FORESIGHT and SCOPE: BOOK TWO

C H A P T E R F O R T Y-S E V E N

"Actually, I likened it to be a 'primed thermal detonator,' so you had misheard thrice." I could hear his smirk underneath his helmet. He used the key Cid had given us to access the mine and the door creaked open from its deferred use and resounded an alarm-like beeping.

Rumbleeee...

Thunder rolled behind us across the deserted horizon. The suffocating wall of thick dust partnered with the omnious clamor and accelerated gusts of wind sent chills down my spine and bare arms. The loose strands of hair latched onto my lips and lashes as my eyes narrowed in concern. Hunter knelt to one knee and checked the direction of the wind. After a brief internal deliberation, he picked himself up and nodded to me. "The storm's heading away from us. We should be fine."

"Storms are often unpredictable," I sighed, hugging my biceps. "even for your enhanced skills. In any case, we should make haste."

"Agreed," Hunter said. "Tech, you, Fern, and I will mine the ipsium. Wrecker and Omega, you're on lookout."

"Both of us?" The muscular clone, who handled the large, heavy cannister that would store the unrefined mineral over his shoulder, asked in confirmation.

"We need at least two people on watch," Tech explained. "and I am certain Fern's expertise in flexibility and ability to navigate confined spaces will dexterously benefit the operation more than your brute strength and Omega's...small stature."

I knocked the back of my hand against his arm for his indecency to the young girl. I then forced a comforting smile for her and handed her my binoscopes from my satchel. "You are a better sentry, Half-Pint. Cid warned us about poachers in the areas, so keep a sharp eye, got it? If you see anyone, comm us immediately. Hunter, if you will, grab that cannister and let's get this over with."

The sergeant did as I ordered, hoisting it with both arms on his hip. He, Tech, and I headed into the eerily, dim-lit mineshaft with the spectacled clone leading the way. His beeping scanners echoed off the metal-infused rockwalls. When we first entered, there were large fixtures supporting the structure of the man-made cave. The farther we ventured, the less braces were present. Tiny bulbs of electricity bordering the rusted arches every few yards were all that illuminated our path. I noticed Tech's eyes narrow in his datapad's blue glow. "My scans are not indicating a sizable presence of ipsium. Looks like Cid was deceived into purchasing an already depleted mine."

"Shocker." I grumbled under my breath. My uneasiness intensified ten-fold in my stomach.

"Keep scanning." Hunter adjusted his grip on the cannister. "We'll extract whatever we can."

We continued our quiet walk through the tunnel for another quarter mile before Tech halted in his tracks. "Wait. I am getting a faint reading." He lowered his computer-screened visor on his helmet and examined our surroundings. He then pointed up at the ceiling, which towered at least two stories above our heads. "There."

I whistled. "Well, this is going to be quite a feat."

"Can you not climb your way up there and extract it?" Hunter questioned.

"Climb, sure." I shrugged. "Extract it? Ehh..." I cocked my head to calculate the possibility. "Doubtful. I may be flexible, but I can't change my size. I won't be able to withdraw anything without the risk of a slip-up."

"Then, we'll carve out a bigger opening so you can fit."

"I decline that option." Tech said. "The mineral is far too unstable. Even the slightest friction around it can cause a destructive chain reaction."

"I believe we need someone of 'small stature' to fit in the crevice securely enough to extract the mineral safely. What do you think, Tick?" I smirked to my left, where the intellectual clone raised his visor with a sigh. I smiled and waved to the boys. "I'll go switch places with her. And hey," I tapped Tech's armored bicep with my fingers with a nod. "be nice."