The Warden ducked as something smelly and brown was thrown at him. Sailing over his head, it splattered against the wall, leaving a brown trail as it slid down.
They were everywhere, creating chaos. Creating unbalance in his beautiful prison. How could things get so...out of order? There was a rule in this prison, one everyone had to obey no matter what: do as he said! That was it.
Now, the prisoners ran amuck and there was nothing he could do. Well, it had been good while it lasted, he guessed.
"Shanks! How soon until we get to the hanger bay?" said the Warden.
"Not far. Shanks certain."
A group of Shanks's most loyal men were escorting the Warden to his destination.
The process was slow, but they had yet to draw attention from the crowd of prisoners littering the corridors. The prisoners were just happy with their newfound freedom. That would change, though.
"Rarghh!" One prisoner decided the opportunity was too good to miss and came running at the group. He was unarmed.
The Warden almost felt sorry for him. Almost. With a flick of his cane, a plasma blast hit the prisoner square in the face. He collapsed to the floor, and the group walked over him.
The shot had been a mistake. While the prisoners weren't armed, all eyes traced the source of the shot. Like a pack of wolves near starvation, they saw their meal ticket off the ship.
"Shanks! Move!" said the Warden.
As one, they sped down the corridor with the prisoners in hot pursuit. The Warden turned his head so he could see who was behind him. He wished he hadn't. Dozens of prisoners were hot on their heels, the determination to be free burning in their eyes.
"Shanks, we must not let them apprehend us! You two, block the way. Do not let them pass!" the Warden said, pointing to two guards to his left.
As the two guards looked at the Warden with open-mouthed terror, he gave them a nod of encouragement and said, "Help is coming, my sons. Do not doubt this! The Warden knows. He always knows."
The guards nodded their heads and turned to meet the oncoming prisoners.
The Warden didn't turn back, but the screams of the dying could be heard in the air. He must escape at all costs. His life's work demanded it!
"Push forward! We must not be stopped," said the Warden.
A prisoner from the shadows launched at Shanks. Shanks caught him by the throat in mid-run and drove his head through the wall. Not pausing to survey the damage, the group continued on.
I must escape! I must! I will not die here with these scum! thought the Warden.
44
Phoenix opened the door as quietly as possible and peered into the opening, hoping to get a better view. He threw his head back as a blast from a plasma gun scorched the area where his head had been moments before.
He said, "I count at least six guards camped behind this door. We have to get past them if we want to proceed any further."
"Only six. That's something, I guess," muttered Plowstow.
Phoenix gave Plowstow a sideways glare, which temporarily stopped the muttering. Looking over towards Saoirse, he asked, "Got any ideas?"
Biting her bottom lip, Saoirse looked thoughtful for a moment. As she looked towards the door, her hand brushed against the utility belt she wore. "I do indeed. But--it will be loud."
"Look, anything is better than being shot at, so I'm all ears. Just make it quick. I think I can hear the sound of feet approaching," Phoenix said.
"Very well. Stand away from the door."
Phoenix and Plowstow backed away, guns still trained on the door. Plowstow looked towards Phoenix for some sort of confirmation as to what was about to take place. But Phoenix simply shrugged his shoulders. He was in the dark as much as Plowstow was.
Saoirse took four round balls from her belt and attached each one to a different corner of the door. Hurrying back, she rushed past Phoenix and Plowstow, trying to get some distance between her and the door.
As the men both looked at each other wide-eyed, the same thought tore through their minds: Move!
They doubled back and came to a stop next to Saoirse. The pair watched in amazement as she pulled out some sort of handheld device. She tapped a button and four flame-jets erupted from the back of the orbs.
Nothing happened.
"Hmm, interesting. Guess full power it is." As her finger descended on the device, like she was setting off a nuclear missile, Saoirse simply smiled as the four jets became six feet long.
The door was ripped off its hinges and sped down the corridor housing the guards. It spun out of control like a spinning top, bouncing off walls, bodies and anything in-between. The carnage it left in its wake was awe-inspiring.
