The Deep Underground

Present Day
Year 190 D.R. (Descendant Reign)
Location: The Deep Underground – Gamma Sector

Ada Kaze was not pleased. It showed in every inch of her tall, lean frame as she flicked one of her hip-length blue pigtails over her shoulder. Her pale blue lips were pursed to the side as she studied the 4D model hovering before her. Ada’s blue brows pulled together and she crossed her bare, tattooed arms. Her navy tank top tightened over her breasts as she moved. She spoke, the annoyance clear in her voice, though she kept her tone low due to the instability of the warehouse that surrounded her. “There must be a way inside the building. An access port, a service entrance, something.”

“Not unless you take care of the Enforcers who guard it, Ada. There’s a guard at every possible entrance.” A metallic finger jabbed at the model. She slid her blue cat’s eyes from where the finger pointed, up along a cybernetic arm to the thick, fur covered shoulder it was attached to. Zare Stone was a werewolf in the loosest sense of the word; he remained half wolf all of the time. There was no going normal for him.

Zare, along with three other transies, had agreed with some coercion to help Ada with her plan to infiltrate the Genetics Council’s headquarters in the City. It was a risky move, something no one had successfully done since Aaron Waldgrave had become Head of the Council over twenty-five years ago. Thus Ada had to call in favors as well as promise a few new ones to get the right people for the job. A small, specialized team would have a better chance of success, she knew–but not if she couldn’t even get them to agree to a plan of entry in the first place.

Ada narrowed her eyes as she met Zare’s yellow gaze. “And what then, wolf-man? As soon as we touch an Enforcer we trigger an alarm.”

Zare growled his displeasure at the nickname. “I’m well aware of that, -Blue Girl.-” He snarled the unwelcome nickname before he continued. “I can hack their link before the alarm is triggered and Enforcers have a chance to swarm us.”

With a glare of her own, Ada uncrossed her arms to plant her fists on her hips. “And how long before they discover you’re in their mainframe, -Zare?-”

The cyborg shook his head. “They won’t.”

“And if someone finds the Enforcer missing?” Ada pressed him. The plan had to be solid or it would crumble beneath them.

Zare’s pale gaze bore into Ada. “You’d better be done with your plan by then. I can’t control everything.”

Ada ground her teeth as she struggled to rein in her temper. The thin, tattooed waves flowing along her arms rippled as her muscles flexed. Before she could do or say anything further, a soothing voice interjected.

“Ada, Zare. I believe you are both correct.” Pyr Shiro stepped into the amber light the 4D model cast. “Each of you has a different concern and intent in mind. If you choose to work and communicate together, you can pull this off.”

Pyr was short for a man, standing at only five foot eight. Yet his presence commanded respect and projected a sense of calm that few could achieve in the Deep. His dark red eyes, ruddy complexion and flame hair along with his scarlet cloak, hood and loose cotton clothing caught the eye . Even Ada felt subdued when next to his sanguine display.

Though Ada was loathe to admit it, Pyr was right. But then, he usually was. One didn’t become the most sought-after negotiator in the Deep without a sharp eye and keen wit.

With a sigh, Ada flicked her gaze toward Zare again. He met her eyes without hesitation, though he softened the lines of his furred face. Ada nodded and Zare nodded in return. “Now which entrance do we choose?” Ada asked.

Another of the Transies Ada had invited, Soi Soren, stepped into the pool of light. She was yellow from head to toe. Even her clothes, a loose fitting shirt, baggy pants and leather boots, were butter and honey tones. Her skin was pastel yellow, nearly white. Her hair was the color of lemons and her eyes were white within white. “I know of an entrance the Enforcers use for rookie testing grounds.” Even her voice had a light, airy quality.

Ada gestured at the model. “Please show us, Soi.”

The yellow woman nodded then pointed to an area of the sprawling complex that didn’t seem to have an entrance. Ada frowned as she leaned toward the model, trying to make out a door or even a window.

“Doan’ bother, ’s hidden,” said Jet Nair, the final Transie Ada had bribed into helping. He stepped into the amber light opposite Soi. He was tall and lanky compared to Zare, who was bulky despite his sleek cyborg parts. His faded green army fatigues and black combat boots had seen better days. His skin was the color of ash, his eyes and hair a metallic lavender. He blinked and his double-lidded eyes made a faint sucking noise.

“Why would they hide such an entrance?” Ada raised an eyebrow at Jet.

Soi nodded, whispering. “They use it to attract Transies for testing.”

Ada’s expression darkened. “What?” She jerked her gaze toward Pyr Shiro. How he’d failed to mention something so crucial as a trap that could land her on a dissection table, Ada was dying to know.

Pyr Shiro shrugged a bit, his ruddy complexion showing no signs of guilt. “You said you wanted nothing to do with the place, so I let the subject pass. How was I to know you’d one day want to break in to rescue a former lover you aren’t even sure is still alive?”

“Doesn’ matter,” drawled Jet in order to cut off the brewing argument. “Jus’ need to get the plan straight ‘fore we go in.”

With a sigh, Ada nodded. They bent their heads over the 4D model and finally began to lay out the rescue plan. Ada tried to keep her mind on the developing plans, but every so often thoughts of the man they were going to rescue crept in. It’d been two years since she had last seen Ky, yet those memories were still fresh and painful.

A gentle, firm hand rested on Ada’s shoulder. She jerked herself from her thoughts to look at the owner of the hand: Pyr. She glanced up then to see the other three departing through different entrances of the broken-down warehouse. The planning had lasted an entire afternoon, but they’d finally all come to an agreement. Ada turned back to her mentor. “What is it, Pyro?”

Pyr’s lips quirked at the nickname. Not only was he a demolitions expert, but a pyrokinetic, able to control fire with a thought. “Ada, we need to talk.”

Ada stepped away from him as she shrugged off his hold. “It’s too late for that. Meet me here, tomorrow, with the others.”

“You know I’ll help you to the best of my abilities, Ada. However, even if Ky is alive, what do you think his state of mind will be like after two years in that dissection lab? Not only that, but this break in is turning into something bigger than I think even you expected. The Council will see this as an attack.”

Ada sliced her hand through the air, cutting Pyr off . “Enough. The only thing I care about is getting him out of there. I’m not about to start a war with the Genetics Council. I’m not looking to be a hero to the freaks of the Deep. I just want Ky back.”

Turning on her heel, Ada stalked away. She snagged the hologram generator from the table, tucked it into a pocket on her blue camo-pants then jerked on her navy blue BDU shirt. As she left she heard Pyr say, his voice faint yet clear, “But does he want to be back?”