Chapter One

It all happened so fast...

~Moments before~

The cafeteria was busy with the sound of inmates horffing down spoonfuls of the 'lunch special' and the occasional talking. Things went as they usually do, even when the doors flew out and in came the Superjail staff. Some of the prisoners looked over their shoulders for a second before going back to their meals. The party of three, plus one robot, made their way to the back of the room and sat in the same table they always sat in at noon.

Today's menu was too 'risky' to try, so the staff brought bagged lunches for today. Jailbot was already 'eating' with his portable charger. The rest started digging in, unaware that a few of the inmates at the opposite end of the cafeteria were still eying them.

Meal time for the staff was much like one of their 'meetings', only less formal. Short and sweet type conversation, an occasional laugh, to Jared's expense, or a random idea dreamed up from the Warden's mind. Alice rarely ever added to it, unless she had to, and Jailbot was busy changing. Today was one of those days.

Jared was his normal jittery self. He sat next to the Warden, watching him eat his bagged lunch of a PB&J and juice box. The nervous accountant took a bite of his burger before gathering what courage he had. He shallowed.

"...Sir, I wanted to discuss something with you quickly."

The Warden looked over with a mild irritated look on his face He was half way through chewing a bite.

"Oh! Um, I'll wait..."

Jared shifted in his seat as Warden finished shallowing. "What is it, Jared?"

"I, uh...about those requests you made the other day?"

"Yeees...?" Warden had that tone to his voice that made Jared's stomach cringe.

"Well...sir, um...its..." Jared started sweating bullets.

"Out with it, Jared.", said Warden, in a stern manner.

"We-don't-have-the-funds-for-it!-It-just-can't-be-done!"

There was a brief moment of silence followed but the sound of Warden getting off his chair to loom over his accountant.

"What was that, Jared? I don't think I caught that." He cupped his hand over his ear.

"I-I-I...said..."

"I know what you said!", shouted the Warden, right in Jared's face.

Warden began one of his harsh, verbal onslaught while Alice and Jailbot just say back and watched. This was so normal it was almost expected nearly ever lunchtime, in some way or form. So normal, not even the thought of being surrounded by the inmates lead to any extra level of precaution. Sure, Alice and Jailbot were there, but all one would need is the right moment...

The inmates that were watching the staff earlier saw that the Warden's angry lecture to Jared was keeping Alice and Jailbot busy. Two of them got up,

...and started a fight of their own. They began throwing punches, giving each other bloody lips and black eyes. Alice jumped to her feet to take care of it.

Just then, two more inmates, from the other end of the room, started duking it out. Alice was busy; Jailbot unplugged himself and zoomed over to break up the second brawling.

Warden was still giving Jared lip. Having a few fights break out in the cafeteria was not enough to stop the bosses words. Jared knew that all too well. He just saw there and took it. He was used to it.

"And you call yourself an accountant?" Warden continued, making a 'phhh' sound after that comment. "It doesn't matter what it is, you always seems to find a way to screw something up!"

Suddenly the shadow that was still hovering over Jared got bigger. He looked up and saw a huge rough looking prisoner armed with one of the plastic trays.

"And one other thing, Jared-"

"Sir! Behind you!!"

The tray came swinging down, landing across the back of Warden's head. Jared screamed. The tray broke in two from the force of the blow. Warden fell flat on his face, just next to Jared. He was out cold.

Jared shouted for help just the prisoner and a few other inmates began beating an unconscious Warden. Alice and Jailbot realized it then; the first two fights were a ploy to lure them away from the Warden. Jared wasn't fit to defend himself either, but he wasn't the target anyways.

The guard and robot rushed in and 'controlled' the inmates. The rest of the prisoners ran away as Jailbot went into 'KILL MODE'. The group that attacked the Warden made a break for it out the room, but Jailbot went right after them.

Soon the cafeteria was empty, except for Alice and Jared, and Warden who laid on the floor, bruised, bleeding and still unconscious.

It all happened so fast...