CHAPTER TWO: REVOLUTION

Mirage sighed as she let go of the intercom button. Wonder how that one will be taken? It's time to pack my bags now...

She reached behind her neck to unclasp a thin and delicate platinum chain to which was attached a small disk engraved with Mayan hieroglyphs. She popped out the jade stone that made the center of the pendant, and then inserted the disk in one of the computer drives. It's true, jewelry can be a good friend, she thought, looking behind her.

She was about to start the data download when Saunders appeared on the main video screen, staring at her.

"Miss Mirage?" He looked visibly not satisfied of what he just heard on the intercom. "I think you have to come to central control, there are a few technicalities we have to talk about."

Mirage looked up slowly at the screen.

"Captain, in as much as I know we have pressing matters to discuss, this change of situation urges me to go to the continent and communicate with our associates. So please have the Manta-Plane fuelled up and ready for immediate departure." Mirage leaned forward. "I'll be flying this one myself. In my absence Captain, you have full command. I'll be returning in two days." The giant video screen flickered and faded to black as Mirage saw Saunders's face tense up and frown.

Mirage felt a wave of anxiety rush over her. The satellite download wouldn't be available for fifteen minutes. That was still too long for her to wait, she couldn't bear it. She reassembled the pendant and walked back to the lava doors.

Saunders looked at the plane being fuelled up below in the hangar. The maintenance crew had just finished removing the ground equipment when he saw the pod carrying Mirage stop a few meters away from the craft.

Not even carrying luggage, he said to himself. Mirage walked with a brisk pace, straight to the ladder. As she got in, the door closed silently behind her. She slid into the Captain's seat, reaching for the familiar controls. The small black jet vibrated as the engines came to life.

The landing strip of the hangar was rather short compared to international airport standards. This meant for a hasty liftoff, full throttle. An inexperienced pilot could end up plummeting in the valley below.

"Liftoff granted." As soon as she heard the words on the radio, Mirage pushed the throttle simultaneously releasing the brakes. Blood rushed through her veins as she saw the opening of the hangar looming towards her. Relieved, she was already planning the debriefing of the mission, but a thought of despair crossed her mind.

She needed that data. She had to go back. She was afraid, she was risking her life. But that was part of the deal. It was more important than her anyway... The crucial data inflow was still five minutes ahead now.

She would have to be strong. She glanced at the controls.

The plane was already a few meters off the ground, but that didn't matter. Mirage slammed the throttle backward, the engines almost dying to a stop. The plane lost all lift and came bouncing back on the concrete surface. She pushed open the air brakes. The small craft started to slide sideways towards the end of the runway, towards a lethal fall to the jungle below.

The plane still hadn't stopped and the runway was getting to short for comfort. Mirage thought for what seemed seconds at what decision to take. She reversed the engine thrust, pushed the throttle to maximum. The engines roared as the plane grinded to a stop, only a few meters from the edge. She shut them down immediately. The Manta-plane shivered into silence.

"Tower, this is Alpha-One. Takeoff aborted. Have your crew ready for a turnaround, over."

Saunders had witnessed the whole chain of events without budging. But as he saw the aircraft lying askew near the edge of the runway, his mind snapped into alertness.

She forgot something, obviously. Something important, he thought. He looked at his watch. It's downloading time soon... He saw her step into a waiting transport pod, which turned around and sped towards the exit. I don't like this, he frowned. He tracked the pod's direction to the central computer room.

Mirage's heart was pounding when she reached the lava wall.

"This is Mirage, authorization Alpha-One thirty-four thirty-two." The wall rumbled as it opened slowly. She had the disk ready as she reached the terminal. She slipped it into the drive and waited for the screen to present the proper menu. Her blood froze as she saw the screen.

DOWNLOAD DENIED.

The voice recognition protocol had already identified her properly. She tried again. "This is Mirage, authorization Alpha-One thirty-four thirty-two..."

"Hello Mirage." She gasped, turning to the familiar voice that came from the entrance of the platform. Saunders was there, walking slowly in her direction. "I took the liberty of changing your access privileges... Your quick departure made me realize there were too many stones left unturned. You've been fiddling a lot with the database since Syndrome left the island.

