I wake around midnight, and decide to walk the halls. My anger and indignancy drown my fear of anyone harming me as I take the time to examine my surroundings. Clearly I am underground, I can't get my GPS position from my display, and the levels of radiation tell me I must be at least a mile underground. I see a sign over a heavy steel door saying "Arms Room", and I remember why I'm here. My head clears enough to stand and stare at the sign, the questions keep flooding back. How did she get past my sensors? Even if she managed to bypass the motion sensor, and thermal, how did she get past the brainwave dectector? I really went all out on those dang sensors...
The door to the arms room has an electronic lock, all to familiar in design; I built it, too. I had constructed a failsafe into this model, my DNA would override the lock. I pry off the surface plate on the lock, and cut my thumb on the sharp edge, pressing it to the override sensor. The door opens pleasently, and for the first time, I see what weapons these rebels have to work with. I am dissappointed at first.
The sensor in my display indicates that this room is larger than it appears. I puzzle for a moment as to how that can be, especially since the only thing it this room is a few rusty AK-47s and boxes of ammo. I disable my eyepiece and close my eyes - sometimes my own senses are better. After a moment I open them, and put my hand straight through the wall on my left. A hologram? How the...I never invented that. I pass the illusory wall, and my heart stops for what seems to be hours. They have powered armor. Lots of it.
I panic and scramble to turn my eyepiece back on, and the sensor indicates that these armors are if not old, inferior to the military's. When I get up close, I instantly know why. Crappy Russian imitations. So Russia is funding the rebels? Interesting. I feel my indignancy rise again and almost on cue, it is silenced by panic. There are rifles against the back wall. Big ones. Ones that I designed, but never built. Canister Rifles, the next cutting line in high-powered snipers. Allie's words ring in my ears, "I'm one of the top assassins at this base."...But where did they get the blue prints? I put it out of my mind. I touch one of the rifles and on a hunch, I whirl around and true to form, there she is, but not as she was. Allie was dressed for war. "I wondered where you went. I mean, I knew where you went, but I wanted to know why. I mean, I knew why, but I -" I cut her off. "-What do you mean, you knew where I went?" "I'm a telepath, Justin." And then my world came crashing down. I knew instantly how she bypassed my sensors. I never designed the brainwave sensor to work on telepaths. "You're a teep? When were you planning on telling me this?" I asked. "Well, I came for my rifle. You designed it, you know what I plan to do with it." "And this answers my question how?" "Because you're coming with me. This is a low-risk mission, and he decided you need to see what we're fighting for. You were going to see my powers in action. You're going to tell me not to use a Canister Rifle, because they're still experimental. Yes, I can read your mind. Rest easy, your design doesn't work with military snipers, because they're not teeps." This was starting to irk me. "And just what does - "She cut me off, this time. " - does being a teep have to do with being able to aim an unaimable weapon? I'm also a telekinetic." "A teep/teek?" I said, shocked "Those are only theoretical, there's no way!" "You'll just have to see for yourself, you're coming with me on this mission, like it or not."
What choice do I have? I go with her.
---
She leads me to this room in another part of the complex. Before she opens the door, she turns to me and says, "We have to get you ready before we go." She opens the door and goes in. I follow her in and look around. It looks like a normal bedroom. "Yes, this is my room. Don't touch anything." She says as she dissapears into her closet. A few seconds later she appears again holding an article of clothing which she proptly throws at me. "Put this on." I hold it up. It's a stealth suit that's half my size. "Don't worry. It'll fit." I'm not completely convinced but what choice do I have? I quickly strip and pull the suit on, the fabric expands to fit my form comfortably. I hear a wolf-whistle from behind me and turn around to see Allie smirking at me holding a large kevlar vest and a belt. "Hey there, sexy..." She purrs. She hands me the vest and the belt saying, "The Russians aren't THAT cheap. Anyway, this is the best I can do for you protection wise, but if all goes well you won't even need it. This is a cloaking device. Just press the button on the buckle to activate it. Don't try anything though. I'll still know where you are." She taps her head for emphasis. I put on the vest and belt and we head out the door.
