It took us almost fifteen minutes to clear the building. It had been some sort of shopping centre. However, where there should have been an entrance to the underground tunnels, there was a giant pile of crumbling stone blocks and debris.

Damn it.

We stopped four hours and over a dozen buildings, later for a quick snack and to find some shade. I checked in with Syndicate quickly, but she assured me all was fine with the ship, and there was nothing to report.

This day was beginning to get on my nerves. Even Britt had lost his good humour from earlier.

There is a dry layer of dirt on us from head to toe, with only streaks of sweat breaking through where our skin is exposed.

I feel my undergarments sticking unpleasantly to my skin with sweat, and I hate to admit it, but I am getting a rather nasty stink on. Fuck this planet.

We pack away our provisions and step back out of our meagre shade shelter, a half-crumbling wall, and back into the hot sun. I put on my goggles, keeping the fine sand out of my eyes and pull my scarf over my nose.

I've resorted to wearing a hat to keep my bald ass head from burning in the hot sun. I usually never burn, but I am focusing so much of my body's energy on keeping itself as cool as possible that I don't have any extra energy to stop my skin from getting burned. My skills in organ control only venture so far, apparently.

Looking over at Britt, I notice he isn't doing much better. His hair is soaked with sweat, and his face is scrunched as he breaths in the hot air through his scarf.

He taps the side of his goggles, setting them to tint, so the sun isn't so bright. He looks up into the sky, gauging how much daylight we have left.

He is trying to decide how much farther to go today—neither of us wanting to go anywhere.

We had checked just over half the places Britt had marked the day before. Thankfully we started at the furthest one away, working our way backwards. At least if we don't finish today, we won't have as far to go tomorrow.

"Let's do this one."

My microband lights up, and the area Britt is talking about zooms into place. He synced our maps, so I see what he sees now. Giant ape apparently doesn't trust my skills with this new tech. I can't blame him.

He places our next marker on an area about twenty-three clicks away. It will take a good fifteen minutes to get there, even with the little hoverbikes that Armada had so graciously provided for us.

They are the craziest things I have ever used. You carry a long rod on your back, a little thicker than my lower leg in size, and light too. When you needed it, you unfolded two arms from either side, placing your hands on the soft sensors or the soon-to-be handles. Then straddling the long rod, you press your thumbs into the sensor's soft material and bam! Your super compact hoverbike unfolds under you.

It doesn't have much for a seat, so you need to have strong legs, but other than that, it's epic! Pretty sure one of these will be missing after the mission—just a feeling.

"Ok. Then we call it a day?" I am so done with this weather, and I don't even try to hide the whine in my voice.

"We'll see. But ya, sounds about right."

It takes us a little longer than expected. We end up making an eight-block detour due to a huge building that had fallen over, covering a large area with a mountain of rubble and debris.

The hoverbikes are compact and make for fast travel, but unlike a transport pod or a proper ground vehicle, they can't go over large obstacles. Still, I love them.

We kill almost a full planetary hour. Damn. Finally, we pull up outside a large pavilion. This was probably once an amazing place for the city to gather and celebrate events or holidays. It's in a sad state now, though. Oh well, not of any concern. I just hope this will finally be our lucky break.

"It's huge, Britt. Where do we start?"

"Follow me."

We dismount our bikes, and they folded back in on themselves. Folding the arms back in, I secure the light cylinder to my back. Making sure my weapon is at the ready if I need it. I look at my microband for a quick second to get my bearings, then head after Britt.

Britt skirts around some crumbling statues in the middle of the pavilion. Taking out his scanner again, he surveys the central ground area. I see the muscles in his face change. Even with goggles and a scarf on, I know he's found something interesting.

"What?"

"We have either found our human popsicle as you call it, or there is a working storage freezer nearby."

"Hoping your first guess is right."

"Me too."

"Just not sure how we are going to reach it."

"Ok. And that means?"

"If my readings are right, which I am sure they are, it is about twenty-five feet directly below us."

"Huh?"

We were almost right in the middle of the pavilion, but I see no entrances that go underground. That can only mean it is hidden or not here. If an entrance is close but hidden is it hidden out here or in one of the surrounding buildings?

Ufrik and I had scanned all the buildings. He had searched most himself. Or had he lied about that too? Had he edited the videos? Suddenly I feel a little stupid.

I tap my microband connecting to the ship's computer.

"Syndicate?"

"Here, Marshal."

"Can you go through the drone videos salvaged from our first ship and see if any edits were made to them?"

"One moment, please."

Half a second goes by. I am startled when a shadow passes overhead. I barely stop myself from pulling my gun and shooting. One of the very few instances we have spotted anything living. A large bird soars overhead and soars off to the North. Must be trying to find food.

I continue to follow Britt as he systematically checks each square foot of the pavilion for any signs of a hidden entrance. Finally, Syndicate messages back.

"Sorry, Marshal. No signs that they were tampered with. I am assuming you are concerned Mr. Sigma may have found your objective and kept it from you?"

"Exactly."

"I see no evidence of that. However, I can testify to his lack of effort in searching. Most of his excursions outside the ship when we were here last did not take him very far. I could show you on the map the areas he stayed within." Figures. What a lying asshole. My lip curls in disgust. What a turd.

"Perhaps when we return. Thank you, Syndicate."

"Any time Marshal."

"Any luck Britt?"

