Chapter IX: Breaking Out

Randy poked his head out of the cell, peering around for any unwanted company. Although Matsu was keeping an eye out for them from the camera control panel room, Randy couldn't help but be on the lookout himself.

Satisfied that all was clear, he motioned for the two others in his party to follow. Zikomo stepped out looking extremely nervous, and after him, to the eyes of any other person came another security guard. Boris was dressed in the garb of a prison officer, complete with hat and a name tag that read 'Donald'. Zikomo had tried to argue against the use of such a ridiculous name but Randy had declared that his choice was perfect, and anyway, they didn't have any other spare name tag.

Randy locked the prison cell and turned to Boris, who shifted uncomfortably in clothes that were a little too tight on him for his liking.

'This uniform is much too small.' He muttered.

'Hey, this here isn't a tailor made clothing company.' Randy hissed back. 'You heard the expression beggars can't be choosers, friend? Well that's what you are. Now you pull your shoulders back and stand tall and play the part of prison guard. Keep your mouth shut if anyone addresses you besides me or Ziko. We'll answer any questions. You just don't act suspicious.'

Silently outraged at being called a beggar, Boris gritted his teeth and reasoned that he was in no position to make demands. He told himself it would all change once he was on that flight to Moscow. Once he arrived there, he would not be the one begging.

Smothering a smile, he followed Randy. Zikomo walked behind Boris, wiping the sweat off his forehead, trying to act as casually as he could.

The three marched down the corridor and toward the security desk. There was a security desk on every floor, with camera screens that allowed officers to keep an eye on the entire floor. Matsu had input codes into the central motherboard in the control panel and switched the video screens on the floor to reflect those of the floor above, thus disabling and masking the actual camera screens on the floor that Randy and Zikomo were breaking Boris out from.

The guard who sat at the desk doing paperwork looked up at the three approaching officers. Luckily he had not bothered to keep an eye on the cameras as Randy and Zikomo had pulled Boris from his cell. If he had, he would have wondered why he did not see the two officers in the camera screens.

'Randy? Now I could've sworn only two of you passed here earlier.' The man said.

Zikomo's stomach lurched.

Play it cool. He told himself. Play it cool and nothing will go wrong.

Randy's own heart leapt but he turned and coolly saluted the officer.

'Hey Haruki. You only missed our trainee officer. Happens all the time eh? Remember poor Chuuya?' He added, not letting Haruki answer about the trainee officer.

Haruki scratched his head, looking at Boris. He wondered how he could have missed such a tall figure. Then he looked at the name tag and chuckled, shaking his head. 'This one's got such a funny name. Donald like that duck from the cartoons eh?' He said in Japanese to Randy, who also laughed. A little too loudly, Zikomo thought.

'Hi Donald!' Haruki greeted. 'How do you like the work here?'

Zikomo cast a nervous look at Boris. He knew the man's Japanese was very basic; nowhere fluent enough to continue an in-depth conversation.

'Uh...he's kind of still taking Japanese classes.' Zikomo offered.

'Oh I see!' Haruki nodded in understanding. Then in broken English, he said 'Happy to work in Japanese prison, yes? More clean than American prison yes?' He laughed after this phrase.

'Hai, hai.' Boris replied, perfectly calmly.

Randy laughed rather nervously. It was definitely time to get moving. They had just 20 minutes. 'Well, we gotta go show him some ropes as they say. See you later Haruki, and take it easy on the coffee, friend!'

Haruki, smiling, waved as they moved on, and went back to his paperwork.

Randy grabbed Boris's arm as they rounded a corner. 'I thought I told you to keep your mouth shut! You wanna screw us up or what?!' He hissed under his breath.

'I was merely playing the part as you instructed.' Boris replied flatly.

'Yeah well quit being such a wise-arse. You wouldn't last a minute without us here. No more chatter, you hear?! Or it's back to the cell for you!'

