USCMRPG

Jesus, Quinn! thought Dmitri as he ceased firing in time to avoid shooting his fellow Marine. He stepped back behind the corner to check his rifle's load: still had more than half a mag left. Assured he wasn't going to run empty in the middle of this current round of combat, Dmitri resumed position covering the corridor on the left. Sam was right. There were still two more Xeno out there.

From the corner of his eye as he turned, he saw his wife pulling the woman she called Katie father back behind the line, the tall dark-skinned scientist following with her. Then the second passed and Dmitri had to put his wife and the other civilians out of his mind. He had to stay focused on the job.

Oksana heard Brian scream and the sick crunch that cut it short. She felt Katie's grip on her hand falter and Oksana pulled Katie around so she couldn't see what happened. She held Katie's tear-stained face in her hands and smoothed Katie's hair back, like a mother would her child's.

"Katie, look at me. No, look at me." Oksana kept her voice level, even though her heart broke for Brian, and she looked Katie in the eye. "Tell me. How many more xenos are out there? Did you see where they went?"

Oksana felt Rai come up behind her and his hand was a welcome warmth on her shoulder. Rai reached around and gripped Katie's arm and added his silent support.

"Just breathe and think, Katie," Oksana continued."How many? Which way did they go?"