Stratagem, Series 2 - Parts II3 & II4 up, again.

[Bluejayfan94]

Bahhhhh, lost a few parts. I have them saved though.

 

 

 

And it's on the first page again. Maybe I'll get back to it.

 

 

 

Lol, its all about Page One, sin't it? :lol:

[Nom]

Parts II3 & II4

 

 

 

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How do you know his name?

 

 

 

Julian looked slightly surprised as he said this, but it was clear to Lyra that he was simply using the emotion as a cover to gather as much information as he could. She, in her turn, was trying her best to remain silent and unnoticeable as she got over the pain of being shocked. She was already working on a plan to get them out of the cell, and the next few minutes were crucial if they were to ever have a chance. They couldnt count on the door opening under the same circumstances again, if at all.

 

 

 

As I say, Doctor, Kelvin is very important to us, repeated the man in the lab coat. Naturally, we would know his name. I daresay we know more about him than you do.

 

 

 

Then why do you have questions about him? probed Julian.

 

 

 

For the same reasons you are so brashly demanding answers of me, countered the other smoothly.

 

 

 

No doubt Julian would know what that meant. Lyra didnt, nor did she care. Her purpose on the team was security and protection, and she was being paid well for it. Right now, the priority was to make sure she lived to receive that pay, and Julian survived to bequeath it to her. The man standing a few feet away from and over her was obstructing the way out, and getting out was certainly a desirable course of action. He had to get out of the way, preferably without bringing more of his ilk running.

 

 

 

Julian seemed eager, beneath his concealing mask of more appropriate emotions, to keep talking, which conveniently provided Lyra with time to work. She tuned out to the professors dogged questions and the other mans equally persistent dodges.

 

 

 

However seriously they claimed to take their security, the crew in this facility obviously had issues with women. They hadnt bothered to search Lyra thoroughly, probably out of nerves or awkwardness. Idiots. Very unprofessional. Although it was better than the opposite extreme, on all counts. Under the pretext of groaning piteously, Lyra rolled onto her side, facing away from the two men. She moved her arms up, away from their clutch at her stomach, taking it slow. Her hands reached her neck with nary a disturbance in her overall posture, curled halfway into the fetal position. With the voices of the two men masking the sound, she unzipped her jumpsuit nearly the length of her sternum. Nestled there were medical swabs, compressed as much as possible, and three small plastic packages no larger than her thumb. One contained antibiotic, one painkiller, and the third sedative. The sedative was the fluid of choice now. Her syringe was gone with the rest of the contents of her utility belt, so she would have to improvise. She extracted one of the swabs and fluffed it as much as she could, then ripped open the plastic of the sedative with care. She let the fluid soak the pad, being careful not to let any dribble onto her or the floor. She was as ready as she ever would be.

 

 

 

With a slight movement, Lyra repositioned herself, trying to get as much leverage as she could before making her move. She would only have one chance. She tensed, and waited for the visitor to speak. As soon as she heard the first words from his mouth, she sprang her body straight and swept her leg under the mans, sending him crashing to the floor. Even before he landed she was diving towards him. He hit the floor with a grunt of pain that escalated into a sharp cry as Lyras fingernails raked his neck. She slapped the swab to the bleeding wounds and pressed, cutting off his shout with her other hand. Within seconds the sedative had done its work. The mans eyes closed and his breathing slowed into a peaceful rhythm.

 

 

 

Lyra didnt relax. She leapt to her feet and darted out the door, ready to counter any blow that came her way. She was surprised to see that there was no one else. Outside their cell was a corridor that stretched a short distance to either side, with a few metal doors similar to the one she had just come out of along the walls and at one end. The corridor was brightly lit by fluorescent tubes along the ceiling, and Lyra could make out some sort of symbol carved or painted on the end of the hall that lacked a door. She didnt stop to investigate, however. She had no idea what kind of security this place had, and it would not be prudent to waste time finding out now. The element of surprise could disappear at any moment.

 

 

 

She hurried back into the cell to find Julian kneeling next to the lab coat man, searching him. At least he wasnt completely clueless when it came to situations like these.

 

 

 

He was pretty tricky to get information out of, said the professor as he rummaged in the large pockets of the white coat, but even vague hints that he thought would mean nothing to us were very helpful. From one of the pockets he pulled two plastic cards. One came with a neat little clip that was clearly meant to be worn on the lapel or somewhere similar, and the other was plain white with one corner cut off and a bar code lining one edge.

 

 

 

Key card, announced Julian as he held the white one up to examine it. Lyra nodded. Thank you, Mr. Arzman, he said as he stood up, glancing at the other card. He looked at it more closely and read, Louis Arzman, Researcher.

 

 

 

We need to move, Lyra said curtly, brushing past him. The professors information could wait until they were no longer under threat of discovery. She picked up the taser that Arzman had dropped and tucked it into her leather belt, along with the remaining swabs and plastic pouches. As soon as we find a safe place, we can think of a plan of action, but until then we have to keep moving. She passed Julian again, grabbing him by the arm and pulling him towards the door that was most likely the exit.

 

 

 

Wait! he exclaimed. The cells, there may be other prisoners. He tugged his arm away from Lyra, much to her annoyance and impatience.

 

 

 

Hurry up! she hissed at him. She reached the door as the professor ran the other way, checking the cell doors as he went. She didnt want to open the door until he was right next to her, so she turned and waited, watching as he reached the opposite end of the corridor. There he stopped dead, staring at the symbol on the wall that Lyra had glimpsed briefly before. She couldnt make it out from this distance, and Julian was blocking it, but whatever it was held him mesmerized.

