Chapter Twenty-Four: Stage Three- Prison Break

‘Celeste!’ Nathan called out.  They were in the front office of the racecourse. Nathan was sitting at the computer.

‘Did you find something?’ Celeste asked.

‘I think so. It took me a while to get in. and I wouldn’t have noticed it if I hadn’t double checked’ Nathan said.

‘Nathan, just tell me what you found’ Celeste told him.

‘I had a look to see if Miles was registered military, and he was from about two years ago. I didn’t think anything of it at first. Soldiers get transferred all the time-‘

‘Nathan. What did you find?’

‘Captain Miles didn’t exist more than two years ago. I went back as far I could in the archives, all the way back to the start of the war in Saudi Arabia. There’s no mention of anyone with the surname Miles dead, alive or missing up until two years ago’ Nathan said.

‘Well maybe he was a new recruit’ Celeste said.

‘Then he wouldn’t have the rank of Captain. Also, when he was first mentioned, he was already Captain’ Nathan told her. Celeste paced the room.

‘A spy? He was right?’ She whispered to herself.

‘What was that?’ Nathan asked.

‘Before the attack at the Showgrounds, Jason theorised that there was a Nexus spy. Could the Nexus do something like that? Falsify Miles’ admission papers?’ Celeste asked.

‘I can’t say for sure but it’s possible’ Nathan answered. Celeste though it through.

‘If he is a spy, then I would consider his little mutiny a declaration of war, wouldn’t you?’ Celeste asked.

‘If he was, then yes I would. If’ Nathan told her.

‘We need to proceed carefully. If Miles thinks we’re onto him, then he’s call Nexus forces and we won’t stand a chance’ Celeste said.

‘How about a mutiny?’ Nathan asked.

‘It won’t work. We don’t hold enough influence to get people to follow us’ Celeste said. There was a loud crash from inside the grandstand. Celeste and Nathan quickly entered the main lobby on the ground floor. The scene was similar to a hostage situation, in reverse and going both ways. A pool table had been over-turned, Celeste presumed that was the loud crash they had heard. The civilians had gained weapons and turned them on the soldiers. The soldiers, for their part, also turned their weapons on the civilians.

‘This is ridiculous’ Celeste said, walking through the crowd that were standing either side of the bar, drinks still sitting on the bench.

‘Lower your weapons’ Carlisle said directly to the civilians.

‘You lot lower yours first. You have no right to treat us like that’ a civilian spat back.

‘Treat you like what?’ Nathan asked.

‘Like second rate citizens. People who are just barely surviving. They’re in this boat with us too’ another one answered.

‘Alright,’ Celeste said. ‘Here’s what’s going to happen. You are going to give me your gun and everyone will lower their weapons’ Celeste said to the civilian closest to her.

‘But-‘ began a soldier.

‘Everyone. Give it to me’ Celeste said sternly holding out her hand. The civilian begrudgingly handed it over and everyone, soldiers included, lowered their weapons.

‘Ok. I’m sure Miles has given you all jobs to do, so go and do them. Now’ Celeste ordered.

‘I don’t recognise your authority’ A soldier called out.

‘Do as she says,’ Carlisle ordered. ‘Because you recognise you my authority and we are not going to shooting anybody, are we corporeal?’

‘No sir, we are not’ the soldier replied.

‘Good. Military, that way,’ Celeste said pointing towards the far end of the grandstand. ‘Everyone else, that way,’ she said, pointing the opposite direction. ‘Disperse, now’ and everyone reluctantly left.

‘Nathan, come with me’ Celeste said as she moved towards the stairs.

‘Where are we going?’ Nathan asked.

‘To have a chat with our Nexus friend,’ Celeste whispered back. ‘And someone fix and clean up that pool table’ she called out.

‘Celeste, shouldn’t you be-‘ said Miles’s voice

‘Working? Yeah I should, but we need to have a little chat. Back where you came from’ she said stepping out onto the landing and walking past him.

‘No. You can talk to me here’ Miles replied.

‘Fine’ Celeste replied, slamming the weapon down on the table. Miles looked at it.

‘Where did you get that? That’s supposed to be in the manifest’ Miles asked.

‘I’m well aware it’s supposed to be in the manifest, because that’s where I put all our weapons before you so kindly removed me of my command’ Celeste growled and then gasped as a sharp pain shot across her stomach.

‘Are you ok?’ Nathan asked.

‘Yeah it’s passing’ Celeste replied dismissively.

‘That doesn’t answer my question. Where did you get that?’ Miles asked again.

‘Were you aware that your men were running a Black Market trade? Weapons for alcohol. Because I wasn’t’ Celeste asked. She began to feel slightly dizzy.

‘No I wasn’t,’ Miles said. ‘If I was I would’ve put a stop to it’

‘Well, I should think it’s in your best interests that the civilians are disarmed. They’re not very happy with your men. Oh,’ Celeste said, picking up handgun she’d confiscated. ‘I’m keeping this. Call it an insurance policy’ she added as she started moving toward the stairs.

‘Jason’s dead Celeste. I know it and deep down you know it’ Miles said. Celeste felt a sharp pain across her stomach, much more intense than last time and her vision became blurred as she hunched over, leaning on the railing.

