In the dimly lit office, Cody sat alone, his gaze fixed on the radio that had been his lifeline to the outside world. The static buzzed incessantly, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking beyond the walls of their sanctuary. With a deep breath, he reached out and pressed the button on the radio, his voice breaking the silence. "Hello? Are you still there?" he called out, but only the crackling of static answered him. Undeterred, he tried again, his voice tinged with desperation. "Hello?" he repeated, his words dissipating into the empty air.

Meanwhile, amidst the desolate streets of the city, Frost and Riot trudged forward, their eyes scanning the dilapidated buildings for any sign of danger. Riot's grip tightened around the gun he had confiscated from Storm, a silent vow to protect himself and his companions at all costs. "I'm not giving his gun back," Riot declared, his voice laced with determination as he stowed the weapon away in his bag. Frost nodded in agreement, understanding the gravity of Storm's actions and the need for caution in this unforgiving world.

"Doro is nowhere to be seen," Frost remarked, his brow furrowing with concern. "He's probably back at the outpost by now." Riot nodded grimly, his mind already racing with plans to confront their elusive adversary. "Yeah, I'll have a word with him when we get back," he muttered, his gaze drifting upwards to the bleak sky overhead.

Suddenly, the crackle of the walkie talkie shattered the silence, causing all three of them to freeze in their tracks. Storm's voice cut through the static, his urgency evident as he issued a warning. "Tell him to change channels," Storm urged, his voice tinged with apprehension. "Doro's a bad guy. He'll come after them."

Riot exchanged a meaningful glance with Storm before springing into action, his fingers deftly adjusting the channels on his own walkie talkie. With a voice lowered to a deep growl, he addressed Cody on the other end of the line. "Hey kid, switch to a different channel for now. We don't want any unwanted listeners," he instructed, his tone grave with the weight of their situation.

As Cody complied and the channel was switched, Riot's voice came through loud and clear, his words a lifeline in the darkness. "Kid, the guy you spoke to earlier? He's bad news," Riot cautioned, his voice heavy with regret. "His name's Doro, and Hora. Frost filled us in on what went down. Are you the folks who got hit by those attacks?" he inquired, his empathy evident even through the crackling static of the radio.

Cody's response was hesitant, his words weighed down by the burden of loss. "Yes, that's us," he admitted quietly, the pain of their recent ordeal still raw in his voice. Riot's heart went out to him, a pang of sorrow echoing through his own chest as he surveyed the desolate cityscape before them. "Most of us had no idea about the attacks on your community. I'm so sorry," Riot murmured, his words a solemn vow to make things right, no matter the cost.

"What's your name?" Riot's voice cut through the tension, breaking the silence that hung heavy in the air. Cody's response was swift, his voice tinged with weariness. "Cody. I'm here with my sister," he replied, his words carrying the weight of their shared struggle. Riot offered a small nod of acknowledgement before flashing a grin. "Cool name. I'm Riot," he introduced himself, his tone laced with a hint of pride.

Cody couldn't help but chuckle at Riot's name. "That's a badass name, it suits you," he remarked, a flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes as they continued their journey through the abandoned streets.

As they walked, Riot's expression grew serious, his eyes fixed on the path ahead. "I'll make you a promise, Cody," he declared, his voice steady and unwavering. Instantly, Cody's attention was piqued. "What is it?" he asked, his curiosity piqued by Riot's solemn tone.

Riot took a deep breath before speaking, his words carrying the weight of a solemn vow. "The next time we talk, tell me where you are, and I'll come for you. I'll help you," he promised, his voice resonating with determination.

A sense of relief washed over Cody as he heard Riot's words. "I will. Thank you, Riot," he replied, a grateful smile tugging at the corners of his lips as he settled back into his chair, his eyes flickering towards the doorway where Aya stood.

Aya's eyes widened in surprise as she took in Cody's words. "Survivors?" she echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief. Cody nodded, his gaze steady as he met Aya's incredulous stare. "Riot. That's his name. He's with Hora's group, but I don't think he's like them," Cody explained, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Aya's frustration boiled over, her words laced with anger as she confronted Cody. "Are you out of your mind?" she demanded, her voice rising in pitch with each word. "You could've gotten us killed!" she accused, her eyes blazing with fury.

Cody remained calm in the face of Aya's anger, his voice steady as he defended his actions. "I understand your concern, Aya. But Riot can help us. He knows about Hora, and he's willing to take him down," he explained, his words a testament to his unwavering determination.

Aya's hand trembled with rage as she raised it, poised to strike Cody, but he stood his ground, his gaze unwavering. "Go ahead. Do it," he challenged, his voice firm and resolute. Without another word, he turned and walked away, leaving Aya seething with frustration in his wake.

Guts and Mars stirred from their slumber at the sound of Aya's voice, their eyes following Cody as he made his way downstairs. "Where are you going?" Guts called after him, concern etched in his voice. Cody paused for a moment before replying, his tone distant. "Just going for a walk," he replied quietly, his footsteps fading away as he stepped outside into the unknown. Without hesitation, Guts rose to his feet and followed, determined to stand by Cody's side no matter what challenges lay ahead.