Do you people mind the fact that it's going to be really long?
Culf: I don't know why i hate it actually. Have you ever written a story and then as it continues you think that it gets dumber and dumber? Or you've read it so many times that everything you see is a flaw? And that you feel that it probably would've been better to not have started? Thats how i feel about this story, but I figured, you liked it, so i better finish it. If i keep the chapters the way they are, there are probably going to be more then 20 chapters. Get a sort of idea?
GoldenRose: Nah, i'm not going to turn River into a bitter brat. Just trying to show a bit of jealously in his nature.
Annabellea: Uhm, i go through stages where i alternatively hate it or just don't think about it.....
****When you knew that it was over
Were you suddenly aware
That the autumn leaves were turning
To the colour of her hair?
- The Windmills Of Your Mind
****Tonight was the night.
Obi-Wan couldn't keep still. Tonight was the night that he was going to escape. He turned to Billy, who also was fidgeting, beside him, "You think that we'll make it?"
"We'll try or damnest!" Billy tried to smile convincingly.
"Do or do not, there is no try………" Obi-Wan stopped, "What did I just say?"
" 'Do or do not, there is not try'" Billy repeated obediently for the boy, "What a strange saying, where did you hear that from?"
"Uhm," Obi-Wan racked him brains, "I have no idea. I just popped out and I don't know where from". He tapped his leg irritatedly.
"Well, it's a good saying. We will do our damnest and we will escape. Let's go over the plan again."
"Ok," Obi-Wan conceded, it was better then just waiting around for the time to pass.
"Number 1?" Billy prompted.
"What till it's pitch black and the guards have stopped moving around."
"2?"
"Taking our food and the maps, make our way to the ventilation shaft in this very dorm."
"And then……..?"
"Using the map and this bit of candle the we managed to smuggle, find our way through the labyrinth of shafts and get out beyond the gates."
"And…….."
"Then we run like hell, hoping that the guards won't notice anything amiss and release the juanks." Obi-Wan shivered remember his last brush with the beasts. Those red eyes hunting, searching, stalking.
"Right then we go……..?" Billy just wouldn't let up.
"Then we enter the forest beyond the gates and running cross-country, because it's the quickest way and will hamper guards on bikes or suchlike, we make it to the space-port."
When Obi-Wan and Billy had been going through the maps they had found one that showed outlay of the factory and the layout of the roads around it. Very much like a normal town map. They had found that there was a spaceport not far from the compound. No doubt used to ship in and out the merchandise that was assembled in the factory.
"Good so far, then…….?"
"There is a ship that leaves precisely at 1am, standard time."
Among the maps they had also found a time schedule. Obi-Wan had been stoked, Billy had been reserved.
"So we stow ourselves on board and then hope that the guards don't notice us until the dawn the next day. By then, we'll be too far away for the implants to register."
"Perfect 456. So what's the time now?" Obi-Wan quickly looked at the chronometer and gasped, "It's 11pm."
"Exactly. Let's go."
Obi-Wan jumped up excitedly and quickly started shoving the food in his tunic. His breathing was free but heavy.
"456. Stop." Billy's voice commandeered him to stop. She sounded very professional.
"What?"
"We only have one chance at this, so listen carefully. Keep quiet. Very quiet."
"But I was being quiet!" Obi-Wan tried to protest to no avail.
"You were not. I could hear you breathing. You need to be able to make it sound like no ones there. I shouldn't be able to hear you. At all. I should have no idea that you're behind me. If I can't hear you what chance does a bumbling guard have?"
"Oh. Okay. You seem to know what to do!" The barb was meant as a jest but Billy took it seriously.
"I've had a lot of practice creeping around masters who I would prefer not to meet. Trust me, I have had experience." Billy turned away so that Obi-Wan couldn't see her face but that couldn't hide the pain that the boy had heard in her voice.
"I-im sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." Obi-Wan touched her gently on the arm.
"That's ok. I know you didn't." Billy flashed him a smile, her white teeth illuminated in the dark, "But let's go. Before we miss our ship." She took one more glance at the watch strapped her wrist (that she had carefully pick pocketed off some poor unfortunate soul) and slid quietly down the bunks.
Obi-Wan's heart was hammering in his chest and he forced himself to breathe quietly. He followed her just as soundlessly and together they removed the grille of the shaft. Obi-Wan took off his tunic and used it as a muffler to deaden the sounds of the metal being pulled out. As soon as the grilled came away a horrible stench assailed their senses and Obi-Wan had to put his hand over his mouth to keep from throwing up.
"Appears that someone else has tried their luck with the shafts, but got a bit lost." Billy whispered bitterly into Obi-Wan's ear.
Billy didn't hesitate and crawled silently in the duct. Obi-Wan took one look and baulked. It seemed so small, so dark, so claustrophobic. He then steeled himself, ruthlessly squashed his fear and crawled into the small tunnel.
(Fear leads to the Dark side-----huh?? Another weird-ass saying. Where did I pick up such crap? Creepy).
Obi-Wan's thoughts stopped as he concentrated on following the dark from of Billy in front of him. As they crawled onwards, the stench grew worse.
Left, left, straight ahead, right, left, left, right, right, straight ahead, slightly upwards, right, left, straight ahead, vertically up, left, left, right, vertically down, left………..
It seemed to go on forever and suddenly as he turned the corner he collided with Billy's feet.
"What's wrong?" he hissed softly as possible.
"Arugh." Billy appeared to be retching.
"Billy, what's the matter?"
