Kira sprinted towards the police station, her heart pounding with hope and desperation. The sight of the helicopter approaching had filled her with a blinding hope for rescue. She pushed herself harder, every muscle straining, completely oblivious to the danger that lurked behind her. The rumble of the helicopters began to fade into the distance, making her quicken her pace even more.

After what felt like an eternity, the police station finally came into view. Kira's eyes widened with relief as she saw the helicopter parked on the helipad atop the building. "Yes, finally!" she gasped, slowing down to catch her breath, her legs trembling with exhaustion and excitement.

But as the adrenaline rush subsided, a strange feeling began to creep over her. She glanced around nervously, her instincts suddenly on high alert. Then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed movement. Her breath caught in her throat as she turned to look up at the second floor of a building next to her.

There it was, the giant monkey, its eyes burning with a predatory glint. It was poised, ready to pounce.

“Oh, shit,” Kira whispered, her voice barely audible as fear tightened its grip on her chest. She took a cautious step back, her mind racing to think of a plan.

The monkey let out a low growl, its muscles tensing as it prepared to leap.

“Come on, you ugly fuck,” Kira muttered to herself, raising her rifle, her hands shaking. She knew this was going to be a fight for her life. The monkey's eyes narrowed, and with a deafening roar, it lunged toward her.

Kira took a deep breath and squeezed the trigger, her rifle's muzzle flashing as she aimed straight at the giant monkey's chest. The bullet struck, but to her horror, it merely grazed the surface, failing to penetrate the creature's thick skin.

"Damn it!" she cursed, quickly adjusting her aim to the monkey's head. But the beast was faster, raising a massive hand to shield its face. The next shot struck its hand, causing it to snarl in pain but barely slowing it down.

"God damn it!! Are you a super monkey or what?" Kira muttered, momentarily stunned by the beast's resilience. She had no time to waste; she turned and sprinted towards the police station once more, her legs pumping furiously. Despite her adrenaline-fueled speed, she knew she was no match for the monkey's brute force and agility.

Desperation gripped her as she darted between the abandoned cars littering the street, hoping to use them as obstacles to slow the beast. She zigzagged through the maze of vehicles, while dodging the monkey’s attacks, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The police station loomed closer, a beacon of hope amidst the chaos.

Just when she thought she might not make it, she spotted the soldiers. Armed to the teeth and surrounded by military vehicles with machine guns, they looked like her salvation.

"Help! Over here!" Kira shouted, her voice hoarse with exhaustion.

But her relief was short-lived. With a powerful leap, the monkey landed in front of her, its massive form blocking her path completely. Kira skidded to a halt, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Out of the way, you ugly shit!" she yelled, raising her rifle once more.

The monkey bared its teeth, its eyes locked onto hers. It seemed to understand her defiance, its growl echoing through the deserted streets.

"Ma’am, get down!" one of the soldiers shouted from behind the monkey, his voice carrying the authority of someone used to command.

Kira dropped to the ground just as a barrage of gunfire erupted from the soldiers' weapons. Bullets tore through the air, striking the monkey from all directions. The creature roared in pain and fury, its attention momentarily diverted from Kira.

"Move, Ma’am, now!" another soldier yelled, gesturing frantically.

Kira scrambled to her feet, her body screaming in protest, and sprinted towards the police station. The soldiers continued to lay down suppressive fire, buying her precious seconds to reach safety.

She stumbled through the station's entrance, gasping for breath, and turned to see the soldiers advancing on the wounded monkey. It was a chaotic scene of survival, but for now, she was safe.

"Thank you," Kira breathed, her voice trembling with relief. "Thank you."

"We've got you," the lead soldier said, nodding firmly. "You're safe now. Let's get you inside and debriefed. The Captain is expecting you, Ma’am"

She nodded, her mind still reeling from the harrowing encounter.

She was still catching her breath when a soldier handed her a bottle of water. She chugged it down gratefully, the cool liquid soothing her parched throat. Before she could even take a moment to rest, two soldiers approached her with purpose.

"Lieutenant Winters," one of them said, snapping to attention. "I'm Private Ramos, and this is Private Brook."

Kira blinked in surprise. It had been a while since anyone had addressed her by her former rank. "At ease, soldiers," she replied, slipping back into the authoritative tone of her military days. "What's the situation?"

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"Follow us, ma'am. The Captain will brief you inside," Private Brook said, gesturing for her to follow.

They led her into the sanctuary where she saw Vicky seated in front of a stern-looking commander. Three soldiers stood on guard, two by the windows and one by the door, their eyes alert for any signs of danger.

She stepped forward and saluted sharply. "Lieutenant Winters reporting, sir.”

The commander returned the salute with a nod. "At ease, Lieutenant. Take a seat."

Kira lowered herself into a chair beside Vicky, who immediately handed her a protein bar. "Here, eat this. You must be starving," Vicky said, her eyes filled with concern.

She unwrapped the protein bar and took a bite, glancing at Captain Harris, who gave her a nod of encouragement. As she chewed the dense, tasteless food providing much-needed energy, the Captain spoke up.

