Author's note: Helios’ undercover name is “Odysseus” and that is what the other Brekkens will call him. "Arrowhead" is his comm codename. However, for all intents and purposes, the “omniscient narrator” and Cara will still refer to him as “Helios.” Again, this story belongs to me - please do not reproduce without my permission or claim it as your own work.
Constructive feedback is always appreciated. :D

Brekken Military Base, Terra V

"How about pulling the ‘Correspondent Omega’ card again? ” Cara whispered under her breath. Should've grabbed some weapons when we had the chance, she thought bitterly as her mind desperately tried to figure out a way to get out of this.

“Don’t think that’ll work. Those guards weren’t on the command deck when I made the announcement and their security level is probably too low for them to verify any information I provide,” he whispered back, just as tense, “Besides...it still wouldn't explain what we're doing with a prisoner.”

“Up against the wall and put your hands above your head, the three of you!” The guards said, waving their laser guns at them. Cara did so cautiously, and Helios helped Lani stand up before taking the ordered position as well. He and Cara exchanged a glance, and he nodded once subtly.

When the guards got close enough, Cara and Helios made their move. The two of them landed such a flurry of punches and kicks that the guards were down before they even knew what hit them. They fell to the floor unconscious. Helios quickly picked up Lani, who had slid to the floor in exhaustion during the melee, and the three resumed their run down the corridor.

“Hurry!” Cara hissed as Helios tried to override the locking mechanism that blocked their path into the docking bay with one hand.

“You try doing this while holding a full-grown human woman in your arms,” he growled, his brow furrowed in concentration. After what seemed like an eternity, the door slid open, and the two of them ran through.

“There’s the ship. You go on ahead and open the door,” Helios grunted out as he readjusted Lani in his arms. Cara hurried ahead of him and entered the access code into the ship's external control panel. The hatch lowered, and Cara helped Helios and Lani inside before climbing in behind them. The door slid up behind her with a resounding bang.

Helios placed Lani gently on one of the bio-beds in the back. When he began to strap her down, she started to struggle a little again.

He spoke soothingly, “It’s all right, Agent Hwang. I'm not going to hurt you. This is just so that when we leave port, you won’t get thrown onto the floor or into the wall. We’re expecting a bumpy ride.” She stopped struggling once his words sank in and watched him intently as he finished strapping her to the bed. Her stare unnerved him a bit, but he pushed the feeling away, patting her shoulder lightly. “I’ll be back later when we clear the base. You should rest.” She nodded once and closed her eyes.

Helios walked over to the cockpit where Cara had already strapped herself in and was initiating departure procedures. He moved to the copilot chair, sat down, and strapped himself in as well.

"Ready?"

"Ready."

Suddenly, all the lights in the docking bay shut off, and there was a whirring sound as the main generator stopped running. Everything was ominously silent and dark.

“I take it the virus just kicked in,” Cara said wryly. Helios’ grim look was all the answer she needed.

“Yeah, and now we have no way to open the docking bay doors. We’re trapped here,” he growled under his breath, hands gripping the arms of his seat tightly.

“How long will the virus stay active?” Cara asked, a sinking feeling in her stomach.

“My estimation…probably until someone on the command deck reboots the system with the back-up generator.”

Suddenly, all the lights came on and the generator began whirring again. An alarm began blaring continuously and loudly as lights flashed all around their ship. Helios winced, his sensitive ears in agony from the irritating noise.

“I take it that would be now?”

The General stopped her angry pacing the moment the lights came back on. “Is everything back in order? Do a systems check. I want a full report NOW,” she snapped.

The Colonel bowed before her, well aware that in her foul mood no one was safe. “Everything is in place, General. However, Odysseus is missing, along with the Alliance spy and a prisoner.”

One of the soldiers looked up from his console, speaking nervously. “General, there was an unauthorized entry into docking bay A5, but no launches were detected. Do you want me to seal the docking bay doors?”

She walked over to him, looking over his shoulder. A slow, triumphant smile twisted her lips. “Yes, and send some guards down there immediately to detain anyone in the docking bay. They can shoot on sight if they have to.”

“Right away, General!” The Colonel motioned for six soldiers to accompany him, and the group left immediately for the docking bay.

The General’s face took on a cruel look. No one mocks me and lives to tell about it.