Phoenix looked at Saoirse with an opened mouth, giving her the thumbs up.
Saoirse's face twisted in confusion, which quickly turned to anger. "Are you insulting me?"
"No, no," said Phoenix, waving his hands in front of him. "In my culture, this means job well done."
"Oh," said Saoirse, eyes still trained on Phoenix like a big cat's.
"I swear. Good job. I think the path is clear now, so let's get moving."
The scene that greeted them wasn't a pretty one. Body parts littered the floor and blood splattered the walls. Deep marks a foot wide were on all the walls where the door had made contact. Moving forward, Phoenix swept his gaze to and fro. There seemed to be no survivors.
A faint groan to Phoenix's left drew his attention. A prison guard bleeding out on the floor looked up at him. The guard had a deep cut on his side, and judging from the amount of fluid that had already left his body, Phoenix doubted he would live much longer.
"Where is the Warden?" asked Phoenix, bending down on one knee next to the guard.
The guard looked at Phoenix with disgust on his face. He tried to speak and was overcome by a coughing fit. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve he tried again. "Why would I tell scum like you where he is? Even if I did, you would never find him. So telling you is pointless."
"I would say that I would torture the information out of you, but that's not my style. Her, on the other hand..." Phoenix pointed at Saoirse.
"Your silly threats do not worry me. I will not last much longer--"
"The Warden is nearing the ship hangar!" said a voice emitting from the guard's wrist. "He has betrayed us! He is trying to escape! Repeat! He is trying to escape!"
"Guess I don't need your help after all. Would you like me to pass on any messages to the Warden once I see him?" said Phoenix.
Closing his eyes, the guard let out a sigh. "I regret nothing."
About to say something, Phoenix shook his head instead. Getting to his feet, he looked at Saoirse and Plowstow. "You heard the message. To the hangar we go."
They heard the noise before they saw what caused it. Phoenix set his back against the wall before he looked round the corner. There was only one word to describe what he saw--mayhem.
It appeared to be a royal rumble. An all-out war where there were no friends, allies, or accomplices. Everyone out for themselves, all after blood.
Leaning back, Phoenix contemplated his next move. He had to get through them no matter what, and nothing would stop him. Taking a few deep breaths to calm the turmoil in his mind, Phoenix looked to Saoirse and Plowstow.
"Finding another route would take too long, plus I doubt it would be any different. This whole place is set to come crashing down on our heads unless we cut a path through them," said Phoenix.
"More easy work, ay?" rumbled Plowstow.
"Well, if we are going to move, I suggest we do so now. Chatting like a bunch of old females will not get the job done any quicker," snapped Saoirse.
"All right, all right, keen bean. Let's move," said Phoenix.
Phoenix pointed his gun ahead of him, and he made his way towards the crowd with Saoirse and Plowstow flanking him. He hoped that they would get at least halfway before they were noticed.
No such luck.
They were spotted by an ugly-looking a
lien whose head seemed too large for his body. As he raised his finger towards the trio, Phoenix shot him in the face before he could warn the others. Dropping to the floor, the alien twitched uncontrollably.
Moving forward as one, the group kept their calm.
Phoenix could sense the difference in the air. It was as if the crowd around them became one animal. The silence came in waves. Slow, like the coming of the tide. It didn't rush or overpower. Wave after wave eroded the noise, like water eroding a cliff.
When the silence finally came, it was deafening.
Phoenix turned his head in a slow circle. All eyes were on them. The crowd appeared to breathe as one.
No one said a word. Everyone just waited.
"Form a circle! Back to back!" shouted Phoenix.
Saoirse and Plowstow did as they were told.
The crowd still hadn't moved, but Phoenix didn't wait. Firing at anyone in his line of sight, he spread his fire in a arc before him. Taking the hint, Plowstow and Saoirse did the same.
"Shouldn't we have waited for them to attack? This isn't very honourable!" said Saoirse.
"Fuck that!" said Phoenix.
The prisoners came towards them en masse. They tried to rush the group, but they fell one after the next before the plasma fire.