"I'm Captain Frank Namec," he introduced himself formally, his voice steady and authoritative. "I'm in charge of this operation. We've been tasked with locating and evacuating survivors, as well as gathering any vital intelligence we can find."

Vicky looked up from her seat, her eyes wary but curious. "Captain, what’s the plan now?"

Captain Namec didn't waste time on small talk. "We need all the help we can get. Dr. Sinclair, your medical background and research skills are invaluable. We'd like to offer you a position as a researcher within our team."

Vicky blinked in surprise, her expression shifting from confusion to a cautious hope. "A researcher? You mean, like, studying these mutations?"

"Exactly," Namec confirmed. "We need to understand what's happening if we're going to stop it. Your expertise could save countless lives."

He then turned to Kira. "Lieutenant Winters, we'd like you to reprise your role as a lieutenant. Your combat experience and leadership are crucial to our mission's success."

Kira hesitated, the weight of the offer sinking in. "Sir, before I give you an answer, how did you find us?"

Captain Namec's eyes met hers, a flicker of admiration in his gaze. "Your phone. We tracked the last known location before the communication was cut. Plus, we have eyes everywhere—drones, surveillance, informants. We knew there were survivors here, and we had to get to you before it was too late."

Kira nodded slowly, the pieces falling into place. "And what’s the bigger picture here, Sir? What are we really up against?"

Namec's expression darkened. "The mutations are spreading faster than anticipated. We believe there's a central source, something causing these changes. Our job is to find it and eliminate it before it wipes us out."

Vicky leaned forward, her curiosity piqued. "Sir, I heard something about 'the Ark.' What is it exactly?"

Captain Namec's face lit up with a hint of pride. "The Ark is a colossal ship, a floating fortress if you will. It's where we're evacuating survivors to, a research facility, and our new military base. It’s equipped with everything we need to continue our fight and find a solution."

Vicky nodded thoughtfully. "A moving fortress... That sounds incredible." She paused, then looked at Kira, a newfound determination in her eyes. "I accept the offer, Sir."

Kira, however, shook her head. "I appreciate the offer, Captain, but my time in the war is long gone. I'm just a regular citizen of the Equinox Republic now."

Namec's eyes narrowed slightly. "Lieutenant, we need your skills. You're more than just a citizen; you're a soldier."

She remained firm. "No, Sir. I've done my part. I’m not going back."

In a sharp, unexpected move, Namec leaned forward, his voice low and dangerous. "HellHound, we need you."

Hearing that name, Kira's face darkened with a storm of emotions. Her voice turned dangerously low as she leaned forward, eyes locked onto the Captain. "Don't you ever call me that"

The tension was palpable, the guards' fingers twitching on their triggers. Vicky quickly stepped in, placing a calming hand on Kira’s shoulder. "Kira, you’re different now. You’ve changed. Let’s focus on what we can do together, here and now."

Kira's breathing slowed, her anger ebbing away under Vicky’s soothing words. The Captain, though visibly agitated, nodded in acknowledgment. "Alright, Lieutenant. I won’t invoke that name again.”

Just as they were about to return to the previous conversation, a soldier burst into the room, panting heavily. "Sir, patient zero is here!"

The words barely registered before a barrage of bullets sprayed the window, the glass holding firm but rattling violently. The Captain snapped into action. "Evacuation protocol, now! Everyone, move!"

Kira grabbed Vicky's hand, pulling her towards the exit as the soldiers scrambled into action. "Stay close to me, Vicky!”

As the chaos unfolded, Captain Namec turned to Kira with a grave expression. "Lieutenant Winters, I have a request. I need you to lead my soldiers. Ensure their safety. I won't engage Patient Zero directly; our priority is survival."

Kira's eyes narrowed as she assessed the situation. "Captain, you know what that means. Some of these men might need to stay behind to hold off the threat. There will be sacrifices."

Namec's face hardened, and he nodded solemnly. "Indeed."

She accepted the request, as deep down, she knew she could not let the soldiers be killed in vain.

Turning to Vicky, Kira's demeanor softened. "Vicky, listen to me, I have to go. But I'll meet you at the Ark. I promise."

Vicky's eyes filled with tears as she hugged Kira tightly. "Be safe, Kira. I'll be waiting for you."

They parted, Kira leading the soldiers towards the ground while Vicky followed Captain Namec to the rooftop. As Vicky ascended, she looked back one last time, worry etched across her face.

Suddenly, as Kira was strategizing with the soldiers, a radio crackled to life. A soldier's voice came through urgently. "Project HellHound is a go."

Kira's eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "What the hell is Project HellHound?"

Before she could react, a group of scientists appeared, carrying a metal suitcase. The lead scientist opened it, revealing an array of syringes. "Hold her down!" he barked.

Three soldiers grabbed Kira, restraining her despite her struggles. "Let me go! What are you doing?" she shouted, her voice filled with rage and confusion.

Ignoring her protests, the scientist quickly prepared a syringe. "This is for the greater good," he muttered, injecting the serum directly into Kira's spine.

Pain shot through Kira's body, her vision blurring as the serum took hold. She felt a surge of power, but it came with a sense of losing control. The world around her seemed to spin, the voices of the soldiers and scientists blending into a chaotic cacophony.