Trudging through the hallway, Robert Gibbons made his way through his routine patrol. Boring as hell. He could almost fall asleep walking along these hallways� they were way too quiet. They gave him the willies. His eyes felt so heavy� and he had another two hours of this crap left. He headed across the hall to the communications department, and slid the door open a crack. This place was dark and quiet, and he had to make sure no one caught him off his routines. Plus, this place had the best vending machines. He made his way over to the espresso machine, fumbling with his data cards. What was that sound? It reminded him of crunching small leaves. He started walking toward the sound. Through the window to the next room, he spotted a light source.
Everything was supposed to be off here. Strange� he opened the door. A man behind a computer screen jumped to his feet in surprise. He was covered in electronics and headphones, and had a transmitter next to his monitor.
�What are you doin� here?� Robert asked the scientist. The scientist started mumbling a bunch of nonsense, gibberish. �Lemme see some ID,� demanded Robert. Something wasn�t right. The scientist started patting his lab coat, as if searching for it.
�I must have left it at my bunk� he explained. The patroller wasn�t so easily convinced. His digital probe installed in his helmet scanned the man� no implanted digital ID either. A requirement in the Clan. The patroller called for backup, and slapped a pair of handcuffs on him. He also placed his scribbled notes in an evidence container, and made note of the transmitter. This man was royally screwed if he didn�t explain his actions.
He took another look at those notes. They looked familiar to him, yet he didn�t fully recognize them. He did a small search on the facility�s data system. Radio frequencies. Was this man some sort of traitor? That didn�t matter to him � only the satisfaction that he was helping out his Clan.
(Current)
Slowly, David�s team made the approach to the cave opening. Their backs pressed to the wall, they slowly crept along till they were only meters from the cave. David signaled William to scramble to the other side of the opening. William gave him a nod, and gripped his rifle just a little tighter. Silently, he ran and summer-salted past the opening � while keeping his rifle trained on the opening � and got back up on the other edge. He gave them the �ok� signal.
David took point, heading in first. He looked awkward with his digital glasses on, but he had to make sure no one was hiding in the darkness. He pressed himself against the right side of the wall, followed by William. Hisheena and N�tn�see took the left. There were lights stringed along the edge of the wall, barely glowing with enough light that they wouldn�t bump into walls. The titanium tipped nails that were holding the lights looked like they had been placed in the walls too quickly. Or by somebody that didn�t know what they were doing. David liked the second theory better. Suddenly, a disembodied voice echoed off the walls.
�Greetings,� it boomed. It was clear at first, but the caves made the strange voice echo a thousand times, the sound waves bouncing all over the place like the place was lined with Audimirror. David didn�t dare answer back, and he made a slashing motion through the air telling his team to do the same.
�It�s alright,� the voice said, this time considerably quieter. It almost seemed soothing, but that didn�t deteriorate their state of alertness. �I asked you not to arm yourselves� but I guess I can�t blame you�. David searched all around him � up, to his sides, everywhere he looked � and no thermal signatures. Was their informant even there? Or had their fate already been sealed? David cursed himself. His other teammates must have seen this, but were too loyal to him. Still, no gas was spilling from the walls. His luck was apparently still on his side.
�I�m glad you came. I began to doubt if this was a proper rendezvous point, but it would appear I was right. This is the only place, however, where I knew they wouldn�t find me.� David knew what he meant � any other meeting place and their informant would probably have been discovered. He had guts � more than David could imagine.
�This may seem awkward, but I am a replacement informant. Apparently our original was caught� You can�t imagine how ignorant these people can be.� A replacement informant? David didn�t like how much control he was losing over the situation.
�I�m coming out� I request that you lower your firearms.� David did so, and his team mimicked his actions. Hisheena�s hand hovered above her M9 holster. A flare of infrared � David saw a man in the cavern in front of them seem to appear from nowhere. He analyzed where he came from � a stalagmite that shielded his IR signature. David cursed himself for being so clumsy. At least they knew there actually was an informant�
The man walked towards them, and David could see some fear in his stride. The voice seemed so familiar, but David just couldn�t pin it. He noticed his hand was close to his sidearm, too, but one could never be too careful.
Light started to wash over the man, just sprinkling at first as he approached them where the lights hung on the wall. But very quickly his features became clear as he rose from the shadow.
�Hello David�. It was Sam.