And it will be goodbye money for you, Boris thought, but said nothing. They descended the remaining floors with little hindrance, but as they rounded a corner on the ground floor where the exit was located, Randy and Zikomo's radio equipment beeped in warning. The three stopped and Randy raised the walkie talkie to his ear.

'Matsu? What's up?'

'Er...' Matsu sounded rather nervous, in contrast to his cool exterior when they had last seen and heard from him in the control room. 'The head's round the corner. You're gonna have to show your swipe cards.'

'The head?' Zikomo overheard. 'Oh man, oh no! We're screwed!'

'Shut up, we're not screwed!' Randy hissed back. 'Matsu, does he look like he's moving anytime soon?'

'No, they're running some sort of security checks. Ah...there's no way around it.' Matsu's voice replied.

'Shit.' Randy muttered. 'Hey, can't you get him to the camera security room and err...pretend that something's out of hand?'

'You mean you'd like me to tell him about our plan?' Matsu replied sarcastically. 'I can't do that and you know it. Think of something. Boris has a card, right?'

'Man I...I didn't get him a swipe card!' Zikomo hissed, looking utterly terrified. 'I didn't think of that...man you never told me about no swipe card!'

'I said get him a uniform. The swipe card is part of the uniform, just like the name tag! How can you be so stupid?' Randy snapped back at him. 'No swipe card, no getting out of this building!'

Boris was fuming. The incompetent fools were going to ruin his only chance of escaping, when the exit to freedom was just around the corner!

'If I may interrupt this wonderful discussion for a moment-' Boris started.

'You shut up!' Randy snarled at him. 'Just keep quiet.'

'But I have an idea, gentlemen.'

'We can handle this! We don't need to listen to advice from a scumbag!' Randy replied angrily.

But Zikomo was looking at Boris. He knew the man was intelligent; he had read and heard so. Randy wiped sweat from his brow and took a deep breath.

'Zikomo said he never got a swipe card.' He informed Matsu.

'So I heard. You guys talk any louder and you'll give yourselves away!' Matsu's furious voice snapped back.

'So what's the plan?' Randy asked him.

'You either give him one of your swipe cards or you go back to the locker room on the second floor and you make him one. That'll cut down at least 10 minutes and that'll leave you under 10 to get out the gate. It's not enough!'

Randy frowned. 'We can't give him one of our cards. It has our personal IDs and the head will be watching. He'll know Donald's ID is mine or Zikomo's!'

'Well think of something, because I'm turning those cameras back on in just sixteen minutes!' Matsu hissed, and the connection was cut.

'Damn it!' Randy cursed. 'I should've known this was going too smoothly to be true!'

Boris gritted his teeth. 'Gentlemen, if I may-'

'I said you keep your mouth-' Randy began again, but this time Zikomo interjected.

'Hey Randy, lay down your stupid ego and listen to the man! He says he has an idea and unless you can think of something in the next three minutes, you should listen to what he has to say! We need at least 10 minutes to get out the gate! Time is ticking man, we have to trust him!'

Randy glared at Zikomo, then even more heatedly at Boris. 'Well?' He snapped at length. 'What's your brilliant idea?'

'Why, distraction, of course.' Boris said simply, as if it were the most obvious thing.

'Say what?' Zikomo suddenly regretted giving the felon a chance.

'Distraction? What kind of dumb idea is that?' Randy stared incredulously.

'It's simple. You give me one of your swipe cards. Then you go and inform the head of this prison that you cannot find yours. He will naturally issue you a replacement, will he not?'

'You think the head is an idiot?' Zikomo said, in disbelief. 'He'll know something's up, man. He's like a hound that can sniff blood from miles away!'

'Only if you spill some.' Boris said, cryptically. 'You told me to play the part.' He looked at Randy. 'You shouldn't even have to act. You simply distract them long enough for them not to notice us slip by, or the ID numbers that register on screen.'

Randy stared hard at Boris. 'And if it doesn't work? Then you screwed us up!'

'No escape, no reward.' Boris replied matter-of-factly. 'We can all return as we were, gentlemen.'

Zikomo and Randy exchanged glances.

