My National Treasure | stories from my DR

Chapter 6- Valley Forge

We split up.

   Riley and I drove the van down the street to the metro. I stayed in the car while we went downstairs with wires and his laptop. I opened my computer and got to work. While Riley tried to get camera access, my job was to figure out what to do after the fact. Where to go, where it will be safe to get food, etc. I also had to figure out when and where the police and military were working. I was so involved in my work I hardly noticed Riley walk back in and sit down next to me.

    At Ben's house, we set up a clean room so we can evaluate the Declaration without hurting it. That was a good decision. We'll need a place to hide while the police look for us. As long as no one sees Ben's face or our license plate, or Riley and I, we should be able to hold off the police while we study the document

   Me, being the super-smart college student that I am, created a laser so discreet and so hot that it can raise the temperature of the document through the inch-thick bulletproof glass without anyone noticing. I sit down on one end of the van next to Riley and aim the laser at the thermometer we set up at the other side of the car. successfully, I raise the temperature. "That's cool" Riley comments, his head on my shoulder. "I know," I say confidently. 

     I'm told that Ben gave Abigail a present with some invisible liquid on it that we will be able to trace later, but honestly: I think that Ben just wanted to help Abigail finish her collection. "It's strictly so we can get information," He told me. "Simp," I say under my breath. "What?" he asks. "Nothing," I say. Sometimes I forget gen z humor doesn't exist here.

      Long story short, we're able to successfully use the laser I created. Riley and I watch through the monitors as the Declaration, a team of cleaners, and Abigail take the document downstairs into the cleanroom. "Run full diagnostics, then I want them all changed out," she says. We chuckle. I turn to Riley. "Our evil plan is working," He says. We fist bump.

   I can only imagine what Ian and his crew are gonna do to try and steal the Declaration. I'm assuming they'll try at the gala, just like us. If they don't know about the preservation room, then what are they gonna do?

   Finally, the night comes: The Gala. Tonight Ben is going to go in there and make history. Riley and I both have an earpiece in so we can both talk to Him. Riley will be monitoring the cameras, I will find us a getaway spot. We have a fake driver's license on our car right now, just in case someone spots us getting away. Ben is on his way out when I interrupt. "Wait Ben," I say. He turns. I give him a mask. He raises an eyebrow at me. "I did some research and you're allowed to wear a mask if you want to be a germaphobe" "But I'm not a germaphobe," he questions. "I know," I say. "But with it on it'll be harder to track you through facial recognition." He thanks me. On his way out, Riley makes one last-ditch effort to try and talk him out of this. "Ben, are you sure-" He's cut off by Ben slamming the door.

  We put our headsets on. It's go-time. "guys, can you hear me?" Ben asks through the microphone. "Unfortunately, yeah," Riley replies, "We're all set in here," I add. I hear him enter the building, and walk into the bathroom. He immediately makes the transition from the janitor suit he used to get into the building, to a tuxedo. "How do you look?" Riley asks with a smile. "Not bad." He responds. We continue to hype him up through the microphone. He laughs, then makes his way to the main room. We don't hear much, just some classical music, laughter, people chatting, etc. "See Ian?" I ask. "No, not yet." He responds. "oh- wait a minute," He says.

   "What?" Riley asks. We turn to look at each other, scared. "For you," Ben says, But not directed towards us. "Oh, Mr.Brown." I hear a woman's voice say. It sounds familiar. Who is that? it sounds like someone I know. "Is that that hot girl?" Riley questions. Oh! it's Dr.Chase, from last week. Heh, I forgot about her. "How does she look?" I ask. "What's with the mask?" She asks. "Oh, well you can never be too safe," he responds. They talk about donations, drinks, pretty basic stuff. We look at each other and smirk. We know exactly what's going on. It's now that I realize we're holding hands. Mostly because we can, also because we're scared. We have a right to be! If we get caught, we're going to prison. "Come on, Romeo, get outta there," I say. "we have a job to do."

  "I have been wondering, though, what the engraving indicated on the pipe that BigFoot took." Ben begins. Oh my god. "Hi" I hear an unfamiliar voice say. They exchange casualties awkwardly. "A toast, yeah?" Ben says. I look at Riley, who is busy checking cameras or something. He looks at me, trying to stifle a laugh. "Too high treason. That's what these men were committing when they signed the Declaration. Had we lost the war, they would have been hanged, beheaded, drawn and quartered, and - Oh! Oh, my personal favorite-

had their entrails cut out and burned!" I put my head in my hands. God, I feel embarrassed for him. "So, here's to the men who did what was considered wrong to do what they knew was right." He finishes. What they knew was right. They finish their conversation and part ways. "Real classy, Ben." I joke. I can hear him roll his eyes.

    We get to the elevator. "I'm gonna turn off the surveillance cameras. Ready?" Riley says. He counts down from five. "Ben Gates, you are now the invisible man." He walks down the hallway to the computer with a password "I'm here." "Give me the letters for her password," Riley says, getting ready to type into his computer. "A-E-F-G..L-O-R-V-Y" I memorize those letters. "Top results: A glove fry, A very golf, Are fly gov, Era fly gov., Elf gov ray-"

     "It's Valley Forge," I interrupted. "What?" Ben asks. "Valley For...I don't have that on my computer." Riley questions. "It's "Valley Forge, She pressed the E and L twice. Valley Forge was a turning point in the American Revolution." Riley turns to me with a smile "Can I marry your brain?" he jokes. I Look at him "Did you not program your anagram software to take keys being used multiple times into account?" he shrugs. at least we got in. "Ben, you're doing great. Ben, pick it up. You got about one..." he cuts himself off. "What?" I ask. I look over at his computer. Nothing. Blank.

We lost the video.

A/N Hey guys! Sorry for the long chapter, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless! I don't know when the next chapter will be out, hopefully sometime soon. Maybe today, maybe tomorrow, but make sure you're following me so you'll get the notification as soon as I do it! Or don't...I'm not your mom. Anyways, see you guys later!

Time: 2 1/2 Hours

Word count: 1,273