Strategy

"So, what happened yesterday?", Riley asked Archer, her eyes twinkling with mock innocence. When he didn't give her a response, she continued, "I see her shoulder is patched up. Wonder why she didn't let us do it." Riley's long fingers trailed around the rim of her cup, her face cradled in her palm. She maintained her stare at Archer's face which displayed annoyance while he cooked breakfast for everyone.

"Also, you don't usually volunteer for kitchen duty. Is there something I should know?", Riley teased. "Nope," Archer responded curtly. "Now, are you going to continue your questioning or are you going to help me?"

Riley let out a a disappointment puff of air and woke up from the kitchen stool to help the older boy. "What's on the agenda for today?", she asked while getting out some plates. "You were the one awake looking at the new guy's fancy plans, so you tell me."

"Hmm. I actually don't know. We'll ask everyone when they're out." They continued doing their individual jobs in relative silence, the only thing to be heard was the minimal clanging of dishes and impacts of the knife hitting the cutting board. "Is Lia okay?", Riley asked, all traces of teasing leaving her voice and was now replaced with concern. Archer stopped what he was doing briefly, "I think she's okay. She got back what she lost."

To that, Riley raised a brow, "She got it back? How did she get it back? What did she lose in the first place?"

Archer sighed, "Yes, she did. After she saved me, and we were about to leave, I saw it laying on the floor. My mind just told me to take it, so I did. Turns out it belonged to her."

"You're not telling me what it was."

"I don't know if I should. It was something her... father gave her."

Archer swallowed. That one kinda hurt.

Riley let out a quiet "Oh" and then continued with her work.

"Mornin' guys!", Cody chirped from their room door.

Similar greetings were returned by the cooks.

"Where's Lia and Sam?", Cody asked. Come to think of it, Archer didn't see her since he woke up. He assumed she was sleeping because she clearly needed it and also, she's not really an early bird. Was she with Sam? Why would she be with him?

"They both went up to check on his bike and put it somewhere safer. They should be down in a few," Riley answered.

"Okay," Cody said and flopped down on the couch. "Why are you voluntarily in the kitchen when Riley and I are okay?", Cody asked, his question aimed at Archer. He was genuinely curious.

Archer saw Riley's smug smirk and narrowed his eyes. He was about to reply, but she beat him to it. "I was asking him the same thing, buddy. It suure is strange."

"I just felt like it, okay?", he said trying to keep his calm, but his annoyance slipped through his teeth. "Uh huh," Cody said, in that same teasing tone Riley used earlier.

Those two could be a real pain. Archer saw them exchange this look. It had been going on for a while. He didn't know what it meant, but he knew it wasn't good. It definitely wasn't good if Riley and Cody were involved.

He was about to confront them when they heard the signature hiss of the vending machine door open, and they all snapped their attention towards it.

Riley heard a snicker coming from the stairs with a few mumbles. It was high pitched while the mumbles were low.

She's laughing? With Sam? The guy that she almost killed with her glare? Just yesterday? What?

"She smiles," Cody observed when the two entered the room, speaking what was on everyone's mind.

Her smile didn't waver though, in fact, she smiled wider.

"Yep," she said popping the 'p'.

"Turns out my charm works on everyone. It was about time she warmed up to me," Sam said with an exaggerated wink.

Riley and Cody laughed at that while Sabrina just rolled her eyes. Archer just turned away.

He heard everyone settle on the couches and busied himself with the final preparations.

"That smells good," a voice from behind him said. He turned around quickly, nearly dropping his pan in the process and was met with the brunette girl's face.

"Whoa, sorry. Didn't mean to, y'know, scare you. I didn't think that was possible," she said raising her hands. He scoffed at her. She didn't take it personally.

She just stood around him, fiddling with various utensils and peering over his shoulder to see what he was doing even though he was a full head taller than her.

"What are you doing?", he asked her.

"Not much."

"I mean, why are you here?"

He realised that sounded a bit harsh and attempted to rephrase it.

"I mean, wouldn't you rather be talking with everyone else?"

"Not really. We've got all day to do that. Plus Sam said that he had something to show us."

Right. Sam.

