Chapter 13
I watched Ashley walk out of the room. She'd taken the vial with her so I couldn't check it out, and I didn't think she was joking when she warned me not to mess with it, but to look for Nickolas? Of that I wasn't sure. I couldn't be wondering the base all day. My luck would run out sooner or later. But I couldn't stay here. Other girls would show up sooner or later, but I couldn't leave without an idea on where to go.
I needed a place where I could watch people without being seen. A place I could get around in, kinda sorta at least. But I didn't know of any places people wouldn't be watching. Laughing outside reminded me that I had to leave soon. I glanced around the room looking for inspiration. Ribbons caught my eye. They were tied to the screen that led to the ventilation system. For once all those corny spy movies served a purpose. The vents were actually pretty big on this base, but the entrees into them weren't. but I knew where they would be.
Quickly I left the room, checking first to make sure no one was around. I slipped into the first bathroom I saw. On the far side, just above the last stall, was a large entree to the vents. I walked into the last stall as once again I heard laughter. Quickly I shut the door behind me and hoped the girls wouldn't notice.
"Is anyone in here?" one of the girls asked cheerfully. And of course I didn't answer.
Another one spoke up, "Check under the stalls, just in case," she suggested.
Quickly and silently I got onto the toilet seat, making sure I didn't slip while I ducked so I wouldn't be seen over it.
"No one's here," said a first voice, one I recognized. It was the girl who'd been with Ashley in the computer room. Her tone turned more business like. "Ashley's interested in Alex, which isn't a good sign. My guess is she's working for Milliardo, but she might be working for her mom. Whoever her boss is, she's not alone."
"Who do you think she's with?" said the first girl.
"Um." started the second. "My guess is Alex, that or one of the guys, we haven't watched them much."
"Max and Nat said that Jet was a bit suspicious." the third pointed out.
"True," said the first, "but whoever's with her we have to find out, soon. We can't let this screw up else Mathew will blame it on us." I heard two gulps and a sigh. "Let's get out of here, before someone walks in."
I heard them walk out but didn't move just in case. I planed on waiting about five minutes but when that was up my gut told me to stay still. Finally I heard the second girl ask, "Is anyone there? You better tell me, 'cause if I find you when I'm checking stalls you won't be happy." And sure enough I heard her opening stalls. Carefully I waited for her to get to mine. Slowly she pushed it open. I pushed myself against the stall wall where the door would be pushed against, and kicked. The door hit the girl, knocking her back. I jumped out of the stall and grabbed her. She threw a punch at me, but I dodged, catching her hand and twisting it behind her back, then pushing her into the wall.
"Shut up, you say anything and I break your arm, followed by your neck. You know who I am, you know I can do it. Got that?" I asked in a harsh, hushed voice. She only nodded. "Good. I'm going to ask you some questions, you're going to answer in whispers, and only answer. Understood?"
"Yes," she whispered so even I could barely hear.
I tightened my hold on her just in case. "Good. Second question, what are you doing for Mathew?"
"I'm one of his many spies that he has around the base. I'm to watch for other spies, such as Ashley and you, though we didn't catch you. Then I'm to report to him, telling him what I know, and all I know about the found spies," she stated nervously, not sure of how much she should say. She seemed worried someone might find out she was telling me things.
I nodded slowly, then remembered she couldn't see it. "Okay, what do you know about Ashley."
The girl hesitated before answering, "um. she's been here awhile, one of our hackers. She's great at her job, and wonderful at finding out tid-bits of information. She's focusing mainly on a certain project that we think she's working with several other people, to somehow try to stop it. She grew up with her mom on colony fiv-"
I cut her off, "Okay, don't need a history report. Tell me more about this 'certain project'."
"I." then she stopped. "I'm sorry, I can't, he'll kill me," she seamed truly scared.
"Then don't tell him," I wasn't up for giving sympathy. "Just tell me what the fuck is going on and I'll let you go, alive. You can tell Mathew whatever the hell you want, but I'm going to find out about the project, if I have to kick the crap out of you to do so." Still she didn't say anything. I put a little more pressure on her arm, and she gasped. "Info or your arm breaks."
"Go to hell!" A little loud, but that's okay. I soon broke her arm and she cried out, quite a bit loud, but I waited a few seconds to make sure no one heard before going on.
"Look, you have 205 more bones in your body, and though I can't break all of them I can break quite a few and I'd just love to hurt you more. But unfortunately I'm on a time schedule, so if you don't mind I'd like you to answer, now," I murmured, my voice a sweet, threatening poison.
She turned to look back at me. "I mind."
With a sigh I pulled her head back from the wall by her hair, and slammed it back into it, then switched arms so I had an unbroken one in a hold.
"Okay, now you can have me break another arm or-" I didn't finish my sentence. She pushed back from the wall with a lot of force. I stuck my leg between hers and kicked one out from under her, tripping her while snapping her arm at the same time. I'm not sure how but I managed to cover her mouth and fall on top of her before she screamed. "Okay," I huffed, a little annoyed, "Answer or I'll break another bone, you're knee's looking a little shabby maybe." I slowly lifted my hand away from her mouth, not getting off of her.
"Fine, I'll tell you," she sobbed. "There's a project, top secret, that Mathew's working on. It's something with bio weapons, but that's all I know, I swear, really."
