Michael and Alex hovered outside a back entrance to the concrete building
waiting for Max to give the signal.
"Alex, you may want to wait here," Michael spoke.
"What are you talking about?" Alex asked confused.
With determination, Michael looked at Alex and explained, "Alex, I am willing to do whatever it takes. I just...it's not the best memory to have when you see..." Michael lowered his head in thought before looking back at Alex and continuing. He appreciated the efforts Alex had contributed in helping to locate Hope. After Michael had received visions upon touching Hope's photograph, Alex wasted no time in finding the location of the building in Michael's vision. There had been no doubt whether Michael's vision was accurate or not, but simply mere trust that Michael was right; the only kind of trust you could find in a true friend. Michael understood that Alex's trust was also largely due to the fact that Alex, being the male figure for most all of Hope's life, wanted to do all he could to assist in finding Hope. Still, Michael recognized the potential of what was about to happen inside the building. This building they knew absolutely nothing about except that Hope was in there. And that, of course, was enough to keep them all going. Alex was the best for the research end of the search for Hope, but Michael wasn't sure how he would handle the actual battle. He thought Alex deserved to be spared of witnessing what might happen when the aliens storm the building and attack anything and anyone standing between them and Hope. "Just keep watch out here," Michael made his appeal.
"Michael," Alex objected. "Max said..."
"I know what Max said," Michael interrupted. His voice was firm when he requested, "Please stay here."
Alex stared into Michael's eyes and realized the passion behind his motives. He knew that Michael would indeed do anything necessary to take Hope safely home. Alex slowly nodded his head in compliance with Michael's request. He watched as Michael took a stance of readiness impatiently waiting for Max's signal to enter the building.
He marveled at how the soldier in Michael had surfaced. Alex knew that Michael and Max had learned a lot about war tactics and survival of the fittest on Antar. Still, the idea that Michael had once been a mission- driven soldier had not entirely seemed real until Alex saw him with his armor on.
...................................................................
Isabel and Max hid behind a dumpster waiting for the last car to leave the parking lot of the government facility. They watched silently as the burgundy Sebring made its way towards the gated entrance. After tipping the brim of his hat to the man driving the car, the security guard opened the gate.
"Let's move," Max spoke leading Isabel closer to the glass doors of the facility. Isabel followed silently, glancing to her left and right watching for keeping guard for onlookers.
As they approached the doors, Max spoke into a small, hand-held, two-way communicator. "Now, Michael," he said never shifting his eyes from the temporary target - the front doors of the facility.
"On my way," Michael answered Max.
Max stopped outside the front doors and examined a small computer on the wall near the doors that accepted retina scans and fingerprints for entrance into the building. Max raised his right hand to the computer. Within seconds, the doors' latches unhinged. Max pushed through the unlocked doors and held them open as Isabel followed.
"Max," Isabel whispered. When Max looked at her, Isabel moved her eyes from him to a small camera positioned at the entrance.
"Take care of it," Max ordered.
Isabel extended a hand skyward towards the camera. After a brief second, faint traces of smoke began seeping from inside the device. A popping sound followed and Isabel nodded her completion to Max.
Max returned the nod and the pair quietly made their way up the unmarked hallway, keeping their backs against the wall.
Seconds later, Isabel and Max crouched outside the room that Alex had determined to be the only known holding location matching Michael's description.
.......................................................................
Michael reached the backside of the room and hid in the shadows again waiting for Max to signal a clear opportunity to strike the room without alarming more personnel than necessary. As he waited, Michael reflected on how much his life had changed in the past few days. "I'm a father," he thought. "I'm a father, Maria is alive." Michael smiled at the thought, but his mood abruptly changed as he realized the circumstances that brought him to be standing outside a door preparing to attack. "I'm a father and someone is trying to take that away from me." Michael's anger escalated as he dwelled on the faces he'd created in his head…the faces of the people that stood inside the room. He was fully aware that Pierce and Topolski were dead. Still, in the absence of knowledge about the kidnappers, those two faces continuously haunted his thoughts.
