This is a sequel to "Not Knowing". The team are starting to form relationships while the everyday business of saving the world goes on as usual. Rescue mission.
Stella, Frank, Aneisha and a couple of agents climbed in with them. "So, where do we go ?" asked Stella.
Moby put his head on his knee and pointed at a large brick wall. "Drive towards that wall quickly," said Moby.
Moby's instruction was greeted with silence.
Tom's mouth opened and closed twice before any sound came out. "Did you say, to drive straight at the wall ?"
"Yes, that is correct," replied Moby.
"What happens then ?" asked Tom.
"I do not know," replied Moby.
"And that is the way in to the KORPS base ?" asked Frank cautiously. "You've done this before ?"
"Yes, this is how KORPS agents enter the base," said Moby.
Tom looked at Frank in confusion. The difficulty he had was that Moby's expressionless voice sounded like he was taking the Mickey. Only, robots couldn't do that, could they ? "The KORPS vans might have some kind of remote key to open the door," said Tom.
"That is true," agreed Frank. "Or, they could just drive at the wall."
"The wall might be a hologram," suggested Tom.
"It could be," agreed Frank, stroking his chin.
Stella and Keri glanced at one another and rolled their eyes.
"Enough already !" snapped Stella. "Drive !" she shouted to the agent at the wheel. He slammed his foot on the accelerator and grinning, drove directly at the large brick wall ahead. There were squeals and protests from inside the van as everyone hurriedly tried to snap on their seatbelts. Aneisha held her arms over her face expecting the sudden impact of hitting a brick wall. Moby had no expression, but then he was the only one with his head in his lap.
"Oooooooh ! Oh," said Tom in astonishment. Instead of slamming into a pile of bricks, they shot straight through and on to a ramp leading down under ground. Weak with relief Tom slumped back into his seat. "Aw, I nearly wet myself," he muttered quietly. Then he realised he had spoken out loud and shrank down in his seat.
"Just as well we're wearing our regulation MI9 underpants," said Frank, turning and giving him a sympathetic smile.
"I never take mine off !" cackled Keri.
"Can't get in the lift without them," laughed Aneisha. The release of tension resulted in everyone in the van laughing, including a still red-faced Tom.
"Underpants do not compute," complained Moby.
Tom held up his hand. "I am NOT explaining that !" he warned Moby. "Just, don't go there Okay ?" he begged.
"Understood. Not understood. Filed," reported the robot. Tom sneaked a look at the robot's face. There was no change, of course. He puffed out a sigh of relief.
Keri grinned wickedly at him. "I sooo think you should explain Tom," she said slyly.
"I'm saying nothing !" said Tom, folding his arms. This brought another round of giggles before the driver warned that they were approaching a gate. Everyone went quiet instantly. Stella spoke into her communicator and confirmed that the other vans were following behind.
"Get ready team !" said Frank. "Let the SWAT team get out first. They should be able to clear a way in for us. Our job is to retrieve Dan, assuming he is here of course," he added quietly.
The van halted in front of a heavy iron gate. Two KORPS guards appeared on the other side and started firing at the van. The bullets ricocheted off the protective armour plating. The other MI9 vans pulled up and the MI9 SWAT team started firing at the KORPS guards. Someone placed a charge against the gate and blew it off its hinges. "Right, follow the SWAT team everyone !" ordered Frank. They all clambered out and followed the running MI9 agents in front.
Moby couldn't run very quickly due to his lop-sided legs. "We're going to have to do something about your legs," shouted Tom to the robot. "We'll sort you out later Okay ?"
"Maintenance is required," agreed the robot. "Thankyou."
"Where should we go to find Dan ?" said Frank. "Moby ? Do you know where an MI9 prisoner might be kept ?" he asked.
"Prisoners are kept in the cells," said Moby. "Do you wish me to lead you to the cells ?" he asked.
"Yes please," said Tom. "Take us there."
The robot started off to one side. Frank waved for a couple of the MI9 agents to go with them to provide some firepower. The rest of the SWAT team didn't seem to be meeting a lot of resistance. It seemed strangely easy, Frank thought. He shook off the feeling and tried to concentrate on what they were doing.
After jogging down several corridors they arrived at a line of doors. "These are the cells," said Moby, pointing towards the doors with his elbow.
"Shall I blow them open ?" Frank asked.
"I think I know an easier way," said Aneisha sarcastically. She walked up to the first door and knocked. "Dan, are you in there ?" she called. There was no answer, so she went to the next door. Then they heard a voice coming from a door further up the corridor.
"Aneisha ? Is that you ?" called out a voice. Everyone grinned and ran up to the door.
Keri hammered on the door. "Dan ? Is it you ?" she shouted.
"Yes. Can you get me out ?" called Dan.
"Stand back Dan !" called out Tom. "Moby, would you open the door please ?" he asked the robot.
The robot walked up to the door and handed Tom his head. "Hold my head. Please," said Moby. Tom duly tucked the robot's head under his arm. Moby then shoved his arm through the metal door and pulled it off its hinges, before throwing the door to the floor.
"Woah !" said a horrified Dan, staring at the apparently headless robot from the far end of his cell. "That's the thing that brought me here !" he said, pressing himself against the wall at his back.
"Oh, it's Okay. He's on our side now," said Tom. "He's called Moby," he said with a smile.
Dan's lips moved to the name, but no sound came out.
"Dan, are you alright ?" demanded Keri, running past Tom and pulling Dan into a hug.
"Yeah, I'm fine thanks. Erm, can we go ?" he asked.