Fell for the Trap

Armani and the three girls were surrounded by what appears to be an ancient temple. Towering columns and archways, now partially concealed by flourishing greenery, stand tall against a bright blue sky dotted with fluffy white clouds. Below the ruins, a vast field of white and green flowers extends into the distance. The contrast between the decaying stone and the lush, thriving flora emphasizes the power of nature in reclaiming remnants of a bygone civilization.

As the girls took in the sight, Armani's gaze swept over the temple, her eyes scanning for any traces of Platinum Army activity.

Kinsey leaned closer to Armani, her voice hushed. "So, do you see anything suspicious? Any signs of the Platinum Army's base?"

Armani shook her head slowly, her focus still glued to her surroundings. "Don't look ahead. Don't look above. Look below."

Lowering her gaze, Armani shifted her vision to radio waves and X-ray, mapping out the underground fortress below them.

The girls followed Armani's lead, their eyes looking at the ground beneath them.

"I don't see anything," Rachel muttered, staring at the flowers blanketing the ruins.

"That's 'cause you don't have the Miracle Eyes, dumbass," Armani taunted with a smirk.

Rachel rolled her eyes, feigning annoyance. "Oh, shut it. Not everyone has fancy Miracle Eyes like you."

Armani chuckled softly, keeping her attention directed below. "Well, maybe if you did, you could contribute more to this mission, smartass.”

Kinsey chimed in, cutting through the banter. "Alright, guys, let's focus. Armani, do you see anything below?"

Armani nodded, still focused on the subterranean activity. "Yeah, I'm seeing something. There's a vast underground base down there, spanning several kilometers. It's well-fortified with lead panels, judging from the thermal signatures. It's gonna be a challenge to locate an entry point.”

Rachel glanced curiously downward, trying to imagine the enormous underground base concealed beneath their feet.

"Wait, you mean to tell me there's a massive base hidden underneath all these flowers?" she asked, incredulous.

Armani nodded, keeping her gaze fixed on the ground. "Yep. The Platinum Army's base is hidden underneath this entire field. Smart move, burying it deep and covering it with this field, on top of constructing the exterior with lead. It makes detection damn near impossible."

"So NO part of the EM spectrum penetrates lead, huh?" Kairy inquired.

Armani nodded, confirming the information. "That's correct. The Platinum Army has gone the extra mile in protecting their fortified base. Every portion of the underground structure is entirely encased in thick layers of lead, which effectively blocks the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The lead panels ensure no form of signals or particles can penetrate, including radio waves, X-rays, gamma and microwave rays. AND the entire base is sealed, air-tight. So even thermal or infrared signals can't penetrate it. It's a complete blackout."

Kinsey's voice was tinged with concern. "Sounds like a tough nut to crack. So there's no way to detect anything down there at all?"

"I mean," Armani continued, "If my Miracle Eyes could see magnetic fields, then I COULD see through the lead exterior...unless it's also encased in mu-metal, which I wouldn't be surprised if they thought of that too.”

The girls exchanged glances, realizing the challenge they were up against.

"The hell is mu-metal?" Kinsey asked.

Armani explained, her eyes still fixed on the ground. "Mu-metal is a special alloy of nickel and iron with exceptionally high magnetic permeability. It's often used in shielding applications because it can completely suppress magnetic fields. If the base is entirely encased in lead reinforced with mu-metal, it'd be like hitting a brick wall. No signals would get through.”

Rachel let out a low whistle, impressed by the Platinum Army's security measures. "Damn, they really thought of everything."

Armani nodded, a hint of grudging respect in her voice. "Yeah, they're thorough, I'll give them that. They've covered all their bases, literally. No pun intended."

"What about seismic vision?" Kairy asked. "I know you don't have that version of Miracle Eyes, but... Couldn't you see the soundwaves being made inside?”

Armani shook her head, her expression hardening. "No, the underground base is also encased in a layer of special acoustic foam, designed to absorb soundwaves and vibrations. It basically makes it impossible to detect seismic activity from outside. It'd be like trying to see a fish in a silent pond—impossible."

"What?!" Rachel exclaimed, "How can you tell all the material apart without visible light?!”

Armani shrugged nonchalantly, though her eyes remained fixed on the ground. "Well, I can't see the exact materials, but I can see the signatures and energy patterns they're producing, which is basically the same thing. Lead, mu-metal, acoustic foam—each material gives off a distinct energy signature. It's not about seeing the material itself, but rather, feeling its energy.”

Kinsey nodded, understanding the concept. "So you're essentially sensing the energy patterns these materials are emitting, and basing assumptions off that."

Armani confirmed, her gaze still locked below. "That's correct. I can't see the materials directly, but I can detect the energy patterns and make deductions from there. It's all about understanding the underlying principles and energy signatures.”

Rachel shook her head, still trying to wrap her mind around the concept. "And you just...know what materials are what without seeing them?"

