The guards were closing in on me so I had to let go of the thought and took a deep breath, reminding myself to stay calm and confident. I nodded politely as they passed, hoping they wouldn't suspect a thing.
Finally, I reached the elevator and punched in the access code. The doors opened with a quiet ding and I stepped inside. I let out a sigh of relief as the doors closed, taking me down to the basement level.
I stepped out of the elevator and into a dimly lit hallway. The sound of dripping water echoed through the empty space. I made my way to the end of the corridor, where a heavy metal door stood between me and my goal.
I pulled out the keycard and swiped it through the reader. The lock clicked open and I pushed the door open, revealing a small room filled with computers and machinery. I made my way to the center console and began typing furiously, downloading the data I came for.
Suddenly, the door burst open and a team of guards rushed in, guns drawn. I froze, wondering if my cover had been blown. My plan was flawless and there was a very low possibility of it being foiled. I stood there quietly and had a friendly face as a guard approached me. But then, one of them took a closer look at my janitor's uniform and dismissed me as a harmless bystander. They rushed past me, chasing after their real target.
It seemed someone else had also broken into the building and was so careless that they set off an alarm, so the guards were in search of the intruder… talk about timing, but the down side was that the guards were now on high alert and I needed to be more cautious unless my cover might be blown.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding and finished up downloading the data. I slipped the hard drive into my pocket and headed back out into the hallway, feeling a sense of relief wash over me. As I executed the mission on the field, I felt an adrenaline rush unlike anything I had experienced before.
The thrill of being in the thick of the action, taking direct control of the operation, was a stark contrast to my usual role of overseeing the mission from a distance as my pawns did my bidding. My janitor's disguise had worked flawlessly, and the fake mustache had proven to be a key element which helped in making my disguise more believable.
While I assessed my options for escaping the building, I quickly realized that the vents were no longer a viable option. The system had likely locked them down in case the intruder was still inside and hiding themselves in the vent. Jumping out a window also didn't feel like a smooth or safe escape as it seemed too predictable. If I was spotted by anyone while I tried using a window for my escape, they might mistake me for the other intruder who was dumb enough to trigger the alarm system.
If I was going to leave that building, I wanted to do it in style and I didn't mind going all out with the operation because I always liked it when they go smoothly and without flaws till the very end. I decided to use the chaos and confusion of the situation to my advantage. I slipped seamlessly into the crowd of workers as they evacuated the building, blending in with the commotion.
While I was in the room where I extracted the data I came there for, I temporarily slipped in my fake identity as a janitor and validated my card and checked myself like I had checked in earlier. They would be rendered invalid and would evaporate from the system in less than a minute's time.
As I made my way towards the lobby, my heart raced as I spotted three burly guards stationed at the reception. They stood tall and vigilant, clearly on high alert after the reported intruder. With just five minutes left on the clock, I knew I had to act fast if I wanted to check out on time.
As I drew closer, I took a deep breath and steadied my nerves. Rolling a bucket filled with equipment and a mop by my side, I tried to look as inconspicuous as possible. But the guards' sharp eyes were on me, scanning my every move as I approached them.
As I approached the desk, my heart raced a bit as the guards stared at me with suspicion. Two of them scrutinized me closely while the other barely gave me a glance before looking away.
"I haven't seen your face around here before, are you new to the job?" One of the guards questioned as I handed over my card.
"Yes, I just started. You'll be seeing a lot more of me soon," I responded with a soft smile, my artificial mustache spreading a little at each side to make it look natural for a young man.
"Welcome, rookie," he replied as he swiped my card and the computer started scanning and loading.
The tension in the air was palpable as the seconds ticked by. The suspicious guard continued to give me a scrutinizing look, his suspicion growing with each passing moment as the others seemed to do the same.
Suddenly, a beep from the computer broke the silence. My heart leapt with relief as my fake details appeared on the screen, a face that was similar to mine but untraceable to me.
"It seems the emergency we're currently having has made the system operate at a slow speed," the guard said as he handed me back my card.
"Thank you. I hope you catch that intruder soon and prevent something like this from happening again," I replied, flashing a bright smile as I made my way out of the building.
As soon as I was out of sight, I continued a steady pace as I walked towards the alley where I had previously stashed my disguise. I needed to disappear quickly and back to my motel.
I had finally made it to the dumpster and was about to remove my disguise, starting with my mustache and my cap. I had removed the mustache and as my right hand reached for my cap above my wig, I heard a voice, a female voice, coming from behind me.
