Hey guys! Sorry I've been off the grid for a while, but uni life gets occasionally demanding, especially towards the end of the semester.
Nevertheless, I couldn't wait to get on with this chapter, and I want to thank BusyLovingChipmunks for co-writing with me (he's also agreed to help me out with the next one), and of course to Perry, for all of your brilliant ideas. I couldn't have done this without you guys, so many sincere thanks. :D
Without further ado, let's pick up where we last left off!
Chapter 15: Shades in the Dark
"He told you what?"
The Chipettes came to visit bright and early, and Phelan pulled Maia aside right away. Now they were seated in the kitchen, away from prying ears, while Maia listened to Phelan's heated argument with Soron the day before.
"I can't believe he's being so selfish," Maia continued, her eyes flaring with annoyance. "I don't care if Soron still hates my guts, but why does he have to take it out on you?"
"Well, my brother's quite fond of giving the cold shoulder," said Phelan, "but I think he's crossed the line this time. Is it too much to ask for a favour when you truly love someone?"
"I'm so sorry, Phelan," sighed the creamy-white chipette. "I shouldn't have told you about the Marking. You must hate me right now for causing a rift between you and your brother."
Phelan leaned forward, pressing himself closer to Maia as he draped an arm over her slender frame. "Hey, it's not your fault. We don't need him or the Order. We'll get through this together, I promise."
He was rewarded by a tiny peck on the cheek, and Maia snuggled up against his chest, fuelling him with a sense of warmth he'd longed for since the strange events of last night.
But deep down, he did feel a tiny spark of resentment for the silver-clad chipmunk and his dogmatic Order which still kept him on a leash.
And that made him more determined than ever to set loose the Darkness's wrath on tonight's operation.
Phelan decided to turn in early, this time hoping he could catch up on his much-needed sleep. But the call of action and thoughts of excitement, danger and adventure he would be facing in a few hours time only got his muscles all tensed up and his heart racing.
When at last he was certain that his brothers were fast asleep and he couldn't take the suspense any longer, Phelan crept out of bed and looked at the clock.
11:30.
Whoops. I'd better get a move on then.
Not wanting to change out of his pyjamas, Phelan slipped on his pants and threw his trench coat over his shoulders when something else caught his eye.
Resting atop the all-purpose desk was a black folded bundle. When he picked it up and let it unravel, it turned out to be a black hoodie, much like the ones his brothers wore, but with a silver 'P' etched to the right.
Attached to the hood was a Post-it note, where Phelan could make out the words under the waning light.
Hey bro!
Since you're one of us, we decided it's time you earned your place – not just as our brother, but now you're officially a member of the band. Consider it your belated homecoming present!
Hope you like it!
~ Alvin, Simon and Theodore
The overwhelming wave of guilt washed over Phelan as he let out a huge sigh and buried his face in the hoodie, sniffing the fresh scent of new clothes.
Nobody could deny that it was a present alright, but one would have thought of it as a final gift of persuasion, as though it was a sign of good faith that they trusted in him completely.
Even the hoodie would have given him a hateful glance and a glowering temper to match had it known of the dangers he would put himself through tonight.
"I know you won't approve of me sneaking out after dark doing vigilante stuff," Phelan whispered, careful not to wake his brothers. "For that, I'm sorry, but it's something I have to do. It's my destiny."
He took off his trench coat and slipped on the hoodie in its place, amazed at how the smooth fabric slid down his fur like melted butter and hugged perfectly around his chest.
No wonder they love wearing these things, he smiled, admiring himself in the glass. It's so warm and comfy, like a second fur!
Satisfied, he went back to the desk and gently pulled out his drawer, rummaging around quietly until he found what he was looking for. One paw was wrapped around a black neck warmer, while the other held a tube of black face paint (probably some leftover Halloween makeup, thought Phelan).
