A Dash of Scarlet In Paradise

DISGUISED

XI

"Could be just a minor malfunction. Don't worry, I'll get it back on myself." the man with the generic grey suit and officer cap pushed away from his desk and stood straight, then he took his repair box and his communicator and headed down the hallway.

"Blast it..." Callum pointed right into another officer's eye.

"You there, if he doesn't return within estimated time, initiate a full lockdown of B Station."

"And how long is the estimated time, Commander?"

Callum peered down on his chrome-coated watch and then made a deadly stare at the clock hung perfectly on the wall.

"I'd say the repair of one camera would take about 11 minutes, no longer."

The ventilation shafts were just wide enough for a skinny man. Marcus was already through the opening when Vector came in through the com-link.

"Where are you at now? Don't see you on any camera."

Marcus tried to reverse but it was way too hard to do so.

"I'm just the right size to get through here, I'm sneaking in their ventilations. By the way, you wouldn't be able to get in here anyways, feels like being crushed by a wrestler."

"Heh, sounds fun. Glad I'm not there. Stay focused, contact me when you're in."

"Sure, keep yourself hidden well."

With his arms in front, Marcus forced himself further down the shafts. The worst part was making a turn at a conjunction. Marcus pushed his back against one side and used his legs to twist his direction so that he could move towards where the light was brighter.

"Vec, do you copy? I have found a cage opening."

A bunch of crackles went through the com-link at once and Vector sounded very weak,

"Don't you dare call me Vec again...you're breaking up! Marcus what can you see?"

However, on the other side, Marcus was keeping his com-link covered and tucked in his pocket. His other hand was holding his lips together.

Through the cage he could spy on the passing guards. The most disturbing bit was when one of the guards stopped marching and looked up into the ventilation shafts.

Marcus slowly backed up away from the light, making sure that the guard doesn't see him.

Just move on, move...you don't see anything...

"Uhh, Sergeant..." the guard sounded curious.

Wait...you can see me? Do we know each other? Are you actually talking to me?

A deeper tone broke the silence, "What is it Green?" the one who lead the group down the corridor had now moved next to the guard, both looking behind the bars of the vent.

Dammit! Dammit!

Trying as fast as he could, Marcus reversed much further just before the sergeant underneath him shone a bright light inside.

"What's the matter?"

"Oh uh nothing, just thought I heard something move."

Yeah well, you certainly misheard it...

"Really? Well then it's worth further investigation. Callum made an order earlier, that we should report all suspicious activity."

Seriously now? Hang on a second...this means they know...

"Green go find Jones and get the screwdriver, also ask an officer to give us a drone, we shall check the vents."

I can't move yet, just a little longer...

"But sergeant, where did Jones go?"

"Look, you see that path..."

Their voices got softer as they left the area. Marcus had been holding his breath for way too long. He let out a big gasp and released his com-link.

"Marcus! Do you copy?"

"They know we're in the zone, I'm going to the washroom to sabotage a trooper and get his armor. Can you guide me there?"

"Sure, just keep going straight until you arrive at another opening."

There was an irritating itch on Marcus' forehead, but he couldn't reach anything besides the walls of the vent.

Better hurry, they could be back very soon.

"Sir! The repairs are done! Camera back online."

"Good, just short of 11 minutes."

"Yes, it was just a minor circuit fry."

"I don't believe that's something that happens regularly, not here."

"Well, it did seem like it was tampered by something, but it's not uncommon for these things to happen. After all, it was an exterior fitting and some animal could've just scraped it."

"I don't care what it was, just make sure everything is in order...you must know the times we live in, the dark ages of technology and science."

"Dark for them, but the costliest age for us."

"This compound has to safeguard all of it, and we shouldn't take this easily, everything must be entirely exact. If we can develop high-level biological ordnances with it, then so can the UDCF."

"Don't worry sir, I have sent a couple of scouts to the outskirts of the forest, beyond the boundaries of our scanners."

"Make no mistake, or it will cost you your life."

For the next few minutes, both had their mouths closed. Marcus was too busy leaving his energy for shoving himself forward and Vector was suffering the suspense.

At last, Marcus could see light again. He looked down and saw an empty washroom, so with the greatest wish of getting out of the tight squeeze, he made a heavy blow with his elbow and tumbled down onto the marble floor.

God...finally out of that horrible place.

The screws all fell to the floor and the bars came down as well. The PAU sergeant switched the spherical spy drone in his hands on and placed it into the ventilation system.

"This should do the job. UB-3, report anything out of place."

The drone flashed a green light at the sergeant and floated inside slowly.

"Are you sure you heard something, Green?"

"Pretty sure...it was like something was struggling inside, trying to move."

"I got it now, with UB-3 we can find out for sure. Go, hurry up and catch up with the squad."