"I've got to make this right," Michael thought. He never gave his own well- being a second thought as he waited for Max's signal. "If there's one thing I learned from Antar, it is to never doubt your enemy," he thought. With that in mind, Michael prepared himself to take any necessary actions to rescue Hope. His heart humbled as he thought of Hope's smiling, laughing face. He'd known her for only a few short days and they'd talked minimally at the hospital, but in their brief encounter, Michael had been charmed by her youthful intelligence, her optimistic attitude, and the endearing chatter-box mouth she'd evidently inherited from her mother.
……………………………………..
Alex gasped when his eyes saw the man approaching the backside of the building. With haste, Alex positioned himself behind the boxwoods that lined the building. He watched the man dressed in a black suit retrieve a plastic card from his coat pocket and hold it against the Veriscan box next to the door. When the light on the box turned green, the man pushed through the door and entered the building.
Alex panicked as he realized that though he was left behind to guard, he had no way to notify Michael about any company. Quickly, he used his cell phone to call Maria who was waiting with Liz in the van about half a mile from the gate. The strategy was for Max to phone them when they had Hope; the girls would then drive the van to the front entrance and provide the get-away vehicle for the escape. So, Alex knew that he could call Maria, she could call Max, and Max could use the communicators to tell Michael.
"Maria," Alex breathed when his friend answered her phone.
"Alex? What's wrong?" Maria asked in a panic. She wasn't expecting him to call, so she immediately assumed the worst.
"You've got to call Max. Get word to Michael that there is someone in the building…right behind him," Alex spoke hurriedly not wasting any time on needless detail.
"I'm on it," Maria answered.
………………………………………
Michael impatiently moved out of the shadows and closer to the target room. He shut his left eye and, with his right eye, unsuccessfully tried to peer through the crack between the door and the wall. Michael froze suddenly as he heard footsteps approaching. Standing completely still, he listened closely and determined the footsteps were coming from the side hall to his right. Slowly, he began taking steps backwards toward the shadows, being cautious not to alert the person of his position.
Without warning, Max's voice sounded through the communicator Michael wore around his wrist. "Michael."
Michael stopped and so did the footsteps. He knew the person had heard the sound. Both men stood silently listening. When Michael heard the footsteps resume, he too began taking steps backwards. He pushed through the door of a janitor's supply closet and stood silently, breathing heavily.
From inside the dark closet, Michael watched the light from the hallway that entered from the opening where the door met the floor. He listened attentively as the footsteps grew closer. In a matter of seconds, he saw shadows pass in front of the door.
"Michael, we've got company," Max's voice sounded again.
Michael threw his hand over the communicator, but his thinking was too little, too late. The man had certainly heard the message. Michael's heart pounded in his chest as he heard the footsteps stop and resume coming in his direction. He nervously prepared himself for battle as the light coming in beneath the door dimmed, indicating the person was standing right outside the closet door.
Michael took a deep breath and released a dominating roar as he shoved the closet door with all his physical strength. He heard a loud popping sound as the door made contact with the person on the other side, and then he heard a thud as the person hit the ground.
Cautiously, Michael exited the closet and observed a man in a black suit knocked out on the floor.
He snickered and shook his head. "Didn't they teach you to stand beside the door, not in front of it?" he remarked.
"Michael," Max's voice sounded.
"Yeah," Michael whispered into the communicator.
"There's someone in the building," Max answered.
"We've met," Michael replied.
"Is everything clear?" Max asked.
"For now," Michael answered.
"Okay, let's roll," Max said signaling the attack.
"Right," Michael responded. He looked at the target door and took a deep breath. One final thought ran through his head before the plan commenced. "I've got to get in there and get my little girl."
..................................................................
"I don't understand," Max said confused as he, Michael and Isabel stood in the empty room.
"You were so sure," Isabel said not understanding how they could have been so wrong.
"I felt her," Michael said hanging his head. He felt that he'd let down everyone, including Maria and Hope.
Isabel recognized Michael's vulnerable state and moved closer to him. She touched his shoulder in an effort to comfort him. She knew he felt full responsibility for finding Hope, but she also knew how difficult the search might be. "Michael, it's okay," she spoke.
Michael looked at Isabel's face and mistook her sympathetic eyes. He assumed the sadness he saw in them was her doubting him. "I did," Michael defended himself pulling away from Isabel to look her squarely in the face. "I did feel her. As soon as we came close to this building." He looked at Max and pleaded for them to believe him, "I swear it."
