*****
As she jogged alongside Cole through the yellow corridors, Rhonda felt relieved. She hoped Tomar would remain buried and would give them no more concern. But free of this burden, elated by her imminent freedom, she now wondered what Cole thought of their romantic interlude. He’d not mentioned it once, or said a tender word to her since they’d awaken. Was he too embarrassed to talk about it? He couldn’t possibly have forgotten. She, on the other hand, would never forget. “About last night...”
“Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone." His cold tone barred any further comment.
But Rhonda needed to talk. “I mean, if we make it out of here...”
“If we get out, there’ll be time for talk later. Let’s forget about it and deal with our immediate problem.”
“Forget about it?" Rhonda didn’t appreciate being shut down. “So if we die down here today, we’ll never know how we feel about each other?”
“What’s the point? Right now, unless we get out, I don’t see any future of any kind for us. Do you?" He hurried his pace.
Rhonda had no answer for such cynicism. Didn’t he think he deserved a shot at happiness? Had the man abandoned all hope of survival? Rhonda certainly hadn’t. As she matched his stride, she banished any romantic thoughts and tried to envision the most effective way to reach the Garrison.
Cole paused at a T-intersection along the outside wall and consulted his compad.
Rhonda scanned the thin fissures crisscrossing the wall. “Where are these conduits you mentioned earlier? You said the inmates might use them to escape if the walls were breached?" She saw no telltales of such vertical shafts in the crumbling wall.
“They are not in the outer walls." Cole sounded impatient, as if the question bothered him. He turned right into the corridor.
Rhonda increased her speed to keep up with him. “Then where are they?”
“In the square pillars supporting the ceiling.”
“Couldn’t we blast a hole in one of them and climb inside the shaft to get back to the Garrison faster?" Rhonda couldn’t believe she’d just suggested the scariest route of all, another dark and narrow space where she might freak out. But if she wanted to survive, she would have to overcome her worst phobia.
He flashed her an impatient look. “These columns are reinforced with titanium.”
“It might take some effort, but it would be quicker than finding and unlocking each set of stairs as we go. We don’t know if the other guards have found a way off this planet, but if they did and they think we are dead, they won’t wait for us.”
“Even if we could breach one of these pillars, thousands of convicts could follow us to the upper levels. It would compromise the safety of the whole Garrison." Cole shook his head. “I can’t do that.”
Rhonda couldn’t believe his refusal. “You would consider sacrificing both of us just to make sure no prisoner reaches the Garrison? What if the Garrison is already compromised?”
“We cannot think that way." The obstinate man seemed more concerned about containing his precious prisoners than about his own survival.
“Why not? It’s a possibility, isn’t it?" After the night they had shared, more than ever, Rhonda wanted them both to live. She wanted a future with Cole.
Obviously, in that ideal future, they’d never be able to work together as they never agreed on the same methods. But last night, Rhonda had glimpsed another Cole, a gentle and tender Cole, and she couldn’t get him out of her mind.
In the right environment, Rhonda felt their relationship would stand a chance to blossom. But for that to happen, she had to change his mind about playing hero. True heroes rarely lived to tell their story and she needed him alive.
Although they kept clear of the other convicts and couldn’t see them, the sounds of many voices bounced on the walls and echoed on the high ceilings. Several times, Cole changed direction and backtracked along the yellow corridors of Level Sixteen. The temperature kept rising and Rhonda loosened her collar. Soon, avoiding encounters with inmates in their flight through the more crowded blocks became close to impossible.
Cole stopped and leaned back against the wall while consulting his compad. “We have to take another route. This one up ahead is too congested." He wiped a glistening brow. “This is not working out." He sounded discouraged. “There are too many of them.”
“This is no time to give up, Captain." Rhonda hoped reminding him of his title would boost his pride and give him strength. “Any chest pain?”
“I’m fine." He hesitated. “Tired, but fine.”
