Immortals

2. Confusion

Narrating as [Chris]

Three days following the departure of the Delta team.

I found Tiffany, Raider, and Salwan, the best of my tech team, deeply engrossed in playing a video game. I couldn't help but express my frustration. "Guys, I asked you to work on solving the code... seriously? Noah is digging through our barriers as we speak."

Tiffany, still focused on her game, replied, "Well, he can try all day long. I put trap codes in place. If he crosses them, he'll get fried on the spot."

I sigh, trying to convey the gravity of the situation. "Do you realize what it would be like if he hacked into our colony system? Think about the countless ways he could torture us to death. He could tamper with our venting system and suffocate us all to death."

Tiffany and Raider seemed unfazed by my words, but Salwan shuddered in fear. "Sorry, guys. I've got to get back to work," he said.

Raider, clearly not impressed with my concern about Noah, chimed in, "You're such a buzzkill, Chris. Always going on about Noah as if we don't spend the whole day encrypting. Take a breather, man."

Sitting in my chamber, I couldn't help but reflect on the recent events. Worry consumed me, especially regarding the Delta Team, who had left the colony three days ago and were supposed to return 7 hours after their departure. However, there had been no contact with the Delta Team whatsoever.

"I repeat, Delta Team members, please respond," I called out over the communication system, but there was no response. It felt as if the ground had swallowed them whole.

The voice from the speaker signaled the return of the Alpha Team, led by Skylar. I winced at the thought of how he would react when he discovered that his sister hadn't returned. I clenched my teeth, feeling a sense of responsibility for what had happened.

Removing my headphones, I left my chamber and was greeted by heated arguments in the president's room. I followed the familiar voice to find Skylar shouting at President Abigail, slamming her desk in frustration. "How could you let her go? She's not trained for this, and there's no expert scout with them!"

"It was Miss Pierce's suggestion to go to the surface, and she is allowed to join a scientific research expedition. Besides, I don't take orders from you, Mr. Pierce," President Abigail retorted.

Skylar was undeterred. "Alright, then I'm going after them right now. You can't stop me. You have no authority to halt a scouting mission since we're a secluded section."

Abigail rubbed her temples as Skylar stormed out of the room. I glanced at her with concern. "Are you going to let him go?"

"I can't stop him. But you could," she replied, tapping on her computer. I left the room quietly, contemplating my next move. The doors behind me, adorned with a sizable snake painting, were closed.

As I return to our chamber, I spot Tiffany emerging from the vent, attempting to seal it shut. When she notices me, I can't help but ask, "What on earth are you doing?"

"Listen, guys. I've found a way to the surface through here. We can escape whenever we want, and no one will catch us," Tiffany replies.

Raider, joining me, questions her sanity, saying, "Are you out of your mind?"

"If you get caught, you could face execution," I warn her.

Tiffany grins and playfully pinches our cheeks, saying, "Nobody will find out, unless you two decide to turn me in, which I highly doubt." She then secures the entrance with a screwdriver.

I noticed that Skylar's room door was left ajar. Hesitantly, I pushed it open and entered, waiting for an invitation from him. However, he didn't even look at me, engrossed in his sniper rifle.

I took a seat before him. "What do you want, Chris? Abigail sent you to stop me, didn't she?" he asked, his eyes filled with fury.

"No, I came to tell you that I'm coming with you. I don't have authorization to join but I will," I replied.

He set his sniper aside on the bed and regarded me closely. "What do you know, Chris, that I don't know?"

I explained, "Before Kelly left, I gave her a tracking device, a pin, to track her movements so I could protect her. I lost the signal for a while. It seems they ventured into a territory where connections are jammed," I swallowed nervously.

Skylar's eyes widened, and he moved closer to listen carefully.

I continued, "After I managed to traced the tracker, and it led me to a tunnel northeast from here."

A vein bulged in Skylar's head as anger surged through him. "I swear, if my sister is dead, I'll bomb the surface along with everyone on it," he declared. "Go get ready. We're leaving by midnight."

As I make my way out of the room he stops me short.
"Chris... you need to disguise yourself to use the elevator. There are guards there. You'll get noticed" Skylar advises.

I quickly brief Skylar on our plan, explaining Tiffany's escape route. "We won't be using the elevator," I tell him.

Skylar looks surprised but then nods. "I'm in. Let's go all in if we're already going against the law."

"Alright," I left the room and headed back to my chamber to get prepared.

Fully equipped, I muttered to myself, "I'm coming for you, Noah. Do you want a fight in your arena? You'll have one soon." With my backpack and laptop in hand, I left the room, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead.