The room's tension grew as Triston and Yunli worked together to decipher the code and encryption. Scott watched, his eyes narrowing as he tried to understand the complexity of the situation.
"We need to prioritize," Triston said, his fingers scribbling notes furiously. "Let's focus on the most critical information. IP addresses, server locations, and any encryption keys."
Yunli nodded, her eyes still fixed on the screen. "I'll try to highlight the most important parts but I doubt I'll be able to even cover about one percent of it."
As they worked, the room's atmosphere became more intense. The clock was ticking, and every second counted. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Yunli spoke up.
"Time's running out," she said, her voice low and urgent. "We need to wrap this up, we have just a minute left."
Triston nodded, his eyes scanning the notes they had scribbled down. "We've got three pages of codes," he said. "It's not everything, but it's a start."
Yunli nodded, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she immediately left escaped from the passkey which was already showing signs of putting up a fire wall and closed the connection. "I've also got a record of the call Jeffery just finished with one of his superiors," she said. "It might be useful."
Scott's eyes lit up with interest. "Play it back," he said.
Yunli nodded, her fingers typing smoothly as she pulled up the recording. The room fell silent as they listened to the conversation between Jeffery and his superior.
The recording ended, and the room's attention turned back to the notes they had scribbled down. Scott's eyes scanned the pages, his mind racing with possibilities.
"This is a good start," he said. "Let's get to work on deciphering these codes later. We might be able to get more information out of them."
" What about now?" yunli asked.
" Well it's better to take things slowly...." Scott was interrupted by a phone call which cause him to squint his eyes.
" It seems like one rat slipped into the city, he's got a broken leg supported by a metal on the sides for recovery. Also I've got him staying at a small room at the alley where I work, ask Julius if it's one of his trainees if not should I take care of him?" The voice over the other end of the call wasn't sounding too old or young making it hard to determine who it was to freely speak to Scott in such manner "
Scott's eyes further squinted as he listened to the voice on the other end of the call. The voice was neutral, neither old nor young, making it difficult to determine the speaker's identity. Julius, who was standing nearby, overheard the conversation and his expression changed to one of recognition.
"Ryan?" Julius thought as he turned to Scott, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Scott nodded subtly, his eyes still fixed on the phone. "Yes, I know the one you're talking about," Scott said, trying to keep his tone neutral. "Let me check with Julius."
Julius took the phone from Scott, his voice calm and reassuring. "Let him rest for a few days," Julius said. "I'll work out some things so he doesn't cause a burden. You can trust me on this."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, Scott thought the call had been dropped. But then, without another word, the call was hung up.
Julius handed the phone back to Scott, his expression thoughtful. "That was Ryan," he said, his voice low. "I'm glad he's safe."
Scott nodded, his eyes scanning Julius's face. "What could have happened to him?" he asked, his voice low.
Julius's expression was grim. "I don't know, but he's definitely part of the people these soldiers are looking for. Let's focus on getting more information out of these codes first."
The room's tension had dissipated slightly from others perspective , as it was now replaced by a sense of relief that Ryan was safe.
The soldiers, including Jeffery, walked around the area of the infirmary, their movements solid and orderly. They had been given rooms to share, but the tension was palpable, and no one seemed inclined to stay indoors. As they strolled, their loose-fitting clothes billowed slightly in the breeze, revealing the outline of Glocks tucked behind their backs, secured within their belts. The guns were a reassuring presence, a reminder that they were still armed and ready for anything.
But it was the combat knives hidden within their shoes that truly made them feel prepared. The knives were a last resort, a final line of defense in case things went terribly wrong. Jeffery's eyes scanned the area, his mind racing with possibilities. He knew they couldn't stay here forever, but for now, it was a temporary haven.
As they walked, the soldiers' eyes met, exchanging silent communication. They were a team, a unit, and they knew how to work together. The infirmary's sterile environment seemed to fade into the background as they moved, their focus solely on the task at hand.
The fluorescent lights overhead cast an artificial glow, making the soldiers' faces seem pale and drawn. But despite the fatigue, their eyes sparkled with determination. They were in this together, and they would see it through to the end.
Jeffery's gaze lingered on the makeshift infirmary, where medical supplies and equipment lay scattered. The injured soldiers had been patched up, but the wounds ran deeper than just physical. They were all struggling to come to terms with their situation, and Jeffery knew he had to keep them focused.
"Let the injured go back to rest while those without injury follow me to see the outside," Jeffery said, his voice low and even. "We need to stay alert."
Jeffery and three of his comrades walked outside, the bright sunlight a stark contrast to the dimly lit infirmary. The noon sun beat down on them, casting long shadows behind. As they walked, they noticed a group of trainees jogging around a large farm land. Vincent and Yunli were among them, their faces set in determined expressions.
Behind them, Scott drove an old model tractor, his eyes fixed on the trainees. Every now and then, he would crack his whip, striking those who fell behind. The sound of the whip cracking echoed through the air, a reminder of the strict discipline being enforced.
Jeffery's eyes narrowed as he watched the scene unfold. "What's going on here?" he asked one of his comrades, his voice low.
The soldier shook his head. "I don't know, but it looks like they're being trained to be tough like beast of burdens."
Jeffery's gaze lingered on Vincent and Yunli, then began to think, his mind running wild with possibilities. What was the purpose of this training? Or were they slaves?
As they watched, one of the trainees stumbled and fell behind. Scott's whip cracked loudly, striking the trainee's back. The trainee yelped in pain, quickly getting back to their feet and resuming their jog.
Jeffery's eyes flashed with anger, but he kept his emotions in check. He knew they couldn't interfere, not yet. But he made a mental note to keep an eye on Scott and his tactics.
The scene was a stark reminder of the harsh realities of their world. Survival depended on strength, discipline, and loyalty. And those who couldn't hack it would be left behind.