"Don't worry, I believe you," I stated, and I did. Mathew wouldn't tell anyone he didn't know could stand through a beating. She stayed on the ground, giving me time to grab one of my guns. "Sorry, but I'm knocking you out now." And with a clunk I hit her over the head.
Getting to my feet I walked back into the stall and stood on the seat again, this time so I could reach for the vent opening in the ceiling. Using the wall a bit I was able to open it. I slowly climbed onto the wall, and then into the vent. It was dark and dusty, but big enough for me to fit in. Quickly I closed the door to it. Suddenly I wished I had taken the time to look up a map, but for now I was stuck without and had to make the best of it.
I crawled blindly, not bothering to check the vents I past. I didn't hear anything too terribly interesting that I remembered it. Instead I just wondered about until I came to loud noise. Looking through one of the vents I saw what I expected, the cafeteria. But things seemed a little more disorganized then normal. People seamed to be talking about something, and I couldn't decipher what it was. All I heard was laughter and talking, but nothing specific.
Suddenly someone ran in and began shouting. "Hey everyone listen up, and don't tell anyone you heard this from me," everyone laughed at the kid's lame joke before he went on. "It's true, Zechs came back with the Scorpio!" The crowd started talking at once, making it a hard for the kid to quiet them. "Hey, calm down, else I won't tell you the rest," instantly they shut up. "From what I've heard Zechs was helping Julia because of a favor he owed his cousin, but the favor's paid off and if he sees her he'll turn her in. No one really believes him, though."
Someone interrupted him, "Can you blame them?"
The kid shook his head, "Not at all, I'm just telling you the facts. Zechs is looked up in a high security cell, still under questioning, and Milliardo's asking to take him off our hands, which was vetoed the moment the suggestion was made. Mathew's, as you all know, not terribly found of Milliardo and want us to use Zechs as a bargaining chip or something. I dunno, they didn't actually tell me anything. And to tangle things up a bit more, Alex is missing again, and that I'm supposed to tell you, and I think somewhere around me finding out someone mentioned a little reward for bringing her in." he let it trail off as he chuckled. People laughed a bit with him, then went back to their work.
Zechs was back? Why? Why wouldn't he just go to his dad? They're never going to believe him here. But at least I had a place to go. If only I could find Nickolas first. I scanned the cafeteria quickly, yet saw not trace of him. So I moved on.
Now I started checking vents. Everywhere I went. If I saw light I'd look to see who was in the room. Yet I didn't see anyone I knew. Not until I saw Jet in a room by himself. It looked like a classroom, and he was where the teacher should be, typing on the computer. I didn't think I could get into the room from where I was looking, but I saw a vent across the room with a much bigger opening.
I went back the way I'd come, remembering a turn in the direction I wanted. I took it, and hit a rise of about four feet. Frowning I though a moment. I could get through by pulling myself up, but there was less room once I got myself up there, and the corners would be annoying, but I had to try.
I put my hands on the rise, bending my head into it, not having room to stand strait. With a small jump I was able to pull my whole stomach onto it. Then I slowly slithered until my whole body was up. I had to stay on my stomach, though. There wasn't room for me to craw. The shaft became wider as I moved further through it. Soon I took another turn, and sure enough I was in front of the opening. I was almost right above Jet, and I was betting that seeing me drop in would be a surprise. Slowly I pushed out the screws that were keeping the vent door in place. They weren't hard to get out of the way. When the first one dropped to the ground Jet stood up and looked around the room. Then the second one dropped and I was able to push the screen away.
"Hiya," I said as I dropped to the ground, landing unevenly.
Jet blinked in surprise. "How the hell did you get here?" he asked.
I blinked, thinking it somewhat obvious. "Did you mean, how did I get into the room? If that's what you're asking then I fell."
"No, no," he muttered. He pointed to the vents then back at me, then to the vents. A man of many words. "The vents? They can't possibly be big enough for you to travel in."
"Of course they are," I stated. "You can't possibly be accusing Oz of being smart. They've made mistake after mistake, and the vents isn't even their biggest."
And Jet stood with his mouth open as he looked at me. "What're you doing here?" he asked, suddenly looking tired.
I shrugged, glancing around the room. "Just kind of looking for Nickolas, wondering if you might know where I can find him," I said simply.
Jet shook his head, just a little to quickly for me to be convinced. "Um, no, I don't have a clue, he might be showing up later, but nothing's for certain. He said something about having some work to do for someone. but I don't remember what," he said shakily. For some reason I thought he was lying.
I grinned lazily as I raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's too bad. I've got this vial with green liquid in it somewhere up here." I reached up into the vents, standing on my tippy toes to be able to reach further. "That's funny, it was right there a second ago."
"Oh-my-god, where'd you get that, is it open?" Jet asked, looking genuinely scarred. "It'd better not be open, not with you going through the vents. That would be very, very bad."
"Then it's probably a good thing that Ashley has it. And I don't need to find Nickolas anymore, you can probably answer my questions," I stated. Jet winced, not really wanting to hear that. I wondered whether or not he would be as reluctant to say things as the girl had been.
Jet started pacing, glancing at the door every now and then. "Okay, so you've talked to Ashley, and she didn't tell you much else you wouldn't have been looking for Nickolas and you've seen the vial so you know something's up you just don't have a clue what." jet stated.
"Yep, that's the idea," I replied.
