6

Charging downwards, rushing towards the heart of The Facility I considered how much I had changed since yesterday. There was now hope - alone I could do nothing, but with the support and strength of an entire army - the one thing which made us far more dangerous than anything they could throw at us, was simply the fact that we were desperate, for freedom. "My name is Brad Machair. I am 19 years old. I am not alone. I will bring down The Facility and live." I jumped down the last 5 steps and landed on two feet as Teddy came rushing down after, panting for breath. Just as before, at the end of the long corridor, I could see the two desks. Not much security, if you asked me.

Bravely marching forwards, I could see one desk was empty - Ambrosia's desk, there must be different shifts for during the night. Krieg was stationed at his, having a chat with none other than Ruz - but I didn't care about that now. Slamming my hands down on the sturdy surface of his workspace, I commanded "Open this door, now. I have something I want to say to your Boss." After searching my eyes for some kind of emotion, I was sure he was going to attack me - but to my surprise, he smiled and said "Okay. He's been expecting one of you anyway."

While Krieg slowly dragged himself across from one side of the door to another, undoing one giant lock after another, I noticed Ruz grinning wildly at me. "What are you looking at?!" I burst out at him. Not to be rude, but the idea of anyone who allied themselves with the Facility so much to make it to Level 2 and above was disgusting to me. "Nothing... I'll admit, it's pretty ballsy - stomping down here in a right hissy fit and demanding to see the man who sees no one. Makes me think there's a good reason for that confidence... for why you're capable of doing this now." I shrugged him off as the door swung open, and without hesitation I stormed right in with Teddy cautiously looking around behind me.

Again there was a banner, and a stool, but I wasn't looking for that. "Oh, no, no. I don't want a message, I want the person in charge. NOW!!" As soon as I said it, the door slammed shut and I heard the locks and bolts being shuffled back into place. "H-Hey! Let us out, you psychos!" I yelled. To my surprise, a hand pressed against my mouth as I saw Teddy put his fingers to his lips, and point to the only light in the room - coming from several keyholes on the door. We both watched as everything played out before us. Gut and Tetchy came barrelling into view, bursting through the corridor as they both yelled out asking for our whereabouts. Doc shortly followed, hands folded behind his back. "I do hope you'll forgive my intrusion, Mr Krieg... However, it would appear one or two of my possessions are on the loose. Would you be so kind as to inform me where they went?" Even behind a layer of solid wood, each syllable still sent shivers up my spine, making my flesh crawl.

Ruz stepped forward, motioning for Krieg to take his seat once more. "Alright Doc, I'll level with ya. Brad and that teddy bear kid came rushing down here, totally freaked for some reason - I'm guessing it was your natural charm. They wanted to see the Boss, said he could protect them, but Krieg here was having none of it, were ya man?" Krieg paused for a second, and then getting it he nodded, and smiled devilishly. Ruz softly placed Teddy's bear from behind his back on the desk, and I noticed Teddy searching himself in confusion - somehow hadn't realised that he had left it when I had finished yelling at Ruz.

Krieg leaned back in his chair and started recounting the events to Doc. "Those fuckin' brats ain't show me any respect, you know? Kept on yellin' and bitchin', being right wee bastards. If you want the bodies back, you'll have to fish 'em outta the pit. Sorry, Doc." He waved over to a dark side passage, where I assumed was where all the people the Boss didn't want to see were taken. 

Doc stared at the both of them for a second, not fully buying it. "...Show me." The three creeps slowly entered the area Krieg nodded to as he sat up and leaned in to Ruz, "I don't know what this is about, or what trouble those two are in, but I expect a larger trade from ya next week, you got me?" Ruz gratefully accepted and suddenly he was alone and quickly unbolting the door, slipping inside and closing it again.

"Are you guys crazy? Brad, you know what Doc's capable of, remember?" I was in no mood for a lecture, especially from him. "What does it matter, anyway... I want to see this Boss of yours. Now."

"You know that's not how it works... Even Krieg has never seen the Boss, or at least he doesn't admit that he has. More to the point, I think you should take a look behind you." On the stool was a really large, old piece of equipment which had a tape inserted into the top. Since there was no screens or speakers, I deduced this was an old-fashioned portable tape player. I read the banner, word for word, each one burning into me - yet I felt numb at the same time. All I could feel was the same forboding from before. Too paralyzed to press play, I let Teddy lean forward and hit the "play" button.

Whatever it was, it was on a loop. Over and over, the same sentence. I never really heard it until the 3rd time, as I was too busy looking between the tape and the banner... We were in trouble. Once more, the tape played before stopping sharply. "I'm the face of the revolution - next stop, tearing this fucking place to the goddamn ground." It was Katie's static voice, but she said that... that was... inside the Base. The banner towered over me once more, letting me know my true place here again. "I CAN MAKE THEM SUFFER. JUST LIKE YOUR FATHER."