He did look tired, and Rhonda wondered whether the exploits of the past night had weakened him. But it should have done wonders for his spirits. She dug into her cargo pocket and pulled out a shiny package of energy pills. She handed four to Cole. “Take these, they’ll make you feel invincible.”
“I don’t take drugs.”
“Doctor’s order." Rhonda shoved the pills into his hand. “It’s not drugs, it’s vitamins. The medications from the surgery are wearing off. In your condition you have to take the pills or you won’t have enough strength to go on.”
“Strength won’t help us against thousands." Although true, his pessimistic comment probably came from simple exhaustion.
Rhonda smiled. “I’ve got an idea.”
“By all means, pray tell." His mocking tone clearly indicated he didn’t believe her.
But Rhonda wouldn’t let him keep her down. “If you can’t fight them, join them.”
“What?" He stared at her as if she’d gone insane.
“There are enough dead prisoners around to find overalls that will fit us. Dressed like them, we could blend in, pass for inmates. We just have to behave like them when we cross the populated areas.”
Cole frowned. “Rhonda, you are a genius. You keep amazing me." He popped the four energy pills.
“I bet the guard’s manual doesn’t mention energy pills or playing inmate." She laughed. “Straight-laced Cole Riggeur in convict overalls... Wait until the other guards hear about it.”
Cole grimaced. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t spread the word.”
“Not a chance." Rhonda secretly enjoyed his discomfort. Hope made her cheery and mischievous. “But don’t worry. If we survive, you won’t care about being the butt of their jokes.”
Rhonda’s idea pointed their search in a different direction. Through the compad scanner they now sought motionless prisoners in isolated areas, in hopes they would be dead. The sudden realization that they could still get out of this mess alive made Rhonda’s morale soar, and under the influence of the fast-acting energy pills, Cole grew quite congenial.
Their first search led them to a sick prisoner lying on his bunk. The poor man shook with fever and looked in such a moribund state that Rhonda didn’t have the heart to deprive him of his clothes. He seemed too far gone to benefit from any of Rhonda’s medicines. Not that she could spare any.
She shook her head at Cole. “His disease could be contagious. We can’t risk it.”
Cole nodded and consulted his compad. They quickly left the area in search of their next candidate.
Their second find almost made Rhonda heave. The bloody cadaver already in an advanced stage of decomposition, stunk up the whole cell. His ripped yellow overalls showed large dark stains where he’d been stabbed. The stench of decay permeated the clothes and the many bloody holes would attract attention. It would simply not do.
On the third try, the scanner detected a group of five motionless prisoners. They could have been asleep, so Cole and Rhonda proceeded cautiously. When they came upon the group gathered in the same cell, the prisoners didn’t move. Their awkward positions, however, left no doubt about the fact that they no longer lived. Entering the cell, Rhonda didn’t have to take their pulse. They were dead and cold. She could tell most of them died from a blow to the head, others from a broken neck.
Cole examined one of the men. “This one looks clean."
“Very
little blood, only lightly soiled." Rhonda rejoiced as she realized that they’d found the right bodies for her plan. “Their clothes are perfect."
Cole immediately chose a dead inmate about his size and pulled the front zipper down then peeled off the overalls by pulling the bottom of the pant legs. Rhonda picked a heavier body, figuring his clothes would give her ample room to hide her womanly curves. She had seen first hand what male convicts did to women prisoners and didn’t want to risk it.
Watching Cole slipping the overalls on top of his grays despite the rising temperature, she decided to do the same. She didn’t feel ready to give up the protection of the guard’s Kevlar-microfiber uniform. The light armor might come handy in a fight.
“I can still see some gray." Cole pointed at her soft boots sticking out of the pants.
Although they could betray Rhonda as a guard, she didn’t want to sacrifice her running advantage. “Good footgear could save our lives." She rubbed the clean leather into a reeking pile of wet garbage heaped in a corner of the cell. The thought that it might include excrement nauseated her and she resisted the urge to heave.