Jet looked at the door again, "Nickolas is supposed to show up soon, but I don't know whether or not he'll be alone."
I shrugged. "If he's with someone I'll take care of it. Right now I need answers. What the hell is the green stuff?"
Jet took a deep breath before answering. "Mathew was looking for a way to wipe out the majority of Milliardo's forces. He hired a few scientists to help with this top-secret project. Dorothy found out about it and told Milliardo something was up, but she didn't know what. She sent in Ashley to help figure it out, even though she's not completely with Milliardo on this. She wants to figure things out before he does. Milliardo wasn't stupid and knew she might not help him so he sent in Nickolas and me. I'm in as a pilot and Nickolas is a computer engineer. We've both been watching for things.
"About a month ago Nicolas ran into Ashley who through out a hint on where to look. After checking a few things out he managed to find out where the lab was that they're making that liquid. It took quite awhile longer to discover that it's a bio-engineered virus that he could use as a weapon. It travels through the air and is basically a poison. They don't have an antidote yet, and the mixture isn't entirely stable. They can't control it at all. It travels and kills fast, and has killed off several of the scientists working on the project."
"So basically he's created something to destroy everyone in contained areas?" I asked.
Jet nodded before answering. "Exactly, but it lives off oxygen. It doesn't need much but lack of it will destroy the poison in it. It thrives in dark, dank places. So it can take out a space colony, but once it hits space it's dead. Light can slow it, certain types could kill it, but it takes awhile to do much damage. I don't know all the details, just what I could pick up."
This was a surprise. I didn't expect Mathew to be leading some well thought out conspiracy against. The rest of Oz. He could over throw the organization by threat alone. They wouldn't even need the mobile dolls.
"Do you know if this is being made or worked on else where?" I asked.
Jet shook his head. "No where else. Mathew doesn't trust anyone else to work on it."
We were both quiet a moment. He was staring at me and I was staring at the floor. Surely Mathew knew that if someone screwed up it could wipe out everyone on this colony. And this virus thing could destroy innocent people. What if it got onto Earth? The sun could kill it but it would take awhile if large amounts of the virus got out.
Then Nickolas walked in with the last person I excepted to see, Zechs. Both starred at me, as surprised as I was. And right behind them someone else was trying to get in.
I recognized Mathew's voice as he said, "What's going on here?"
I opened the vents, grabbed a chair, and climbed back into them as quickly as I could, which was about as long as Zechs and Nickolas could stop Mathew from walking in. when at last they moved aside, Mathew looked just a little miffed. "What's going on?" he demanded.
"Um." Jet murmured, "nothing much."
Mathew glared as he walked up to Jet. "Nothing much? That usually indicates that there was something." No one said anything for a moment, giving Mathew time to look around the room, he didn't look at the vent else he would have seen me peering through. But he did look at the computer screen. "What were you getting into, Jet?"
"Um. . ." he murmured, not having an answer. I couldn't see the screen from where I was, and I hadn't checked it out while I was in the room.
Mathew glanced up at him after taking a second to look at the screen. "Jet, I don't know whether anyone told you, but you're not permitted to be visiting certain web sites that show. . . more than the necessary amounts of skin."
Jet looked away.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't see these things. Next time you get on one of our computers you're going to stay on the allowed sights. Right now I need you to keep an eye on Zechs. He's a very popular pilot and people are already beginning to complain about him being in jail," Mathew said. "Of course that's the reason he's out."
"Yes sir." Jet said as he glanced at Zechs, who stood completely emotionless.
Mathew nodded. "Good. If I find anything goes wrong it's you who is going to get in trouble. Not Nickolas or Zechs, but you." With that he stormed out of the room. I counted to ten to make sure he was gone before once again sliding out of the ventilation shaft. Mathew didn't seam to have noticed the chair underneath it, which was a good thing.
"Okay, what's she doing here?" Nickolas asked Jet. "And why were you using one of Oz's computers to check out porn sites?"
Jet raised up his arms in defense. "Hey, it wasn't my idea for her to show up, and don't complain, you've done worse. Anyway, she found me when she was looking for you. Blame Ashley if you need to blame some one, she's the one who told her to look for you. What's Zechs doing here?"
"Mathew wanted him out and about, but needed someone to watch him. I don't know why he's with us. We're not exactly the best soldiers," Nickolas said.
Zechs was staring at me. My guess was he knew exactly what was going on, he just didn't want to say anything. And his silence was bothering me, along with his stare. Something was up and I wanted to know what, but I wasn't going to say anything until he did.
"What do you think Alex?" Zechs finally said. I looked strait into his eyes, not yet answering. He seamed to be trying to say something, but I couldn't tell what. "Why would Mathew set me up with these guys?"
It hit me suddenly. Zechs had said that if he'd found me he'd turn me in, and Mathew wasn't stupid. His spies probably knew to watch Nickolas and Jet. So who better to put his latest spy with? And if I were going to make Zechs a spy I'd like to be hearing what was going on, especially when I didn't trust him.
"You're wired, aren't you," I whispered, trying to stay quite.
He nodded as he spoke, "Of course not, what are you talking about?"
I barely made it back into the vents before the door was open and soldiers piled in. I began to crawl away, not caring where I was going, just as long as I got away from that room. I hoped Jet and Nickolas wouldn't get in too much trouble, but I wouldn't be any help to them if I was dead, or captured, but I was betting this time I'd end up dead.
