Chapter 2: Jailbreak
           It was eerily quiet in this wing of the lower ward, the echo of rat squeaking piercing the silence. Faint torchlight flickered across the stony walls lining the lallafel’s cell block. Inspecting her silvery hair leaning against a column, she reminisces about the simple amenities of life and scoffs at what she wouldn’t do for a simple tub of hot water. Another female lallafel sits down next to her sighing and staring at the waning and falling embers of an untended sconce.
         “We haven’t had a communication in three days, do you think we’ve been exposed?†she stretches with a whisper.
    Biting on and inspecting her finger nail, “Not sure but something’s going down because Ola mentioned that they were escorting all the miqo’te somewhere, could be another inspection or more indoctrination.â€
    Rocking and folding her arms around her knees the other lallafel grumbles, “Or more experiments. Isn’t that why we’re here Mimori, to put an end to all this? Seems pointless if we’re just sitting here rotting away in these pens.â€
    With a playful flick, “I know how you feel Majhala, but remember we only get one shot at this. Too many informants have lost their lives trying to figure out where they’ve been taking insurgent captives. Even if the plan works, we’re going to have more than our hands full if an Inquisitor shows up.â€
    She shudders at the mention of Inquisitor. “Do you think they've located our crates? By Nymeia I hope not. Too much riding on this last batch,†Majhala utters.
    “Don’t think so. Using the inhibitor to slowly reverse the indoctrination takes time. With so many side affects it’s been hard to find those that have the constitution to manage the dosages. Sometimes even drives people crazy. Infiltrating and getting to Ba’srm took three months and this new batch has been pretty reliable with its withdrawal compensation rates. To say that he hasn’t turned on us is tough to say, he’s been so…â€
    The sound of large frantic footsteps echoes from the entrance to the block. All the lallafel approach the front of their respective cells to get a better glimpse of what’s going on. Two guards a roegadyn and hyur can be seen discussing something. The resident hyur sentry posture shifts from complacency to immediate action and as he turns to close and lock up the main cell block doors, the roegadyn smashes his head against the doors knocking him out instantly. The two lallafels turn to each other with wide grins as the burly roegadyn approaches their cell.
“It’s about time. Was starting get a flat butt,†Majhala cheers.
“What’s the situation Quick Shroud?†asks Mimori.
   Fiddling with the key ring he finds the appropriate one and begins tounlocking the door when the prison alarm is sounds over head. “Most of the guards are outside with a few remaining at their posts. And yes we do have an Inquisitor here. I rushed down here as soon as I saw the slave carrier approaching. It’s only a matter of minutes before it gets here. The others are ready all we have to do is get to the armory and relay the other cell blocks so they can stock up.â€
   The door creeks open and the female lallafel pour out. Quick Shroud hands the keys to Majhala who attends the other cells. Mimori jumps up upon a crate and blows a whistle between fingers to get everyone's attention.
  “I know a lot of you do not have combat training, but in order for us to get out of here together, you must fight.†She signals Ola exiting the cell Majhala recently opened to gather the others. “Ola here will keep you informed. Those that do have some experience head over to her!†She jumps down to meet up with Quick Shroud and Majhala near the exit of the block.
  “How many patrols are there between here and the armory Quick Shroud?â€
  “It’s hard to say, it’s on a whole separate wing and we have to bypass the antechamber. Hopefully the chaos will divert a lot of the guards to the courtyard.â€
“Define chaos?" Majhala inquires.
   “That slave carrier I mentioned.†Pausing to look around the corner into the adjacent hall, “it's out of control.â€
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  A yawning jailer upon hearing the obnoxious ranting of one of the miqo’te signals for two others to follow him to the cell. “I have had just about enough of these shenanigans.†He stops for a moment just past the weeping miqo’te they placed in the first cell. “Who’s spraying the perfume?â€
  “This heat, it’s unbearable,†one female miqo’te complains to another. She wipes the sweat away from her brow and sniffs the air the scent of lilac so heavy so intoxicating when a harrowing beguiling wail fills her ears from the first cell. She stands and others around stand with her in unison. Her breathing quickens she knows not why as others experiencing the same phenomenon look to each other in confusion and fear. Other occupants from adjacent cages all stand and turn their gaze to the miqo’tes and the guards opening the cell with the ranting lunatic.