Phoenix shot at body after body, but the prisoners kept on coming. He couldn't take his finger off the trigger, otherwise he would be overwhelmed.
The trio moved as the mass of bodies pushed them back.
"We can't keep this up forever! There are too many," said Plowstow.
"Just keep on moving!" said Phoenix.
A hand grabbed Phoenix's shoulder. Finger still on trigger, Phoenix elbowed the offender in the face, then shot him in the groin for good measure.
The wave was endless.
Phoenix looked behind him and swallowed at the sight. They were against the handrails. If they went over, that would be it for them. Game over.
Plowstow looked Phoenix's way with panic-filled eyes.
"Keep firing. That's all we can do," said Phoenix
Many had fallen, but like a swarm of locusts, the prisoners pushed on. They didn't care. They weren't here because they didn't take risks. They knew the score; they only needed one to get through. After that, it would be game over.
Phoenix held his finger on the trigger and yelled a battle cry along with the others. But it was of no use. Body after body pushed them backwards until they were overrun. Toppling over the side of the railings with Plowstow and Saoirse, Phoenix felt the strangest sense of weightlessness.
I need to go up not down, thought Phoenix.
Then he dropped like a stone into a bottomless pit.
45
The wind was knocked from Phoenix's lungs as he made contact with something solid. Groaning in pain, he looked sideways to see both Plowstow and Saoirse in a similar position.
"What did we land on?" rumbled Phoenix.
"Dead weapons bot. Stuck to the wall," said Saoirse.
Phoenix pushed himself off his chest and rose from where he lay. Looking around, he saw he was indeed on a metal box. It jutted out from the wall, angry and grey. Weapons hung down its side like the arms of a naughty child after being told off.
Somehow, the trio had landed on the box while their pursuers hadn't. But that didn't mean they were out of trouble, not by a long shot. Staring across a reachable void were the prisoners. They looked towards Phoenix, like monkeys who could see the fruit of their choice dangling on the furthest branch. As a few stood on the rails, Phoenix looked towards them in puzzlement.
"Tell me they aren't going to do what I think they are."
"It would appear so," said Saoirse.
"But...trying to jump that distance is madness. Why not just let us be? Surely they're aware that even if some make it, most won't."
"You fail to understand the nature of the beast. These inmates resigned themselves to a lifetime of imprisonment. Never seeing their loved ones, never feeling a tender kiss from their lovers or partners. So what we are doing threatens that very way of thinking, shines a bright light on their darkness, too strong to handle. If you leave the door open to an animal that has caged its mind, it will still remain caged. It won't escape. How can it?" said Saoirse.
"Like crabs in a bucket," said Phoenix.
He eyed the first prisoner getting ready to jump. He raised his plasma gun and shot him in the face. The prisoner's body convulsed and, unable to hold onto the railings, he fell to his death.
"We ain't staying here all day, are we?" asked Plowstow.
"If anyone has any bright ideas, now would be the perfect time to say them," said Phoenix.
"Hmm, I do have one. But I may need help to pull it off," said Saoirse.
As another prisoner tried to make the jump, Phoenix shot him dead. "Tell us what you need, Saoirse!'
"I need one of you to keep hold of my legs and lower me down so I can reach the underside of this machine."
Phoenix dodged a projectile and fired back in return. "Not a problem. Plowstow, help out."
"But I--"
"No buts! Just do it, will you? We haven't got time for your bullshit!" snapped Phoenix.
Phoenix heard muttering behind him, but when he looked over his shoulder, Plowstow was doing as instructed. Returning his focus back to the problem at hand, Phoenix noticed more prisoners had managed to get tools to throw their way. Their goal must be to simply knock the trio off their perch.
He had to protect Plowstow and Saoirse. If an object struck them, it would be game over. And Phoenix would be stranded on this lump of metal forever.
"How we doing?" asked Phoenix.
"Your impatient nagging will not make us go any faster," said Saoirse.
"Remember who's covering your fine ass while you're hanging upside-down!"
"If I were not upside down, hanging by my legs...! Then I highly doubt you would be commenting on anything fine of mine!"
