The metal building sat on the white salt like a box. Polly flew high above it, watching the security cameras and guards below. The guards didn't know their biggest danger came from the sky.
"Two guards at the main door," she whispered into the tiny transmitter under her wing. "Another one is walking around. He's smoking by the generator."
"Perfect," Elena's voice came back through the radio. "The ventilation system opening is on the north side. It should be big enough for you."
Polly glided down and landed quietly on the roof. The metal was still warm from the day's sun. She found the ventilation grate and squeezed through, even though it was very tight. She followed Elena's directions through the metal tubes.
"The computer room should be right below you now," Elena whispered.
Polly looked through the slats. Below, many computers were humming and flashing blue and green lights. The room was empty because the night workers were somewhere else.
She opened the grate with her beak and dropped through. Then she hopped onto a desk and found the right computer terminal. The password "Admin123" worked easily.
Using her beak to press keys, Polly found the hidden files. "Oh no," she breathed. The real contamination levels were ten times worse than what the company had reported. There were also emails about hiding the damage.
She started downloading the files to Elena's drive, but then heard voices outside.
"Polly, you need to move," Elena urged. "Sunrise in twelve minutes."
The download finished just as footsteps came down the hallway. Polly grabbed the drive and flew back to the ventilation shaft. She crawled through quickly as the door began to open.
She burst out of the building as the sun was rising. "I have it," she gasped, landing on Elena's hidden car. "Everything we need."
Elena smiled fiercely. "Then let's go stop their ceremony."
