Snatched Away

Rachel takes a step back, her eyes widening even further. "It's...it's huge..." she gasps, her voice laced with fear.

Kinsey grips her knife even tighter. "That's an understatement."

The robot towers over the girls, its form blocking the light. Its heavy steps echo through the room as it takes a slow, menacing step towards them…

The girls slowly back up, their eyes locked on the massive robot.

Rachel whispers, "What do we do? We don't stand a chance against that thing..." fear lacing her voice.

Kinsey bites her lip, her body tense. "We have to think of something. We can't just let it keep advancing on us like this."

The robot continues its slow approach, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground with each step.

The girls are now backed up against a wall, their hearts pounding in their chests as the towering robot continues to advance.

Rachel swallows hard, her voice trembling. "We're...we're cornered. We can't escape."

Kinsey's grip on her knife is so tight, her knuckles turned white. "We need a plan. We need a damn good one, and fast."

The robot has now stopped directly in front of them, its massive form seeming to dwarf them even more up close.

The robot stares down at the girls with cold, mechanical eyes. It's massive form looming over them, casting a dark shadow.

The girls can hardly breathe, frozen in terror.

Suddenly, a loud, metallic voice bellows out from the robot.

"You are outnumbered, outmatched, and outgunned. Surrender now, and we shall spare your lives.”

The girls exchange nervous glances, their fear now mixed with a glimmer of hope.

Kinsey's voice is still shaky, but steadier than before. "So, if we cooperate, you'll spare us?"

The robot nods again, its mechanical eye unblinking. "That is correct.”

"And if we refuse..." Kinsey starts, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.

"Termination," the robot responds coolly, its mechanical voice emotionless.

"Then we refuse, metal-for-brains.”

The robot's cold, mechanical eyes narrow on Kinsey's defiant face. "That would be... unwise."

Rachel speaks up again, her voice still trembling with fear. "Wait, let's think about this for a moment..."

The robot's eyes shift to her, its gaze unblinking. "There is nothing to think about. You are at a disadvantage. Surrender is the only logical choice.”

Kinsey glares at the robot, her defiance growing. "Logical? Yeah, because surrendering to a bunch of metal scrap is the perfect decision."

The robot's voice remains monotone. "Your chances of survival are higher if you cooperate."

Rachel chimes in again, her voice still tinged with fear. "What guarantee do we have that you won't just...terminate us anyways, even if we do surrender?”

The robot pauses before replying, its mechanical brain processing the question. "Cooperation will ensure your survival. Our primary objective is to minimize casualties and maximize efficiency. Termination is a last resort."

Kinsey's expression grows more skeptical. "And what exactly do you expect us to do once we surrender? Become your prisoners? Servants? Lab rats?”

The robot's mechanical eyes remain fixed on the girls. "Your role will depend on your skills and abilities."

Rachel's voice trembles, "And what...if we don't have any useful skills?"

The robot tilts its head almost imperceptibly. "All individuals have potential. We will... find a purpose for you.”

Kinsey huffs, "Potential for what? To be lab rats? Guinea pigs?"

The robot's voice remains emotionless. "Your potential is yet to be determined. Cooperation will provide ample opportunity for assessment."

The robot raised its arm, ready to swipe up the girls and take them away...but with a golden flash, its arm was slashed off by an unseen force!

The girls watch in stunned silence as the robot's arm falls to the ground with a loud clang.

Rachel gasps, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Wha...what just happened?!"

Kinsey shakes her head, her heart pounding. "I don't know...but whoever, or whatever, just saved our butts."

The robot is visibly taken aback, its eyes darting around, searching for the source of the attack.

The robot's eyes locked onto Yumi, who was sitting on a beam of wood wielding an oversized, golden scalpel.

Rachel couldn't believe her eyes. "Is...that Nurse Yumi? With a giant...golden scalpel?"

Kinsey's gaze is a mix of amazement and curiosity. "Where did she even come from...and where did she even get that...?"

The robot's eyes snap onto Nurse Yumi with a mix of confusion and aggression. It lets out a low, mechanical growl.

Yumi stood her ground, the golden scalpel gripped firmly in her hand. Her eyes narrow, her gaze never breaking from the robot.