"Don't move," the voice commanded, and I froze. With my hand still on my cap, I turned slowly to face the person behind me. I had a feeling it was one of those do-gooder heroes who were always trying to stop the outlaws from achieving my goals.
I slowly turned around, my cap and wig suddenly flew from my head as if they were telekinetically yanked off my head. My long white hair flowed with the night wind as it shimmered under the moonlight. I was taken aback for a moment, wondering how she had managed to do that.
I looked up and noticed that a figure in a purple robe was hovering midair, with the hood covering her face completely. Without moving an inch, I focused on controlling the flow of the wind and took off the hood, revealing her face. What I saw was different from what I had seen on TV so far.
Her face was a true beauty to behold - with extremely pale skin that glowed in the moonlight, alluring eyeliner that accentuated her striking violet eyes, and long dark hair that cascaded down her back. But what caught my attention the most was the gemstone in the middle of her forehead. It was a deep shade of purple, and it glittered in the moonlight like a star.
I looked at Raven with a calm expression on my face as I wasn't intimidated by her power nor was I impressed with her beauty.
"Who are you and what are you doing in this alley wearing a disguise?" She asked. "I'm sure you have something to do with the intruder situation in Palmer Tech, or can you explain why you wore a wig? Those questions seemed irrelevant to me at the moment because I didn't know much about raven powers and I was sure magic would definitely cause some damage to me.
Magic had always fascinated me, but it was also something that I had never truly understood. It was beyond the laws of physics and seemed like the one thing I couldn't fight against. Yet, in this world of superheroes and villains, it was a force to be reckoned with. So I thought it best not to engage in a fight with Raven.
"I'm just a passerby who happened to take a shortcut through this alley," I replied, trying to sound as convincing as possible. "I assure you, I have nothing to do with the intruder situation in Palmer Tech. As for the disguise, well, let's just say I have my reasons." I said as I tried to ignore the mild headache from the probing she attempted on my mind, but she couldn't get through.
Raven continued to study me for a few moments, her eyes piercing through mine as if trying to unearth the truth, her expression unreadable. I could feel the weight of her gaze on me, and I knew that she wasn't convinced by my explanation. I had to do something to prove my innocence and gain her trust.
"Very well," she finally said, nodding her head slightly. I let out a sigh of relief. However, my relief was short-lived as her tone suddenly changed. "You are lying." She said as she reached out her hand. "If you won't tell me the truth, then I have no choice." Suddenly, I felt a strange force pulling me towards Raven, and before I knew it, I was lifted off the ground and drawn towards her. It was an unnerving sensation, like being caught in a powerful gravitational pull.
As I approached Raven, I could feel her intense gaze on me, and I knew she was up to something. My heart raced as I wondered what her intentions were. 'Should I use my powers to fight back?' The thought was tempting, and I could feel my instincts taking over. But then I took a deep breath and decided to stay calm, letting the suspense play out.
Raven was a force to be reckoned with, and her telekinetic abilities were nothing to underestimate. I felt her power radiating from her as she focused on me. The tension in the air was palpable, and I could feel my nerves on edge.
Despite the danger, I found myself drawn to Raven and her powers. There was a seductive allure to the darkness she represented, a whisper of something forbidden and irresistible. I knew I should stay away, but I couldn't resist the pull of her mysterious presence.
As the seconds ticked by, I braced myself for whatever Raven had in store. Would she try to invade my mind forcefully, or would she break through and uncover my true reason for being there that night? The uncertainty of it all left me on edge, but I couldn't help feeling captivated by the thrill of the unknown.
As I got closer, she placed her hand on my forehead and closed her eyes as if she was searching for something. The feeling was strange, like a part of my mind was being examined.
Raven was a master of telekinesis, and her power was evident in the intensity of her gaze. I felt a chill run down my spine as she focused on me, and I could sense her probing for weaknesses. It was both terrifying and exhilarating, like staring into the abyss and daring it to stare back.
After a few moments, she withdrew her hand and looked at me with a perplexed expression on her face.
"I can't read your mind," she said. "It's as if there's a barrier that's preventing me from accessing your thoughts and emotions. Who… are you?"
I was so relieved when I realized that my mental fortitude was strong enough to resist Raven's powers. But I also knew that I had to be careful with my words and not give myself away.
"I already told you, I'm just a passerby," I replied calmly. "I have nothing to do with the intruder situation at Palmer Tech. I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and this disguise was so I could pull a prank on a friend this evening." I replied, my tone calm and steady. "I was done with that and I was heading home, but not before I told him it was all a prank I orchestrated."