"Hey," Isabel interrupted widening her eyes in surprise. "Who are you trying to convince? We believe you. Right, Max?" Isabel said turning her eyes to her brother.
"Of course," Max answered without hesitation. He realized that the person Michael was trying to convince was himself. He also knew that the last thing they needed was Michael doubting himself. There was no way such negative thinking could help them. And as time become more precious, they needed to take advantage of all their resources - including any hunches Michael had.
"What's that?" Isabel said curiously as she moved toward a shiny object lying on the floor near the back door of the room.
Max and Michael followed Isabel to the other side of the room where she bent down and retrieved a necklace.
Isabel held the necklace in the air to show Max and Michael who looked on as a locket swung from the thin chain.
Immediatley, Michael recognized the locket. It was the one Hope wore around her neck in the hospital. Michael reached forward to take the locket in his left hand. Just as he touched the locket, Michael's mind was rushed with visions of Hope. He gasped and held his breath as the visions took over every sense of his body. He saw Hope sitting in a chair in the center of the room, bound and blindfolded. He felt her feeble fear. Fear of the man in the white coat with the dark eyes and the black, spiky hair. Fear of the darkness. Fear of never getting out of that cold and dark room and fear of never again seeing her mommy or Uncle Alex or Auntie Liz. All she wanted was her mama and Michael's emotions detected Hope's call. He knew Hope felt confident that her mama would make everything all right! His heart cried out to her as she whimpered about wanting her mama. He would have given anything to reach out and grab her and hold her tight. He watched as tears traveled down her soft cheeks and he felt every determining effort Hope gave towards stopping the tears. The stale odor of cigarettes hung in the room. He watched helplessly as a man approached Hope and bent down to whisper in her ear. He struggled to hear what the man told Hope. A second person, a woman in a white coat, joined them. She waved for the man to come to her. Michael's visions halted suddenly when he heard the man say, "The girl is expendable."
"Michael," Isabel shouted bringing Michael back to the reality of the empty room.
"She was here," Michael breathed. "And she's a decoy."
"Alex, you may want to wait here," Michael spoke.
"What are you talking about?" Alex asked confused.
With determination, Michael looked at Alex and explained, "Alex, I am willing to do whatever it takes. I just...it's not the best memory to have when you see..." Michael lowered his head in thought before looking back at Alex and continuing. He appreciated the efforts Alex had contributed in helping to locate Hope. After Michael had received visions upon touching Hope's photograph, Alex wasted no time in finding the location of the building in Michael's vision. There had been no doubt whether Michael's vision was accurate or not, but simply mere trust that Michael was right; the only kind of trust you could find in a true friend. Michael understood that Alex's trust was also largely due to the fact that Alex, being the male figure for most all of Hope's life, wanted to do all he could to assist in finding Hope. Still, Michael recognized the potential of what was about to happen inside the building. This building they knew absolutely nothing about except that Hope was in there. And that, of course, was enough to keep them all going. Alex was the best for the research end of the search for Hope, but Michael wasn't sure how he would handle the actual battle. He thought Alex deserved to be spared of witnessing what might happen when the aliens storm the building and attack anything and anyone standing between them and Hope. "Just keep watch out here," Michael made his appeal.
"Michael," Alex objected. "Max said..."
"I know what Max said," Michael interrupted. His voice was firm when he requested, "Please stay here."
Alex stared into Michael's eyes and realized the passion behind his motives. He knew that Michael would indeed do anything necessary to take Hope safely home. Alex slowly nodded his head in compliance with Michael's request. He watched as Michael took a stance of readiness impatiently waiting for Max's signal to enter the building.
He marveled at how the soldier in Michael had surfaced. Alex knew that Michael and Max had learned a lot about war tactics and survival of the fittest on Antar. Still, the idea that Michael had once been a mission- driven soldier had not entirely seemed real until Alex saw him with his armor on.
...................................................................
Isabel and Max hid behind a dumpster waiting for the last car to leave the parking lot of the government facility. They watched silently as the burgundy Sebring made its way towards the gated entrance. After tipping the brim of his hat to the man driving the car, the security guard opened the gate.