"Oh, uh okay?", he said awkwardly.

"Also, I just wanted to thank you again. For, um, last night. Or was it this morning? I don't know. Just - thank you. So much," she said looking down.

Archer faced her. It was weird, because last night he had an idea of what he had to do, but right now? Not a clue. He didn't know what was going on.

"It's not that big of a deal," he said. She looked up at him, her face said 'Are you being serious, right now?', but she accepted it and then continued with her antics. This time she tried to get on his nerves on purpose and Archer found that he didn't mind.

It was kind of refreshing to get back to their usual bickering selves. They started arguing over silly things again, but it wasn't serious. There was no actual heat in their arguments. He liked the change. And he began to tolerate her more.

He trusted her now.

With his life.

xxx

"I've spoken to - uh - Lia, about this earlier. You guys were so engrossed with the sentries prints and other things that I didn't get a chance to show this to you guys," Sam told the rebels.

Sabrina nodded her confirmation that he did, indeed speak with her about what he was about to show them. He retrieved the spherical device from the table and began twisting it in various ways. The others were intrigued by this. Riley tried her best to commit his twists and turns on the device to memory.

After a few clicks, a blue rectangular pad made itself known on the surface. All Sam did, was put his thumb on it and a map projected itself into the air.

"Is this the-?", Cody started.

"Yep, it's the layout for the communications' hub," Sam confirmed, spinning the image with his finger.

"How did you get this?", Archer asked. "I know my way around places," was the vague answer. "Well, that's convenient," Riley shrugged. "How did you know we needed this?", Cody asked Sam. "You did?", Sam asked the younger boy.

"Yeah. We were planning on heading there. That's why we got the med guns," Sabrina said.

"You guys are idiots," Sam stated.

They all looked at him in offense and confusion.

"What's that supposed to mean?", Archer asked with a glare.

"Exactly what you think it means. You can't just waltz in there. It's a secure hub. Protection around every corner. Alarm systems, guard patrols, sentries, the whole shebang," he said gesturing wildly.

"We were gonna do some scouting in the area to figure out patrols while Cody hacked into the system to disable the alarms," Riley explained.

"While that's a plan, it won't be enough. You're seriously underestimating them. We need to have a solid idea of each safety and emergency measures in this place."

"What do you suggest we do then?", Sabrina asked.

"We visit the outposts around it first. One out of three outposts in the surrounding area should have a direct link to the hub's security protocols."

"What's stopping that from being a completely terrible idea as well?", Cody asked.

"Well, for starters, there's very little guards in the area. There's only sentry patrols, watching over the people in the camps. If we could sneak in and find a way to their main computers, Cody and I could hack them to get the information we need. A simple in-and-out."

"I guess that could work," Riley agreed.

"But we'd have to search each one. Do we have that kind of time?" Archer queried.

"I mean, it's a chance we're gonna have to take. There's a lot of risks involved," Sabrina answered.

"Right," Sam said.

"Let's say we go along with this plan. We're gonna need some stuff. You guys have the schematics for the sentries, right?", Archer asked the team, to which they all nodded, "Good, so we should get weapons that would be most effective on their weak spots."

Cody scratched his chin, "Yeah, you're right. Most guns could definitely dish out some damage, but we're going for stealth. Suppressors, and maybe EMP's could work. And stun guns, if you hit it on target."

"You guys got any of those?", Sam questioned.

Riley scoffed, laughing mockingly, " 'Do we have any of those?' ". Her laughing stopped. "Wait, do we?"

Everyone looked at her unimpressed, while simultaneously saying 'Yes.'

"Cool."

"Well, we don't have EMP's," Sabrina pointed out, "But, I could try to make some!"

She jumped in excitement at the thought of building things again, her mind already flooding with ideas.

"I could help," Sam offered.

Sabrina vigorously nodded.

With that, the group dispersed. Riley took the time to study and memorise the map of the place in case it could come handy in the outpost, Cody and Archer left to search for all the weapons they hoarded that met the criteria explained by Sam and Cody. That left Sam and Sabrina to work on the EMP's.

"So. Components are very limited here. Think we can work with this?", Sam asked Sabrina.