I waited till I got to the first opening that I could fit through, and then shoved open the vent door, knowing it wasn't strong enough to stop me. When I finished climbing out of the vent I put the door back, using some duck tape that I had found in the room to keep it up. I turned out to be in a storage room. There were boxes everywhere, and I didn't have a clue what was in them, and didn't really care.
Walking to the door I glanced around just to make sure there weren't any other doors. There wasn't, and no one was outside when I opened the door just to glance through. I took a deep breath before stepping out into the hallway. I didn't know if they'd be sending anyone through the vents. If they did they'd be checking every opening they could, and would probably get to the one I came out of sooner or later. I had to get away from it quickly. My main problem was that I didn't know which direction I had come from. I hadn't kept track of the turns that I had taken, and I doubt if it would have mattered. So I started down a hallway, not looking for anything in particular. Nothing became clear to me, I didn't recognize the place. Every now and then I'd check a door, but the ones I checked were always locked. I didn't hear any voices for a long time, and when I finally did I slowed down, not sure where to go. They were around a turn, and if they came this way there was nowhere I could hide.
But for now they weren't moving. Only talking next to a half way open door. There voices were muffled so I couldn't hear anything. Soon one walked away, leaving the other to turn off the light and follow. He left the door open, but it was the type that would shut on its own. Being the only open door I had seen for a while the moment the man had turned the corner I ran for it. Grabbing it just in time I slid into the room, closing the door behind me. Flipping the light switch I turned around.
The room was still dark, but I could still see. The walls were lined with containers, everything from steal to glass. Several vials were tightly shut and set out on a table. Three other doors left the room. I recognized the liquid inside the containers. It was the same thing Ashley had, just a lot more. And even more surprising then that was that there was a rather large bomb in the middle of the room, strapped to several sticks of TNT. I blinked in surprise. The timer was set for five hours, which wasn't long enough for me to get off the colony. But if I looked on the bright side the entire virus was about to destroy only one colony and would never leave the base. Well, maybe it would, but not the colony. Quickly I left the room, walking right into a scientist who had been coming in.
He seamed just as surprised as I was. Thinking fast I blocked the door so that he couldn't go inside. I didn't know whether or not he had anything to do with the bomb, but if hadn't I didn't want him turning it off. Better to get rid of the virus and have me stuck on the colony with it then to have it destroy everyone else.
"Who are you?" the scientist asked.
"Um." I mumbled, "a friend of Mathews?" I don't think he heard the question in my voice.
Suddenly he seamed more cautious then surprised. "Really, and did he send you to check on things?" the man asked.
"Yeah, that's right, he sent me to check on things," I really hoped this guy was buying it, cause it wasn't that good of an act.
"Well then," the man said, "I best make sure you're not able to make the report." He pulled out a gun and aimed it at my head.
So he was one of the bombing people. Oh lovely, now I'd have to convince him I wasn't working for Mathew. "Um, wait! Wait! I'm Alex Yuy, don't shoot, I saw the bomb but don't shoot!" I half yelled.
The man hesitated just long enough for me to grab the gun form him. I pulled out the clip and handed him back the gun, slipping the clip into my back pocket. "See, now neither of us can use it."
"What the hell are you doing here?" the man snapped, more annoyed then anything. As long as he wasn't killing me I didn't mind.
I shrugged. "Got lost, snuck into a room, happened to have a killing virus which I wanted to avoid and destroy. Lucky for me someone's already doing that. And I think I'll be leaving now, so if you don't mind." I tried to move around him, but he blocked the way.
"I need the clip so I can kill anyone who comes into the room. Can't have Mathew's men finding out about the bomb," the man stated.
Meeting his eyes I nodded. I didn't think he was going to shoot me. Of course I've been wrong before, but I was hoping this wasn't one of the times. Pulling out the clip I handed it to him. He nodded thanks and walked past me into the room.
I just kept walking down the hallway. I'd been lucky twice, and hoped it'd happen again. I didn't want to run into anyone bad. Again I started checking doors. About the fifth time one opened. No one was inside. I checked for other doors and found one. Walking through it I entered another room with no one there. But there were no other exits so I left. I went back into the first one the same time a group of soldiers walked through the door. There wasn't any time for me to leave or draw a gun. Before I knew what was happening there were seven men aiming their guns for me. I put my hands up in surrender.
"Alex Yuy, it's about time we found you," One of them said.
I shrugged. "Hasn't been so long for me, just getting acquainted with a different part of the base."
"I don't suggest you use sarcasm. No one will care if I shoot you now," the same guy stated matter-of-factly.
"Damn," I muttered.
One of the soldiers searched me, finding all my weapons. Handcuffs were thrown on me, being put a little too tight for comfort. The head soldier used a radio to call in saying they'd found me while the rest shoved me forward leading me out the door. Three soldiers walked in front of me and the rest behind. There wasn't a moment when at least four guns weren't pointed in my direction. No one told me, but I had a feeling that once again I was going to talk to Mathew.