  “Stand up filth before I raise the setting to your collar,†the jailer commands the hunched elderly miqo’te. Another louder wail entrances the miqo’te to their knees holding their hands against their ears. “That’s more like it.†he snorts in arrogance. Turning around, the jailer instructs one of the other two guards to go check on the screaming from the first cell.
  “She’s in labor!†the lallafel in the cage behind him yells.
 “So what! Sit down and shut up.†He aims the device at the lallafel when suddenly warm, red sputum fills his lungs spraying his fellow guard a couple feet away. Screaming at the sight of the elder miqo’te’s hand puncturing through the torso of the jailer, a light red haze arises around its head then clamps its enlarged fangs into the jailer’s jugular. At once other males hiss and scream pouncing on the barely lifeless jailer, tearing the limbs off as if they were delicate as an insect. The guard outside the cell attempts to use full setting on the shock collars but it only serves to irritate them. Female miqo’tes begin assaulting and bending the bars to their own cell screaming with ungodly rage. More males tackle and feast on the irritant, projectile blood from severed limbs flinging into the face of the shocked lallafel. A male miqo’te bares his elongated fangs reaching for her.
   The guard near the first cell begins to panic and heads toward the engine room attempting to bar the door behind him. He looks up fleetingly to see charging snarling miqo’te attacking the other cells and some heading for him with blinding speed. With the latch snapping securely into position he begins to backpedal, halberd quaking in his grasp looking around for any means of possible escape. Pitch black eyes of a screaming elderly female peer through the window causes his nerves to leave him, leaving a trickling feeling running down his greaves. The face disappears when two more enraged miqo’te charge the heavy metal door, loud indentations erupting with each thud.
   Running over the overhead grating to a crossway he attempts to climb a ladder up to the upper catwalk, the roar of the engine turbines booming below. Sounds of scraping claws on metal come from the door when it finally gives way, flying from its hinges. Three miqo’te emerge into the room sniffing the air hissing up to their prey barely holding onto a steel girder. Two of them leap and clutch the bars and inner footholds of the ships interior walls their acrobatic agility proving no difficulty in their pursuit. Horrifyingly fast and slowly closing in, the guard screams in panic slipping off the girder he was standing, falling into a whirling gory death causing the turbine to explode.
  “Beacon sighted, preparing approach. Hmm, appears nan Daegon has arrived already.â€
  “Joy. This should be entertaining.†the pilot snickers. “Nothing like having a psychotic, three faced megalomaniac telling you how to….†A booming explosion rocks the ship, his head violently jerking up hitting the ceiling of the cockpit. With blood dribbling down his face, the pilot attempts to adjust his vizer and regain control. “@#)(*#!!!!!! What hit us!?†The co-pilot slowly crawls back into his chair inspecting the dash, a variety of alarms filling his ears.
  “Engine two is out, rerouting power!â€
 “Do we have bulkhead control?! Don’t feel like dying of inhalation trying to land this thing.â€
 “No it’s out, they have to go manual. I’m on it!†The co-pilot springs up first leaning to regain his balance from the irregular rocking of the ship, “I’ll initiate the sequence from here and unlock the security lever. It’s going to take them a minute to close.â€
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 “We don’t have a minute, just go. See if we have any cargo that’s still alive."