'Man, we've come too far to go back now. Jurgen and Keiji are waiting for us outside!' Zikomo whispered.

Randy swallowed. He was out of ideas, and he reasoned that if he was convincing enough, he would get a replacement card. He was a very good liar. The head officer of the prison was good at sniffing out liars. It would be a very even battle that could go either way. But there were no other alternatives.

I gotta do this. I'm a man! I can't wimp out! That money is just waiting for me! Randy thought, and closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, he looked at Zikomo and Boris. He fished a hand into the pocket of his shirt and handed Boris the swipe card, not pleased that he had to rely on the man's idea.

'You use this the way you see Zikomo use it, you hear? Once you're out, you'll need it again at the gates. After that, you give it back to me, hear? You both swipe out about two minutes after I start telling my story, when I have everyone distracted.'

'You up for this man?' Zikomo said worriedly.

'I'll do this. You just get him out. Once you've met with Jurgen and Keiji it'll be fine. It'll all be fine. Just wait here until I beep you on the radio. I'll follow you out as soon as I can.'

Zikomo nodded. Randy turned, then abruptly stopped and turned back to Boris.

'You.' He shoved a finger at the man. 'You better have that money ready as we planned, or else I swear...' He shook his finger, and then turned to perform his task.

Boris looked after him, a small, sly smile forming on his lips. Zikomo was oblivious. He was far too nervous to notice.

Tala heard the satisfying click of the bit-chip fitting in place in the Wolborg beyblade he held in his hand.

Wolborg. His trusted bit-beast had stood by his side for so many years. He still remembered when he had first been given his original Wolborg beyblade. It was long gone; when he was back in the Abbey, old beyblades were discarded, crushed, and then incinerated. They were regarded as trash. Memorabilia was something sentimental, and sentiments were regarded as weakness in the Abbey.

And yet Wolborg would always remind Tala of his past in the Abbey. For it was there that he had first received the bit-chip, and it had been with him ever since. Wolborg was an artificially created bit-beast; so were Bryan, Spencer and Ian's - something Kai liked to remind them of every once in a while.

'Dranzer's one of the sacred four. A real bit-beast. You guys got stuck with the results of lab tests.' He would taunt. Bryan would look at him murderously. Spencer would sigh. Ian would just mutter under his breath that he really could whoop Kai's beyblade any day if he was actually bothered to, and Tala - well, Tala would roll his eyes and think that if he actually got a cheque for every time Kai said that, he would be living in a mansion himself by now.

On a tangent, Tala's reflections moved to Boris. But he pushed the thought away. He wouldn't think about the man any more. He was out of their lives forever. Tala vowed he would never again be victim to the man's evil schemes. All that bad history was behind him. Now he just had the most simple of things to worry about. Normal, everyday things.

'Hey Tala.' Spencer's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. 'We're out of potatoes. Bryan and I are going to get some. Want to come along?'

Normal things such as running out of potatoes, Tala thought, and smirked despite himself. 'No thanks. I'm trying out some different blade combinations. You two go ahead. But when you get back, you'll need to think about customising your blades too.'

'Right.' Spencer smiled. 'Uh, Ian's still sleeping. You might want to drag him out of bed sometime soon. He's being way too lazy lately.'

'I'll give him some work to do.' Tala agreed.

'See you later.' Spencer said, and moments later he and Bryan had left, the creaky door closing behind them. Tala walked to the old window and looked out at the falling snow, and at the figures of his two friends disappearing down the path.

After years of living such an abnormal life, it was nice to finally be normal.

Dipping her feet into the hot spring was so relaxing. Mariah closed her eyes, turned her face up to the moonlight, and smiled. They said cats hated water, and it was true, she didn't like getting too wet. But immersing her tired little feet into the soothing waters was just what she needed after a hard day's work.

She found her thoughts drifting to the events of the day. Old master Tao had chased Kevin around half the village for forgetting to bring him his daily fill of water from the so-called 'magic well'. It was just a normal well, but master Tao had his superstitions and Lee, Gary, Ray and Mariah had watched in astonishment at how far the old man had run after their mischievous team-mate.

