When Sedia came across to drop off the spare food, she found Harlock and Zero folded up at the front of the shaft
"I think we've lazed around enough" Zero smiled through the space between Harlock's knees and the roof of the shaft. Sedia only nodded before closing them back in. They watched numerous shadows pass by, it put them on edge more than it had done when they were at their weakest. Each shadow could be a machine man foiling their plans. They hoped Mihran and Sedia had been as inconspicuous as they could.
"D'you reckon they've given up the search?" Zero pondered
"I highly doubt it. How could we possibly hide for so long before being noticed? They wouldn't think about the shafts, so they'll still be on the lookout" Harlock analysed. Zero did his best to shrug in the tight space
"They seemed quite willing to kill us"
"And next time they find us, maybe they will"
"But they won't find us... hopefully"
"Zero you are insufferable. One minute you are disgustingly positive, the next minute you're all doom and gloom"
"You're rubbing off on me, you pirate"
"Good".
By the time Mihran and Sedia arrived the captains were restless and twitchy. Climbing out of the shaft was harder than they thought. With the manacle still connecting them, they wiggled out slowly, aiming to make as little noise as possible and once they crawled onto the corridor floor, they felt the freedom of open space. Harlock breathed a sigh of relief, bones cracking as he stretched. The two labourers beckoned the two captains to follow
"We're getting you straight out, after that you're on your own" Mihran explained as they checked a corridor
"Wait... out? I thought-"
"We tried before and got caught Zero. We can't risk anything" Zero turned to Harlock, a storm brewing in his brown eyes "Warrius. We'll find a way, we're smart" Harlock comforted, Zero unaccustomed to the sound of his first name "not everything has to be controlled". Zero only nodded.
"Is there anyway to get this chain off? It's beginning to piss me off now" Harlock tugged at the manacle, revealing the silvery scars, Sedia took an experienced hand and inspected
"I'm afraid not, it's one of the old fashion prison chains, once connected they cannot be released by a key or be broken by rudimentary weapons. You need a gun, or something more"
"Brilliant" Harlock muttered.
"BACK! Back back!" Mihran hissed. The four of them pressed against the wall
"What is it?" Sedia asked, standing next to him
"So many machine men- it must be recreational time now"
"Shit" the two labourers looked around, unable to find anywhere to hide
"Retrace our steps" Zero beckoned as he tugged at Harlock and they steadily turned the corner. They broke in to a light jog, Harlock and Zero had not been able to find their boots, but by this point they were glad, their heavy footfalls would have given them away, but just wearing socks, they padded silently across the corridor. Zero couldn't scratch the feeling of someone watching them, a tingling sensation on his spine and ears, a sweat broke out and Harlock looked at him questioningly. He seemed to be in his element, taking the adrenaline in his stride like a junkie
"Is this what you do all the time?" Zero whispered
"Indeed it is" Zero shook his head, how could someone throw themselves into situations?
"Careful, you might get reckless"
"When do I ever get reckless"
"Really" Zero poked. Harlock rolled his eyes. The two labourers found a vent, they looked at it and then back at the two captains
"We're going to have to squeeze in until tomorrows routine kicks in" Mihran said apologetically. Harlock groaned, he couldn't stand anymore confined spaces.
Unlike the vent shaft they had hid in before, this one was a continuous straight line and all four were curled up shoulder to shoulder with Mihran at the front of the shaft holding the vent plate. Only soft breathing was heard, there was no imminent danger but there was a worrying sense of the unknown
"Wouldn't they notice two labourers missing?"
"Possibly..." Sedia gave a worried glance to Mihran, Harlock and Zero swallowed
"Do you reckon there will be less machine men around at night?" Zero inquired
"We don't know"
"How near to the escape route were we before we had to retreat?" Zero's voice was steady, eyes narrowed in calculation
"Very close, that's why there was a lot of machine men in the recreational hour. They were coming from guarding one of the exits"
"How were we to escape if it's guarded?" Harlock tried not to raise his voice "how does trying to get us out even work if you know it's basically impossible?"
"Temper, Harlock" Zero chided like a parent
"Oh shut up, Zero" Harlock snapped, his fiery attitude kicking in
"There's a guard change over...We...We were going to indicate when exit was free so you could run" Mihran struggled to find the words under the pirate's wrath. Still simmering Harlock scowled at his knees
"That makes sense" Zero nodded "but perhaps we should try tonight, it'll be darker outside too so we can vanish quicker"
"But machine men have better eye sight" Sedia fretted
"And we have a lot of pent up energy to burn" Harlock grumbled
"Trust us. If you can help us get out tonight, you'll be able to get back to your designated area before suspicion is aroused" Zero replied softly, he was annoyed at Harlock's pushy attitude, it unsettled their helpers. Mihran and Sedia whispered to themselves while Zero punched Harlock in the gut, Harlock let out a woof of air and growled at Zero who growled back
"Stop being such a pirate! Do you want to break the trust we have with these people?"
"What can I say?" Harlock snapped back
"Sorry?" Zero suggested
"I'm slightly claustrophobic"
"Well I guess that's the closest to an apology I'm going to hear- wait really?"
"Can we not go into it?" Harlock regretted the little slip
"For now" Zero teased.
