Days once more turned into weeks, Bray had been put into KC hut, taking the empty bunk below his, and the two worked with the same work detail planting crops, watering them. Bray had quickly grew concerned about KC, who seemed resigned to his fate. Within three years he'd grown from boy to man, he was taller, his shoulders had broadened and defined with muscles hard worked by their efforts. His hair had grown into a thick dark mop which was religiously cut back by the man with a blunt pair of scissors every few weeks giving it a permanent wild look. His jaw had become set with resignation and his eyes seemed less alive with every passing week.

But what most worried Bray was the lack of willingness to remember the time before the enslavement by the Technos. In their hut they'd tell stories of the past, trying to relieve the desperation of the situation they were in by reliving memories. But KC would not be drawn into the conversations, despite Brays best efforts. And he wouldn't open up to Bray as to why; he merely closed off, turned over in his bed and slept. Bray didn't think he'd miss the boy he'd been, the often times, pain in the neck who did Lex's bidding and was up to no good most of the time, but he did.

Bray had to believe there was more to life, that there would be an end to this madness which had come upon them, but days had turned to months, and months to years and here he was still doing someone else's bidding. He didn't think he'd see anyone again, but meeting KC once more had given him a renewed hope that perhaps they could once more have that freedom he dreamed of. After all they'd fought Tribes before, he just had to bide his time with this Technos tribe, despite there numerous guards and modern weapons. The tendrils of escape were slowly starting to wind into his head and as he worked he started taking in minute details of the situation he was in, looking for outs, memorising changing of guard detail, spying for escape routes. He told them to no-one, he wasn't sure if he could do it, let alone take any others with him, except one, he'd be taking KC.

The harvest once more was upon them, and as KC gathered together fallen barley from behind the carts, which carried it, he thought of how fast the year had passed since he'd arrived here. He didn't miss the mine though, he welcomed the hard work of the farm better than any of the time spent in caves bashing rocks with a heavy hammer and carting them in wheelbarrows to pits. The days would soon grow shorter again, and a little cooler, perhaps a few long rainy days for a change, not that that would stop them from working the fields, but it gave a difference to the sometimes long mundane work of turning soil.

He carried an armful of fallen crops into one of the several barns situated in one on the North fields; he took a moment to stretch his aching back and took a drink from the water bucket lying by the door. Before he had a chance to react, his shirt was grabbed and he was unceremoniously pulled into the shadows of the barn behind a few hay bales and a hand clamped over his mouth to keep him quiet. He bode his time when he was swung round to face Bray, who raised a finger to his lips signal the need for quiet as he lowered his hand from KC's mouth.

"Bray, what the hell are you doing?"

"We are getting out of here" said Bray matter of factly, before peering through a gap of the bales to check the barn, once more, before grabbing KC's arm and pulling him further behind the bales towards the back of the barn.

"Are you crazy, we can't, its broad daylight, we'll be caught for sure, hell even being here we'll get time in solitary" started KC with a harsh whisper, memories of his last escape attempt swimming into his mind from years gone. Solitary was not a pleasant experience and it wasn't something he wanted to go through again.

"It's the perfect time, they won't be expecting it, who escapes in the middle of the day, nobody. It's all figured out, we have to move now or we lose our chance"

Bray was still dragging the younger man and halted at a door at the back of the barn. KC wrestled his arm from Brays grip and took a step back.

"No, this is stupid, your crazy Bray"

Bray took a moment to look at the man beside him, and saw the fear, which trickled into the dark eyes, which stared back at him, defiantly. He placed his hands on KC's shoulders and gripped him hard and determinedly.

"KC, we aren't staying here, we are getting out of here, we have a chance and we're taking it. We can't stay here, we aren't slaves KC, and we can't let them do this to us. I'm not standing for it any longer, I'm getting out, and your coming with me"

"I don't want to go"

"No you don't, but you're going anyway. They've changed you KC, they've won in that sense, you've went from naïve little boy, to a resigned man content in what fate has handed him. I'll not forgive them for that, but perhaps I can have some victory in taking you away from this place and help you find who you really are"

"Sounds like something Tai San would have said," said KC taking in the words, and frowning slightly at his own voice as he spoke.

"Glad you remember, I was starting to think you didn't want to"

"I don't want to"

"KC we are not arguing about this, move"

With that order Bray pulled them both through the small door at the back of the barn, which opened out into the back of the field, Bray pushed KC against the barn wall before plastering himself to it and taking a deep breath. KC's mind was reeling, babbling silently prayers and hopes that they didn't get caught, as well as sending threats in Brays direction with his eyes. Bray had dragged him into this, he couldn't go back, but he didn't want to go forward either. Bray on the other hand seemed quite at ease leading them both into danger without so much as a thought to how he felt about it.

