"I just don't want you to start breaking stuff if something goes wrong. So it's important that your acting is good," Ayn said.
"My acting? I learned from the best. You don't have to worry about it," Lucifer said as he walked back to the seat. "Just focus on your task. You'll have thirty minutes before I start taking things in my own hand."
He laid on the seat and closed his eyes while slowing down his breathing.
The distance between the Uprising Helicopter and the APF base kept decreasing with each passing second.
Soon, the helicopter landed on the roof of the Headquarters, which was surrounded by the APF members from the Defence Squad.
Even though they had allowed Ayn land, they didn't relax. They were all here to make sure that everything was as it should be.
The gates of the helicopter opened. Ayn stepped out of the helicopter, carrying Lucifer in her arms as if he was a sleeping Prince.
As she left the helicopter, APF members walked to the helicopter to check inside and to arrest the pilot, who was an Uprising member.
All the guards greeted Ayn and congratulated her for her successful return.
"Is this Lucifer? The boy who disappeared eight years ago?" A guard asked her.
"Yeah. He's the same Lucifer. I drugged him, so he shouldn't wake up before tomorrow," Ayn answered.
"Where is Captain Varant? We thought he went to save you?" The man asked again.
"I don't know. I didn't find him on the way. Maybe I left before he got there. Anyway, let me go in first. After that, I'll try contacting Varant to tell him that I'm back," Ayn said as she placed her thumb on the fingerprint sensor.
After her print was scanned, the entrance of the lift opened.
A few guards stepped inside the lift with her as well. The lift went to the lower floors where the strongest of APF prisoners were kept.
Ayn stopped in front of one such cell. She had the door opened before she stepped inside.
She placed the unmoving body of Lucifer inside the cell before she left, locking the door again.
After everyone left, Lucifer opened his eyes. He looked around the cell to notice that there were no cameras in this cell. There were no fans or anything electrical here.
As for the walls, they were reinforced to brace the heaviest of impact. Other than the bed and the toilet, there was nothing else in this cell.
"So this is where they keep their prisoners. I guess it's their lucky day. They'll get their freedom today," he muttered as he stood up.
The gate was completely metallic, seemingly made of a precious material. There were no gaps in the door. So no one could see inside, just as he couldn't see outside.
He stood up and stretched his arms as he walked towards the metallic doors of the cell.
Taking off his gloves, he gently touched the gates, just to test if they could resist decay. He had especially told Ayn to keep him in a cell that wasn't made especially for him.
Even though he had the confirmation of Veracity that Ayn was going to do as he asked, he still decided to test just to be sure.
His finger grazed through the metal, which started decaying slowly. He soon took off his hands as he made sure this place couldn't resist him. He could step out of this place any moment he wanted.
After making sure, he walked back to the bed and sat down as he started waiting... Waiting for the time when the defenses of the base were going to be off.
....
Ayn was walking inside the base with the guards.
She was being taken to the medical facility as it was a protocol. She needed to be tested to see if she was hurt or not.
"Why is the base so empty today? It seems like no one is here at all?" Ayn inquired.
"That's because Captain Varant took almost all the members with him. Only the bare minimum was left behind to handle the working of the base," the guard answered.
"When did Varant leave?" She asked the guards.
"He left a few days ago," the guards answered.
" Did any of you try contacting him?" Ayn asked, curious.
"We haven't yet," the men answered.
"I'll contact him. Let's go to my office," Ayn said, changing her direction.
She went into her office and picked up her backup phone before she came out.
After coming out, she called a number as she again started walking towards the medical facility.
"Varant? I'm back at base. Where are you?" She said as if her call was picked up.
"What? You aren't Varant. Who are you?" She asked, yelling. She actually seemed stunned.
It was all for show though. She just wanted to show the APF members behind her. In any case, she always knew what had happened.
She lowered the phone slowly. It even dropped to the ground, falling from her hand.
"What happened? Is everything alright?" The men asked, wondering what had happened.
"It was Raia. Varant is dead. All our men are slaughtered, and now the Uprising is advancing here to destroy our base," Ayn said as shock seemed imminent on her face.
"We don't have time to waste! We need to boost the defense of the headquarters! You all, go and get the men in position!"
" I'll call the Hunter Union to ask for backup. We're facing danger like never before! Jake, you come with me!" She said as she started running in a direction after picking up her phone.
She called another number, making it seem like she had called the Hunter Union, but it was just her acting.
Over the call, she informed the other side what had happened to the APF and that they needed help.
After talking, she kept the phone back.
"What did they say?" Jake asked.
"They said that they'd send their teams here. As for Zeiss, he'll personally come to back us up. But it'll take time. We need to be able to hold on until then. We need to modify our defense formation and the systems to delay the Uprising!" Ayn said as she kept running.
She and Jake soon stopped in front of the Defence Room.
A few of the trusted Variants of Varant were keeping guard there.
"Captain Ayn, you can't come here. Only captain Varant is authorized to enter!" The guards informed her.
"Varant is dead! That's why I'm here! The entire base is in danger. All our members are dead, and the Uprising is coming here now!" Ayn said.