“After the damage it did last year, I’m fine with it in it’s inert state,” Gerald said as he turned and walked away. “As you were people. Once again, stick to the protocols and everything will be fine.”

  Just then a voice lit up his ear piece. “Sir we’ve got movement in sector 17. You’re gonna wanna see this. It’s not a bear this time,” the voice of Jenkins rasped into his ear.

  “Hold on, I’ll be right there,” he said as he picked up his pace to a jog. He burst back into the command centre amid a buzz of activity.

  “The drones picked up a heat signature about an hour ago, but for some reason the feed was delayed. It must’ve had something to do with the power fluctuations. Either way, we’ve got multiple bodies entering into an unmarked storm grate. The signature trails off after that, but I think it might be worth sending out a team. It’s an unmarked location so there aren't any cameras,” Jenkins said breathlessly.

  “We’re not taking any chances. Get a team together asap and have them meet me in the compound. I’m gonna run point on this one. I need to get outside anyway.” Gerald said as he headed out.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “ALL RIGHT, KEEP it moving, and don’t try anything. Nobody is expendable here,” The pudgy shot gun toting guy said as he and his comrades hustled Mitch and Drak down the storm drain. They had all donned head lamps when they entered the tunnel and their individual beams bounced across the mix of concrete and rock. The ground was littered with refuse from the spring run off and puddles dotted the pathway. The walking wasn’t too difficult but the stench of the place was almost unbearable. The tunnel stopped at a large metal door embedded into the rock wall.

  “Go on, open it up,” the young guy with the pistol said while he held his nose. “It smells like Bigfoot crawled in here and died.” For a moment nobody moved.

  “Look we know you’ve got something hidden in here, now open up the door before this whole thing goes sideways,” the girl with the machine gun said. “If you think I’m opposed to wasting #epiccrotchshot boy you’ve got another thing coming. We can do this the easy way or the hard way. It’s up to you.”

  Mitch had kept his hands firmly clasped around the back of his head since he saw the first gun barrel pointed at his chest out on the path. The threats made on his life coupled with the insanity of the situation had escalated his heartbeat well into triple digit territory. His mind reeled as he tried to comprehend what was happening. The ramshackle band of kidnappers had clearly done their homework on Drak and they knew enough about him to lead them to believe he was hiding something underground. It wasn’t like Drak to be sloppy, Mitch though to himself. What did these guys know and what were they after?

  The standoff ended when Drak suddenly stepped forward and reached for the door.

  “Whoaa, slow down,” The pudgy guy said. “How do we know he isn’t just leading us into a trap? Brad step over here and check out this door.”

  “Hey man again, we said no names. “ Brad said as he glared at the pudgy guy.

  “Well, they already heard it so it doesn’t really doesn’t matter now does it?” The fat guy asked.

  “Yeah, I guess not, Roger,” Brad said as he stepped over to the door.

  “Well, you don’t have to go and get vengeful,” Roger said.

  “Will you to both shut up,” The younger guy said. “In and out like we planned. I don’t think Drakon Trendago will be contacting the authorities about this matter.”

  “Oh, it’s fine for you, they don’t know your name now do they,” Brad snapped back.

  “Ok fine, I’m Gaelin and She's Kate. Do you feel better now? Let’s get this over with,” Gaelin snapped.

  “Well, I’m just trying to stick to the plan,” Brad said as he pulled out some sensory equipment

  “Ok, well stick to it and check out this door,” Roger said. “Kate, zap strap and frisk these guys while they’re standing here, we didn’t check em on the path.”

  “Got it, I think I’ll have a good check of #epiccrotchshot boy to make sure all his bits and pieces are still there,” Kate said as she stepped behind Mitch and patted him down. Mitch was too terrified to be embarrassed. She paused for a moment on his crotch and then cackled, “Yup, he’s all here.”

  “Don’t mess around, Kate,” Gaelin said.

  “What are you getting jealous, Gaelin? Do you think I’m gonna run off with #Epiccrothcshot boy and break your heart,” Kate said with a laugh.

