The Rebellious Slave Ch. 16

"We aren't leaving," Kara told Alyssa, her voice certain and unwavering. In response, the Weapons Specialist carefully raised her hands in surrender, and Kara could feel her resolve strengthening. "I am going back to get Greenwood and Karrington," she continued. "And you are going to help me."

"Don't be stupid," Alyssa hissed, turning her head and glancing over her shoulder, so that she could see Kara's burning eyes. "We have only twenty minutes before the Rescue Regiment's helicopter takes off, and there isn't enough time to get Greenwood or Karrington. Either you and I make it out of here alive, or none of us do."

"I'm not doing this because it's smart," Kara told the Weapons Specialist, her voice cold. She was tired of Alyssa's bullshit, and the woman's self-centered attitude. "I'm doing this because it is the right thing to do, and sometimes you have to take risks for the sake of your conscience. Besides, you owe me. This is all your fucking fault, and you know it."

Then, for a split second only, Kara thought she saw Alyssa wince. But in a moment, the stiffness in Alyssa's muscle had resumed and Kara continued her threatening monologue. "If you had just picked up an underground route for me when you were supposed to, Arlington would have never found us out," Kara cried, her voice bordering on a scream. Her hands were shaking violently now, the gun in her hands unsteady and unsure. Kara couldn't tell if her poor grip on the weapon was due to her anger or to her rising fear, because she couldn't believe that she had a gun pressed to the head of another woman. "It's your fault that Greenwood and I ended up here," Kara hissed, her voice low now. "You owe us. But even if you won't help me because its the right thing to do, perhaps you'll do it because I have a gun to your head." And to emphasize her point, Kara cocked the gun ever so slightly. "Help me," she declared. "Or I'll blow your fucking brains out."

Kara clicked the safety off of her gun, and watched as Alyssa's muscles tensed beneath her prison uniform. For a moment, there was an anxious silence as Kara waited for Alyssa to reply. The only sound was the breathing of the two women, shallow and soft. And in that silence, Kara realized that she had made a mistake. Alyssa was a trained Weapons Specialist. The woman could easily duck away from Kara and knock her unconscious. And Kara, a mere medic and a horrible shot, wouldn't be able to react in time. And did Kara even have the guts to shoot another woman? Had she been bluffing this whole time, to herself and to Alyssa? Wouldn't Alyssa recognize the bluff for what it was?

But suddenly, an emotion not unlike guilt crossed over Alyssa's features and although they were normally stern, her eyes momentarily softened. The tension in Alyssa's muscles slackened then, so that Kara could see her entire body settling down in resignation. A regretful sigh was even emitted from Alyssa's soft lips, although Kara almost didn't hear it. And Alyssa, it seemed, had the appearance of a woman defeated.

"Okay," Alyssa said, nodding her head in agreement. "Okay, you got me. Can you take down your weapon now?" And Kara, nodding, slowly removed her gun from the back of Alyssa's head.

Before heading over to Cell Block E, Alyssa and Kara looted the corpses on the second floor. When they were done, both Kara and Alyssa were wearing bullet proof vests and had acquired two more for Karrington and Greenwood. They also stocked up on weapons, including several pistols, roughly three hand grenades, a tazer, and a bulky weapon that Kara didn't recognize. When asked about it, Alyssa explained that it was a portable machine gun with a high density cartridge, capable of mowing down roughly sixty men in under three minutes. It didn't look anything like a machine gun to Kara. In fact, it didn't look a gun at all. It was just a large, rounded cylinder with a handle, which was supposed to be steadied against the bearer's hip during gunfire. Then, once Kara and Alyssa were loaded up with weapons, the pair dashed toward the nearest stairwell.

They decided to get Greenwood first, who was located in the basement of Bremmington. Normally, it would have been difficult to traverse the halls of Bremmington's lower levels and infiltrate Cell Block E. After all, it was a maximum security cell block, even more thoroughly guarded than Karrington's. But Nardia's Rescue Regiment served as a lucky distraction. Most of Bremmington's combat personnel had been recruited to handle Ciara's team, and there were only a few guards left on each floor. It was a simple enough matter for Alyssa to point and shoot at the poor bastards, taking out each one with an ease most unbecoming of murder. The Weapons Specialist barely glanced up when she fired her gun, knocking down guards as she might still targets. Clearly, Alyssa was unimpressed with the combat personnel of Bremmington. Kara could tell by the way she snorted in disapproval, each and every time an employee was shot dead.

