“We need an eye in the sky and some technical assistance to get out of here, so it’s a risk we must take. Our escape won’t be quiet.”
Sam looked up at Tessa, “Since when have you ever been quiet?”
Tessa grinned, “Then we move tonight. Finn, notify me when you’re back in.”
“Will do.” Finn paused, “Tessa…be careful.”
“I will.” Tessa ended the transmission and turned back to her friends. She hoped to have a few more weeks to plan this escape, but it seemed like they would have to accelerate the plan and execute now.
Tessa needed access to armor and weapons. If they were going to make a big exit, then they needed protection and firepower. Sam had access to the armory, but it required him to sign out equipment. Accessing what they needed would leave a paper trail. To gain access, he required written orders, and Norine offered to manipulate a senior officer into creating some fake orders.
It made Tessa’s skin crawl to allow Norine to invade someone’s mind. She knew how violating that felt, but there were few other options. Besides, H.I.V.E had not hesitated to manipulate her mind, so maybe a dose of their own medicine was in order.
Tessa was also concerned about recently taking a blue pill which suppressed her Evo power. She doubted the effects of the pill would wear off before their escape plan. She preferred access to her Evo powers as an added aid to their plan.
Again, Norine offered assistance. Tessa wondered if she was overcompensating for her transgressions. If guilt motivated Norine to help, then Tessa didn’t see a problem. Norine explained that there is an antidote to reverse the effects of the blue pill in the med bay, but security was tight.
Arica suggested using information from the hijacked database to discover the antidote’s formula. If she learned the composition, she could synthesize the antidote in her bio lab. It was the best option they had on the table, and as soon as Finn regained access, Arica could retrieve the formula and get to work.
Tessa gave her team four hours to complete their tasks and prepare for their escape. They would meet back in her room to finish final preparations. Tessa stressed that if anyone was getting cold feet, they needed to back out now. Otherwise, they were all in. There was no turning back from this point on.
Everyone left, and Tessa started pulling out all her equipment. She took a quick inventory of everything she had and began packing it all up. She wasn’t sure how all this would play out, but she would not remain here and continue to be a pawn.
3
Later in the evening, Norine delivered the forged military orders to Tessa detailing a training exercise requiring the requisition of a variety of equipment. She tailored the order, so it was believable, but left it open enough that they could access anything they needed without question.
Tessa and Sam headed toward the military wing of the complex. Security wasn’t keen on allowing Tessa into their facility since she wasn’t military personal. They couldn’t understand why a scientist would need access to the military wing. Tessa tried to explain she was an engineering scientist searching for new ways to improve military technology, but they didn’t seem to believe her story.
Sam attempted to bolster her credibility by detailing her military prowess. He stressed that Tessa would have ended up as a cadet if she hadn’t been so smart instead. The security guards laughed at the notion of a scientist as a fighter.
To Tessa, this was an invitation to prove a couple Neanderthals wrong. She despised these macho types that stereo-typed people. They labeled Tessa as a female scientist assuming she could not defend herself. She opted to play a game and prove a point.
Tessa offered a bet to the two security guards. She would fight hand to hand whoever they chose, and if she won, then they would grant her access to the military wing. If she lost, then she would walk away. They couldn’t resist the proposal and admitted Tessa and Sam entrance to the training hall. There were rows of blue floor mats laid out for combat training. There were only a few soldiers on the training floor, which was relieving. She didn’t want to draw a large audience. Any audience was more attention than she wanted. Tessa didn’t want to put their mission in jeopardy, but she also couldn’t see another way to reason with the guards. It was a bonus to prove them wrong.
The guards approached one of the training mats and waved over a large muscular man with an overconfident swagger. She wasn’t shocked they would choose the biggest guy in the room. It was a common misconception that size meant power, an assumption she was happy to shatter.
When fighting, sometimes speed and agility counted more than strength. Focus and discipline win fights. Tessa had already tested this theory several times and wasn’t the least bit worried about losing.
Tessa squared up to the mat, and her opponent chuckled, “You sure you’re up for this girlie?”
“You ready to have your ass handed to you by a girl?”
Around the ring, people started to gather, and bets were taking shape. There wasn’t any real currency at H.I.V.E, but there were some extra amenities worth bartering. Some offered extra food rations or cigarettes as payment. Sam bet extra rations in Tessa’s favor, and the other soldiers looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “I’ve seen her fight.”
Tessa danced on her toes back and forth, swaying in rhythm. She held her fists up near her face, ready to block. Tessa never made the first move; she always waited for her opponent to strike first. Overzealous opponents were easy to catch off guard.
Her opponent swung a right hook which Tessa saw coming
