Foxtrot Eros Nine

Amino and Rook carefully explore the hallways they come across. They hide behind corners and occasionally knock out a soldier or two.

They walk past rooms labeled with things unimportant to them, but Amino makes mental notes of the names.

Rook: What exactly are we looking for?

Amino: Anything that could lead us to Crow.

Just as she said that, a loud noise could be heard from far away. It sounded as if someone was punching metal.

Rook: Like that?

Amino: Exactly like that.

The two of them quickly, but quietly, make their way to the sound's origin. It was easy considering the sound continued as they made their way towards it.

The two of them came across an opened door with a loud metallic clang sounding from it. Amino and Rook creeped their way towards it and peeked inside it to find a man punching a giant terminal. The terminal was connected to a large screen. The screen displayed a picture of a family all smiling. The man seemed to be crying.

Derek: Why?! Why would you do this? Computer, run the decryption again!

The computer’s screen was enveloped by numbers, letters, and many different symbols. It was clearly a code, but what it meant was still to be determined.

Computer: Decryption failed.

Derek: Damn it! Alex is so selfish! This is our sister! So what if she did what she did!

Computer: Partial match found.

Derek: What is it?

Computer: Line five of encryption: Where the dolly meets the storm.

Derek: Oh great! Another one of her riddles! Even a computer that knows everything won’t be able to sort through Laura’s madness.

Amino’s eyes perked up at that. A computer that knows everything? Maybe it might help her with her Project: Star situation. Amino leaned in and whispered to Rook.

Amino: Dmitry, let’s side track a little. I need to use that computer.

Rook: Why?

Amino: It might know what Project: Star is.

Rook looked at the computer in thought before sighing.

Rook: What’s the plan?

Amino: Sneak up on him, knock him out, use the computer, find Crow, and get out.

Rook: Alright. I’m following your lead.

Amino nodded before slowly entering the room with Rook behind her. Derek continued to work on whatever encryption he had while Amino and Rook made their way to him. He looked up at the computer screen and saw something strange.

Two reflections. Slowly making their way towards him.

He turned around to see Amino raising her garden shear and hitting him with the butt of it. He fell to the floor with a thud and tried to get back up, but Rook punched him in the face and he fell unconscious.

Amino: Well, he went down easily.

Rook: Hurry. I don’t know how long we have until those Safe Haven soldiers come looking down here.

Amino looked at the computer and then at the terminal. She had no clue where to start.

Amino: Computer?

Computer: Yes?

Amino: Show me everything about Project: Star.

The computer’s screen flashed with different images, until Amino heard a loud ping sound.

The computer’s screen showed a document with the heading…

Amino: Project: Star.

Rook: What was it?

Computer: Project: Star was an initiative to explore new uncharted spaces to find the energy source known as Allom.

Amino’s eyes lit up.

Amino: Rook, we need Allom to power the machine! This could be it! Computer, was this project successful?

Computer: Yes. Unfortunately all planets discovered were devoid of the substance. Except one, which was destroyed by an asteroid, but there were detections of Allom in that space sector.

Amino: So, there’s still Allom there?

Computer: Correct.

Amino: What are the coordinates?

The computer’s screen displayed the spatial coordinates and Amino’s face was decorated with a smile.

Amino: Rook, do you have something to write with?

Rook patted himself down, looking for a pen and paper, until his eyes landed on Derek’s pockets. Apparently, Derek had a notepad and pen just for them.

Rook: Here you go.

Amino: Thanks.

She furiously jotted down the coordinates, and smiled to herself as she stuck the note in one of Rook’s pockets.

Amino: Alright, Mr. Averin, let’s go find our birdy.

Rook: Let’s go, Mrs. Salvador.

Computer: Salvador and Averin.

The two of them looked at the computer to see images of different people flashing across the screen.

Computer: The Averin family can be traced back all the way to the twenty first century. Katerina Averin bravely rescued a school of children from American soldiers during World War Three. The most recent additions to the family are found in Eva and Alina Averin. Twin sisters.

Rook: How did it know all of tha-

Computer: The Salvadors…File restricted.

Amino: What? What do you mean ‘file restricted’?

Computer: Only a registered Commission member can access this file.

Amino: Why is my family’s file restricted but not Project: Star’s?

Computer: The Commissioner himself has locked it.

Amino: The Commissioner?

Woman: That is a man we do not speak of.

Rook and Amino turn to see two people standing inside of the doorway. A man with a pair of weird looking gloves and a woman with a katana in her hands.

Woman: Hello, Mrs. Salvador, we’ve heard a lot about you. And, it seems, you’ve lived up to it all. Intelligent, persistent, nosy, and a real pain in the-

Man: Koharu, let’s just knock them out and get this over with.

Koharu: Wait, Wineti. I love to play with my food.

Amino pointed her garden shear at the two of them, while Rook stood defensively with his mobile shield.

Amino: Who are you?

Koharu: You don’t see the resemblance? Perhaps you know my daughter. Ronin, as you call her. Wineti’s son is the ever annoying Fog. We’re both members of the commission, meaning, we’re here to escort you back to the party…or to your graves.

Rook: We were actually on our way out.

Amino: Dmitry, what about my family’s file?

Rook: That doesn’t matter. We got what we came for and now we need to find Crow.

Wineti: You mean that bird kid? Why are you looking for him down here?

Amino: Because his headphones were right outside the entrance.

Koharu: The only intruders tracked down here were you two. I’m sorry, but your friend is not here.

Koharu examined the terminal to see if the two Tributes broke anything. But, her eyes landed on Derek’s unconscious body.

Koharu: Nice work. Never liked that kid anyways.

Amino: There’s a file on that computer about my family. What’s in it?

Wineti: That? Oh, it’s just a detailed description about everyone that was born before and after you in your family.

Amino’s eyes widened at that realization and a single thought raced through her mind: “What happened to my family?”

Amino: Unlock it.

Koharu: Excuse me?

Amino: Unlock the file! Now!

Rook: Maria.

Koharu: You are in no position to demand me!

Amino: It doesn’t matter who does it, just unlock it!

Wineti: You two need to leave.

Amino: I’m not leaving until that file is unlocked.

The two commission members looked at her with anger in their eyes. Koharu gripped her katana slightly and Wineti balled his fists. Amino held her garden shear tightly.

Rook: Maria…

Amino: Dmitry, whatever happened to Cedric and Ray after I disappeared is on that computer. I’m not leaving without it.

Rook sighed before standing defensively with his shield. Whatever was about to happen, he needed to have her back.