"How did I get myself roped into this one again?" Harper whined as the two of them ducked in and out of the hundreds of different passages in the Academy.
"You've never seen me try to use a computer," Kael answered, pulling him down a narrow corridor. "It's not a pretty sight." He put his hand over Harper's chest and closed his eyes as two Academy soldiers ran past their position. Focusing on the two soldiers, he manipulated their minds to make them think that they were no longer there.
The two soldiers stopped, confused, thinking that they had seen something. Shrugging to each other, they continued on their way.
After they had left, Kael stuck his head around the corner, making sure that they had gone.
"That was close," Kael said, breathing a sigh of relief.
"They didn't see us, yet they looked right at us. How…"
"Not now," Kael interrupted, pulling him down the hallway.
Harper was going to press for an answer, but then thought better of it.
As they snuck through more and more intertwining and twisting passages, Harper started to look worried.
"You are going to remember the way out, aren't you?" Harper asked nervously. Kael just turned and grinned a grin that screamed 'maybe, and then again, maybe not'. Harper let out a sigh, shook his head and they started moving again. They went another thousand feet, before stopping at a large door.
"The security measures are all ran from here. This is the central computer core, the most sophisticated piece of technology on our planet…or so I'm told. I'm afraid this is where your work begins Mr. Harper," Kael said with a grin, knowing it would get a rise out of Harper. "The electronic lock needs to be picked. It is heavily encrypted, so take your time."
Harper began pulling out tools and fiddling with various points at the door. After about five minutes, Kael looked over and noticed a small glint of light. He moved a little closer, and found something that nearly froze his blood.
A security camera.
He quickly used his mind to create a power surge through the camera. It blew up, but unfortunately, there was more than one. And Kael saw them all blow, one by one, as his power surge continued to grow as it traveled down the lines tying them all together.
Harper had turned at the sound of the explosion, and now asked, "What, pray tell, was that?" Kael walked over to where the first camera had blown and picked some of the pieces.
"We had some snoopers," he replied.
"Next time, ask me before you blow something up, K?"
Kael shrugged. "Looks like were gonna have company."
"Great," Harper muttered. "I just love unexpected company."
****As soon as Harper and Kael had disappeared, it was Dylan, Rommie, and Jessea's (or the Pyro Group, as they had nicknamed themselves) turn. They maneuvered their way over to where Harper and Kael had disappeared, and began clearing the way towards the door. The Academy soldiers, being forced to wage a battle on two fronts began retreating from the Pyro Group, and concentrating their efforts on the main battle. The Pyro Group slipped inside, only to duck as the security cameras above them exploded one by one. They rose slowly, and Dylan picked up a twisted piece of metal and wires that had once been a camera.
"Looks like Harper's work," Dylan said.
"And just what do you mean by that?" Rommie asked, poignantly, with her hands on her hips.
"Only that Harper's inventions and intentions don't ever do what they're intended to."
Jessea and Dylan started to walk toward an opening leading to a hall, while Rommie was paused in thought. As what he said dawned on her she ran after them.
"Dylan! Dylaaaaaan!"