 

 

 

Get moving! she said as loud as she dared. The professor reluctantly pulled away from the wall and hurried back to her, looking all sorts excited.

 

 

 

We are most definitely in the Stratagem, he said, breathing hard with excitement.

 

 

 

Thats nice to know, remarked Lyra with a hint of sarcasm. She swiped the key card in the slot next to the door, and with a click it unlocked. Readying herself, with Julian safe behind her, she pushed it open.

 

 

 

End of Part II3

 

 

 

Part II4

 

 

 

The first thing Lyra saw when she opened the door was a desk. It was dull stainless steel, and it was covered in the usual paraphernalia that could be found on most desks. Sitting behind it in a worn swivel chair was a man with his back turned to them, reading from a piece of paper that he had removed from a manila folder. When he heard the door squeak open, he began to turn. Lyra ducked back inside quickly, hiding herself.

 

 

 

Is that you, Arzman? Finished already? called the guard. Lyra heard the chair screech as he rolled it back, apparently getting up to greet what he believed to be the researcher.

 

 

 

Lyra shot a look at Julian, attempting to communicate to him silently what he should be doing.

 

 

 

Its me, he said in a passable imitation of Arzmans voice. Im bringing the prisoner.

 

 

 

He had caught on. Good. Lyra beckoned at the man still lying on the floor in the doorway behind him, urging the professor to take the coat. He hurried over to the body as footsteps began approaching the door from the other side.

 

 

 

Bringing which one? the guard asked. He was getting closer.

 

 

 

Lyra pointed at herself as Julian hurried back with the white garment. He understood, shrugged the coat on as he called back, The girl. Lyra passed him the taser and faced forward, raising her hands in the universal gesture.

 

 

 

You coming out or not? asked the guard. He had reached the door. Lyra stumbled out of it, leaving it half-closed, and Julians white-robed arm followed behind her, holding the taser to her back.

 

 

 

My, my, the guard whistled, eyeing Lyra. She rolled her eyes. The guard leaned round her to address Arzman, A.K.A. Julian. You sure its necessary to hold that on her? Shes unarmed

 

 

 

He didnt get the chance to finish his sentence. Lyras elbow smashed into the side of his head with enough force to knock him senseless. He fell sideways and slumped on the cold floor, unmoving.

 

 

 

Good job, professor, acknowledged Lyra. He was proving to be a passable partner. At least he wouldnt get them killed. She took the taser back from him and instructed, Drag him back over to his chair. Make him look asleep or something. Im going to look for my equipment.

 

 

 

She left the unconscious guard to Julian and observed the room. It was small and bare of decoration, the only furniture being the guards desk and chair. There was a single door opposite the one they had just come through that led elsewhere. She wasnt going to open it just yet, but it didnt look like her weapons and equipment were anywhere in this room. She helped Julian drag the guard over to the desk, then searched it while he arranged the unconscious man like some gruesomely realistic Halloween dummy.

 

 

 

She found nothing of real interest in the desk. It was mainly full of records of previous prisoners, which she rifled through quickly before throwing aside, barely looking at them. There was, however, a schematic of the immediate area. It was not complete, only showing the guard room, cells, and a large room outside of them with several doors branching off, but it was a start.

 

 

 

Next she searched the guard. She was pleased to find that he had a gun belted on his hip, as well as another small taser identical to the one they had lifted off Arzman. They would do until she could find her own utility belt.

 

 

 

Here, she said, attempting to hand the first taser to Julian while she continued to pat down the guard. He didnt take it. She looked up impatiently and found him staring at one of the files that she had thrown aside, eyes wide. What? she demanded, still trying to hand him the taser.

 

 

 

Julian looked up at her, thinking hard. He brandished the paper in front of her face. In the corner was a circular logo with some sort of design in the center, but the paper was waving so fast she couldnt make it out, much less read anything. What? she repeated, unmoving, growing in impatience.

 

 

 

Here, on the file! Julian burst out excitedly. Kelvins name is on here! It says hes being held prisoner as well! I cant believe I didnt find him before, he continued, looking down at the paper again, but. . . Julian trailed off, frowning at the paper. A look of utter consternation stole across his face.

 

 

 

Whatever it is, it can wait, Lyra interjected before he could say anything. We have to keep moving. Now. She grabbed his arm and once again dragged him to the door. Repeating the ritual that they had gone through before, she held the gun at the ready. After a brief hesitation, she flipped the safety on. It probably wasnt a good idea to start shooting while they were under armed and in the middle of enemy territory. This door didnt have a key card slot. She simply turned the handle and pushed it open.

 

 

 

The door opened, as the schematic had shown, into a very large room. There was a row of computer terminals down the center, and a few tanks lined the walls. But the thing that Lyra immediately noticed was that the room was full of people. Lots of them. And they noticed her.

 

 

 

A group of three men near the end of the row of terminals looked up as the door opened and stared in surprise. They seemed too stunned to move for a moment. Lyra couldnt blame them. An extremely fit young woman in a form-hugging jumpsuit with the top still unzipped indecently far had just burst into the room. She had a momentary advantage, but it would be fleeting. Going on pure memory, Lyra dashed to the side, heading for a door that had been shown on the map. She threw it open, and slammed it shut just as Julian dove in after her.

 

 

 

They were in trouble now.

 

 

 

End of Part II4

 

 

 

To Be Continued

 

 

 

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Well, that's those back up. I guess most people have already read them, but meh. I'll be leaving early tomorrow for a week, so nothing new unless I stir myself to do something tonight. Which probably won't happen.

[Bluejayfan94]

Great parts!

[Diesel]

New parts please? :pray:

[Bluejayfan94]

lol, big bump...