AN: The 'Escape from the Camp' starts in this chapter. It's inspired by the escape scene in Watership Down. Love that book; I've read it six times. I recommend it. (It only seems like a story about rabbits, but it's actually like a metaphor for society.)
Sometime between midnight and early morning, Roger snuck out of the Enforcer Barracks and quietly moved to the fence surrounding the camp. Waiting there in the shadows was Benny.
"How's it going?" Benny whispered.
"So far, so good. Just to review, Once we get out on the supply van…"
"You just get it to what used to be Wallabout Bay. A handful of us will be waiting there with an old ferryboat some Alpha Base members managed to capture a while back. That will take you the rest of the way to West Street."
"Tell me again, what makes ferry boats harder to track then supply vans?"
"Because the Enforcers are known to dock ferry boats everywhere for picking up prisoners. Supply vans rarely enter Manhattan."
"Right. That makes sense," Roger nodded. "Benny, there's been a slight change of plans."
"What do you mean?" Benny looked slightly worried. "Is something wrong?"
"No. I mean, it's not just gonna be Mark I'm getting out. I've seen how it is here, and I can't turn a blind eye on the other people here. I'm getting as many as I can out."
"Roger," Benny hissed urgently. "Do you have any idea how much harder that will make things?"
"Yeah, I know. But I can't just pretend I don't see what's happening here. Concentrating only on Mark, and forgetting everyone else, and leaving them here? Wouldn't that make me just as bad as Perelli?"
"Well," Benny replied evenly. "When you put it that way…"
"Okay then, just make sure the ferry boat is where it's supposed to be on Wednesday," Roger stated quickly. "We'll only get one chance, so we have to make it count. I need to get back before someone notices I'm gone."
"See you in two days, then," Benny nodded. "And Roger? Good luck."
"You too."
Roger stood looking around the camp, trying to keep his anxiety in check. At this time tomorrow, he'd be taking Mark and a group of the other prisoners away to Alpha Base. Mark had been talking to a few of the prisoners in secret to inform them of the plan, so they'd be ready when the time came. All that was left now was waiting. Trying to push aside any worry about what would happen if something went wrong, if the timing of any step in the plan was off, he headed off to the post he'd been assigned that day.
"Davis!" Roger stopped immediately upon hearing the camp's Leading Enforcer call him, walking up with a Subordinate Enforcer. "I was told someone saw you leaving the bunkers last night. What were you doing?"
"I…" Roger tried to hide his nervousness. "Actually sir, I had heard a rather suspicious noise out in the camp. I thought I should see what was causing it. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary, though. It must have been some animal of some kind."
"Hmm," the Leading Enforcer frowned in contemplation. "In the future, Davis, you will request permission before investigating any nocturnal sounds."
"Understood," Roger turned to walk off.
"Another thing, Davis," the Leading Officer spoke again. "There is a task I'd like you to perform tomorrow."
"What task, Sir?"
"We have just received orders from Perelli this morning. He thinks it's time to make another example to the rebels who are opposed to the New Order."
"When you say 'example'," Roger responded slowly, "you mean, those pillars in No Man's Land, don't you?"
"Precisely. And it just so happens we have an old rebel in this camp. What was the name? Cohen?" Roger hoped that the Leading Enforcer hadn't noticed the shock that had flashed across his face upon hearing this. If he had, he didn't acknowledge it. "Anyway, he's to be taken out tomorrow at noon."
Noon?! Roger's worry increased. That was just about the time when they planned to escape. This made things even harder.
"Davis, I want you to keep the others out of the way, where they can't interfere. Is that understood?" Roger looked from the Leading Enforcer to the subordinate flanking him, then back again.
"Yes, Sir," Roger nodded stiffly before hurrying off before he could be called back.
"Krause!" the Leading Enforcer turned to his subordinate, keeping a suspicious eye on Roger. "Keep watch on him. Don't let him out of your sight."
The day had come. Roger, as he was ordered, stood in the entryway of the hut that held the camp prisoners to keep them in order. Swallowing hard, he chanced a glance out of the door, taking in the situation. The supply van was right where Benny had said it would be, just across the way and a little to the right. To the left, on the other hand, a random Enforcer was standing guard over Mark, awaiting the group that would be taking him away to be killed. It was going to be a long shot now, but there was no turning back now. It was now or never.
"Right," Roger whispered to the waiting prisoners. "Mark told you all what to do. You have to get to the supply van. Don't stop or slow down."
"But what about Mark?" one prisoner asked.
"I'll take care of it," Roger insisted, trying to sound more confident then he actually felt. "Now get ready to run. There's no time for mistakes, here." On that note, Roger moved away from his post and headed to the Enforcer guarding Mark.
"I have a message for you," Roger told the Enforcer. "The scheduled transport of this rebel has been postponed."
"I was not informed of this," the Enforcer stated flatly.
"Well, you'll understand why, if you look over there," Roger nodded to where the other prisoners were making a break for the supply truck. Seconds before the Enforcer could call for more Enforcers to round the prisoners up, Roger lunged at him.
"Mark, now!" Roger shouted as he wrestled with the Enforcer. Mark hesitated for only a second before making his way to the supply van. As Mark climbed into the back with the assistance of two other prisoners, he glanced back to see Roger hurrying over, slightly limping. The Enforcer's still form could be seen propped up against one of the huts.
"Did you…?" Mark questioned in shock.
"He's knocked out, that's all!" Roger shot back, adrenaline and slight dread of something going wrong made his response harsher then he intended. "Now get in, and stay down!" As soon as everyone was in, Roger started the supply van up and sped straight to the gate, not even bothering to slow down, resulting in the supply van crashing through the gates.
Elsewhere, Krause the Enforcer dashed into the hut where the Leading Enforcer was going over some plans.
"Sir! It's the new recruit, Davis!"
"What of him?"
"He's gone! He's attacked Pelchat, and drove off with the rebels with him!"
"That treacherous…! Krause! Get the Enforcers together! He can't have gotten too far."
AN: The next chapter's going to be short. It'll just showing what happens when Roger, Mark and the other escaped prisoners make it back to Alpha Bace. (Expect it soon.) The chapter after that one will most likely be even longer, with lots of action.