“What do you mean I can’t see him? He’s my father.”

Now Wren and Tora knew for sure that something was up.

“Young lady, your father is in intensive care. You could not speak with him even if it were permitted, he’s unconscious.”

“Okay fine, just let me at least see that he is alive and resting.”

“I’m sorry, but that won’t be possible at this time. We will let you know as soon as this request can be granted.”

"This bitch!"

Tora cursed. “I’ve never seen her before, who is she anyway?”

“Mrs. Bolt, I think? I’m not sure, but I think I saw her when my Dad took me to work once.”

Wren held Tora’s hand and started pulling away from the entrance of the lab.

“Listen, this is hopeless. We’re not getting in this way.”

“Wren, we have to get in! My Dad’s in there and the fact they don’t want me to see him, simply means I have to!”

“I know…” He agreed. “But this is not the right way to go about it.”

The two talked and after a short while went back to Wren’s dome. They ate, gathered together as a family and went about business as usual under the circumstances. Family and friends occasionally stopped by to pay their respects and give their condolences. Tora tried to keep it together as best she could. She focused all her energy on figuring out how to get to her father, rather than thinking about her deceased brother whom she loves so much.

Night came quickly. The lights were out and neatly tucked under the covers were two peeping souls. The sound of the clock ticking above her head made for a maddening wait. She sighed.

- No really, move slower… please

She ridiculed the deadness of the night and stillness of the passing hour. The anxiety was killing her.

“Hey…”

Wren, standing outside her window like a burglary, spoke to her in a hushed voice as a reminder for her to keep quiet.

“Your dad…?” she asked,

“Fast asleep… let’s go!” he prompted.

They wore black, took a rope, a few of Sora’s old inventions and whatever tools Wren could find from his Dad’s study. Mr. Gravov was an Engineer and a part-time Technician. They couldn’t risk being seen, so they left the Mobi and headed out on their hover blades. When they got to the Research Lab, they went around back in the parking lot.

“Ahh, it’s already 3:30,” Wren looked down at his watch, “it took us 20 minutes to get here.”

They scoped the area; Wren manipulated the surveillance cameras as technological science was his expertise and then found the most secluded place to set up and hide. He searched for the window they scoped earlier yesterday and prepared the grappling gun.

“You sure you want to do this right?” He cautioned her one last time.

She sat up from the ground after attaching the necessary part of the grappling gun to her clothing then tugged his arm and locked her eyes with his. “I just don’t want you to get hurt too… I’ve lost so many people I care about.”

He looked down as if he didn’t know what to say but finally spoke.

“Tora, you’re my best friend. When you lost your Mom, I was there for you. When I lost my mom, you were there for me. Like then, I am here for you now.”

His words halted her movements, and she took a moment to appreciate him.

“Thank you, Wren.” She smiled at him.

Then she took the grappling from his hand and shot it at the building.

It missed. She wheeled it back in and went again.

"Yes!" She exhaled.

It hooked the rail.

“Are you sure this will hold?” He raised concern.

“Sora designed it.” She assured him.

“Point taken…”

Holding the handle firmly, she placed one leg on the wall and proceeded to climb.

“Wait, which time do the panels light up?”

“They start around 4:30 am”

She exhaled deeply…

“Then we better make this quick.”