Stolen Minds

by Pthasse Amadeus

  Chapter 11

  After calling for Sophia and getting no reply, Rohan entered the cell and found her hugging her brother.

  “Glad to see you alive and well Councillor,” Rohan said with a smile and Daniel smiled back, gently pulling away from Sophia’s embrace.

  “I see my sister still has you on a tight leash,” Daniel jested.

  “I guess wilfulness runs in the family,” Rohan replied, while chancing a glance outside the cell.

  “We don’t have a lot of time, we need to get going,” Daniel said. “Which way did you come in?”

  “Through the Mortuary,” Rohan replied.

  “Then we have to go another way, but first let’s get out of this section,” Daniel said and Rohan grabbed him, levitated and flew down the corridor. Sophia followed closely and they continued their fast pace towards the nearest lift.

  Luck was on their side and they managed to escape the section without further incident, proceededing to ride the lift back up to the main Penitentiary level.

  “How did you end up here? We thought you were dead...” Sophia asked.

  “I was captured and they changed my appearance, I escaped but then I found Annabelle and I wasn’t going to leave her in this illusion, even if she thought that she was Dr. Hannah LeBeaux,” Daniel explained. “I managed to convince her to leave Safe Haven and I ensured her escape. After she escaped I lost consciousness and found myself in a regeneration tank. It would seem that the Council decided to bury me in the cell that you found me in, rather than make me a martyr,” Daniel continued. “A few more days there and I would have been subjected to highly invasive mind control, I’m glad you two found me… But how did you know I was here?” Daniel asked and Sophia recounted the events that led them to this point.

  “So she really is Anna…” Daniel said.

  “Yes, the bioscans confirm it, but it seems that she still believes that she is Dr. Hannah LeBeaux,” Sophia responded. “I synthesised a catalyst that would cancel out the effect of her mental conditioning, the rest is up to her…”

  “Don’t worry Dan; I’m sure that in time, she will return to the Annabelle that you remember,” Rohan said.

  “You gave her ReOx?” Daniel asked with a very worried expression.

  “I had no choice… I know it’s dangerous and experimental, but we need Annabelle if we have any chance of winning this war, both here and back home,” Sophia said. “I am sure she can handle it…”

  “I hope you’re right Sophia. I’d hate to lose Anna once again,” Daniel replied. “Do you have her current location?”

  “Yes, she’s in Building 0,” Rohan answered.

  “OK, let’s make our way to the Sentinel Base exit, if all the Sentinels have been called away then we’ll face minimal resistance there,” Daniel said.

  “But how do we get there?” Sophia asked.

  “We have everything we need right here, you two pretend that I am the cause of the commotion downstairs and that you have captured me; if they ask why you’re going to the Sentinel exit, tell them that you’ve been ordered to bring the prisoner there. Activate your sensory visor, so that they can’t see your faces and let’s just hope your Guardian uniforms come with a dose of good luck,” Daniel replied.

  They assumed their positions the moment they exited the lift, and as Daniel predicted they were stopped and questioned; Rohan and Sophia played their parts, hiding behind the darkened visor of the Guardian helmet.

  “Why do you still have your visors activated?” asked a Guardian.

  “We needed it to capture the prisoner, but in the battle the system got damaged,” Sophia responded, keeping her voice levelled.

  “I see… Be sure to report to the Operations Desk to get it fixed once you’ve completed the prisoner transfer,” said the Guardian and the trio continued along their way out the Penitentiary and into the Sentinel Base.

  The base was unguarded and empty, and it seemed that three additional Sentinels had just been dispatched. There was a main console, which had a red symbol on it, and beyond the glass screen in front were enhancement capsules; twelve of them were activated.

  “They’re making more Sentinels,” Daniel announced.

  “We can’t let that happen,” Sophia said.

  “I’m already on it,” Daniel said as he entered the shutdown command, halting further Sentinel production. “Done,” Daniel said, turning away from the screen and he took in his surroundings. He walked to some hanging suits contained within individual capsules.

  “Something tells me you have a plan,” Sophia said and Daniel grinned mischievously.

  “These are Heavy Armour Sentinel suits, there are being recharged for the Sentinels that were being enhanced in those capsules,” Daniel explained. “These two suits are fully charged,” Daniel added as he entered the commands to unlock both capsules.

  “How do you know all this?” Rohan asked.

  “Let’s just say I spent a lot of my time studying Safe Haven,” Daniel replied. “Get dressed Rohan, we have an appointment that we must meet,” Daniel added as he started getting dressed in the Sentinel armour.

  “What about me?” Sophia asked.

  “Wait here for us until we get back with Anna and the others,” Daniel said.

  “Like hell I am. I just found you Dan, you’re not getting rid of me that easily,” Sophia said.

  “I thought you might say that,” Daniel replied with a smile. “OK, you can come with us, here’s the plan,” Daniel conceded. “Those three Sentinels weren’t dispatched to the Mother Ship, so here’s what we’re going to do…” Daniel continued, explaining his plan while getting dressed.

  “Rohan, it’s Hank, is Hannah OK? I’ve been trying to reach her…” Hank said over their secure communicator, shortly after Rohan and Daniel got dressed.

  “Don’t worry Commander we’re on our way to her now…” Rohan replied. “… and we found Dan.”

  “That’s excellent news!” Hank exclaimed. “Convey my best wishes to him. We’re doing OK here, we’re still holed up in the Command Centre, but they haven’t been able to break the shields around the door. Rohan, the situation has changed; the ship is lifting off the ground as we speak, we believe that it’ll attempt to reach orbit.”

  “Sir, I know that I don’t need to stress this, but we’re going to need that ship,” Rohan said.

  “You’re right, you don’t,” Hank replied. “We’re doing everything that we can, but without access to the main console, there’s very little that we can do,” Hank added. “If we end up stranded here, you’ll need to retrieve the shuttles in Fort Freedom and launch a rescue. We simply can’t afford to give up our position here.”

  “I understand Commander,” Rohan replied. “We’re about to leave for Building 0 now, so it shouldn’t be too long until we can assist you sir.”

  “Right then, I’ll leave you to it soldier,” Hank said, promptly ending the communication.

  “You ready to go?” Rohan asked Daniel and Sophia, and they both nodded. Without any further delay the two Sentinels rose out the building, holding Sophia as their captive, and they raced towards Building 0.