The hallway was clear now, save for the two sleeping bodies that lie across its floor. They quickly hid the bodies in an air vent, making sure to cover their tracks. He rechecked his map; they were halfway there. Sam stayed in the middle of the group, and the team covered him around every turn.
David moved forward again, around the seemingly endless hallways. Up ahead, he heard the slightest sound of voices. He raised a fist, and his team stopped dead. He took out a small mirror, and aimed it around the corner. Five guards? No. Shadows moved across the background; there were even more. He waived N�tn�see forward, and gave him the mirror.
He saw the guards ahead, looked at David, and nodded. He was up for the challenge. It�s not that David couldn�t handle the situation. Hell, he already had a strategy planned. It�s just he knew how much N�tn�see was better at this kind of work.
He smiled at David, and waved a hand over his hand. Cover me. David nodded, and brought his pistol up. He checked his mirror, and when the guards were turned away, he gave N�tn�see the thumbs up signal. In a flash, the man rolled forward, landed in a crouch, and swooped his leg into a group. Three guards dropped, and one of them hit his head too hard, sending the man into a state of unconsciousness. One of the soldiers beyond his reach leveled a rifle at him, and the slightest crack! rolled through the air. The man dropped. N�tn�see jumped to his feet, grabbed two more soldiers� heads, and banged them together. The room was clear.
David waved the rest of them forward, and Sam gave N�tn�see a very stunned look. N�tn�see crossed his arms and gave the slightest hint of a grin. He lowered his arms, took one more look behind them, and then followed the group. His heart rate dropped down to normal again.
After another half an hour of slow walking and three patrol groups, the team came to a dead end. David looked at Sam, and shrugged. Sam gave the slightest sound of frustration, placed his hands on the sides of the wall in front of them, brought them almost together, then violently pushed them apart. A door appeared in the wall, and slowly yielded entrance to a dark room.
Within the room sat a large, round table, with an opening that faced the door. In the center was a podium, and around the room were heavy stone pillars, VidCam monitors, and other incomprehensible screens. A voice boomed through the room.
�You�re late�, said the voice. Sam dropped to one knee, lowered his head slightly, and spoke.
�Yes, my lords. We encountered resistan-�
�Reasons do not matter. What matters is that you are arrived. Come to the stand.� Sam got up, and in a deliberately respectful stride, walked to the podium-like structure. He nodded to the others, and they stood there with him, guns still drawn.
�Holster your weapons. Violence is not what you wished to discuss, am I correct?� David holstered the pistol. It was empty anyway, but no one in here would know that. He nodded to his team, and they did likewise. Their hands still hovered above them, though.
�Speak, and be heard.�
�I am the commanding officer of this squad, so I shall represent them�, said David. He had a strange level of authority in his voice, as if trying to gain control over the situation.
�Very well. Tell us of your request.�
�I come to you on behalf of the Alliance. I have been sent to you on a mission to request that a peace may be negotiated.�
�Peace? For such a lethal group, such a request does seem out of place. However, we are willing to listen further. You did say negotiate, correct? What are your terms?�
David wasn�t too sure what he should say. This was Sam�s job, not his. He cast a gaze to Sam, and he nodded back.
�Our terms,� Sam began, �is a simple cease fire of both sides. We both grow tired of this war, and the Alliance is willing to cooperate with any terms you may have. They will stand down all attacks at your word.� The voice in the room was silent for a while, and then illuminated the room again with its power.
�We do not require a peace! We will accept two things from your �Alliance�: surrender or death. Choose.� David�s blood ran cold.
�Is this a joke? We come to you to request peace! This conflict will not end without it! Please consider this option!�
�We have considered, and remain with our decision. Now choose.�
Sam�s face was pale. He was afraid, and seeing no way out, was desperate. What could they do? There was only one option they had, and it sure as hell wasn�t going to be surrender. David moved his hands to his waist, plucked two grenades, and threw them to his side. He unslung his assault rifle, and he and his team sprinted for the door. Explosions rang out behind them, and alarms flared.
