Threats from within.

[Ryummel]

Now, the second bomb was planted. I took a last look the mining laser, then I retraced the way back to the main room. Bingo, I came across Veronica, the technician. "Oh, Mr Esterbrook! Have you finished with the mining laser? I thought you would need the plasma cu-" I quickly answered her [color=#CCCCCC]"Don't worry, I managed to solve the situation, just a hardware malfunction in the laser systems. You can tell the miners to resume their work there."

Few minutes passed. I was in the main room, waiting for Jeff while a few grunts were glaring at me. This first part was so easy, that means the people who manages to enter this complex must be well-trusted, why such hostile attitude? Jeff contacted me again. "Myles, gonna need your help here, there's a few canisters full of artifacts... I guess we'd be able to carry several with us. Don't worry, I already dealt with McCullough. Hurry up, just take the other hallway."

Now there were three grumpy guys with rifles blocking that way. For a moment I thought about detonating the first bomb because that one was far away from the main room. That explosion would make collapse half the complex in five minutes, or less. I decided to give a try to my diplomatic skills. "Hello there, eh... I already fixed the mining laser in that hallway but my buddy needs an electronic spectrum-suppressor..." One of the grunts interrupted me before I could finish my 'creative' sentence. "Follow me." One of them replied. Only one remained guarding the hallway. Two minutes. Two minutes from the main chamber to the room where Jeff was. Piles of electronic devices and canisters were surrounding him. The grunt who was with me frowned, since Jeff was alone. "Where's Norman?" Shouted one of the grunts while approaching him. Jeff was smirking, perhaps waiting for my master-movement in order to solve this situation. I didn't hesitate, before the two grumpy guys could even aim their rifles at Jeff, I took my detonator and pushed the magic button.

As expected, a grave noise -which was raising its tone as seconds passed- was heard. The entire place started shaking. Those seconds were enough for both Jeff and me to break the necks of those two idiots who began to panic as they felt their imminent death underground. "Myles, take this canister, let me pull that one out of this pile of junk!" 20 seconds. 20 seconds passed until we began to run as fast as the weight of the canisters let us. Few miners were yelling and trying to reach the hallway which led to the exit of the complex. I saw the first hallways collapsing as soon as we arrived at the main chamber. "Time to detonate your bomb, buddy." I told Jeff when we were about to reach the entrance of the complex. This time, everybody felt a real earthquake. We reached the outer settlement. It was a chaos, people crawling on the ground while bleeding, others trying to give first aids... Nobody was noticing our presence in the middle of such chaos, so we moved to the shuttle.

"We're done over here, you've got green light to remove that rusty settlement." Those were the last words I heard before a gleam blinded me. Mission accomplished, huh? I felt sorry for that technician girl, I felt sorry for the 'necessary' sacrifices... Am I really willing to save the humankind through this way? Time will decide.

Two months later. Freeport 11, Omicron Delta.
"Don't worry, okay? I'll just return this Bastet and answer a couple of questions to my Order friends, I'm quite sure they'll be glad to see the annoying Myles Ewing again." I answered with a sarcastic tone in the last part of the sentence. "Take care buddy."

---