"Actually, yes. This new technology from Quantum 4 is incredible. I am following an underground tunnel being mapped out as we walk. Not sure how this works, but this will make our missions a lot easier in the future. I just need to focus."

"Shutting up now."

I follow Britt silently for another fifty paces or so. We come to a large building just on the edge of the pavilion. It looks like we are heading inside.

Some of these buildings creep me right out. This one, in particular, has a very ominous feeling about it. Something twists in my gut. I feel the hairs stand up on my arms. Not good. My intuitive alarm bells have officially be rung. There is danger here.

"Have you scanned for weapons, Britt?"

"Doing it."

The building is about twenty stories tall, definitely not the tallest in the city, but its weird black glass makes it stand out. It is the only building not falling apart or missing pieces—also a warning sign.

How had I missed this before?

Looking up at it now, it sticks out like a soar thumb. Britt had been quiet for too long.

"I don't like it, Britt. Something isn't right."

"Agreed. I can't get a proper reading. Something is screwing with the scanner."

"Send in a drone?"

"Good idea."

I pull a small sphere from my cargo pants pocket. Placing my thumb and forefinger in the right places, it buzzes to life. A small metal shield slides open, and its tiny motor lifts it off my hand. Hovering about six feet in the air.

Another shield slides away from the camera lens, and its lights pop out. Activating the controls on my microband, I send it towards the door.

Britt cautiously follows it to the door. I stop it about two feet away. Britt grabs his weapon, placing it at the ready, then standing off to the side. He nods at me. I crouch behind a large cement planter as he swings the door open. I realize I am holding my breath when nothing happens.

Breathing out slowly, I send the little drone inside, and Britt lets go of the door, letting it swing shut. As soon as the door latches shut, the entire building shimmers.

What in the stars?

Suddenly, like it had been a mirage, the entire building vanishes.

"Um, where did it go?"

"Unbelievable. I have heard of this sort of tech but never seen it before." Britt sounds a lot more excited than I had been expecting. I feel a little freaked out.

"What the hell are you talking about. A fucking giant ass building just disappeared right in front of us, and you have heard of this tech before?" I feel my heart pounding in my chest like it is trying to break out of a cage.

"Zea. Look at the camera feed on your microband from the drone." He sounds a little annoyed at me.

Huh. That is weird.

According to the readings, the drone is still just a few feet away from us. The camera feed shows a large foyer. It is dark except where lights are pointing.

I test the controls, and sure enough, I can move the drone through the building. So where the hell is the building?

"I don't get it."

"It's camouflage, Zea. Incredible. And here on Earth. Who knew they had tech like this?"

I look at the building again. Seriously? Walking from side to side, I look at it from all angles. It is something. There is no sign, I mean no sign at all, of their being a structure here.

All that is visible is a giant stone garden of some kind. I walk up slowly to where the building should be and tentatively reach out. Sure enough, I touch something hard and smooth.

As soon as my hands touch the wall though the building flickers, and a loud humming noise sounds all around us. The ground begins to vibrate under our feet gently.

"Shit. What did I do?"

"I have no damn clue."

"Marshal! Are you there?" Syndicate is speaking through my communicator into my right ear.

"Kind of busy, Syndicate."

"You are in great danger. I suggest you move from where you are NOW. And with all expediency."

"Fuck!"

"Quickly, Marshal! Run East. It's the fastest way to safety. Run behind the large grey stone building."

Britt and I take off at a dead run. We learned long ago if someone yells duck or run, you don't think. You just do it.

We follow directions coming from Syndicate as we run; she leads us to a safe place. Not sure what we are safe from, but it's good to be safe. Did I mention I love my ship's A.I.?

Just as we round a corner of the large stone building, crouching low, we hear a series of loud explosions. Or what sounds like explosions. I smelled something weird in the air. My ears ring slightly, and the air is thick with dust clouding our vision.

Stupid dead ass planet.

"What is that?"

"You are smelling a highly toxic gas from the planetary element Fluorine. It was sent into the air through small pipes on the side of the building to ensure the ignition of the Sodium Hydride powder being released with it. Tiny microbeads exploded inside the Fluorine gas, on I presume a well-timed sequence, releasing the Sodium Hydride powder. It created a very impressive explosion. It was just far enough above the ground. It could have taken your heads off without leaving any trace... Well, except for your headless torsos laying on the ground." Syndicate sounds genuinely impressed.

Really? Does she not understand how morbid it is to find that idea impressive?

I feel my jaw clenching tight. Not something I want to think about. Having my head blown off by some strange gas shooting out of the mystery building.

"Thanks for the visual Syndicate, but why did it activate now and not when Britt opened the door?"

"Seems the building's security system isn't working properly. Years of neglect can cause issues in any computer system. I am trying to access the building's main computer system now."

"Keep us posted, Syndicate. For now, I will see what I can find out with the drone."

"Shouldn't take very long. Their defensive technology is impressive, but their software is very archaic. It's a little depressing." Syndicate's tone goes from excited to sounding ashamed or embarrassed for the building's computer software. I couldn't help the snort.

Cocking an eyebrow at Britt, I quietly mouth, "What is with her?" He just shrugs.

I guess even A.I.'s have standards. His mouth twitches at the corners. He won't come out and say it because she is probably listening, but it is weird. And a little amusing too, but it is time to focus.

"Well, let's see what the drone can show us. If we are lucky, we will know how to get to your secret tunnel before we even get inside."