Cell Block E wasn't at all like the one above it, where Karrington still awaited rescue. That cell block, Kara remembered, had been cold, damp, and filthy. Cell Block E, on the other hand, was bright and sterile, much like a dentist's office. The florescent lights above were unbearably bright too, reflecting off of the smooth, white surfaces of the cell block so that the environment was blinding. Kara found it hard to believe that the lighting wasn't intentional. It was surely used to assault the occupants' visual senses. Worse still, the cells were completely sealed and ridiculously small, big enough to allow a man to sit, but not high enough to permit standing. Kara shuddered at the sight, her sympathy for Greenwood almost overwhelming. But Alyssa was unmoved by the arrangement, and with little ceremony, shot down the only two guards who remained on the block.

"Expendables," Alyssa hissed, spitting onto one of warm corpses as they passed by it.

Strangely enough, they found Greenwood's cell with ease. In fact, it was labeled with a metal plaque, bearing the inscription "Alan Greenwood, Number 275." Of course, in order to unlock the cell, they needed a key. But Alyssa found the appropriate one without a problem, on a ring beside a guard's dead body. Soon, the cell door was open and the women were able to peer inside at the recently captured double agent.

Greenwood was merely sitting in his cell, wearing the same prison uniform Alyssa and Kara were wearing, with a metal collar wrapped tightly around his neck. At first he looked perplexed, but a moment later there was a genuine grin on his face and a glint in his eye. Kara wondered how the poor man was able to smile, for he had clearly been abused. His left arm was in a cast, but Kara's eyes were most prominently drawn to Greenwood's face. The entire left side was bruised and bloody, as if Greenwood had taken several direct punches. And when the man grinned at his companions, Kara noticed that he was missing a tooth.

"Well, now," Greenwood greeted, stepping out of his cell and standing to his feet. There, he brushed the dirt from his clothes and straightened the sleeves of his shirt. "If I had known that I would be entertaining guests, I would have cleaned up a little better," the man continued, gesturing toward his face. "Please pardon my abysmal appearance. I haven't had the time to wash up or apply any concealer." His voice was a soft chuckle, and Alyssa couldn't help but give the man an endearing slap on the back.

"Shut up, Greenwood," Alyssa laughed, tossing the man a gun, which he caught midair. "Put on the bullet proof jacket, and let's get the fuck out of here. None of us have time for your sarcasm."

"I thought it was funny," Greenwood pouted, as he slipped on the bulky vest. "Are we picking up anyone else?"

"Ben Karrington," Kara confirmed, gesturing toward the stairwell. "And we don't have much time."

After finding a Deactivation Unit on a guard and frying Greenwood's collar, the trio headed upstairs to Karrington's cell. On the way, Alyssa explained--in a voice that was both serious and worried--that Ciara's team would soon be gone and with it, the escapees' only distraction. The little group was most definitely pressed for time, and would have to act fast if they wanted to have any shot at escape. Once the Nardian Rescue Regiment left, Bremmington's combat personnel would become available to retaliate. At that point, the trio would no longer be able to enjoy the cleared hallways and the absence of guards now gracing their path.

It was easy enough to shoot the only guard on Karrington's cell block, release the general from his concrete prison, and deactivate his collar. When Karrington emerged, Kara was able to see the entirety of his body for the first time, at least since she'd arrived at Bremmington. Karrington wasn't a tall man, and stood only a few inches higher than Kara. However, the man made up for his height with his bulk. His arms were huge, though not disgustingly so, and he had a ripped chest that rivaled that of a body builder's. Blond locks framed a kind, boyish face that seemed too soft for such a muscular man. And then, there were his unnaturally grey eyes, so genuine and readable, almost like a child's.

As Kara's eyes skimmed down the fallen general's body, she realized that he was eyeing her in the same way, taking in every inch of her skin. And while Kara had seen Ben Karrington before, on television and in newspaper articles, he was seeing her for the very first time. It was inappropriate, given the circumstances, but Kara could feel a soft blush rising in her cheeks. That is, until Karrington saw Greenwood and his eyes turned dark.

"You!" Karrington screeched, rushing toward Greenwood with his fist raised. "You miserable, conniving bastard!"