As we walk down a corridor i take the chance to examine her battle costume. She's wearing a set of APA custom fit to her form and a form-fitting stealth suit underneath. Very sexy but still a cheap Russian knock-off. I could make something much better for her. I follow her out to this room with a small group of well armed men waiting for us (wearing the cheap Russian knock-offs). Two of the guys walk up to me, one carrying a blindfold and a pair of handcuffs. I tense up automaticly, but Allie puts a hand on my shoulder to calm me down, "Sorry, Justin. It's only till we get to the carrier. For securety reasons, y'know?" She looks at me with large appologetic eyes as she says this and I can't help but comply. Damn her cuteness. I sigh and get into position. They put the blindfold and handcuffs on me (rather roughly I might add) and lead me out of the room.
I count the steps as we go through what seems to be another corridor. As we turn I note the direction of the turn and the number of steps it takes to get there. Every once in a while I hear Allie giggle softly. Probably at my efforts. Suddenly I hear her voice echo in my head, 'Y'know I could just make you black out like before. I'm being merciful. It's a wonder you didn't wake up with a massive headache last time. Some of the guys wanted me to do it. thought it would be easier. But I pointed out that they'd have to carry you out. They shut up after that. Anyway, go ahead and count all you want, I'm just gonna erase your memory anyways. And that WILL cause a headache.' Damn... Of course she can do that. I stop counting and curse her powers (which results in yet another giggle from her). But I can't help smiling at her words.
After some time the footsteps change from concrete to metal as we enter the carrier. They sit me down and buckle me in. Then I hear the pneumatic door close and the engine roar to life. We start moving and a few minutes later the blindfold is taken off. I look around and again I'm dissapointed at the outdated equipment. The vehicle is an old fashioned army carrier that looks severly worn down. "In this business, you get what you can steal." Allie says out of nowhere. I turn to see her sitting next to me with a serious look on her face. I look closer and see a hint of sadness in her eyes. On cue she turns her head away from me. "I can't tell you where we're going, but I can tell you what the mission entails." She looks back at me, that mask again on her face, "Basicly it's a raid, but I have a seperate assignment. These guys will be doing a little "shopping" and provide a distraction while I take care of my own nasty business. There's a few officials I need to say hello to plus I need to gather some data. You'll be coming with me since A: my part is less dangerous and B: I'll be more able to keep a hold on you in case you get any ideas."
The rest of the trip is made in silence. Finally, the carrier stops and final orders are given out. Allie gets up and unlocks the handcuffs. I wring my wrists and start to get up but Allie pushes me down and traps me in my seat. She looks at me sternly and says, "Now you listen to me, Justin Todd, cuz I'm only gonna say this once. Stay close and do everything I say without question. This is a covert opperation and I WILL NOT have you screw this up. This is for your own safety as well as mine. Do we have an understanding?!" God she's so cute when she's angry. I can't help myself. I give her a mocking salute and, smiling, I shout, "MA'AM, YES MA'AM!" This earns me a sound thwak on the back of my head and a warning look. She turns and walks to the other end of the carrier to open the door as I try hard to stifle a laugh. She's so cute when she's like this. I shake my head to clear it and stand up. I watch as Allie stands by the button and gently places a hand on it. She bows her head and mutters something too low for me to hear. Then she raises her head and her face takes on a wild, farrel look, "LETS KICK SOME ASS, BOYS!!!" She shouts and slams the button down. Shouts and yells resound everywhere as the team charges out. Allie disappears from view for a moment and appears next to me, a Canister Rifle strapped to her back. She grabs me around the waist and I hear 'Run' in my head. We bolt accross the carrier almost too fast for my legs to keep up and fly out the door.
