The Algorithm

Chapter ten - Thunder in the Desert

"Just our luck," Marinette started with some optimism. "We found the armory." Adrien and Marinette quickly ditched the tan jumpsuits and leather boots and traded them for the dark uniforms the soldiers wore. They hid the clothes they had been given in the refuge in the corner under one of the shelves and went back out into the hallway, they didn't want to be caught loitering in the armory.

They found that their trip into the darkness wasn't as dark this time. The helmets had some kind of technology that allowed them to see as if the hallway was completely lit. Marinette had never seen the tunnel like this before, it was plain and had stone walls with small blinking red lights widely spaced out. It had low ceilings and a few pipes running in and out of the walls. It was utterly normal, showing no evidence of the heinous acts that took place in it.

Marinette felt a constant feeling of discomfort as she walked. She wasn't able to find boots that fit her and didn't have time to look for a smaller pair so she just stuffed an extra pair of socks into the toe of the shoes. Adrien was looking at her strangely, even though she could not see his face through his thick helmet. Marinette had not mentioned the fact she couldn't find the right size boots to wear, and she didn't want to complain so she stayed quiet.

"Are you alright?" Adrien asked, noticing the strange and uneasy pattern of her strides.

"I'm fine, just worried." She bluffed, and to Marinette's relief, and surprise, Adrien did not question her further.

They had a couple of close calls when Akuma soldiers walked past them but they didn't pay them any mind. There was only one major difference between the two escaped prisoners and the real troop, Marinette and Adrien's didn't have any weapons of their own. The soldiers carried large firearms and had a belt full of smaller, close combat weapons, like the batons, while Marinette and Adrien wandered around empty handed. Luckily no one noticed their lack of firepower and didn't give them a second glance.

After half an hour or so of walking through the twists and turns of the halfway, the emptiness of their stomach was becoming unbearable. They had eaten little in the refuge and their hollow stomachs ached for nourishment. Out of desperation, they ripped off the cuff of their pant leg and stuffed the rest of the fabric back into their boots. They chewed on the cloth, trying to trick their minds into thinking they had eaten. The chewing gave them about an hour before their stomach protested and demanded food. Once again, out of desperation, they swallowed the fabric that was wet with their saliva. It was relatively tasteless but was tough to chew through. They both knew the fabric would not give them any real nourishment but it would buy them time. They ripped off the other cuff and ate that as well, continuing on their long walk.

After another half an hour of mindless wondering, they stumbled upon another door. They had searched through each room they found so far, some being dormitories, others were bathrooms, and a few were just storage space. This door had a label which read 'communication tower'. Marinette and Adrien both pushed the door open eagerly. Inside the walls were covered in metal sheeting and had counters laced in buttons and scenes. There was a single soldier probing at a few buttons and adjusting switches.

"What are you doing here?" The soldier asked, the voice sounded very feminine which led Adrien to believe the tall slender soldier was a woman.

"Change of plans," Marinette said. "We will be taking over the communications tower from now on." The soldier tilted her head slightly.

"Really?" She asked, her voice had a strong Liberian accent as she spoke. Marinette nodded. "Then what am I being reassigned to?" The soldier waited for a response but all she got was a shrug from Marinette and Adrien. The soldier shook her head and began walking to the door. "This can't be right," she stated. "I'm getting the administrator."