Chapter 16: Prison Break
For Abel, the plan to break out Rick was fairly simple, use the hawk attack to sneak in the camp and get Rick out. After their meeting last night, Thalya had airdropped the map of the concentration camp, including the cell where Rick was being held.
Ideally, Abel wanted a meeting of the minds with King Horus, but given the chaotic nature of battlefields, he understood that this was most likely not going to happen.
The UEC Captain already outlined his plan to his party and what each and everyone was supposed to do. Chief Muwatalli and Princess Melia was to be placed in Group Lion; their goal was to wreak havoc in the camp, including rescuing as many lion prisoners as they could. Melia was to stay at the edges of the camp providing artillery support through Turtey. Meanwhile, Muwatalli would break the prisoners out.
This left Group Eagle, made up of Abel, Nia, and Asmunikal. The group was to infiltrate the camp, using the chaos of the battle to sneak into the concentration camp.
And with the hawk attack already underway, the party made their move.
***
Chief Muwatalli did not know what to make of working with Melia. For him, the Shark Princess was the definition of innocence; she reminded him of his younger sister Asmunikal, especially before her run in with that spider. That had been the lionesswoman being much too reckless for her own good. Supplies had been running low in the village, and Asmunikal volunteered to start gathering where the other women usually didn’t go to. And for good reason, as it turned out, as light spiders had infested that part of the forest. The Lion Chief was supremely glad that Ricardo the Smith was there to save her, enough that he was willing to give him his sister’s hand-in-marriage; the condition he gave Ricardo was just a means to save face, since Asmunikal already had other suitors and giving her to an outsider just like that may cause discord within the Lion Tribe. And having learned of how Melia met Abel and Nia, he couldn’t help but see another younger sister in the Princess of Aquaea.
If nothing else, he would keep her safe. Not even that giant turtle, cannons notwithstanding, would make him neglect her safety.
Yet regardless, Melia still had her role to play. As Muwatalli was making his way inside the center of the camp, Turtey fired his hydro cannons, striking Cainite guards with high-pressure brine.
Muwatalli rushed, and with a punch, sent another camp guard flying, leaving only one guard left. Before he could react, the Lion Chief lunged and grabbed the hapless guard, then headbutted him before allowing the guard to crumple to the ground.
“Princess Aquaea and Turtle,” Muwatalli said with a roar. “Stay at the entrance, keep an eye out. I’m going in.”
Melia gave a salute, something she’d learned from Nia’s interactions with Abel.
“Yes, sir,” the Shark Princess said.
***
Abel, Nia, and Asmunikal had already made their way through the concentration camp, mostly by keeping a low profile. Abel kept with him his stun baton, which he had used on an unsuspecting guard who had the misfortune of being in the way.
Yet for the most part, the party had been able to avoid entanglements, mostly thanks to Asmunikal, whose feline agility allowed her to get vantage of the battle.
“How far away until we get to Rick?” Nia asked.
“It shouldn’t be too long now,” responded Abel.
And just as he said that, he heard the voice of Asmunikal from the top of a building. “Abel of Ramsey, Nia of Ennis.”
Abel cried back. “What is it, Nike?”
“Incoming hawk, crashing down near you,” she responded.
Quickly, Abel grabbed Nia as he leaned to the wall of a building. The two avoided the crashing hawkman just in time.
***
The hawkman lied on the dusty ground of the camp, bloodied and battered. He had taken so many laser shots it was quite a wonder that he still survived. Yet at this point, he could feel the life slowly leaving him; rather than a quick death, it appeared the Lord had seen fit to grant him a slow, agonizing one.
But just as the hawkman had resigned himself to death, he looked up to see a young woman; not a hawkwoman as she lacked wings, nor was she a member of the Dragon Tribe for her skin was pale and she was of a fair complexion. It soon dawned on him that this was a Sethite, so radiant she might as well have been an angel.
