Cities of the Future

[Stampede]

Knocko regarded the surgical mask and strained to fit it around his large head.

 

"Hmm...ok, so our options...hide in the vents and take advantage of the guard change? I don't know...If I was working here, the first place I would look is the vent and I don't want to be in a fire fight there. Oh man...why do I suddenly feel like I'm between a rock and a hard place?"

[Captain Andy]

Travis tried to think of a way to make a sarcastic joke about Knocko's rock and hard place comment, but found nothing more then pitiful humor attempts. He took the surgical mask and put it around his head.

 

"It is better than nothing, I guess. I'll start trying to shut down those cameras now."

[PurpleXVI]

As soon as Travis began his attack on the security systems, it was a race against time. Every time he disabled something, sub-functions popped up which were waiting for a timed reaction from those things before starting alarms and counter-hacker programs.

 

While sweat started showing on his brow, Candiru One managed to use a piece of medical equipment to loosen the vent entrance, then shoved the same thing in the vent itself so it got stuck. He and Arodom looked ready to start climbing in at the first sign that Travis had screwed up.

 

Apparently to One's surprise, though, the hacker won through. After a few minutes the last security program had been disabled and the cameras were his to screw around with as he pleased. He could turn them off, get them playing a loop of an empty corridor like in the movies or have them show feeds from other parts of the base. He could also, as he pleased, view things through the cameras himself. It only took a few keystrokes to transfer this functionality from the laptop to his PDA.

 

No alarms or klaxons seemed to be going off, so it was likely safe to assume that no one had discovered the subtle transfer of control.

 

"You're right about the vents, Knocko," said One, "The guards have seen movies, they'll check them. But with so few people here, they likely all know each other, so I doubt we can steal uniforms and hide. If we want to use some other path than the vents, we'll have to be ready to shoot our way through, or find some way to get everyone out of our path before we get there. Either way, unless someone comes up with an idea in five minutes, I'm hiding in the vents for the moment."

 

"I'll go with him," said Arodom, "Staying here is just asking for the local officer to find us when he drops by to ask the doctor if he's found out something."

[Stampede]

"Umm...ah...aah ok, I'll go in the vents as well."

 

He gave a worried glance towards an air shaft and muttered...

 

"Just seems like such a tight fit is all..."

[Captain Andy]

Travis chose to have the cameras play a loop of an empty corridor, seeing as turning them off would draw some suspicion. After checking to make sure everything was secure, he shut down the laptop and went over the others.

 

"Is there going to be enough room for me too? If there is, I'm joining."

[PurpleXVI]

"Yeah, there's a goddamn maze of vents in here," replied Arodom, "Remember to fit the grate on after you're inside. Otherwise we'll be found for sure."

 

It was a bit of a struggle getting Knocko into the network of ducts, but with One pulling on his arms and Travis giving him a kick in the ass from behind, they eventually managed it. A short distance in they reached a central ventilation shaft where most of the smaller ones converged. There was barely enough room for all of them to stand side by side, and far above a larger fan swung lazily.

 

"Now let's get off our asses and figure out a plan," said One promptly, "I think that we should just get down there now, seeing as how Candiru Three has screwed with the cameras. May as well take advantage of that before they notice that he's done so. We might also want to split up, sneaking around isn't easy when you're four."

[Captain Andy]

"Man Candiru Two, what did you're mother feed you as a kid? You must've had a hardy diet to get so big. Anyway, I agree with Candiru One on this one. I think we should split up, but how should we do it? Groups of two or by ourselves?"

 

Travis took out his PDA and tried to identify where they were at in the base using the map he had downloaded.

[Stampede]

"You think I'm big, you should have seen my mother...at least I got my dads good looks. I'll go with Travis if we split up. I think we compliment each other."

 

Knocko began looking nervously around, aware that they were in a fair amount of danger.

[PurpleXVI]

One whacked Knocko over the back of the head with the flat of his hand, "Doofus, code names. He's Three. There probably aren't any listening devices in the vents, so I doubt it's a problem, but watch it in the future. At any rate, you're probably right. Four and I are the best at sneaking, we'll see about securing a way out. If you need a distraction, use your PDA's to contact me, and we'll see what we can do."

 

Then the two made their way off through a narrow shaft.

 

Travis found that the central vent shaft was close to one of the larger barracks and also the cafeteria. Whoever had designed the base had been sensible in placing such a vulnerable point farthest from the central control room and the base's power plant. The shaft also connected to the outside, and if one had protection from the atmosphere outside and either tools or explosives, it would serve as an escape route.

[Captain Andy]

"Alright, we've got some work to do. We're close to one of the larger barracks and the cafeteria. I think we should make our way down these vents to a different location, somewhere that will be less crowded, like a bathroom or something. We may find one or two guards in there, but nothing we can't handle. What do you say, Two?"

 

Travis took out his PDA and began searching the location of the nearest restroom.