I gave her a nonchalant smile, hoping it would be enough to convince her. However, Raven's gaze intensified as she studied me. I could feel her probing my thoughts, trying to find any hint of deceit.
After what felt like an eternity, Raven finally released me from her telekinetic hold and dropped me on the floor. "Fine," she said, her voice cold and detached. "But don't think for a moment that I believe you. You're hiding something."
I took a second to look at her intently as I gave a mild smirk. I don't know what it was but I was drawn to Raven. Although I did not want to accept it, she intrigued me for some reason.
"One thing is clear, and that is that you have powers. Are you psychic?" She asked with a slight hint of curiosity in her tone.
While you stand here asking irrelevant questions, might I remind you that there was an intruder whom you seem to be tracking. And why are they so important that you are willing to force your way into my mind just to confirm if it was me? I ended her interrogation with a question of mine.
"I'm not obliged to answer you, so goodbye," she said sharply before suddenly turning around and soared off into the night sky. As I watched her silhouette grow smaller and smaller, I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the evasion than just another break-in at the company's lab.
I waited a moment before turning to leave, just to be certain she was gone so she didn't follow me back to my motel for some reason. The moment I lost sight of her in the distance, I turned around and disposed of the disguise as I changed into another outfit and headed straight for the motel.
…
[Rachel Roth POV]
The city was reeling from a string of high-tech robberies that had left even the most advanced companies and laboratories stumped. The thief, whoever they were, had been snatching up prototypes left and right, leaving no trace behind. But tonight, the alarm had gone off at Palmer Technologies, and NightWing and I were on the case.
We made our way into the company, our senses on high alert. As NightWing went ahead to secure a potential escape route, I focused my mind on conducting a psionic scan of the area. My powers allowed me to detect any heightened emotions from anyone around us - fear, anxiety, relief - anything that could give us a clue as to who the thief might be.
With pure curiosity I rushed down to the alley. I sensed the strange presence and I saw a man who seemed like he was about to put something into the dumpster nearby. From a distance above the ground, I used my telekinesis to remove his cap and to my surprise he wore a wig and was just disguised as a janitor.
The boy had white hair, which was rare and it could be that he had dyed his hair white.
As I began to interrogate him, I kept a watchful eye on his every move. He had an air of unpredictability, and it was evident that he was up to something unusual. His responses were vague, and it was difficult to discern whether he was being truthful or not. I sensed that he was holding something back, that he was either lying or not revealing the whole truth. I could see that he was also wary of me, putting up a facade that he was calm and collected.
As I confronted him with the accusation of lying, he quickly jumped to his own defense. It was clear that he was not going to back down without a fight. Despite my attempts to read his thoughts and intentions, I hit a wall. His mental defense was impenetrable, leaving me with a feeling of frustration.
In a moment of desperation, I reached out and pulled him into the air. To my surprise, he did not resist, but instead seemed to be weighing his options. For a moment, I thought he might try to retaliate, but then he relaxed, almost as if he had come to some kind of realization.
I made attempts to probe deeper into his mind, I placed my hand on his head and closed my eyes. But before I could make any progress, I was swiftly kicked out and unable to break through his mental defense. Frustration boiled inside me as I tried to make sense of his seemingly impenetrable mind.
However, something even more disturbing caught my attention. As I tried accessing his mind directly, I caught a glimpse of something that sent shivers down my spine. His soul seemed foreign and unfamiliar, as if it didn't belong to this world. The realization left me reeling, struggling to come to terms with the little I found.
I wondered what kind of being I was dealing with. Was he some kind of otherworldly creature that had made its way into our world? Or was there something else going on that I couldn't even begin to comprehend?
Putting that thought aside, I noticed the telltale signs of a latent power lurking just beneath the surface. It was a raw, untamed force that seemed to emanate from his very being, gradually seeping out into the world around him.
He wasn't possessed or anything, but I couldn't give an explanation for what I saw and felt at that moment. I was forced to ask him who he was out of genuine curiosity, yet he shrugged it off and gave another absurd lie as his response.
I received a message from NightWing through my comms, saying he was chasing a trail he was sure belonged to the thief we were chasing. I had to cut my interrogation short and headed straight in NightWing's direction.
I'd have liked to get to know who that strange fellow really was and what his intentions for coming to this world might be. Despite not knowing the extent of his abilities, I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of unease. If he were to master those powers, he might be an unstoppable force to be reckoned with. And by any chance if he chooses to walk a dark path and use his powers for evil, it'll be very problematic.
Please kindly visit my to read 20 chapters ahead./Maverick_DaSupreme