Chapter 5
Days Later…
It became a routine of a sort. I'd work moving things around; I'd play piano in the lounge, and maybe have a chat or two with an Octarian.
This waiting around is getting tiresome…
I need to find a way out!
These restraints however…
I need to find a way to get rid of them…
Hm…That Elise girl…she seems to be somewhat close to the Commander…
Perhaps I'll pay her a visit…
Later…
I entered the medical bay again. Elise was typing on a computer.
"Uh…Hello, Elise." I waved.
"Hm?" She turned her head. "Oh, Hello Inkling!"
"Alice." I corrected her. "Call me Alice."
"Oh, right." She chuckled. "So, what brings you here?"
"I wanted a break in the repetition and wondered if you needed help." I lied.
"Oh…hm…yes…" She looked like she was thinking. "I think I may…"
She leaned over, looking in a drawer.
I noticed something…
There's a card on her belt…
I wonder…
I put my hand forward, my wrist-clamp near the card.
I then noticed it flash green and make a quiet *Beep*
"Hm?" Elise turned her head, but I pulled away just in time.
"I…just wanted to see what you were looking for…." I lied again.
"Oh, well that's fine." She assured me. "Like my father said, a curious mind is nothing to be ashamed of!"
"Where…is your father, anyway?" I was curious.
"People didn't like his curiosity…" She said, blankly. "He's a brilliant mind, but some people can't appreciate taking the necessary steps to solving life's puzzles. He had hypnoshades put on him and was transferred to the Canyon."
Oh…
Wait…necessary steps?
I…okay…
…One thing I do know is she has a keycard to these clamps…
Shortly After…
Elise was having me look for different serums that she was testing on some sea slugs.
I need to not look suspicious…
I looked around.
"So, where's that other doctor?" I asked.
"Gracie?" She guessed right. "She took OUR experiment down to the Canyon to show her superiors. She promised to credit me and let me study him though, so I'm not too upset about it."
What experiment…?
Whatever…
I looked around.
Let's see…
I…could try knocking her out with something blunt…
Then again, she's clearly a high-ranking soldier…
Hm…that looks like storage room…
I could try luring her in there…
"Can you find me the 27-b vial?" Elise asked.
"Uh…" I looked at the shelf and quietly swiped the vial. "I…don't see it…"
"Hm?" She turned her head, confused.
I carefully hid the vial as she walked over. She looked at the shelf.
"…That's…odd…" She remarked. "Uh…there…should be some in the…um…storage room…"
She pointed at the door. I walked over, opened the door, and went in.
This room was…oddly dark…
I flipped the light switch, but the light didn't work.
"Light switch isn't working." I told her.
"Y-yeah…um…there should be some lightbulbs in the room as well…" She told me.
Right…
I looked around, and then looked behind me. She wasn't looking…
I quickly shifted forms and hid above the doorway.
After a few minutes, I could hear her moving around.
"You find it yet?" I heard her ask. "…Hello?"
I heard her making her way towards the door. She was moving at an oddly slow pace.
"H-hello…?" She called out. "Um…are…you there?"
Just a little closer now…come on…
I could see her slowly inching towards the doorway. Why's she taking her time? Come on!
And she's sticking her head in!
Alright!
I swung down and landed behind her. I quickly swiped the card from her belt and pushed her in, shutting the door and locking it, putting a chair under the doorknob for good measure.
I then moved the card against my arm clamp. With a green flash and *Beep* it loosened. I quickly swiped it at the other clamps.
…
Nothing happened…
Oh Cod…
There must be more keycards.
Where would I find them though?
"Please, let me out!" Elise begged. "Please, I'll be good! I won't do it again! Please, don't leave me in here again…"
W…what…?
"W-where're the other keycards?" I asked.
"Sharp and Sieg!" She surprisingly answered. "Can I come out now…?"
I got up. I can't risk her warning the others about me…and she's crying now?!
…
I quickly got out of there. I put the clamp back on to not look suspicious.
Sharp…where would he be?
He's a sharpshooter…the range?
10 Minutes Later…
I was correct. He's definitely here. He seemed to be testing weapons…alone for some reason…
He had some weapons on a nearby table next to a weapons rack. He'd gake one, look over it at the table, and test it out.
How to…my pad!
I took it out and started typing.
What are you doing?
He stopped and noticed his pad.
Who is this?
These don't show names?
Alice. You gave me one of these pads?
I decided to inch closer as I was typing, trying to keep quiet.
I remember. Why are you speaking now?
I had the device. Figured I'd use it.
I'm not one for conversation.
Ever tried?
I kept inching closer.
No.
Weird…
I was almost there…
Would you like to try?
Nearly there…
No.
Why not?
Almost…
Because someone thinks she can sneak up on me.
What?
He turned around and glared at me.
"I…how?" My eyes widened.
He quickly reached for me and I dove out of the way. Turned and walked towards me as I scrambled backwards, knocking over some weapons he had there.
Ugh…no time to fill with ink…
He suddenly paused, looking concerned.
…What?
I looked over…
I then grabbed one of the weapons; a Charger. That seemed to strike a nerve because he rushed forwards. I swung it at him, but missed, hitting it against the table instead, cracking it.
He quickly snatched the Charger from my hand. I expected him to lash out at me, but he instead looked at his weapon with a concerned expression.
Wait…
I looked to the other weapons and got an idea. I grabbed another charger and slammed it as hard as I could against the weapons that were on the table, breaking them and the weapon I held.
He shoved me out of the way and looked to his weapons, desperately trying to put them back together. I then noticed his card and swiped it. He paid no mind to me, his focus set entirely on his Chargers.
Alright…now for Sieg…
15 Minutes Later…
Okay…I'm on borrowed time…I need to hurry on this one…
I entered his office…to find it empty…
Where…?
I left the office and turned my attention to an Octotrooper.
"Excuse me, but where's Sieg?" I asked.
"He's in his quarters." The creature told me. "Why?"
"I need to speak with him." I told him.
If memory serves, they usually aren't very smart; meant for taking simple orders…
"This way." He's started leading me.
Good…