Chapter 20 A New Threat #2
This door is more industrial than the double set.
Next to it is a small square panel extending out from the wall.
Beside that panel is an even larger control panel, a desk, and a very dusty mounted screen on the wall above both of them.
Sitting in front of it is the rusty frame of an old swivel chair with human remains beneath it.
I head for the door and grab the handle, hoping it will open. When that doesn’t work, I brush off the side panel and press my fingers to the screen. Without power, I step back to peer at the bigger machine to my right before glancing at the crack in the wall once more to make sure it’s empty.
I pull off my pack and dig out my orb. Rolling it in my hands, I turn it on, and it launches into the air.
“Change to volume one,” I command it before it has time to speak and initiate. The orb flashes. “Is there a safe way out of here?” I whisper. “That won’t get me heard by what is outside this room.”
Again, the orb flashes, and scans the room with a red light. It floats to the gap and the closed door next to it. “Stop,” I tell it quickly. “Don’t go out there. Can I use that door to get out of here?” I indicate the locked one deeper in. “Is there another way?”
The orb scans the room again and approaches the door and the panel beside it. “To get through control access point E, alpha block, maintenance entrance, a keycard of purple security or higher is needed. There is one on the floor to your right.”
I begin to search for the card, discovering the small plastic piece by the chair amongst the bones. As I pick it up, I wipe the dirt off the sides with my fingers. “I have it.”
“That key will open the door and any other doors within the alpha block. You will need to reconnect the alpha block to the main power source to open any doors further than that.”
I look at the orb. “Is that possible?”
The orb is silent for a moment. “I am unaware of the possibilities without full calibration. The local power infrastructure has been compromised. You will need to start up this room’s emergency energy siphon generator.
” It floats to the large control panel and I move to follow it, peering down at the dirty screen.
“You will need the master maintenance key. It is the one on the floor beside where the keycard had been.”
Lucky, for once, I quickly go back and shuffle through the bones, discovering an old gun and another dull gray key beside it. I wipe the dirt from the key on my sleeve, and return to the panel, shoving it in the only keyhole there is.
On the wall, the screen flashes and a low wheezing comes from within the machine. Anxious tension squeezes my chest as an image of a bullet appears across the screen behind a wall of dust. I glance nervously behind me at the crack.
The orb begins to shudder and fly lower, already losing its power. I wince, hoping it works long enough to get me through this.
When I packed my supplies at Zaku’s, I didn’t have the pick of the best stuff. My weapons came from the group cache but my orb was gifted to me by Daisy for an emergency. It couldn’t hold enough charge to last very long.
“You will now be able to use the keycard for the door.”
Gripping the card tighter, I head back to the door and raise it to the panel. The door groans open, blasting me with musky, stagnant air.
I turn for the orb. “Find the naga called Krellix.” I wipe my clammy palms on my pants after pocketing the key and the card.
“He will be with three humans nearby in the forest, a female and two adult males. Warn him that I saw the Boa and it might be tracking me—us—and to get the others to safety. Olivia is his top priority. Tell him to beware of traps.”
I don’t know how long the Boa has been following us, I only know that I don’t put it past him to use whatever means necessary to get what he wants.
Which might be me… or, worse. Olivia.
I don’t tell the orb to tell Krellix not to come find me.
He won’t listen anyway. I just hope he gets the message before the Boa has a chance to surprise him and that he gets Olivia to safety first. I don’t know what will happen if the Boa gets a hold of her.
And being so close to the encampment, I’d rather Krellix just got them all within its boundaries before searching for me. I can defend myself.
I glance over my shoulder as the orb leaves through the gap. Though it feels like ages, it’s only been minutes since I last saw the others.
I need to give them some more time. I need to distract the Boa.
Taking a moment to test the industrial door to make sure it will hold open, I then turn for the crack the orb just left through.
Walking to it, I reach through the opening and tear off the brush covering it on the other side.
“I’m over here, you slithering bastard! In the bushes! I dare you to come and get me!”
I yank my arm back into the room and rush down into the open underground tunnels, swiftly shutting the door behind me. Backing down the stairs immediately within, I fish out my flashlight and put it on the ground, aiming it upward.
Pulling my rifle forward, I aim that upward as well.
Taking a deep breath, all I can hope is that if the door doesn’t suffice, the bullets will.