Duo and Alianna were as close of friends as anyone had ever seen. They fought occasionally, as friends do, but when they made up it only proved to strengthen their trust in one another; and in situations like this one, trust was their most valuable weapon.

Ali and Duo stood with their backs against a wall in the dead of night. They were standing across the street of the warehouse that Professor G. indicated waiting for the perimeter to be emptied.

"Looks like it's all clear…" Duo whispered. He turned to Ali. "I'll go around back and signal you if it's clear. Then you follow, got it?"

Ali nodded. "Be careful."

Duo smirked and nodded. "You know me." He said before dashing across the road.

"I know…and that's what worries me." Ali whispered watching him run across into the fenced area.

Duo ran silently and quickly up to the wall. Plastering himself against it, he carefully moved his head to look around the corner. Two guards were sitting near the back entrance, both surrounded by a cloud of smoke. Duo silently cursed himself for thinking it would be that easy. He turned to where he knew Ali was watching and pulled a small mirror from his pocket. Flashing it once he quickly put it away.

Ali was waiting for that flash. She had been squinting at the spot where Duo disappeared. His black clothes blended perfectly with the wall and the shadows. When she saw the light, she took a quick look around and, upon seeing no one, she sprinted silently across the street. She stopped near Duo and followed his movements, pushing herself up against the wall.

"What do you see?" She whispered.

Duo pointed around the corner with his thumb and then brought his fingers to his lips in an imitation of a cigarette then held up 2 fingers. Ali nodded and looked around them. There didn't seem to be another entrance…She looked up and saw an open window. She turned back to Duo and pointed to it. Then she pointed to herself, the fence they were standing next to and then the window again.

Duo looked up at the window for a moment, trying to understand then he turned to her and nodded. He pointed again to where the guards sat and then to himself. Ali nodded. He was going to distract them. Ali turned to face the fence that was only a few feet away from them and moved the soul of her left foot to be pressed against the wall. She nodded to Duo who picked up a rock and threw it as hard as he could in the direction of the guards. A satisfying clunk and clang brought smiles to their faces when they realized it hit the opposite fence and the guards were no doubt investigating now.

Ali winked at Duo and then pushed off from the wall as hard as she could. She flew upward onto the fence and after she had turned again, she propelled herself off the fence and up to the window. Her arms hooked into the ledge and she pulled herself up to sit on the ledge. Inside she saw a few desks and some computers were scattered around the small room.

An office…She thought. She jumped inside and then crouched behind a desk, listening carefully. When she didn't hear anything, she stood and walked around the room looking for anything that might be a package for Professor G.

Duo watched Ali jump into the window and then turned back to the guards. Just as he thought, they were over at the opposite fence examining the rock.

Idiots…He snickered.

The guards turned and began pointing in his direction. Duo's eyes widened when he realized that they saw the rock fly from his corner. They slowly started walking towards him and he jerked his head back to the front. Looking around franticly he finally decided the best way to deal with this was to run around to the front entrance. It was his only hope. He turned and ran as fast as his legs would carry him without making a sound and jumped turned the corner.

Thank the gods that no one is here this late…He thought as he ran. He jumped behind a small car and waited.

Ali walked silently through the dark hallways, trying hard to listen for footsteps or voices before they get to close. She hadn't heard a peep since she got in but she wasn't about to let her guard down; Professor G. had taught her that.

She walked deeper and deeper into the building peaking into windows as she went. At the end of the hallway she came to a large door with a card key activation unit on the side. She examined it carefully before popping open the side and looking at the wires.

It's always the red one isn't it? She thought as she reached in and carefully pulled out the red wire. Glancing around her again she carefully jerked the wire and it came out of the socket. She froze, waiting for something to happen. The hallway remained silent and she let out the breath she didn't know she was holding. She stood in front of the door and placed her palms against it. She gently pushed against it and watched as it swung open…

Duo's heart was racing as he watched the two guards come around the corner. They were talking amongst themselves which told Duo they hadn't seen him.

