A Dash of Scarlet In Paradise

EYES

X

Looking down from on top of the small ridge, the two saw the research center, complete with auto-targeting turrets and two rows of guards stationed right at the entrance, parallel to each other.

Then they shifted across to the other side and saw the lonely communications satellite, very weakly protected.

"Hah, their design has a flaw, everything is scattered."

"So...I get off here?"

"Yeah, this seems like a good spot."

Vector began dropping charges all over the inside of the Jaunter as Marcus grabbed the other bag and disappeared from view. With a few taps on his wrist controller, he managed to sync all the charges to blow at his touch.

The Jaunter took large steps to go down the gentle slope, but Marcus was searching for some sort of hacking technology. Apparently he had thought that inside his bag somewhere hid a tactical laptop, but to his surprise there was nothing like that.

"Vector! Stop! Stop!"

He put down his bag and rushed behind the Jaunter, which was a couple of paces ahead. The banging on the Jaunter's leg made Vector cease piloting and check behind him.

"What's seems to be the problem?"

"Slight issue...we need the Jaunter. We have to use its computer to hack the security systems within the lab, that way we can clearly map our infiltration route."

With no answer, Vector simply rolled his eyes and recollected all his set bombs.

"Fine, fine, fine. Another one of your goddamn brilliant ideas."

He said in a joking manner. Vector deactivated the detonator as he spoke again.

"I shall just manually set the charges then, you stay here an get the Jaunter to gain access to the lab systems, I'm taking a short trip down there."

Vector carried nothing but his charges and began to head towards the satellite.

"Wait! You forgot this!"

He turned to find a pistol flying through the air and coming at his face. He let go of all the charges and received the weapon from Marcus.

"That's your life in your hands, don't let go of it."

The charges' dark metal casing blended well with the long, wild, emerald grass. Vector was annoyed as he picked them up one by one. Marcus snickered in the corner.

The long uncombed hair of Vector swayed in front of his eyes, for he was pacing down the slope at quite a speed. He only wanted to zip down and set the bombs, then zip back up to where Marcus was trying to connect the systems together.

After zooming past a few trees and vines, Vector reached the satellite, a large rectangular plate accompanied by a group of antennas.

"C'mon, steady now..."

Vector softly placed all six charges on the base of the satellite and tried to connect them to his wrist detonator, but for some reason it couldn't this time.

"Please, not now, hurry..."

He tried another time, and another...but still, no sign of luck. What made matters worse was a solitary enemy soldier, headed to the satellite for maintenance but unaware of Vector's existence.

"Wait a minute...maybe...got it!"

He crawled over to the foot of the slope and hurried back as the guard continued his way.

"Hey, you're back! How'd it go?"

Vector had no breath for words, instead he raised his hand and tapped on his detonator. Marcus scrolled his eyes to view the satellite as it burst into flames and sparks.

"That's wicked...but..."

He couldn't help but to notice the order in which the charges were setting off. They were timed one after another, taking turns to explode.

"Why didn't you just set them all off?"

"Oh yeah...I had technical difficulties, so in the end I was forced to link each one to the previous charge in order to cause a big bang."

"I see, chain reaction then. Well come take a look at this."

The computer from the Jaunter had been ripped away and laid on the ground, the keyboard and touch screen was fully intact.

"I see you have torn this from the mech huh..."

"Watch..."

Marcus went to a screen full of computer commands, and occasionally there would be quick fuzzes on the shattered screen. He went through every line and double-checked the security settings. After a short while, he paused, then he highlighted a single command and replaced it with a complete page of code.

"Whoa...when did you learn this?"

"Uh...it wasn't in the training procedure...not exactly."

"So you got it from your mentor personally?"

"Yeah you could say so, just a little trick."

One heavy tap was all it took to finish the job. Then there was a video playing. It showed a room clearly with a long white desk in the center. There were two men dressed in a big coat, both eyeing down microscopes.

"Is that..."

"A look inside the laboratory? Yes. I have been able to take over their security cameras but nothing else."

"That's already what we need, great work Marcus!"

Marcus grinned for a really short time, and then he uncrossed his legs and buckled his rifle to his back strap. Vector sat in front of the computer and began swapping cameras.

"We'll keep in touch via com-link channel C, I'm going in alone, and you'll be my eyes and ears."

"Actually, I can only be your eyes."

"Fair point. Gotta go! Help me locate the hostages would you?"

"Doing my best, Marcus."

The wind picked up again and brushed by the leaves, it also gave Marcus an uncomfortable chill, almost as if the forest spirits were still around, but more like accompanying him.

He gave the Jaunter a look from top to bottom. Then he sprinted lightly away from the sun and towards the arising crescent moon.

Won't be seeing that metal menace anymore, though it was really helpful.

A strong buzz caused Marcus to slow down and switch on his com-link, by then, he couldn't see Vector and the Jaunter behind his back anymore.

"Come in Vector, I'm here."

"Hey, do you have a visual?"

Marcus came up to a little hill, covered by a sheet of dried leaves and snapped twigs. The long weaving roots of the Crescenial tree had also driven out from the soil, letting Marcus pull himself over a gradual rise.

His vision soared as far as the light could shine, for it passed the land and stopped in front of the tall mountains. The research laboratory was much closer now.

"Yes, I see it."

"Can you get there on foot?"

"Most definitely."

Marcus sat on the hill and focused not on the facility, but the clouds floating in between the mountains. One was particularly dark, grey, and drifting his way.

Perhaps it's time that the painting was washed clean.