Chapter 25: Chapter 25

"Guys!! Guys!! Guys!!" Michael blared as he stormed from the kitchen. Holding his Droyphone with chocolate crumbs scattered around his lips.

Marcus stopped his Waltz Op.64 No. 1

play while the others glanced in his direction.

"You're not gonna believe this!" He yelled again.

"Just spit it out already." Theodore remarked icily.

"McCormick candy company is producing a new flavoured candy!!" He screeched with his excitement written all over his face.

Lola wriggled her head, she had grown worried thinking something disastrous happened. But then again, it wasn't his fault but the explosion's.

"Ah sweet Jesus, why did you have to put me amidst these people." Theodore groaned as he wriggled his head. He flung his bag to his back before exiting the apartment alongside Bruno.

Marcus sighed before resuming his play and Ariel wore her headset, her bag before following Theodore too.

"Okay guys we are leaving in five." The Trainer uttered with his eyes fixated to hers. She smiled, recalling one of their moments together. But Collins soon tousled her excited thoughts.

"Look, I've been mentally cautioning myself but I just can't take it anymore." Collins growled beside her as he slung his bag to the back. All eyes darted to him but Lola knew he was bound to vomit nonsensical words.

"The way you two look at each other and smile like idiots seeing fireworks for the first time, irks me to the very core!" He screeched as he gestured. Michael giggled and Marcus arose from his piano seat.

"We're leaving now." The Trainer ordered before exiting. Lola icily glared at Collins but he shook her off.

"Speaking of relationships, what happened between you and Pearl Carson?" Marcus interjected as they both paced outside the building alongside Michael.

She heaved a sigh as she reviewed the apartment for the last time before exiting.

They were visiting Lagos City today for a special tactical training Doctor Roberts hadn't properly explained. But it was enough to tell just how tough and different it would be.

As she emerged into their luxurious bus, she chose to seat beside her lover at the far end. Trevor. And like Collins had earlier said, they smiled sheepishly at each other.

"You look stunning." She sounded in a whisper as their hips embraced side by side. The Trainer's smile morphed into a grin.

"And you're looking beautiful as always." He teased with their eye gaze bonding for a brief moment. She switched her attention to her Droyphone, connecting it to her Droypods before playing, Rousey- Sunny Side.

"What are you listening to?" He asked softly. She took a quick glimpse at him before placing one of her Droypods into his ear.

As the music blared in their ears, she leaned her head against his shoulder. Enjoying the comfort and olive scent his body gave.

"Why do you love this music so much?" His voice trailed a whispery path as he patted her hair softly. "I mean, I've seen you listen to it on countless occasions."

She sighed lightly with her eyes sealed shut.

"It gives me hope," she mumbled. "That some day, we'll get the beautiful world we once lost."

"Have you ever wondered why Doctor Roberts named this agency, The Shining?" The Trainer mused and a slight frown decorated her face. Of course, she had thought of it once. But asking Doctor Robert was no use. The man would always end up with his phrase, WITH TIME.

"Why?" She finally asked and The Trainer heaved a sigh.

"He views the current world status as ruins and he greatly believes that this agency would one day polish it for the better."

Lola lifted her head to face with arched eyebrows.

"Why do you sound like Doctor Roberts has more plans for The Shining we don't know about?" She queried while he pulled his gaze off her. "It's just a one time mission, or is there something else?"

He returned his gaze and this time, his eyes expressed information she couldn't depict. But whatever it was, one thing was certain. Doctor Roberts hid something bigger than she imagined.

############

LAGOS CITY

**Alright guys, let's go over this again.** Doctor Roberts voice echoed in their heads through the Tele-Talkie.

**This building is occupied by a terrorist organization, your mission is to infiltrate and get the Hexagon. I'm giving you guys ten minutes buffer time to prepare. And need I remind you that my robots won't be so lenient on you, so you guys better brace up.**

Doctor Roberts sounded with faint excitement hinting in his tone.

**I'm out!**

Once the Doctor finished, Lola reviewed the tall yellowy structure metres away. It was a three storey building moderately furnished but same couldn't be said for the environment. They were in the middle of a silent street, surrounded by wrecked buildings that housed no life.

A perfect place for training that wouldn't drag any attention.

"This place is creepy." Marcus voiced beside her as he glanced aimlessly across the buildings.

"Well we better get onto it if we don't want to be haunted." Theodore toned opposite her. The look in his eyes expressed just how much he was unmoved by their predicament.

"We can't bust into the building either," she muttered as her eyes glazed briefly at the proposed building metres away. "We need a plan."

"I have an idea!" Michael pitched excitedly beside her.

"Shut up!!" They chorused at the same time causing him to resign sadly into silence. On a normal day, she could have entertained his stupidity but today was different. They were going on an assumed mission, one so tough and risky.

"We don't have time, I suggest we all storm into the building at once--" she tried explaining but Collins easily cut her with a scoff.

"If we follow your plan, then we have failed from the beginning." He sternly asserted as he joined their circle. Dressed in his beloved Black hooded sweatshirt on a pair of faint blue jeans. Although she liked his style, but loathed his defiance. Doctor Roberts had specifically asked them to wear their designed training suits but Collins flaunted that order as usual.

