eighteen - You Take Harper, You Get Beef

Music played softly in the background of the shared bedroom as Miller, Harper, Brandi, Jasper and Monty sat in they're beds that were in fact next to each other's.

Miller, Harper and Monty were dismal from the pain they've been receiving lately after the conditions they agreed to.

''I'm tired of puking'' Says Harper, breaking the silence among the small group.

''I'm tired of being a human pincushion'' Miller adds on.

''I didn't sign up for an intervention'' Brandi remarks as she crosses a leg under the other that was hanging off of the bed.

''Look, I know this sucks. But as long as it seems like we're cooperating, we're buying ourselves time'' Jasper reassures.

But Miller interjected the optimist boy. ''Time for what? I say if we're gonna die in here, we might as well die trying to escape.''

Monty and Harper nodded, agreeing with him.

''We've been over this after Clarke left. There is no escape. We just have to hold on long enough for her to find a way to get us out.''

Brandi grips the skin of her arm, squeezing softly as she mumbles ''What if she doesn't find a way?''

A single eyebrow jumps on Monty's features while adding ''What if she didn't make it out? What if it's just a story they're telling us to hide the fact that they killed her? Then no one's coming for us and we're doing exactly what they want us to do.''

Brandi leans into Miller's side and lets out a breath, distress of how depress the people she's grown close to have gotten.

She could only predict matters would get worse from here on.

''Jasper, I know you've thought it too.''

Jasper looks up at him and nods.

''All right then. We escape'' Harper decides but Brandi intervenes.

''No, we won't.'' She looked her over with little expectation of her opposing conclusion. ''I know this plan is a major risk to our life's and that there's doubts about it, but it's better than attempting for freedom and failing. We need to project this in a subtle manner so no one can suspect a thing.''

''Brandi's right. In the meantime, we have to find the truth'' Jasper includes.

''How do we do that?''

''We're criminals, right? So let's be criminals.''

Brandi looks away and cocks a brow. ''So much for subtle.''

× × ×

Jasper, Miller and Brandi stood at the corner of the final hall that lead into President Wallace's office as Monty and Harper took control of hacking they're way into the locked doors.

''Today, Monty'' Jasper comments impatiently as his leg bounced in place.

''I'm going as fast as I can.''

Miller turns around frantically for the tenth time from the past five minutes, and locks his gaze at the black camera angled at the the top of the wall in the hall.

''Hey, relax'' Jasper assures, noticing his cautious manners. ''Maya's decontaminating the surveillance room. No one's watching.''

Miller glances back at him and nods. ''We got this.''

Brandi's chest heaves with a scoff. ''If we could get that door open.''

A beep alarmed the crew. Monty turns to them with a playful smirk. ''Ye of little faith.''

Jasper burst into a smile. ''That's my boy. Come on, let's move.''

Brandi was the first to push through the barely visible glass door that allows access to the office.

After Jasper came in, he held the door for everyone else, hurrying them in to spare the time.

''Brandi, Harper, watch the hall'' Jasper commands. He was going to follow after Monty when the two females stopped him.

''Why do the only girls have to watch the hall?''

''Monty's good with computers and Miller's a thief'' He titles the most obvious labels for his peers.

''Then why can't you watch the hall?'' Harper then questions.

His smile appears again. ''Because I'm the mastermind.''

The two cock a brow, no words really needed to wonder 'really?'.

''Just go watch the hall. Come on'' Jasper pleads, giving neither no choice but to do so.

''Can you believe him?'' Harper mutters as the two look around the hall.

''I'm the mastermind'' Brandi mimics with her lips arched into a sneer. Harper giggles at this and leans against the glass across from her.

× × ×

The night before turned out to be a success. No one got caught and the group returned to they're rooms with what was needed to plan.

So Brandi, Monty and Miller were back in they're same spots from the day before with a map displayed in front of them.

''If the Alpha's on the ground, maybe other stations are too'' Miller observes beside Monty.

''You're from Alpha, right?''

He nods. ''Yeah, my dad was chief guard. He sure loved having a thief for a kid.''

They were discussing matters relating to the Ark for they're personal mission home.

''Hey, you're a great thief'' Brandi compliments, causing the two males in front of her to laugh.

Monty lifts up the map to return the attention of topic and points at a certain direction. ''These are the engineering schematics for this whole place. If there's a way out, we're gonna find it.''

Brandi's soft features falter when she glimpse sight of Jasper approaching with a fixed expression.

''Guys, Harper didn't show for breakfast. You guys seen her?''

The three stood and matched his unsettled state. ''I don't think none of us has seen her since Dante's office.''

So Monty ask the one question that was now stammering them all.

''So where the hell is she?''