Mariah let out an amused chuckle. Ray had finally gotten their elder to calm down, and had gone to fetch him three buckets for compensation. Of course Ray's charm and smiled worked wonders and old master Tao was soon inviting Kevin to drink some of the water with him. Poor little Kevin had passed.

Ray, Mariah thought. Just his name made her feel happy and comforted. She was so glad that he was staying in the village. It was a longer stay than any of his previous visits, and he seemed to be very relaxed and at home. Still, she found herself thinking sadly how soon it would be before he left them again. When he did, he was always gone for such a long time, and Mariah missed him so much.

A soft rustle in the bushes behind her made her eyes snap open, and instantly, she was alert, her head whipping around, surveying the area behind her. When there was no more movement or sound for another two minutes, she shrugged, and turned her face to look at the beautiful landscape before her. The moon shone down on the water of the hot spring, turning it into a pool of misty silver. Despite the heat, she shivered, and then looked behind her again. She was sure there was someone there. She could just feel it.

'Kevin, is that you?' She called out. Her green-haired friend frequently liked to sneak up on her in the dark in the hopes of scaring her. Unfortunately he was the one who usually ended up getting scared.

There was another rustle, and Mariah's heart began to pound. Lee would surely tell her off for wandering away from the village alone at night, and a second later a blur of movement surprised her so much that she tilted to the side and lost her balance, feeling her body fall towards the hot spring.

'Eeek!' She shrieked, when a strong hand grabbed hold of her arms and steadied her. When the world stopped spinning, she found herself looking into wide, golden eyes and a face that was grinning impishly.

'Ray!' She exclaimed angrily. Just what was it these days with Ray trying to push her into waterfalls and hot springs? She blushed at one less than innocent possible interpretation of such a thought, and pushed him away, scooting away from the edge if the spring and drawing her knees up to her chest, cradling her body protectively.

'Heh heh, sorry Mariah. Kevin told me how he's always failing at scaring you and I figured I'd give it a shot, just to prove to him that he needs a change in tactics.'

'You didn't scare me!' Mariah said indignantly, and turned her head away dismissively.

Ray's grin softened. 'Hey, I've upset you. I guess that was pretty mean of me. Here. I've got something to make it up to you.'

Mariah stubbornly refused to look his way, but in the corner of her eye she saw something bright in his hand. Reluctantly, she turned her head a little and saw that he held out a beautiful white rose to her.

In her head, she thought how corny it was. But then she found herself wondering where he had gotten the rose from. She had never seen a white rose bush around the village before, or even close to it, and white roses were her favourites. Just how had he known that?

'Sorry.' He smiled his irresistibly charming smile. 'Forgive me?'

Ray skipped telling her that he had seen the rose and thought of her. He didn't want to make things awkward between them.

Mariah rolled her eyes and snatched the rose from him, carefully avoiding the thorns, and pretended to be unimpressed; but her heart was pounding at the sweet gesture, cliché or not.

'I'll think about it.' She replied, stroking the soft velvety petals against her right cheek. Ray took this as an invitation and sat down beside her, and together they looked at the spectacular view before them.

'Y'know, Lee would be pretty mad to know you're out here alone at this time of night.' Ray said at length.

'I can take care of myself. He's so overprotective.' Mariah frowned.

'You know us guys. We need a lady to protect, or else our egos get all messed up. It's really old fashioned.'

Mariah bit her lip, but couldn't stop the giggle that escaped.

'Not all guys are gentlemen like you and Lee, Ray.' She said.

Ray cast a sidelong look at her and grinned again. She shook her head and sighed, then changed the subject.

'What were you doing out of your hut? Training?'

'Yeah. Driger's getting a little rusty lately. But I've needed a break from beyblading. Its let me put my mind to other important things.'

'Oh?' Mariah looked at him, curiously. 'Like what Ray?'

