6. Mathew
6
Mathew
The map of the research complex that we got our hands on was very accurate, down to the details of the visibility angles of the cameras. We’ve just reached the point of no return in the mission without any problems.
Before now, if we were found out or if there was some other problem, we could still retreat. But from here on out, if we get into trouble, we’ll push through and complete the mission as best as possible. We’re now too far onto the complex to retreat in any orderly fashion. So, if we’re in trouble, we’ll probably have to fight our way out.
Something we’re hoping to avoid, of course.
But the mood definitely changed when Timothy confirmed that all the teams had reached their point of no return destination. My team is the one going into the building with the labs to grab the samples. The others are positioned so that they can stop anyone who might try to interfere.
Once I —or anyone else in charge— gives the sign, nobody will be able to get into or out of the complex, and all bets are off on how that’s achieved. We prefer to not do it that way, because it only brings more problems, but we will do it if we have to.
Causing as much chaos as possible to hide our tracks if shit hits the fan is usually the easiest way to get out of trouble, and to stop people from looking into things too much.
The police are much less likely to investigate when they think it’s some inter-organisation struggle, or two underground companies trying to take each other out. If we do our job correctly, and Derrick’s plans in that regard have never failed us before, nobody will ever think to look in our direction.
At the start of the mission, Riley seemed to have a moment where she went into solo mode, but it hasn’t happened since. It was comforting to watch her instinctively protect our team, that she was so ready to take those guards out if they made so much as a peep.
But taking them out would have meant aborting the mission, as that would reveal our presence much too early. Guards not returning from their fifteen minute round is kind of suspicious…
From now on, things are going to get tricky.
We’ve got to get into the building, which isn’t the complicated part, yet. After that, I’ve got to get to the right lab and then steal the samples. I have no idea where they’re stored, but I’ve only got a few minutes to figure it out and get the hell back out of there.
Inside the building are a combination of cameras and guards who are walking around.
We won’t be able to avoid all the guards, that’s not realistic, so we’ll take them out in the least bloody way possible. These guards aren’t expected back any time soon and we have to hope that the main security room doesn’t expect them to check in with them every few minutes.
“Timothy? Are the cameras ready?” I look around the team, everyone is on high alert. Part of the team is going to find and take down any guards on the ground floor and the next floor up, so the rest of us can focus on finding the right lab room and getting into it.
“Cameras are ready. They’re looping now.” Timothy’s voice is as calm as ever. “Not seeing any issues.”
“Derrick?” I check in with him as I nod to the back door of the building and two people step close to it, ready to open it once the lock clicks.
“All good here. Nothing suspicious. We’re good to go.”
“Let’s do it. Timothy, could you open the door?”
“Will do, and good luck.” The moment he speaks, we hear a ‘click’ from the lock and the two people open it. The hallway is dimly lit and we slip in, Riley and I taking up the back.
“First guard is around the corner ahead of you.” It’s always so handy that Timothy can tell us exactly where everyone is because he’s looking at the cameras, fewer surprises that way. Which is good as it significantly cuts down on unintended injuries and means we can take more people down in non-lethal ways that also won’t endanger our teams.
I motion for someone at the front of the group to take the guard down as we move towards the nearest set of stairs.
We take out another guard on our way, and, at the stairs, we split in two, with half the team staying downstairs and the rest of us going to the next floor.
“The lab is in the middle of this floor, it has extra security. It should say two dash five on the door.” Timothy is back for a moment, before focusing on keeping an eye on his screens.
Riley motions for the stairs up, but I shake my head. The guards higher up shouldn’t come onto this floor any time soon, so we don’t have to take them out unless we really don’t have another choice.
When I get the all-clear from Timothy and the team, I walk down the hallway. This building is massive and walking down the long hallway feels uncomfortable, but with the team on all of the exits and entrances, it’s totally safe, even if it doesn’t feel like that.
The first lock on the door is one that Timothy can easily open, a simple electronic lock. As I hear the soft buzz, I push the door open and Riley puts her hand on my arm for a moment.
She squeezes my arm, meeting my gaze. ‘Good luck. I’ll be here for you,’ she mouths.
I can’t help my smile as I give her a quick nod. If anything goes wrong, she’ll be right outside to help me. That feels good and safe.
Even though this is the first time she’s joined us on a mission, it feels like she’s always been there for me, has always had my back, and that makes me feel safer than usual.
Then I step into the second hallway.
The lab we need is located further back into the building. The other labs directly open onto the hallway, but this one has an extra set of doors and a hallway, plus extra security.
Not suspicious at all …
I quietly make my way down the hallway, there are no windows in here and the only light are the emergency exit signs, of which there’s one above each of the doors.
At least they seem to care about making sure their building is complying with all the safety guidelines. Makes my job a little easier.
