Chapter Five

I was so shocked and I thought I was going to be blasted and die forever. The moment we entered the lab, two techbots were staring down at us. Orion and I both jumped backwards in shock. But the techbots did not react to our movements. And we realised, thankfully, they were not activated. We proceeded pass the bots to rows of machines and tables and devices with hundreds of buttons on them. And we came into the centre with tall pillars and long pipes all around. A huge stand stood in the centre with a glowing ball on it. I don't know how this is possible but current-like shapes appear and disappear occasionally few metres above the ball in an open cylinder attached to a hole in the ceiling.

'This must be it' I said. 'The sphere'

'Don't move!' a sudden voice commanded. We didn't have to move. It was careless of us to not pay attention to the surroundings. The sphere was just so mesmerising that we didn't realise many guards were all along patrolling the lab. We looked up from the sphere to saw that we've been blocked. Guards stood in circle all around the centre, pointing their guns at us.

'Take them to the rest' the same voice said. The owner was a man whose uniform was a different colour from the rest. He must be the chief or commander.

'The rest?' Orion said. I thought about it. Could he mean Malcolm and the others?

They forced us to follow them as they led us through walkways and into a narrow path down under the surface. Well down here, most probably Malcolm did not get any messages from Fayre whatever she said to us earlier.

'Take their weapons and their bags' one of the guard said. They snatched the gun from my hands aggressively, pulled my bag from my shoulder also aggressively. They did the same to Orion with his bag and knife. When I thought they're about to tear my side pocket when they snatched the knives inside but they didn't. How careless of them too! I was laughing inside. Well I'm not very amused but I'm just relieved. Our escape won't be difficult. They pushed us both inside a room and locked the door behind us.

'Zac? Orion?' Norman said.

'Norman!'

'I told you to stay outside!' Malcolm said. He, and his team were all inside. But Kate, Lucky and Ben were nowhere to be seen.

'What were you guys doing? Standing in here doing nothing?!' I said. I was definitely kind of angry. Because our leader and his experienced daughter, a cocky woman, my cheerful friend did not even try to break out. When we were pushed in, I saw they were just standing still and not fighting back. And I don't blame Dane, what could he do?

'Don't look down on us newbie' Tazanna said.

'We did fight Zac, they took our weapons after that and they would have killed us' Malcolm said. I guess that makes sense.

'No need to worry about weapons' I said, pulling the two knives out of my side pockets. That got Malcolm and his team interested. Orion also took out his one knife left.

'Where'd you get those?' Malcolm said.

'Thank Fayre' I said, handing him one.

'The other one give to me' Miss Janet said. Really? The nerve?

'No, both are mine and that is not I give, you borrow' I said, then pointed at the knife in Malcolm's hand. I guess that was too savage to be talking to our leaders. Malcolm and Miss Janet was definitely taken aback by what I said. Before turning around to face the door, I noticed Tazanna was also offended that I burned her father. But I wasn't sorry. The knives are my rights. It was given to me.

'Orion, take the door down' I said.

Orion pushed the knife hard into the thin hole on the side of the door. He moved the knife around on the spot. He pulled the knife out and pushed it back in, aiming at the lock. The sound was loud. If there is anyone guarding outside, they sure would be suspicious. True enough because a man exclaimed from behind the door telling us to stop making noise. An idea came to me.

'I need to use the toilet!' I said. There was silence for a while. Then the lock clicked and the door opened. I immediately stabbed the guard above the stomach. He screamed in pain. Behind him were two more guards who were about to fire their gun at me. But I was blocked by their poor friend. I pulled the knife out and pushed him to the ground. I threw the knife at one of the two guards and straight away ducked as they both fired. The knife went into the guard's chest and he fell down as well. I pulled it back out and he wailed as I moved quickly to the other guard. He fired another shot which hit my second victim. I slashed his left leg and he dropped the gun, feeling the pain. He lifted his left leg to try and stand the pain. I side-kicked him at his waist and he fell down. All three were down. I looked back at the rest who were looking at me in shock. It all happened very fast. I too was impressed. They exited the room.

'Have you ever been trained?' Malcolm asked, amazed.

'I ever joined martial arts back in Warhem' I said. I wiped the blood on the knife on the guard's uniform and put it back in my side pocket. I took one gun. Malcolm took one and gave the knife to Miss Janet. Tazanna picked up the third guard's gun. And we got our bags back. It's funny that they left the bags with the guards here. Maybe they intended for us to stay here temporary and will move us to a worst place once they caught everyone.

'Alright, let's go' Malcolm said.

'Why I got the knife?' Miss Janet said.

'Because I got the gun' Malcolm said bluntly. Burn. My dislike towards Miss Janet's character is increasing so I don't care if anyone was savage to her or whatever. So we reached the surface level and suddenly, Fayre's voice came into our ears alarmingly.

'Guys! Guys! Where are you guys?! Reply or we'll come in!'

