Gabrielle nodded, her throat going dry, and grasped the rifle awkwardly in both hands. She squinted over the rim of the windscreen.

Up ahead, just on this side of the containment field, she saw a figure climbing into a truck just a moment before it moved to block their way.

Megan didnt even slow down.

Wait, protested Gabrielle. You cant

No choice, Megan grunted, swerving at the very last second, aiming for the narrowing gap between the truck and the tunnel wall.

They almost made it. Almost.

Gabrielle shrieked, twisting to one side to try and protect her belly and the child within. Megan sideswiped the other vehicle, and they came to a sudden halt that propelled them both forward in their restraints. The other truck had jammed them up against the wall.

Gabrielle glanced at the driver of the other vehicle, now visible in his cabin. He looked in worse shape than either of them. The front of his vehicle had crumpled up from the impact, while blood oozed from his forehead. He slumped to one side even as she watched, and it looked as if he was having trouble breathing.

I need you to go through to the back and unstrap Bash, shouted Megan. Leave the rifle with me. Were going the rest of the way on foot.

Gabrielle got herself free of her seat and climbed back through the hatch, dropping down into the rear compartment and quickly unbuckling Bash. If hed suffered as a result of the impact, she had no way of telling. She got the side door open and guided him outside to where Megan was already waiting, staring back down the slope with the rifle in her hands.

Bash isnt dressed for the cold, warned Gabrielle, as they guided him towards the containment field. He could freeze to death in minutes.

Once were through the field, we can get to the dropship in a minute flat, said Megan. Maybe even less. So come on.

The temperature indeed plummeted sharply the moment they passed through the containment field. It was snowing outside, great drifts of it building up beyond the cave entrance. Bash instantly tensed up, his eyes looking wide and startled above his disposable mask. They both tugged him onwards, one on either side, until he began to walk faster, his whole frame trembling from the terrible, debilitating cold.

They were halfway to the dropship when they heard shouts from behind them.

Keep him moving! yelled Megan. Were nearly there!

Up ahead, a man appeared from around one of the dropships stanchions. He aimed a rifle at them, and immediately a shot echoed through the frozen air.

Get inside as fast as you can! yelled Megan, dropping to one knee and aiming her rifle. And keep your goddamn head down!