Cole hesitated but followed her example. “Hide your hair." He snatched a cap off one of the prisoners and tossed it to Rhonda. “A female prisoner would attract too much attention.”
Catching the hat, Rhonda felt grateful for Cole’s protective instincts. She bunched up her thick mane and stuffed it inside the cap. “How’s that?”
Cole smiled. “Yellow is definitely your color." He looked like a boy scout, even in wolf’s clothing.
Rhonda shivered at the idea that she probably wore the clothes of a serial killer who’d suffered a violent death. Some said thoughts and feelings clung to a person’s clothes. She hoped she wouldn’t pick up any nasty vibrations.
She checked Cole’s attire. “You don’t look like a prisoner. Try to stoop a little.”
Cole dropped his shoulders. “Like that?”
“You are too neat." Rhonda went up to him and messed his hair. Despite the shadow on his jaw, he still looked clean. She gathered some rubble dust and rubbed it on his face then she did the same to herself. “Better?”
“One more thing." Cole ripped two stripes of yellow cloth from another body and handed one to Rhonda. “Got to hide the chip implants on our necks, too.”
Rhonda wrapped the yellow strip around her throat. It could pass for a gang recognition sign. She transferred her phaser to the deepest pocket of the overalls.
Cole consulted his compad then stored the small device in his breast pocket. “Got the route memorized. Let’s go.”
Strolling without haste, as if they had nowhere to go and nothing to do, Cole and Rhonda started toward the populated part of the Yellow Level.
The prisoners paid them no heed too busy looking out for themselves. Their state had changed since last time Rhonda had seen them up close. The Styx withdrawal madness had peaked and faded. They now seemed organized around various leaders. The weak obeyed the strong, hoping for a better chance of surviving the ordeal.
Rhonda understood why the inmates gathered in this area when she realized that a number of cells still had working water and food dispensers. Each of the functioning cells seemed to be guarded by a different gang. The lowest ranking in the gangs carried water and food to their various groups in makeshift containers made of broken tubing and metal sinks pried from the durancrete walls. A semblance of community life had taken form to insure the survival of the group.
Head down, resisting the urge to run away from this horrible place, Rhonda tried to walk like a convict, avoiding eye contact, hoping no one would notice her feminine shape.
Just after they’d had passed the last cluster, Rhonda’s implant buzzed in her ear. Heart pumping, wondering whether or not anyone heard the communicator, Rhonda hastened her steps.
Chapter Thirteen
Level Sixteen - Yellow Zone
As he hurried away from the hub where the convicts gathered, Cole expected a voice to come out of his implant but no message came. Once out of sight and earshot, he tapped the device on his neck. “Cole Riggeur here. Anyone listening? Respond!”
Rhonda, who must have heard the buzz in her ear as well, stared at him. “Someone is trying to contact us. Maybe they found a space worthy vehicle.”
“If they did, I hope we didn’t blow our chance of letting them know we are still alive." Consulting his compad, Cole hurried toward the closest stairwell.
When they reached it, he checked his compad to make sure no convicts lurked nearby and applied his hand to the right scanner. Rhonda did the same on the left. Cole entered his personal code, reactivating the disabled door. It opened and they quickly entered the stairwell. Cole locked then disabled the door from inside the stairwell and started up the metallic steps. Until they reached the next level, he and Rhonda were safe from convict attacks.
“Do you think the prisoners will be loose on the next level up?" Rhonda sounded more worried than he’d ever seen her.
“I hope not." Cole experienced apprehension as well but he tried the optimistic approach. “They weren’t last time we passed through.”
“That was on our way down. A lot has happened since then."
“You have a hyperactive mind, Rhonda. Let’s stick to the facts until we find out." But Cole suspected she might be right. He feared they would encounter loose prisoners on the next level up.
Why did he have to antagonize Rhonda? He’d screwed up last night, but the last thing he wanted was to punish her for it. She was intelligent and beautiful and had done nothing wrong. Why did he keep reacting to her as if she pushed his buttons? Did he care for her more than he knew?