Armani rolled her eyes but couldn't help but smirk. "Pretty much. It's not like I have a material identification manual in my head. It's more instinctual. I just...know the energy patterns and can identify them based on that. It's like a sixth sense for me. Anyways, follow me, I'll lead you to the entrance...at least I assume it's actually the entrance.”

The girls exchanged glances, trusting Armani's instinct.

"Alright, lead the way," Kinsey said.

Armani began walking through the field of flowers, her eyes trained on the ground. The girls followed behind, stepping cautiously.

"So we can't use radio waves, X-rays, or even seismic data to detect any entrances..." Kairy muttered, trying to comprehend the security measures. "Lead, mu-metal, and acoustic foam—that's a seriously airtight security system.”

Armani nodded, her focus fixated on the ground. "Yeah, the Platinum Army's base is a fortress. They've got the lead exterior, the lead panels, the mu-metal encasing, and the acoustic foam soundproofing. It's like they created a perfect security bubble. And to top it all off, their base has its own air supply and energy source. They've got all the bases covered, to put it bluntly."

"How do you know for sure though?" Rachel asked, keeping pace with Armani.

Armani explained, still focused on the ground. "Well, it's a combination of things. The lead exterior and the lead panels have their own distinct energy signatures. Then there's the mu-metal encasing, which has its own signature too. Plus, there's the acoustic foam soundproofing factor. But what really gives it away is the energy signals I'm detecting from the base's air supply and energy source. It's not like any natural energy patterns. They're too structured and controlled. It's definitely artificial."

The girls nodded, understanding Armani's explanation.

As they continued through the field of flowers, the conversation fell quiet for a moment, each girl lost in their thoughts.

Rachel broke the silence, her curiosity piqued. "How deep do you think this underground base is? This field's pretty big."

Armani looked up momentarily, her eyes scanning the vast field before refocusing on the ground. "Based on the energy signatures I'm detecting, I'd say the base is pretty deep. Probably several kilometers down, if not more.”

Kairy, who had been listening intently, spoke up. "Several kilometers down? Geez, that's deep."

Armani nodded, continuing to walk. "Yeah, it is. That's why the Platinum Army is so well-protected. They've carved out a huge space for themselves underground, completely hidden from view above. It's like a secret world down there."

The girls remained silent, trying to grasp the magnitude of the underground base.

After a few moments of silence, Kinsey spoke up. "So...how do we even get into the base? I mean, the entrance must be well-hidden, right? If they've gone through all this trouble to make sure it stays hidden, chances are the entrance isn't just, y'know...out in the open.”

Armani chuckled, her feet still carefully navigating the field of flowers. "Oh, you're absolutely right. The entrance isn't just sitting out in the open for anyone to stumble upon. It's most likely hidden and well-concealed, possibly even booby-trapped. But I have an idea of where it might be located.”

The girls exchanged glances of curiosity, eager to hear Armani's plan. Kinsey spoke up, her voice eager. "Well, don't keep us in suspense. Where do you think it is?”

Armani smirked, enjoying the attention. "Calm down, I'm getting there."

Reaching a particular spot in the field, she stopped abruptly and knelt down, her eyes scanning the ground.

"Take a look here. See this clearing in the field?" she pointed at the area before them.

The girls gathered around Armani, peering down at the ground. Sure enough, there was a circular clearing amidst the flowers.

Kairy spoke up, her interest piqued. "Yeah, I see it. What about it?”

Armani pointed at the center of the clearing. "Look closer. Does anything look...off about that spot?"

The girls followed her gaze, studying the area carefully. After a moment, Kinsey's eyes widened in realization. "Wait a second...is that...?”

Armani nodded, a satisfied smirk on her face. "Exactly. That spot is slightly lower than the rest of the field. It's not noticeable at first glance, but there's a small indentation there. It's not natural. It's artificial."

The girls exchanged glances, understanding beginning to sink in.

Rachel spoke up, her voice filled with intrigue. "So... You're sayin’ the entrance is beneath that clearing?"

"Go look for yourselves," Armani replied with a raised brow.

The girls did as Armani suggested and approached the clearing. Crouching down, they ran their hands over the indentation in the field. It was indeed slightly lower, as if something was hidden beneath it.

Kairy's eyes widened with realization. "This is it. This has to be the entrance."

Armani chuckled. "You're catching on quick. The Platinum Army's entrance is right under our noses. Or should I say, beneath your feet."

"You mean," Kairy began, looking down once more, "beneath OUR feet, yeah?"

"Oh, about that," Armani said with a sly grin.

Hah, got ‘em, Armani thought.

Before the other three girls knew it, the clearing collapsed, with all of them falling down into the hidden hole.

The girls let out a mix of surprised and terrified screams as the ground beneath them gave way, sending them tumbling into the dark abyss below.