Hello again, welcome to the new shiny category! Sorry this is a bit of a short chapter but the next one should be ready in the next few days! Probably should say that this based on the 1st series only, I'm not using any developments from the 2nd series as yet, only what was broadcast in the first run and the online game!
Once again, a BIG Thank you to LokiLover for your kind words-I really appreciate them! Hope you like it!
Chapter 3
They returned a few hours or so later, hot and tired but distinctly better informed.
And armed.
Once they'd finished their reconnaissance in N lab Caleb led them back to the deck to retrieve his favourite blaster, Verity as she happened to be called (not that he was about divulge he named his blaster) ready to back up the recruits in their assault on Neuros. They would have come back sooner but a patrol of Drodiz put paid to the easy route back to the command post. Taking the alternate way took a vast amount of effort, banister sliding and a whole lot of running.
"Excellent work recruits" Beamed Caleb, enthusiastic as ever, "Now we know our plan of attack. With you two on the ground, you'll be able to get through the web and disconnect the super-bio rods that are powering Neuros. We'll be on the gantry giving you cover! This is brilliant! We're finally going to destroy these Can-Heads once and for all!"
"Yeah!" The children cried, trying to force their enthusiasm to boost their dwindling energy reserves.
"I just need some more bio-rods for the blaster and then we're all set!," He carried on, caught up in the possibilities of success, "Ready to go? He turned away heading for his stash of collected bio-rods.
His enthusiasm, though infectious, couldn't give wings to lead feet.
"Caleb,"
"Do you have enough magnets Lexa? If not I think I've got some spare around here somewhere..."
"Caleb."
"Recruits, you got everything you need for the last mission?"
"CALEB."
He finally stopped.
Lexa was stood between the children who were doing their best to stay upright.
"Caleb, we can't go right now,"
"Why not?" came the stunned reply.
"Because your recruits are exhausted. That's why. They won't last 5 minutes in the web. Let them rest first. We can attack fresh in the morning. I don't know about you but I could do with stopping too. I'm not used to this much running about of late!" She admitted.
"But they'll never expect us!" He pressed. He wasn't about to let something get in the way of the mission he'd been preparing for his whole remembered life!
"True, but we'll be an easy target. They won't be focusing well enough to avoid the beams. Let them rest." She reasoned.
"They don't know we're here do they?" Asked the girl.
"No. I've been here 5 years and they've never found me."
"Well then," pressed Lexa, "we've got some time, they didn't see us in there. Lets re-group. There's no point in rushing into this mission. We need all our wits about us for this."
He looked from one recruit to the other, they really did look as though it was taking all their will power to stay on their feet. But they were so close! One more push! That's all it would take then they could be rid of the Roboidz for good!
"But it's the last mission!" He persisted, desperate to finish the job in hand.
"One we could fail in!," She argued, growing annoyed at his stubbornness, " I don't want to have come all this way and fall at the final hurdle!"
Exasperated he turned to the children, "What do you think recruits?"
"We'll do our best for you Caleb, we'll," the boy let out a massive yawn mid declare, "beat those stupid tin cans!"
"Yeah! We'll power down Neuros, an' stop em you see if we don't!" The girl had begun to sway as she started to speak, actually stumbling into Lexa's waiting side as she finished. She flashed him a look.
Well they certainly had spirit did his brave recruits. But yes. He sighed. It was plain to see. Lexa was right, enough was enough.
You can't fight and win on pure enthusiasm.
"All right." He conceded, "We'll get some rest then, i'm fairly tired too now you mention it." He wasn't but it seemed like the right thing to say, "We'll head off first thing in the morning. I'll make sure our defences are up." He made his way over to the doorway, "be back in a bit."
She smiled at him and nodded, relieved that they weren't about to go tackling the hornet's nest half cocked. Instead she busied herself ushering the two stumbling recruits towards their bedspaces. Her mother hen instinct, previously untested seemed to be in full working order.
He stepped out into the darkness of Futuregate defences only an afterthought in his buzzing mind. There was someone he needed to speak to.
With a stealth borne of long practice he reached Cybele undetected once more.
"Cybele! Are you there? Cybele! Where are you? I've got so much to tell you!"
She manifested before her excited friend.
"Caleb! You're here late, is everything alright? Have you had another nightmare?" She questioned, concern flooding her as usual.
"Everything's fine! It's better than fine! It's Fantastic! We've done it!"
"Done what?" She asked, perplexed.
"Found N Lab! He explained excitedly, "We know what we're up against!"
"How did you manage this? I hope you were careful."
"Always Cybele! He assured, grinning cheekily.
If Cybele could have raised an eyebrow she would've instead, she settled for a telling sigh, "If only I could believe you."
He shuffled uncomfortably for a moment then cleared his throat, attempting to ease the mood, "well the recruits are getting almost as stealthy as me." He offered, almost quailing under her stern light.
She relented, "Go on then, how did you find it?"
