Kadic Cafeteria, 12:02
"OK, new plan," Eric told Odd, Ulrich, and Jeremie at lunch. "Apparently there's no ground entrance, Jeremie, so you stay here and keep us informed through your computer. I'll have my phone."
"How does that even work here?" Ulrich asked. "You've got to be getting nailed with roaming charges."
"Nokia TracPhone," Eric said, twirling the slim phone and slipping it into an imaginary holster. "Any tower, anywhere."
"I take it you decided on this new plan while I was at my house, sneaking back in to avoid my parents?" Yumi asked as she joined them.
"No, Eric received inspiration in a dream and now that's our plan," Odd cracked.
"So how do we avoid the lethal electricity?" Ulrich asked.
Eric pulled out a water pistol from his bag. "With these."
Ulrich looked at the gun skeptically. "What's that going to do?"
"Enough water on the metal floor—" Eric began to explain.
"Will create a massive short circuit, stopping the flow of electricity," Jeremie finished. Eric twirled the pistol on his finger, slipping it into an imaginary holster. "As Eric said, I've patched his phone into my computer, so I'll let you know when you've passed the point of no return."
"Let's go, then!" Odd said. "I'm ready."
"Same here," Eric said.
Ulrich fixed them with a hangdog look. "Oh, let's see. Why don't we go back to the place where we almost died?"
"Calm down, Ulrich," Eric said. "What could go wrong?"
"See? Now we can take a look at all the neat computer junk down here," Eric said at the factory.
"How will we see anything? The room's filled with smoke," Ulrich complained.
"Ah, it'll fade away dramatically around our feet," Odd said.
"Too much TV for you, Odd," Yumi retorted. Odd pouted. Unfortunately for Yumi, the air vents below their feet quickly and efficiently sucked out the smoke, causing it to do exactly what Odd said. "Crap," Yumi muttered.
Eric stared at the marvel of technology before him. Three shining pillars of glossy metal and circuitry stared back. Bundles of long, thick tubes snaked their way upwards, branching out like the limbs of some cyberkinetic tree.
"Eric, you're drooling," Yumi said dryly.
"Yeah, what's so great about three weird tubes, anyways?" Odd asked.
"It's what they do, Odd," Eric answered, in awe of the power and potential in front of him. "If I'm right..." he stopped. "It's not possible. But if I'm right...if it's what I think it is..."
"What? If what's true?" Ulrich barked. Eric darted back into the elevator.
"Stay here," he said. "I've gotta check something." The door closed, and he descended deeper into the depths of the factory.
"He's going to where we found the B-O-D-Y-S," Odd said in a whisper.
"What? What are you trying to spell, man?" Ulrich asked him.
"B-O-D-I-E-S," Yumi corrected. Then she realized what she had said. "You never mentioned that little fact while Ulrich and I waited in the elevator."
"Me and Eric didn't think it was that big of a deal," Odd muttered sheepishly.
"That big of a deal! You little runt! I'll..." Whatever she would do was cut off as Eric's voice floated up through the ducts.
"Guys! I think you should come here. You should probably see this for yourselves."
"Now what?" Ulrich sighed.
Yes, yes, a very short chapter I know. But, that's the way it goes! This is more of a transitory chapter anyways. The good stuff happens later...
