Chapter Four

The next few moments were intense silence. All of us waiting in anticipation for any updates. A sudden few seconds of gunshots broke the silence. I could tell it was coming from the north. But it could be heard loud and clear from where I stood. We looked at each other in alarm.

'I'm going there' Lucky said. He immediately ran off.

'I'll follow' Draven said. He was about to do the same.

'No Draven. We need you here' I said. 'We've got no weapons for defense if they come here'

Draven looked at me with a very serious face. He was thinking.

'Except the chemicals you have in your coat' I said. What happens next surprise me. Fayre stepped up in front of me.

'Hold out your hand' she said. I did. She unzipped her bag and took out two sharp knives and placed them on my palm. I was obviously surprised.

'You really think I would go by the rules? I took the time back at the base to explore the secret rooms and there's a room of weapons. Thank me later' she said sassily, then walked to the others and took out knives or blades or other interesting things she had found in the weaponry.

'Your bag was heavy all along and you carried them?' Draven said. Fayre nodded like there was nothing weird about that. She gave a bigger knife to Draven.

'Alright, listen up boys. I'm the only girl here but because I supply those life savers, I'm leading. We're going in' Fayre said, swinging two knives into the side pockets of her dress suit. It's like she customised it to her plans that she had thought of all along. This girl is always ready.

'Whoa, okay girl. Our orders come from Malcolm and not you' Michael said holding up his right hand in absolute disagreement. I imagine if Tazanna had said exactly what Fayre said, he would react differently. It's simply because he and Fayre got off with a bad start.

'And he's not here now' Fayre replied. She walked carefully to the next spaceship. Then she turned back to look at us. We're all still not moving, looking at her like she was Medusa. She signalled us to follow her. Well we did. And of course Michael was the last. And he was still grumbling to himself.

'The back entrance is now unguarded except for the few men in the watchtowers…' Fayre said.

'Yeah I can see that' Michael interrupted. Then Fayre glared at him. It was scary though. I don't know what Michael was thinking but he seems to have no effect by the glare. I also wondered why Fayre can't speak to us back at the previous ship. But it was actually a redundant matter to think of.

'Alright. We pass the gate, disable all security, enter the facility and grab the sphere. And then alert the others! Got it?'

'Wait, you spoke like it's very simple' Michael said.

'It actually is and that's just the overall plan. I haven't gotten into the details yet'

I saw Michael rolled his eyes. I was laughing inside. I mean not that I feel satisfied or anything but simply because how Fayre was so savage.

'Okay so, Orion and Zachary will be going inside first. But before that, Draven and I will distract the guards in the watchtowers'

'What are we going to do?' Draven asked.

'Yes I'm coming to that. Both of us will actually interact with the men inside'

That surprised Draven. His change in facial expression was obvious.

'If we get a welcome, we distract. If we get an assault, remember you have the weapon with you'

Draven nodded slowly, processing what he had just heard.

'You'll take the right tower and I'll take the left. Once we're inside, Zac and Orion can make your move to the lab doors. Once the lab doors open, then what's inside is up to your luck. If Draven and I already done with our business, we might join you inside. Alright let's go'

'Are you forgetting something or you seriously am getting on my nerves?' Michael said.

Oh wow! I think Fayre didn't forget. She's simply testing Michael's patience.

'I thought you disagreed with the idea?' Fayre said.

'Really girl? Oh my God!' Michael exclaimed in annoyance. She shushed him. That got him even more.

'You'll be entering the gates with Zac and Orion. But before reaching the doors, there is a single door of a small build. I think that's the control room. You'll have to get inside, take out any guards inside and disabled the security. Which will open the doors'

'How do you know all this?' I asked.

'I heard Ben mentioned'

'Wait, that is all for me?' Michael asked in disbelief.

'Take it or leave it'

Michael placed his hand on his forehead. I know he is very annoyed right now.

'Fine. But don't expect me to follow every single rule'

Fayre ignored that. And she moved to the next ship and we followed. I caught up to her just to speak privately.

'You know, Michael is more senior in this than you'

Fayre looked at me immediately, offended I guess.

'You were too harsh on him. And no matter how happy that may be for me and especially for you. But I think that's not the best thing to do. It's not right at all'

Fayre didn't say anything. But I hope that's her way of giving in. I hope she understands.