"Well," He bounded back into explanation knowing he was now, for the moment, forgiven, " I found it, hidden in the schematic prints this morning but it was Lexa who had a proper map and between us..."
"Lexa? Cybelle cut in, "One of the recruits? You've never named them to me before."
"Oh no she's," He paused as realisation dawned," He bounced up and down in excitement, " OF COURSE! You don't know! I've haven't told you yet!"
"Told me what?" Her patience was beginning to wane.
"I don't know where to start so much has happened today!" He continued bouncing, hands waving in different directions as he turned this way and that to visioned events of the day. "It's all so incredible!"
He was wild eyed with delight, voice gaining pitch as his arm gestures grew ever more exuberant. She attempted to calm him.
"Then begin at the beginning and it will all tumble out to me in the right order."
"Right. Well," He pointed up to her, "You remember those voices I was telling you about?"
"The one you heard on the radio? I told you to forget them," Came her sharp response, "It will only distract you from your mission."
"I know, i'm sorry, "He added contritely, looking like a kicked puppy, "But I couldn't help listening out for it," He explained hurriedly, "and I was right." The conviction in his tone made her take heed.
"What about?"
"There WERE two voices."
"Two?"
"Yes. Remember I said one sounded different from the other? That there must be two people out there, two different people, well, the first one is definitely real. It belongs to a real person."
"How can you be so sure?" her tone dubious as ever.
"Because I've met her."
Total surety fuelled his statement, standing him taller with eyes shining even brighter. You could've signalled through fog with his smile.
"What? A person? A she? From 2110? How? Who is she? Did you call her up?" Cybele couldn't keep the urgency from her voice nor the notes of worry and suspicion.
"She's a resistance fighter," Caleb explained breathlessly, "and I didn't bring her here, she found her way here all by herself. And she brought us the extra information we needed, A map of N Lab-it's just like the one I found this morning hidden in the blue prints but better-hers has schematics on it, so between me, Lexa and the recruits we worked out what's in N Lab and how to beat Neuros!
"And what..." Sh e began before being drowned out in an wave of explanation.
"We were right! The lab is Neuros' base and it's protected by a big web of lasers so we've worked out exactly how big the spaces are, me and Lexa can't fit through –we're too big so we've got this plan..."
"What plan?"
"The plan to defeat Neuros of course!"
"I thought you were still gathering information?" She actually sounded shocked.
"We've gathered it all!," He insisted, pleased that for once he seemed to be ahead of her. "That's what I've been saying! We know where N lab is now and what's in it! Neuros is powered by 3 super bio rods! All we have to do is get the recruits in and keep them covered while they climb through and grab them! Lexa was right, Neuros is controlling the Roboidz and without her they won't be able to function, they'll power down! We'll have beaten them! We'll win!" He finished triumphantly.
"Caleb." Her tone silenced him. "You cannot be rash about these things, Neuros is more powerful, more terrible than you can imagine. It is no game you play, the whole fate of the world depends on you, that, and the lives of your recruits. You cannot afford to be flippant."
"I'm not!" He retorted, almost petulantly, "We know what we're doing, we've investigated every bit of archive and data we can find, this is the only way. You said yourself we're running out of time, the Roboidz just keeping growing in number! We've got to do something and this is the only way I, we, can find to stop them. Isn't that what i've been working for since I woke up?"
"Of course it is. She conceded, her voice hardening again as she continued. " Which is why you should not rush at this critical point. Remember, when to think and when to act."
"Yes Cybele, I remember, but Lexa says..."
"Caleb," Cybele cut across him, "who exactly is this Lexa?"
"A member of the resistance, I told you."
"But what else? What else do you know about her?"
"Er, she built an EMP emitter to blast the Roboidz."
"Impressive."
"It is!" He enthused, bouncing back into in animated description once again "You should've seen the way they sparked and fried, crashing in to the deck and landing on their stupid metal fac..."
"And what else?" She interrupted, determined to hear him tell her about the girl and the girl alone.
"Erm," What else did he know about her? "Oh um, she has curly hair," he offered, mind casting about wildly for something important about her, Come on Caleb! You've been with her all afternoon! Think! " er, she, um, has mis-matched boots..." he finished weakly. Alright, that was Rubbish.
"I think, Caleb, you'd be better off finding out a little more about this girl before you go charging headlong into battle with her, do you even know where she has come from? She pressed, knowing he didn't have the first idea, "Everything we've worked for depends on your success. Act wisely Caleb. Please don't let me down." The 'again,' unsaid, hung heavy in the air.
He straightened himself at the reprove, serious again, I won't Cybele." He assured earnestly, "I promise." He looked up at her, more determined than ever to prove to her that her faith in him was not misplaced.
"Then get back to the mission." With that she vanished.
He felt awful at the thought he'd disappointed her, but now wasn't the time for moping-he'd show her he was doing the right thing, he'd defeat Neuros, with his friends help he'd save the world.
Right after he had a chat with Lexa...