Anya and Alvin entered a minimalistic, monochrome office room. Both saw the tense security officer waiting for something without focusing on the file in front of him.
'Knock…'
Anya knocked on the door as she stepped inside hurriedly. She didn't wait for permission as she didn't have much time.
Stunned, Stefan stood up looking at the couple still on the ship. He was waiting for his men to report him about their departure. He was tense thinking about what they were going to do in the water. They could die if they were in the ocean for a long time. No human could float for a long time or swim for hundreds of kilometers.
"Mr. Matthews? What's wrong? Is there a problem?" He asked as he crossed the table and stood in front of them.
Alvin didn't respond. He stayed behind Anya who went forward. She didn't beat around the bush and questioned him, "Officer…" She glanced at the name badge on his chest and continued, "Officer Stefan, Do you have control over all the security staff on the ship?"
Stefan looked at Alvin who stood indifferently, whereas his attention was on the lady in the room. He responded in perplexity, "Yes, I do."
Anya barely nodded and asked another question. "Are you certain they are loyal to you?" She wanted an unwavering response so that what she planned doesn't fire back to the people on the ship or the officer.
Stefan frowned hearing her questioning him about his subordinates' loyalty. However, seeing her seriousness, he didn't get angry and responded straightforwardly, "Miss…" Somehow, he was sure that she wasn't the wife of Alvin as they entered there as Collins hence he said didn't call her Ms. Collins or Mrs. Matthews. "It's my team. They aren't somebody planted by Harper Johnson." It was his merchant security team.
"Great!" Anya exclaimed. She wasn't well aware of this information as it was all new to her. Since Alvin trusted the man, she chose to trust him for the safety of the people on the ship.
"The ship will reach the shore tomorrow by three in the afternoon. the ship mustn't route to any other place and everything should stay under your control." Anya stated hurriedly, stressing that he should have overall control.
Stefan glanced at Alvin again. Why was he feeling like she had a hand in cutting off a vacation? And she seemed to be sure that there would be a problem on the ship.
Anya continued without bothering about the questioning gaze of the officer, "Now, ask your men to immediately block the crew space. They shouldn't get the chance to enter the engine rooms or any upper decks." Her instructions were crystal clear.
Stefan furrowed his brows hearing her directions. Although he got to know people often sit in a five to ten members group, it wasn't against any rules. He couldn't lock those many people as it would affect the functioning of the ship.
"Miss, I can't pass on such orders without proper reasons. It's impossible without the captain's consent." He turned her down. He was willing to listen to her words because she was with Alvin. Else he wouldn't have even felt the need to waste his time on her.
Alvin watched her and Stefan while they conversed. Anya stayed calm despite the rejection. It was like she expected it to happen. He was pondering whether to put in a word, the quicker they leave the ship, it was better for them.
Anya commended the man who was loyal to his work, without being easily influenced by people. She went to his desk as she continued to speak, "Officer Stefan, what are the jobs on the ship that don't need any qualification?"
Stefan: "..."
She didn't wait for the response, "Floor Cleaners. There are more than 200 cleaners who work on shifts on different decks." She sat down on his chair and opened his laptop.
She started working on his laptop as she continued, "There are more than 150 men who clean lower decks, and do other low-grade work." The low-grade works like providing laundry, cleaning the used dishes, maintaining the dry and wet waste on the ship.
While saying it, Anya easily cracked the laptop password and started hacking the network. She had stored a few critical videos that could be extracted. Before Stefan could even think straight about what was happening, he noticed Anya's expression change. There was a hint of alarm in her widened eyes, yet she looked calm.
"What's wrong?" Alvin who had his eyes on her the whole time, made way to her as he asked.
Anya turned the laptop around for Stefan as she answered Alvin, "Manager Payne and his lackeys are gathering people. Anymore late, everyone will be in danger."
The security officer watched the live video of people in the crew space discussing something and making groups. He was already aware that Manager Payne was suspicious but he had no proof to report to the captain.