'We can't reply to her, she wouldn't get' Malcolm said.

'So we'll get to her first, follow me' I said.

I led the way back in the direction where Orion and myself came from. Guards came running or carefully running towards us with their guns ready to shoot but we were faster. And in the circular room with the glass case we saw Fayre, Draven and Michael making their move in.

'Oops' Draven said. Yup, oops to them because Malcolm's here and saw the disobedience.

'There's no time for oops. We have to get out of here' Malcolm said, now leading the way.

'By the way sir, just to say that I never wanted to be part of their stupid plan' Michael said.

'But you did Michael' Malcolm said. Michael kept quiet. 'But that's not my concern now. We need to get out of here as quick as possible'

'But we haven't taken the sphere!' I said.

'We have' Malcolm said. Now we're already exiting the build.

'But Orion and I saw it at the lab!' I said.

'That's a high definition hologram, it will make the original object looks like it as accurate as possible'

Malcolm swang his backpack in front to open. He took out a very identical ball like the one I've seen in the lab. Only now I know that was the fake.

'I wouldn't leave this place without this' Malcolm said, showing the sphere before putting it back inside his bag.

We walked past the gates. From the lab doors to the gates, dead bodies or alive but unconscious laid on the ground.

'You did this?' Malcolm asked, looking at Fayre.

'Me and Draven. I would have said Michael as well but he mentioned he never wanted to be a part of it' Fayre replied.

'That's right I never. Sir is going to be mad at you both' Malcolm said, smirking at Fayre. Fayre made it obvious for everyone who looked at her to see that she rolled her eyes in exaggeration as a response to Michael.

'Well done' Malcolm said. Now it was Fayre who smirked.

We were now further away from the lab. Definitely heading back to the spacecar.

'Where's Kate, Lucky and Ben?' Draven asked. Malcolm did not answer.

'Are we going to leave them?' Tazanna asked.

Malcolm still did not answer for a few seconds.

'We have to proceed' Malcolm finally said.

'What happened?' I asked.

'Kate and Ben was killed. They were too hard for them to control so they shot them immediately' Malcolm said. I was not shock but sad. They were quite nice compared to Miss Janet.

'How about Ben?' Fayre said.

'I don't know about Ben, never heard from him' Malcolm said.

Our car came into view. The lights from inside shone the darkness around.

'Hurry! Before the whole facility realise we're gone with the sphere' Malcolm said. He started running towards the car. Malcolm pulled open the car door and hopped in. It all happened so fast. A sudden quick dash of someone before he stabbed Malcolm in the neck.

'Father!' Tazanna yelled as she shot the guard in his head. Malcolm fell in instant death due to the pain and shock. Tazanna held him in her arms. Blood came out of his neck, covering Tazanna's arms in blood. I was more aware of my surroundings. Immediately after Tazanna headshot the guard, I turned my gaze to the area around us and raised my gun to aim at any incoming threat. That sneaky so-call ambush couldn't just end like that. Fayre and Draven also did the same. They understand me. Surprisingly Michael too. I mean, I never expect him to cooperate. Miss Janet also turned, but she was a little bit confused. Norman and Orion went in to be by Tazanna's side. They obviously brought Dane with them. We looked carefully but nothing came.

'Guys, hurry enter the car. I'll be the last. Michael I'm counting on you to start the engine and as soon as I shut the door you take us away' I said confidently. Michael nodded which also surprised me. They all went in. Except, Miss Janet was a little reluctant. I don't know, probably because she's taking orders from her former student or because I was savage to her. I pointed my gun, focusing in front of me while my senses felt them hopping on behind.

'Zac, come on' Fayre's voice came to my ears. I quickly turned around, hopped in and pulled the door shut. And as I requested, the car moved and went up away from the surface.

'Thanks Michael' I said, tapping his shoulder. He nodded, his hands remained on the wheel and his eyes on the air. I also thanked the others. I didn't say it out loud though. Tazanna was still sobbing. I went to kneel beside her. I am out of words. I just respect and let her cry it out. Well, Fayre or Miss Janet should be closer to her. I mean girl to girl. And Fayre is. She sat exactly beside Tazanna and put her arms around her. We all were quiet except Tazanna. No one even disturb the gun which was still in Malcolm's hands and the bag with the sphere and possibly a lot other stuffs inside. We just showed our respects. And my thoughts went back to the time I last saw Zayne. Tears were slowly coming back but I pushed them away. I cried enough already. I need to be strong and stay focus to complete our mission. We have the sphere with us. Now that's left is to return the sphere and do the blood sacrifice. I can't imagine how will I be ready to cut my own skin. Just a tiny bit for the sacrifice. I've only cut my skin accidentally with the sharp edge of a broken glass. I've never cut purposefully. I snapped back to reality. I must try to stay focus on what's happening now. Later things can be dwelled on during free time if I even have one in the future. But right now, It's time to head to Zonex. The home of our forefathers.