He crept into the bathroom, taking great care to close the door behind him before turning on the lights. The first thing he did was to unscrew the cap and dabbed the black makeup on his paws before rubbing it across his face, spreading it evenly on all sides until his face resembled the clear night sky from outside.
For a moment, Phelan thought he saw the Darkness peering from behind the glass with a warm, friendly smile, and even he was tempted to smile back. Since his paws were half-dirty, and he didn't mind it much either, he decided to paint them as well, a pair of black furry gloves with claws.
Waiting for the face paint to dry took a shorter time than expected, but once he was certain, he pulled the neck warmer over his head and up to cover the lower half of his face. It was the perfect addition to his camouflage, but best of all, as it pressed softly against his nostrils, it masked the sounds of his frantic, nervous breathing.
And for the finishing touch, he pulled the hood over his ears, ensuring that it covered the furry tuft on his forehead. Phelan took a step back, sizing up the completely black-clad creature who stared back at him.
Of course he couldn't see his mouth, but he could feel his lips grinning with satisfaction at the final result. He looked exactly like the shadow of a chipmunk, a darkness that could swallow any living being whole – the night incarnate.
Perfect! Now let them try and stop me if they can!
The window pane slid open with greater ease this time, and Phelan couldn't resist giving one last look at the peaceful faces of his sleeping brothers before he slid down the tree.
His paws had barely touched the ground when they jumped up in the air as a high-pitched scream rent the air.
"Oh shoot! A panther ate Phelan! What am I going to tell Aaron?"
The tiny hairs on Phelan's nape lay flat again as he recognized the flow of eccentricity in his guest's voice, but he wasn't expecting Rhodas to whip out his sword and point it at him in earnest fright.
"Stand your ground, kitty! I must warn you, I am fully armed and I taste of nuts and craziness!"
"Woah there! Rhodas, Rhodas, calm down! I'm not going to hurt you!" said the wolf-like chipmunk, throwing off his hood and pulling down his neck warmer. "It's me, Phelan!"
Rhodas's eyes nearly popped out of his sockets as he sheathed his sword and circled around the strange-looking creature covered in black from head to toe.
"What in the name of pistachios did you do to yourself? That is unbelievably awesome! I honestly would've mistaken you for a crow if you hadn't dropped down from the window. Man, I want that costume for next year's Halloween!"
It was a good thing Phelan found himself blushing, because it would be impossible to notice the slightest emotion being betrayed under all that makeup on the wolf-like chipmunk's face. "Anyhow, what are you doing here?"
"Just wanted to make sure you kept to your word, and to be your guide, in case you got lost."
"You needn't worry about that," Phelan smiled. "I told you I'd be there. Now, where's Aaron and the others?"
"On their way to Prometheus, but they sent me ahead to find you. So, you ready to blow some stuff up?"
Phelan nodded, then pulled up his neck warmer and shared a high-five with Rhodas.
"Light the fuse, baby."
The cooling towers were turned off for the night, but they still rose out of the darkness like a pair of ivory spires, reaching out to grace its divine inspiration from above.
From afar, the outside of Prometheus appeared to be decked in fairy lights, with all those illuminated windows and street lights giving it as much glamour and warmth as a Christmas tree.
But behind all that radiance and flashy décor, there were only a few who knew about the deep, dark secrets lurking behind those walls.
And they were waiting for the right moment to strike.
The rendezvous spot turned out to be a nearby parking lot, with only a few cars to provide some cover for the Arch. All seven of them were crouched behind a blue Sedan, peering out towards the brightly-lit guardhouse – the only thing standing a short distance between the gates and total success.
"You didn't say anything about a guardhouse," Scar gritted in between his teeth.
"I didn't," Aaron said under his breath, "because isn't it obvious that every well-guarded secret has its own dragon to protect it?"
"We're talking about fighting in a guardhouse," said Kira.