"S-smell the air 456." He could see Billy's heaving form and he obediently drew in air through his nose. The stink was so strong, so strong that it was over powering his senses. It made him nauseous and his stomach heaved forcefully. His head started spinning and dizziness swiftly overtook him. He fell forward catching himself on his chin as he tried to re-orientate himself.
"456? Are you ok?"
(Ok, no more breathing through my nasal passages. Use your mouth) Obi-Wan commanded himself and obeyed his own instructions. This didn't really improve matters, the smell was so bad he could almost taste it. "Ngk. U-uh. Yeah, I'm fine Billy. Let's keep going." He silently choked back a gag and forced back down the bile threatening to overtake him.
"Right. Watch yourself. The corpse is coming up on your right."
Obi-Wan nodded even though there was no possibility of her seeing him in the dark. As he crawled onward he caught sight of the corpse pitifully scrunched up in a turning to his right. The body looked like it was around 4 weeks old. It's flesh was rotting and as he went pass he could see the red eyes of rodents watching him as they feasted on the spoiled meat. Obi-Wan swallowed and tried to calm down his stomach. The empty eyesockets glared at the boy and Obi-Wan hurried past.
(I wonder how much he wanted a map, I wonder how long it was before he died of starvation?).
Obi-Wan shook his head again, trying to clear it of the horrible thoughts. He could do nothing for that slave. He was free somewhere, somewhere better then where he had been that's for sure.
"H-how much longer Billy?" Obi-Wan's voice quavered and he tried to get it under control.
(Fear leads to the Dark side, fear leads to the Dark side) The mantra repeated itself in his head and Obi-Wan didn't even try to stop it.
There was a pause up ahead and Billy's voice floated reassuringly back to him, "Only around another 15 minutes."
Obi-Wan breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted to get out of these tunnels. Now.
(Patience Padawan, patience……………Padawan?? What the hell is that???? I wish these stupid phrases would just leave me alone!!) Obi-Wan cursed the thoughts in his head and continued onwards.
Right, left, left, vertical drop – ouch, straight ahead, left and apparently the very last long stretch. It was the longest 15 minutes that the boy could remember. After what seemed like eternity Obi-Wan could seen Billy's face, illuminated by the moonlight falling through the open grille above her head.
(YES!! I'm getting OUT OF HERE!!) Obi-Wan silently whooped and praised Billy's navigating skills. Billy turned back to the boy and laid her finger across her lips. Her eyes told the story easy enough. Complete silence. Guards could be anywhere.
Obi-wan gave the briefest of nods then crawled up beside her, struggling to fit. As he came up beside her Billy gave him a triumphant grin and together they turned their attention to the grille and removing it. It was easy. Deadly easy. So stupidly simply easy. The guards must have thought that no one could've made it through the maze of shafts and for the most part, they had been right. They just hadn't foreseen the slaves getting hold of their own map.
Something tugged in Obi-Wan's mind, something was amiss. Whatever it was it wasn't a good feeling. He pushed it aside, putting down to his worry and gave Billy a boost up out of the shaft. She crouched there silently, warily checking out her surroundings like a nervous rabbit. After a good scrutiny around her, deciding there was no danger she put her hands back into the shaft for Obi-Wan to help him out. He eagerly grabbed her arms and Billy was almost fell back into the duct, so unprepared was she for the full force of Obi-Wan's weight.
He crouched along beside her, his breathing barely even hitched in the effort of climbing out.
Billy using their silent communication, used a hand signal meaning, Lets go.
Obi-Wan replied, Ok. By the way, good navigating.
Billy inclined her head, Thanks. And started jogging off. She made sure that she was silent and tried to keep off anything that could give them away. Obi-Wan took a quick glance at the factory behind him, his home, no his prison, for the last 6 months. Without a single thought of regret he turned and abruptly sped off after the retreating form of Billy.
They seemed to have been running forever but when Billy checked her watch it was only 11.45pm. Even so, they would have to speed up if they wanted to reach their destination with time to spare. They would need the time to stow themselves aboard. Billy estimated that they had run about 1km but had another 4km at least to go. She turned back to Obi-Wan just in time to see him trip over something and go sprawling.
(Yep. So much for stealth and silence. Uh huh, I can so see 456 in a job as a spy or some job involves creeping around. Yep, from his performance right there, I'd say that he'd be perfect for it). Billy sarcastically thought while standing frozen in the spot. She searched with her eyes trying to figure out if anyone had heard them. After a minute or so of complete silence, Billy let herself relax and she quietly trotted over to Obi-Wan. The boy looked exhausted. Billy smiled grimly.
When was the last time you ate? She talked to him silently.
Around 2 days ago. She had expected no less.
Here. Eat. We need to run another 4km and we need to pick up the pace. Billy handed over some food and Obi-Wan practically shoved it down his throat. After about 10 minutes Billy motioned for them to go on.
They had only been running for around 15 minutes when Billy's skin prickled and tingled suddenly. She stopped instantly wondering what was causing the strange feeling. Obi-Wan was about 2 minutes behind her and she waited patiently for him to discuss this strange event. Billy didn't scare that easily and when she had a premonition of something or felt something similar to this it tended to mean bad events.
Obi-Wan saw the silhouette of Billy standing there waiting for him and urged himself to sprint the last 5 metres between them. He was only about 1 metre away when his skin tingled and sudden pain filled him. He gave a gasp under the sudden onslaught, his knees buckled and he collapsed.
****Hey! My first proper cliffhanger!! I think.... So do you want to know what happened to Obi-Wan or should i just disappear and leave it for another month? Tell me in a review!! (That's low, i know....)