"Head for the fence," said Bray in a low tone in his ear

KC could feel his heart pounding fast in his chest, he knew he had no choice, Bray wasn't letting him back out of this, so he nodded his head and took in the direction Bray was pointing in. The fence was close to the back of the barn, but KC still sprinted the short way, praying no guards were nearby or any other slaves saw them and gave them away. He dropped and rolled when he reached the fence, into the long grass of the next field and took a deep breath, listening for the pursuit he was sure was about to begin. Instead Bray appeared beside him a moment later and started moving slowly ahead of him, heading down the field on his stomach trying his hardest not to disturb the tall grass they were clawing through.

KC found his senses were honing in on the tiniest of sounds, sure they'd be caught pretty soon and thinking of how stupid he was to be dragged into this situation. His stomach reminded him that it was about lunchtime now and everybody would be heading down to the huts for midday meal. But still no-one came to take them back as they headed further downwards, the field sloping down to the river they used for carrying the heavy buckets up to the fields for watering. The estate didn't use the field they were in, but it lay alongside the fields they worked in and was patrolled by guards nevertheless in case slaves thought of carrying out a ploy such as this.

KC thought they were dead for sure, it was just a matter of moments. Perhaps not dead, but he imagined a good few months would be lost in solitary confinement for such an act, a solid beating along with it. That thought caused him to rethink his actions, maybe if he turned back, returned to the barn, gave some lame excuse about why he was late for the midday meal they'd let him off with a cuff around the ear and extra work detail. But he found despite his minds best efforts for turning around and going back, that his body decided to follow instinct and Bray, after all once upon a time; he'd been a leader, leader of the Mallrats, his leader.

After what seemed like a long dragged out time, they reached the other end of the field and KC could hear the soft noises of the river running nearby. The river was lined with trees, some dense in places and Bray had brought them alongside one of the dense areas. They paused and KC dragged himself alongside Bray who looked at him intently and pointed through the tall grass to the Trees.

"Ready to run again"

"What about the guards?" replied KC in an equally hushed tone

"Time for the detail change, they change same time everyday, when everyone is at mid day meal, you ready?" Bray asked again, peering out to check the coast was clear just in case.

"Came this far" KC grumbled, taking a few deep breaths and pulling himself into a crouching position.

"Head for the trees, duck into them, find some cover, I'll be right behind you," said Bray "Go"

KC was on his feet and running blindly at the order and heart pounding once more he ducked into the trees and hid behind a broad trunk, taking a few gathered breaths he tried to calm his nerves, which seemed to be fraying the longer this idea continued. Bray was beside him once more in a flash and pulled on his arm as they delved further into the trees, heading towards the river. The river itself was broad and deep and KC wondered if Bray was expecting them to cross it. The river was known for its strong undercurrents and he doubted either of them was up for a strong hard swim. Still he followed the man further and paused beside him as they reached the rivers edge, some of the trees bent over and down, branches touching the water softly.

"Ready?" asked Bray and KC looked at him with a sarcastic scowl

"Oh yeah, because being dragged into an escape attempt was the first thing on my list today, followed by a swim" replied KC, anger was certainly staring to bubble up somewhere inside towards the older man.

"Don't worry were not crossing," said Bray with a slight smile which made KC wonder if the man was actually enjoying this little adventure "We're going down it"

"'Scuse me?" said KC wondering if too much hard work under the harsh sun had finally started to affect Bray

"You know how to float right?" said Bray, shirking off his boots and tying the laces together before slinging them around his neck "Come on KC no time to question or think, take your boots off and get into the water"

KC looked at him like he was crazy but did as he was directed, as Bray climbed down the soft inclined river bank, gritting his teeth at the cool water. KC shook his head, wondering if this was some bizarre dream he was having and he was going to wake up in the safety of his upper bunk bed in the hut. But the coldness of the water as it seeped around his toes told him other wise as he stood kneed deep in the river water next to Bray.

"Try and stick to the side as much as you can once we get moving, point your toes and float"

"I'd just like to say, before we do this," said KC in a soft voice "This is the stupidest idea I've ever taken part of"

"I'm sure Lex will be very disappointed to hear that," said Bray wading deeper into the water and finally swimming into it, before he lay on his back and the river started carrying him downstream. KC merely rolled his eyes and followed suite.