The foot soldiers escorted me down the hall, four in front and an unknown number behind me. I guess Francis didn't want to take any chances. I was being taken to my death, or at least I thought so. I really hate this… why couldn't have I just let someone else go? Or, better yet, voted against trusting that snow pea? Why did I have to be so stupid?
Because you're not paying attention to the situation at HAND! You're thinking about the past! LET IT GO ALREADY!
Oh, yeah… you've had to put up with all my thoughts.
And I'm sick of it.
Well, sorry.
I was taken to a small room and strapped to a chair for, like, the third time now. Francis and Anix were arguing quietly. I couldn't hear them, but Anix really didn't look happy with Francis. Maybe Alex's plan would work…
Then that was thrown out the window when Anix yelled at him "JUST KILL HIM!" Yay. So, now what? Do I improvise, or still try? I'm probably dead either way.
Then I noticed Doug's book on a table next to them. I had an idea. But, who do ask? Francis, or Anix?
Just pick one.
I thought about it, wavering between the two, then I decided to pick neither. I shot a pea at the book, causing it to go flying through the air and land on the door handle, opening it. The book then fell onto a Z-1 lying on the floor, making it shoot through the chair legs right to Anix's foot. Not knowing what had happened, he punched Francis into the table, knocking it over and having the release button for the chair slide over to me. That was the luckiest chain reaction in the history of ever.
I shot the release button and immediately ran for the door, picking up Doug's book. He'd want it back, and I don't like disappointing him. He's like my little brother.
"STOP HIM!"
A large squad of foot soldiers charged at me as I ran, but I didn't look back. I rammed through a door back to the factory we had first come into, and vaulted over the railing onto a conveyor belt. I constantly shot peas at browncoats as I ran, leaping from conveyor to conveyor. Then I tripped on a cone and face-planted onto the solid concrete. You can't imagine how badly it hurt.
I got up and started running again, but I didn't get far before a soldier bot shot my back leaf and I fell. The browncoats were about to tear me to pieces when Anix called out,
"Stop! We need him alive!"
I was bleeding, my head hurt and I was gasping for breath. Death seemed close. But then something unexpected happened:
"You two, escort him out of the facility. Make sure he doesn't come back, but most importantly, make sure he doesn't die."
Two browncoats did just that. They picked me up and helped me walk to the exit. They didn't drag me: they practically carried me out, making sure I wasn't hurt too badly. One of them even tore a piece of his tie off to patch the hole in my back leaf. It was like they wanted me to go back… abandon the mission… abandon my friends… and just live a normal life. It was strange.
Sure enough, we reached the staircase that led outside. Before I could try to escape, the browncoat who ripped his tie punched the other one and let me go. He switched ties with his former companion and smiled at me.
"Returning the favor."
I was puzzled. Then realization hit me.
"Zingo?"
"Yep! Now, I suggest you go back the way we came, but take a detour to the right just before reaching the factory. That's where the prison area is. You can…"
He stopped and looked back down the hall as two soldier bots came in. Zingo yelled for me to go, and the bots fired at him. Only one shot hit him, right in the mouth, hitting his tongue. He screamed and ran up the stairs, blood trailing him. I faced the bots and shot at them. One lunged at me, trying to grab me while the other stepped back. I dodged the lunge and slid between the second bot's legs. I ran for my life as the bots called in reinforcements. I'm sure this won't end well.