“The next door is a combined electronic and pheromone lock. I should be able to override it if it doesn’t detect any pheromones to set off the alarm.” Timothy is back in my ear.
This is the most dangerous part of the mission. If the alarm goes off now, things will be on a very, very short time line from here on out.
“Understood.” I’m about to tell him to do his thing, when I notice that there’s a sliver of light under the next door.
That’s unexpected. The lights in the lab should be off. There shouldn’t be anyone in there.
Did they accidentally leave it on?
When I get closer, I see that the door is not fully closed.
Glancing down, I notice a reflection of light on a small metal object. Someone put something between the door and the frame so it wouldn’t close.
Fuck.
That’s bad.
Not a good sign at all.
I grab my gun, holding it loosely at my side. “There’s someone inside. The door is open. I’m going in.” If the person inside didn’t hear the first door open, my voice earlier will have given me away. So I can’t wait.
I nudge the door open with my foot, my gun ready, waiting for shots, but none come.
What I do hear is someone quickly trying to gather together their things, papers, from the sound of it. I’ve got to take my chance that it’s just the one person and that they’re too busy to shoot me right now.
There are no security cameras in here, so Timothy can’t help me. I’m on my own to figure out what’s going on.
I step inside sideways, making sure to target the person as soon as possible, hoping they don’t shoot me first.
The lab is light and easy to oversee. There are cabinets with glass doors along all walls, full of all sorts of things. The room is filled with rows of tables, some of them with machines, others are empty.
There’s a man standing at one of the tables with machines, small vials in a rack in front of him, and he’s not having much luck with collecting all his papers together. They keep fluttering to the floor at his feet.
He’s dressed like a guard, but the way he moves, the way he acts, he doesn’t seem to be one. The fit of his uniform is off, like it’s much too big for him, and he also lacks the weapons and the radio that the other guards we’ve encountered so far wear.
A quick glance around the room tells me that he’s on his own, nobody else is in here. Which is good, no witnesses.
“Stop what you’re doing.” I keep my gun trained on him. He doesn’t listen, and keeps stuffing things into his bag. “Stop. Or I’ll shoot you.” I slowly walk closer, the ‘guard’ still has his back to me.
This does seem to make him stop at least. Most people prefer not to get shot, most of the time.
“Who are you?” I drop my voice as low as it will go. I can’t force my will onto him like an Alpha can with their powers, but this is the best I can do. Making people think I’m an Alpha usually works just as well as actually being one.
“Don’t shoot, please. I’m a simple guard. I noticed someone left their things out, so I was trying to clean up.” His voice wavers, unsure.
I shoot the floor near him, close enough to scare him, not close enough to hit him. “Try that again.”
“Please. Don’t shoot! I’m just trying to clean up. Honestly.” He holds his hands up.
Some people really don’t understand that when their disguise is seen for what it is, that it’s better to follow instructions from the people with guns and not make their situation worse by pretending that everything is still fine.
We only have a few minutes to pull this whole mission off and I don’t have time to deal with guys like this.
My second shot hits the floor on his other side, closer to him than the first, making him yelp and jerk away from it. “The truth. Or the next one will be the last.”
“I’m only a guard. I promise. I have no idea what’s going on.”
Oh, for fuck’s sake .
I quickly close the distance between us and slam my gun to the side of his head. He drops to the floor like a bag of flour. He’ll have a bad headache when he comes to, but I don’t have time to play hundred questions with him right now.
“Timothy, let Riley and two others in. I’ve found someone who could be of use to us.”
The fact that Riley isn’t here yet means that he hasn’t unlocked the doors for them or told them what was going on, waiting for me to give him orders on what to do next.
I step over the body and take a look at the papers that are still on the table. They’re mostly chemical stuff, Timothy will know how to read those. Then I kneel down and push some of the papers in the bag around with my gun, making sure not to touch them.
My stomach clenches as they slide out of the bag.
They’re schematics for a cannister system that disperses the plant’s chemicals at a high concentration.
Oh, fuck.
Pheromone bombs.
Pheromone bombs that not only disturb any Alpha and Omega that’s caught in them, but that could also have very uncomfortable effects if any of them are near their heats or ruts…
The door to the lab slams open and Riley storms inside, gun in hand, eyes wild. Only when she sees I’m fine does she calm down.
“How good are you at getting information out of unwilling people?” I grin at her.
“How good am I at it or how comfortable am I with it?” She comes closer, before she spots the unmoving body at my feet.
“Either?”
She shrugs, smirking. “Nobody has accidentally died yet .”
“Good enough.” I nod. “Because we’re going to have an interesting night ahead of us.”
And none of it will be good.
Pheromone bombs, pheromones as weapons.
This is a scary future…
Then, as the door opens and two people from our team come in, a loud noise starts.
Someone set the alarm off!
Fuck!