'Helping around here. Thinking about stuff...you know.' Ray replied vaguely.

'Stuff?' Mariah repeated.

'You know...just the future. I guess I'm thinking ahead. It's a bad habit, I guess. Max and Tyson are always telling me to stop.'

'But not Kai, I suppose?' Mariah asked.

Ray chuckled. 'Nah. Kai's always quiet, but he's king of planning ahead.'

A silence fell between them, but it wasn't an awkward one. In his mind, Ray wondered whether he ought to tell Mariah that his thinking of the future involved her. In her mind, Mariah wondered whether to tell Ray that she really hoped he would be a part of her future. But both of them remained silent, because the night was so perfect, and neither wanted to risk ruining it.

'Boss!' Randy greeted, smiling widely at his superior. 'It's a rare honour to see you here!'

The head of security looked up from the clipboard he held and nodded at Randy. Then he went back to writing on the form he was filling out.

Randy was a nervous wreck but he prayed that it wasn't showing. His palms felt clammy and he was glad that he was wearing gloves.

'Hey.' Randy greeted the three other security officers who sat at the main reception area on the prison's ground floor. They nodded and one of them regarded Randy with a tilted head.

'What're you doing all the way down here?'

'Ah, just going outside for a breather. Been cooped up on that floor all day and I'm starting to get a headache!'

'Someone's covering for you, I hope.' The head of security said.

Another brown haired officer laughed. 'This is Randy, boss! He works like clockwork!'

The head nodded and looked a Randy. 'And I acknowledge that fact. This prison prides itself on being excellent in security and function. It would not be possible without quality guards such as yourselves.'

Randy laughed rather nervously. 'Heh heh, say boss, you're making us feel all awkward with your compliments!'

'I'll say.' A black haired officer agreed.

'Er...' Randy scratched the back of his neck, heart pounding as he prepared himself to carry out Boris's suggestion. He vowed that if the plan didn't work, he would kick the Russian's sorry behind himself. 'It's kinda ironic that you should say I'm like clockwork on the day that I'm not...'

The third officer, who was bald and had a friendly looking face, chuckled. 'Randy, is the old age finally getting to you?'

'Hey, you can talk about old age, I'd say it's time for you to retire!'

All the officers laughed and the head smiled slightly.

'So what's up?' The brown haired officer asked.

'Well, I kinda came down to get some fresh air, and I realised that I must've misplaced my swipe card somewhere, even though I obviously had it with me in the morning!'

The head looked up with a displeased look on his face. 'This is a mistake that a rookie officer would make Randy. Not an officer of your reputation and service.'

'Yeah, you're really very right and I'm really sorry.'

'Misplaced your card again? You didn't lose it to an inmate did you?' The black haired man raised an eyebrow.

'Don't be stupid.' Randy replied, his throat feeling dry. 'I'm sure it's up on my desk with Haruki, like normal. I can't be asked to go all that way up, so would one of you guys lend me your cards so I can go have a quick coffee outside?'

'Sure, I'll lend you my card.' The bald officer said. 'I've just been out so-'

'No.' The head suddenly interrupted, looking up from his clipboard again. 'Lost cards are not to be taken lightly.'

'Boss, it's not lost, I'm pretty sure.' Randy insisted. 'It's not the first time I've misplaced my card. It's a bad habit and I should probably get fired for it.' He joked.

The other officers laughed

The head didn't look amused. 'Misplaced cards are a serious issue. It costs money to provide replacements, and if inmates somehow manage to get hold of any...'

'That reminds me, do you remember that time when that rookie officer dropped his card in the hall where inmates were having lunch?' The black haired officer recalled.

As they began to talk, Randy reached into his blazer's inner pocket and pressed the small button on his walkie talkie.

Meanwhile, around the corner, Zikomo had counted more than 2 minutes, and looked nervously at Boris. They had been listening to the conversation, and Randy had just given the signal. Zikomo knew it was now or never to make their move.

