Agent Nebula chose to shut down her computer, so that nobody will discover what she's up to. We don't know how much time will the investigation take, so all potential evidence had to be erased.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq45dNZOkJz
- Is it possible that somebody was eavesdropping us? The Suspicious Activity Detector going off while we were talking about Icebreaker-5 can't be a coincidence, right? - I speculated.
- I have no idea, but we're about to find out - Anthony replied shortly.
- It's not out of the question. I wouldn't be surprised if some malicious group wanted to claim Icebreaker-5 for its own gain, especially if there's something hidden on it, which I think there is... - Agent Nebula added.
- ...but it's just my paranoia and thinking that there's always something hidden even when there was a proper disclosure... - Captain Nigel finished the sentence for her. That was rude.
- Oh be quiet, you... - Nebula was ready to utter a response that would sting like a scorpion, but she bit her tongue in the last second, not wanting to create an unnessecary rift in our team. Right now, we need to focus on the distress signal from the Suspicious Activity Detector.
- On another note, why is it called the Suspicious Activity Detector, of all things? Isn't that a little... vague? - Arika always wants to know more about the technical side of things.
- It's just to throw the enemies off. You're right, it is vague and generic, but that's the point. The enemy doesn't know what to expect. Definitely not a motion detector, infrared camera, cell lock monitor and exotic matter flux detector stuffed into a single, tiny device... - Agent Nebula explained.
- Exotic matter? Isn't that hypothetical? - I remembered the term from an old book I read several years ago.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IO9EGFwMK
- She is paranoid, after all - Nigel muttered.
- Yes, but we need to be ready for every scenario, even one that is only hypothetically possible... - Nebula ignored Nigel's comment.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJQIlTv8ws
- What's up with Nigel calling Amanda... I mean, Agent Nebula, paranoid? Is that true? - I was getting more and more confused by the bickering.
- Nebula is known for always searching deeper, believing that there is always something that slipped away from her and her cowerkers, something they missed... Don't tell anybody, but she sometimes got carried away by the speculation. Deduction can drive people insane sometimes... - Anthony went back to the time he worked with Nebula.
- But she never called a case closed until it truly was. That's a good thing, isn't it? - I continued.
- Yes, it is. Nigel, being Nigel, was unhappy about this "mad speculation" and called her crazy whenever she told him that there was more to uncover - Anthony finished.
We made our way back to the lift, making sure that no one will notice us along the way. Right before we stepped into the elevator, Agent Nebula stopped us.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1L43MwH11U
- Hold on, I need to check if it's booby-trapped - Nebula threw a strange device, a chip of somekind, into the lift.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv2T3VakcX
- Paranoia, paranoia... - Captain Nigel whispered to himself.
The chip was hemispherical in shape, with a circular light on the top. Said light turned red before the whole lift suddenly collapsed and fell deeper into the shaft, eventually crashing into the bottom with a series of unfavorable noises. Nigel instantly stopped whispering.
- What?! - Dawn couldn't hide her shock.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtv80XCwQwZ
- Booby trap - was all Agent Nebula said in response.
- Who set this up and when did they do it? How was the elevator safe on the way down? - Claudius asked.
- I think that the cables holding the lift were cut while we were out talking. I believe that whoever alerted the Suspicious Activity Detector did so by setting up the trap. Good thing we didn't step into that lift. It wouldn't be a pleasent way down - Agent Nebula chuckled.
- So, how do we get up there? - Sebastian asked a very important question.
- Stairs. What else do we have left? - Einstein found a staircase nearby.
- You're reading my mind - Nebula nodded.
Even though we absolutely weren't in the mood to take the stairs, it was our only option if we wanted to find out who booby-trapped the elevator...
- Time Skip -15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfxzaA7ly6
After an exhausting climb upstairs, we finally reached the second cell block. Right as we looked around, we intantly knew that something was off. Someone or something turned the lights off, draining the floor in an unsettling darkness.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfcsa8UaSU
I turned to the alarm, which should be glowing neon red and buzzing, but it was eerily silent.
- This is a murder scene - Sebastian said and we all looked at him, surprised by his claim - Someone killed the buzzer.
Dawn giggled quietly, but she was the only one laughing. The rest of us instantly went back to searching the area once we find out that Sebastian's concerning claims were nothing more than a joke.
- Where are all the guards? - I asked, staring into the darkness, under the impression that it stared back.
- I found one - Amber told us. The guard in question was lying on the floor, completely unconscious.
- That's... m... midly... c... concerning... - I stammered.
- Don't worry, there's another one - Amber found another unconscious guard, further fueling my concerns.
