Chapter Three

The next thing happened was Malcolm told us the long story as mentioned in chapter one of part two. No one asks a single question as long as Malcolm was still telling. And I paid attention from the beginning to the end. A lot of things I would not have believed at first before all this bizarre events took place. I mean, to find out that you're a member of royal blood back when you're living like any normal citizen in a cheap apartment is insane.

'I don't want any of you to think of anything else. Our mission now is to set things right. The main very important matters. Which is to get back our city and our rights as the bloodline of the first people of Dust. So about Hayden, remove it from your head' Malcolm said.

Then silence filled the air as Malcolm went back to the pilot's seat.

'How much further?'

'We'll be landing soon' the co-pilot replied. The lady co-pilot returned to her seat too.

'Everyone get back to your seats, we'll be landing soon' Malcolm said.

We all did as he says.

'I don't see any builds or bases around' Tazanna said.

'That's because it's dark and quite foggy out there and we're still two kilometres away from it. We don't want to be caught under their signal. Definitely have to keep a safe distance'

We landed. The car door opened and we all stepped out of it. I realised that we're in a different environment. The surface is not very hard rock. It's soft and sandy. But it's definitely not sand.

'We're in the north. There are many soft spots on this surface. Watch where you're going. Or else you'll be underneath within seconds' Malcolm said. I moved my feet right and left on the spot. The sand shifted under my feet but I did not sink. I wonder how softer the soft spots are.

'These are not sand. You can only find sand in the west near Hayden. These are microrocks' Malcolm said like as if he was reading my mind.

'They're a little bit bigger than sand. And that means if you sink, it'll be much more painful than quicksand'

We all followed Malcolm, careful of where we're stepping. We're heading to the front of the car and straight ahead. The air was creepy. Very silent except the rocks shifting under our footsteps.

'Stay focus' Miss Janet said walking slightly behind Malcolm. Ben and Kate were all the way at the back. The adults have weapons on them so obviously they are at the front and back to defend any attacks.

'Alright. We're entering the surface of Ava science lab, everyone of you have a communication device in your bags. Take them out and put it on' Malcolm said.

I unzipped my bag. Inside was the earpiece I placed earlier. I put it on my right ear. It's kind of itchy at first.

'Oops' Orion murmured. He was beside me. I looked at him, he got a fed up look on his face. I wanted to say something when he spoke louder to Malcolm.

'Sorry sir. I left mine back at the base' he said.

So that's why he's annoyed.

Malcolm took something out of his chest bag and passed it to Tazanna at the front to pass it on. It's an extra earpiece. Orion put it on.

'It's a common mistake Orion' I tried to comfort him.

'No it's not. I'm stupid to not pay attention to my surroundings. That's what got my mother killed'

'Don't say that!' I said. 'None of it is your fault. All who had died wasn't anyone's fault. It wasn't my fault either I lost everyone in my family' I was close to tears thinking back of the recent deaths. Norman's dad and my sweet brother. Orion seemed to relax afterwards. Maybe my words were too harsh? Harsh but not useless.

'Alright, turn it on' Malcolm said, pressing something on his earpiece. We all turned our earpiece on.

'Quietly…' his voice trailed behind as he quickly and carefully moved forward. A few steps forward and I saw the tall wired fence surrounding the lab. The gates were also wired. Two watchtowers by the sides of the double gates. I could roughly see people on top. But there were an obvious number of guards on the surface blocking the entrance. We followed Malcolm behind rows of huge spaceships. I didn't know they had a lot. This means if a war take place, the government, the whole lot of them, could just escape to other planets in these spaceships. Definitely the worst of leaders.

'We'll be separating soon. Ensure your device is on at all times' Malcolm said while pressing something on the earpiece. His voice was very clear in my right ear.

'To speak on the device, pressed the button that is directly above your ear hole. There are only two buttons, it won't be hard to differentiate' he said.

