SILVER EYES (GXG)

Chapter 69: Don't Move

The freezing air clung to our skin as we circled the Nexus Court. We had to avoid the main entrances and exits as much as possible. So I planned to sneak Heather through the hallway that connected the hangar, with the Nexu's service room.

I expected more security given the chaos in the city, but, surprisingly, everything seemed normal. Two guards stood by the front door, one sat at the Central Fountain eating a take out noodles like it was his last meal, another was posted on the Bridge of Honor, and a pair guarded the back of the building, seeming extremely bored. 

I led Heather through areas I knew were not under surveillance, and we reached the hangar quite easily, which gave me a glimmer of hope. We slipped into the corridor that connected to the Nexus and waited inside. We couldn't turn on the lights. Only a few faint red emergency points, like fireflies, illuminated the space.

I took out my pager and messaged Michael: Time to shake things up. We're ready.

Then I quickly sent a message to Kate, Laura, and Erik through the Reg Bracelet. They needed to cause enough chaos to pull every patrol and security team away from the Nexus. We needed a clear path. So it was all about waiting now.

"What are you going to say to her?" Heather whispered, leaning her head back against the wall.

"To who?" I asked, a little confused.

"Brooke." Her silhouette turned to me under the red lights. "How are you going to get her to open the door to the Orb?"

I paused for a moment, thinking. I had plenty of ideas, but none of them felt quite right. When I first proposed forcing Brooke to unlock the Orb's door, it'd seemed easy in my mind. But now, as the moment approached, the certainty of the plan was beginning to slip away.

"Honestly?" I said as I mirrored her position and leaned my head next to hers on the wall. "I don't know. She's so damn smart and hard to read. But I've got a feeling I'll figure something out once I see her."

Heather nodded. "Just... be careful. If anything feels off, we fall back, no heroics. Remember Kate gave us the explosives. We can still go with plan B."

"I know." Heather was still tense about me tagging along for the whole mission. "Don't worry, I'm pretty sure Brooke's more likely to mess with my head than shoot me."

"That's what I'm worried about." She muttered.

I turned to face her, the red lights of the hallway reflected in her eyes. "Trust me, okay?" I said caressing her cheek.

Almost simultaneously, my pager vibrated, followed by messages from Kate and Erik. They both said the same thing, the diversion had begun.

"Chaos unleashed." I informed Heather, showing her the message.

The security tone echoed through the complex, a piercing alarm like a cry for help. Great, it was the call for reinforcements. Then came movement, distant shouts, and the buzz of spaceships leaving the Nexus. Heather and I remained in silence, almost holding our breaths. We locked eyes, as if holding each other's gaze could steady the rush of adrenaline we both felt. 

Just as calm began to return, another message arrived. This time, it wasn't from Michael or Erik, it was from Brooke.

"Where are you." No question mark. Of course, she didn't need one. My stomach twisted.

I swallowed hard and typed back: "Abducted by the city chaos. Be right back. Where are you?"

That question could come in handy. Brooke replied, "Room 403. Come."

Great. With Brooke in place, moving Heather would be easier. Once we were sure the coast was clear, we slipped out of the corridor, and got inside the Nexus, straight into the lion's den.