The combat robot hovered just above the ground, engines humming as Rocket Girl scanned the perimeter.
Deep underground, Dr. Hacker’s eyes narrowed. His fingers hovered over the control panel, calculating.
“Not so fast,” he muttered.
Without hesitation, he slammed his palm onto a large red button.
ALERT: DEFENSE SYSTEM ACTIVATED
Suddenly, the walls around the base erupted with energy turrets spinning into position. Laser grids snapped to life across the landing zone
Rocket Girl’s cockpit alarms blared.
“Warning! Defense system engaged!”
She gritted her teeth, twisting the controls to dodge incoming laser beams. Sparks flew as one beam grazed the robot’s shoulder armor.
“Too close!” she shouted, adjusting altitude. The robot’s engines roared, lifting them higher—but more turrets activated below, firing in sweeping patterns.
Dr. Hacker leaned back in his chair, a cruel smile forming.
“You think you can just walk in here? Think again,” he sneered.
Rocket Girl’s hands flew over the controls, trying to find a safe path. Smoke hissed from the robot’s hull where a beam had struck.
“This isn’t going to be easy…” she muttered, eyes narrowing.
The combat robot twisted and banked, narrowly avoiding a volley of high-powered energy blasts. Every second counted as the base’s defenses hunted her through the sky.
She activated the robot’s integrated weapon systems. Mini-missiles launched from concealed ports, striking the nearest turrets with precision. Each explosion rocked the landing zone, sending debris flying.
“System override initiated,” the robot’s AI announced.
Laser grids fizzled and collapsed under targeted EMP blasts. Sweeping energy barriers fizzed out as the robot’s cannons disabled their power cores one by one.
Dr. Hacker stared in disbelief at his monitors.
“What… how is she doing this?” he growled, fingers trembling over the defense console.
Rocket Girl gritted her teeth, guiding the robot over the wreckage of deactivated turrets. Smoke curled from the ground as she aimed the final volley at the main energy barrier surrounding the base entrance.
The barrier shattered in a brilliant arc of light.
“Entry point clear,” she said, gripping the controls.
The robot landed softly just outside the base. Rocket Girl leapt from the cockpit, scanning the perimeter as alarms blared behind her.
She moved quickly and silently, slipping past the ruined defenses. Every step brought her closer to Dr. Hacker’s secret base.
“…Let’s see what you’re really hiding,” she whispered.
— To be continued