Echo laid down on the ground exhaling in a sigh of exhaustion. The ice cold metal floor of the cell felt good against her over heated skin. Her heart rate was still elevated slightly from the workout in the "exercise room". She'd ran 10 miles on a stupid tread mill with an armed guard staring at her the whole time. He made her mad, his staring made her mad. His gun aimed at her made her mad. The fact that the guard who "escorted" her to her cell was still around dumbly staring at her made her furious.
She glared pointedly at the guard. The idiot didn't move.
Echo's attack was so fast the guard only had time to draw in a startled breath as she lunged forward, snarling like a wild creature. She stopped herself just inches short from the blue force field, that completed the three-walled cell. The guards expression made an amazing evolution from self righteousness, to a stupefied ghostly complexion. He staggered back a few steps in surprise, clutching his shirt over his heart in a clenched fist.
x
He had expected the girl to somehow break through the force field. He stumbled away from her glare and toothy snarl, and retreated as fast as his legs would take him. He ran through the sterile halls of the complex, face beaten red. Finally reaching his resident quarters he punched the key code with shaking fingers and locked the thick door behind him. He leaned against it still shaking. Warm liquid had spread down the legs of his pants. He recognized the tangy smell.
Time to retire. He told himself he would have to move somewhere warm to fully enjoy retiring, and if he was lucky no one had been in the surveillance room watching and he could leave with his head held high.
x
Echo sat calmly in the corner of her cell. A ten by ten foot cubical. She stared vacantly at her view of the Hall. The Hall housed six other cells besides her own. All were empty, at the moment. The doors at the far end were unceremoniously vacant of guards. Echo snorted to herself at the precious memory of the ashen faced guard she'd surprised. The lingering stench made her want to gag but at the same time she couldn't help but grin with total satisfaction.
A soft laugh sounded inside her mind.
Morning Echo. Obscure greeted Echo quietly. Echo's only other fellow prisoner. Obscure provided the only genial interaction Echo had ever been subject to.
Hey you ok today? Echo thought the words protectively back to Obscure. She was mindful to keep the thought small and tightly aimed for Obscure's thoughts.
I'm ok, just exercising. A vague thought about how Obscure would like to stuff a guards eyeballs in his own pants drifted by, making Echo snort in laughter.
Spooked another guard. Echo bragged. Obscure's mental image beamed brightly, obviously amused.
So I heard! I think you scared him off for good. He's making plans to leave. Some image of a beautiful place by the water. Obscure showed Echo the thoughts she had stolen from the guards mind. Obscure wistfully pictured the two of them sitting there on the sand, baking in the hot sun and sipping on cool flavorful drinks. A sudden alert from Obscure senses startled them both out of the dream.
Got'ta go now Echo. Obscure abruptly cut off her daydreaming thoughts. Echo nodded to herself, feeling the loss already of Obscure's thoughts to openly 'speak' to just for the sake of comradeship.
Two guards entered the hall a few seconds later. They spoke in hushed whispers, now and then glancing in Echo's direction, as if she wouldn't notice. Echo regarded the woman and male with disdainful un-interest. She moved to lay on her back in the raised cell. At the same time positioning herself in an angle to better hear there conversation. She might think they were dolts, but even dolt-talk is talk, and talk was always useful. The force field dulled all sounds, but her supersensitive hearing made up for that with ease.
"...acts just like him..." The female guard glanced quickly in Echo's direction. The male nodded.
"She talks kinda like him...have you seen those old vids in the archives?"
The woman shook her head, sending her light brown curls bouncing wildly.
"I haven't even heard her say a word...I thought she couldn't talk for some reason." She said in a low voice.
"She talks. I've heard her." The male guard straightened his stance a little and lifting his chin a little higher. He tugged on the too-small uniform, to get it to stay in place, uselessly.
"I've heard those stories of old X escaping, like fifty years ago. Didn't he destroy a complex? I heard he killed everyone in the base." The woman said seriously in hushed tones. The male guard hushed her quickly, staring suspiciously at Echo relaxing in her cell. Echo rolled her eyes. Maybe she was wrong about dolt talk.
The man Leaned closer to the woman's ear, he blocked his mouth from being seen from Echo's direction.
"We can find out if its true...later" He whispered. The woman nodded, eye's sparkling strangely.
Echo sighed. This talk of a former prisoner did little for her restless mood. If this X had escaped so could she. These new guards were so stupid they had probably been pulled from the warehouse...guarding boxes. She just had to find exactly the right moment. Life in the complex was torturous and if Echo cared about anything in her miserable existence, it was the petite, young woman that shared the Hall with her. If there was a way to escape this horrible place they would find it.
At any cost.