"We don't know how many people there are inside! Suppose Kira and I make the first move and burst in, what if there are more guards than we can handle? And who's going to bet that they're loaded with guns and Tasers? We're supposed to be invincible, not immortal!"
"Scar's got a point there," said Phelan. "They're probably armed with better technology and weapons than us. And if you ask me, it's too simple for Kira just to control whoever's in that guardhouse. Why's that?"
"I can't manipulate the souls that I've never seen before," said Kira. "Put it this way: would you know how to form a relationship with someone you've never met before?"
"I suppose not," Phelan said.
"See? Even the kitty cat knows better than you," Scar nodded to Aaron. "I say we put a little bell around his neck, then let him walk up to the guards. Who knows, maybe they'll welcome him with a nice bowl of warm milk."
Everyone else had to suppress a giggle as Phelan rose up to face the smirking chipmunk. Earlier on, Rhodas made a point; there was no mistaking him under all that makeup and disguise for a feral wild cat rather than a wolf.
"For the last time, I'm not a kitty! So shut up before I punch your lights out!" Phelan hissed, poking a finger in Scar's chest.
"Alright, break it up, you two. There's no need for arguing," said Aaron, doing his best to maintain a dignified position. "But it looks like you have something on your mind, Phelan."
All eyes were now fixed upon the wolf-like chipmunk.
"As a matter of fact, I do…."
With the game plan set up, Rhodas was the first to move. He sidled around the front of the car, keeping close to the ground and below the level of the large window located in front of the guardhouse.
He flicked his paw and a single throwing star came to life, ablaze with the flames of darkness. Taking great aim, he held the star at the desired angle, keeping an eye on the bright, fuzzy shape hanging from behind the paneled glass.
It all happened in the flash of an eye.
The window exploded in a barrage of flying shards – right in the split of a second before the whole guardhouse was suddenly plunged into darkness. The commotion rattling inside could be heard from the parking lot, where the Arch watched as thin beams of frail light did little more than to provide more shadows.
"Two," whispered Phelan, not taking his eyes off the scene. "There's only two of them inside. Faolan, go!"
Faolan heard the signal, but chose to stay rather than to join Rhodas at the front. Instead, he threw back his head and let loose a series of frantic barks and howls. So distinctive and melodic were his calls that he could have summoned an entire wolf pack at his command.
Or even humans for that matter.
Two burly figures came stumbling out of the darkened guardhouse. They were security alright, with the silver sheen of their badges and guns strapped to their holsters. One of them had a baton gripped tightly in his trembling fist, while the other fumbled with a Taser.
"See? What did I tell you?" Scar smirked, folding his arms. "There's a reason why they're called security."
Aaron said nothing, but pointed to Scar and Kira with his paw, then held two fingers to his eyes before pointing them back at the confused guards.
It was time to act.
Kira walked up to the guards, his every step filled with the grace and dignity of a lion advancing stealthily upon its prey. At first, Phelan could've sworn he saw the faintest trace of a smile on Kira, but the white-furred chipmunk's face remained bleak and emotionless. He looked very much relaxed, but his eyes were locked in a stare far colder and icier than the harshest winter.
The guards were looking at him straight on, but they did absolutely nothing. In fact, they were just as relaxed as Kira was, their hands dangling lifelessly to their sides instead of reaching into their holsters. All they did was stare… and stare they did, lost in a world of their own.
Kira was still keeping eye contact with the guards when Scar came in, licking his already extending fangs. His newly grown wings were beating frantically, but still feebly as he crawled up to the nearest guard.
It was strange, but not in the least scary, to watch a chipmunk latch himself around the thick, beefy neck of a fully grown man – just as a koala clings to a tree. From the back, Scar looked like a cuddly teddy with wings, yet still desperate for love and attention and the simple rewards of a hug.
But all of that disappeared from Phelan's thoughts as he watched Scar finish his unspeakable task and hopped to the ground, followed by the guards who came tumbling down like a pair of dominoes.
