Dr. Idris turned back to the glass room, his gaze fixed on Djuma, who had ceased pacing and now stood still.
"You'll have ample opportunity to address your grievances later," Dr. Idris continued, his voice firm but measured. "For now, I must prioritize my research. I won't tolerate any interference."
With a brief, dismissive glance at John, Dr. Idris concluded, "If you'll excuse yourself, I have pressing matters to attend to."
John bowed, his expression subdued, and turned to leave. As he departed, Djuma's twitching ears tracked his movement, sensing his intense, simmering resentment.
This unexpected display sparked astonishment among the lab's occupants. Lara's voice rose in incredulity, "How is he doing that?! It's as if he's aware of everything outside!"
Dr. Idris approached the glass room and deactivated the intercom device on the adjacent wall, rendering the glass room's soundproofing inactive. This allowed Djuma to hear the conversations outside.
"Hello there!" Dr. Idris called out to Djuma, his tone friendly and inquiring. "What's your name?"
Djuma's ears twitched toward Dr. Idris, acknowledging his presence, but he remained silent. His ears soon returned to their normal position, and he resumed pacing, his movements fluid and deliberate.
The room fell silent, with all eyes fixed on Djuma, awaiting a response that never came. Dr. Idris's gaze lingered on Djuma, his expression thoughtful, as he pondered the entity's enigmatic behavior.
Djuma remained unresponsive, his closed eyes cast downward as he continued pacing within the glass room.
Undeterred, Dr. Benjamin shared their findings, his eyes referencing the jotter he had been writing in earlier. "Following extensive analysis, we've discovered that the alien's blood is remarkably similar to human blood, and his DNA shares striking similarities as well."
He paused, studying the jotter before continuing. "Our experiments suggest that his native environment likely utilizes oxygen, considering his physiological resemblance to a hybrid of human and certain bat species."
"To proceed with further experimentation, we require additional DNA samples from him. Unfortunately, that will necessitate sedating him again," Mr. Sawyer added.
As the researchers conversed, Djuma's pacing halted abruptly. He turned toward them, his shut eyes somehow seeming to bore into the researchers. His expression conveyed frustration, but his silence remained unbroken.
The room fell silent once more, with all eyes fixed on Djuma. Dr. Idris observed him intently, searching for any sign of understanding or acknowledgment.
Despite the entity's unresponsiveness, Dr. Idris sensed a growing tension, as if Djuma's silence was a thin veil hiding a deeper, more complex consciousness.
Dr. Idris nodded in agreement, his expression reflective. He let out a thoughtful sigh and turned to his colleagues. "Sedating him is unavoidable, but we need time to encourage communication," he stated.
Just then, his phone rang, breaking the silence. Dr. Idris answered, his voice crisp. "Yes, sir. We're still on it sir."
He listened briefly before responding, "I understand. I'll be right up."
Replacing the receiver, Dr. Idris turned to his colleagues. "The Administrator has requested a meeting on the 9th floor. I presume he's eager to learn about our progress."
He glanced at Djuma, still pacing in the glass room. "Keep a close eye on him while I'm away. I'll return shortly."
"Yes, sir!" Mr. Benjamin and Mr. Sawyer responded in unison.
Dr. Idris nodded, his lab coat swaying gently as he walked toward the door. He exited his office, leaving his colleagues to monitor Djuma, whose enigmatic presence seemed to fill the room.
****
The trio stood before the imposing NASA headquarters, their gazes fixed on the building that had swallowed their friend. Rachael's voice was laced with concern. "How are we going to get inside without being thrown out?"
Her eyes drifted to a specific spot on the street, the scene of Djuma's capture. Stefan's gaze, meanwhile, was drawn to the rooftop, the source of the previous night's unsettling events.
"What is this place, anyway?" Stefan asked, his curiosity palpable.
Christina filled the silence. "It's NASA – National Aeronautics and Space Administration. They're a government agency comprised of astronauts, scientists, and engineers, primarily focused on research and space exploration."
Stefan and Rachael's eyes widened in surprise, their gazes snapping back to Christina. "How did you know that?" they asked in near-unison.
Christina's response was matter-of-fact. "You're kidding, right? With my dad as the chief scientist here, it'd be ridiculous if I didn't know."
"You can't enter dressed like that," a familiar voice came, interrupting their conversation.
The trio turned to face the speaker, and their eyes met the suited figure of an NPS agent, approaching them with purpose.
"Raymond!" the trio exclaimed in unison, shock etched on their faces.
"What brings you here?" Stefan inquired, his brows furrowed.
"He works here, have you forgotten?" Rachael reminded him.
Stefan's eyes widened as memories flooded back.
Christina's expression turned venomous. "You coward! How could you abandon us in last night in the face of danger?"
Raymond scoffed. "As if I invited you to go get yourself into dangerous situation. I'm alive and kicking, thanks to my ability to avoid getting tangled up in your harebrained scheme."
"I'm the only one left for my mother, I can't let her live in this dangerous world alone," he said. His gaze swept over the trio's attire, and a lopsided grin spread across his face. "You think you can pass through those doors dressed like that?"
Christina rolled her eyes, her voice laced with disdain. "Why do you care? Did we ask for your help?"
Raymond's eyes locked onto Christina. "Aren't you here to rescue your alien friend?"
The trio exchanged stunned glances. Rachael's voice trailed off. "How did you..."
Raymond's expression turned serious. "Trust me, I'd prefer to stay out of this, but I'm cornered. If I don't cooperate, I'll face the consequences – losing my job would be the least of my worries; my life would be on the line."
His words hung in the air, leaving the trio wondering what Raymond knew and what his true intentions were.
Raymond checked his wristwatch, noting the time: 8:31 a.m. "Follow me, we're running out of time," he directed, striding toward the NASA underground garage.
Christina, Stefan, and Rachael exchanged skeptical glances before trailing behind him. Catching up, they walked alongside Raymond, their faces still etched with surprise.
"Do you guys have a plan?" Raymond asked, ensuring they were within earshot.
Christina shrugged nonchalantly. "We go in, rescue our friend, and get out. What more do we need to do?"
Raymond halted abruptly, his expression incredulous. "Dear lord, are you kidding me?!" He burst into laughter, shaking his head. "Seriously? Like it's a cakewalk?"
His amusement faded, replaced by a serious tone. "Every room, office, corridor, elevator, and staircase is equipped with CCTV cameras. There are nine floors, each with approximately eight NPS agents. And you're going in without a plan?"
Rachael's voice held a hint of desperation. "If you have a better plan, please share it. We desperately need any help."
Raymond remained silent, his eyes scanning the garage. He led them toward a sleek black van parked in the shadows.
Without a word, he unlocked the van and slid open the side door, revealing an array of high-tech gadgets and equipment.
The trio exchanged hopeful glances, sensing Raymond might be more invested in their mission than they initially thought.