The robot, still missing an arm, takes a cautionary step forward, its mechanical leg creaking as it does. "Identify yourself."

Yumi remains composed, her voice firm and clear. "My name is Kim Yumi.”

The robot processes the information, its mechanical mind analyzing Yumi's words and body language.

The robot's voice remains low, with a hint of caution. "And your purpose here is...?"

Yumi's grip on the golden scalpel tightens. "I am a medic. I'm here to help and to protect."

The robot's eyes narrow, still scrutinizing her. "Your weapon says otherwise.”

Yumi smirks ever so slightly, her eyes never leaving the robot. "A medic should always be prepared. This scalpel is for more than just surgeries."

The robot's mechanical eye twitches, the gears in its head clearly turning. "You are trained in combat?"

Yumi's smirk grows slightly wider. "I have some skills, yes.”

The robot takes another step closer, its mechanical legs creaking with each step. "You are surprisingly capable for a medic."

Yumi remains unfazed, the golden scalpel held tightly in her hand. "Appearances can be deceiving."

Kinsey and Rachel watch the exchange from the sidelines, their fear slowly fading away and curiosity creeping in.

Kinsey whispers to Rachel, her voice barely audible. "She's holding her own. I didn't know she had it in her."

Rachel nods in agreement, a small smile forming on her lips. "Yeah, Nurse Yumi's a badass. I always thought she was just a softie, but I guess there's more to her than we thought.”

The robot's mechanical hands twitch slightly as it observes Yumi. "You pose a greater threat than initially expected."

Yumi's smirk deepens, her eyes never leaving the robot. "You're not the first to underestimate me. But I'm not here for you."

Before anyone could react, Yumi slashed at the robot with her golden scalpel, cutting it clean in half.

The robot's halves toppled to the ground with a loud clang. Its mechanical eyes flickering before going out entirely.

Kinsey and Rachel stare in awe, their eyes wide with disbelief. "Did...did Nurse Yumi just..." Rachel trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kinsey whistles softly, her initial skepticism replaced with a mix of respect and awe. "Damn...that was badass.”

Yumi lowers her golden scalpel, a satisfied smirk on her face. "I told you, appearances can be deceiving."

Kinsey and Rachel exchange a glance, still in disbelief. "We...we had no idea you could do that," Kinsey managed to say.

"Yeah, you were like... a total badass," Rachel added, struggling to find the right words.

Yumi chuckles softly, amused by their shock. "I have a few surprises up my sleeve."

Kinsey looked at the robot, then back at Yumi. "What was that robot business about?"

Yumi glanced at Kinsey, giving her a smirk that said 'You can't be serious'. "Take a look."

With a closer look at the robot, they saw it. The logo of the Platinum Army.

The girls' eyes widened in realization. "Wait..." Kinsey muttered, her mind piecing things together. "That robot...it's part of the Platinum Army."

Rachel's gaze shifted between the robot and Yumi, her voice tinged with concern. "But why was it here? And why was it trying to capture us?”

Yumi's expression turned serious, her golden scalpel glinting in the dim light. "The Platinum Army is a highly-advanced military force. They're interested in any assets that can benefit them."

Kinsey clenched her jaw, a mixture of anger and fear in her eyes. "And they thought we were assets?"

Yumi nodded, her gaze fixed on the fallen robot. "They don't see people as individuals. They see them as resources to be exploited. Anyways..."

Her gaze turned to Alice. "I'm going to need you for a moment."

Yumi was swift, taking Alice into her arms bridal style before jumping through the hole in the abandoned building's ceiling, leaving Rachel, Kairy and Kinsey alone.

Kinsey and Rachel stood there, their faces a mix of confusion and concern. "Wha-...where is she taking Alice?" Rachel stuttered, her gaze fixated on the hole in the ceiling.

"I have no idea..." Kinsey replied, a hint of worry in her voice. "But...I'm worried. They were after us for a reason, right?”

Rachel nodded in agreement, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. "Yeah, but why? We're just...ordinary people. We don't have any special skills or talents, at least not the kind that attracts the Platinum Army's attention."

Her eyes widened as a realization dawned upon her. "Unless…”