Chapter 11 - The Rescue in the Smoke
Thick, blinding gray smoke filled the underground chamber within seconds, accompanied by the chaotic sounds of shouting and automatic gunfire echoing from the tunnel entrance. The mercenaries stumbled backward, coughing violently as the thermal-obscuring smoke grenade Officer Davis had provided earlier finally detonated in full force.
"Get down!" a familiar voice roared through the haze.
Officer Miller materialized out of the smoke like a ghost, grabbing Leo by the collar and jerking him down behind a massive fallen concrete slab. Right behind him came Officer Davis, pushing the blue wheelchair with astonishing speed despite the treacherous terrain.
"Are you guys okay?" Davis shouted over the din of distant gunfire.
"Mom's having contractions! We need a doctor, now!" Leo yelled back, coughing from the thick chemical smoke filling his lungs.
Miller fired three controlled shots down the obscured tunnel to keep the mercenaries pinned back, then turned his attention to the open floor compartment beneath the blue wheelchair.
"The transit core has been exposed," Miller said urgently, eyeing the glowing blue indicator lights blinking inside the open carbon-fiber chassis. "If those men saw the active interface, they know the core is primed for upload."
"I don't care about the core!" Leo screamed, his emotions finally boiling over as he looked at his mother, who was gripping the armrests in agonizing pain. "She is bleeding! The baby is coming right now! Help her!"
Officer Davis dropped his weapon to his side, his tough exterior instantly melting away into deep compassion. He rushed to the side of the blue wheelchair, gently taking the mother’s hand.
"Listen to me," Davis said softly, his voice steady and reassuring. "There’s an old maintenance infirmary fifty yards past that rubble pile. It was built during the Cold War. It has medical supplies, a sterile cot, everything we need. Can you hold on for fifty more yards?"
His mother nodded weakly, her eyes closed as she bit down on her lip. "I... I can try. Just move the chair."
Miller reloaded his service pistol with practiced speed, scanning the smoke-filled corridor behind them where the sounds of the mercenaries clearing the debris were growing closer by the second.
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"We have less than two minutes before they flank us," Miller warned, standing up and motioning for Davis and Leo to move. "Move out! Move!"
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