Their steps echoed in the narrow stairwell as he and Rhonda progressed up the six flights of stairs. The lights had dimmed since the last time they’d used stairs, and the poor lighting made the bright yellow on the walls look dirty. Cole wondered how long the emergency power would last. If the power failed completely, they would be doomed.
Rhonda sighed. As he feared, she couldn’t remain silent too long. “If they are loose, we are going to stand out in yellow overalls among green-clad inmates.”
Cole hid his frustration at her insistence. “It might work in our favor, kiddo. They’ll think we are fierce and mean, and they’ll respect us.”
Rhonda frowned but did not reply.
The wall color gradually changed from yellow to apple green, then they reached the door and went through the routine of unlocking it. Cole felt Rhonda looking over his shoulder as he consulted the compad. How could she smell so good? The floor plan showed thousands of red dots roaming the corridors on the other side of the door.
“Apparently you were right again." It bothered Cole to be wrong, mainly in front of Rhonda. “They are loose here, too." He waited until no red dot stood in direct view of the door, then he pushed it open and they emerged on the Green Level.
*****
Level Fifteen - Green Zone
Rhonda barely recognized the green level. In art classes, she’d learned that green was a peaceful color, but the surrounding noise told of great turmoil. Yells and cheers came from many directions. Sounds of demolition emanated from the center of the main floor. Nearby, a large pile of rubble formed a mound as high as the top of the cell walls. The odors, however didn’t overwhelm her, and the stench of blood seemed eerily absent. Rhonda took that as a good sign.
Cole started to climb the large heap of debris. “From up there we’ll have a better view of the whole floor.”
Rhonda followed him up. Indeed, from their vantage point, they could see over the cell walls, as if looking down at a rat maze in a lab, except that the cells had bars on the top. The prisoners seemed calmer than on the lower levels. Some slept, others went about leading some semblance of life. Many worked at clearing up debris and stacking it up in different places, effectively reconfiguring the layout of the ward.
The damages seemed more extensive at this level than below. Toward the center of
the main floor, many corridors seemed erased, as the walls of the maze had collapsed. Twisted prison bars were strewn throughout the whole area. A great number of inmates had gathered in the field of debris, and most of them looked up to the ceiling.
Following their gaze, Rhonda saw a wide gaping hole up above, its edges spiked with broken pipes and modules. The opening allowed communication with Level Fourteen. She understood what had caused the damage. Black burn marks told of an explosion. She imagined a pocket of methane in a sewer pipe had met with an electric spark.
Through the opening, green and aqua-clad prisoners swayed on makeshift ropes as they climbed up or down the fifteen-meter height. On closer inspection, the ropes seemed constructed of blankets and overalls tied together. Level Fourteen just above, the Aqua Zone, looked in equal disrepair.
Eyes on his compad, Cole pursed his lips. “This is going to be a fun trip,” he said dryly. “There are inmates loitering in front of most of the stairwell doors. No way we can get anywhere near the stairs without attracting a lot of attention.”
But Rhonda saw an opportunity. “Do you think they would let us use our cable to climb through the ceiling? After all, we are supposed to look like inmates.”
Cole hesitated, obviously bothered by the idea. “You don’t know these guys. They’ll ask where we got the cable, and they’ll try to take it from us.”
Rhonda scoffed. “Look who’s pessimistic now? I know it’s not textbook behavior, but we want to get up as fast as we can, right? And we don’t want them to suspect I’m a woman, so, you’ll have to do the talking.”
Cole shook his head. “This is highly irregular.”
“We must get out of here fast, even if it implies bargaining with the prisoners. Besides, we have a few other things to barter with than the cable.”
“Like what?”
Rhonda padded her pockets. “Medical supplies, comfortable boots, water, rations. Should I go on?”
“No. You made your point." He sighed. “But it could get ugly if they figure out what we really are.”
Alien Lockdown Page 16