CHAPTER 2 – We Have Rats
[NO TRACK]*BLILIBEEP!*
(…what?)
*BLILIBEEP!*
(Awwwww crap.)
*BLILIBEEP!*
(Just shut up all ready, I don’t care…)
*BLILIBEEP!*
“Holy damn it all to icy hell FINE!”
Donalbain tore the receiver from the wall, angry that he was similarly torn from lucid slumber.
“Hello??” He spoke raspily, yet loudly into the phone.
“Don? It’s Rochstein. You are needed at Ilberun Laboratory 6, immediately. I do not have time to talk now, so I’ll have to explain the situation to you once you arrive. Do not bring your core, but arm yourself.”
“Okay, I’ll be there in about half-”
*CLICK*
“…Good morning to you too, ass.”
Donalbain leapt out of bed and pulled on a pair of heavy combat leggings, then began to tie up his boots. He completed his uniform with a black tank top and a bullet-proof vest, accented with an antique handgun he had gotten from his foster father; a Desert Eagle, modified to use the most advanced ammunition created so far.
He walked out of his room to the Hangar, calling one of his father’s personal helicopters along the way. At the end of the corridor stood a large and heavy iron door. He thanked his father, grateful that he had opted for automatics in the building. He input his security code and moved in.
The hangar access door was wide open today, in an attempt to expel some of the sweltering summer heat, and Donalbain was greeted by a beautiful panoramic view of the world around him. Green fields covered the landscape, large Neuemaple trees dotting the area, complimented by a bright blue sky, devoid of clouds. The sun held the Earth in a warm and loving embrace. It warmed him inside.
Of course, it only stretched as far as his father’s property. As soon as you went past his twelve foot electric fence, all was desolation.
“Don!”
Donalbain was jerked from his dream-like state by a nearby flight op manager.
“Yes?”
“We’ve just located your pick-up at about 300; it should be here in a few minutes to collect you. …Where are you going again?”
“I got a call from Rochstein this morning, I’m wanted at Ilberun. Something ‘important’ he says.”
“Well, Roch isn’t one to bother someone without reason, so it must be- why do you have a gun?”
“He said come prepared but not to bring my core.”
The F.O.M. frowned.
“Well, all right, just be careful okay? None of us here want to see you get hurt.”
“Of course, don’t worry.”
Donalbain let himself smile.
“I’m sure it’s no big deal.” He added, as he moved towards an empty bench by the wall. The manager nodded, a concerned look on his face, and then returned to his office. Donalbain decided to take a small nap in the morning sun. Unfortunately, his schedule did not allow for a nice nap in the sunlight, and the helicopter arrived before he could even close his eyes.
*whup whup whup whup whup whup whup whup…*
The pilot began to speak through his crackly and antiquated loud speaker.
“D, are you down there?”
“I’M OVER HERE!!” He yelled, straining to reach the pilot’s ears. Feeling that this was not enough, he stood up and began to flail his arms.
“I can see you,” the pilot chuckled, “calm down, I’ll come in for a landing. Everything clear?”
“YOU’RE GOOD, KEEP GOING!!”
“Haaaahahaa…” The pilot laughed, slowly crawling downwards toward the hangar. Once he had reached the proper altitude, he tilted forward, slowly edging his way into the wide hangar entrance, wobbling as he went. “One of these days I’m gonna request a fighter jet, I swear…” He grumbled, forgetting that his loudspeaker was still activated, as his landing gear bouncing him slightly upward from the pad. Finally, he stopped in place, and motioned for Donalbain to board the chopper.
“You get a real kick out of that, eh?”
“Sure do kid. Where to?”
“I need to get to Ilberun, Laboratory 6, and pretty quickly. Rochstein says they need me for something pretty serious.”
“You got it Don.”
Donalbain strapped himself in to the co-pilot’s chair, and the pilot maneuvered out of the hangar once more. After about a ten minute flight, the helicopter arrived at laboratory 6.
“I don’t get it Don…The place looks just fine to me. Well, relatively anyway.”
Laboratory 6, like any other place outside of Duncan’s territories, was a patch of scarred, gray, rusted Earth. Aesthetics were not of concern here, only utility. Even a simple laboratory these days was almost required to have at least twenty stationary cannons lined along its perimeter in order to deter outside attackers, usually from rival corporations. A few hundred years ago, corporations would attempt to buy each other out, or defeat one another through legal means in a comparatively peaceful manner. Things had really changed since then.
“Okay, you’re good to go, hop out.”
“Thanks. I’ll call you back once this business is over with. Please refuel though, okay?”
“You got it D.”
The helicopter rose from the roof of the laboratory, and sped off into the distance towards locations unknown.
“Okay, let’s get to it.”
Donalbain walked towards an elevator entrance, and called Rochstein. He picked up after about three rings.
“Rochstein.”
“Rochstein, it’s Donalbain. Where are you right now?”
“You’ve arrived? Good. We’re on the eighth basement level, meet us in the parking lot, block 8-B. We’ll talk more once you’ve arrived; consider communications cut.”
“Yes si-“
*CLICK*
“I am getting very tired of that, very quickly.”
Donalbain steeped inside the elevator, and told it where he wanted to go in a loud and clear voice.
“Basement level 8 has been selected. Is this cor-“
“Yes, yes, just get to it.”
“Selection confirmed. Please place your hands upon the guard rail.”
Donalbain gripped the guardrail, and the elevator began its two hundred foot drop to the basement levels. His stomach jumped up into his throat, and caused a great strain on his gag reflex. Just as quickly, the elevator slid to a gentle halt.
“I would almost take the stairs, if they had any.”
“Donalbain.” A cool voice spoke. It was Ilberun’s vice head, Dorand. “We’re over here.”
Donalbain walked towards a group of five including Rochstein and Dorand at a steady clip.
“So what’s going on here?” He questioned.
Rochstein took this opportunity to explain the situation at hand. “Ilberun has discovered a spy from Operat within this facility. The infiltrator has been identified as Malvolio, one of the scientists working on the Class 5 bio weapon. He has captured critical information, and is now hiding in the fifth floor laboratory. We have not called in security, as this will give him a sense of false security, and a smaller force will be more effective in locating him. I could not explain this to you over the phone, as he is on the electronic communications level, and could easily have intercepted a call. As of this moment he is unaware of our presence.”
“…So why am I here? Wouldn’t it have been a better idea to call in ISF or something?
“No.” Rochstein replied flatly. “It would be too obvious. We are using you because you were not in the building when he was discovered, and he trusts you.”
“Of all people, why would he trust me? We’ve only run into each other a few times, and for no more than a few minutes.”
“He trusts you because he does not consider you to be a threat. He is not aware that you are a Raven.”
“Ah…That makes more sense. So why are you here?”
“When you capture Malvolio, I will play the role of interrogator. You may leave after he has been captured, as it will most certainly not be a pleasant experience.”
“Thank you. So I just have to snoop around on the fifth floor then?”
“Not snoop, just wander. Make your presence known to him. No one outside of this group is aware of this matter, so if he sees you he will think he is able to expose himself without risking being turned in. Once you have located him, take him to an elevator, as if you are going to exit the building with him. Handcuff him as soon as the door closes with these. He may be armed, so do not let anyone outside the two of you onto the elevator, and watch him closely. He may try to leave on his own, so go now. Good luck.”
“Got it.” Donalbain walked towards the elevator, stuffing the handcuffs into one of the pockets in his leggings.
(End Chapter 2)
Discord
Light Style