"What are we going to do now?" Christina whispered, her voice quivering with trepidation, barely audible over the pounding of her heart.
Just as the situation seemed irretrievable, the door swung open abruptly, and the first guard froze, his movements suspended mid-action. He turned to his colleague, who stood sentinel beside the door, his eyebrows arched in perplexity.
"Did you hear that?" he inquired, his tone laced with uncertainty.
"Hear what?" the second guard replied, incredulity etched in his voice, his expression skeptical.
"I could have sworn I heard a voice just now," the first guard explained, his gaze scanning the area, searching for clarification.
He turned back to Rachael, his hand extended once more, poised to remove her nose mask. However, his actions were halted by his colleague's interjection.
"Wait a minute," the second guard said, his voice measured, as he remained stationed beside the door, observing the unfolding scenario. "I think I heard the voice too," he continued.
"I think I heard the voice of one of the researchers ordering us to grant them access," he elaborated, his eyes narrowing, replaying the sound in his mind.
"Yeah, me too," the first guard confirmed, his expression transformed from skepticism to conviction. He stepped back, relinquishing his grasp on Rachael's nose mask, as a look of uncertainty crossed his face. Rachael, still shaking with fear, seemed paralyzed, unable to articulate a response.
Seizing the opportunity, Christina intervened, her voice steady and resolute. "Now that that's settled, may we proceed? We're running severely behind schedule," she urged.
The guards' brows furrowed in unison as Christina's assertive voice resonated through the air. One of them cast a curious glance at the black helmet nestled in Rachael's cart, but refrained from comment. With a nod, they stepped aside, granting the trio passage.
As they proceeded through the doorway, the door swung shut behind them, enveloping them in the lab's sterile atmosphere.
Upon entering Dr. Idris' lab, the trio was met with the familiar sight of two researchers engrossed in their experiments. Oblivious to the newcomers, the researchers' focused intensity remained unwavering.
However, Djuma, confined within the glass room, sensed their arrival. He ceased pacing and turned toward the trio, his eyes locking onto theirs. A profound sigh of relief escaped his lips as he beheld his would-be rescuers.
The researchers, alerted by Djuma's unusual behavior, followed his gaze until their eyes rested on the trio. "What brings you here again?" Mr. Sawyer demanded, his voice firm and authoritative.
Before anyone could respond, Djuma's voice boomed from behind, "What else would they be doing here? They're obviously here for me."
As he emerged from the glass room, his confident demeanor commanded attention. The researchers' eyes widened in astonishment.
"Impossible!" Mr. Benjamin stuttered, his voice trembling as he struggled to maintain his composure. "How...how did you manage to get out of there?" His words hung in the air, laced with a mix of shock and trepidation.
Mr. Sawyer's eyes widened in stunned silence as he collapsed to the floor, his mind reeling from the unprecedented events unfolding before him. His lips moved, but no words escaped his mouth, his voice frozen in shock.
Rachael swiftly ignored the researchers' frantic gazes and retrieved the helmet from her cart. With a fluid motion, she tossed it to Djuma, who snatched it effortlessly in mid-air.
Djuma examined the helmet, his expression unsatisfied. "This design is too restrictive; it will impede my hearing," he remarked.
Rachael's response was resolute. "You don't have a choice; it's the only protection I could procure to shield you from the sun's rays."
"We must leave now; every moment counts!" Rachael urged, her voice infused with urgency.
Meanwhile, Mr. Benjamin darted toward the alarm on the wall, but Stefan swiftly intercepted him. "I apologize, but we can't let you raise the alarm; we must safeguard our friend," Stefan explained.
Regaining his composure, Mr. Sawyer sprang to his feet and lunged toward the alarm, smashing it with force. However, to his astonishment, the device remained silent. Djuma had utilized his extraordinary abilities to mute the alarm.
"How...how is this possible?" Mr. Sawyer muttered under his breath, his eyes wide with incredulity.
The guards outside Dr. Idris' office grew uneasy, detecting muffled sounds emanating from within. After a moment's hesitation, they pushed open the door to investigate.
One guard's eyes widened in shock as he took in the chaotic scene. "Holy shit!" he gasped, his gaze fixed on the researchers, now confined within the glass room, their faces contorted in desperation.
*****
Rachael, Stefan, and Christina let out blood-curdling screams as Djuma swept them up in his powerful grasp, lifting them off the ground with ease.
Rachael and Christina were ensnared by his massive, muscular hands, their fingers instinctively grabbing into his thick arms as they clung tightly to his torso for dear life.
Meanwhile, Stefan wrapped his arms around Djuma's neck from behind, securing himself in place as he settled onto the broad expanse of Djuma's back. Nestled between the majestic bat wings,
With a burst of incredible speed, Djuma soared into the sky, his piercing gaze scanning the ground below to chart a safe course. He navigated through the air with precision, dodging potential obstacles and evading detection.
As they ascended higher, the wind whipped through their hair, and the trio's screams were lost amidst the rush of the wind, their hearts racing with a mix of exhilaration and terror.
Djuma's wings beat powerfully, propelling them upward, leaving the NASA facility and its dangers far beneath them. The trio clung to him, trusting in his strength and determination to deliver them to safety.
Djuma's voice was barely audible over the rushing wind as he asked, "Should I take you guys home?"
"I don't think that's a good idea! Just find a quiet street to drop us off!" Stefan replied, his voice echoing into Djuma's ears.
Djuma nodded, his gaze scanning the landscape below. With a swift motion, he dove downward, his powerful wings propelling them toward the ground.
The trio's stomachs dropped as they plummeted, the wind whipping through their hair. Finally, Djuma landed gracefully on a deserted street, setting the trio gently on the pavement.
"Are you certain you must leave now?" Christina asked, concern etched on her face.
Djuma's expression turned resolute. "I must. I don't know how the Jyuran is doing right now, and every moment with his son puts Perebia's safety at risk. I cannot afford to delay."
Rachael's brow furrowed with worry. "But won't the sun's rays be lethal? Dawn is approaching, and the sun would be up even before you reach the orbit."
Djuma's gaze fell on the helmet secured on his head. "That's why I requested this. Its protection will suffice. I've gathered enough strength for the journey. If I'm injured, I'll recover once I reach my planet."
Djuma's face set in a determined expression. "Until we meet again," he said, a faint smile dancing on his lips. "It was a pleasure encountering you all."
The trio watched, awestruck, as he prepared to embark on his perilous quest.
With a final nod, Djuma spread his majestic wings and lifted off the ground, his wings beating powerfully as he soared into the sky. The trio watched, transfixed, as his figure dwindled into the distance until he vanished from sight.
"Goodbye, Djumara," Stefan whispered, his eyes still fixed on the horizon.
The silence that followed was broken by Christina's sudden exclamation, "Dammit! We left our school uniforms in Raymond's van, parked in the NASA underground garage."
"Shit, you're right!" Stefan concurred, alarm creeping into his voice. "Now what?"
"We retrieve them, of course," Rachael's practicality took over.
Scanning their desolate surroundings, she noted the area's remoteness, likely a development zone. "Does anyone know how to get out of here?"
Stefan's sly smile spread across his face. "Leave that to me." He pulled out his phone and launched the map app. After a brief moment, he let out a relieved sigh.
"Let's move, guys," he said and led the way. The trio set off on another journey back to the NASA headquarters.
Their footsteps echoed through the stillness, a newfound sense of camaraderie forged through their extraordinary adventure with Djuma.