The Wicked One

Chapter Six | Fatalities, Part One

                 

It had been a very, very long time since I had last broken into anything. I did not realize exactly how long until I felt the excitement of bashing the guard's heads together, the adrenaline of using my powers to phase through the security doors, the anticipation eating at my stomach of not know what was going to happen next. It was all a breath of fresh air, at least for the moment.

In the end, Red X and I found ourselves inside the military base, in some lobby looking room with a reception desk, tables, chairs, magazines. The works. Though there were no people.

"So, where's our welcoming committee?" Red X questioned, pacing around the room with folded arms. "Those defense turrets didn't give me close to the excitement I was hoping for."

I merely shrugged, slightly disappointed at the lack of security as well. I was starting to have fun...

"Fixit has most of the security taken care of down here," a familiar robotic voice informed as the mechanical orb hovered into the room, its red eye surveying everything. "The military will not be as compliant as security however, so there is still plenty of excitement to be had further along. Just continue down that hallways across the room and up the stairs, he will be waiting for you, Red X."

"For me?" the thief inquired, him and I sharing a look. "You mean silent and creepy over there isn't going with me?"

"No. I have a different assignment for him."

Red X shrugged. "Ah well, more for me." He was already making his way across the room and throwing out a hand in farewell. "It was fun, Wykkyd. Good luck."

"As you might have guessed, the initial plan was to have you both go in, grab Fixit, and leave as quickly and with as little...distractions as possible," Blackfire began, the robotic orb hovering closer to me. I couldn't help but take a tiny step back. The collar still felt uncomfortably cold around my neck. "But Fixit has been giving me constant reports about what is going on around here, and it seems that rouge scientist I mentioned earlier has become much more of an interest to my plans..."

One of the small flaps on the robot suddenly flew open, and while I visibly flinched, the little claw that came out did not hold another torture device. In its grip rested a large piece of paper.

"It's a map. Take it...I promise it won't bite," Blackfire assured. It was easy to hear the smile in her voice that time.

With a slow but deliberate extension of my arm, I grabbed the map.

"You will need to head up from here, straight through the ceiling, if you can. In that room you will find several hallways and more guards, if you're lucky. Take the hallway leading in the direction of the largest room on the map. I want you to find the renegade scientist in there, find a way to restrain him, and take anything you find on him, specifically blue prints. If you find nothing, make your way to the scientist's dormitories, they are the rectangular rooms lined up together against one side of this warehouse. You should not run into too much resistance if Red- X does his job correctly, but do not tarry. Get in there, get the blue prints, and get out. We will all meet back at the rendezvous point. Any questions?"

I heaved my chest in an attempt at a sigh, folding my arms and giving the android a dead look.

"I thought not," Blackfire said with a smile still in her voice. "Now, get moving."

I simply nodded, tucking the map into a pocket and grabbing my cloak. I wrapped myself into its cold embrace and fell into darkness.

When my feet felt solid ground again I pulled back my cape to reveal a bare room with multiple hallways leading in different directions. Looking around the small room, I quickly took notice of several unconscious guards leaning against the wall. It looked like Red X had already been through here.