"You were supposed to knock them out, not drain them dry!" gasped Phelan in shock as Kira and Scar returned to the Arch, the latter now patting his slightly bloated stomach.
"That's what I did, you dimwit. Ask Kira yourself." There was a harsh, guttural tone now grating along the edge of Scar's voice, while his eyes had turned a dark and fiery shade of red.
"If Scar steps out of line, it's my obligation to use my powers to control him too," said Kira. "Though I suppose it would've been easier to just put those two buffoons out of their misery."
Only Aaron seemed to be the most pleased of the lot.
"Excellent work, Phelan! Thanks to you, we're still right on schedule and ready to commence the next step! Now follow me."
The golden-furred chipmunk took the lead, moving with unfathomable stealth and dexterity, despite the large backpack he had slung over his shoulder. Phelan and the others followed in single line. Faolan and Stellaluna were last to arrive, covering up their team's tracks. Since nobody else could lift two lumbering weights of flesh and bone, Phelan kept a lookout while Faolan dragged the unconscious security back into the guardhouse, before locking the door from the outside.
Once past the gates, they watched Aaron slip his backpack off and reach into the front pocket, retrieving a handful of black objects.
"Earpieces?" Phelan asked as Aaron passed one to him. The wolf-like chipmunk turned it over in his paws, studying the miniscule gadget before slipping it over his ear.
"So we can all keep in contact. I had them linked to each other via Bluetooth. They're remotely hooked on to the same channel," explained Aaron. "The moment something worth mentioning comes up, you let us know."
The Arch nodded as they slipped their pieces around their own ears (Stella had carefully wrapped hers over her tiny neck like a pendant).
"Alright, we all know the plan, but there's no harm in a second briefing. Faolan, Stella, you two are taking the front door. We don't know much but I'm assuming they still keep the alarms active at night. So Stella, put your wings to advantage and locate the main control room – it should be on the first floor."
The light-brown bat gave a tiny nod.
"Phelan, Rhodas and I are going around the back. We'll cut through a ventilation shaft I spotted that will lead us into the foyer. It's narrow, but just big enough to fit us." Aaron pointed around the far end of the building.
"Then we'll find our way in and head up to start taking out the secondary turbine generators. By that time, I want the location of the main generator. It should be located at the highest floor somewhere, but I want that confirmed," Aaron told Faolan.
He then turned to Kira and Scar. "I'm sorry, you two, but you're staying here for now. Cover for us and take out any new arrivals, delivery trucks, visitors, anything. We're not taking any chances. Once we hit about eight minutes, I'll call you in. By that time it won't matter."
Aaron looked around, making sure everybody understood and there were no questions.
"Alright, Black Arch, huddle up," he smiled.
Everybody shuffled closer into a circle; Scar shot daggers at Phelan as he stepped next to him.
"I know we've pulled off several missions before, but never one as dangerous and impossible as this. And to be honest, I'm pretty psyched about it," said Aaron. "No pressure there, Phelan, but we're counting on you. It's your first mission with us, so you've got to understand that everything is riding on your tail tonight."
"Gee thanks," Phelan mumbled, a little half-heartedly. "No pressure, huh?"
"I want this mission to go off without a hitch, got it? Look out for your team mates, but most of all – keep your backs to the wall at all times."
Aaron reached his paw out, looking around and nodding. Phelan, Rhodas, and Faolan followed in suit, sticking their paws out and placing it in the middle, on top of Aaron's.
Scar hesitated a moment before sighing in utter annoyance and placing his paw on top of Phelan's.
Stella hopped forward and stood on top of Faolan's wrist. Everybody turned to Kira, who glanced back at them, as stiff as a board.
"Oh, just do it, mate!" Faolan groaned, earning silence from the white-furred chipmunk, but he tilted his head and slowly placed his paw on top of Scar's.
When he was certain everyone was listening, Aaron's voice rang out with confidence and clarity.