In her hand was a pistol, but what came out of it was a light, green ray that provided comfort. And soon, he realized that the pain had just disappeared. His wounds were gone. It must have been the “phaser of recovery” that Cain’s army used to heal their soldiers from major wounds.
But of more importance was the woman who saved his life, who now spoke to him:
“You’re safe, now.”
The hawk stood up, his armor battered but his body was good as new. “Yes,” he said with a nod. “You have my gratitude.”
And with that, he flew away. He could hear the sound of the woman and her companion, a Sethite man, calling out to him. But he ignored them. It was truly fortunate that he had his helmet on—the last thing he wanted was for the Sethites to know who he was, though he couldn’t help but dwell on the Sethite woman.
***
Nia shook her head as she saw the hawkman flying away. “He just… flew away. How rude.”
Abel remained silent. Instead, he looked down to the ground and found a bracer there; he picked it up, and inspected it with curiosity. It was aqumarine in color, and had the emblem of a golden hawk with an all-seeing-eye over it.
Nia furrowed her brows. “Captain? What are you looking at?”
“Looks to be a part of his armor,” responded Abel. “Must have broken off when he crashed.”
“Hmm,” Nia said. “Maybe we can use it to figure out who that guy is. I don’t even know why he’s in such a hurry.”
Abel shrugged. “No use worrying about that, now. We need to get to Rick.” Then he looked up. “Nike, how’s it looked?”
“Clear,” responded Asmunikal. “No Cainite guards in the vicinity, the battle is a distance away. It appears my brother and Princess Melia had succeeded in freeing our prisoners.”
“Got it, Nike,” Abel said; he then turned to Nia. “Let’s go, Lieutenant.”
Nia nodded. “Yes, sir.”
***
Rick sat still, his face impassive, though inwardly he paid attention to the battle surely ongoing outside. A part of him wondered what must be happening. A prisoner riot? Perhaps his beloved Nike and Chief Muwatalli had found some like-minded allies to mount a rescue operation. Or maybe Captain Ramsey and Lieutenant Ennis finally caught wind of where he was. All these thoughts floated through his mind, though he took care not to get carried away; he knew full well the costs of overconfidence.
Then, Rick heard the door to his holding building being opened. The sound of Kruptosian footsteps were all too familiar for him now. When the guard finally showed up, Rick looked up to see across the transparent hard-light barriers that served as his prison bars.
“You, Sethite,” the Kruptosian barked.
But Rick, far from intimidated by such a display, rolled his eye. “What is it, Chief Redskin?”
“You are to be transferred to the Dark City,” the guard said. “Right in the dungeons of His Majesty, Emperor Cain the Conqueror.”
Rick stood up, his expression relaxed. “About time. I thought Emperor Baldy McTomato was going to let me rot here until I die of old age.”
“Silence!” cried the Kruptosian. “You dare speak of His Majesty Emperor Cain in that…”
But the guard’s speech was interrupted by his own scream of agony, and he soon crumpled to the ground.
Rick’s eyes widened as he saw who was responsible: a young man in his twenties, short hair dark hair, in his hands he held what looked to be a baton. It could only be…
“Abe?!” Rick said.
“That’s me,” responded Abel.
And just as the UEC Captain said those words, the barriers disappeared. Immediately, the two man shook hands, and gave each other a quick embrace.
Abel spoke first, “How are you holding up, Lieutenant Smits?”
“I’ve been better,” Rick said, chuckling. “Thanks for the rescue.”
“You’re welcome,” responded Abel with a nod. “You didn’t think I was going to let you rot here, did you?”
Rick shook his head. “No. Never had a doubt. I knew you’d come through for me.”
But a slight feminine cough interrupted, bringing attention to Nia who was at the cell’s control panel.
Rick grinned at Nia. “Right, thank you too, Nia. I bet you missed me, Little Miss Generalissimo. Why don’t you come here and give me a hug?”
Nia shook her head. “I think I’ll pass.”
Rick gave a mock pout. “Oh, I see. Oh well, she’s your problem now, Captain.”
