RETALI8ION: The Cobalt Code by Amber Neko Meador Page A

more angrily repeated the hand signal, as the intruders reached the opening.
    The Enforcers quickly spotted Regina and Thomas, and raised their weapons to fire.  Regina watched for a short second, to see that Thomas had started running away. 
    "Run, Thomas," she whispered, as her dearest friend disappeared back through the doorway he had come in.  Satisfied that Thomas would not be caught in the Enforcer's fire, she closed her eyes, and waited for the explosion of gunfire.
    Regina listened as a second explosion rocked the ceiling above her, and the gunshots rang out.  This was followed by the sound of bullets breaking hard against metal and concrete.
    “Move!” Amina shouted.
    Regina looked up.  Standing between her and the Enforcers was Amina in her armored suit.
    “I said RUN!” Amina shouted again.
    With no time to think, Regina simply reacted.  She got to her feet and started sprinting down the hallway.  A second later she heard the metallic footstep of Amina's armored suit behind her.  The sound of bullets had yet to cease, and they were now being accompanied by heavy-booted running.
    “Head to the sewer exit," Amina said, as she pointed one of the suit's guns behind her and fired three quick rounds. 
    "What about the others?" Regina yelled back. 
    "Yosha and Artemis have already left.  Grendal went with them, but they'll be covering that exit now.  So we have to take the backup exit,” Amina shouted.
    “Thank you,” Regina shouted as she exited the hallway and took a left, going past the dive platform.  She could see the small fires and sparks coming from the rigs, and smell the melting electronics inside as she passed.
    “Thank me if we live,” Amina shouted as she continued to keep pace behind Regina.
    Regina smashed into the next doorway, forcing it open as she went, and ignoring the pain that was starting to build in her chest.  For the first time since seeing Amina appear before her, she started thinking that she might actually see Thomas again.
    Two seconds later she heard Amina start tearing through the narrow doorway behind her.  She kept running though, she knew Amina would catch up quickly once she got through.  As she turned the last corner of her escape path, she saw two Enforcers coming towards her position from the sewer elevator.  With instinct driving her motions, she dropped into a slide, as bullets flew above her.  She landed near a crate, and rolled behind it as more bullets found their way to her.
    "Fuck," she cried, as bullets continued to rip through the crate.  She glanced towards the hallway she'd just exited, and Amina was tearing through as fast she could, but it would still take her a bit longer to work the large armored suit through.
    Regina reached as fast as she could to her belt, and pulled out a small laser pistol.  But the hail of bullets still had her pinned down, and the crate was quickly being torn through.  She couldn't move, she could only wait, and hope Amina made it through the hallway faster than the bullets made their way through the crate.
    A bullet cut through the crate and tore through Regina's right upper arm.
    Regina let out a scream in pain, as bullets shredded the air near her.
    "Here," came Thomas's voice in Regina's headset.
    Regina heard a guttural growl, followed by one of the Enforcers screaming in fright.  As the bullets stopped flying, Regina heard the wet squishy sounds of flesh being torn.  Regina gripped her pistol tight.  She knew the second Enforcer would already be training his weapon on Thomas, and she couldn't let that happen.
    Regina leapt from behind what was left of the crate.  But, she hadn't needed to worry.  A half second scream was all the second Enforcer was able to get out before the large outstretched metallic hand of Amina's armored suit crushed the life from him.
    “Get in the hog!” Amina yelled, as she burst the rest of the way into the room from the passageway.
    Regina glanced at Thomas, who was still