Phoenix laughed, despite the situation. The closer he got to death, the more vivid life became. He ducked down as a plasma blot shot towards him. Returning fire, he couldn't pick out who in the crowd had the gun. "Hurry the hell up. They have managed to get guns. We can't sit here all fucking day."
"Will you calm down? It's done. You and Plowstow cover me. I need to concentrate while I fly this thing," said Saoirse.
"Fly?" asked Phoenix.
"Yes, fly."
"Why would you..." Realisation slowly dawned on Phoenix as he looked behind him.
Saoirse's fingers hovered over the same device she'd used to blast open the door earlier. Looking up at Phoenix, she gave him a smile.
"Don't tell me..."
"Yes. We are flying our way out of here. I have placed my last few DBZs on the underside of this structure. Just cover me while I do the flying."
With a gesture, Phoenix ordered Plowstow to flank Saoirse on the opposite side. Resting his gun against his shoulder, Phoenix took aim and began to fire.
Head shot. Leg shot. Groin shot.
A shrill beep emitted from his weapon. Phoenix looked at it, confused. "There's something wrong with my gun."
"You're running low on power. From here on out, make your shots count," replied Saoirse.
"I'm nearly out, too," said Plowstow.
Great! When the shit starts flying, it really starts flying.
"Brace yourself! Here...we...go!" said Saoirse.
Beneath their feet, a rumbling began. Like a volcano before it erupted, it made its presence known.
Phoenix could feel the weapon bot trying to move. It shook against the fastenings attaching it to the wall. The jerk of motion nearly toppled Phoenix forward. Grabbing hold of the edge, they stayed suspended in midair for what felt like eternity.
Then they slowly began to rise.
The noise from the crowd of prisoners grew louder. More intense. Phoenix could feel the waves of hate even from here. They would do whatever it took to bring the trio down.
How dar
e Phoenix dream of escape? Flaunt his approaching freedom in their face? The mob would make him pay dearly for it.
Phoenix fired his gun at prisoners who tried to jump and catch a ride. He felt his stomach drop as they jumped quickly down and back up again. "Saoirse!"
"If you believe the task is so easy, why don't you try it?"
As they rose back up, the output of projectiles increased. It came on like a thunderstorm finally breaking its silence. Phoenix ducked as best as he could and fired back, each shot taken carefully and measured.
"Argh!" said Plowstow.
Phoenix looked across and saw that the Orcian had been hit.
Blood dripped from Plowstow's forehead towards one eye, blinding him. He couldn't see the other piece of metal making its way towards his face. When it hit him square on, it buckled his legs and he began to topple forward.
Phoenix leapt and caught him with both hands. Grunting at the weight, Phoenix gritted his teeth.
"How much do you fucking weigh?"
"Just don't let go, you hear!" said Plowstow.
Dangling over the edge, Phoenix gripped Plowstow tightly. He held on as best he could. But he could feel his grip begin to give out. His fingers were going numb.
Something clipped Phoenix on the side of the face, stunning him. He could feel his grip going. He could see stars.
"Saoirse! Land this thing!"
They climbed; higher and higher they went. Until Phoenix thought he could hold on no longer.
"You need to let go of Plowstow when I say. Then you have to jump right after that." said Saoirse.
"Are you mad?" asked Plowstow.
"If you want to live, do as I say. Wait for it!" screamed Saoirse.
Phoenix didn't know what Saoirse was thinking, but he prayed she knew what she was doing.
"Now!"
He let go and jumped.
46
Phoenix felt weightless and free. He also didn't feel anything solid beneath his feet. Doing the running man in midair, Phoenix tried to feel something with his feet--anything.
"Oh shit!"
He cast his gaze down and saw the floor fast approaching. He had to time this well. If he didn't, it would hurt. Tucking his knees close to his chest, he landed on the balls of his feet and rolled forward onto his shoulder. Coming up to his feet, Phoenix rubbed where his shoulder had struck the floor. The landing still hurt but not as much as it would have done if he'd hit face-first.
Breakout: (Space Outlaw 1) Page 16