 “Will do.†The co-pilot unlatches the security lever for the pit bulkhead in the floor climbing down into the ships small living quarters. Looking back at the slow closing bulkhead he hears a cacophony of screaming, hissing from the corridor leading out to the engine room and brig. “What in the…@#(*&!!! They’re loose!â€
 “What!!â€the pilot yells. “Get back,†the screams of his friend fill his ear, the bulkhead hatch shutting firmly in place. “!&$*, losing altitude too fast, gotta keep her nose up.â€
  The scrapping of claws and thudding of fists on the bulkhead can be heard just a dozen feet behind him.
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    Quick Shroud shoulder charges the door into the antechamber with the two lallafel in tow. “It’s not far, almost there. One more walkway and we’ll hit the armory. Just be mindful of the big windows looking out to the courtyard. We don’t want any undue attention from the guards along the balconies.â€
  With the walkway just ahead the three can make out the increasing volume of panicking soldiers outside. Majhala heads to a window to take a peak, her eyes and mouth a gasp.
“Whoa! You weren’t kidding!â€
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  “You’ll want everyone to get between the vanguards my dear Korvus. My paling barrier should prevent any damage to us or our equipment but it has to be timed perfectly so don’t get caught flat footed,†Daegon’s maiden voice chuckles.
   A deafening roar of engines befalls the courtyard, scattering frightened soldiers heading toward the palisade for cover. The carrier crashes through a cliffside control tower. Debris of concrete, metal and glass speeding through fleshy soldier bodies. An instant from impact, the vessel spins into a horizontal three–sixty eventually reaching the ground bursting shrapnel and dust flying everywhere. Rolling over soldiers, crushing all who fail to get to safety, the momentum of the ship continues to skid eventually crashing into one of the surrounding prison walls.
   The Inquisitor’s maiden face swivels back facing a coughing Doctor Korvus and the others. “See. I told you would not be disappointed.†The gangly Daegon pirouettes and begins dancing amongst the injured and deceased alike. “Tra-la la! Such sweet music in the air†kicking an injured soldier out of his way. Halting for a moment and looking toward the wreckage, Daegon raises his hand and snaps his finger, “Time to turn on the amplifier good Doctor! It’s time to finish this purge."
TBCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
           It was eerily quiet in this wing of the lower ward, the echo of rat squeaking piercing the silence. Faint torchlight flickered across the stony walls lining the lallafel’s cell block. Inspecting her silvery hair leaning against a column, she reminisces about the simple amenities of life and scoffs at what she wouldn’t do for a simple tub of hot water. Another female lallafel sits down next to her sighing and staring at the waning and falling embers of an untended sconce.
         “We haven’t had a communication in three days, do you think we’ve been exposed?†she stretches with a whisper.
    Biting on and inspecting her finger nail, “Not sure but something’s going down because Ola mentioned that they were escorting all the miqo’te somewhere, could be another inspection or more indoctrination.â€
    Rocking and folding her arms around her knees the other lallafel grumbles, “Or more experiments. Isn’t that why we’re here Mimori, to put an end to all this? Seems pointless if we’re just sitting here rotting away in these pens.â€
    With a playful flick, “I know how you feel Majhala, but remember we only get one shot at this. Too many informants have lost their lives trying to figure out where they’ve been taking insurgent captives. Even if the plan works, we’re going to have more than our hands full if an Inquisitor shows up.â€
    She shudders at the mention of Inquisitor. “Do you think they've located our crates? By Nymeia I hope not. Too much riding on this last batch,†Majhala utters.
    “Don’t think so. Using the inhibitor to slowly reverse the indoctrination takes time. With so many side affects it’s been hard to find those that have the constitution to manage the dosages. Sometimes even drives people crazy. Infiltrating and getting to Ba’srm took three months and this new batch has been pretty reliable with its withdrawal compensation rates. To say that he hasn’t turned on us is tough to say, he’s been so…â€
    The sound of large frantic footsteps echoes from the entrance to the block. All the lallafel approach the front of their respective cells to get a better glimpse of what’s going on. Two guards a roegadyn and hyur can be seen discussing something. The resident hyur sentry posture shifts from complacency to immediate action and as he turns to close and lock up the main cell block doors, the roegadyn smashes his head against the doors knocking him out instantly. The two lallafels turn to each other with wide grins as the burly roegadyn approaches their cell.
