Operation M.I.A: Missing in Action (IN NEED OF REVISING)

(Part II) Chapter XVI

Last night, I fell asleep with Sean, Shanna, and Mackenzie in the room with me. When I wake up at around 9:30 AM (which is actually around average for me), Mackenzie's absence is the first thing I notice. At first, images of Mackenzie being kidnapped flash through my head, and I almost panic. But then I hear Mackenzie talking with Sam downstairs, and my nerves ease.

"...Judging from this map, there are still eight locations listed here that may or may not be hideouts or holding places for the kidnappers," are the first words I hear when I make my way downstairs. Sam and Mackenzie are making early-morning plans for what looks to be an extremely long day.

"Eight? Seriously?" I groan quietly, aware of Avery's sleeping body lying on the nearby couch.

Both Sam and Mackenzie shush me quietly, and then Mackenzie adds, "We're planning on handling this in a Blitzkrieg fashion. I'm talking going in there, doing our business, and getting out ASAP. Lighting speed if done properly."

"Which it won't be," I sigh.

"My only concern is how spread out these locations are," Sam says, gesturing toward the map now pulled up on the hovercraft's computer. "They weren't kidding when they said this group was international."

"One of their locations is Antarctica!?" Mackenzie exclaims. "These guys are lunatics."

"Guess we better make a pit stop for jackets before setting out," I suggest.

Sean, Shanna, Heath, Luke, Skylar, and Elle come downstairs at around 9:45. Sam then wakes Avery up so we can have a pre-mission "pep speech" with the entire team. "Okay, everybody. As you probably know, we have a bit of a long day ahead of us. Mackenzie and I are thinking about handling this in a quick and efficient manner. It's important that everybody stays on task and is always alert of the situation around them," Sam tells us.

"We're still going to rescue Brielle, right?" Avery asks, yawning and stretching her arms out.

"Yes, Avery. That's still one of our top priorities. I also want to see if we can finally return Alexys Barnes home," Sam answers.

"Alrighty," Avery shrugs. "Where are we heading first?"

Mackenzie takes another look at the map and ponders the decision for a moment. "There's a place in England that seems to be worth checking out."

SKYLAR

Music: Chompworks Galaxy from Super Mario Galaxy 2

I think this is the first time one of our destinations on a rescue mission has been Britain. I don't even think we went there in our trip around the world. And, well, look where we are now.

Specifically, we find ourselves landing in the town of Liverpool, England. Heath, our current pilot, is using the hovercraft's scanner to determine if anything of interest can be spotted. The scanner remains red until we pass over a field and it turns green.

"Alright, let's see what this place has to offer," he nods while flying us down to ground level. Our focus of interest is a simple, one story, grey building with what looks to me like a steel texture. Smoke rises out of a small chimney-looking thing at the top of the building.

None of us say anything as we walk up to the front door, which is strangely unlocked, and make our way inside. The first room we walk into looks surprisingly comfortable. A small, green couch sits across the room from a burning fireplace, which I guess is what's causing the smoke. On the right side of the room is a small oven and some cabinets, likely for storing food. At first glance, it almost looks like a small cabin owned by someone who likes having a place to themselves when they want to get warm and cozy.
However, most people don't have the experience we do, and wouldn't take notice of the stairs pretty well-hidden near the left side of the room. Still without speaking, the ten of us make our way toward the stairs and walk down to whatever the basement may be.