Chap 18
"What do you think he's doing in there" Draper asked as they watched Draper enter his lab.
"I'd like to think he's trying to find a cure but I doubt it." Alex replied.
"This is taken to long; we should just force him to let us go."
"We don't even know if he has a way out."
"The rumours say he does."
"You want to risk your freedom on rumours" Alex asked
"Not really but you have to admit it's strange how he disappears and when he returns, more outsiders suddenly arrive."
"Again, it's just rumours. We need facts."
"I really hate this place." Draper said as he leaned back in his chair. "It reminds me of Fort Rozz but worse."
"How is this worse?"
"These people don't know they've been imprisoned." Draper was right, these people had been saved from death only to be trapped in limbo."You do know were being watched."
Alex glanced over to Alanna and her father before replying. "They've been watching us since we got here."
"It's time to find out what they want." Draper said.
Alex agreed; she stood and headed down the corridor. Draper waited until Alanna and Sardath followed Alex before heading after them. Alex quickly hid in the doorway of an empty classroom; she could hear the footsteps getting closer. Once they were close enough, she reached out and grabbed Sardath by his overalls and pulled him into the room. Draper ran behind Alanna and pushed her into the classroom and the two struggled until Draper was knocked to the floor. Alex stepped towards Alanna, ready to fight.
"Stop, we haven't come to fight" Alanna said as Draper jumped to his feet.
"Then why are you watching us." Alex asked as she closed the door.
"We need to talk" Alanna began "You want to go home, so do we but we need your help."
"How do we know we can trust you" Draper asked
"You don't but without us you'll never leave this place."
Alex studied the two for a few seconds "Do you have a way out?"
Alanna looked to her father who nodded back at her "My Father has created a device that will open a portal from this ship to our home planet Rann but we need Keane's access codes to lower Aeron's shields.
Draper stared at Sardath "You're the one who created the Zeta-Beam." Sardath nodded and Draper smiled with excitement. "This might work" Draper said looking back at Alex.
"What's a Zeta-Beam" Alex asked.
"It's a teleportation beam; it's how I met my husband." Alanna smiled "My father created the device to communicate with other planets but accidently transported a human from Earth to Rann."
"And you have that device with you?" Alex asked
"No" Sardath answered "But I have created something similar and that will help us return to Rann."
"What happens when we get to Rann?"
"We can use the Zeta Beam to send you home" Alanna smiled
"I still don't understand why you need us" Draper said
"I and Alanna have both been caught trying to escape. We were put into isolation; I'm not sure how long we were in there. If we are caught again, Keane will banish us and I doubt he'll let us take the portal device with us."
Alex looked to Draper before answering "What do you need us to do"
"Keane stores all of his data onto a device located in his lab."
"How do you know this?" Draper asked
"I created that device." Sardath answered
"And you want us to steal it"
"I want you to copy the data to this device. Keane won't know the data has been copied. " Sardath handed Alex the device. She examined it before placing it in her pocket.
"Shouldn't I be the one to break into Keane's lab?" Draper asked "I have more access."
"No, you need to be the look out. No one will question a guard carrying out his checks." Alex said to Draper. Alex turned back to Sardath "Tell me everything about his lab, the layout, security, how to access his computer..."
"I will tell you everything you need to know Alex. We won't go ahead with the plan until your happy" Sardath interrupted. Alex nodded.
"We'll need a distraction" Draper said
"I'm sure I can come up with something" Alanna said with a menacing smile
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Alex followed Draper down the corridor; he stopped ten feet in front of her just outside Keane's lab. Draper turned to face Alex, bent down and cupped his hands in front of him. Alex made sure the area was clear before running towards Draper; she placed her foot in his cupped hands as he pushed her up towards the ceiling. Alex quickly took hold of the pipes and pulled her-self up as Draper turned and continued down the corridor. She hid between the pipes above the entrance to Keane's lab and waited.
Alex heard a loud bang come from the floor above her; she could hear people screaming and shouting. She watched as Keane flew open his lab door and ran down the corridor. Alex quickly trapped her foot between the door and the frame, preventing the door from locking. She made sure Keane was out of site before kicking the door open and dropping back to the ground. She slipped into the lab and shut the door behind her.