“It’s about time. Was starting get a flat butt,†Majhala cheers.
“What’s the situation Quick Shroud?†asks Mimori.
   Fiddling with the key ring he finds the appropriate one and begins tounlocking the door when the prison alarm is sounds over head. “Most of the guards are outside with a few remaining at their posts. And yes we do have an Inquisitor here. I rushed down here as soon as I saw the slave carrier approaching. It’s only a matter of minutes before it gets here. The others are ready all we have to do is get to the armory and relay the other cell blocks so they can stock up.â€
   The door creeks open and the female lallafel pour out. Quick Shroud hands the keys to Majhala who attends the other cells. Mimori jumps up upon a crate and blows a whistle between fingers to get everyone's attention.
  “I know a lot of you do not have combat training, but in order for us to get out of here together, you must fight.†She signals Ola exiting the cell Majhala recently opened to gather the others. “Ola here will keep you informed. Those that do have some experience head over to her!†She jumps down to meet up with Quick Shroud and Majhala near the exit of the block.
  “How many patrols are there between here and the armory Quick Shroud?â€
  “It’s hard to say, it’s on a whole separate wing and we have to bypass the antechamber. Hopefully the chaos will divert a lot of the guards to the courtyard.â€
“Define chaos?" Majhala inquires.
   “That slave carrier I mentioned.†Pausing to look around the corner into the adjacent hall, “it's out of control.â€
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                                                                      Â
  A yawning jailer upon hearing the obnoxious ranting of one of the miqo’te signals for two others to follow him to the cell. “I have had just about enough of these shenanigans.†He stops for a moment just past the weeping miqo’te they placed in the first cell. “Who’s spraying the perfume?â€
  “This heat, it’s unbearable,†one female miqo’te complains to another. She wipes the sweat away from her brow and sniffs the air the scent of lilac so heavy so intoxicating when a harrowing beguiling wail fills her ears from the first cell. She stands and others around stand with her in unison. Her breathing quickens she knows not why as others experiencing the same phenomenon look to each other in confusion and fear. Other occupants from adjacent cages all stand and turn their gaze to the miqo’tes and the guards opening the cell with the ranting lunatic.
  “Stand up filth before I raise the setting to your collar,†the jailer commands the hunched elderly miqo’te. Another louder wail entrances the miqo’te to their knees holding their hands against their ears. “That’s more like it.†he snorts in arrogance. Turning around, the jailer instructs one of the other two guards to go check on the screaming from the first cell.
  “She’s in labor!†the lallafel in the cage behind him yells.
 “So what! Sit down and shut up.†He aims the device at the lallafel when suddenly warm, red sputum fills his lungs spraying his fellow guard a couple feet away. Screaming at the sight of the elder miqo’te’s hand puncturing through the torso of the jailer, a light red haze arises around its head then clamps its enlarged fangs into the jailer’s jugular. At once other males hiss and scream pouncing on the barely lifeless jailer, tearing the limbs off as if they were delicate as an insect. The guard outside the cell attempts to use full setting on the shock collars but it only serves to irritate them. Female miqo’tes begin assaulting and bending the bars to their own cell screaming with ungodly rage. More males tackle and feast on the irritant, projectile blood from severed limbs flinging into the face of the shocked lallafel. A male miqo’te bares his elongated fangs reaching for her.
   The guard near the first cell begins to panic and heads toward the engine room attempting to bar the door behind him. He looks up fleetingly to see charging snarling miqo’te attacking the other cells and some heading for him with blinding speed. With the latch snapping securely into position he begins to backpedal, halberd quaking in his grasp looking around for any means of possible escape. Pitch black eyes of a screaming elderly female peer through the window causes his nerves to leave him, leaving a trickling feeling running down his greaves. The face disappears when two more enraged miqo’te charge the heavy metal door, loud indentations erupting with each thud.
