“Wait here.” Jonty said to me as he walked to the door. It swooshed open and he cautiously peered out, looking in all directions to see if the corridor was clear.

I tapped a few keys on the keyboard to make sure the files were completely erased, then I shut the computer down. Switching off the simulators, I felt a pang in my heart. Our time on the machines and in simulation had become a nightly occasion for Jonty and I, and I wondered if we'd ever have that time together again. Even though I was angry at him, I had to admit that I’d enjoyed his company. He was smart, kind and dependable, or that was the personality he had shown me. Maybe that wasn't who 'Captain Miller’ was at all.

“Ariah.” Jonty said as he walked back in the room. I jumped slightly when he said my name, hoping that he hadn't heard my thoughts somehow.

“Ariah, the corridor is clear, let's go." Jonty whispered loudly and motioned for me to follow him out of the lab.

I walked over to him and he started to walk out the door in front of me.

“Why are you whispering now? If anything you should have been whispering before when we were trying not to be caught using the lab." I said sarcastically as he walked past me.

Jonty shrugged and smiled softly. His blue eyes twinkling like they did when he was being playful.

“Still annoyed with me, huh?" He said, as he sheepishly raked his hand through his hair. "Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

“Jump back in the simulator and time travel back to a time where we’d never met.” I said scowling at him.

“But the simulator doesn't offer actual time travel yet.” Jonty said, his voice trailing off as he realised what I meant. "You really want a life without me in it?"

“Maybe.” I said sternly, not really meaning it.

He seemed hurt by my comment, his look changing to a frown as he straightened his posture.

“We need to go. I'll walk you to your quarters to make sure that you're safe.” Jonty said not looking at me.

“Jonty, I'm sor…” I started, but he set his mouth into a thin line of disdain and turned away from me.

"Come on.” He sighed and walked to the door. It swished open and he walked out.

I heard what sounded like a laser shot go off and Jonty came hurtling backwards through the doorway landing against one of the desks sending the computer to the floor. He let out a yelp as he slipped off the desk, hitting the floor, knocking himself unconscious. His head lolled to the side and blood pooled underneath him.

“Jonty!” I screamed, rushing to him. Another shot flew high above our heads and then another, closer in aim, skimmed past my check as I knelt down over Jonty’s body.

Another shot flew at me, the vibrant blue laser beam grazed my arm and sent searing pain down to my fingertips. I grimaced and held my arm where I'd been hit, sticky red blood began to ooze through my fingers and the smell of burnt flesh filled my nostrils.

Looking around, I quickly pulled the desk over us and the top fell down in front to act as a shield. Another two shots hit the desk, sending it sliding backwards into Jonty’s outstretched legs. I huddled over him trying to clear my panicked mind to come up with a plan to escape.

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The door swished closed blocking the rest of the incoming shots, I could hear them hit the outside of it. Seizing the opportunity, I quickly jumped up and banged the lock button on the touch pad controller on the way to the side of the door and the door remained shut.

Rushing back to Jonty, I pushed the desk out of the way, it was still smouldering from where it had been hit and the smell of smoke filled the room. I knelt down over Jonly, my heart racing.

Putting my ear to his chest I could hear his heart beating slowly. Relief rose in my stomach as I confirmed that he was still alive. I looked at him trying to see where he'd been hit, locating the strike spot on his shoulder. Blood ran from a blast hole surrounded by burst flesh around the outside, I looked around for something to cover the wound.

Remembering that we were in an actual lab, I got up and ran to a cabinet near the simulators and pulled drawers out looking for bandages and gauze, no longer worrying about the mess and if people would discover that we’d been using the lab after hours. It would be obvious when the team came to work in the morning that someone had been using the lab the night before, and I didn’t have time to clean up the current disaster.

I found some medical supplies tucked neatly in a cupboard, I grabbed them and then slid across the floor on my knees to get to Jonty quicker.

“Jonty, you have to wake up. Please, I have to get you out of here." I said urgently to him, as I put pressure on and bandaged his wound, swiftly wrapping bandages around his shoulder and arm as fast as I could. Looking around the room, I tried to see if there was any other way out when a little red flashing light drew my attention.

I looked up at the camera, the red light still blinking at us and I wondered who was on the other side of it. Grabbing one of the research devices that had fallen to the floor, I quickly typed the words ‘Help us!’ in large letters on a document page. I ran over to the camera and held it up in front of it, hoping someone behind it would see and come to our aid. I also hoped that whoever was behind it was on our side.

Banging started on the outside of the door, whoever was shooting at us was attempting to get into the room to finish the job.

Quickly looking around, I saw the rubbish chute and the memory of Jonty saying that the intruder from earlier had jumped down a rubbish chute to evade capture, came to mind.

I discarded the device I was holding to the floor and rushed back to Jonty, the banging outside got louder as I grabbed him under his arms, dragging him into the simulator room to the rubbish chute on the wall.

My breath caught as I saw the trail of blood scraped along the floor from where I'd moved him. He needed a medic fast before he lost too much more.

Using all my strength, I was able to lift Jonty awkwardly up the wall, his head falling to the side as I did so.

“Come on Jonty, wake up.” I said as I slapped him across the face, a little harder than I intended. The shock of the force made him stir and he opened his eyes and looked at me with a glazed expression.

“What…what are you doing?" He asked hoarsely.

“Trying to save our lives.” I said, pleased he was mostly conscious. He took the weight of himself with his legs and pushed himself further up the wall easing the weight off me. I continued to help hold him against the wall while he regained his balance. Wobbling unsteadily, he still looked dazed.

“I'm going to help you into the rubbish chute, we need to escape this room before whoever is out there gets in.” I said, looking at the door concerned. The banging was getting louder and I was sure it wouldn't be long before they would break through.

“Okay.” He winced as I lent past him to reach the keypad to type in the code to open the flap to the chute.

"You smell good." He whispered.

“Thank you, I think? We're standing right next to an open garbage chute so I'm not entirely sure what it is that you're smelling, but okay.” I replied, manoeuvring him over the opening in the wall.

“You should take the compliment." He smirked softly.

“I will once we're safe.” I said as I pushed him backwards to send him sliding down the chute. I heard his cry of surprise get further away as he flew downwards, the sounds of him banging against the metal sides of the chute with his boots, echoed upwards to me.

The door burst open and two hooded figures launched themselves into the room, firing lasers at me as they entered.

I ducked, managing to avoid the blasts, then quickly jumped up into the open chute. I reached out and hit the close button on the touchpad and the flap swiftly slammed shut, narrowly avoiding my feet.

I fell backwards into darkness.