Alex stood in the centre of the lab and took in her surroundings. The benches were covered in tubes, cylinders and crucibles. Keane's research covered the lab walls and floors. The far end of the lab had been destroyed in what looked like a fit of rage. She made her way over to Keane's desk and entered the security codes Sardath had given her, Nothing happened. Alex felt her heart beat quicken as she entered the code. Finally a screen appeared in front of her; she placed the device in the port as instructed by Sardath and selected the symbols on the screen. She watched as the side of Sardath's device began to light up green which indicated the data was being copied. Alex scanned over Keane's research as it copied; she couldn't help but open and examine some of the files. Her eyes went wide; she couldn't believe what she had discovered. The device flashed, indicating the data was copied and she quickly placed it in her pocket. Suddenly Alex felt someone grab the back of her neck and slam her head down onto the desk. The last thing she saw was the glass desk rushing up to her and then darkness.
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"Alex" Keane said as he tapped her face. Alex's eyes snapped open; her vision blurred but quickly focused on Keane. "I'm afraid you've left me no choice Alex, you have to be punished for your actions." Keane turned and stared back at one of the isolation pods. Alex felt the panic rise inside her as she realised where she was.
"You don't have to do this." Alex said as she pushed herself to her knees.
"You broke into my lab. I assume you were trying to find a way to escape."
"No, the door was open. I was looking for you."
"Enough!" Keane shouted. "I know you saw my research." Alex stared back at Keane but didn't answer. "I'm so disappointed in you Alex. I thought you had come to accept Aeron as your home."
"Aeron isn't my home" Alex replied
"How many times must I tell you; It's impossible to leave this place" Keane replied
"Stop lying to me. I did read your research; your people are no longer infected. You have no right trapping them in here."
"I have every right!" Keane spat "In here I can protect them, keep them safe."
"They have the right to see their children grow, to live out their lives. You shouldn't get to choose that for them." Alex flinched as Keane raised his hand ready to strike but he was distracted as two guards entered the room. Alex turned and saw one guard and Draper staring back at her.
"Draper" Keane began "Do you know why Alex broke into my lab? Are you involved? "
"He didn't know..." Alex fell hard onto her side and felt her cheek split as Keane hit her across the face. Draper was about to run over to her but stopped himself.
"I wasn't aware of Alex's actions. If I knew she planned on doing something so stupid I would of told you" Draper lied. Keane seemed to examine Draper for a moment before moving over to the pods. Alex watched as two glass lids opened and she knew Draper hadn't convinced Keane he hadn't been involved. Without another thought Alex leapt to her feet and charged at Draper and tackled him to the ground.
"Check my left pocket" Alex whispered in his ear as she pretended to kick and punch. Draper placed his hand in her pocket and retrieved the device. Alex felt the other guard drag her up; she spun around and elbowed him in the face. The guard dropped to his knees but quickly recovered as he tackled Alex and flipped her over his shoulder. The wind was knocked out of her as she landed flat on her back.
"Why couldn't you just accept Aeron as your home" Draper said as he pulled Alex to her feet. Alex was pleased he was playing along. At least he, Alanna and Sardath had a chance to return to their homes. She felt a sharp stab in the side of her arm and immediately felt her vision blur and her body weaken.
"That should help you relax" Keane said as he pulled the needle from Alex's arm. He turned to Draper and studied him for a few moments. "Bring her over here"
Draper and the guard dragged Alex to the open pod and placed her inside before stepping back. Alex tried to refocus and lift her head but Keane held her down.
"You brought this on yourself Alex." Keane said as the glass lid closed, trapping Alex inside. Alex was unable to move, unable to scream; she felt trapped inside her own body as she slowly drifted off.
Draper stared back at the pod "How long will she be in there for?"
"For as long as I say so." Keane said as he headed for the door. He stopped and looked back at Draper "I will be keeping a close eye on you Draper. Don't make me regret not putting you in the pod next to her."