'Ok...n...now we're gonna do this thing now. You just follow me. Keep your eyes on the floor ok? Randy's got them all distracted and er...so we should make it out ok. I'm gonna take your card and swipe you out first. Once you're out, don't act shifty! I'll be right behind you and then you just uh...you follow me. Got all that?'

Boris nodded, feeling rather apprehensive himself.

'Ok...ok...oh man you better have that money...' Zikomo said, wiping the sweat off his forehead, and taking a deep breath, trying to calm his pounding heart. 'Ok, let's go.'

'Yeah, I remember that incident!' Randy replied, along with the other officers. But inside he was getting worried. Where were Zikomo and Boris? And why hadn't they swiped out yet? He was going to get the replacement card in moments and they didn't have much time left until the shifts changed and the cameras were put back on. As if on cue, he saw two figures emerge from round the corner, from the corner of his vision, and his stomach knotted tightly. The officers were still deep in conversation about the lost card incident, but the head, although listening to the conversation, was not fully involved in it.

Randy knew he had to act quickly and think of some way to grab the head's full attention, so he blurted out the first thing that came to his head as the other officers continued in their discussion.

'Hey boss, I have some great news I'd like to share with you!'

His superior didn't look up from his clipboard. 'What's that?'

From the corner of his vision, Randy saw Zikomo and Boris pass behind the head. He felt sick, but swallowed it down.

'Uh...my missus and I are trying for another baby!'

That did get the head's attention. He looked up, eyebrows raised. 'What, another one?'

'Yeah we'd like to extend the family more.' Randy rubbed the back of his neck, grinning, although he felt it looked more like a cringe.

'But how many do you already have?'

'Four sir!'

'A fifth child? I have two and they're a handful enough...'

Zikomo and Boris had reached the doors and Randy heard the single beeping alarm sound indicate that someone had swiped incorrectly. Randy silently swore. He knew it was nerves, but if his partner in crime repeated the mistake the head of security would surely notice the alarm sound and turn around to investigate.

'Yeah, we're big on kids. But you know, to have them, you have to get pretty busy, if you know what I mean, heh heh heh...'

The head chuckled. 'You aren't finished yet, eh? Well I'm very happy for you and hope all goes well. Children are to be cherished after all.'

Boris had left the building and Zikomo was now swiping out. Randy's relief was immense, but he knew they weren't out of danger left.

'Thanks boss. Uh...can I get that card now?'

The head looked right up at Randy, making eye-contact. It took all of Randy's will power not to avert his gaze guiltily.

'Randy,' His superior said sternly, 'I have good faith in you and I don't want you to make this mistake again. Keep your card on you at all times. I want this back when you return from your break.' He dug into his shirt pocket and took out a temporary swipe card. Randy took it and grinned.

'I assure you it won't happen again. Thanks boss. See you all in a bit.'

The head nodded. 'Don't forget to sign out in the log book.'

'Sure.' Randy replied and did so. The other officers were still talking and didn't notice him leave. Randy knew that the electronic swipe records would be checked tomorrow, and he hoped that nobody would notice that his card had been used. Even if they did, he reasoned he could think of a good enough excuse. In another week's time he would not have to return to work at all. As he swiped out, he saw Zikomo and Boris were already halfway to the watch tower where Jurgen and Keiji were waiting for them.

He raised his radio to establish a connection with Matsu.

'Well?' His accomplice's voice demanded, after some static interference.

'We're heading towards the gates now. How long we got?'

'Seven minutes. Hurry up! I have to start turning the cameras back on in only 4 minutes!'

'Got it. We're almost there buddy! Get ready to get down here when the shifts change.' He said, running to catch up with the other two.

'Don't mess this up!' Matsu's voice replied, and the connection was cut.

Randy caught up with Zikomo and Boris. Zikomo appeared to be a nervous wreck.

'Man, I can't believe I did that, when I swiped wrong I thought I was caught for sure, I thought-!'

