Scouting

PRESENT

PENNYVILE

MONDAY DECEMBER 9

3:30 PM

"Remind me again why we are here? Alex has already given us every information we need to know about this place"

"It's to have a feel of the place Shiro, also I needed to bug the building" Zarx answers then says "Come... on let's go".

[???]

The five cycle towards the huge tower ahead of them. It looks so spectacular up close no one would dare assume there's anything shady going on in there.

"You know I still don't understand why Alex is not here when we need her most" Ace mentions

"I told you she is working on something with my dad. Besides we got Gideon, he will fill in until she is back"

"Yeah, you got me" Gideon's voice booms in their ears.

"Hey, don't yell it's deafening" Ace rebukes. He sighs and asks "And what is this something you speak of Zarx?"

"Nothing you should concern yourself with, well at least for now. You would know when the time comes"

"Wait...wait...wait...wait...but I thought she was yours" Gavin interrupts nonchalantly.

"She is; my dad is working on something for me so I asked her to assist him since I'm not going to be there to do it myself"

"What is this thing your dad is working on?" Ace questions again.

"What's up with the thousand questions all of a sudden? I said you would know at the right time. For now, just focus on the mission. It's more important, okay..."

"Heads up, you got two vans headed your way" Gideon's voice suddenly bursts through the comms.

"There are lots of vans out here Gideon" Shiro announces.

"Of cause but these ones are different. Did some scans. One is carrying some crates whiles the other has people in it, sort of like escorts. They both emerged from the Lynch Tower."

The vans speed past them and slowly come to a stop at a junction.

"I recognize that symbol" Ace says pointing to the nemesis symbol on the van. "It was on the car that attacked us".

"Interesting. Alright Gideon I need you to conduct a scan citywide for similar vans and track them to wherever they are going" Zarx says.

"Okay boss".

"Why does he keep calling me boss?" Zarx whispers to the others.

"Don't know..." Ace says nonchalantly again as they cycle on, the tower coming into view a distance away.

Zarx is first to speak up as usual "To cover more ground quickly, we need to split into teams, Shiro and I would go right, and the rest of you would go left. Bug all potential sniping spots using the bee drones. Shiro and I would take care of surveillance. Blend in and don't do anything that would draw too much attention. Clear?"

"All clear" they agree and take their separate paths

LATER IN THE DAY

LAIR

5:55 PM

"Any progress on the van tracking?" Zarx asks panting from the arena as robots circle around him, ready to pounce on him.

"Nope, seems like they are just going around the city without making stops then heading back to where they came from, Lynch Tower" Gideon replies.

"What on earth are these guys up to" Ace questions.

"Think they are bringing in more goods or something?" Shiro inquires as well

"Without making stops? I'm not so sure myself but for now, let's focus on the mission ahead and prepare for anything. Though I think we are missing something" he says with a hand under his jaw as though in a state of contemplation.

"Check all places where the vans may disappear at. Like bridges, tunnels and the like" Zarx says after a while, while punching a robot in the arena.

Gideon who is watching the others train in the arena with so much fun puts on a long face and standing on his feet, declares "Come on, you guys are having all the fun while all I do is sit around and press keys on a keyboard. That is not cool" he protests.

"Okay, so what do you want to do?" Melanie asks.

"Zarx, lend me your suit. I gotta punch the hell out of those robots too"

He turns to the others then back at him "You sure about this?" He asks

"Yeah totally, I would be fine"

"Alright if you say so, then have at it". Zarx says, removes his suit and gives it to him.

He picks the armor which has been reduced to a backpack and puts it on "Erm... so how do I activate this?"

"Just pull both straps at the same time"

"Okay…" he says pulling them and the suit covers him almost instantly, covering him perfectly as though it were made for him. Unlike Zarx's, his eyes have a radiant gold illumination.

"Wow, this is so cool. I can't believe I'm actually in a suit of armor" he yells in excitement.

"Alright Gideon, let's see what you've got" Gavin says retiring to a seat with a grin.

"Erm… Zarx? What's going on? I can't seem to move, at all" he announces as he stands in the middle like a statue.

Zarx laughs then replies "You have no idea the kind of complex calculations I do just to move a single finger in that thing"

"Say what now? Dude, you have an AI why won't you let her do all that for you?"

"No particular reason, I just prefer to do it myself because it's fun"

"And how am I supposed to get out of this now that I can't move?"

"Hold on, let me get it for you"

"Well hurry then, I feel like my blood is stagnant already".

"Ain't it too early? You haven't given us a show yet" Melanie yells from a corner.

"But I can't even move..."

"Zarx???" Melanie calls in a stern voice.

[Jeez she sounds like my mom]

"Alright, alright... Rex, override activate ease mode". The lights on the suit all turn white at once. He continues "Okay Gideon, try moving now"

The sudden pressure pinning him down seems to have been lifted and Gideon's arms move easily as he launches a punch into the air.