"The time is now! Let's show the world what we can do. For the Arch!"
"For darkness everywhere!" said Scar.
"For justice!" said Faolan.
"For free electricity and no more crappy bills!" said Rhodas.
"We make big difference, yup yup!" Stella piped up.
"Hear hear!" Phelan grinned.
And as Aaron brought his paw into the air, the others followed in suit, raising their arms to the sky.
"We are quick, we are subtle, we are silent, and we are flawless. Get in, unleash Hell, and get out. Remember, if any of us gets caught, we don't speak a word to the enemy. Don't blow our cover. And above all, never compromise the Arch."
"And when this is all over, let's go home and have a nice little celebration, eh?" said Rhodas. "I've got a drink waiting for me with my name on it!"
Four chipmunks, a wolf and a bat cheered.
Aaron chuckled. "Are we ready, Black Arch? Let's do this!"
And with that, the team broke off like pollen scattered across the wind.
Operation Blackout had begun.
Faolan leapt up the stairs leading to the front entrance, with only the sound of his heels gracing the cold concrete while he kept to the shadows with precision.
Being the only member of the group with a healthy, shiny pelt did have its own setbacks, and every time a bright light hit his shimmering fur, Faolan felt exposed to the open.
Fortunately, he had Stellaluna flying to the side of him, keeping up with a perfect rhythm. Reaching the main door, the duo slowed to a halt as they backed up against the wall.
They heaved a sigh of relief. There were no security cameras at this point, seeing as how the door itself needed no security.
Faolan sniffed. "Steel plated, iron honeycomb on the inside coated in solid rubber to prevent hollow vibrations from any impacts." He then turned to the side of the large metal door, "Keypad locked, looks like a fingerprint scanner, double-key lock." Faolan sighed and shook his head, whistling in amazement.
"They sure don't want the wrong people getting in here."
"Too bad for them, too bad!" Stella piped up, eyeing a small air-flow shaft just above the door.
Faolan spotted it too, grinning at the bat on his shoulder. "Right, get into the room, deactivate all security systems, then I'll come and help with the rest."
"Yup yup!" Stella replied as she flew up to the small vent, gripping it with her tiny foot talons. Had she been just a regular-sized fruit bat, the idea of yanking the bars wouldn't have crossed her batty mind.
But the vent was probably as old as the building itself, and it made a small 'pop' as it came undone from the wall. Stellaluna dropped it down. Faolan caught the metal vent in his jaws and set it down as gently as he could.
"Good luck," he called out, but the tiny bat had already disappeared through the shaft above.
"Here it is." Aaron motioned Phelan and Rhodas to halt, pointing to the side of the building. The ventilation shaft was there, but slightly obscured by a vine bush crawling up its walls.
The two black-clad chipmunks nodded, stepping in front of Aaron and gripping the bars of the vent tightly. In unison and a sharp yank, the vent tore off from its bolts.
Aaron gave an impressed nod as they dropped the heavy broken vent into the dirt and pebbles.
He walked forward, carefully climbing into the narrow opening, motioning for Phelan and Rhodas to follow him quietly.
Stella's beady eyes widened to the size of golf balls as she slipped into the facility. The sight was… beyond anything she could possibly imagine.
The first floor of Prometheus was practically as big as a warehouse. Surrounding the walls were various large electrical boxes and smaller turbine generators, all connecting in wires and poles to the complicated ceiling above, a great fifteen feet in height.
On the far right side of the giant room, Stella spotted the main control room, built into the wall, taking up half of the space.
But above all else, the most eye-catching thing was what resided smack in the middle of everything.
What appeared to be an entrance underground – was a large square opening carved out right through the floor. And from the depths of the darkness towered a strange electrical spire-looking device, curled with hundreds of wires connecting in every direction all the way out of the opening, to the ceiling above. A short metal yellow hazard fence surrounded the opening at the top.
