�Whoa, chill, it�s just lights! This is my office, so don�t worry. We�re clear.�
�Sam, as justified as you may feel, you must do as I tell you, or I will treat you like any other threat to this team�. The words seemed to glance off of Sam, but he took them in. He forgot how paranoid these guys were.
�Ok. But now all we�ve got to do is get through a few hallways and you boys will be on the way to finishing our mission.�
�Good�, began David. �But first, where�s Jean?� As if to answer his query, a woman entered the room from a door opposite them. David didn�t know what to think. Even though Sam made a convincing argument of her existence, nothing proved it true to David except to see the beautiful slender body, walking with a military grace towards him, her short black hair enhancing her facial features, the small nose that protruded from her face. She stopped a few feet in front of him, and her hand swept as she gave him a deliberately emphasized salute. David slowly returned the gesture.
�Jean�?� He whispered disbelievingly.
�Reporting for duty sir. Request to regroup with your squad.�
�Welcome aboard.� The rest of the team looked at her like someone with an ingrown shoulder, in total awe and confusion. Even N�tn�see looked stunned.
�Ahem� grunted Sam. �There�s a small shower and a toilet in the adjacent room. You guys really stink.� Sam gestured towards a door near them, and the AGF�s cleansed themselves up from their days out in the wilderness. David stepped out of the bathroom, his suit flash cleaned and his face clean-shaven. His short blond hair seemed to glisten with cleanliness, something they hadn�t smelled in weeks. Within minutes his team stood before him, refreshed and ready for their next assignment. This was the end of their mission. God Damn, I�m proud, he thought, and gave the slightest crack of a smile.
�Okay,� Sam said from a corner of the room. A map flooded a table that sat at the center of the room. It was almost the same as the blueprint they had seen earlier, only much more detailed. It also now showed them in Sam�s apartment. The senate room wasn�t too far away, but a maze of hallways lie between them and their objective. Not exactly difficult, as long as they didn�t encounter too much resistance. He activated his wrist implant. It booted up, and gave him a menu. He entered Optics, Eye Implant, Camera, Still-Shot. He looked right at the map, pressed a holographic button on his wrist, and the device saved the image. It perfected it, and reformatted it for holographics. He wouldn�t trust Sam far enough to let him shepherd his team now that he knew where he was going.
�We need to get going. Jean, what�s the enemy status?� Sam turned to Jean.
�There are some patrols going through the halls, and there�s no path we can take to avoid them. However, they�re only armed with SMG�s. Should be easy.� She was right. She tapped one of the yellow dots going through the hallways, and a new 3-D image appeared in front of them. It showed what looked like some sort of soldier. He looked incredibly real, moving and looking around him. David realized this must be a live feed, that he was watching a holographic conversion of a live VidCam in the hallway. Those could be a problem.
�About those VidCams��began David. �How do we stop them from being used against us?� He had a concerned look upon his face, and who shouldn�t. The reason they could see all of this was because of concealed cameras� and if David's team was showing up on the map�
�I know what you�re thinking� began Jean. �But don�t worry; these cameras are currently on a closed circuit. Only we can see them. As for the hallway ones� I�m currently making a recording.� David had a good idea of why she was recording them, but William was the one who asked for confirmation.
�Why are you doing that?�
�So that when I reach a good loop point�, she explained, �I�ll make it so anyone trying to see the cameras will only see the prerecorded loop, not the live feed. It won�t work forever, but it�ll sure as hell help us for the time being.� That way, the controllers watching the cameras would see the guards on patrol, business as usual� not the intruders, heading straight for a group of their top council members.
�How far is it from completion?� asked N�tn�see. He always seemed so distant from the rest of his team, but the man was an incredible asset, and David�s closest friend. If he had to pick someone to share a foxhole with, N�tn�see would be his only choice.
�Oh, it should only be another minute or so� I�ve locked feedback loops on at least twenty of the guards, but I�ve still got fifteen to go.�
�You heard her.� Said David. �AGF�s, lock and load. Try to conserve your ammo, we really are limited. DO NOT use your assault rifles. The live fire will attract attention even with their VidCams down. Remember, we�re not terrorists. Minimize casualties. We�re here to try to negotiate a peace with them, not exterminate them.� He took another look at his team, as they inspected their weapons, loading their pistols. They were ready; the final run ahead was probably the simplest part of their mission thus far. Hell, it�s what they were trained for for the past decade. So why did his gut give him that same feeling he had as when he had been ambushed? He pushed the thought aside. They had a job to do, and an emotion wasn�t what he needed right now.
�Got it!� Jean exclaimed. A large smile spread across her face. �The loop is set and I can start playing it as soon as we�re ready.�
�Good� said David. �Everyone ready?�
His teammates stood perfectly straight, wiped emotion from their faces, and in unison gave him a �Sir, yes Sir!�. Slides on weapons dropped, rifles were slung, pistols drawn, and ready to go. Sam would be an obligation to bring along, but they needed him for when they got to the Council. They moved toward the door.
�Jean�, began David. �Begin the feedback loop sequence.� She gave him a quick nod, pressed something on the table, and gave him the thumbs up signal. He opened the door, and with his team, stepped out into the hall. This was it. This was the end of the road. They were only a few hundred meters from completing their mission. He took a deep breath, exhaled, and stepped around the corner.