- You're n... not... he... helping... - I kept stammering.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8e1hrdSNK
The whole scene was seemningly out of a horror or, at the very least, thriller movie. Eerie silence, unconscious people and a place drenched in darkness checked all the boxes for those genres.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5tbLbcdM0
- I swear I heard something move... - Suddenly, I heard something as my heart raced.
- Don't be scared, I'm with you - Justine tried to calm me down, but she also heard the strange noise. Now, we were both afraid.
- What is so spooky? - dad noticed. Promptly, the ominous noises reached his ears too, albeit this time, a few times in a row.
- That sounds like someone being beaten up - Amber listened to the strange sounds. If her combat expertise is anything to go by, her guess is probably correct.
The ominous sounds were followed by loud, heavy footsteps. We were all prepared for battle when the footsteps clearly intensified.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLslOiJfSw
All of a sudden, Agent Nebula lunged forward and grabbed someone by their arms. The mysterious attacker yelped.
- I mean no harm! - the voice was instantly recognizable for me. Rill Gomana.
Rill is an avid historian and a strong man who always did the heavy lifting for the Perseids, as he was a member of said organization, specifically being a henchman. Seeing, or rather hearing, him in this place was weird at first, but then I remembered that Agent Nebula brought the now-dissolved Perseids here.
Or are they dissolved?
- Rill, be mean. That's your whole role - another familiar voice spoke from the shadows, seemingly annoyed. It was Leonid, the leader of the Perseids.
Are they still working together despite being behind bars? How can they coordinate such an impressive action when they're sitting in comically small cells? And lastly, how did they manage to hack anything when they're under the constant supervision of guards?15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HpRotOrQ2
My mind was suddenly flooded with questions and simultaneously drained of answers.
- What are you doing in here, Rill? - Einstein called him by name, but the criminal refused to reply.
- Oh, it's you... - Leonid was quick to recognize us.
- Should I knock them out, boss? - it was Alia, yet another member of the Perseids. She's in here too.
- No... - Leonid's denial was surprising at least.
He's got us all stuck in a tight space with no escape, judging by how scattered his team is. Why wouldn't he use the chance to finally destroy the adversaries he loathes the most?
- Turn the lights on, Alia - Leonid gave a new order and she was quick to comply. The darkness faded away in an instant.
- Oh, who's your new sidekick? - Alia noticed Agent Nebula, who was still holding Rill's arms intertwined, unallowing him to escape.
- That's classified information - Nebula replied coldly.
- Regardless of... whatever you're up to... it's safe to say that we're both in a mess - Leonid started ominously - You're hunted by those who once employed you and we just orchestrated the perfect escape plan but have nowhere to run on this icy hellhole. We actually have a lot of things in common: we're both hardened teams, we've both been through a lot together, we both operate in secret and we both hate each other - Leonid may have seemed silly, but his tone was creepy enough to mask that.
- Yes, your point? - Arika asked.
- I say we cut a deal: you help us get out of here and we help you relocate your precious Icebreaker-5? How about that? - Leonid offered us a deal. Well, that was unexpected.
- That means we're helping you plot bigger schemes in the future, which makes us evil... - Anthony connected the dots.
- Face it, space spies. In everyone's eyes, you're already evil. Well, maybe except for your new ally and that warden, but his eyes are closed, so he doesn't count... - Leonid continued - I'm well aware of your shenanigans on Mars. I know you're not as crystal clear as you hope to be...
- How... how do you know that? - Dawn asked.
- Well, little Dawn, I've interrogated your new boss, oops... your new former boss and he told me everything I needed to know... He's a pillock, really - Leonid chuckled, but that somehow made his seem even more imposing, if that's even possible - What I'm saying is that we're both on the dark side now, regardless of how morally good you think you are. Now, are you willing to except my generous proposal?
- Uhh... - even Agent Nebula was startled.
- Don't even think about escaping. We'll make sure you won't make it out alive without us. It's honestly baffling that I'm even asking you... - Leonid glanced at her.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItJ7CvY0kz
- Okay, we're in. Let's be evil together - Agent Nebula accepted Leonid's proposal.
- I'm telling you, you're doing the right thing... - Leonid grinned, but it was a smile of pure villainy - Rill, stop pretending that you're a weak baby and leave that woman alone.
Rill listened to Leonid and tried to get his arms out of Nebula's clutches. Because we're now on the same side, she did not resist.
- Now come on, we have a lot of work to do... - Leonid ordered us, which felt weird.
This whole situation felt weird. Why is Agent Nebula willing to help the Perseids, our sworn enemies? Is she planning to betray them when the time is right? I sincerely hope so, because I don't see any other optimistic scenarios.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanGTA4JPhV
As we got moving, Captain Nigel theatrically pouted to show how unhappy he is with the fact that we're, technically, bad guys now.
ns216.73.216.51da2
and then Add to home screen.