"Let's move," Max spoke leading Isabel closer to the glass doors of the facility. Isabel followed silently, glancing to her left and right watching for keeping guard for onlookers.
As they approached the doors, Max spoke into a small, hand-held, two-way communicator. "Now, Michael," he said never shifting his eyes from the temporary target - the front doors of the facility.
"On my way," Michael answered Max.
Max stopped outside the front doors and examined a small computer on the wall near the doors that accepted retina scans and fingerprints for entrance into the building. Max raised his right hand to the computer. Within seconds, the doors' latches unhinged. Max pushed through the unlocked doors and held them open as Isabel followed.
"Max," Isabel whispered. When Max looked at her, Isabel moved her eyes from him to a small camera positioned at the entrance.
"Take care of it," Max ordered.
Isabel extended a hand skyward towards the camera. After a brief second, faint traces of smoke began seeping from inside the device. A popping sound followed and Isabel nodded her completion to Max.
Max returned the nod and the pair quietly made their way up the unmarked hallway, keeping their backs against the wall.
Seconds later, Isabel and Max crouched outside the room that Alex had determined to be the only known holding location matching Michael's description.
.......................................................................
Michael reached the backside of the room and hid in the shadows again waiting for Max to signal a clear opportunity to strike the room without alarming more personnel than necessary. As he waited, Michael reflected on how much his life had changed in the past few days. "I'm a father," he thought. "I'm a father, Maria is alive." Michael smiled at the thought, but his mood abruptly changed as he realized the circumstances that brought him to be standing outside a door preparing to attack. "I'm a father and someone is trying to take that away from me." Michael's anger escalated as he dwelled on the faces he'd created in his head…the faces of the people that stood inside the room. He was fully aware that Pierce and Topolski were dead. Still, in the absence of knowledge about the kidnappers, those two faces continuously haunted his thoughts.
"I've got to make this right," Michael thought. He never gave his own well- being a second thought as he waited for Max's signal. "If there's one thing I learned from Antar, it is to never doubt your enemy," he thought. With that in mind, Michael prepared himself to take any necessary actions to rescue Hope. His heart humbled as he thought of Hope's smiling, laughing face. He'd known her for only a few short days and they'd talked minimally at the hospital, but in their brief encounter, Michael had been charmed by her youthful intelligence, her optimistic attitude, and the endearing chatter-box mouth she'd evidently inherited from her mother.
……………………………………..
Alex gasped when his eyes saw the man approaching the backside of the building. With haste, Alex positioned himself behind the boxwoods that lined the building. He watched the man dressed in a black suit retrieve a plastic card from his coat pocket and hold it against the Veriscan box next to the door. When the light on the box turned green, the man pushed through the door and entered the building.
Alex panicked as he realized that though he was left behind to guard, he had no way to notify Michael about any company. Quickly, he used his cell phone to call Maria who was waiting with Liz in the van about half a mile from the gate. The strategy was for Max to phone them when they had Hope; the girls would then drive the van to the front entrance and provide the get-away vehicle for the escape. So, Alex knew that he could call Maria, she could call Max, and Max could use the communicators to tell Michael.
"Maria," Alex breathed when his friend answered her phone.
"Alex? What's wrong?" Maria asked in a panic. She wasn't expecting him to call, so she immediately assumed the worst.
"You've got to call Max. Get word to Michael that there is someone in the building…right behind him," Alex spoke hurriedly not wasting any time on needless detail.
"I'm on it," Maria answered.
………………………………………
Michael impatiently moved out of the shadows and closer to the target room. He shut his left eye and, with his right eye, unsuccessfully tried to peer through the crack between the door and the wall. Michael froze suddenly as he heard footsteps approaching. Standing completely still, he listened closely and determined the footsteps were coming from the side hall to his right. Slowly, he began taking steps backwards toward the shadows, being cautious not to alert the person of his position.
Without warning, Max's voice sounded through the communicator Michael wore around his wrist. "Michael."
Michael stopped and so did the footsteps. He knew the person had heard the sound. Both men stood silently listening. When Michael heard the footsteps resume, he too began taking steps backwards. He pushed through the door of a janitor's supply closet and stood silently, breathing heavily.