Echo flipped over and sat up against the corner, watching the door. The guards came to attention, as the heavy metal doors slid open and four armed soldiers marched in to halt, at Echo's cell.
This is interesting. What was happening today? She wondered.
Be careful Echo. Obscures small voice sounded almost inaudibly in her thoughts.
The four soldiers held there rifles tightly and aimed at Echo. The lead soldier hesitated before lowering the force field. Glancing to his comrades in arms to reassure himself.
Echo don't get yourself into trouble with them. There not worth it.
Soldiers take us to the Doctor's and techs. Who in turn, keep us locked up, running circles, and stuck with needles every day. What do you want me to do, praise them??
Just use your head Echo maybe you'll learn something today. Obscure said again. The saying had become a sing song tone from overuse.
The solider lowered the forcefield. Backing a few steps to give her room to move out. Slowly Echo jumped down from the cell into the center of the group, eying the leader doubtfully. The large soldier that had lowered her force field stood facing Echo squarely.
"We have orders to escort you for lab testing in section five. We have been authorized to use any force necessary." The guard stumbled though his rehearsed speech. His eyes darted nervously at his soldiers. A sheen of sweat coated his face and neck. The stale stench was almost unbearable.
Echo...Section five has some kind of psych barriers...I won't be able to hear you in there! Obscure dead serious tone chilled Echo's spine. Echo glared at the soldier defiantly but turned to the doors obediently ready to be escorted to section 5. They kept their rifles trained on Echo as they moved down the hall and pass the two warehouse box guards. Echo spared them a glare and a snarl. The door guards recoiled, fear rolling off them like perfume. They stepped out through the wide doors.
x
Section five. Echo stepped into the dark room, the doors closed behind her with a hydraulic hiss. As her vision adjusted from the bright halls she noticed a pail green light emitting from three tanks. They stood as tall as nine feet and about three feet wide. Green bubbling liquid swirled inside. She'd only been to the 'lab' once before, she couldn't totally recall what had happened but she associated pain with the three test tanks. She instinctively backed away from them. The hair on her neck and arms stood on end. A deep rumbling growl protested the confines of the room. The door hissed open. A wrinkly old man with dull blue eyes entered the room. Motioning the soldiers to wait outside.
Stupid old man. She grinned to herself. The doors closed, shutting out the anxious faces of the soldiers. Echo growled at the Doctor.
"Now, now Echo don't be so barbaric." The Doctor snapped irritated and baring his teeth. He revealed to Echo he carried a gun, at his hip.
"Your the barbarian!" Echo growled just loud enough for him to hear. She circled him. Picturing the Doctors head rolling in his own blood cooled her rage a little. The base would go on lock down and she'd be shot and sent to solitary probably for the rest of her life.
But if I got to kill the Doctor, wouldn't it be worth it? No hint of a comment from Obscure.
So, the shield were as bad as Obscure thought. No communication for those with talented minds, or friends of talented minds.
The Doctor glared at her and moved to a computer console against the wall.
"As you already know these doors are keyed to certain people. You couldn't possibly get out if anything happened to me." He told her sounding as if he believed his own speech. Then, he turned his back to her.
"That won't stop me from ripping you apart!" Echo snarled violently and leaped at his exposed back. The Doctor fell to the ground before she hit him, in a cowardly ploy for self preservation. A feeble cry of fear on his lips. Hand half way to his gun, when the feral woman threw a full fisted punch at his face. The doctor's head slammed against the concrete with a dull thud. In a clear almost musical note, metal resounded against concrete, as the gun skittered away from his suddenly lacks hand. She slugged his gut making him exhale sharply. Raising an arm defensively to ward off the nonstop blows, he managed to press a panic button on his belt. Instantly light flooded the dark room as four soldiers stormed in.
Before the soldier's eyes could adjust, Echo dropped her attack on the doctor and attacked the slow soldiers as they entered. The first, she dispatched with a hard kick that sent him flying back into another guard. The second guard had just enough time to regained his balance and aim his rifle. A well placed kick sent his gun flying and snapped the bones of his arms. The third guard reached for her. Swinging a baton from above. Echo threw him off-balance with the help of his own weight and stomped on his face. One guard left she rushed him and slammed her fist into his throat.
She launched herself through the small remaining space of the closing doors. She landed hard on her shoulder. She jumped to her feet quickly and surveyed the hallway for signs of more guards, spotted no one, picked a direction and ran. She carefully checked each doorway and corner for guards and a way out. She had just made it out of section five when the alarms sounded and soldiers began to swarm the hallways. She ducked into a deep dark doorway.
Echo! Can you hear me? Obscure's voice sounded in Echo's mind. Relief washed through Echo at the mental voice.
Scure, where are you? Echo asked tensely. Her hiding spot would only last a minute at the most.