Hello again everyone. This is the second to last chapter, then their be an epilogue, then I'm done! *grins widely* almost there, I just have to write a little more. . . Well, I'll have the next chapter out soon and I'll put out the epilogue not long after, maybe at the same time. ~Rave
I watched Ashley walk out of the room. She'd taken the vial with her so I couldn't check it out, and I didn't think she was joking when she warned me not to mess with it, but to look for Nickolas? Of that I wasn't sure. I couldn't be wondering the base all day. My luck would run out sooner or later. But I couldn't stay here. Other girls would show up sooner or later, but I couldn't leave without an idea on where to go.
I needed a place where I could watch people without being seen. A place I could get around in, kinda sorta at least. But I didn't know of any places people wouldn't be watching. Laughing outside reminded me that I had to leave soon. I glanced around the room looking for inspiration. Ribbons caught my eye. They were tied to the screen that led to the ventilation system. For once all those corny spy movies served a purpose. The vents were actually pretty big on this base, but the entrees into them weren't. but I knew where they would be.
Quickly I left the room, checking first to make sure no one was around. I slipped into the first bathroom I saw. On the far side, just above the last stall, was a large entree to the vents. I walked into the last stall as once again I heard laughter. Quickly I shut the door behind me and hoped the girls wouldn't notice.
"Is anyone in here?" one of the girls asked cheerfully. And of course I didn't answer.
Another one spoke up, "Check under the stalls, just in case," she suggested.
Quickly and silently I got onto the toilet seat, making sure I didn't slip while I ducked so I wouldn't be seen over it.
"No one's here," said a first voice, one I recognized. It was the girl who'd been with Ashley in the computer room. Her tone turned more business like. "Ashley's interested in Alex, which isn't a good sign. My guess is she's working for Milliardo, but she might be working for her mom. Whoever her boss is, she's not alone."
"Who do you think she's with?" said the first girl.
"Um." started the second. "My guess is Alex, that or one of the guys, we haven't watched them much."
"Max and Nat said that Jet was a bit suspicious." the third pointed out.
"True," said the first, "but whoever's with her we have to find out, soon. We can't let this screw up else Mathew will blame it on us." I heard two gulps and a sigh. "Let's get out of here, before someone walks in."
I heard them walk out but didn't move just in case. I planed on waiting about five minutes but when that was up my gut told me to stay still. Finally I heard the second girl ask, "Is anyone there? You better tell me, 'cause if I find you when I'm checking stalls you won't be happy." And sure enough I heard her opening stalls. Carefully I waited for her to get to mine. Slowly she pushed it open. I pushed myself against the stall wall where the door would be pushed against, and kicked. The door hit the girl, knocking her back. I jumped out of the stall and grabbed her. She threw a punch at me, but I dodged, catching her hand and twisting it behind her back, then pushing her into the wall.
"Shut up, you say anything and I break your arm, followed by your neck. You know who I am, you know I can do it. Got that?" I asked in a harsh, hushed voice. She only nodded. "Good. I'm going to ask you some questions, you're going to answer in whispers, and only answer. Understood?"
"Yes," she whispered so even I could barely hear.
I tightened my hold on her just in case. "Good. Second question, what are you doing for Mathew?"
"I'm one of his many spies that he has around the base. I'm to watch for other spies, such as Ashley and you, though we didn't catch you. Then I'm to report to him, telling him what I know, and all I know about the found spies," she stated nervously, not sure of how much she should say. She seemed worried someone might find out she was telling me things.
I nodded slowly, then remembered she couldn't see it. "Okay, what do you know about Ashley."
The girl hesitated before answering, "um. she's been here awhile, one of our hackers. She's great at her job, and wonderful at finding out tid-bits of information. She's focusing mainly on a certain project that we think she's working with several other people, to somehow try to stop it. She grew up with her mom on colony fiv-"
I cut her off, "Okay, don't need a history report. Tell me more about this 'certain project'."
"I." then she stopped. "I'm sorry, I can't, he'll kill me," she seamed truly scared.
"Then don't tell him," I wasn't up for giving sympathy. "Just tell me what the fuck is going on and I'll let you go, alive. You can tell Mathew whatever the hell you want, but I'm going to find out about the project, if I have to kick the crap out of you to do so." Still she didn't say anything. I put a little more pressure on her arm, and she gasped. "Info or your arm breaks."
"Go to hell!" A little loud, but that's okay. I soon broke her arm and she cried out, quite a bit loud, but I waited a few seconds to make sure no one heard before going on.
"Look, you have 205 more bones in your body, and though I can't break all of them I can break quite a few and I'd just love to hurt you more. But unfortunately I'm on a time schedule, so if you don't mind I'd like you to answer, now," I murmured, my voice a sweet, threatening poison.
She turned to look back at me. "I mind."
With a sigh I pulled her head back from the wall by her hair, and slammed it back into it, then switched arms so I had an unbroken one in a hold.
"Okay, now you can have me break another arm or-" I didn't finish my sentence. She pushed back from the wall with a lot of force. I stuck my leg between hers and kicked one out from under her, tripping her while snapping her arm at the same time. I'm not sure how but I managed to cover her mouth and fall on top of her before she screamed. "Okay," I huffed, a little annoyed, "Answer or I'll break another bone, you're knee's looking a little shabby maybe." I slowly lifted my hand away from her mouth, not getting off of her.
"Fine, I'll tell you," she sobbed. "There's a project, top secret, that Mathew's working on. It's something with bio weapons, but that's all I know, I swear, really."
