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Issue #52: Infiltration

Zack and Rachel crouched through the shadows as they moved towards the Alpha House. Zack did his best to not to notice the silent wreckage strewn all around campus. The quakes had subsided for now, but the smoke still stung Zack’s eyes. Kaine had played him the entire time, used him to do his dirty work.

Now, it was time for payback.

Both Zack and Rachel were both clad in tight black clothing, allowing them to better blend in with the shadows. Despite the stealthy practicality of her attire, Rachel still looked amazing, with her tight black jogging pants and fitted running shirt showcasing her athletic form. Zack struggled not to acknowledge his attraction, but if Rachel picked up on it psychically, she didn’t show it.

“There,” she said, pointing out from a nearby corner.

Zack peered out from his hiding spot, tucked behind the rough concrete corner of a still-standing building. He could see the Alpha House coming into view. A half a dozen or so of his former frat brothers sat outside the Alpha House, chatting and loitering. It would be a hard fight but Zack might be able to take them, assuming they didn’t call for back-up.

He could definitely take them in his Knightbrand armor, but that meant confessing even more of his secrets to Rachel. It had been hard enough to do that during their last conversation, and he definitely didn’t want to strain their relationship any more than he already had.

Fortunately, he didn’t need to. More Alphas soon made their way onto the front porch and steps, until Zack counted at least two dozen. They were all looking at something.

Zack followed their line of sight to see Blake and Perry, fake-feuding on the sidewalk. At least Zack hoped they were fake-feuding. Perry looked terrified and confused out of his mind.

“Looks like the distraction is working,” Rachel said.

“Still leaves us to find a way in,” Zack replied.

“Up there,” Rachel pointed to a nearby fire escape. Zack scanned the windows for any signs of Alpha sentries, but he saw none. Nor did he see any better options, so he just nodded as the two of them moved forward.

Lightning cast out of Blake’s hands in the distance as Perry showed signs of getting into character.

“She’s pretty good at this,” Zack said.

“She wanted to be a drama major,” Rachel said. “Before her powers kicked in.”

“Doesn’t look like her powers are slowing her down much,” Zack said, before turning to the fire escape and gesturing to Rachel. “After you.”

“Ever the gentleman,” Rachel gave him a slight smirk as she climbed up the fire escape. It was the closest thing to a smile Zack had received from Rachel. He tried his best to play it cool. The two of them quietly scampered up the fire escape, taking care not to alert the Alphas with their footsteps on the black metal frame. Within a couple minutes, they made it to the top window. Rachel opened it and crept in, with Zack right behind her.

She turned back to him and raised her finger to her lips. As Zack slipped through the window, he could see the other Alphas less than a few feet away. The window had led to a back bedroom, but Alphas were strewn just outside of the house. He could spy several of their members drinking and partying in the hallway just outside. If any of them recognized him, a fight would break out in the middle of the Alpha house.

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The light suddenly flickered. Zack looked up to see the lights dimming and then brightening before shutting off entirely.

“Looks like Blake’s escapades did us a favor,” Rachel said, looking up.

The two of them crept towards the bed room, now emboldened by the shadows. Rachel raised her hand suddenly. Zack moved inches away from her, so he almost ran into her back. Rachel turned to him and then pointed at a closet door. She slowly opened it and then pushed on the back of the closet, revealing a fake wall. She began to lift it, but Zack moved it quickly and helped her move the fake wall aside without making a sound. He then turned and shut the closet door, eliminating any evidence they had been there in the first place.

“How did you know this was here?” he asked.

“I didn’t,” Rachel turned to him before tapping her forehead. “But they did. And I think all that booze helped me read even more.”

“You’re amazing,” Zack said.

“I know,” Rachel answering, turning away. “Now come on. This leads down to the tunnels.”

It didn’t take long for them to reach the tunnels. Zack knew the system would run back to the old library, but he felt a pang of despair.

Why did they want to go back to the library? Zack knew the Magnometer wasn’t found in any of Max’s display cases. Kaine likely knew Zack could probably get the Magnometer with a simple smash-and-grab, and given how tense things were between Kaine and Max, he likely didn’t want to risk Max turning the Magnometer back over to Shaw and taking all the credit.

Kaine would be smart about where he stashed the Magnometer. But just where would it be?

The Alpha House seemed like a smart bet, but then again, he’d be surrounded by drunk and high frat boys who could damage the Magnometer if they weren’t careful. Even if Kaine kept it on his person, there’d still be a risk some dumb bro would try to engage Kaine in an impromptu wrestling match. He wouldn’t take the chance it’d smashed in all the rough-housing.

That left the tunnels as his smartest bet to keep the Magnometer. Not in the Alpha House. Or the Alpha HQ.

But somewhere in-between.

Rachel turned on her phone and began to use the flashlight to scan the darkness. Zack did the same. His eyes fell upon a rack of several items off to the side.

“That’s just supplies,” Rachel said. Zack examined the rack.

“Not unless they use the Sword of Kid Achilles to unplug the toilet,” Zack said. Rachel turned and looked as Zack examined the equipment, raising an ancient shortsword.

“What is all this stuff?” Rachel said.

“Superhero gear from retired members of the Alpha House,” Zack said. “It’s like a museum. You only see ten percent of their collection. The rest is kept in storage.”

“But why would they keep it all in here?” Rachel asked.

“Because the display case in the old library is filled with Max’s exploits,” Zack said. “This is all the memorabilia from the actual members of the Alpha House.”

“This Max guy must have some ego,” Rachel said.

“You have no idea,” Zack replied. He fished through the gear. There were weapons, utility belts, throwing stars and a couple rings, with nothing organized in any particular order.

Finally Zack found his hand falling upon a familiar round mechanism.

“I got it,” Zack said as he pulled up the Magnometer from the pile of assorted superhero weaponry.

“What was it doing here?” Rachel asked.

Zack noticed the dust on most of the items. “It’s the place no one would look. We should go-”

Zack started to turn into the shadows only to run headlong into another figure. The tall and lanky figure brandished a long electric light, revealing Scott’s features in the darkness.

“What are you doing?” he asked, his eyes already narrowing with suspicion.