'Get a grip! We're nearly there!' Randy snapped. Then he turned to Boris as they continued to walk. 'Listen up dirt-bag. We get you on that flight, and we meet you in Moscow a week from now, got it? One week maximum. That's the deal. They're gonna figure out you're missing pretty soon, and we've been careful to hide our tracks in every way possible. Jurgen's an expert in this kind of thing, so we're well covered. But I swear, you don't have that money within a week, and you're fried. Got it? You'll be fried. Keiji's gonna give you all the contact details and everything else you need. You just worry about getting your friend out in Russia and getting us our money. Hear me?'

'I assure you gentlemen; you will have your rewards.' Boris replied flatly.

'Yeah we better, 'coz this experience has shortened my life-span by about 10 years!' Zikomo muttered.

They approached two waiting figures. They stood in the darkness, away from the bright security floodlights. One of the men Boris recognised. It was Jurgen. He was holding a rifle in his hand. Next to him stood an unfamiliar man, who Boris supposed was Keiji, the final member of the team.

'Ok, we're all set. We have five minutes to do this!' Randy said, not wasting time on greetings.

Keiji held up a brown parcel to Boris, and said stonily: 'Passport, flight ticket and everything else you need's in here.'

Boris took the package. Jurgen regarded him.

'We have clothes for you to change into at the airport, in the back of the car. Until then stay in your guard uniform. It'll make it hard for anybody to recognise you. The shifts will be changing in a few minutes. You and I will go outside to where the car is waiting. Keiji will cover us from the tower; we are just two officers going home for the day. Matsu will join us on the outside once he gets down from his station. We'll wait in the car for him.'

'Is he going to have to swipe out again?' Zikomo asked, frowning worriedly.

'No. We've taken care of that. Everything's set. You two just get back inside and act normal.' Jurgen replied.

Zikomo gave Randy back his swipe card, which Randy hid in the inside pocket of his blazer.

'Remember, one week friend.' Randy said, looking at Boris. They all did. 'One week or the party's over.'

'One week.' Boris agreed, silently smug.

'You better have that money.' Keiji said icily, before turning around and entering the watch tower.

Zikomo and Randy turned and began to make their way back to the main building, and Jurgen motioned for Boris to follow him. The Russian man couldn't believe his luck that the plan had been executed relatively smoothly, with no major hiccups. Now freedom was only a few steps, a short car ride and a plane flight away. And then the real games would begin.

Author's Note

OMG no this chapter was too long! I'm so sorry guys and girls; I hope you're all still awake! I was tempted to split the chapter into two but I didn't think there would be much point, because I really want to get the plot moving along. I hope the escape wasn't too corny oO;; tbh, I had a hard time thinking up a plausible plan, because prisons are pretty hard/impossible to break out of I should think XD; Anyways, this isn't really a realistic story so I guess I can get away with a cheap breakout lol. Please review for me and I'll try to update as soon as possible. Thanks everyone for all the feedback for the last chapter too, it means a lot to me.

A few quick responses::

bladz-liska: I'm so glad you're still reading! I just realized I never replied to your translated fic request from ages and ages ago, OMG, how rude of me. Please forgive! I will be sure to reply to you as soon as I can. But thanks so much for sticking with this!

carzla: OMG haven't heard from you in ages! I hope you're well! I'm so glad you're still reading my fics too. Now when are you gonna write another beyblade one huh?! Tala's feeling forgotten I'm sure!

Sholay: Thanks for your wonderful feedback. I get a lot of comments about the way I portray Kai XD I've read the first 3 chapters of your story and I promise to review for you soon. I apologize that I haven't already, but I'm just always so busy: ( I really liked reading your comments and I hope you'll keep reviewing. Voltaire and Boris have a lot more planned than just revenge believe me!

phoenix-falling: Welcome to the story! I'm always happy to get new reviewers. I'm glad you're enjoying the plot so far and hope you'll keep reading. Thanks for the feedback

or-chan: Lol, yes, cue the creepy music for Boris. Thanks for your feedback and hope you keep reading!

Anyone else I missed out, your reviews mean just as much to me. See you all next update!