"Help me understand why we didn't know that there's a colony nearby!" demanded Commander In. "I've sent four people there! Just four people!"

Doctor Puey tried calming down the frantic lady in front of her. "Commander, we believe that this is an unintentional colony that was recently built."

"Unintentional?"

Doctor Puey showed a map. "You see, we started with the Cleansing operation from outside to inside. After doing bombings on these cities, the 'outside' cities, we believe that the remaining Evens from those places grouped together. And as we continue 'inwards', they are getting cornered until they all squeezed in the last place that we're going to Cleanse today, which is the Jeoswa Village."

Commander In placed her arms on the table and massaged her temples. "I don't care about what you're saying. All I care is how are we going to save those people? Your bombs don't seem to be working!"

Doctor Puey swallowed a lump in his throat. "Those are still prototypes, Commander. But if your concern is their safety, they just have to get out of that village and they will be safe."

"With that number of Evens, they can just easily pass the Retter barriers, doctor."

"Yes, Commander. That is truly correct. However, in case you have forgotten, the cities outside the village are already Cleansed. The after-effect of the Retter Bombs we used is strong that Evens won't dare going out Jeoswa."

Commander In's face lit up. "Are you saying that there's still hope? Troop C can still survive?"

"Yes, Commander. They just have to get out of the village."

"Dispatch four motorcycles to Jeoswa now!" said Commander In. "Get there as fast as you can!"

She looked around the area and saw Jane, an older lady, and the mother of the kid who's holding a tissue now on her nose.

Commander In wanted to approach them and tell them that everything will be alright, that everything is under control.

But she knows she'll be lying.

She knows that it will only take a miracle for Troop C to survive that massive amount of Evens.

---

Everyone's starting to get exhausted now. The running is already taking its toll on them. The boosters won't work if the human body is also tired.

But they can't stop now. Stopping would mean the end of them.

"Conan, can you hear me?" asked Commander In.

"Yes, Commander!" Conan shouted while running.

"You'll just have to get past the gate and you'll be safe."

Conan's eyes searched for the gate which is still about 3 kilometers away from them. "B-but Commander --"

"That's your only chance to live."

Conan looked at Zee and Yam who heard the conversation too. Kim doesn't have any idea as she doesn't have her radio anymore. "Roger that, Commander."

"Please relay it to your Captain as well. Over and out."

"Captain!" called Zee. "Commander In says that we just have to get past the gate and we'll be safe!"

Kim immediately searched for the gate. "But it's too far!"

"She says that's our only hope!" added Yam.

Kim held onto Katrien tighter now. "Okay! Let's aim for the exit!"

It wasn't a smooth run. As expected, apart from the herd of Evens running after them from the back, there are Evens popping out of nowhere, attacking them too. Conan, Yam, and Zee aren't killing them anymore. Instead, they are just pushing the Evens away.

The goal is just to get past the gate and that's what they are going to do.

"Oh my gosh!" Yam looked behind and noticed that the herd is almost reaching them now. "Run faster, guys!"

"Easier said than done, Yam!" said Zee.

"We don't have a choice, do we?" retorted Yam.

"Vroom! Vroom!"

The troop was surprised when they saw a red Ford Mustang entered the village's gate in haste. The car is running towards them.

"Is that reinforcement?" asked Conan.

"I don't know. But I have a feeling that it's here to help us," said Kim.

Katrien lifted her head and looked at the car. "Daddy..."

Kim's eyes widened. "W-what?"

The kid pointed at the car approaching them. "Daddy's car..."

"The Evens will still be able to catch up with us even if we ride that car," said Yam.

Kim stared at the car and noticed that it's not speeding down. "I don't think he's here to pick us up..."

The car went past them, and into the herd of Evens. The driver keeps on stepping on the gas repeatedly so the engine would make a sound and vibration that will distract the Evens.

This was an effective move because the Evens started chasing the car while it drives around the village.

The troop stopped for a bit when they realized what is happening.

"That's insane. The Evens will eventually catch up with him," said Zee.

"He's doing that because he wants us to get out of the village! Let's continue, guys!" said Kim, her eyes fixed at the gate. "There's no time to waste!"

"Daddy!!!" Katrien cried, stretching out her hand to her daddy's direction.

Kim felt hurt at the sound of the cry, but she has no choice now. Her priority is to save the kid. Even just the kid.

"I'm sorry, sweetie. I'm so sorry..." Kim whispered.

The car continued running around the village, with the Evens following it until Troop C finally reached the gate. They climbed in immediately into the GAZ Tiger armored vehicle they used. Zee is still the driver. Conan sat in front while Kim, Katrien, and Yam at the back.

Zee immediately started the engine and started driving away from that place.

"Daddy..." Katrien continued crying, her eyes focused at the window.

Kim looked at the window and saw that the car is already being held up by the Evens. She knew it won't take too soon before they kill him.

Then she looked again at Katrien who's crying hard now. She hugged the kid in her chest so the kid won't see what's going to happen next. The kid's frame is shaking hard against Kim's body.

"Daddy... daddy... daddy..."

Yam gave Kim an apologetic look. They know they couldn't do anything.

Kim rubbed her hands at the back of the kid who's already wetting her suit with her tears.

Then a memory flashed on her mind.

She remembered the day her dad died, how it happened. She remembered the last look on her dad's face before he ran away. She remembered the sight of her dad's floating body on the river.

She remembered the pain.

She looked at Katrien, then to the window. The car is still somewhat running but the Evens are starting to corner it now.

Kim took a deep breath.

There's still hope.

She felt her heart started beating fast. This always happens whenever she gets the urge to save someone.

Kim placed the kid on her lap. "Sweetie, listen to me..."

"Daddy.."

"Shhh... look at me... listen to me..."

Katrien stared at her, eyes puffy.

"Whatever happens today, promise me you'll take care of mom when you grow up, okay?"

The kid looked at Kim with questioning eyes.

"Could you promise me that, Katie?"

Katrien nodded. "I... I pwomise..."

"Good girl." Kim kissed the kid on the forehead and handed her over to Yam. "Cover her eyes, will you?"

Yam hesitantly took the kid. "What? Why, Cap?"

Kim is getting more nervous now more than ever. Her breathing's already irregular.

"Cap, something wrong?"

Kim just shook her head. Her mind's already been fogged by the images of her dead dad. She looked at Katrien one last time, tears flowing down her cheeks.

And without saying another word, Kim jumped out of the vehicle.