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Chapter 10

Laura tipped on her feet and almost fell backwards, but for the intervention of Wing, who caught her before she could. He quickly set her down on a nearby crate and held her upright. Nero was busy motioning to a technician to bring water, anxiously glancing at the girl as he did so. The bottle came a couple of minutes later and Shelby opened it, helping Laura to drink.

"How are you feeling?" The man asked, dropping to his haunches so that they were on the same level.

"Sick." She replied, gulping. "What happened?"

"Erm..." Nero was at a loss for an explanation. He looked to the blond girl for help.

"Well don't look at me. I didn't do anything." Shelby said, hands held up.

"I know that." He said, gritting his teeth. "Any ideas on what may have happened?"

"She was possessed?" The girl said.

"That's not possible." Nero said, shaking his head.

"What? Don't believe in ghosts?" She said mockingly.

"It's not that. The only person... thing that I can think of who can possess someone, is Overlord." The man replied.

"Overlord?" Laura squeaked, eyes wide.

"It wasn't Overlord." Shelby said, firmly. "But she was possessed by someone. Maybe Otto?"

"Otto?" Wing said in disbelief. "No it wasn't him. He can only interface with electrical devices. Not people."

"Then who? It must've been a boy." The girl continued.

"Rick?" Laura said quietly.

"What?" The three of them said simultaneously.

"Maybe it was Rick. He was also created by Overlord. We don't know everything about him yet." She replied.

"Maybe..." Nero said, thinking. "You said that you'd been whipped and starved. And you mentioned Raven..."

"How though?" Shelby asked confused. "How did he do that?"

"I don't think he knew what was happening himself." Wing said with a smile. "He thought it was a dream."

"It doesn't matter how he's doing it. What does matter is that he has a way of communicating with us. With Laura. Maybe the rest of you." Nero said to himself.

"Which means you're going to have to take us with you." Shelby finished with a triumphant smile, arms folded.

The man frowned and stood up. A technician was coming their way with a tablet display in his hands.

"You're all set to leave. In you own time sir." He said quickly. Then he left to re - check the shroud's systems.

"Tick tock." Shelby said.

Nero sighed and looked over at the aircraft. He couldn't leave them now. What if Rick possesed one of them again? He needed to be there to hear what the boy said. And to make sure the person he talked through was alright after. But most of all, he needed to know more about Raven.

"Okay." The man said, nodding. "You can come. On one condition. You do exactly as I say. Understood?"

"Crystal clear." Shelby replied, smiling back at her friends.

Otto's eyes snapped open and it took him a moment to remember where he was; behind some crates in the back of an aircraft, under a tarpaulin. The shroud was vibrating with the force of the engines and the movement made him feel sick. It didn't help that the space he occupied was stuffy, hot and uncomfortable. One of the boxes was digging into his side and his head was bent at an angle so that he could stay out of sight.

The boy grimaced, gitting his teeth. His legs had fallen asleep and now pins and needles had set in. He desperately wanted to stand up and move but keeping hidden was more important. So he endured it and tried to fall back to sleep.

Not long after one of the guards came and sat on the crate he was behind and Otto almost jumped up into view. His eyes widened and he sank further back into the shadows, trying to quieten his breathing. Then he realised it wasn't just any guard. It was Colonel Francisco and he was talking.

"We'll be arriving in five minutes. I want everyone geared up and ready to move out. The scouts will parachute in and check out the security while the rest of us, secure a landing site. Understood?" The man said.

"Yes sir!" Came the reply from the assembled men.

"Good. Professor Pike has also given us some new weapons." Colonel Francisco continued. He stood up and moved out of sight. But it wasn't long until he returned with a crow bar.

The man pushed the tool into a gap in the crate and levered it open, the lid crashing down on top of Otto. He stifled a cry and peered past the sheet of wood, watching as Francisco pulled out several items that looked like ordinary machine guns.

"These weapons are light - proof and are fitted with multiple projectiles, bullets, grenades and even arrows. Each one is also equiped with a powerful beam, tracking device and self - destruct should it fall into the wrong hands. I'm also told that it can be used as a flamethrower and that a switch makes it non - lethal just in case we want to take prisoners."

"We're here!" A voice shouted from the cockpit.

"Right. Parachuters get ready to jump!" Francisco commmanded. He quickly pulled out several more weapons and threw them to his men, who caught them with practised precison. Then the door to the shroud was pulled open, a deafening roar entering the little room. The guards with bags strapped to their backs and goggles over their eyes, lined up at the opening, the wind tearing at them.

Otto suddenly realised that he didn't have a clue how to leave the shroud unseen. If they landed, some of the men would stay to look after their escape vehicle and would surely see him if he tried to walk out. And he'd easily be chased down. But if he left while they were still in the air...

From his position, he could see that they were flying over what looked like a forest. And it was only a couple of hundred feet below them. A man could survive that drop without a parachute, couldn't they?

"On my mark! One! Two! Drop!" The Colonel shouted. As one, the guards jumped out of the aircraft, disappearing into the dark sky beyond.

Otto didn't think twice. He was up and out of the little space behind the crates and running for freedom as soon as the men left. Francisco's head snapped round as he ran past and he snatched at the boy, gripping onto his shirt.

"Otto?" He said in disbelief, his eyes widening. The boy turned round to face him and delivered a fast punch to the jaw. Francisco was momentarily stunned and his grip loosened on the student.

Otto immediately leaped for the doorway, twisting free and without stopping, jumped out into the air.

He was at once falling, spread - eagled on his front, the treetops below, rushing up to meet him. Up above, Francisco was watching from the open door, leaning out precariously. Then without warning the shroud suddenly jerked of course, tipping him out into the air. A second later it burst into flames as a projectile hit it's side, smoke rising into the sky. It began to descend, the rotors slowing and without any up thrust, crashed into the ground below, orange fire lighting up the surrounding area.

Nero was at at the back of the aircraft, twiddling his thumbs idly. Beside him sat Wing and Shelby, the latter fast asleep. Opposite him, Laura lay across several seats, eyes open and staring. He could tell that she was thinking but he didn't know what it was about. Probably Otto. Or maybe Rick?

"ETA twenty minutes!" The pilot shouted.

Wing sighed and gently stroked his girlfriend's hair. She was leant against him, breathing softly.

"Do you think Otto will ever remember?" Laura asked suddenly.

"I don't know." Nero replied. "I hope so, otherwise we're going to have one heck of a job trying to get him to trust us."

"Do you think Rick will be alright?" She continued.

"Of course. He's like Otto. Stubborn and resourceful and determined." Wing said with a small smile.

"Do you think Raven has found him yet?" Laura said, her eyes on Nero. The man squirmed slightly in his seat.

"Yes she has. But she was captured. That's why I sent Francisco." He replied. Beside him Wing raised an eyebrow.

"There's not much that can stop Raven. We should be worried." The boy said thoughtfully.

"I'm sure we'll be fine."

"What if Rick is dead? I mean he could be. We don't know anything about what's happening to either him or Raven..." Laura suddenly stopped as Wing interrupted her.

"I'm fine. And Raven's unconcious. She won't wake up. I don't know what's wrong with her though."

"Rick?" Nero asked cautiously.