Chapter 33: Chapter 33

"It's cold out here, Doctor Roberts." The Trainer sounded as he approached his side. But all Doctor Roberts could comprehend, was the shooting star that flashed across the starry night. The cold air howled in his ears and his lab coat flowed in accordance with the wind direction. His palms were shivery in his Lab coats pockets and his lips slowly gave away cold visible air.

"Where's Rita?" He finally asked as he mentally connected the stars in dots.

"She's attending to some urgent work at one of your branches."

His mouth formed into an O.

"Must have skipped my mind."

"Nothing skips your mind except you're worried." The Trainer affirmed.

"Do you think they'll succeed in this mission?" The Trainer quietly asked after several minutes of hesitation.

Doctor Roberts took a brief glimpse at the dampened countenance of his agent and then smiled.

"They'll succeed and fail at the same time. It's a fifty fifty thing." He mumbled as he felt The Trainer's gaze upon him.

"What do you mean?"

He glanced at him again.

"When you have someone like Collins in the team, there's bound to be flaws." He pursed his lips as he stared into the nights. "There'll certainly be an argument.

He'll probably be rebellious against my plans and boast of his own."

"Shouldn't we help them then?!" The Trainer raised his voice but Doctor Roberts could only acknowledge the evident worry painting on his face.

"They'll be fine." He assured but The Trainer wriggled his head in denial.

"What if they get seriously hurt of perhaps die?!" The Trainer protested and he chuckled. He patted The Trainer's shoulder with his left palm.

"There's no need to get unnecessarily worried just because your girlfriend is in the team." He stated lucidly while The Trainer heaved.

"Prepare The Capsule." He added as he parted away.

##########

"Do you have a problem with that?!" Lola screeched as they alighted from their black self driving van. The Van quietly came to life before touring it's way to the busy roads.

"Yes I do!" Collins growled as they threaded on the wet concrete grounds. They were just metres away from Timeron Industry but their arguments wouldn't let their voices keep at bay.

"Look Collins your drama is not needed at this point." Lola opted to explain calmly but it only irked him further.

"We've all agreed with Doctor Roberts plan. We blend with the security and play our roles. You and Michael get the Hexagon, I'll take out the power, Theodore, Marcus and Ariel will be our guide."

"That's the problem!" He blared while the others suddenly halted in their tracks. "Why should Doctor Roberts tell us what to do? After all we're the one risking our lives to raid a damned building just to get a metal ball!"

"The Hexagon, point of correction." Marcus interjected. Collins huffed at him with rage blooming in his eyes.

"I know that, birdbrain!"

"You and your parroting mouth should better learn some respect or else--"

"Or else what?!" He retorted as he inched closer to Marcus. "You're gonna transform into a six feet pathetic giant and smash my head into the wall?" He huffed.

"Guys!" Lola chirped but none of them paid attention.

"This is so interesting!" Michael giggled amidst their heated tension.

"I can be very deadly too, Marcus." He bellowed as they both exchanged icy glares.

"Deadly huh! I'll show you what's dea-"

"Will you two idiots stop this nonsense at once!!" Theodore suddenly roared causing Collins body to jolt in fear. He peered suspiciously at the blonde who came in their middle with threatening eyes.

"I expect you to be mature and not listen to taunts of a child." He said to Marcus. Collins frowned as another rage fueled within him.

"Suddenly Cat boy is being civilised." He retorted and Theodore rewarded him with an icy glare.

"What did you say?" He growled as he sauntered closer.

"Guys!" Lola pitched but yet again, no one paid attention.

"You heard me or perhaps you're not mature enough to resist my taunts." He cocked an eyebrow as he crossed his arms.

Theodore gritted his teeth, his eyes raging with anger and his palms curled into a fist.

"You know what!" He blurted as he glimpsed across their faces. "I'm out! Since you're so confident of your plan." He pursed his lips as he focused on Ariel.

"Come on, Ariel. Let's leave." He beckoned to the little girl who quietly trailed after him.

Collins smirked.

"Theodore!" Lola pitched but the blonde pressed on with his resolve, regardless.

"Happy now?! Now how are we going to follow Doctor Roberts plan?" She ferociously voiced with threatening glares boring holes at Collins.

"This mission is already over before it even started." Michael blared with a mocking laugh minting alongside.

Collins smiled to himself. Everything was going well according to his plans. He had already caused chaos amongst them. Which gives him the chance to follow the next step. Getting the Hexagon in return to be rewarded for more money. He was also tired of following Doctor Roberts ways blindly.

"I don't know about you guys but I'm an expert at heists like this." He proudly avowed as he toured amidst them. "So I'm following my plan, getting this damned Hexagon, my money and leaving The Shining for good. Come on, Mike." He pronounced and then paced towards the building.

"So this is how a ten minute infiltration turned into chaos. Guys, we better abort." Lola called behind him.