From inside the dark closet, Michael watched the light from the hallway that entered from the opening where the door met the floor. He listened attentively as the footsteps grew closer. In a matter of seconds, he saw shadows pass in front of the door.
"Michael, we've got company," Max's voice sounded again.
Michael threw his hand over the communicator, but his thinking was too little, too late. The man had certainly heard the message. Michael's heart pounded in his chest as he heard the footsteps stop and resume coming in his direction. He nervously prepared himself for battle as the light coming in beneath the door dimmed, indicating the person was standing right outside the closet door.
Michael took a deep breath and released a dominating roar as he shoved the closet door with all his physical strength. He heard a loud popping sound as the door made contact with the person on the other side, and then he heard a thud as the person hit the ground.
Cautiously, Michael exited the closet and observed a man in a black suit knocked out on the floor.
He snickered and shook his head. "Didn't they teach you to stand beside the door, not in front of it?" he remarked.
"Michael," Max's voice sounded.
"Yeah," Michael whispered into the communicator.
"There's someone in the building," Max answered.
"We've met," Michael replied.
"Is everything clear?" Max asked.
"For now," Michael answered.
"Okay, let's roll," Max said signaling the attack.
"Right," Michael responded. He looked at the target door and took a deep breath. One final thought ran through his head before the plan commenced. "I've got to get in there and get my little girl."
..................................................................
"I don't understand," Max said confused as he, Michael and Isabel stood in the empty room.
"You were so sure," Isabel said not understanding how they could have been so wrong.
"I felt her," Michael said hanging his head. He felt that he'd let down everyone, including Maria and Hope.
Isabel recognized Michael's vulnerable state and moved closer to him. She touched his shoulder in an effort to comfort him. She knew he felt full responsibility for finding Hope, but she also knew how difficult the search might be. "Michael, it's okay," she spoke.
Michael looked at Isabel's face and mistook her sympathetic eyes. He assumed the sadness he saw in them was her doubting him. "I did," Michael defended himself pulling away from Isabel to look her squarely in the face. "I did feel her. As soon as we came close to this building." He looked at Max and pleaded for them to believe him, "I swear it."
"Hey," Isabel interrupted widening her eyes in surprise. "Who are you trying to convince? We believe you. Right, Max?" Isabel said turning her eyes to her brother.
"Of course," Max answered without hesitation. He realized that the person Michael was trying to convince was himself. He also knew that the last thing they needed was Michael doubting himself. There was no way such negative thinking could help them. And as time become more precious, they needed to take advantage of all their resources - including any hunches Michael had.
"What's that?" Isabel said curiously as she moved toward a shiny object lying on the floor near the back door of the room.
Max and Michael followed Isabel to the other side of the room where she bent down and retrieved a necklace.
Isabel held the necklace in the air to show Max and Michael who looked on as a locket swung from the thin chain.
Immediatley, Michael recognized the locket. It was the one Hope wore around her neck in the hospital. Michael reached forward to take the locket in his left hand. Just as he touched the locket, Michael's mind was rushed with visions of Hope. He gasped and held his breath as the visions took over every sense of his body. He saw Hope sitting in a chair in the center of the room, bound and blindfolded. He felt her feeble fear. Fear of the man in the white coat with the dark eyes and the black, spiky hair. Fear of the darkness. Fear of never getting out of that cold and dark room and fear of never again seeing her mommy or Uncle Alex or Auntie Liz. All she wanted was her mama and Michael's emotions detected Hope's call. He knew Hope felt confident that her mama would make everything all right! His heart cried out to her as she whimpered about wanting her mama. He would have given anything to reach out and grab her and hold her tight. He watched as tears traveled down her soft cheeks and he felt every determining effort Hope gave towards stopping the tears. The stale odor of cigarettes hung in the room. He watched helplessly as a man approached Hope and bent down to whisper in her ear. He struggled to hear what the man told Hope. A second person, a woman in a white coat, joined them. She waved for the man to come to her. Michael's visions halted suddenly when he heard the man say, "The girl is expendable."
"Michael," Isabel shouted bringing Michael back to the reality of the empty room.
"She was here," Michael breathed. "And she's a decoy."