  “There, I think It’s all right. I couldn’t pick up any heat signatures or alarms of any kind,” Brad said as he stepped away from the closed door.

  “Well then, Drakon Trendago would you do us the honor of inviting us into your lovely little cave lair,” Roger said as he aimed his shot gun at Drak and Mitch.

  Drak new there wasn’t anything he could do to fight back against his would be assailants. He stood for a moment and stared hard at the door and then he smiled. “Please, come in.”

  As he reached for the door Mitch shot him a look of abject confusion as Drak reached forward and swung the steel door open. A rush of cold air rushed out of the blackness lurking beyond the door.

  “You first, Drakon,” Gaelin said with a smile.

  “Please, call me Drak,” Drak said as he stepped through the doorway. Gaelin kept his pistol trained on Drak’s back as he followed him into the darkness.

  “You’re next, Mythic,” Kate said as she beckoned him in with the barrel of her gun.

  “Make sure that door is shut, Brad. I don't want any unwelcome guests joining our party,” Roger said as he stepped past Brad into the tunnel.

  “How come I’m always the guy getting ordered around. I don’t remember this outfit being all rank and file,” Brad said as he shut the door behind him.

  The cave was still familiar to Mitch. Memories from the events of the year before flashed in his brain and he could remember Drak leading him down there in the darkness for the first time. Beyond the reach of the headlamps Mitch could make out a soft glow emanating from further down the tunnel. As they made their way deeper, the strength of the glow began to intensify. The tunnel expanded and it soon opened into the large cavern where Mitch had first learned how to use inReal. It all felt like such a long a time ago and Mitch never imagined he would be returning there with a gun in his back. He looked over at Drak and saw the grim resolve on his face and Mitch knew he had to be working on some type of a plan. Drak always had a plan.

  Mitch could see that Drak had been busy over the last year. A few structures had been built into the rocks and it looked rather homely despite the conditions. All around the structures were salvaged equipment from the mindHIve complex and building supplies that looked like they had been “borrowed” by Drak from construction sites. Mitch could see an arc welder and a coring machine strewn amongst a pile of tools.

  “Well, it looks like you’ve been busy haven’t you, Drak,” Roger said as he paused in front of the scattered equipment. “So what exactly have you been up to? Why don’t you give us a tour and we’ll see if we can find what we’re after.”

  “Nothing here, just odds and ends,” Drak said.

  “Doesn’t look like odds and ends to me,”Gaelin said. “It looks like you’ve been working on something pretty big. Let’s head down there and see what that light is all about.”

  “What is it you want?” Drak asked as he stood motionless next to the arc welder.

  “We want to know what you know, among other things,” Kate said, she used the barrel of her gun to accentuate her words.

  “Not know much. Not sure what I can tell you,” Drak said.

  “Oh cut the crap, Drak. You and I both know there ain’t much holding up you’re little refugee story. You may have fooled some folks down at the state department and the FBI, but we all know something isn’t right with you, so why don’t you just come out with it and we can be on our way,” Gaelin said. “Or we can blow this thing wide open and all your hard work will be for naught.”

  Drak took a deep breath and then began to slowly walk towards the light. “Follow me and nobody touch anything. Not stable, many dangers here,” He said as he began to walk towards the light hidden behind the rubble strewn across the cavern floor.

  “Get moving, Mythic,” Kate said as she prodded him forward with her gun. Mitch had no choice but to follow after Drak with his captor behind him.

  They walked single file over the rocky surface. Mitch found himself stumbling constantly. It was difficult to keep his balance with his hands bound behind his back, but Kate kept prodding him forward. She seemed to be thoroughly enjoying having Mitch as her captive and she couldn’t help but continue to make jokes at his expense. “Aren’t you having an epic time, Mr. Crotchshot?” she said laughing at her own joke.

  “Shut up, Kate,” Roger shouted from behind her. “We didn’t come here to tease Mitch Mythic, so let’s stay focused on what we’re after.”

  “I’m only trying to lighten the mood,” she said.

  “Well, you’re just pissing everybody off, so can it,” Roger snapped at her.