At least twenty men in working black and blue uniforms roamed around the entire floor, hauling tools and some driving in small machines that carried supplies of different sorts.
Stella quickly took it all in, remembering her mission and heading straight towards the control room.
No one noticed the tiny brown bat as she skidded to a halt near the entrance, taking cover behind a small silver trashcan.
She waited anxiously before a worker came up to unlock the door to the control room. Finding the exact moment, she swiftly swooped into it before the door swung shut. She kept low and flew under a desk, peeking out and checking the room.
It wasn't exactly big, but it was very complicated: multiple computers, monitors, and metal tables connected to the wall made the room seem like a full-blown interior of a spaceship.
In the front, a large clear window overlooked the work floor. Stella spotted it and realised the problem right away. She took note of the four men in the room. While three of them were monitoring the various controls and screens, the other one who had just entered, was inserting a card into a strange machine in the corner.
Before she could think it over, Stella's wings went into action.
Quick as a bullet, she swooped out from under the desk and flew up to the side of the window, grasping tightly onto the metal chain, and yanking it.
The metal shutters instantly slammed down in front of the window, basking the room in the briefest darkness. The only colours she could pick out were from the multiple glowing buttons and controls on the large metal desks against the walls next to and under the window.
Right now, she could see a lot clearer, compared to the men who gave a few shouts of surprise, stumbling around blindly from the sudden dark.
"What the –? Who shut the blinds?" one asked.
That's when the light of the keys happened to shine slightly on Stella's light brown fur, illuminating her tiny form.
"There! There's some kind of bird in here!" a man shouted as he pointed at the bat.
"We're here," Aaron whispered as he stopped inside the ventilation shaft they were crawling through.
As he pointed downward through a vent opening, Phelan and Rhodas followed his gaze. It led directly down into a small office room, currently empty, but with the door open.
"Alright, we're going in through here." He gripped onto the vent, silently lifting it up like a lid.
Aaron gave Phelan a quick wink before setting his most serious face on. Like a sheet, he almost floated down into the office room, landing on the desk noiselessly.
The other two chipmunks followed suit, swinging down from the vent and plopping on the desk. Rhodas chuckled slightly as the panther-like chipmunk slipped on a pile of papers.
"You sure got the look, but you're certainly not as ninja-worthy as me," he teased, before pulling a disheveled Phelan to his feet.
"Let's move," Aaron spoke, already reaching the door. Before he was about to take another step, a large object suddenly blocked his path as it entered through the doorway.
Phelan saw the man right away, but before he or Rhodas had even a moment's chance to react, all they could see was a golden blur.
Aaron swiftly spun around, whirling and kicking the man in his shin, earning a small cry of shock in return. There was no turning around before Aaron flipped around the man, landing behind him and raising one of his golden paws.
He grinned as a tiny orange spark ignited between his fingers, frizzing up his fur slightly as a breeze swept throughout the room and a tiny whirring noise was heard.
His paw glowed brightly, not with an orb of orange light as Phelan expected, but a rapidly spinning and crackling spark. Aaron raised his paw, and lunged forward, forcefully slamming his crackling paw into the man's chest.
The wall shook slightly as the man crashed into it with the force of being hit by a small truck, dropping to the floor with an unconscious thud.
"Whoa…" Phelan's mouth was hanging agape; Rhodas whistling in awe.
"What, you thought you guys were the only ones with ninja skills?" said Aaron, a rare smirk crossing his face. To Rhodas, he added: "I didn't teach you everything, you know."
Trading confused looks, the two black-clad chipmunks shrugged their shoulders as they followed Aaron out the door.
To Be Continued...
I had a lot of fun co-writing this. And BusyLovingChipmunks has already sent me his part for the following chapter, so hopefully it wouldn't take too long before you get another fresh update. :P
Will it be Prometheus or the Arch that goes up in flames? Stay tuned to find out! ;)
"Always trust in your stories"
~ Wind