Abel coughed, as if to bring order back into the group. “Look, we have to get out of here. And we need to do it quick. We still have our allies to take into account.”
“Allies?” Rick asked. “Who?”
A haughty feminine laugh rang, as if to answer Rick’s question. That laugh belonged to one Princess Thalya of Kruptos, who arrived confidently. In her arms, she held an arquebus.
“Your Highness,” Abel said.
Nia frowned. “I should have known you’d show your face here.”
Rick looked on curiously. “Is that my arquebus?”
Thalya kept calm, and instead was clapping, almost sarcastically. “Well done, Sethites. All three of you.”
Abel couldn’t help but assume battle stance with his baton, especially with Princess Thalya being armed at present.
“So,” Nia said, crossing her arms. “It’s a trap all along, isn’t it?”
“Not all all, Sethite woman,” responded Thalya before she turned to Rick. “Ricardo Smits, is it? Catch!”
As she said this, Thalya tossed the arquebus. Rick quickly caught it before he inspected it, as if ensure nothing was amiss; he was satisfied at the state of his weapon.
Nia furrowed her brows. “I… I don’t understand.”
“What else is there to understand, foolish girl?” Thalya asked, her tone condescending. “I am here to help.”
Yet the Kruptosian princess was so focused on the three Earthfolks in front of her that she failed to see the shadow behind her. Before they could respond to her, she felt being grabbed from behind; and her neck felt the cold of steel, its sharpness touched her just enough to feel death.
Holding the knife and the life of the Kruptosian princess in her hands was Asmunikal, who looked ready to end it.
“Nike!” Nia cried.
Rick raised an eye. “Nike?”
“Wait, Nike,” Abel said. “Release her. Release Princess Thalya.”
Nike couldn’t believe what she had just heard. “But… she’s the daughter of the Conquering Cain. Cain took two of my brothers from me, very nearly three. And he took my beloved also, if only for a time. Now I’m going to take his daughter away from him!”
“No!” cried Abel.
“But she’s the enemy,” protested Nike.
Abel shook his head. “I wouldn’t be so sure. Thalya helped us. If it wasn’t for her, I would’ve still been languishing in Cain’s dungeon, and Nia would have been married to Cain. All our adventures, all the companions we’ve met, even rescuing Rick… none of this would have been possible without Thalya’s help. I know she has her own motivations, but I cannot simply overlook all that she’s done for us.”
Nia looked to her Captain in shock. “Abel…”
“So please, Nike,” Abel continued. “Let her go.”
Asmunikal held her knife still for a second, as if seriously considering cutting open the throat she held in her mercy. But true mercy held out, and the lionesswoman slowly put the knife away from Thalya…
…. before she proceeded to threw her down to the floor.
She had no intention of letting Thalya off the hook.
Then, a masculine voice cried out, one she had yearned to hear for the longest time, and it called for her. Asmunikal turned to see her beloved: Ricardo the Smith.
The two lovers quickly embraced, their first in what had felt like an eternity. The lionesswoman felt like she was floating, as her lover held her up, just like back in the Forest of Light when he first rescued her, when they first met. Their faces came close to another before their lips met.
And for Asmunikal, the rest of the world ceased to exist, if only for a moment.
***
“Nike!”
“Ricardo!”
…
Lying on the ground reeling in pain, Princess Thalya of Kruptos looked up. To say that she was humiliated would have been quite the understatement. Her life was held at the mercy of a filthy savage subhuman of a woman, her life was saved by her beloved Abel Ramsey… except that he only did so out of pity and a misplaced sense of gratitude, then finally she was thrown aside like a piece of trash.
Thalya looked at the embracing, kissing couple with disgust. Nike, as the Sethites had called that lioness, had just earned a spot in her list. Yet she changed focus to the other woman in that group, Nia Ennis of Earth; Thalya’s face oozed hatred, that Sethite still remained at the top of her list.
Thalya frowned, but forced her face to form a smile.
Patience, Thalya, she thought to herself. Soon, everything will fall into place.
To be continued…
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