It would be so easy…He thought. He fingered the gun that was placed securely in his belt loop and considered. He could easily take out these two and then get inside to help Alianna. Professor G. hadn't said anything about killing anyone to get inside, so why not? He pulled his gun out and aimed it carefully. He hesitated, thinking. If he shot them their bodies would be evidence of their presence here. Could he and Ali get out before someone found them and sounded the alarm? Would Professor G. conceder their mission a failure if they left any sign of themselves behind?

Probably…Duo thought grimly.

He sighed and placed the gun back in his belt loop. He could do nothing but wait.

The door opened into large room that Ali recognized as the main storage room. It was pitch black save the light that was flooding in from the open door. Ali snuck in carefully and found the room to be mostly empty. The corners were filled with various boxes and crates and right in the center was a small package wrapped in brown paper and tied with a twine string. Ali stared at it questioningly. She looked around the room and then back at the package.

It can't be this easy…

She looked around her and suddenly got a very sinking feeling. How was it possible that she has been through this whole building and so far she has only seen two guards? Were people in this colony really that stupid?

She walked slowly into the room, careful to watch where she was stepping. She reached the package and stared at it. Professor G's name was written in curvy letters across the top. It didn't seem to be wired to anything but she wasn't sure she wanted to touch it just the same. She glanced around her again.

Where is Duo?

Duo sat impatiently watching the guards pace back and forth across the compound. Irritated he glanced up at the darkened windows of the factory.

Well, I haven't heard alarm bells yet...she must be okay. I just wish I could get to her. He thought.

He turned to the guards and finally saw an opening. Not finding anything unusual, the guards opted to return to their cigarettes in the back of the building. They steadily made their way back around, with Duo watching anxiously after them. As soon as the second guard disappeared around the corner, Duo poked his head out from behind the car. He waited silently for a moment before jumping out from his hiding place and running to the front door. He placed his palms on the glass experimentally. When nothing happened, he carefully pushed. The door swung open easily and Duo stepped inside quickly closing it behind him. After a quick look around, he ran into the room and to the stairs.

I have to find Ali! He thought as he ran.

He went up the stairs two at a time and finally landed in front of a door labeled "Level Two: Authorized Personnel Only" in bright red letters. He opened it and peeked inside. It was a long dark hallway with several doors going left to right and there, at the very end, stood Alianna inside an open door. Duo smiled and ran down the hall making little less than a tap.

Ali smiled when she head Duo's silent footsteps. She turned around and waved.

"It's about time you showed up!" She whispered.

Duo smirked and shrugged it off. "Did you find anything?"

Ali stepped aside and pointed to the box. Duo raised a brow and glanced around the room. "I don't trust it."

"Neither do I. But I can't find anything to prove that it's bad news."

"Heh, I do. It belongs to Professor G. That's proof enough for me."

Ali smirked and nodded. "Let's just take it and get out of here."

Duo sighed and nodded. "Together then..." He and Alianna stood on either side of the box and looked into each others eyes. "1..." They lowered their hands. "2..." Duo smirked and Ali winked. "3!" They both shouted and grabbed the box. Immediately the alarm went off and the room was flooded with red light. Duo groaned.

"So much for an easy mission."

Ali looked around and saw the small window. "There!" She pointed and they ran to it.

The window was barely large enough for the box, let alone them. Ali pulled it open just as the sound of voices echoed through the hall.

"Not enough time..." Duo muttered. He looked around and then turned quickly to Ali. "You go. I'll find another way out."

She turned to him. "Duo, no! They'll shoot you on the spot! You know things have been shaky around here since OZ started taking over."

Duo nodded grimly. "Don't I know...but we don't have time. Just go. I promise I'll follow."

She looked at him skeptically and frowned.

"I promise!" He said again. "Meet me in our coffee shop down the street. I promise I'll be there."

Ali opened her mouth to protest but he pushed her against the wall. "Go no! We don't have time."

She sighed and nodded. Grabbing the strings in her teeth, she slid her body out of the window and jumped gracefully down into a tree and turned back to Duo. He smirked and waved to her before running back into the building. She climbed down the tree and ran out of the complex just as a horde of guards were approaching from the side.

Oh Duo...please be okay...