Buster bursts into the ventilation shaft, red lights strobing over shaking metal. Ahead, the Teenager is pinned against a bulkhead by two hunters with rifles half-raised.
Behind Buster, the Hunter Captain squeezes through the breach. For one split second she looks relieved. Then she sees the Teenager and her face hardens.
A deep groan rolls through the shaft. Dust rains from the seams. One hunter flicks a glance to the ceiling, ready to trigger a collapse if Buster lunges.
Buster Jones
The Teenager is boxed in, and the shaft is failing fast.
Mara
Stand down, Buster. Move wrong, and this whole section comes down with them.
Leo
Buster, don’t let them take me again!
The Captain lifts her hand, controlling the hunters without touching them. Buster has one clear opening, get between the rifles and the Teenager before the shaft collapses.
“I remind the hunter captain that she promised the teenager's safety and ask that both the teenager and captain come with me so i can ensure there's no more funny business”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
Buster shifts fully into the opening, placing his body between the rifles and the Teenager. The shaft groans around them, but his voice stays level as he asks the Captain to honor her promise and come with them, both of them, so there is no more funny business.
Mara
You think I am the problem now?
Her hand lowers. Hunter One eases his rifle a fraction, and Hunter Two swallows hard, still watching the ceiling seam. The Teenager’s shoulders drop as Buster’s words land.
Leo
Please. Just get us out of here.
Mara
I promised you would leave alive. I did not promise comfort.
Buster keeps them all pinned in a hard triangle of silence, and for the first time the Captain looks at him without command, only calculation and something older underneath it.
Mara
I built my life around control. Then I learned what you were made for, and what I broke to make it happen.
The shaft shudders again. The Captain does not move to fire. She gives a tight nod toward the Teenager, then toward Buster, waiting for his next call.
Quest Complete
Find the Teenager before the facility fails
New Gift: Gentle Giant