"I don't need your help, to be honest." He retorted while Michael trailed by his side.

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

As Collins back crashed to the cold concrete ground, he was seeing stars dance in circles around his head. At the same time, only one question popped in his head. How did he get here?

It all came back to the story of the three storey building. There he was alongside Michael, stealthily climbing his way through the stairs that led to the final floor. But then, the lights suddenly returned. Overshadowing the latter darkness.

"Uh oh," Michael had mentioned as they exchanged scared glances at each other. "Was this supposed to happen?"

**Lola, the lights! It's supposed to be dark remember?** He pronounced through their Tele-Talkie.

**I absorbed the main power source including the back up. I don't understand what's happening either.** She responded. **Are you guys safe?**

**Yeah. Just do whatever you can not to get caught.** Michael answered and then both of them continued to climb the stairs until they arrived an Hall of several rooms. But they shouldn't be worried, as Doctor Roberts had already given the specific room. A smile appeared on their faces as they reached for Door 75901A. He was about to turn the door knob when Lola yelled through the Telepathy network.

**Guys we have a problem!**

Gunshots started to raid the building, the lights blinked ceaselessly. And there, they knew their cover was blown. It was now every man for himself, so he thought until Marcus screamed for help through their Tele-Talkie.

**Collins I need your help!**

He heaved an heavy sigh as he glanced between Michael and the suspicious room.

**Collins!!** Marcus yelled again.

**Not so tough after all.** He responded.

**This is no time for taunts here, I'm in trouble!**

**What's the problem?**

**There's a mutant just like us and trust me, he's gonna kill me!**

Collins frowned, Doctor Roberts hadn't mentioned mutants being the enemy.

**Where are you?**

**Below you!**

"Get the Hexagon and escape no matter what happens." He said to Michael before teleporting to the second floor. By the edge of the room. Large with only two figures battling vehemently against each other. One he presumed to be Marcus and the other, the mutant. Who gave a flying kick to Marcus.

Collins frowned and then created a portal above him. Inches away from his head while a metal bat dropped to his right palm. And then the shady orange portal diminished.

"Hey!" He blared while the huge man turned in his direction. And from first glance, Collins could tell the man was Asian.

"You should pick on your own size." He stated with an obvious smirk as he tossed his bat playfully in the air. He trotted towards the man, wondering what kind of powers the mutant exhibited and how to successfully bring him down in one hit.

The man remained firm in his stance, but his stare were sharp and intimidating. Watching every step he took. But as Collins neared him, he quickly teleported behind the man's tall stature. He grinned devilishly before striking the bat to his head. But his metal bat broke into two with the man's head still in place. Except this time, the man's entirety had transformed into steel.

"Holy shit!" He exclaimed as his eyes darted between his broken bat and the steel-like man. The man grinned devilishly before grabbing him by the neck. He gasped for air as he felt his legs leave the ground.

"M--" he groaned. "M-marcus wake up!" He forced every nerves to produce those words through his tightened throat. His breaths ceased and it felt like his heart was beating through his ears. If he had known this mission was this deadly, he would never have returned. The next second happened so swift and bone wrenching. The steel man smashed him to the concrete ground. And another profound pain shot from his back and that's how he got into this trance.

Marcus struggles plus the gunshots was enough to jolt him awake from the stars around his head. He grunted as he staggered to a stance and then he noticed, Marcus being beaten to pulp once again.

He teleported to his special weapons room and without hesitation, scooped a bazooka. He teleported back to the wrathful scenery and aimed the weapon at Steelman and Marcus inches away.

"Let's see how you survive this!" He growled before launching the weapon. The blast alone tossed him midair before he thudded to the ground.

**Guys! I've got the Hexagon!** Michael blared thought the communicator. Collins heaved a sigh of relief and then reviewed the room dark up in flames.

**I'm out of energy, I'm leaving too!** Lola added.

"I gotta go!" He muttered to himself as he staggered.

"Wait!!" Marcus yelled as he wobbled lifelessly amidst the flames. "Are you going to leave me behind?"

"It's every man for himself." He smirked, secretly happy Marcus survived the explosion.

"I've exceeded my powers limit. My arms are paralysed. Just teleport me out of this place, please!" Marcus groaned as he inched closer.

Collins sighed.

"I can't." He responded. "The last time I did it, I landed in an ocean. Who knows where I might land this time?"

"Please!" Marcus cried. "I'll give you anything you want, I promise."

"Half of your monetary reward." He proposed.

"Yes!" Marcus pitched in a tiredly and desperate fashion and Collins approached him.

"We have a deal." He muttered before mustering enough energy in teleporting themselves.

"Argghhhhh!!!" He screamed on his lungs as he fell through his familiar shady orange portal and onto a cold metal floor. It slammed against his cheek and chest. After moments of moaning in pains he finally decided to study this bizarre environment. His eyes exclaimed and his jaw dropped from horror.

"Holy shit!"