TERRA EMPIRE: ON THE EVE OF WORLD WAR

Episode 24: I WILL DO THE SAME WITH HIM

Police and Machina Factory security personnel worried Howard Tramp, in a special room owned by the boy, Duncan Tramp, the president was still sitting on the sofa even though fatigue was not so felt anymore in his body. He was busy watching how the people with him were staring at the drama that was happening on the fourth floor through the monitor screen on Duncan Tramp's desk with a tense face.

“Crazy...absolutely crazy! Both are lucky to escape,” comments Bill.

“Where are those kids now?” ask Duncan.

Professor McQueen said, “They seem to be in a room between the pantry or the janitorial warehouse.”

“Is there no CCTV around there?”

The Professor shook his head sadly, “There is! Unfortunately I didn't connect the camera there to this system. I thought there was no point in the region being watched.”

“Hey, they're out..” show Duncan.

“Yes! You guys see that? They failed to catch the children,” happily Professor McQueen pointed to a screen pointer showing the ****** on the fourth floor who re-assembled in front of the storage room without Jordan and Lana. “I know Lana and Jordan can escape from those villains.”

“Kok you can be sure?” asked Jack who had been tense to see the chase between the two teenagers and the bandits on the fourth floor.

“Yeah, who knows the two boys already te...” Bill fell silent because Jack glared at him. He only realized that his words could dampen the spirit of the people in this room, especially Professor McQueen who became an important key in winning the fight because he was the one who knew this building the most.

“How can I be sure? Of course, as there was no gunfire after they missed shooting at Lana and Jordan near the emergency stairway door. Those people don't want to kill. If they're going to capture both of them alive, of course we can see Lana and Jordan being taken to a more open section on the fourth floor, but you don't see it, right?”

“Maybe you are right.”

“Of course I was right. Therefore we must bring the children here.”

“Hey, don't be crazy..” Bill interrupts.

Professor McQueen replied to agent Bill's words in a deranged manner, “This is a good opportunity, while ****** was preoccupied by the SWAT team and the police who were about to storm in, we can pick up my son and his friend and secure them to this place.”

“It seems that they did not return to the place of his friends,” interrupted Jack who was still watching the monitor screen, as was done on the previous floors the four people split two by two. “They're heading to this floor. Two riding the elevator, two climbing the emergency stairs.”

“Then we should wait until they finish checking this floor,” Duncan Tramp said.

Professor McQueen was about to undo his intentions before he looked on one of the monitors, his daughter and Jordan Cross emerged from the narrow alley where the two disappeared from the chase of the *******. The man held his breath in joy, seeing Lana's hand clutching a cell phone,

“He must have been trying to contact me. He couldn't reach me because the signal couldn't get inside here,” Professor McQueen said in a panic and then turned to his business partner. “I can't wait, Duncan! I have to take Lana and her friend.”

“You mean...you want to get out of this room?” Duncan Tramp is flabbergasted.

“You are aware that the danger is coming to us?” Bill interrupted.

“I can't stay here while my daughter is out there. The possibility of him and his friend getting caught is still great as long as they are still wandering on the fourth floor, or it could even be that they descend to the hall below,” Professor McQueen said with no less spicy.

“It's too late, Professor! Can't you just wait a little bit until they're done with this floor?” said Jack.

“If you want to stay in this room to look after the President, please! But I have to protect my daughter and her friend. They are my responsibility, just like the President is your responsibility.”

“He's right, Jack! I'll do the same with Professor if Duncan is in danger. Go..watch Professor..let Ryan and Bill take care of me here.”.

“Damn!” Jack muttered a little, but finally gave up. The dark-skinned man said with a slight huff. “Come, Professor! Our journey is difficult, therefore may you be ready.”

“They just went up the emergency stairs.We still have three-four minutes if we go out now,” Professor McQueen said.

“Hey, boss! If you want to get out, you should contact the headquarters. Ask them to bring us reinforcements,” Ryan suggested.

“No need you say, that is also what I will do,” Jack responded to the words of his men with a slap while showing the phone he then put into the jacket pocket.

***

The******* was out of the room after making sure the target being chased was no longer on the fourth floor, leaving Jordan and Lana still unnerved in their hiding in the ceiling cubicle. It turned out that the situation was much more serious than expected…

Lana broke the silence with a question that also troubled Jordan, “You heard what they said?”

“That more serious daddy with them..don't-don't him..”.

“We don't know for sure, Lana! Don't panic. Try calling your dad first.”

Lana did Jordan's proposal, her face back pale so several times her phone call only connected to the dial tone, “No answer.

“Not necessarily...” Jordan again cut Lana's words in order to keep the girl calm, even though she herself did not know what to do… he didn't know if it was best to stay hidden in this place or go out looking for help…

“Then how can I know that there is no news from him?” Lana's inflamed with anxiety.

Hiding is fun, this place proves to be safe and as long as Lana doesn't mind sitting crammed with her what she's worried about isn't a problem. It's just that Jordan understands that the girl must be overwhelmed with anxiety about the fate of her father so just staying in this place will not make them know the conditions that are happening out there.

“Please tell me, what should I do?” Jordan finally said to himself, especially to the voice that often muttered in his head.

And the voice replied in a lazy style, as if the question was not important, ‘If you are also as anxious as Lana of course you will also find out.’.

“Then I have to get out of this room?” Jordan has confirmed.

‘Surely that's the first thing you should do, right?’

“The problem is how can I be sure that we will be safe? How about ******* that came back and caught us while on the fourth floor?”

‘You heard it yourself, right? They are no longer interested in you.You are not the main target.they are hunting the President and the people who are with him.’.

“Then I will go down now,” Jordan said.

“Hah?” Lana looked at the confusion.

“You heard me say? We're down now. We're looking for your father.”

“What if those criminals catch us?” Lana frowned.

“You heard what those people said? They are currently looking for the President! They don't care about us who aren't the main target,” Jordan replied.

Unwilling to linger waiting for Lana's response, Jordan opened the lid of the window sill, lowered the stairs slowly until it extended to the floor, and descended the steps one by one. Lana watched anxiously, but the girl then followed her as well once Jordan had set foot on the floor.

Jordan glanced through the door slit slowly, he wanted to make sure the men were gone and he was relieved once he found the situation before him empty. Open the door slowly before stepping into the room. Lana followed with concern but her anxiety was too much because once she got in the hallway leading to the storage room of the******* it was not visible anymore.

“Try calling your father again,” says Jordan.

“Alright,” Lana nodded before dialing Archibald McQueen's mobile number again. The girl turned her gaze to Jordan. “No answer yet.”

“Try on!”

Lana complied, she still did not get an answer until when she and Jordan were in the hallway near the storage room finally her father's phone was lifted and her father's voice sounded from behind the connection, “Lana?”

“Daddy...” Lana squealing small. His eyes were teary, unexpectedly he could still hear his father's voice again. Jordan who heard it breathed a sigh of relief. Getting help from an adult at a time like this is certainly something of a relief. “Thankful..”.

“Finally I can get a connection to contact you..”.

“Daddy is okay?”

“I'm fine. I'm with Jack Higgins.”

“Jack who?” Lana frowned, suddenly her face panicked. “Did Jack Higgins take you hostage? Is he among the criminals who locked up this place and the President?”

“Not..not.heard, Daddy was there to pick you up and Jordan to take you to a safe place. But before that, Daddy has a plan and needs your help.”

“I listened..”

***