'Janet, Tazanna, Norman and Dane will be with me. Draven, Orion and Fayre will be with Ben. And Michael and Zachary will be with Lucky and Kate. Listen to the adults in your groups. They all have been briefed. They know what's coming. My team will be getting the sphere. Ben's team will be the distraction. And Lucky and Kate's team, your role is equally important. You're our backup'

'Sir, can I swap places with Dane?' Michael said. 'I mean, how can he help retrieve the sphere?'

'Dane must be with me at all times' Malcolm replied. Michael didn't say another word. I could tell he wasn't happy of the allocation.

'Any more questions?'

Fayre raised her hand.

'How will we defend ourselves without weapons?'

'That's why your leader is an adult'

'Can't we get one?'

Malcolm was quiet for a moment.

'No' he said. Fayre also became annoyed after that.

'We move now'

Malcolm hurried away with Dane. Still hiding behind the spaceships, the rest of his team followed. Ben hurried away in a different direction followed by Draven, Orion and Fayre. As for me and Michael, well, we stayed behind with Lucky and Kate. Honestly, it was awkward. Especially with Michael. I imagine probably he and Miss Janet(the new one, not anymore my teacher) could make a wonderful team together. And they could be called team cocky. I smiled at the thought. I guess Michael has a lot of temper. Because he was offended by my smile.

'What is so funny?' he said. I looked at him in disbelief for a second.

'I can't be amused by my own thoughts?' I replied.

'Well, why don't you share with us what amusement you were having in that head of yours'

'Excuse me?'

'Don't laugh alone!'

'Be quiet!' Kate scolded. She was standing at the corner of the spaceship, peeking.

'Don't be an idiot who summons danger redundantly' Kate said, turning back to look at us.

My thoughts went to think of Norman and my friends. What is going on with them now? I stood on the other end of the ship and took a peak. The guards were still in their positions. There seems to be no change.

Suddenly a voice urgently came through the earpiece. I pulled my head away a little, though it didn't change anything.

'Ben, Ben, hurry with the distraction, there are too many guards at the back gate here' Malcolm said.

'Unless that's the front gate' Lucky whispered. Then his face lit up. 'We're at the back gate they're at the front!'

'Malcolm sir, you are at the front gate. That's the front gate!' Kate said pressing her earpiece.

There was no reply. Suddenly, sparkles of light brighter than the lights of the watchtowers and the lab lit the air on the east side. Right from the surface it goes up and exploded.

'Fireworks?' I said.

'That's the distraction' Lucky replied.

'But Malcolm will still be in danger. He's at the front gate!' Kate said, unease. She turned back to look at us. 'Lucky, I'm going to help, take care of them'

Kate ran off the same direction Malcolm went earlier. I saw Lucky was about to say something but Kate was very fast. I peeked again. The back gates were opening. Guards were running out to investigate the fireworks. I wondered will Ben's team be safe? The number of guards present are massive. They all went to the source of the distraction, leaving the gate unguarded except by the few men in the watchtowers. Then another display of fireworks lit the western sky.

'So their front gate is facing the north' I said.

'That makes a total sense that they have been going to Zonex and destroying it since the beginning' Michael said.

'This lab existed since Zonex was still thriving?' I said, amazed.

'I have to agree with you on that' Michael said.

'Shut up! Don't be so cocky. Be nice for a change' I said. I really am annoyed of him. Just a few more will definitely disrupt my patience. I could tell Michael might want to hit me but he was controlling as well.

'Work together. You, me and all our friends are supposed to be working together. We're family of the royal bloods after all' I said.

There was silence afterwards. Suddenly, we heard something. More like a few people running to us. The sound of the rocks gave away. Two hands grabbed my shoulder and I almost exclaim in surprise. It was Orion. Draven and Fayre were there too. Ben nowhere to be seen.

'Don't do that again' I said, calming myself down.

'Sorry, it wasn't meant to be a scare' Orion said.

'Where's Ben?' Lucky asked.

'He's setting off the last fireworks' Draven said.

A few seconds later, fireworks lit the northern sky.

'That was supposed to be for the back entrance' Lucky said.

'We didn't know the back entrance was south all along' Draven said.

'Let's hope everything goes well for all of us' Lucky said. I agree.