Chapter 14

((Looks like they're about to leave, boss. The pen's back in the pocket!))

((It's about time,)) I grumbled. ((I've been fly for way too long…))

((I don't envy you,)) Santorelli replied grimly.

The guards had been assessing the Visser's Kandrona cell for almost twenty minutes, making me wonder just how complicated a small box of water could be. They could have been talking to him. Marco couldn't tell.

I had found my way to the far corner of the room where the security camera hung. Pushed up against the angle where the two walls and floor joined, I was out of its sight, so I could demorph and do what I needed to do from there. It was just a case of waiting for the guards to leave the building.

((They're leavin'!)) Santorelli exclaimed.

((Good,)) I replied. ((Let me know when they've locked up the place.))

It took another five minutes of waiting. They messed around with the forms in the entranceway and made some phone calls. Nobody thought that the guard checks would be so thorough. I was very thankful that they also didn't check for anybody in fly morph.

((Door's locked, boss! You're good to go.))

((Okay. Sarge, Jeanne, I'm counting on you here. I'm about to demorph, so I won't be able to reply to you or request answers. Sarge, I want to know exactly what's going on outside the building, if anybody decides to visit. Jeanne, you found out what type of security camera is in here. Until Marco says that it's stopped working, I want you to repeat the deactivation process to me for as long as it takes.))

They both responded positively. It was time to finally demorph.

((Here goes. Keep me updated.))

I started my controlled demorph, deciding to morph my eyes first so that I could close them. I didn't want to see the rest of the change. Hopefully, Marco would be my eyes.

((Still looks clear,)) Santorelli informed.

And Jeanne started. ((The security camera will have a solid metal casing, which may look impossible to get into, but just underneath the hood is a small metal button. It's difficult to see, but you can feel it if you move your finger over it. Just make sure not to move your fingers directly in front of the lens.))

She continued, but I stopped paying attention for the moment. She would repeat herself shortly, and I wanted to fully demorph before starting. I turned my reforming head upwards and blinked at the static security camera that stood proudly above, its watchful eye covering the door, the Visser, and most of the room. All but for the little corner that I was growing into.

((Still clear.))

I stretched my Human fingers and straightened my Human spine against the wall. The camera was about a foot above my head. I was done morphing, and I had to begin the most challenging task. I recalled Jeanne's first instruction and focused on a partial morph. I pictured the paws of a dog, the print-less pads. The tips of my fingers became tougher and less defined. I stopped the change there.

A small button just under the hood… The hood of the lens, no less. I would have to be incredibly careful. I backed right into the corner and lifted my right arm, craning it over the top of the camera. I ran my fingers tightly under the lens hood, gritting my teeth in determination not to expose my skin.

((Still clear,)) Santorelli repeated. Unless he wasn't paying attention, that meant that Marco hadn't seen my finger.

I found it! A tiny raised surface under the hood. I waited for Jeanne to go over the next step.

((… Make sure not to move your fingers directly in front of the lens. Press the button and pull the hood back to open the top of the camera. Try not to force it or shake the camera.))

I gave the button a push. It was much firmer than I initially expected. I took a deep breath, steadied myself, and tried again.

((Be careful, boss,)) Santorelli urged very shortly after. ((Marco just saw the camera shake. Guard wasn't lookin'. Still clear.))

I had gotten away with it. It meant that I needed to be even more careful, however, and I pulled the top back extra slowly, bringing the upper shell of the camera up and over. I gently placed it against the wall. The camera's innards were exposed, but I couldn't see them. I waited for the next line of instructions to come around again.

((Now, you must locate the chipboard that controls the camera. It is placed at the rear of the shell. You must be very careful, as this camera has been built with an alarm system that will alert security if anything apart from the green wire is pulled.))

I reached my hand into the small camera body, finding it a difficult chore when the compact interior squeezed my fingers. I avoided shaking the camera, at least.

((There will be many wires attached to this chipboard. Remember, you must pull the green one first. If you remove any other, the security will be alerted to tampering.))

I moved a single finger down to the rear of the camera. I felt a cluster of wires.

((The green wire that you need to remove is two along and four up from the back-left of the chip. Remove it.))

It was a struggle. The wires were tightly packed inside the camera's shell, and I had to do a bit of digging to make out the essential details without shaking the camera or breaking anything. I wasn't comfortable.

((Still clear.))

I found the chipboard. Now I just had to find the right wire. Two along. Four up. I used my finger to count the wires, extra careful not to miss any. I repeated the action three times, and on each occasion, landed on the same wire. I moved my thumb in with precision and pulled on the wire.

It came loose. Nothing happened, as far as I could tell. Everything was silent but for Jeanne's continued instructions.

((Still clear.))

I hadn't set off the alarm. I was successful. Now there was one more wire to pull.

((With the green wire removed, no alarm will be activated on removing the others. You must now remove the wire that controls continuous recording. Doing that will cause the image to freeze. The wire is four along and three up from the back-left of the chip.))

I went over the process again, counting along the wires with maximum accuracy. After three consistent counts, I decided on my wire and pulled it loose from its soldering.

The reaction came pretty quickly, Santorelli passing on Marco's message. ((Marco thinks the camera is frozen. Video fuzz has stopped, barely noticeable. Can we make sure, boss? Guard isn't lookin' at your camera right now. Maybe swing a hand in front of the lens. If not seen in five seconds, we'll assume that you can go ahead.))

I took the chance. I sliced my hand through the air, directly in front of the lens.

Five seconds passed. ((I think you're good to go, boss. Jeanne, no further need to relay instructions.))

((Good luck, Jake,)) Jeanne said to me. I silently thanked her and stepped out into the room. With the camera temporarily out of action, I was able to speak with the Visser uninterrupted.

I saw the Kandrona box. It was on a thick wooden desk against the far wall, a few files and papers on either side, as well as some equipment for the box itself. The control panel was shiny and black, and it covered the entire top of the box and down over the lip of the front. Below that, the box was transparent, the murky brown liquid slowly filtering and churning within.

Something swam groggily through it, barely more than a shadow in the dingy water.

I stepped up to it and glanced over the controls. It was precisely as it had been laid out on the images we had obtained. I knew how to open communications.

From my position standing right beside the box, I could only see the control panel. With curiosity, I bent my knees to look again into the thick liquid.

He was by the glass, facing me directly. The fin-like structures moved so gently to keep him as still as a statue in the ever-swirling water. He was watching me. No, sensing me…

I stood up straight with a shuddering inhale and a shake of the head. I couldn't get distracted by such images. I ran my fingers over the control panel, following the instructions we had rehearsed to bring up communications.

The speaker crackled loudly and then hummed, the slightest hint of a haunting static forever in the background.

"What is it now?"

My eyes closed with unwelcome dread. It had been so long since I had heard that dangerous, unstable snarl. It was as if the danger still lingered on him like a smell that refused to wash away.

I opened up my end of the communications, bringing the microphone to life. With reluctance, I spoke into it.

"I'm here for answers, Esplin 9466."

"Well, you certainly sound familiar…"