Sprayfire

Chapter VII - Experimentation

"Hmm... Looks like we're getting called for a meeting. You go on ahead, Craze. I'll stay here for a while and check on some things before I leave.", said Adrian. "Oh - you can bring the gun, by the way.", he added.

I exited the Tech Lab and proceeded to the Hall of Meetings. We had 3 Conference Rooms in total; CR1 is for general meetings between facility workers and/or combat troops - CR2 is for highly-classified meetings, involving secret plans, battle tactics, and/or something serious - and CR3 was the most feared of everyone in EASE. How so? Well, it's because that's where meetings with the EASE Headmasters take place. You're talking about something officially serious - talking to a serious official, who could put you in a really uncomfortable place. So I wondered - which Conference Room is General Mitchel talking about? I decided to check CR1 first.

"Hello?", I said as I knocked on the door and opened it.

CR1 was occupied by some Tech Lab agents discussing things about technological improvements that would become beneficial for mankind. Based on what they told me, the Tech Lab Conference Room was occupied already. I then went over to CR2.

"Gah... If nobody's in this room, I bet the Elite Team is in big trouble.", I said as I walked over to the door and knocked. "Hello?", I said as I opened the door.

CR2 was vacant. The lights were turned off, the place looked rather neat, and everything seemed to be in order. Then it hit me hard.

"We're dead...", I thought to myself, as I walked over to CR3.

I knocked on the door and tried to open it - but it was locked. I knocked again, pounding harder on the door. It still didn't budge open. I knocked again, but this time, I knocked lightly.

"General Mitchel? It's me - Sergeant Craze. You called?", I spoke into the corner of the door, so that my voice would pass through the slit.

I could hear the door being unlocked and opened shortly after. In the room, the whole Elite Team was already present - everyone was waiting for me and Adrian. The three Headmasters - Combat, Engineering and Statistics are also present in the room - which has never happened in the whole history of EASE.

"Hi everyone!", I spoke, and in return, everyone greeted me back. "Can someone tell me why the Elite Team was called?", I added.

"Certainly.", said EASE Statistics Headmaster, Jack, as he stood up and proceeded to the whiteboard. "Elite Team - do you recall your mission to the 'temple' place? The one where you needed to find a certain artifact?", he added.

Everyone nodded.

"We recently put the artifact through many tests in the Tech Lab. And it turns out - it's not the artifact per se...", said EASE Engineering Headmaster, Albert. "What you brought back home is a seal of some sort. The bottom part of the seal - the seal itself - is made of pure obsidian. The upper layers however - you know, the statue thing - it's made of quartz, stone and pieces of wood.", he added.

"Okay so, what seems to be the problem?", asked Jaydee.

"The problem is this.", said EASE Combat Headmaster, Max. "The artifact you have returned, is not just an artifact.", he added.

"What do you mean by 'not just an artifact' - is there something magical inside?!", asked Colonel Russ.

"No, not really. The artifact is actually some type of seal that's supposed to cover something.", said Headmaster Jack. "The structure of the seal is very well made, and it's quality is enough to stop a huge amount of force - better than your ordinary cork...", said Headmaster Albert.