"Don't worry, I believe you," I stated, and I did. Mathew wouldn't tell anyone he didn't know could stand through a beating. She stayed on the ground, giving me time to grab one of my guns. "Sorry, but I'm knocking you out now." And with a clunk I hit her over the head.
Getting to my feet I walked back into the stall and stood on the seat again, this time so I could reach for the vent opening in the ceiling. Using the wall a bit I was able to open it. I slowly climbed onto the wall, and then into the vent. It was dark and dusty, but big enough for me to fit in. Quickly I closed the door to it. Suddenly I wished I had taken the time to look up a map, but for now I was stuck without and had to make the best of it.
I crawled blindly, not bothering to check the vents I past. I didn't hear anything too terribly interesting that I remembered it. Instead I just wondered about until I came to loud noise. Looking through one of the vents I saw what I expected, the cafeteria. But things seemed a little more disorganized then normal. People seamed to be talking about something, and I couldn't decipher what it was. All I heard was laughter and talking, but nothing specific.
Suddenly someone ran in and began shouting. "Hey everyone listen up, and don't tell anyone you heard this from me," everyone laughed at the kid's lame joke before he went on. "It's true, Zechs came back with the Scorpio!" The crowd started talking at once, making it a hard for the kid to quiet them. "Hey, calm down, else I won't tell you the rest," instantly they shut up. "From what I've heard Zechs was helping Julia because of a favor he owed his cousin, but the favor's paid off and if he sees her he'll turn her in. No one really believes him, though."
Someone interrupted him, "Can you blame them?"
The kid shook his head, "Not at all, I'm just telling you the facts. Zechs is looked up in a high security cell, still under questioning, and Milliardo's asking to take him off our hands, which was vetoed the moment the suggestion was made. Mathew's, as you all know, not terribly found of Milliardo and want us to use Zechs as a bargaining chip or something. I dunno, they didn't actually tell me anything. And to tangle things up a bit more, Alex is missing again, and that I'm supposed to tell you, and I think somewhere around me finding out someone mentioned a little reward for bringing her in." he let it trail off as he chuckled. People laughed a bit with him, then went back to their work.
Zechs was back? Why? Why wouldn't he just go to his dad? They're never going to believe him here. But at least I had a place to go. If only I could find Nickolas first. I scanned the cafeteria quickly, yet saw not trace of him. So I moved on.
Now I started checking vents. Everywhere I went. If I saw light I'd look to see who was in the room. Yet I didn't see anyone I knew. Not until I saw Jet in a room by himself. It looked like a classroom, and he was where the teacher should be, typing on the computer. I didn't think I could get into the room from where I was looking, but I saw a vent across the room with a much bigger opening.
I went back the way I'd come, remembering a turn in the direction I wanted. I took it, and hit a rise of about four feet. Frowning I though a moment. I could get through by pulling myself up, but there was less room once I got myself up there, and the corners would be annoying, but I had to try.
I put my hands on the rise, bending my head into it, not having room to stand strait. With a small jump I was able to pull my whole stomach onto it. Then I slowly slithered until my whole body was up. I had to stay on my stomach, though. There wasn't room for me to craw. The shaft became wider as I moved further through it. Soon I took another turn, and sure enough I was in front of the opening. I was almost right above Jet, and I was betting that seeing me drop in would be a surprise. Slowly I pushed out the screws that were keeping the vent door in place. They weren't hard to get out of the way. When the first one dropped to the ground Jet stood up and looked around the room. Then the second one dropped and I was able to push the screen away.
"Hiya," I said as I dropped to the ground, landing unevenly.
Jet blinked in surprise. "How the hell did you get here?" he asked.
I blinked, thinking it somewhat obvious. "Did you mean, how did I get into the room? If that's what you're asking then I fell."
"No, no," he muttered. He pointed to the vents then back at me, then to the vents. A man of many words. "The vents? They can't possibly be big enough for you to travel in."
"Of course they are," I stated. "You can't possibly be accusing Oz of being smart. They've made mistake after mistake, and the vents isn't even their biggest."
And Jet stood with his mouth open as he looked at me. "What're you doing here?" he asked, suddenly looking tired.
I shrugged, glancing around the room. "Just kind of looking for Nickolas, wondering if you might know where I can find him," I said simply.
Jet shook his head, just a little to quickly for me to be convinced. "Um, no, I don't have a clue, he might be showing up later, but nothing's for certain. He said something about having some work to do for someone. but I don't remember what," he said shakily. For some reason I thought he was lying.
I grinned lazily as I raised an eyebrow. "Really? That's too bad. I've got this vial with green liquid in it somewhere up here." I reached up into the vents, standing on my tippy toes to be able to reach further. "That's funny, it was right there a second ago."
"Oh-my-god, where'd you get that, is it open?" Jet asked, looking genuinely scarred. "It'd better not be open, not with you going through the vents. That would be very, very bad."
"Then it's probably a good thing that Ashley has it. And I don't need to find Nickolas anymore, you can probably answer my questions," I stated. Jet winced, not really wanting to hear that. I wondered whether or not he would be as reluctant to say things as the girl had been.
Jet started pacing, glancing at the door every now and then. "Okay, so you've talked to Ashley, and she didn't tell you much else you wouldn't have been looking for Nickolas and you've seen the vial so you know something's up you just don't have a clue what." jet stated.
"Yep, that's the idea," I replied.
