Escape:
February, 2009. Winter was hitting us hard. Ten degrees and lower were common and there was a ton of snow. Though, I guess that's to be expected for the mountains of Wyoming. I dunno... winter just seemed... darker that year.
I should've known it was a month that would change everything.
It all started early one morning on an especially cold, mid-February day. The sun was still hours from rising. X5 was called from the barracks to an early training run, about 4:00 am. They were summoned by bells and the PA -- which is what woke me. As had become my routine, I flipped to the Block 12 camera.
What I saw jolted me into full alertness:
Orderly as always, the X5s began filing towards the door. X5-452 suddenly collapsed onto the floor, just as her brother had a month earlier. Zack, Jondy, and Eva immediately rushed to her, the other X5s gathering behind. A couple of guards suddenly appeared, coming through the door. The first guard took one look at Max and reached for his radio. Before he had a chance to warn Lydecker, Zack took him out, along with the other guard. Two thirds of the X5 group flinched, backing away towards Block 12, obviously disturbed.
But a few of them looked defiant.
Hand signals. Max was up on her feet, though shaky. Eva grabbed the guard's gun and led the way. As I watched the screen I reached my hand up to hit the big alarm button, but the words "... so you won't stop them..." floated through my head: the legend's voice.
Eva was leading a small group of the X5s. Jondy and Zack were on either side of Max, helping her make her way along with them. They were headed towards the back wall of the building, with the huge old windows. I had to switch surveillance cameras again to keep track of where they were headed. As the picture switched I saw a door open, a blinding bright light pointed right at the X5s to render them helpless. A familiar figure stepped out of the light: Lydecker, a hardened, determined expression on his face. Eva stood calmly, defiantly; still pointing the gun.
I jumped at the shot, and watched Eva fall lifeless to the floor, her gun sliding to stop in front of Max. There was shock and disbelief on Max's face, pure hatred on Zack's. I didn't know how to react. Shocked, yes. Unnerved, yes. But scared or defiant, no. After all, it's what Lydecker had to do.
Zack shot a glance back, some sort of signal. He sprang into action. Lydecker's gun went sailing across the room. They moved like lightning; I watched four of the X5s knock Lydecker's guards unconscious. Zack, Tinga, Ben, and Zane had each taken a man down. Zack gave another signal and the X5s retreated back the way they came, leaving a shocked Lydecker to stare after them. I still don't think he believed then that they would do it, and so he let them go.
I reached up a second time to hit the alarm button, which I knew would bring a whole army of soldiers to stop the fleeing X5s. But again, the legend's voice beckoned me to stop, to let them go. Why I listened, I don't know.
The little group of X5s made their way through the halls, to the back wall. Zack was in the lead. They paused, another hand signal, and they ran around a corner and at the huge old windows; only one held back.
When the first X5 somersaulted out of that window and into the cold snow I knew Manticore would never be the same again. One of its biggest secrets was out; was free among the normal people of the world. I then finally understood what the legend's mission had been: freedom.
THE END
Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all who reviewed and enjoyed this story. My next story is in the making. Thanks again!
Crea314
February, 2009. Winter was hitting us hard. Ten degrees and lower were common and there was a ton of snow. Though, I guess that's to be expected for the mountains of Wyoming. I dunno... winter just seemed... darker that year.
I should've known it was a month that would change everything.
It all started early one morning on an especially cold, mid-February day. The sun was still hours from rising. X5 was called from the barracks to an early training run, about 4:00 am. They were summoned by bells and the PA -- which is what woke me. As had become my routine, I flipped to the Block 12 camera.
What I saw jolted me into full alertness:
Orderly as always, the X5s began filing towards the door. X5-452 suddenly collapsed onto the floor, just as her brother had a month earlier. Zack, Jondy, and Eva immediately rushed to her, the other X5s gathering behind. A couple of guards suddenly appeared, coming through the door. The first guard took one look at Max and reached for his radio. Before he had a chance to warn Lydecker, Zack took him out, along with the other guard. Two thirds of the X5 group flinched, backing away towards Block 12, obviously disturbed.
But a few of them looked defiant.
Hand signals. Max was up on her feet, though shaky. Eva grabbed the guard's gun and led the way. As I watched the screen I reached my hand up to hit the big alarm button, but the words "... so you won't stop them..." floated through my head: the legend's voice.
Eva was leading a small group of the X5s. Jondy and Zack were on either side of Max, helping her make her way along with them. They were headed towards the back wall of the building, with the huge old windows. I had to switch surveillance cameras again to keep track of where they were headed. As the picture switched I saw a door open, a blinding bright light pointed right at the X5s to render them helpless. A familiar figure stepped out of the light: Lydecker, a hardened, determined expression on his face. Eva stood calmly, defiantly; still pointing the gun.
I jumped at the shot, and watched Eva fall lifeless to the floor, her gun sliding to stop in front of Max. There was shock and disbelief on Max's face, pure hatred on Zack's. I didn't know how to react. Shocked, yes. Unnerved, yes. But scared or defiant, no. After all, it's what Lydecker had to do.
Zack shot a glance back, some sort of signal. He sprang into action. Lydecker's gun went sailing across the room. They moved like lightning; I watched four of the X5s knock Lydecker's guards unconscious. Zack, Tinga, Ben, and Zane had each taken a man down. Zack gave another signal and the X5s retreated back the way they came, leaving a shocked Lydecker to stare after them. I still don't think he believed then that they would do it, and so he let them go.
I reached up a second time to hit the alarm button, which I knew would bring a whole army of soldiers to stop the fleeing X5s. But again, the legend's voice beckoned me to stop, to let them go. Why I listened, I don't know.
The little group of X5s made their way through the halls, to the back wall. Zack was in the lead. They paused, another hand signal, and they ran around a corner and at the huge old windows; only one held back.
When the first X5 somersaulted out of that window and into the cold snow I knew Manticore would never be the same again. One of its biggest secrets was out; was free among the normal people of the world. I then finally understood what the legend's mission had been: freedom.
THE END
Just wanted to say THANK YOU to all who reviewed and enjoyed this story. My next story is in the making. Thanks again!
Crea314