They were about a quarter of a mile off from Omega's main base of operations when Cameron told him she needed a minute, Justin grumbling inwardly. They needed to MOVE! They couldn't stay put while his entire world was being set ablaze by these mysterious interlopers. She walked into an old apartment building and he followed suit, finding a room before she spoke about the box she carried. Justin turned to face her just as she threw it, catching it with his forearms and causing a resounding smack, mild pain jolting him. Upon explanation, his eyes narrowed.
"Supposed to have a key? Cameron, they sent you to parts unknown with no definitive destination and just said that 'someone' was supposed to have all your answers?!" He let out a scoffing laugh, planting himself against a wall as he looked over the box. 
"This is...this is nuts. Absolutely bonkers. Insane...and you took this without asking ANY questions?" It was then that he remembered that her entire village had been torched and that more than likely there was no time for instructions. His expression softened. 
"I'm sorry, it's just...this is so strange, you know? Doesn't sit well with me." He ran his fingers over the sides and under the box, feeling a small keyhole on the back. He examined it briefly, running a fingernail through the indentation. 
"Oddly shaped. I haven't seen a lock like this before...of course, I haven't seen many locks at all. The end of the world tends to make existing locks rather fragile." He walked to Cameron and gave her the box back, telling her:
"We'll figure it out. We have to. Not just for your people, but for mine as well." He could hear the sounds of gunfire even through the thick walls of the building, prompting a grimace.
"For now, though, we need to make sure that there are people left in Omega to help us out." He opened the apartment door as he continued:
"When we get to the security checkpoints, there should be additional help, but while we don't have it, cover my back. I'm out of ammo and can't fight those armored guys hand to hand." He took a sharp breath in. 

"Here we go." 

____

Chaos. 
Utter and total chaos. 

The cement walls that served as the natural border between the settlement and the outside world was pockmarked with burns and bullet holes, some of it already crumbled onto the ground. The checkpoints that Justin had referred to were towers that stood about ten feet above the ground made of wood and cloth, but those had fallen to the ground, the bodies of  Omega's frontline security strewn about, blood pooling underneath them. Justin walked to a body, spotting the guard's pistol and taking it before spotting a man in the same armor as their pursuers coming out of the entrance to the settlement with a wooden chest under his arm. Justin delivered three shots to the man's skull, the armored body thunking to the ground heavily. They moved to the entrance, the main road through Omega littered with bodies and weapons both from the armored attackers and the defenders of Omega along with debris and scattered-

"JUSTIN!" From their right, a young man garbed in a leather duster and goggles emerged, assault rifle in hand. 
"Michael! What on EARTH is going on?" 
"Caught these guys coming, but couldn't stop them! They breached the walls and we've been trying to push them out ever since!" 
"What are they after?" 
"Dunno, but they're being held off hard by central command. We can flank them, help command out!"  Justin nodded, looking to Cameron with a somber smile.
"Looks like you get to be the hunter after all."