Jet looked at the door again, "Nickolas is supposed to show up soon, but I don't know whether or not he'll be alone."
I shrugged. "If he's with someone I'll take care of it. Right now I need answers. What the hell is the green stuff?"
Jet took a deep breath before answering. "Mathew was looking for a way to wipe out the majority of Milliardo's forces. He hired a few scientists to help with this top-secret project. Dorothy found out about it and told Milliardo something was up, but she didn't know what. She sent in Ashley to help figure it out, even though she's not completely with Milliardo on this. She wants to figure things out before he does. Milliardo wasn't stupid and knew she might not help him so he sent in Nickolas and me. I'm in as a pilot and Nickolas is a computer engineer. We've both been watching for things.
"About a month ago Nicolas ran into Ashley who through out a hint on where to look. After checking a few things out he managed to find out where the lab was that they're making that liquid. It took quite awhile longer to discover that it's a bio-engineered virus that he could use as a weapon. It travels through the air and is basically a poison. They don't have an antidote yet, and the mixture isn't entirely stable. They can't control it at all. It travels and kills fast, and has killed off several of the scientists working on the project."
"So basically he's created something to destroy everyone in contained areas?" I asked.
Jet nodded before answering. "Exactly, but it lives off oxygen. It doesn't need much but lack of it will destroy the poison in it. It thrives in dark, dank places. So it can take out a space colony, but once it hits space it's dead. Light can slow it, certain types could kill it, but it takes awhile to do much damage. I don't know all the details, just what I could pick up."
This was a surprise. I didn't expect Mathew to be leading some well thought out conspiracy against. The rest of Oz. He could over throw the organization by threat alone. They wouldn't even need the mobile dolls.
"Do you know if this is being made or worked on else where?" I asked.
Jet shook his head. "No where else. Mathew doesn't trust anyone else to work on it."
We were both quiet a moment. He was staring at me and I was staring at the floor. Surely Mathew knew that if someone screwed up it could wipe out everyone on this colony. And this virus thing could destroy innocent people. What if it got onto Earth? The sun could kill it but it would take awhile if large amounts of the virus got out.
Then Nickolas walked in with the last person I excepted to see, Zechs. Both starred at me, as surprised as I was. And right behind them someone else was trying to get in.
I recognized Mathew's voice as he said, "What's going on here?"
I opened the vents, grabbed a chair, and climbed back into them as quickly as I could, which was about as long as Zechs and Nickolas could stop Mathew from walking in. when at last they moved aside, Mathew looked just a little miffed. "What's going on?" he demanded.
"Um." Jet murmured, "nothing much."
Mathew glared as he walked up to Jet. "Nothing much? That usually indicates that there was something." No one said anything for a moment, giving Mathew time to look around the room, he didn't look at the vent else he would have seen me peering through. But he did look at the computer screen. "What were you getting into, Jet?"
"Um. . ." he murmured, not having an answer. I couldn't see the screen from where I was, and I hadn't checked it out while I was in the room.
Mathew glanced up at him after taking a second to look at the screen. "Jet, I don't know whether anyone told you, but you're not permitted to be visiting certain web sites that show. . . more than the necessary amounts of skin."
Jet looked away.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't see these things. Next time you get on one of our computers you're going to stay on the allowed sights. Right now I need you to keep an eye on Zechs. He's a very popular pilot and people are already beginning to complain about him being in jail," Mathew said. "Of course that's the reason he's out."
"Yes sir." Jet said as he glanced at Zechs, who stood completely emotionless.
Mathew nodded. "Good. If I find anything goes wrong it's you who is going to get in trouble. Not Nickolas or Zechs, but you." With that he stormed out of the room. I counted to ten to make sure he was gone before once again sliding out of the ventilation shaft. Mathew didn't seam to have noticed the chair underneath it, which was a good thing.
"Okay, what's she doing here?" Nickolas asked Jet. "And why were you using one of Oz's computers to check out porn sites?"
Jet raised up his arms in defense. "Hey, it wasn't my idea for her to show up, and don't complain, you've done worse. Anyway, she found me when she was looking for you. Blame Ashley if you need to blame some one, she's the one who told her to look for you. What's Zechs doing here?"
"Mathew wanted him out and about, but needed someone to watch him. I don't know why he's with us. We're not exactly the best soldiers," Nickolas said.
Zechs was staring at me. My guess was he knew exactly what was going on, he just didn't want to say anything. And his silence was bothering me, along with his stare. Something was up and I wanted to know what, but I wasn't going to say anything until he did.
"What do you think Alex?" Zechs finally said. I looked strait into his eyes, not yet answering. He seamed to be trying to say something, but I couldn't tell what. "Why would Mathew set me up with these guys?"
It hit me suddenly. Zechs had said that if he'd found me he'd turn me in, and Mathew wasn't stupid. His spies probably knew to watch Nickolas and Jet. So who better to put his latest spy with? And if I were going to make Zechs a spy I'd like to be hearing what was going on, especially when I didn't trust him.
"You're wired, aren't you," I whispered, trying to stay quite.
He nodded as he spoke, "Of course not, what are you talking about?"
I barely made it back into the vents before the door was open and soldiers piled in. I began to crawl away, not caring where I was going, just as long as I got away from that room. I hoped Jet and Nickolas wouldn't get in too much trouble, but I wouldn't be any help to them if I was dead, or captured, but I was betting this time I'd end up dead.