Luckily for Greenwood, Alyssa intercepted Karrington and blocked the punch. "He's a double agent, Karrington," she insisted, her voice firm and unremitting. "Back off, and let's go, before we lose our chance."

But Karrington wasn't convinced. "You were at my trial," he cried, pointing an accusatory finger at Greenwood. "I would recognize you anywhere, even with half of your face fucked up. You had me sentenced to enslavement, after the war."

"And what was the alternative?" Greenwood questioned, as calm as ever. "Execution?" The double agent had his hands raised above his head, in order to make Karrington feel more at ease. "I was one of only four judges to vote in favor of your life, and I can promise you that it wasn't easy. Even then, Arlington suspected that there was a double agent on the board, and I had to undergo a week of Character Evaluations after I voted against a death sentence."

"Karrington, we have to go," Kara insisted, gripping one of his massive biceps affectionately and trying to sound soothing. "The man is telling the truth. Even if you don't trust him, please trust my judgement of his character." And though Karrington seemed reluctant, Kara could feel the tension in his muscles suddenly slacken.

"Very well," Karrington replied, turning toward Greenwood. "But I'll be watching you."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," Greenwood grinned, and he offered Karrington a pair of matching pistols. "Hopefully, by the end of the day, I can prove my innocence to you."

"Alright ladies, we can exchange recipes later," Alyssa growled, reloading a pistol. She shot down guards and Bremmington personnel as one might swat away flies, and had to reload often. "If we want to get out of here, we need an actual plan." And now that she had finished reloading, Alyssa turned to Greenwood. "Alan, you've worked here for the past several years. Any bright ideas?"

"Well, wait one second," Kara insisted, looking up at a clock mounted in the cell block, its digits glowing red. "We still have time before the Rescue Regiment's helicopter leaves. Commander Ciara said that there would be a ten minute wait period after the power went out, and that hasn't happened yet. Isn't our best option to try and make a break for the roof?"

"Absolutely not," Greenwood interrupted, and Kara's face fell. She couldn't imagine how the team would escape Isleydor's Capital City without the Rescue Regiment. Bremmington was in the middle of the goddamn country; It wasn't as if they could make a run for it. Going by air seemed the best option, and Kara doubted that they would be able to find a helicopter or a plane in Bremmington. And, even if they did, it would be difficult to access.

"I'm sorry my dear," Greenwood continued, sympathetic to the look of hopelessness on Kara's face. "But there are fourteen floors to this place, and it would be nearly impossible to fight our way to the roof before the Rescue Regiment leaves. Plus, going up is problematic. It's easy to get trapped when you are too high off the ground to jump and run."

"So, your proposed plan?" Alyssa pressed, impatient. "I just gave up a guarantee of freedom to hang back with you boys, and I think it's time you start pulling your weight. Especially you, Alan. So, what's the fucking plan?"

"There's a weapons lab on the ground floor," Greenwood replied, ignoring the rude implications of Alyssa's tone. "They've got armored vehicles stored there, and the first floor isn't too far off. If Alyssa can drive, we can probably make it out onto the road."

"The road?" Kara cried, incredulous. "That's our brilliant plan? We're gonna drive an armored vehicle into the middle of Capital City, a civilian population? And then what are we gonna do? Just hope that nobody follows us? We're as inland as it is possible to be! We'll never make it to the border!"

"Got any better ideas?" Greenwood asked, and Kara realized that she didn't.

Kara and her comrades were only two floors below ground level, so making it up to the weapons lab before being recaptured wasn't inconceivable. The escapees only needed to traverse a few stairwells and race through two cell blocks--Cell Block C and Cell Block B--before freedom could be realized. Then, once the first floor was breached, the weapons lab would be easily accessible.

At first, Kara wanted to save time by taking the elevator up, but Greenwood had vehemently opposed the idea. As far as the double was concerned, an elevator was just a prison cell waiting to happen. If the power were cut whilst the group was inside, they'd be trapped and their escape attempt thwarted. And so, quickly, the group made its way up the first stairwell, navigating the twisting steps with deliberation and caution. The caution was especially important, too. For when they reached Cell Block C, Alyssa was suddenly motioning for her team to get down and join her behind a concrete partition. The giant, grey slab separated the stairwell from a long hallway, which constituted Cell Block C. And since each stairwell only connected two floors, the team would have to cross Cell Block C and reach the next set of stairs in order to continue their ascent.

