Jarep was standing at the grassy edge of the clearing. The Shadows the moon cast through the trees provided him with the excellent cover. Lance could barely distinguish him as Krolia carefully guided the pod to the ground. The one thing that gave him away was his eyes. They glinted in the moonllight as he followed the pod all the way to its landing, only then did he step out from the forest and approach the pod.
He stood to the side as both Krolia and Lance hopped out of the pod. As soon as her feet touched the ground, Krolia promptly placed her hand on her pocket before moving away from the pod. Seeming to have reassurance, she fell in step with Lance and Jarep. Without saying so much as a word, the threesome headed in the direction of the base.
The gentle swish of leaves in the trees above and the gradual shifting of the dirt and grass beneath their feet seemed merely to do the talking for them. Krolia shared a questioning glance with Lance their eyes sharing the same question. Lance was the one who voiced it.
"So, do you want to catch us up to speed or do you want to debrief us first?" she leaned forwards a bit her eyes hoping to catch a glimpse of his face in a patch of moonlight.
"If you give me a moment, I'll tell you everything you need to know once we get back to the base, but for now why don't you tell me what you've figured out." he stopped causing Lance and Krolia to instantly turn and face him. He glanced from Lance to Krolia and back again waiting to see as who was going to be the first to speak.
Reaching into her pocket Krolia fished out the portable device. She tossed it to Jarep who caught it without trouble, despite the ever-changing moonlight. Jarep flipped it over, gently running his fingers along with the polished metal.
"This device has the ability to disguise someone as another person just by inputting a accurate picture onto the device," Krolia said catching the device when Jarep tossed it back.
"It works I can tell you that much," Lance responded crossing her arms. She was eyeing the device with disdain as Krolia slipped it back into her pocket.
Jarep glanced over at Lance before continuing forward. They fell in step behind him their eyes focused on the forest around them. They didn't typically have to worry about unwanted guests on the planet, as this specific planet was not on any current maps. In the present circumstances, however, they were diligently preparing to take extra precautions on any and everything.
Coming up on the base several figures could be undoubtedly seen moving about behind yellow lighted windows. Lance could've sworn she saw a large mass of something being intentionally thrown across the room. Jarep reached the door first, he flung it open only to step nimbly to the side as a book came flying out the door. The book skidded to a stop in front of Lance, who barely allowed it a glance as she ducked past Jarep inside.
Upon entering she discovered a ring of agents establishing a secure perimeter around a small section of the room. Each one held either a small dagger or they merely possessed their bare hands. Forcing her way through the crowd, she naturally drew her dagger as well preparing for a brutal fight. However, she was unprepared to find Keith Scuffling with a senior agent. Sheathing her dagger, she pointed to two other agents to grab the third agent.
Side-stepping she nimbly avoided the two as they rolled over each other. In a split second, they jumped up confronting each other daring the other to make the first move. At that moment Lance clutched Keith's collar jerking him backward. Sheathing her dagger, she pointed to two other agents to grab the third agent. The other two agents had the third pinned on the floor. They both fought for freedom not breaking eye contact with each other.
"Yield," Lance growled fiercely jerking Keith's arm back farther, "both of you!" Keith grunted, buckling his knees slightly when Lance jerked his arm back even farther a second time when he refused to comply. "I said yield!"
"Alright," Keith said through his teeth. Lance forcefully pushed his arm back farther back. "ALRIGHT!"
Lance instantly released him naturally causing him to stumble forward. He gripped his sore arm gently stretching it. He promptly shot a fierce glare at Lance as she crossed her arms and shaking her head.
The other two agents placed themselves between Keith and the senior agent. As they passed in front of them. In a split second, they stared at each other not hesitating to jump back into the scuffle. Lance didn't know if one looked at each other wrong or what but she didn't care at the moment. She grabbed Keith's collar and jerked him back, stepping in between the two. Placing a hand on his chest, she forced him back to the other side of the room. The crowd parted for them whispering eagerly among themselves.
Keith wasn't being that much more helpful either as he was aggressively fighting to get back to the center of the room. Lance shoved him against the wall having had enough, her forearm was placed firmly across his chest and his hands were up by his head.
"I thought I told you to yield?!" She yelled furiously.
His jaw shifted as he met her eyes before his gaze flicked behind her. She could feel him tense, before relaxing and meeting her brown irises again.
"What the hell is your problem?" She moved to stay in his eyesight as he turned to look away, "Huh?"
She never received his answer because Jarep stepped in the door orders rolling off his tongue. Krolia was not far behind, her eyes carefully tracing from the scattered papers and overturned table.
"Everyone get back to their stations!" Jarep commanded sternly his eyes trailing the few agents who did listen the first time, "Now!" The last word promptly sent the stragglers scurrying to straighten the room and disappear down a corridor toward the communications and security deck.
Jarep then turned toward Lance and Keith who was still pinned against the wall. Lance saw his eyes flick between her and Keith before narrowing. She stepped to the side waiting respectfully for his order. Just because she was number two doesn't mean she got special privileges on orders.
Reaching out his hand he seized Keith's arm and hauled him down a corridor. This specific corridor led to the holding cells and interrogation rooms. Lance and Krolia followed close behind curious as to what their leader was up too.
"Hey! Let me go!" Keith clawed frantically at Jarep's arm desperate to break free. He recieved his wish a few minutes later when Jarep forced him into a cell. Keith stumbled forward into the cell only to turn back around and charge for the door. Jarep closed the door in his face with a loud click of the lock sliding into place.
"You're staying in there until you learn how things work around here, and starting a fight in the command room is not one of them. McClain,"
When she heard her name, she straightened her back her arms pressed against her sides.
He instantly turned to face Lance. "You are not to leave this corridor for any reason. I'll send someone to relieve you later. I've got a feeling we genuinely need to talk." He reached his hand out to Krolia. "Come, we'll have our techs look over that device."
Only when she could no longer see them, did Lance instantly relax. She leaned comfortably against the wall across from Keith's cell her arms crossed across her chest.
"What is wrong with you? Why'd you attacked one of our senior officers?" her arms dropped gracefully to her side as she crossed the space between them.
Keith looked absolutely offended. His glittering eyes instantly flashed a fierce red, she could've sworn she saw flames.
"You think I'm the one who started it?" he pointed accusingly down the hallway, "He's the one who started it!"
"Prove it!"
"Lance you know me! You know I wouldn't do anything like that." He sounded exasperated.
"You're right I do know you. I know you're a hothead who doesn't mind picking a fight, and I also know that your mother left you with your dad when you were a baby. I also know that she's alive, and she's working with us."
Keith's brows were furrowed as he gave her an uneasy look. He gripped the bars of the cell door to steady himself. "H-How do you know that?"
Lance smirked, "I'm part of a covert organization I know things. Also, who do you think that woman was?" She tilted her head to the side, "You've got her eyes,"