"I mean, we probably won't have a lot, but it should be enough. We'll just have to try harder not to get caught."

Sam nodded.

"So, quality or quantity?", Sabrina asked while sitting down in front of their work table in the training room.

"Depends. What do they each entail?"

"Well, if we're going for quality, we'd probably only be able to make a maximum of approximately 5, but the sentries would be out of commission for a while. If we're doing quantity, we could make 15 mini devices, which we'd have to plant onto those tin cans, and they'd deactivate for 5 minutes tops. I could also throw in one that detonate on impact," she said proudly.

"I think we should go in for quantity, seeing as lady luck probably won't be on our side," Sam suggested fiddling with a screwdriver.

"I think so too," Sabrina agreed.

"Let's get to work."

Surprisingly, they made do with all the tools and scraps they had at their disposal. Sabrina's knowledge of the inner workings of various things came in handy, especially since she was usually there to oversee her dad work. Sam was also good at the whole building thing. She knew he had to be considering the modifications on his bike. Although he could learn a thing or two from her.

She saw him struggling to fit some parts in. The wire made it difficult for the device to seal shut.

"Maybe you should make this part a little more compact. That way it'll connect better and have more place to magnify the output pulse," Sabrina told him.

He narrowed his eyes at the magnifying glass, taking her advice and thanked her when it worked.

Figures that time flew by while Sabrina was doing the one thing she really loved. It helped her feel more connected with her family. Plus, Sam was great company. He reminded her of building with her brother. If those two met, they'd be a formidable team. Like you know those people who are just so stupid together, but if they put their minds to something, they'd probably be able to rule the world? That's who they'd be.

The two builders set up the devices in rows on one side of table, along with two remotes. They were in the middle of building the grenade, when Sam thought it would be a good time to bring up a sensitive topic.

"Where'd you learn to build all these things?", he asked her while sparks flew from his tool. Sabrina stiffened in her seat, she didn't really want to talk about this.

"My dad dabbled in these things. Guess I took after him," she answered vaguely.

"I see. A bit of a complicated application for just dabbling though, don't you think?", Sam pried and looked at her.

"Well, I like to learn," she shrugged, hoping that he'd buy it.

He resumed his work, "They're looking for you, you know that?"

She swallowed. "What are you talking about?"

"Cut the crap, Lia. Or should I say Sabrina?"

Her eyes widened and she looked him in the eye. He had an eyebrow raised as if daring her to deny it.

"What?", she said.

How could he have known? Who even is he? He's gonna rat me out!

She gripped the screwdriver tightly.

"What do you think? I'm stupid? You're bad at lying," he said relaxing in his seat like he didn't just blow her cover.

"How do you know that?"

"I have a contact on the inside. They told me about you. I followed their lead to the hospital where a squad was looking for you. I thought I got the wrong people at first when there was no 'Sabrina' here, but then it was easy to connect the dots."

"So, you found me. Now what?"

"Now what? I'm still gonna help," he shrugged.

"What?" Sabrina furrowed her brows, gripping the screwdriver so tightly that her knuckles turned white.

"I have no ulterior motive. I just want to know why Sabrina is lying to her friends." Sam crossed his arms and looked at her accusingly.

"I lied to them because I was scared that they were going to turn me in."

"You still think that?", he turned to face her fully.

"No! I just - I don't know how they would take it," she admitted looking down, her grip on the screwdriver going lax and it cluttered to the ground.

His eyes widened in realisation of the weapons she had in her hand, and he had no clue.

"Just - don't tell them. I want to tell them, but not right now. We don't need distractions," Sabrina pleaded.

"Of course, I won't tell them. That's not my responsibility or even my place. I just think you should tell them before it's too late. They trust you, so you should trust them," Sam consoled her and God, he was so much like Jason. Sabrina almost burst into tears right there.

As if he sensed this, he hesitantly put a hand on her shoulder. Almost hovering there, but she assured him it was okay by placing her own hand over it. She smiled up at him and he smiled back.

The two didn't notice someone standing at the door towards the end of their little exchange. Archer shut the door slowly, a hollow feeling settled in his chest.