Finally, Otilia can relax a bit at the bar, with her friend Giacomo, the security team leader whom she had promised a round of drinks. The tension she had built up in recent weeks seems to fade for a moment as she takes a break from her rigorous training and community management duties in Rinascita.
"Something's not right," says Giacomo after taking a sip of a non-alcoholic drink, his expression turning serious.
"What do you mean?" asks Otilia, her gaze focused on her empty glass as she listens closely.
Giacomo sighs before responding, "I can't explain it, but there's unrest among the soldiers. Heated arguments, tensions. It doesn't seem as calm as it should be."
Otilia raises an eyebrow, concerned by these words. "I wouldn't know... Since I came back, I've been busy training the new recruits, so I haven't paid much attention to what's happening among the soldiers."
"It's as if there's a division into factions," continues Giacomo, now more troubled. "Lately, Major Katia has been gaining more and more support. The arguments are getting more heated, and there's disagreement with General Venturi."
Otilia bites her lower lip, lost in thought. "Is the situation that serious?"
Giacomo shakes his head slightly. "Not yet. But it feels like the calm before the storm."
While the two friends discuss the growing tension among the soldiers, the bar is filled with the sounds of diners, some of whom are trying to enjoy a break from their hard work, while others chat in groups or look out the windows overlooking the Rinascita base.
Suddenly, the tranquil atmosphere of the bar is shattered by a sharp, piercing sound. An emergency siren blares through the speakers, its shrill tone filling the room, and emergency red lights begin to flash frantically.
<
The reaction among the soldiers is immediate. Almost everyone in the bar stands up and rushes to their positions, armed, while others prepare to head to the prison to contain the emergency. Fear and adrenaline fill the air as the base is put on high alert.
However, not everyone seems to react the same way. A significant portion of those present remains still, confused, or disinterested. Otilia and Giacomo look at each other, puzzled by this unexpected reaction.
"This is strange," comments Otilia, trying to make sense of what's happening.
Giacomo nods, agreeing with her. "I can't understand what's going on. Security should be a priority for everyone."
"I need to go to the prison to see what's happening," says Otilia, determination in her eyes. "Gather a security team, Giacomo. We must prevent the escape of the raiders."
Giacomo nods, getting ready to gather members of his team.
Otilia takes command of the four-man squad and heads toward the elevator that should take them directly to the prison.
However, when they reach the elevator and try to use it, an unpleasant surprise awaits them. The elevator has been disabled, a clear sabotage. Otilia takes a deep breath, trying to remain calm as she confronts this new challenge.
"We'll have to use the stairs," she declares firmly. She knows that using the stairs will take a long time to reach the prison, but she has no other choice if she wants to prevent the raiders' escape.
Tension in the Rinascita base is at an all-time high as Otilia and her team prepare to climb the stairs toward an unknown danger.
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Gunshots echo in the prison's atrium, filling the air with a deafening roar. Michele and Saverio exchange fire, seeking cover behind columns and abandoned machinery. Bullets whiz through the air, creating a deadly dance of death.
Saverio angrily shouts, "SHOOT, BITCH! What are you waiting for?"
Filomena, visibly frightened, fires her rifle, but her aim is shaky, and the bullet misses Michele.
"You're just a useless whore!" taunts the raider.
Michele, from his hiding spot, intervenes, shouting, "Filomena, to the raiders, you're just an object!"
"And now it seems even sheep have found their voice. Do you really want to listen to him?" Saverio continues with disdain.
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Filomena, in the grip of panic, switches her rifle to automatic mode and begins firing uncontrollably. Bullets hit metal and electrical circuits, sparking and starting a small fire. The fire alarm in the base goes off, filling the area with shrill sounds and flashing red lights.
"You stupid whore, what the hell are you doing? I should've killed you when I had the chance!" Saverio yells, irritated by her reaction.
Filomena, transformed by fear and anger, yells, "I'm not a whore, you bald bastard!"
Saverio, trying to peek out from his hiding spot, is immediately hit by Filomena's bullets. The bullets hiss just inches from his head, and he remains safe but furious.
"DAMN IT!" he curses.
Michele, thinking that Filomena might have sided with them, decides to step out of his hiding spot. However, he is immediately targeted by Filomena's shots and has to retreat to cover.
"I'm not an object!" she screams, her voice filled with rage.
"ARE YOU CRAZY?! We have a chance to escape! Kill the boy!" Saverio orders.
"I don't take orders!" Filomena exclaims.
"Filomena, I'm not an enemy! I don't want to hurt you!" Michele pleads.
Filomena tries to shoot at Michele again, but her hands tremble uncontrollably, and the shot narrowly misses its target. It seems that something inside her is holding her back from pulling the trigger against Michele.
Michele raises his hands, trying to show that he's not a threat. "I know you're more than you seem. I've seen the suffering you hide behind that mask," he says calmly, trying to reassure her about his intentions.