  “Who went and made you team leader? You know how Odell felt about hierarchies?” Kate said almost under her breath.

  “Hey, we said no names,” Gaelin shouted from up front. “That one’s off limits.”

  They came over a rise and everybody gasped as they took in what stood before them. The floor of the cavern made a sharp decline and opened up into a much wider space. In the centre of open area several levels of scaffolding had been arranged in a semi-circle around some strange looking machinery. There were several sets of lights surrounding the scaffolding and they had been set at various heights to illuminate the work space.

  “You have been a busy boy, Mr. Trendago,” Gaelin said as he stared wide eyed at the structure in front of him.

  “What is that thing?” Kate asked as she shoved Mitch forward.

  “If it is what I think it is, we’ve come to the right place,” Roger said. “Come on, let’s move, before our friends upstairs figure out that we’re here.”

  Even zap strapped and with a gun at his back, Mitch was absolutely awestruck by what Drak had constructed in that cavern over the year. Although they had been in contact regularly over the last while, Drak had remained coy about where he was staying and what he was up to. Mitch had tried to pry a few times, but Drak had only responded with a grin and Mitch knew he was wasting his time if he wanted any more than that. He had no idea Drak had been attempting such a massive undertaking.

  A steep path snaked down the hill to the lower level where the structure sat and Mitch and Drak were forced down the path at gunpoint by their captors.

  “We didn't come here for sight seeing,” Roger said. “By my estimates our window is rapidly closing, so let’s get moving or we’ll be making new friends with some of the best men and women Uncle Sam can throw at us.”

  The path down the hill was steep but short and as they stepped onto the flat surface on the lower level of the cavern, Mitch was surprised by how smooth it looked. It appeared to be an ancient lava bed, the flow of the molten rock was evident in every direction. Gaelin continued to push Drak forward with his pistol.

  “So, if I’m not mistaken, Drak, it looks like you are planning on getting yourself off of this godforsaken rock. You’ve got a lot of the pieces in place. It’s amazing you have done all of this by yourself,” He said as the group neared the structure. Mitch was even more taken aback as they got closer, what was all this for, he wondered.

  “Stop gawking, Mitch, and keep moving,” Kate said from behind him, she seemed angry after her rebuke from her comrades.

  “Ok, bring our two friends over here and sit them down,” Gaelin said. “Kate, you keep your eye on them, and no chit chat alright? The last thing we need is some Stockholm syndrome coming into effect. Brad, bring our precious cargo over here and let’s get this party started.”

  “Uh, alright. I still can’t believe we’re actually doing this,” Brad said as he walked over to where Gaelin stood and unslung his back pack.

  “Be careful with that. We’ve only got one of those things,” Roger said as he kept his eye on Brad’s pack. Mitch watched carefully as Brad began to piece together a strange looking circular device. The pieces fit together somewhat like a jig saw puzzle and when they were finally put together they formed a circle roughly a foot wide and 6 inches high.

  “I think that should do it,” Brad said as he stepped back.

  “Alright Roger, are you ready to pull out our little friend?” Gaelin asked.

  “If you’re ready, I’m read,” Roger said as he stepped forward. He took off a backpack that was actually a slim looking metal case and placed it on the ground.

  “You guys have no idea what we went through in order to get this thing operational,” Roger said as he opened the case. He picked up a small black cube with a pair of industrial tongs and looked directly at Drak. “I’m pretty sure you know what this is, don’t you Drak?”

  Mitch leaned forward to see what it was that Roger held in his hands. The black cube was oddly familiar. Mitch looked over at Drak who sat on the ground beside him with his feet out in front of him. Drak didn’t flinch when he saw the cube.

  “You don’t have to say anything,” Roger said as he knelt down and began to insert the cube into the device. “I’ll take it from the look on your face you know exactly what this is.” Roger carefully lowered the cube down into the device and then stepped back as fast his pudgy body could carry him. He seemed somewhat fearful of what would happen next. An immense silence filled the cavern as everybody stared at the device.

