C0NV3RG3 (Sequel to M3RG3)

Chapter 33

Lyla

Wednesday

"Unfortunately, Rebecca is sick today." Terence started. This was a part of the plan. "I will be substituting your class for this lesson." All our Tabloids buzzed at once. I opened it to view the message.

Your tasks for today:

Research the effects of a smoke bomb

Research the mechanisms of a memory serum

Complete a 500-word paper on either topic

Cassandra sent me a quick thumbs-up, her black meshy gloves flashing under the lights. She was the one holding the smoke-bomb.

Today, the people would storm the headquarters. The Revolution would slip into our rooms using the Warps. When the people had overcrowded the floors, Cassandra would activate the smoke bomb, buying us time to switch outfits. Half of us would be guarding Layla while the others would help her hack into the database.

I opened the Republican Daily. Crowds, no, mobs of people surrounded the headquarters. The neon colors splattered on their black outfits created a blinding halo.

"Open up!" They screamed, holding buckets of paint in their hands. "Open up!"

The camera was angled upwards. Dozens of Warps hovered in the air, dispatching Revolutionaries in identical black gear.

Then, the camera was forcefully slammed to the ground, the image distorting. The Security marched forward in light grey gear, holding a long black stick: The invisible shield. It could easily knock a person out and deflect almost all weaponry. How could we win this?

The people roared and tossed buckets of paint upon the Security. The shields were coated in bright layers of paint. Thank goodness Jordan and Addison planned for this.

Terence was also watching his Tabloid intently, his shoulders rigid. "Change of plans," he announced. "Go to your rooms immediately. We will notify you if anything changes."

I had to act natural. Pretend that I was simply a confused Republican, heading off to her room. Arista would've done a much better job than me. However, she wouldn't have handled carrying her mother's briefcase well. I could feel her internally cringe when the suitcase bumped into other people or slammed into walls. Unlike me, she was afraid of damaging it, because it was the only item that held a prominent connection to her mother.

Our group clustered forward, Cassandra in the middle. We took a few turns before arriving at the main computer rooms. She gave us a thumbs up, then dropped the bomb on the floor, stomping on it. The smoke spilt out like tumbling snow, encapsulating us in a white shroud.

I lifted the latch on my belt, the black colour pixelating across my body. The smoke was thinning. By the time it became a translucent veil, ten black figures stood before me. We were the Revolutionary now.

"Can everyone hear me?" Oliver asked, the earpiece crackling slightly in my left ear. I winced and turned down the volume.

"Yes, we're in the main computer rooms now. What do you want us to do?" Valerie, or rather, Lauren, snapped.

"Do you know where Layla is? I need you to clear out all the Security guards on that floor. We'll deal with the rest." There was a click, and our earpieces switched off. Lauren exchanged another impatient glance at all of us, then gestured towards the elevator.

"Well? What are you waiting for?" She had already reached the elevator, jamming her thumb into the keypad. "Let's go!"

The rest of us deliberated for a second. A Security stood a few meters away, her gun pointed at us.

I carefully backed up, my eyes trained on the glowing numbers above the elevator. A few more seconds. That was all we needed.

"Revolutionaries, stand down now." The Security's hands shook as she surveyed us.

"You're outnumbered. Stand down and let us pass." Magnus said, his hand twitching towards his gun.

Slowly, the Security lowered her gun, pursing her lips. In one fluid motion, Lauren knocked the Security out with the back of her gun. She shrugged then gestured towards the elevator again.

Footsteps. My hands tightened on the suitcase, fingers prepared to flick the 'smoke-bomb' switch. Anytime now.

"Guys, it's just me," Lydia whispered. Instantly, we all sheathed our weapons. She pointed at her Tabloid, then at us. "Who's helping Layla? Follow me now."

"Revolutionaries, halt!" Matthew shouted. My breathing hitched. If he recognized us, we were all dead.

Lydia muttered a profanity under her breath, then slammed a smoke bomb onto the ground. "Run, now!" She shouted.

My sneakers pounded on the marble floor, the sound foreign but oddly comforting. I wasn't Arista, but I was a part of Astrid, and if Astrid could fight and shoot targets, so could I.

A silhouette appeared at the end of the hallway. Zoey.

"You're cornered." She smiled. "Give up, Revolutionary."

I flicked the switch on the suitcase. It unfolded into a rifle, uncomfortable yet familiar in my grasp.

Her eyes widened. "Teresa," she whispered in shock. "But... It can't be."

I aimed the rifle at the floor and pressed the trigger. The pungent smell was enough to launch me in a coughing fit. Still, it had done its job. Zoey was running, waving her hands around to desperately rid herself of the odour.

"Hey, you okay?" Magnus whispered, pinching his nose with one hand.

He was never this friendly towards me. "I'm not Arista," I finally said.

"I know," he replied, looking away.

"Quick update," Oliver announced. "We've only got two computers left. How's your team doing?"

"Entrance is barricaded," Addison's voice crackled slightly. "Protestors are inside."

"Excellent. Where's the Security?"

"I don't know, they're not on our floor. You?"

"Strange," Oliver mused. "The Security held us up for a bit, but they didn't call for backup when we neutralized them."

"Same here," Cassandra added. "We're surveying the area now. We'll let you know if anything changes."

"That sounds fishy, doesn't it?" Kyle asked, pocketing his tranquillizer gun. "I thought the Republic had over hundreds of Security, but there were only twenty on standby here."

Matthew was standing inches away from us, gun in his hand. The barrel was aimed at Kyle.

There was a whoosh before the dart embedded itself into Magnus' back. Slowly, he slid to the floor, and Matthew's satisfied smile was all I remembered before lunging towards him.

I swung the butt of my gun against Matthew's jaw. He slammed against the wall, grunting. Flicking the setting to 'tranquillizer darts', I shot him in the neck. His body loosened, and his gun slid to the floor.

I carefully pried out the dart with my fingers. The serum was blue. The same shade that I had seen in my Medical classes. Venom. I needed a concentrated dose of serum 80 if I had to heal him.

There was no time left. He had to stay here, and hopefully, the Republic would heal him. I brought his hands up together and clicked them together twice. Instantly, his gear unravelled. Spidery blue veins encircled his elbows, spreading down to his arms, darkening and thickening by the second.

Minutes. It was only minutes before Magnus would die. I had to leave him here. Staying with him would only do more harm than good.

A hissing sound emitted from the vents. For a second, I thought it was merely my imagination, but my legs buckled under me as my mind drifted into lulling bliss. Darkness enveloped me, and as I sank deeper into the euphoric abyss, there were only two words left in my mind.

Memory serum.

A/N: Spoof, what do you think is going to happen to Lyla's memory?

Next update: 30th August