I waited till I got to the first opening that I could fit through, and then shoved open the vent door, knowing it wasn't strong enough to stop me. When I finished climbing out of the vent I put the door back, using some duck tape that I had found in the room to keep it up. I turned out to be in a storage room. There were boxes everywhere, and I didn't have a clue what was in them, and didn't really care.
Walking to the door I glanced around just to make sure there weren't any other doors. There wasn't, and no one was outside when I opened the door just to glance through. I took a deep breath before stepping out into the hallway. I didn't know if they'd be sending anyone through the vents. If they did they'd be checking every opening they could, and would probably get to the one I came out of sooner or later. I had to get away from it quickly. My main problem was that I didn't know which direction I had come from. I hadn't kept track of the turns that I had taken, and I doubt if it would have mattered. So I started down a hallway, not looking for anything in particular. Nothing became clear to me, I didn't recognize the place. Every now and then I'd check a door, but the ones I checked were always locked. I didn't hear any voices for a long time, and when I finally did I slowed down, not sure where to go. They were around a turn, and if they came this way there was nowhere I could hide.
But for now they weren't moving. Only talking next to a half way open door. There voices were muffled so I couldn't hear anything. Soon one walked away, leaving the other to turn off the light and follow. He left the door open, but it was the type that would shut on its own. Being the only open door I had seen for a while the moment the man had turned the corner I ran for it. Grabbing it just in time I slid into the room, closing the door behind me. Flipping the light switch I turned around.
The room was still dark, but I could still see. The walls were lined with containers, everything from steal to glass. Several vials were tightly shut and set out on a table. Three other doors left the room. I recognized the liquid inside the containers. It was the same thing Ashley had, just a lot more. And even more surprising then that was that there was a rather large bomb in the middle of the room, strapped to several sticks of TNT. I blinked in surprise. The timer was set for five hours, which wasn't long enough for me to get off the colony. But if I looked on the bright side the entire virus was about to destroy only one colony and would never leave the base. Well, maybe it would, but not the colony. Quickly I left the room, walking right into a scientist who had been coming in.
He seamed just as surprised as I was. Thinking fast I blocked the door so that he couldn't go inside. I didn't know whether or not he had anything to do with the bomb, but if hadn't I didn't want him turning it off. Better to get rid of the virus and have me stuck on the colony with it then to have it destroy everyone else.
"Who are you?" the scientist asked.
"Um." I mumbled, "a friend of Mathews?" I don't think he heard the question in my voice.
Suddenly he seamed more cautious then surprised. "Really, and did he send you to check on things?" the man asked.
"Yeah, that's right, he sent me to check on things," I really hoped this guy was buying it, cause it wasn't that good of an act.
"Well then," the man said, "I best make sure you're not able to make the report." He pulled out a gun and aimed it at my head.
So he was one of the bombing people. Oh lovely, now I'd have to convince him I wasn't working for Mathew. "Um, wait! Wait! I'm Alex Yuy, don't shoot, I saw the bomb but don't shoot!" I half yelled.
The man hesitated just long enough for me to grab the gun form him. I pulled out the clip and handed him back the gun, slipping the clip into my back pocket. "See, now neither of us can use it."
"What the hell are you doing here?" the man snapped, more annoyed then anything. As long as he wasn't killing me I didn't mind.
I shrugged. "Got lost, snuck into a room, happened to have a killing virus which I wanted to avoid and destroy. Lucky for me someone's already doing that. And I think I'll be leaving now, so if you don't mind." I tried to move around him, but he blocked the way.
"I need the clip so I can kill anyone who comes into the room. Can't have Mathew's men finding out about the bomb," the man stated.
Meeting his eyes I nodded. I didn't think he was going to shoot me. Of course I've been wrong before, but I was hoping this wasn't one of the times. Pulling out the clip I handed it to him. He nodded thanks and walked past me into the room.
I just kept walking down the hallway. I'd been lucky twice, and hoped it'd happen again. I didn't want to run into anyone bad. Again I started checking doors. About the fifth time one opened. No one was inside. I checked for other doors and found one. Walking through it I entered another room with no one there. But there were no other exits so I left. I went back into the first one the same time a group of soldiers walked through the door. There wasn't any time for me to leave or draw a gun. Before I knew what was happening there were seven men aiming their guns for me. I put my hands up in surrender.
"Alex Yuy, it's about time we found you," One of them said.
I shrugged. "Hasn't been so long for me, just getting acquainted with a different part of the base."
"I don't suggest you use sarcasm. No one will care if I shoot you now," the same guy stated matter-of-factly.
"Damn," I muttered.
One of the soldiers searched me, finding all my weapons. Handcuffs were thrown on me, being put a little too tight for comfort. The head soldier used a radio to call in saying they'd found me while the rest shoved me forward leading me out the door. Three soldiers walked in front of me and the rest behind. There wasn't a moment when at least four guns weren't pointed in my direction. No one told me, but I had a feeling that once again I was going to talk to Mathew.
Hello again everyone. This is the second to last chapter, then their be an epilogue, then I'm done! *grins widely* almost there, I just have to write a little more. . . Well, I'll have the next chapter out soon and I'll put out the epilogue not long after, maybe at the same time. ~Rave