16 The girl
“So, would you mind sharing with me what’re you doing?” Ken stood before Alastor, discerningly observing what he was doing.
“We will use this energy container to connect in the core reactor,” Alastor replied. He’s busy connecting the wires at the canister of energy and for Linda, she’s unbolting the gas tube.
“The tube contains methane gas; this would be enough as a trigger to blow this place.” She added. Linda was standing at a control panel reaching the tube to unbolt it.
Seven canisters are connected, wiring it, and only needed to be plug-in.
“Again, how do these things blow up?” Ken is still unable to grasp the plan.
“We will use these energy containers to overload the core reactor. The core will explode and ignite the methane gas or if not, a single spark of it would be enough.” He detailed.
“That’s why we need to get out of here fast after we finished wiring these containers.” Linda huffed and jumped from reaching the connecting tube. In a second, the gas faintly came out from it filling the room with fumes.
“This would be enough.” Alastor halted and stood up. Thirteen energy containers are finished wiring.
“Hey, help me connect this to the reactor.”
Ken stopped in motion and hesitantly did it. “I don’t know man, maybe I’ll leave this thing up to you.” He walked outside the room, Alastor gave Linda a look, and she shrugged then proceeded to help to connect it. The white luminous emitted by the lampshade gave light in this distressing place. The cold breeze of atmosphere that came from the air conditioner is numbing, penetrating the nerves starting from Ken’s neck down to the body,
“How could they easily kill them? Without knowing if they’re still human or not?”
He’s still concerned about the humans that were included in the experiment. He knows deep inside his heart that it is wrong to kill innocent people, but Alastor's words keep resounds inside his mind.
“Ugh, I don’t know what I am supposed to do anymore.” He grunted. Ken was raised by monks at the Alfahon Mountain at the far east of the Jafal Region before he was taken care of by the Glade, he was taught the importance of life and why we should respect and take care of it. Currently, the place he was raised is now in ashes when the Grand Military Empire – the Hayan Empire decides to declare war against the Gahoda Kingdom.
To be precise, the monks helped the people that were victims and used their sanctuaries to be their temporary home, but with the advance mechanisms they possessed, they were able to track the refugees and because of that, they were killed. The monks tried to fight back but prove ineffective with the enemies using advanced weapons. Later the fight, he was found by a member of the Glade and brought him to their base.
He continues to walk, trying to figure out what he should do until he notices the dimwitted eyes of a woman. She was injected by dozens of outlets that restrains her. The only thing that was replaced is her hands, it is composed of iron. Her expression is unknowable but the way she looked; it gives an impression of wanting to be saved. Ken could only conclude things but what matters is he must help her.
Her eyes seemed to be calling to him, her mouth muttered in silence, likely trying to say “Help… me.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll get you out of there.” Ken looked at the computer panel close to the glass chamber. He drew closer to the panel near to it. The operating system is somewhat different but he’s still able to understand it. He pulls down the lever that turns off the light and the water was sapped by the opening hole underneath her feet, he immediately catches her.
“Hey, don’t worry. You’re safe now.” Her eyes slowly drifted to sleep. Ken carried her and came back where the others are. Al and Linda already finished connecting the devices, the image at the control panel shows the power percentage until the previous ninety-one percent became one hundred percent, until it hit the numbers beyond the limit.
“We need to go now.” Alastor instigated, they took off the room.
“Cid where is supposed to be the nearest exit?” Linda asked.
“There’s supposed to be a ventilation shaft on the next floor, it’ll slide you down outside the building. At that time, you have to use a grappler hook.” He explained.
“Hey Tin, could you take a look.” Tin grabbed the laptop and looked at the blueprint.
“Since when did you have these blueprints?” She gnarled as she leaned her feet and rested the panel.
“Dude, I extract it when I’m gathering information--- Hey! Get those feet of yours down where it is supposed to be!” Cid growled.
“Okay-okay, jeez.” She snorted.
“What’re you doing?” Cid asked as he cautiously observed Tin while typing on a laptop.
“Just doing something funny…” She grinned.
“Okay.” He replied, with uneasiness caused by the bratty look of Tin.
The two of them walk, almost running. They both know that it would be a matter of time before it exploded and when that time comes, the authorities would be alerted.
“Hey, where’s Ken?” Linda asked.
“Don’t know, don’t care…” Alastor flatly said.
Linda heaves forward, holding the rail—she looked down below the previous staircase as she pressed the button, calling Ken. Alastor patiently waited, altering his gaze at the environment, and tended to find an alternative route.
“Ken, where are you?” She agitatedly questioned.
Ken responds and his voice is audible as though he’s near until his presence alerted them.
“I’m right here!” He replied.
His soft huffed can be heard as he elevated up the stairs. Linda decided to meet him but stopped, noticing that Ken was not alone, he brought an unwanted guest.
“What’re you doing?!” She shouted.
“You’re jeopardizing our mission!”
“No! She’s alive and she needed help… Just please, at least—"
Ken was about to continue his justification but Cid intercept.
“Hey, we might be able to know what they’re up to if we were able to bring one of their samples, so let him,” Cid suggested.
Alastor ignored it as he looked below, and saw the countless silhouettes approaching their location.
“We’ll talk about it later. The hooligans are coming, let's get out of here.” Alastor softly warned them and ran to the staircase. They must’ve been alerted when the subject is released. Maybe there’s a silent alarm somewhere.
Ken sighed and leaned the girl, getting a grip to hold her. Behind them, the guards pointed their guns at them, lock aimed, with a firm grip of clutching the charging handle they pulled the trigger and the bullets volleyed to them.
“Don’t let them escape, no matter what happens!” Someone shouted.