Mirage stared at him. "You were spying on me, Captain?" she said, coolly.

"Oh no, not spying, not really..." Saunders replied. "Just making sure my investments were well taken care of. Mr. Syndrome, as you probably know, is paying me handsomely for my collaboration. I just wanted some assurance his part of the deal would still be honored."

Mirage found it ironic that the man in front of her could speak of honor. A couple of years ago he only was a local hit-man with nothing more than ambition to get out of the hole he was stuck in. Syndrome had been the perfect opportunity and with the type of men that made the island's garrison, well, one could say he was home now.

"Mr. Syndrome was a very rich man. He had a lot of friends and associates who prefer to remain anonymous for the time being. But besides all this, I think it is a question of time before his little operation is frozen to an end..."

Saunders stepped slowly forward. "This is where you come in Mirage. Don't mind the familiarity, do you?" Saunders sounded nervous. "I think you are at the present the best person to tell me how I can get my fair share of his money. Being intimate with Syndrome as you were, I'm sure he told you many secrets." Saunders was close to Mirage now. "I can understand the man's passion for you, Mirage." His tone of voice suddenly lowered. "I can understand this, for I'm a man of passion too."

She was slowly backing up as he was getting closer. She felt her body tense up as she bumped back into the computer console. She poised herself, took a quiet breath, bringing back the cool professional she could be.

"You have no business here, Captain Saunders..."

He laughed quietly. "Oh but yes, I do. Syndrome owed me a lot more than my mere pay. My allegiance to him came at a very high price."

Mirage tried to hide the tension in her voice. "There is nothing for you here, Captain, nothing," she said, lying.

Suddenly, Saunders was on her. He pinned her against the computer console, his forearm against her neck.

"Oh, but there is something here. I know about your little investments in Swiss banks," he said through his teeth. "I don't know how you did it, but I think you managed to divert substantial funds from Syndrome's fortune for your own use."

Mirage tried to bluff. "That's a lie. I never had access to that type of information. I couldn't ever," she gasped, trembling.

Saunders let out a grunt as he pulled his forty-five from his holster. He put the muzzle of the large weapon underneath her chin. She was pushed hard against the angled console, feeling the control buttons stabbing at her back, the cold metal of the gun pressing against her throat.

"Give me the access codes to the accounts," Saunders barked, trembling. He then noticed the pendant she still held. "What's this?" He said, ripping it out her hand. He brought it up to her face. "Syndrome was good to you, wasn't he? Or is there more to this than meets the eye?" As Saunders took a closer look, a smile of satisfaction crossed his face. "Oh I think so, Mirage."

She tried to release herself, but he was too strong for her. He was leaning on her now, with all his weight. His free hand started playing with her hair, feeling its soft texture between his fingers. Saunders was twitching, his mouth inches away from hers.

"You're so beautiful, Mirage. We should be good friends..."

He put his hand on her thigh, slowly sliding it towards the base of her skirt. He could feel his fingers tingle as he touched her skin. He began to push up the fabric.

"Time to know each other better Mirage," he said, coolly.

Mirage screamed. Twisting her body with all her might, she managed to slide downward and away from the gun. Falling hard on the floor, she was freed from Saunders's grasp. Without thinking, she reached forward in a flash and grabbed his groin, squeezing as much as she could, and twisting with all her strength. Saunders stumbled backward as he howled in pain, shocked, instinctively wanting to protect himself. She got up as he was aiming his gun at her, still lying on his back, pushing himself away to get a clear shot. As she grabbed his arm and pushed it outward, the first shot thundered inches away from her ear. Gasping in terror, she kicked him. Her foot felt the crunching of his genitals. Saunders cried out, dropping his gun, blinded by the pain. Mirage tried to pick it up as she pushed herself away from him, but Saunders had managed to take it back.

She grabbed the disk that had fallen to the floor and dashed towards the lava wall. It was opening too slowly, not fast enough to let her out yet. Mirage felt the few seconds she stood there were endless. She spun around as she heard Saunders cock the weapon. The Captain had waited for that moment, where he had her where he wanted. She was like a simple cardboard target at the end of a field.

He paused a second, then his eyes gleamed as he pulled the trigger.