Chapter 26: Chapter 26

"There are at least fifteen men stabled with laser rifles behind that door." Collins whispered as he peered cautiously through the visible glass of the metal door. It was moderate sized too with stairs rooted at the edge. One that led to the second floor, he presumed.

The ruckus ongoing downstairs wouldn't let him focus but he forced himself regardless. "And perhaps a few more hanging by the stairs." He added before backing the wall beside the door. He glanced to his right, where Ariel was positioned. Backing the wall in the same mannerism. And unlike him, her face were totally emotionless and somewhat intimidating.

He gulped down his saliva as an effort to retard his anxiety. He exchanged steady breaths while his right palm clung firmly to his silvery metal bat.

"Stay here, I'll protect you!" His voice trailed a whispery path again as he faced Ariel. The little girl rolled her eyes as he faced the door and her next action shocked him to the core.

Unprecedented and swift, she smashed the large metal door open with her right leg.

Collins exhaled with his eyes exclaiming in horrific awe as the enemies relentlessly sprayed their laser bullets towards them. He froze as he shielded his face with his palms.

The lasers kept projecting but nothing touched him. He then opened his eyes slowly. Only to be greeted by Ariel, her hands posed in her front. Standing and struggling in his front with orange auspicious energy revolving around her. His eyes darted to the room where the enemies kept on firing, their lasers protruded the air but they came to a solemn halt in front of Ariel.

He soon realized she was holding the bullets in the air with her Telekinesis and in a moment, she flung her hands sideways. Every laser travelled in various directions but successfully shot down the enemies.

"I guess I'm the one who needs protection then." He muttered in oblivion as he reviewed the unconscious status of heavily built robots. She smirked before striding in a proud fashion towards the stairs. What would have taken him a good ten minutes or more ended in less than two. As he followed quietly after her, he wondered just how powerful she was.

**Status report, Michael.** He voiced through their Tele-Talkie but no answer came forth.

**Michael!**

He called again. **Michael are you there?!** He asked as he shared confused expressions with Ariel. The stairs led them to another door. Metallic and larger than the former. He peered through the small glass window inscribed and his eyes widened. There he was, Lying unconsciously on the ground amidst an unknown gas.

"Michael!!" He yelled as he banged the door which refused to open. "Michael!!" He screeched again and in his frustration, he teleported. Into the room, beside Michael who was barely showed signs of consciousness.

"What happened to you?!! Wake up!" Collins coughed as he tapped his friend's cheeks repeatedly. "Come on buddy, wake up!" He yelled exasperatedly and then another cough escaped. His vision were gradually turned hazy and his breaths retarded.

**Guys! There's a problem!!** Collins blared in the Telepathic network. He glanced at Ariel, she was forcefully lifting the door open with her Telekinesis.

**We need help!!** He added.

"Ariel, stay back!!" He yelled as she tried to make her way in. "This room is poisoned with gas!" He blurted as his cough intensified. His strength were fading at a quick pace and his body resigned to weakness.

**What's the problem?!** Lola answered through the communicator.

**Michael is down with poison!** He answered impatiently before glancing at Ariel's concerned face.

"Ariel, can you pull him out with your Telekinesis?!" He raised his voice but those words rolled out weakly. Any moment from now, he could be down too. She nodded quickly. He heaved a sigh of relief before studying the hazy room for another door that led to the next floor.

It was an old elevator at the far end of the dimly room. Without thoughts, Collins teleported into the lift. Coughing ceaselessly and staggering as he travelled upwards.

The elevator abruptly halted as it reached the next floor.

"Curse you! Doctor Roberts." He grunted as he awaited in the lift for minutes to recover.

**Collins, are you okay?** Lola asked.

**Don't worry about me.** He replied before staggering out of the elevator. He frowned, the room was brightly lit by the windows inscribed at the left side. There were long polythene white nylons hanging from the ceilings at several places. Weapons and several metal scraps scattered about which served as shield objects. What intrigued and terrified him was the silence and elevator at the far end.

Knowing Doctor Roberts for his mischievousness, he was certain this room wasn't for armoury alone.

**Where are you?** Her voice tousled his thoughts.

**In a creepy room.** He answered as he took cautious steps. **Now shut up, I need to focus.** He added scornfully before teleporting directly to the elevator. There were two buttons. Red and green.

"Oh this better be good." He whispered before pressing the green button. An unprecedented missile launched towards him from the elevator top. He planned to teleport but the explosion blasted him metres away to the ground.

His senses dazzled with haziness for minutes and then The Trainer appeared above him. Heavily armed with a devilish smirk. Collins briskly teleported and then appeared inches away from his front.

"I had my suspicions!" He growled before launching fierce blows at The Trainer. To which his opponent easily dodged. And in return, The Trainer rewarded him with a blow across his stomach. Collins mouth dropped agape as he felt air force out of his lungs. Series of punches followed suit across his face before the final blow lauched him to the ground.

Collins groaned from raging pain but he briskly teleported behind a metal barrier. Breathing heavily and cursing in silence.

"You can't hide from me, Collins." The Trainer muttered in an overly hoarse voice. One that terrified Collins to the very core.

"Okay Collins, Think! Think!" He growled and for starters, he knew battling The Trainer in close range was a bad idea. The Trainer is one highly skilled in combat. His reflexes and quick strategy are unmatched compared to him. Hence, he needed a plan that would successfully tame The Trainer. As he peeked behind the barrier, his eyes exclaimed as he found an MI16 rifle in The Trainer's arms. Poised in his direction. Collins briskly teleported before the bullets sprayed. He landed at another edge of the room but The Trainer found him. Sporadically shooting rubber bullets at him. He grunted as many of them struck him.

He teleported yet again to another position. Behind a barrier where The Trainer once again fired at. The ruckus plus the pain rocking his entirety wouldn't let him think straight. Hence, he teleported to another edge but this time, The Trainer busied himself reloading his magazine. Collins smirked.

"Jackpot!" He whispered before teleporting but this time, into his own special weaponry room. The Trainer's rifle fires thirty rubber bullets per round giving him a chance to attack within those few seconds. Close range would put him at disadvantage but far range wouldn't. Hence, he scooped a stockpile of remote controlled bombs and a grenade. He teleported back to the room where The Trainer viciously waited.

"I suggest you surrender, unless you want more firepower!" The Trainer scorned. Collins scoffed.

"Just because you've beaten me twice, doesn't mean you should have so much faith in yourself!" He retorted behind the barrier. The Trainer giggled and then started with his bullets raids. Collins scampered about the room haphazardly. His plan was almost close to clicking.

**Collins what's your status?!** Lola blared from the communicator.

**Very bad!** He yelled in his mind. **I'm being roasted by your boyfriend!!** He screamed aloud this time as he shut down his Tele-Talkie. At the same time, The Trainer's round finished and he smiled. Teleporting to his front metres away.

"My turn!"

Without waste, he unlocked the strike lever before tossing the grenade towards The Trainer.  He smirked as The Trainer scampered for safety. But one thing his opponent was oblivious of, was that he had planted remote controlled bombs all over. He pressed the remote and the whole room burst into explosion from various sides.

Smokes danced in the air and his ear rang as he staggered to his stance. He wobbled towards the barely damaged elevator, clicking on the Red button this time.

The elevator pinged open and the next thing was a gunshot. He gasped, feeling another heavy dose of pain rage on his forehead. He didn't even know who shot him but all he realized was, he thudded to the ground. And darkness set in.