A Dash of Scarlet In Paradise

INVISIBLE

XIV

Tranquility lingered in Marcus, but it was near the verge of disappearing. Unsure of how to deceive the officers and draw them elsewhere, the undercover soldier could only head outside for some fresh air and an overview of the exterior.

Transportation, that's the blank spot in the plan.

No matter how dire the scenario was, no matter how grim the odds were, Marcus Ranger was a soldier dedicated to achieving the maximum. Conquering his most dangerously armed enemies was nothing close to conquering his greatest fear of letting go of the things he hung on so dearly.

The metal blast door was so tightly sealed that when it opened, a gust of sparkling dust came reaching in. Marcus adapted quickly to the cold.

Surprised at the external look of the compound, he studied the colossal level of natural vegetation that grew all over the walls and clung onto the lens of the spotlights.

Some disguise...I wonder if they know about the really obvious giveaway on the other side.

Geckos and beetles had settled in various places on the plants that began life on something constructed by humans, even a fully-grown Crescenial Tree had dug its roots into some sewage pipes.

As amusing as the disguise could get, it was also impeccably beautiful. The knotted vines, the shrugged flowers and the patterned moss, all added as decorations to the one of a kind masterpiece created by nature.

To Marcus, it was another accomplishment for nature, and a laughing stock for the horrid architecture from the PAU.

"Hey cadet." Said the out of shape guard who was slacking in his chair inside a small room outside, "Get your ass here."

Is this really how they treat each other? I might actually be having sympathy for these poor guys.

There was no space for Marcus to fit in the room, so he awkwardly saluted next to the door, "What's the matter?"

"Nothing really, but I've been here for hours and I'm going to go upstairs and grab something to stuff myself with. All you got to do is sit here and make sure that the scanners are up."

"That's really pathetic, is that what you do all day?"

"Shut up cadet, know your position."

"I thought I rank higher than you, security guard."

A few watchmen heard the conversation and couldn't hold in a laugh.

"Listen, when I get back, I'm making you sit here with me for the rest of the night."

"That is if you can get back, because I'm worried about your diet."

"Why you little..."

The guard picked up his keys and his identification card and elbowed Marcus out of his way. The blast doors closed themselves and the rest of the PAU troopers all bent down laughing, one came up to Marcus and was offering him with a slow clap.

"That was quite a fun show you put up, but you aren't the first to mock old Simon there."

"I bet you guys have much more experience."

They all chuckled. Now with the scanners in his hands and some new company, Marcus felt like nothing was going to stop him.

"What's your name cadet?"

"Oh, just call me Harvey. Excuse me, but Simon didn't really give any instructions whatsoever."

"Oh the scanners are easy to use, you just have to make sure everything is virus free and reliable."

"Alright, thanks."

Marcus knew what to do, but the perfect time was when the PAU watchmen turned their backs and left. The incredibly well educated sergeant only had to rethink of a sophisticated, untraceable virus installation code and type it into the terminal.

They're too busy talking among themselves to notice me, so I'll just slip away to take a...toilet break, I suppose.