Move!”
Elias Moretti clutched his scanner, panting. “These tunnels—they’re a maze!”
Anika Sharma’s comms crackled. “Runes say ‘judgment follows.’ We’re not clear yet.”
Mitchell nodded to Xiaotong, his trust absolute. “You heard her, team. Left tunnel, double-time.”
Kenji Sato adjusted his headset, voice calm. “Outpost is tracking us. Dragon systems are back online.”
Li Wei chimed in. “Barely. That shard’s messing with the AI.”
Sarah Carter checked vitals. “We’re holding, but stress levels are high.”
Mikael Heikkinen’s voice cut through. “Ship’s prepped, Mitchell. Say the word.”
The ground shook, drones closing in. Xiaotong’s scanner beeped, her mind racing. “They’re adapting—faster than I thought. We’ve got three minutes!” Her figure moved with purpose, a vision of intellect and allure, driving the team forward.
Yuri chuckled, torch flaring. “Three minutes? I’ve had worse dates.”
Mitchell’s gaze was iron, focused on survival, not the past. “Stow it, Leonov. Zheng, keep us alive.”
Xiaotong flashed a confident smile, her beauty a beacon in the chaos. “Always, Commander.”
The tunnel opened to the surface, red sand swirling. The outpost loomed ahead, dragon motifs glowing. They’d made it—for now.