The Orphan and Her Family

Chapter Thirty-One

"So," Jack starts, "What's the plan?"

"We need to get into the Pharos Institute, and it'll need to be after hours," Sarah Jane answers.

"Yes!" Sophie shouts, pumping her fist in the air, "Breaking and entering! Woo!"

Jack looks over at her, and laughs. "Kid, you should not be that excited about committing a felony."

She looks at him with puppy dog eyes, "But, crime."

Sarah Jane smiles and rolls her eyes. "C'mon, we should be heading out. It'll be dark soon."

***

They once again pile into Sarah Jane's car, and they head back to the Pharos Institute.

"How are we getting in?" Jack asks. The older woman pulls a tube of lipstick out of her purse. "Okay, you're flirting with someone. My kind of breaking and entering."

Sophie once again smacks the immortal upside the head, "It's sonic lipstick, you idiot."

He turns around in his seat to shoot the woman an incredulous look, "How the actual f*ck was I supposed to know that?"

"Just get out of the car," she says, rolling her eyes.

He shrugs, "Yeah, fine, whatever."

Sophie puts down the front seat, and hops out, and wraps an arm around Jack. He returns the half embrace, and presses a kiss to her hairline. "It's crime time!" she cheers, quietly.

"Come on then," the journalist says, pointing her head toward the Institute. Jack grabs Sophie's hand, and they follow Sarah Jane into the building.

"I'll stand guard," Jack offers.

"Right. Sophie, you're with me. We just need to get one headset."

"Got it."

The duo step into the facility. They follow the path that Professor Rivers took them through earlier. Arriving at the window, Sophie looks over at the older woman, "I'll stay out here, and you can go and grab it."

The journalist nods, and slips into the room. About a minute later, the older woman steps back out, the device in her hand, "Let's head out then."

They practically run back to the exit, where Jack stands. "Did you get it?"

Sarah Jane again holds up the device. Jack nods, and they take off running down the drive toward the journalist's car.

They get about halfway down the drive, when a tannoy sounds, and a fence of laser beams appear in front of them. "Intruder!" the tannoy states, "Perimeter defences have been armed. Any attempt to escape may result in death. You have been warned!"

"Noted," Sarah Jane says. She pulls her lipstick out of her pocket, and points it at the barriers. They flicker out, and the trio run for the woods. A trail bike follows them, gaining swiftly. The journalist once again points her lipstick at the bike, and the rider falls off. "Oh," Jack says, "That looks like it hurt."

"Come on!" Sophie shouts, and makes a mad dash for the car. Sarah Jane and Jack immediately follow her. They slip back into the vehicle, and the journalist peels out of the facility drive, heading back for 13 Bannerman Road.

"Well, that went well," Jack says, leaning back into his seat.

Sarah Jane nods, "I couldn't agree more. Now we can have Mr. Smith analyze the headset."

"And figure out what's going on," Sophie finishes.

***

The journalist arrives back home and immediately heads back up to the attic. "Mr. Smith, I need you."