The Way It Is

finding - part 1

I look over to Britt, who is peeking around the corner, watching our enemies clear the entrance to the building. He isn't counting men so much as their weapons and ammo. I don't have to see his eyes to know what he is doing.

"Two sonic rifles, six phase guns, eight plasma grenades and one giant veteran thermal cannon. There's no way, Zea."

And that was only three males carrying all that. Who knows what is still in their pod.

I rub a hand over my sweaty, itchy face. I feel the dirt being smeared around on my skin. Delightful.

"I am at a loss on how to proceed, Britt. What are you saying?"

"I am saying, if we try to kill them, we will die."

"Well, that's helpful." I can't help the snort.

"Zea. Be serious. We can't win. If the men in the pod don't shoot us on the way to the entrance, by the time we get inside, the Zu'Lar will have gotten the warning from the pod's A.I. and be waiting to kill us before the door shuts."

"You know, you talk a lot in my head for a man who rarely voices verbal words."

"Zea. You better be listening." He is all but growling in my head.

"I am. But I am thinking, and that is a lot harder to do with you expressing your fears in my head so forcefully."

I physically feel the anger rise in him. It feels like his body temperature just went up ninety degrees, and I would look down to see his skin on fire.

His dark eyes flash at me, his goggles off, nose pressed to mine. Staring hard into my eyes, he whispers out loud, "If you get yourself killed, I will never forgive you!"

BOOM! We hear something explode inside the building. Stars almighty. Pretty sure I just jumped out of my skin.

Oh no, the blazing drone. Damn.

Either it blew itself up due to security protocols, or they shot it. Doesn't matter. Now they know someone else is in the area. I palm my face. Well, that settles it then. Thinking time is officially over. Britt's right as usual anyways.

Britt quickly looks around the corner again.

I look down at my microband. They are going to be coming out of the building any minute. I hear my communicator earpiece beep.

Syndicate says, "Zea. I think I have a solution."

"Would love to hear it." Huh, first name basis now. Is she worried?

"Using the software from Britt's Sonic GX-15 Scanner, I have been able to locate a secret entrance to the building in front of you from a different building. But you have to go now."

"Take us there," I command.

"Travel two blocks East from your current location, and when you reach a street called Lansford St. South, turn North. It's the second building on the right. Go in. It is just a plain old building, by the way. No security system at all." She sounds hugely disappointed by this.

I shake my head. So weird. But keeping that to myself, I say, "Sounds good."

We had already started running as she talked, and we're halfway there before she finishes. Rounding the corner, we see the second building on the right isn't just a plain building, more like a supermarket. Damn, that's a lot of square feet to find a hidden entrance in the short time we have.

"Really? Couldn't it have been a house? Mother of stars, I am so done with today."

I hear Britt's mental chuckle.