As we made our way back to the elevator, I could sense uncertainty in the air. We didn't know who kidnapped the supervisor or where he was now. For that matter, we didn't even know if he was still alive.
- This is weird. As soon as we arrive, HISS's human supervisor is kidnapped - Sebastian noted.
- I guess that only confirms that the Perseids are behind the attack. Maybe they noticed us and decided to rush their plan? - I wondered.
- You know, I think that we should use a code name for the bad guys, because calling them out in the open will attract attention - Amber added.
- You're right - Arika nodded - I propose "Rogue Pixel".
- Sounds good to me - Claudius accepted the code name, so did the rest.
- So what do we do now? Should we investigate the Rogue Pixel? - I asked, accustoming myself to the cryptonim.
- Exactly. We need to gather info on the supervisor's dissapearence and see if there's anything that could give us a clue to his whereabouts - Arika replied.
- Maybe we can check the security feed and see what he was up to earlier today? - Amber suggested.
- But where is the security room? This place is horribly large and there's no way we'll find it before the Rogue Pixel gets rid of any incriminating data! - Sebastian exclaimed. Arika shushed him, as he was way too loud.
- We don't need to find a room. I just need access to the system and I assume that we can get that from the androids - Arika explained.
We entered the elevator and came back to the Orbital City, as we decided that an android was most likely to appear there. The flashing colours were almost nauseating to look at and it was hard to focus on a specific target. Our predictions were correct, as the androids were everywhere, most of which were tour guides and secretaries.
- Which robot will we use? We need to hide somewhere far from people, so that they won't notice us - Claudius asked.
- I... have no idea. Didn't really think about the people - Arika sighed.
- I have an idea! We can use the waiter bot in that café. We can sneak in there and wait until it closes and we're free to operate - I suggested.
- Good idea - Sebastian replied. We chose my plan as the first to enact. I hoped that it will work, because there's a good chance that it won't.
We entered the café, which was stylised like a small, cosy home. Warm lights illuminated the place and the wooden walls were a good contrast to the bustling city outside. Moreover, there was a fire place in the corner. Several dark wooden tables and chairs lined the floor. A desk with a robotic cashier behind it was in front of us. The menus were on the back wall behind the desk. There was also a white door next to the menus which led into the staff area. The cashier noticed us as we entered.
- Hello, what would you want to buy? - It asked.
- A cup of coffe, please - Arika asked. She actually bought it and we sat down at a table at the very back of the café, so that we could talk freely. A man in a dark suit left the café, which meant that now we were the only customers. He looked like a news reporter or a spokesperson to me, but I didn't get to look at him for too long.
- Okay, here's the plan: the café closes in ten minutes. When the robots are distracted, you guys sneak into the staff area where you'll take down the cashier when they eventually come there. Notify me through a walkie-talkie when you're done. I'll hack into the system and we'll check the security feeds - Arika told us. We accepted this plan and waited.
The cashier robot dissapeared into the staff room and we made a run for the door. We entered a small, dimly lit kitchen which didn't fit the cosy vibe of the café. There was a total of three robots in the room with us: the cashier and two waiters. Both of the waiters wore black suits. We hid behind a cart filled with delicious-looking cakes. It was hard for us to prevent ourselves from devouring them, as we were very hungry. My stomach rumbled as soon as we crouched down. Luckily, nobody heard that.
A few minutes later, an electrical click signalled that the café officially closed. One of the waiter robots was about to come back into the staff area while the other two bots dissapeared around the corner.
As the waiter robot came through the door, we leapt out of our hideout and quickly forced it into a sitting position. Even though we went through only a week of official training at the academy, our fighting skills were good enough to defeat the waiter. It seemed that the robot was ready to send a distress signal at any moment, so we scrambled to find a power button. Upon doing so, I quickly pressed it and the robot's screen went dark. Sebastian contaced Arika through the walkie-talkie, but she didn't reply. Instead, she just casually entered the staff area.
- Where have you been? - Sebastian asked.
- I drank my coffe, that's it. You were quick enough to dismantle the robot before they forced me out. By the way, that coffe was great. I really needed it after the long way here. That spaceflight took foreeever... - Arika sat down next to the inactive robot and pried a panel off with a knife that she kept in her utility belt. I didn't think that a knife was necessary to open it up, but I didn't argue with Arika's professionalism. Behind the panel was a tablet-sized screen. Arika was very quick and soon booted up the security feed. It was astonishing to see how quickly she bypassed HISS's protection.
- Come here, I got something - She stated and we gathered around her.
The recording (from noon) showed a young man in a dark blue suit with a coffe mug walking around the hospital floor and taking an elevator upwards. Arika quickly switched to another one from early afternoon. It showed a musty, grey corridor. The man walked out of the elevator and swiped his ID card that allowed him to go further. The next room was full of computers with hundreds of lines of code flashing on their screens.
Suddenly, the man collapsed to the floor, spilling his cofee. Two people leaped out from behind a big cooler. We didn't see their faces, as they were covered up by old astronaut helmets. Both had slightly cracked visors and red outlines around them. They dragged the unconscious man out of the room, but one of them realised that they were being recorded and nonchalantly smashed the camera.
- That guy was the supervisor - Arika informed us, yawning afterwards.
- One thing that is weird is the fact that the guy lost consciousness before any kind of attack - I noted.
- Maybe they shot him with a sedative dart? - Claudius suggested. Arika rewinded the footage and we looked at the video again, but didn't notice any darts or other methods of sedation.
- This is very weiiiiiiiiiiirddddddddmmmmmmmmh - Arika suddenly lost consciousness and fell to the ground.
ns216.73.216.33da2
and then Add to home screen.