We were already at the first spaceship, just a few metres away from the right tower. Fayre signalled Draven. And they both walked carefully to the side. We all looked up as they went. It was our luck that the men inside were busy looking into the direction of the fireworks earlier. If they had looked down behind them, they could have seen Fayre and Draven. There's a door that I believe is the entrance to the tower. There must be doors on both sides. It would be illogical to only have one door when the door is on the outer side of the lab. Draven quietly hurried to the next tower. We got ready to enter the gates which was already wide open ever since the guards came running out of the lab. Orion and I quickly moved to the side of the gate, hiding by the walls. Michael was still lagging behind. He was definitely grumbling.

'Hurry up!' Fayre told him as she prepared to break in through the door. So the three of us leaned on the wall waiting for any sound, the satisfied feeling that we can make our moves. A moment later, we heard the sound of the door crashing and people cried out in alarm and assaults.

'Let's go!' Orion said. He immediately ran to the lab doors. Michael cooperated and broke into the control room. I heard some punches and few seconds later, the doors opened. Orion and I looked at each other reassuringly, then we entered. It was a bright white walkway. It goes straight until the other end another set of doors.

'I guess that's the only option' Orion said, pointing at the door. He drew his knife out. We strode towards the door. A handprint reader was attached to the door. I looked at Orion amusingly. I mean that's kind of his specialty.

'Lucky you're here' I said. He looked at me, confused. 'Come on, tech is your thing!'

'I don't see any way for me to hack' Orion replied.

'Just try!'

He pushed the knife into the side of the reader. A small thin plate popped out.

'Well, I could have sworn I did not see that!' Orion exclaimed. He examined it. The sides were metal, surrounding a glass with small wires and metal humps on it.

'So can you do it?' I asked.

He did some things which I have no idea what. Then pushed the plate back into its original place. A clicking sound was followed by the door opening.

'It seems I can' Orion said, smiling.

'Well done' I said.

Inside was a circular black room with a glass case in the middle and a door on both sides. Another set of double doors at the other end. Inside the glass case was nothing important. Just some old object I guess for placing something on.

'How many doors are there for us to get to one sphere?!' Orion said.

'Guys! How's it going in there?' Fayre's voice came alarmingly through the earpiece. I pressed the button to reply.

'We're still discovering doors after doors'

I didn't get any reply. I looked at Orion questionably.

'Fayre, do you copy?' I said again.

'I only heard you here. Maybe mine's not working' Orion said, removing the earpiece from his ears to examine it.

'It can't be all the others' device not working too!' I said.

'There's nothing wrong with mine'

Orion closed back the lid he opened to check the insides.

'It could be there's no signal in here. And maybe that's the reason why Malcolm can't contact us!' Orion said.

'Guys? Copy?' Fayre said.

'What should we do?' Orion said.

I looked thoughtfully at the other end.

'I think we should just carry on' I said. Orion looked at me and nodded in cooperation. We went to the other double doors. It wasn't locked. The door automatically opened the moment it senses our movements, revealing a walkway leading right and left.

'Take right' I said. We entered and turned right. I immediately bumped into a guard. We both stumbled backwards before I looked at him in alarm and he looked at me, well, in alarm as well but also the intention to capture and most probably kill me in the end. I forced myself to focus and took out my knife and hit the gun he was already aiming at me. It fell out of his hands and I slashed his hands that were in black gloves. I can imagine that hurts a lot, especially when I saw blood dripped out of the holes I just made in the gloves. The man screamed in pain. I kicked him in the stomach and he fell to the ground in pain.

'That's brutal Zac' Orion said.

'Then what you expect me to do? Let him kill us first?' I said.

'Just knock him out' he said.

I kicked the man's head which was covered by the helmet he was wearing. I kicked him hard enough I guess. Because there were no movements afterwards.

'That's it' Orion said. He walked down the walkway. I picked up the gun and shoved the knife back into my sword pocket. Now I have a better weapon with a bigger range. Only no knowledge on how to use it. Doors surround us on both sides. A label attached on each door with different words. Like the words "armoury", "kitchen" and "lab".

'Through here' I said, opening the door labelled lab.