"We're talking about Doctor Roberts here, a man filled with so much trickery and surprises." He clarified. "Besides, let's not forget this is an assumed terrorist organization. It's bound to be hot!"

"I hope your thickhead has a better idea?" Marcus toned and Collins nodded which surprised her. She had expected him to revert to his sassy remarks but he remained stern.

"This building has three levels and if we're going to infiltrate successfully, we need to have total control of the base ground." He explained. "I'm certain the base ground and the first floor is going to be heavily bounded with armed men. The second floor will probably be less crowded and perhaps contain special type of guards. The third floor is most definitely the location of this Hexagon with little or no security at all."

"What is this Hexagon thingy?" Michael asked in a confused tone.

"Do I look like Doctor Roberts?" Collins sarcastically replied.

"So how are we going to dominate the main grounds?" She asked. "For all we know, they could be loaded with guns or other dangerous weapons." She added but Collins wore a tiny smile.

"First of, This is just training so I doubt if there will be any use of dangerous weapons and as for the infiltration, there's only one way." He sighed lightly as he glanced across their faces.

"Spit it out already!" Theodore growled impatiently.

"Michael." Collins solemnly referenced.

"Michael?!" She pitched, disbelief dominating her tone.

"Yeah me?!" Michael groaned too.

"Yes." He affirmed. "With your invisibility and phasing abilities, you will infiltrate the building unnoticed. Your job is to spy and give us status report. Theodore and Marcus have advanced strength. Hence, they'll handle the ground floor." He gestured. "Ariel, Lola, Michael and I, will handle the upper levels."

She nodded in agreement and for the first time, Collins looked serious.

"Your plan is good and complex but at the same time, there's an easy way out." Theodore sounded.

"Yes, you could simply teleport all of us to the top floor rather than go through all this stress." Marcus interjected and all eyes darted to Collins.

"Unfortunately, my powers limit me to travel to places I've seen or been too. And at the moment, I can't teleport matter greater than me." His countenance lowered as he sighed.

"That's a disappointing setback." Theodore remarked as he crossed his arms.

"Well there's no time either, so let's just go with his plan." Lola briskly intervened. "And please, let's not loose focus. Someone might get hurt." She shot concerned looks at their stern faces as they nodded.

"What are we waiting for? Let's get this over with." Theodore blared and gradually, they all marched towards the building.

"Just remember, it's every man for himself." Collins chattered behind them while she rolled her eyes.

Once they reached the twin metal door, her eyes darted to Michael. Her heart raced like sport cars and her body shivered at intervals. She feared for the eeriness around the building but most especially Michael. She dearly hoped his stupidity wouldn't kick in.

"Activate your Tele-Talkies, I'm going in." Michael's voice tousled her thoughts before he turned invisible and disappeared through the door.

"Are you nervous?" Theodore whispered by her ear. She looked up to him, whose face defined calmness. Her eyes darted to the rest. Ariel's face was icy, Marcus countenance expressed anxiety and Collins sported a smirk.

She nodded.

"It's just training." Theodore soothed.

**You guys there?** Michael's voice echoed in her head.

**Yes** Collins answered telepathically.

**What's the status?** Marcus responded in the same mannerism.

**Thirty men in the ground floor, armed with laser guns and batons. There's also a stairs at the other end of the room.** Michael explained, she took deep breaths trying to allay her anxieties. Suddenly choking her.

"Thirty?" Collins pitched. "Can you guys handle that amount?" He said as he faced Marcus and Theodore.

"I can certainly handle half, I'm not sure for big guy here." Theodore answered in a renewed icy tone.

"I can handle the rest, Hybrid." Marcus retorted.

"Focus guys." She interjected.

"In five seconds, we're moving in. Hope you guys remember the plan cos I'm not saving anyone's asses." Collins added.

**Michael, we're coming in!** She communicated in their telepathy network.

The next moment happened in a flash, brisk and action packed.

She stood awestruck as Theodore and Marcus jetted into the building, fighting their way through heavily built men.

Theodore's speed and agility proved helpful from the lasers fired at him. Marcus on the other hand, seemed to endure the beams as he threw bone wrenching blows.

The room was relatively large and old fashioned with several metal barriers that proved as shields.

**Lola!**

Theodore blared through their telepathy network. **We need you!**

He groaned, she jolted to reality. Only realizing the bad guys were overpowering them.

She took steady breaths, clearing her mind from any unstable feelings. She let her powers course through every vein and her eyes glazed a gleaming orange. Her body shone with sparks as her powers briskly built to the peak.

**Get down!!** She yelled at her teammates and the next moment came with a powerful blast of electricity rocking the room's entirety.

She staggered from the aftermath that spelt on her body. Knowing fully well, it would take time to recharge her energy.

Her eyes darted to her surroundings, only to be greeted by Theodore and Marcus barely standing amidst other unconscious bodies.

**Guys! There's a problem!!** Collins blared in their Telepathic network. Her eyes shot up as realization soon hit her that Collins and Ariel were missing.

**We need help!!**