I'm heading down the hall you're in, if I'm not mistaken. Obscure replied cheerfully.
Towards Section five or away? Echo asked. Just then two armed guards marched past with Obscure walking between them. Echo suppressed a possessive growl and darted out into the hall to deliver two vicious spine jabs to the guards necks. They fell in smelly heaps to the floor.
stinkin guards takin my Scure to section five...Echo growled.
That would be towards section five Echo. Obscure said dryly. Echo registered a smug smile on Obcure's face before she disappeared from sight. A strong hand grabbed hers and Echo turned invisible as well. Echo grinned.
Imagine the havoc we could cause like this! Echo thought briefly went rogue. Obscure laughed. Echo pulled Obscure though the hall towards the higher guarded sections where the doors to the outside were located. Silently they ran through hall after hall, passing frantic security guards without being noticed. They finally reached a door marked LAKESIDE BOAT LAUNCH ACCESS. Authorized personnel only.
This is the exit I saw two months ago on my way back from section three! Obscure sent to Echo excitedly.
Common open! Echo hissed at the door. She dug her fingers into the crack between the doors. Obscure kept a hand on Echo's shoulder and tried to help with one hand. Echo growled with the effort and was rewarded with a hydraulic hiss and the door was forced apart and inch. She jammed her hand between the metal doors and continued to muscle her way inside. At six inches Obscure could just squeeze through. Echo forced the doors open a little wider for her bigger body and stepped through letting the door close behind her. Dropping her invisibility Obscure ran across a high platform to the edge to find a way down.
Must be a silent alarm on the doors. She thought to Obscure as they slid down a latter to a waiting dock at water level. Half a dozen patrol boats lined the end of the dock. The enormous room was made entirely of glass. They could see the outside calling to them. The lake outside served as a natural barrier to the complex.
Agreed Obscure nodded hardly daring to look outside for fear she would loose her focus. The girls raced for the boats at the end of the dock.
Can smell them coming. Echo growled disgusted at the thought.
Lets not get caught this time! Obscure sent to Echo tensely. Echo grunted her agreement.
They chose together, at the speed of thought, to take the boat at the end of the dock, nearest the exit. Echo untied the boat and Obscure jumped in. Behind the wheel Obscure searched for a key or a power source. Finding none she reached under the dash and tore our a bundle of brightly colored wires. She bit at a few wires chewing them in half then stripping the plastic coating off the ends. Echo pushed the boat away from the dock and jumped in.
Suddenly the door opened and soldiers marched in. Obscure turned herself the boat and Echo invisible quickly. She sparked the bare wires together and the boat roared to life. She grabbed the throttle and pushed it to full open. The guards opened fire scattering shots franticly around the room at random.
A shot hummed by Echo's ear. Echo heard Obscure's body fall to the floorboards, her camouflage seeped away slowly. The boat slowed slightly and turned at will with no one at the wheel. A long dart embedded in Obscures shoulder stuck out of her at a strange angle.
Tranqs... Obscure's mind thought, fuzzy and slow inside of Echo's. Echo grabbed the controls and the wheel yanking hard to veer away from a thick wall. She headed for the open bay door and slammed the throttle open angrily.
Hold on Obscure.
A sharp pain bit Echo's lower back. She jumped in surprise, and pulled a long dart from her muscles. She watched transfixed as a drop of her blood fell from the needle. She shook her head to clear the fuzziness starting to cloud her mind and threw the dart away. A second dart found her thigh. She snarled. They were almost out, almost free! So close to the open bay door that led to the lake. The bay door, began closing. It was a fast closing door. But it too was made of glass. Echo knew the boat could break threw it easily at the speeds they were going, it was the secondary metal blast doors that she was worried about. Easily remedied. Echo switched tactics and headed for a fragile glass wall. The sleek boat broke through the wall, shattering glass over every surface in the boat and the water.
A mechanical whorring warned Echo two seconds before mounted turret guns over the entrance locked onto the moving target and began firing. Echo dived over Obscure's prone body. She picked the girl up and threw them both over the boat's low wall into the cold water, as the live rounds pelted the water and splintered the boat up in seconds. In a minute the boat was demolished. The only thing left was small chunks of wood and fiberglass floating in the water. Echo surfaced, tasting blood and choking on water she'd swallowed. It took all the strength she had left to raise Obscure's body and bring her face out of the water. She was going to loose the battle to the water soon.
A boat made its way lazily towards them. A guard reached down to her and pulled Obscure up into the boat gently. Tears of hate and anger blurred Echo's vision as she looked up at the guards. They stared down at her like vultures. One guard aimed his live round blaster at her chest and held down the trigger. Echo's vision suddenly blacked out.