With Anya's words to Alvin, he guessed what was going on, "Are they planning to seize the ship?" Though he asked to confirm, his hand was already on the radio walkie-talkie.
"Yes." Anya firmly responded while Alvin pulled her from the chair, ready to take her out. "I have saved three videos on the desktop. Show them to the Captain later." In other words, she was asking him to take action first as they had no time.
'Ring… ring...' The intercom on the desk started ringing.
Before one could answer it, a man in a blue uniform ran towards the office in a panic. He reported hysterically, "Officer, there is a problem. A large number of people are gathering in the crew space. We noticed harmful weapons being passed around." His voice was filled with anxiety and hurriedness.
The blue-uniformed man noticed the two and identified Anya and Alvin. He continued and updated the investigation report, "Officer, the men who attacked Collins in the Shopping space and the passageway are with the Manager right now." He was sure something shady was going on.
Stefan heard the update and kept his attention on the main task, "Officer Stefan here, Block all the entry and exit to the crew space immediately. I repeat, block all the entry and exit to the crew space immediately. Keep me updated about the status."
Meanwhile, Anya didn't waste time. She instructed the man in blue uniform, "Tighten the security around the captain. Freeze the elevators, evacuating the guests. Shift all the guests to a safe location. Force them if they don't listen. Be careful about the children and old people. Ground the men immediately if they try to take any hostages. Keep an eye on the vice-captain. Move, quick, don't waste time…"
The man obediently heard each instruction. He almost forgot she was a guest on the ship and even ran up to the door to carry out the instructions. Nevertheless, he paused after a sudden realization.
The security officer, Stefan, froze for a second. It was very clear from her tone and smooth and definite words, this type of scene wasn't new to her. It was as if this was her work, drawing out the quick rescue plans, catching the criminals, controlling the situation.
Stefan waved his hand at his subordinate, indicating to him to do as she instructed. He glanced at his laptop that she hacked and bluntly asked, "Miss, are you an officer?" No ordinary man could be so fluent during such a situation.
Alvin's eyes glued on her, without missing any detail of her actions or words. Her posture or way of speaking screamed of her natural dominance and authoritativeness. Her limbs were restless as if she had to be active and get to work to catch the criminals. At the same time, she couldn't do anything as she was just a guest on the ship. Despite knowing the whole situation, there was no fear, rather confidence to put everything back to peace.
Anya tried her best to be unreactive to the question Stefan asked. "I work as Assistant General Secretary." It was the truth too.
Alvin had noticed her brief pause in her natural composure, 'Avoidance.' Alvin thought. Because she didn't answer the question. Rather responded trickly. Anyway, he had no time to think about it more. Whether she was an officer or not, he didn't care. He doesn't trust anybody's security system other than his. So even if Stefan could follow her commands, he chose to leave the ship.
"Let's go." He quickly tugged her out.
Anya had to jog behind Alvin as she relayed the last instructions, "The ship has to reach the country at any cost." Harper would definitely try to control the situation. "The naval ship and officers will be there to guide you once you are near Narnia offshore."
Stefan saw the two figures leave his sight. He was cent percent sure she couldn't just be any assistant or secretary as she or Wright said. She knew about the law and order system too well.
p
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Meanwhile, the junior officers or subordinates of Stefan got to work immediately without question. The entry and exits of the ship are all made of thick, heavy iron doors. It needs two or three people to close and once locked, it would be impossible to break.
The doors were being shut. At some places, the junior officers even noticed people running towards them, so they quickly tried to take action.
Anya and Alvin took the stairs to go downstairs to reach the first upper deck where the diving suits were stored. Both were running nimbly when they saw five crew spacemen pointing their sharp objects at them and screaming, "They are here. Catch them." Obviously, the main targets are Anya and Alvin.
Alvin's intention wasn't fighting but escaping. The delay could cause more commotion. So he turned around without leaving her hand and started running. He decided to jump from the second deck to the first.
Nevertheless, they ran just a few steps when another group of people appeared at the opposite end, encircling them by both sides of the passageway.
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