"What's the problem?" Karrington hissed, his voice a harsh whisper. He was hunched up next to Alyssa, keeping his massive body out of sight and behind the partition, a gun in each hand. "I thought there were only a few guys to each floor?"

"Word of our little foray must have gotten out," Alyssa replied, checking the arrangement of weapons about her belt. Then, just to be sure that their ammo supply wasn't too low, she rummaged through the contents of a backpack she'd looted from a corpse and filled with supplies. "Ciara's team hasn't left yet, or the hallways would be swarming with guards. But somebody knows we've got our own little escape attempt going on, and has decided to send a few guys our way."

"How many?" Greenwood asked, his voice analytic.

In reply, Alyssa carefully took a shiny, silver gun from about her waist and slowly angled it around the corner. There, reflected in the weapon's sheen, Kara could see the hallway before them and a series of guards. The men, all dressed in black, were extraordinarily imposing and were aligned like a wall, so as to form a blockade. Apparently, they knew that Kara and her comrades intended to reach the stairwell across the hall, and had been ordered to impede the group's progress.

"Seven, maybe eight guys," Alyssa replied. "Do we want to use a grenade?"

"And waste it?" Greenwood snorted, his eyebrows raised. "Ridiculous, you've only got a few of those. We can take eight guys." And he turned toward Karrington, his voice serious. "Which side do you want, Ben?"

"Right," Karrington grunted. "Unless someone also has that preference?"

"Greenwood can't take the middle with a broken arm, so I will," Alyssa replied, squaring her shoulders for an assault. "Greenwood can have the left side, which should suit him just fine."

"And me?" Kara questioned, staring at the gun in her hands and wishing she could shoot better. "What do you guys want me to do?"

"Keep your head down, medic," Alyssa replied, and she pushed Kara towards the floor. Then, in an instant, all three military personnel were past the partition and shooting into the wall of guards blocking their path. And, against her better judgement, Kara peeked out from behind the partition in order to watch the battle unfold.

To Kara's immense surprise, Greenwood was done first. He didn't charge his opponents, like Alyssa and Karrington did. Instead, he stepped carefully, but lightly onto the floor and set up for his first few shots. Squaring his shoulders, Greenwood aimed in an unrushed manner, as if he were about to shoot through cardboard targets instead of men. The lack of fear he displayed was unsettling, as was his unhurried pace. Greenwood, Kara realized, had the mannerisms of a sharp shooter. And sure enough, when the double agent finally pulled the trigger, as calm as ever, all three men on his side were down within a manner of seconds. In that time, Greenwood was hit twice in the chest, but stumbled backward with an irritating degree of grace, unharmed thanks to the bullet proof vest.

Alyssa wasn't finished quite so quickly, but Kara suspected that she intentionally took her time. The first two men in the center of the hallway were shot down almost instantly, but when the third man came into view, Alyssa put her gun away and decided to finish the fight at close range. She allowed her opponent to throw the first several punches, dodging them with the grace of a dancer and with a twisted smirk characterizing her face. Then, when the guard had been given his chance, Alyssa swung forward and up, breaking the man's jaw with a disgusting crunch. He screamed in agony, clutching at his face until Alyssa drove a blade into his neck. When the carotid artery was punctured, streams of blood rushed out of the wound like water from a hose and Alyssa's prison uniform was drenched in the sticky, red mess.

Karrington, meanwhile, was involved in his own little battle. He wasn't much for guns in the first place, and didn't wish to waste bullets when ammo was in short supply. So, instead of shooting, Karrington killed all of his opponents using brute strength. The first guard was slow at the draw, and Karrington easily killed the man whilst he was still fumbling with the holster on his belt. Gripping the upper and lower ends of the guard's head, Karrington twisted violently. The man's neck then snapped, and he went limp. The general's next attacker, on the other hand, was a bit trickier. Reaching for a pistol on his belt, the guard shot haphazardly a few times, and even managed to graze Karrington's arm with a bullet. But soon, the general was upon his opponent, and the gun was twisted out of the guard's grasp. Then, Karrington bashed the poor man's head against the concrete wall, watching as chunks of skull came off and fell onto the floor.

"Let's go!" Karrington screamed, as soon as the last opponent had been killed. "Come on out, Kara! Let's go!"