First things first, I looked back just when I stepped outside the schematic room because apparently, there was also another way in to each of the floor. Also, I just noticed then that, unlike what I had imagined to be windows, both of the sides of the hallway were solid walls; not even a single octagonal shaped window was there.
Good thing for me I guess; I can concentrate on following that alien heading back to its post.
Of course, I had no need to remind myself that my first challenge would be to first descent down the spiral staircase unnoticed, while keeping up with that alien. I also had to keep my handgun ready to fire whenever needed, but not necessarily unholstering it and keep it held in my hand all the time.
Looking up and down a couple of times before I finally began descending down the staircase slowly, I felt some tingling on the tip of my hair with every step my feet took. It was a signal for me nearly every time I felt some serious uneasiness, no matter how soft or hard the situation was.
Stepping my foot on the second floor again, that tingling I felt subsided a little, but not entirely. Usually when that happened, another threat was approaching me, and sometimes fast. I always considered that feature of mine as my danger instinct.
Referring to that and what I had experienced five years ago and also in Poland, I quickly got behind a tall crate-like thing that had not been there when I headed to the third floor earlier. Pressing my back against the crate, and facing directly to the direction of the staircase, I began to hear several approaching footsteps that progressively became louder.
My instinct was right all along; those footsteps seemed to belong to three aliens. Thus, still hiding right behind the crate, I overheard yet another conversation between those three.
"Have you both heard?"
"About what?"
"The chief gave one of us here that difficult human's body armor."
Seriously? That monster also got my body armor? Also, how the hell could I lose it in the first place?
"What is the point?"
"Assurance for us, maybe? I am not sure either."
"It will not fit anyway."
"He did not tell to wear it. Just to keep it away is all."
"So he does think that the human might have survived that fall."
"Apparently so. Then again, worst comes to worst and he is indeed still alive, his chance to retaliate against us will be even lower by then."
Okay. That monster has more brain than what I gave it a credit for….
"He is just one man, and there is no less than two hundred of us here. How will he retaliate against us in the first place even if he has his complete equipment?"
"I cannot understand that either. But the chief has gone through some historical records, and he is always thorough in investigating all sorts of matters."
Records… Wait, is this alien talking about the invasion of Chicago and the disturbance in Indonesia?
So somehow they documented what I and Travis had been doing then?! How?!
"And?"
"It seems that for some specific reason, this particular human still has a chance to strike back even if he is unarmed."
As much as I hate to say it, this alien is right. All these times whenever I survived all crisis and dangers it always felt like I literally had no chance at first.
"That is concerning."
"Indeed, and now you both know why the chief wants all patrol units to go at least three in each group."
"Okay."
If what those aliens had been talking about was true, then it would kind of make sense on why they seemed to avoid attacking me while outside their amphibious tank earlier at the surface.
They knew that the .30-06 round from my Browning Automatic Rifle was a threat to their safety all along. It had no problem piercing through their skulls and even few of their thinner armors…
No wonder their chief hold onto my rifle so tightly and seemingly not letting its subordinate to even touch it….
Shortly then, similar footsteps were heard again heading upstairs. Either each of them were to take post at each floor, or for some other matters I had yet to know.
No matter, that was my cue to descend down the stairs again, finally reaching the first floor.
Now where is that alien from the furthest post….
It nearly made me jumped when suddenly one of the main entrance opened up! Good thing there was a good spot to hide just beside the wall.
Ah, shit!
"But where is he now? The one who was supposed to guard the outermost post?"
"He is already heading there, do not worry."
Well, speak of the devil. Another pair of aliens, talking about the specific 'thing' I was looking for.
"Did you see him directly?"
"Not exactly."
"Then, how can you be so sure?"
"Because he was wearing a unique belt."
Unique… belt?
"You must mean the one with three lines of chains."
"Yes, that is him."
"So that means we he was just outside walking towards the path to the right. Okay."
The path to the right….
"Oh, and some of the others also told me just now that the chief has paused his search for that human's body. He has begun to head back here."
Oh, that is just great!
"Good."
Well good for you all, but not for me!
Waiting for the both of them to walk away from the entrance, I slipped away a few moments before the door closed again.
Then, while moving and covering myself behind one ice pillar to another, I searched for that specific alien with a three-chained belt on its hip.
Where is this thing?
Again, all of a sudden a footstep was heard just on the other side of the ice pillar I took a cover at.
Ugh, what else is it now?!
I could not believe myself; it was the alien who was stationed at the furthest post!
Huh… saves me the trouble of looking.
Keeping my distance away from it for until about five meters, I began to stalk if from behind, to the spot that would be able to lead me back to the surface.
If only I have learned on how to be sneakier from Travis… I may not have to follow it from this far.