‘You… You’re wrong…’ She gasped. ‘He’s… he’s coming…’ and her legs gave way and she felt herself fall backwards before staring into a black abyss.

The convulsions stopped and Jason was on his back, on the polished steel floor, gasping for air.

‘Well, that was fun…and new’ Jason said, carefully sitting up.

‘What do you mean Jason?’ he heard Sarah say.

‘Well you’re alive at least’ Jason said staring her. For a girl who’d spent the best part of two months inside an alien prison, she was in near perfect condition. Sarah had not one scratch on her as far as Jason could see.

‘Is that why you’re here? To save me?’ Sarah asked. Jason nodded. ‘You shouldn’t have come. It’s dangerous here’

‘We’re in the middle of a war, Sarah. Everywhere is dangerous’ Jason replied.

‘It’s safer out there. In here, they are Gods. You shouldn’t be here’

‘I promised Celeste’ Jason told her. Sarah’s mouth opened and then shut. Jason stood up, unstable on his own legs, he fell back against a wall.

‘That’ll wear off quickly. What did you promise Cel?’ Sarah asked.

‘That’d I’d keep you safe. After you were taken… after I came to… I promised I’d bring you back’ Jason said. The effects were wearing off fast. Strength returned to his legs and he began walking around the room.

‘Can it be done? Getting out of here?’ Sarah asked.

‘I think so, but we’ve only got one chance and we need to go now,’ Jason said, nodding. ‘Are we allowed out?’

‘Yes. It’s before curfew’ Sarah answered, opening the door. The corridor beyond was dark. Almost pitch black without the light of the room they were in.

‘We’re going to need weapons’ Jason said.

‘Then you’re in luck. The Tallentiri have them locked up for study’ Sarah said.

‘Where?’

‘I’ll go get them. I bring back as much as I can. You release the other prisoners, mostly soldiers captured from the attack. Just knock on the wall, they’ll come out’ Sarah told him and then she ran off down the corridor. Jason walked along, knocking on the wall, and slowly people stuck their heads outside.

‘We’re going’ Jason told them each they asked what was happening. Sarah returned carrying two large bags over her shoulders.

‘What did you take?’ Jason asked.

‘Everything I could get my hands on. I thought you might be interested in this’ Sarah said, pulling the Aug out of a bag.

‘You were right,’ Jason said to her before turning around. ‘Help yourselves’ he said to those gathered around him.

‘There’s plenty of ammo so take as much as you want’ Sarah called out. There was the loud boom of an explosion outside.

‘We’ve got company’ someone said.

‘Go. Now. Find a way out. We’ll find who we can later. Just go’ Jason said.

‘Where are we going?’ Sarah asked.

‘To find Claire’ Jason said, heading off in the way of the main door, which opened as the power went out.

‘It must use power to keep it closed’ Sarah summarised.

‘Yeah. Let’s go. We don’t have much time’ Jason said. They hurried along corridors until Jason heard the pounding of boots from around a corner.

‘Get behind me’ Jason said carefully approaching the corner, the Aug at the ready. Jason peered around the corner and saw three Nexus soldiers moving away from him.

‘What are they doing inside?’ Sarah asked.

‘That’s a good question. We brought them here, but they weren’t supposed to come inside’ Jason replied. He moved forward as the soldiers turned the corner. They ran into Claire, Emilia and Razim moving the opposite way as they turned a corner.

‘You’re out’ Claire said. Jason nodded.

‘Did it work?’ He asked.

‘Yes, Tallentiri forces are focus on the North, East and West side. We have to go out the Southern side of the prison’ Emilia said.

‘South? That’s the other side!’ Sarah exclaimed.

‘Yeah well we don’t have a choice’ Jason said. A shot fired into the wall next to them. A Nexus soldier had found them.

‘Run’ Claire said. Jason fired back as all five of them ran down the corridor. Jason saw the soldier drop to the floor, either dead or in pain. They turned right and then right again to avoid a fire that had started not far from where they had turned originally. Then they turned left to avoid a fire fight between more Nexus forces and a group of prisoners. They quickly ran from one side of the mess hall, which was now pure chaos as everyone had left in a massive rush after the attack, to the other. The final corridor was ahead of them. The exit was so close. They all ran for freedom and then shots were fired. Jason threw himself into the ground and directing himself into a roll around a corner, behind cover. Razim and Emilia had somehow not been hit. Claire had been hit in the shoulder, but Sarah was on the floor. Jason returned fire on the Nexus soldiers who had fired the shots. They soldiers dropped to the floor and Jason rushed over to Sarah. She was losing a lot of blood. Jason slid on the floor towards Sarah.

‘Cover us!’ he yelled at Claire and Razim before turning to Emilia. ‘Do something!’ Emilia stood still while Claire and Razim moved to provide cover fire.

‘Do something!’ Jason repeated.

‘I don’t think anything can be done Jason,’ Emilia said. ‘Even if something could be done, I doubt it would make a difference’

‘Yeah?’ Jason said, pulling off his shirt and stretching it out. ‘Well I’m not just going to let her die’ he added. Carefully, he placed his shirt around Sarah’s body, tying it tight under her. He then pulled up, her now unconscious body, and slowly moved himself towards the freedom that he had planned from the moment he was captured.