   Running over the overhead grating to a crossway he attempts to climb a ladder up to the upper catwalk, the roar of the engine turbines booming below. Sounds of scraping claws on metal come from the door when it finally gives way, flying from its hinges. Three miqo’te emerge into the room sniffing the air hissing up to their prey barely holding onto a steel girder. Two of them leap and clutch the bars and inner footholds of the ships interior walls their acrobatic agility proving no difficulty in their pursuit. Horrifyingly fast and slowly closing in, the guard screams in panic slipping off the girder he was standing, falling into a whirling gory death causing the turbine to explode.
  “Beacon sighted, preparing approach. Hmm, appears nan Daegon has arrived already.â€
  “Joy. This should be entertaining.†the pilot snickers. “Nothing like having a psychotic, three faced megalomaniac telling you how to….†A booming explosion rocks the ship, his head violently jerking up hitting the ceiling of the cockpit. With blood dribbling down his face, the pilot attempts to adjust his vizer and regain control. “@#)(*#!!!!!! What hit us!?†The co-pilot slowly crawls back into his chair inspecting the dash, a variety of alarms filling his ears.
  “Engine two is out, rerouting power!â€
 “Do we have bulkhead control?! Don’t feel like dying of inhalation trying to land this thing.â€
 “No it’s out, they have to go manual. I’m on it!†The co-pilot springs up first leaning to regain his balance from the irregular rocking of the ship, “I’ll initiate the sequence from here and unlock the security lever. It’s going to take them a minute to close.â€
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 “We don’t have a minute, just go. See if we have any cargo that’s still alive."
 “Will do.†The co-pilot unlatches the security lever for the pit bulkhead in the floor climbing down into the ships small living quarters. Looking back at the slow closing bulkhead he hears a cacophony of screaming, hissing from the corridor leading out to the engine room and brig. “What in the…@#(*&!!! They’re loose!â€
 “What!!â€the pilot yells. “Get back,†the screams of his friend fill his ear, the bulkhead hatch shutting firmly in place. “!&$*, losing altitude too fast, gotta keep her nose up.â€
  The scrapping of claws and thudding of fists on the bulkhead can be heard just a dozen feet behind him.
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    Quick Shroud shoulder charges the door into the antechamber with the two lallafel in tow. “It’s not far, almost there. One more walkway and we’ll hit the armory. Just be mindful of the big windows looking out to the courtyard. We don’t want any undue attention from the guards along the balconies.â€
  With the walkway just ahead the three can make out the increasing volume of panicking soldiers outside. Majhala heads to a window to take a peak, her eyes and mouth a gasp.
“Whoa! You weren’t kidding!â€
                                                                      Â
  “You’ll want everyone to get between the vanguards my dear Korvus. My paling barrier should prevent any damage to us or our equipment but it has to be timed perfectly so don’t get caught flat footed,†Daegon’s maiden voice chuckles.
   A deafening roar of engines befalls the courtyard, scattering frightened soldiers heading toward the palisade for cover. The carrier crashes through a cliffside control tower. Debris of concrete, metal and glass speeding through fleshy soldier bodies. An instant from impact, the vessel spins into a horizontal three–sixty eventually reaching the ground bursting shrapnel and dust flying everywhere. Rolling over soldiers, crushing all who fail to get to safety, the momentum of the ship continues to skid eventually crashing into one of the surrounding prison walls.
   The Inquisitor’s maiden face swivels back facing a coughing Doctor Korvus and the others. “See. I told you would not be disappointed.†The gangly Daegon pirouettes and begins dancing amongst the injured and deceased alike. “Tra-la la! Such sweet music in the air†kicking an injured soldier out of his way. Halting for a moment and looking toward the wreckage, Daegon raises his hand and snaps his finger, “Time to turn on the amplifier good Doctor! It’s time to finish this purge."
TBCÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