  For a moment nothing happened and then a series of lights lit up on the device. Mitch thought he heard his captors let go a collective sigh of relief as the lights came on, but still nobody moved. They were still waiting for something to happen, and then an ever so slight glow of light began to emanate from he centre of the device. “There it is,” Gaelin shouted. “All right Drak, let’s get down to it. Right before your very eyes is perhaps the only working inReal device on the planet. Well, in civilian hands that is. It’s obvious the governments of the world are implicated in this whole mess, but nobody can really say how deep it all goes…”

  “Gaelin, nobody cares. We’ve been over this. There’s a time and a place for your conspiracy theory talk and now is clearly not one of them,” Roger said.

  “I think he should know what we know,” Gaelin said, but he saw Roger glaring at him. “Ugh, fine, whatever. This is a working inReal device we were able to scrap together according to the algorithm set loose with the #epiccrotchshot video. The data the algorithm pieced together allowed us so much insight and we were able to build and assemble the device. The problem is we don't have the energy required to power it up.” Gaelin paused for a second and looked directly at Drak again. “If you help us power this thing up we’ll be on our way and you’ll never see us again. Nobody get’s hurt and you can go back to doing whatever it is you are up to down here in the dark. But if you hear us out, I think you’ll find we’re all actually after the same thing.”

  Mitch could feel his butt going numb on the ground. It was only a few more weeks until September. He only wanted to go off to school and get on with his life. Why was this happening now, he thought to himself. “If I do what you want, you go? Why I believe you?” Drak asked breaking the silence.

  “Well, as far as I can tell you don’t have much of a choice,” Roger said cutting in. “Either you start doing what we say or we start shooting.”

  Mitch could feel the rage seething off of Drak. “What you want me to do?” Drak asked, his eyes were black pits of hatred.

  “Just, get this thing powered up. If we can get it fully functional we can do the rest,” Brad said.

  “Not so simple,” Drak said. “But perhaps can help each other, make a deal”

  “What kind of deal?” Roger said. “Look, you’re not really in a position to negotiate here. Just do as we say and this will all be over.”

  “Like said, not so simple.” Drak said again as he got to his feet.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Kate growled.

  “I’m standing up. Cut me loose and I show you how you help me,” Drak said as he turned and showed his captors his zap strapped hands. “If I do anything, you shoot Mitch first. Can’t help you with my hands tied.” Drak said. He shot a grin at Mitch as he walked past.

  “Fine, but don’t try anything,” Roger said as he pulled out a small pocket knife and cut the straps from Drak’s hands. “#epiccrotchshot boy stays tied though. If you so much as flinch I’ll take you up your offer to shoot him first.”

  Mitch gulped hard as he sat on the ground. There had to be a way out of there, he thought to himself. He watched Drak walk over to the device and peer down for a second.

  “Not bad, how you make this thing?” Drak asked.

  “Military grade 3d printer, based on files from an unknown source. You happen to know who that source maybe?” Gaelin asked.

  “No idea. Does it work?” Drak replied.

  “It might. Like we said we just need to power it up,” Brad said.

  “Maybe I can help, but we need to plug in first,” Drak said as he bent down to pick up the device.

  “Easy tiger, you’re not touching that thing,” Roger said as he leveled his shotgun at Drak. “Brad, pick it up and be careful.”

  “Where do you want to move it to?” Brad said as he bent down and scooped up the device. “Do you have any plugs down here?”

  “I have only one plug, but it may be the one you need,” Drak said as he stepped towards the strange contraption at the centre of the semi circle of scaffolding.

  “Ok, is this what I think it is?” Gaelin asked as he followed closely behind Drak. A series of cables extended from the base of the contraption and they spiderwebbed their way to the scaffolding towering above them.

  “Maybe, depend on what you think it is,” Drak said as he stepped to the machine and began to flick several switches. Beyond the control panel housed within a wicker work of scrap metal lay a large mess of copper wires and pipes that had been intricately woven together to form a large coil. Mitch immediately recalled the conversation they had with Agent Daniels just a few minutes before they were dragged down here.

 

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