"Who do you think you are? You think you can know me? Four words, and you think you can understand me? Ridiculous," Filomena responds, still full of anger. "I tricked you with four words, and you fell for it! Lower your ego, sheep!"
Saverio, impatient, yells, "Shoot him, you idiot, before he recovers!"
Filomena, terrified, shoots in Saverio's direction, ignoring his order. "Shut up! I don't take orders from you or anyone else!"
Saverio backs away, angry. "Then I'll do it. You're just a useless woman!"
"Don't move, or I'll shoot you, you son of a bitch!" Filomena hysterically yells.
"FUCK!" Saverio curses. "DAMN WHORE!"
Sudden cries from Otilia and Giacomo pierce the air as their group enters the prison's atrium. Otilia, with a pistol in hand, shouts, "Drop the weapon, Filomena!"
Terrified, Filomena quickly takes cover behind a column. In response, Otilia fires a warning shot.
Saverio, who had remained hidden until then, leans out and fires, wounding Otilia in the arm. Otilia's team rushes to her and takes her to safety.
Michele, taking advantage of the confusion, shoots Saverio, hitting him and making him cry out in pain.
"ARGHHHH!" Saverio screams, "Damn it! Now we're screwed, all because of you!"
Michele worries about Otilia and asks, "Otilia, are you okay?"
Otilia, clutching her injured arm, responds, "Michele, what are you doing here? Anyway, no, I'm not fine. He shot me in the arm."
Giacomo intervenes, "We need to bandage her. Cover me!" he orders the other members of the team.
Flames are rapidly spreading in the atrium, making the situation even more critical. Saverio, despite being wounded, tries to shoot from his hiding spot, but the fire is promptly returned by Otilia and Giacomo's soldiers. The situation is at a standstill.
Meanwhile, the fire suppression system activates, spraying water from the ceiling onto the flames. The room quickly fills with steam and smoke, further reducing visibility.
Taking advantage of the confusion, Saverio rushes toward Michele, catching him off guard. He points a gun at Michele's head, and Michele, forced to comply, drops his weapon to the ground.
"Now we're getting out of here. Any move, and I'll blow his head off," Saverio threatens.
"Let me go; you can't make it out of here alive," Michele shouts, disregarding his own life.
Saverio pushes the gun barrel harder against Michele's head, causing him pain.
"We'll see about that, kid. But rest assured, if you keep talking, you'll be the one to croak," the raider calmly responds.
"Michele!" Otilia cries.
Michele, unable to do anything against Saverio, is forced to remain still while the raider keeps the gun pointed at his head.
Saverio orders one of Otilia and Giacomo's soldiers, "You! Open the door! No tricks!"
"Shoot him; you can't let him escape!" Michele shouts, ignoring his own life.
"Shut up, boy," the raider warns, pressing the gun barrel harder against Michele's head.
"You're injured; you can't get far."
"SHUT UP, YOU FUCKING SHEEP!"
Filomena has a clear view despite the smoke. She could shoot Saverio in the back, freeing Michele. The absurd thing is that she's thinking about it. Betraying Saverio and betraying the Raiders. Or run away from here and return to hell? With some Ice, she could once again rid herself of these ugly thoughts and become a wolf.
Filomena, paralyzed by fear and indecision, watches the scene.
A strange-smelling gas begins to seep through the air vents. Despite not wanting to, Filomena breathes it in and gradually feels her senses abandon her. Is it a sedative gas?
Giacomo shouts in surprise, "Sedative gas!"
"I-I can't believe they're using it... We're inside..." Otilia says, feeling her strength leaving her.
Saverio, desperately trying to maintain his grip on Michele, realizes that the gas is starting to take effect. His strength fades, and eventually, everyone, including him, collapses to the ground, asleep.
After a few moments, a large armed team, wearing helmets with respirators, enters the prison. The team is led by Major Katia, a woman with cold, authoritarian eyes.
"Targets neutralized, Major," a soldier reports.
Katia approaches Michele's pistol, takes it, and then approaches Saverio's body. Without hesitation, she shoots Saverio in the head using Michele's pistol. Then, she tosses the pistol near Michele's body.
With a cold voice, she states, "Record: the foreigner Michele 324953 killed the escaped raider prisoner Saverio."
Fabio, one of the men accompanying the Major, asks, "Major, what do we do with the others? Giacomo 4891 is a supporter of General Venturi. Otilia 8876, on the other hand, might be pro-Venturi, but we're not sure."
"Lock them all up. We'll deal with them later," Katia orders firmly.
"Major, Bravo team has taken General Venturi into custody," another team member informs.
Katia smiles with satisfaction and decrees, "Excellent. Impose a curfew. No one enters or leaves Rinascita. The state of emergency will remain in effect until further notice."