ALIZEH

"This is marvellous," Jurian commented, taking off his scarf. Alizeh had taken hers off too and was staring in awe at the delicate piece of fabric, a mere scarf which could make you invisible.

"How does it work though," Jurian asked Agent Wrench who was tinkering with some small parts on the table, a small microscope attached to one eye, microscopic hooks in both arms and with an air of confidence around him. Though new to this setting, he carried himself with the pride of a person who knows his thing well.

"How does glass disappear in glycerine?" he smirked, without looking up.

"You have to pardon me for having no formal education owing to my not so smooth childhood," Jurian rolled his eyes.

"The two refractive indices match," Alizeh piped up from beside him.

"In the same way, this cloak matches your refractive index to the air around, so that the person seeing you will see only air. I know you won't understand technicalities, so I wouldn't be bothered to provide any either," he remarked.

"It's fine with me," Jurian said, before turning to Alizeh, "Come let's check our InterCloud transportation skills."

Alizeh's eyes widened, "How?"

He bent down so that his face was at her ear, "Let's sneak into Cloud Two base without anyone knowing."

"You sure?" Alizeh seemed to shudder a little from his hot breath blowing into her sensitive ear canal.

"Yes," he let a lot of sexiness pour into his voice. Without a warning, he nibbled on her earlobe before placing a sloppy kiss on her ear.

"Eww, you horny creature," she slapped him lightly.

The little commotion had drawn the attention of Agent Wrench who just narrowed his eyes and went back to work. They giggled and held hands, jumping into the fourth-dimensional time-space.

They materialized into the passageway at the entrance of their Cloud Two base.

"Romantic, don't you think?" Jurian's husky voice sounded at her neck, "perfect for holding a girl to your body and taking her to meet your Mafia boss."

"Don't do that while you're invisible," she shivered at the unfamiliar sensation.

"I know I excite you," he chortled silently.

"You..." Alizeh began to say something but a heavy hand closed her mouth from behind. She struggled to get that hand off of her.

"Shush, listen," Jurian's voice was like a breeze at her ear.

All her senses returned on high alert. Footsteps were approaching from the entrance. Not one, many. They sounded like heavy boots.

"Stay here," Jurian ordered before his body heat faded away, leaving her cold.

"Men. The Special Police Force," Jurian almost surprised her with his speed.

"Are they?"

"Planning to ambush us, yes. You need to..."

Just then they appeared in sight. Deep navy uniforms, gleaming gold badges and cold silver guns in each hand.

"I'll keep them busy. Go inform others," the urgency in Jurian's voice fueled an Adrenaline rush in Alizeh.

"I can't leave you. You're powerful but not invincible," Alizeh's voice became strained.

"I'll take my chances. I'm invisible. We have to contain them here. We can't let them see the other things. Remember, duty comes first."

And just like that one of them was suddenly levitated into the air. The man's face whitened as someone was squeezing his throat. An invisible force threw him hard and he slammed into the wall, collapsing. Panic broke out among the rest who didn't know what hit them. They all took out their guns, trying to gauge the direction of their unseen enemy.

This was a cue for Alizeh to run. Breathlessly she flew through the winding tunnels and burst into the main room. All the members present including Lady A left their chairs and stood up, looking at an invisible something that forced open the door.

Alizeh ripped off her scarf, "Lady A, they're here. We need to get away."

The next few minutes were chaos of calls and orders. People began to rush towards emergency doorways, collecting equipment and gadgets. Some were simply smashed and some wires were torn away. Two men ran off in the direction of the tunnels, probably to help Jurian.

"Liz, come with us," Lady A hooked her arm through Alizeh's.

"Jurian and the guard," Alizeh asked breathlessly, looking towards the direction of the tunnels.

"They'll come after us."

Alizeh obeyed, not wanting to be a distraction in the moment of crisis. The doorway opened up into a void and swallowed them whole. The blackness was deep but Alizeh felt light. It was as if she was floating in space.

"Where are we?" she asked amazed. The realm felt familiar.

"This is a fourth-dimensional space pocket. We can make it communicate with the other Cloud Centres," Agent X's voice floated from some remote corner. Alizeh realised she had felt this way while moving through the time portals. This was like a permanently open energy time portal, accessible to all.

"We need to destroy the base," Lady A held out a remote with a big red button.

"No, they're still there," Alizeh grabbed her wrist in protest, "You can't blow them up too."

Lady A tried to pry her hands away, "We have no choice, Alizeh. Do you think I enjoy doing this? But we can't let the guards find this exit."

"We always have a choice. You are willing to let your men die?" Alizeh spluttered, anger searing through her veins, as she wrestled with Lady A for the remote.

"A small sacrifice for the greater good. Duty comes first," Lady A hissed through her teeth, throwing Alizeh off her. She staggered back in shock and lunged for her. The others too joined in the fray, trying to pry them apart.

"Quick, Lady A, detonate the place," Jurian's urgent voice sounded at the gateway. He ripped off his scarf, revealing angry red areas on his hands and face.

"Eric? Don?" someone from the dark asked. Her voice was shaking.

"They were easy targets. You shouldn't have let them come to my aid," he shook his head sadly. Alizeh realized that the other two men did not make it. She felt her heart crying silently for two people she hardly knew.

Lady A, who had gained her composure by this time, scrambled to her feet and pressed the button. The entire space seemed to shake with the impact as the last traces of their base exploded with the guards in it.

Jurian gently moved in and enfolded Alizeh's body in his big hug. She began sobbing softly into his broad chest.