"John I think there's something wrong with the child. I don't think she breathing"
Critchon peered down at the girl's face. He placed his ear to her mouth. Aeryn was right, she wasn't breathing. Pinching her nose and opening her mouth, John began to breath into her airways.
"John, what are you doing? You might kill her" panicked Aeryn.
"Aeryn. Chill, I'm giving her mouth to mouth. This will make her breathe again"
John gave the child mouth to mouth again. She suddenly gasped for air and began coughing.
"Hiya, kid" said John smiling down at the child. Her eyes squeezed open.
"Randi?"
"Randi, who's Randi?" questioned Aeryn. The child groaned and tried to sit up. Aeryn ordered her to stay down.
"Randi….my bother…..he" she paused letting out a small sigh.
"He got caught…..like me. They took us away, they tortured us" the girl began to weep.
"Its ok" reassured Aeryn "We're here to help. What's your name?"
"My name's Alexia and thank you for saving me"
"Don't mention it. I'm Aeryn and this is John." she said pointing. "Anyway why are you and your brother being tortured?" asked John
"My brother and I are Peacekeepers, one day we where on the command carrier at school when these 'Flesents' came in and took us away. They said we had committed murder, but we haven't. A child's mother turned us in after we had a fight with her son. He wasn't hurt, we were just playing. He hates us. He make up stories to get us in trouble. We've been here a month and everyday we are taken to the cage to have things thrown at us. That's how I got all these bruises"
"Tell me, Alexia I thought the species here were 'Trag'?" asked Critchon
"There pretend to be the 'Trag' but they're not . This planet is not as it seems. The owner of the planet Mac, can transform the planet into anything he wishes. He leaves it as a holiday planet and people come here to relax, get caught and then tortured. The species real name are 'Flesants'. They are mean and hurtful."
"Frelling great" cursed Aeryn "I bet they have our friends"
"Friends? You have company?"
"Did. We were meant to meet them at the bar but they didn't show up" said John.
"By any chance was there a grey girl, blue woman and a luxon"
"Yes. How do you know about this?"
"When I am not needed, they throw us in prison cells, my brother and I together. We are chained to the wall and fed leftovers. I saw you friends come in and be locked away. Mac will use the cage, I know he will. I doubt whether you'll see them again" said Alexia
"Look kid, we got you back and we're going to do what ever it takes to get our friends back and your brother. You can count on us"
++++++++
They hung at the back of the cell, arms held up by chains. Their faces covered by shadows seeping through a small barred window. Zhaan turned her head and looked over towards Chiana.
"Child, what happened to your forehead?". Zhaan inspected the mark above Chiana's left eye brow.
"Oh that, just some frelling guard smashing my forehead with a gun. That felling tralk. Look, don't worry about me, I'll be fine"
"Some piece of dren knocked me out too. I was brought with Zhaan and we were chained up next to you" said D'Argo "Anyway, the main question is, how are we going to escape?"
"I dunno……Hey Bubba what about your tongue, any good at picking locks?" said Chiana looking at D'Argo.
"Let's be serious" said Zhaan.
"I thought I was." D'Argo sneered
"Look where's Critchon and Aeryn, when you need them? Maybe they don't know we're here. Let's devise a means of escape" said Zhaan
++++++++
"Here's the plan" announced Alexia "We'll make it to the cell where your crew and Randi is. I know a secret way in that should hopefully keep us away from the guards. When in, with your help, we'll be able to kill the guards protecting the cell, unlock our friends and retreat. Trust me. It should all go to according to plan."
Aeryn seemed doubtful. She never trusted John's plans but this was a plan from an eleven year old girl. She hoped it would work.
"Ready?" asked Alexia standing up.
"You sure you're feeling better? I don't want to use the kiss of life again" said John screwing up his face.
"I should recover, thank you. Will the brusies be permanent?"
"I don't know, Alexia but as soon as our friends are free, I can get Zhaan to examine you" Alexia smiled sweetly.
"Thank you guys."
++++++++
"Sir, I have guards searching all the building for the escaped prisoners with the girl" Said Ruto, a guard. "We've had had no luck trying to locate them but we'll carry on trying."
"Yes, thank you Ruto. I would like you to assign the guards to the cells. I have a sneaking suspicion, as the girl knows the cells, she'll lead them there to free their friends. As I can remember rightly, there is a secret entrance. Am I right?"
"I believe you are right Sir. I bet they'll use that entrance, as they'll think were not there."
"Send the guards. Let's give them a surprise" Mac smiled evilly.
+++++++
Critchon, Aeryn and Alexia made their way to the cells to free their friends unaware of the danger that awaited them. On their way they hid in spaces and corners looking out for the watchful eyes of the guards. The building had many levels and was like a maze. It seemed forever to find the cells. As they approached the secret area, they heard a rush of guards and the four corners of the entrance was sealed.
"You can't escape now" said a guard.
"How did you know we were coming?" asked John
"There's a lot of things we know."
Alexia suddenly saw the face of the guard, who had been throwing food at her and ran straight into him.
"Noooo!" shouted Aeryn. It was too late the guard had his fingers clenched around Alexia swollen arm. She flinched in pain.
"Let her go!" Aeryn shouted
"Let the child go!" demanded Aeryn. The guard held Alexia's arm tighter.
Aeryn pulled her pulse pistol from it's holder and held it in position, facing the guard.
"LET HER GO!" she screamed, raging with anger. Suddenly Mac appeared behind the guards, he stepped forward.
"I see you found the cells. The girl is useful isn't she?" said Mac pointing. "Here's the deal, if you want to see your friends, you'll have to fight"
"Fight what?" asked John.
"Scar. He's a 'billop'. A creature that feasts on dead flesh. He's so big no-one has ever surpassed him. He's so frelling huge we have to keep him outside in a giant cage. If you manage to kill him, you'll get your friends back, if not your friends die. Got that?!" said Mac.
John gulped. How was just he and Aeryn going to kill a creature that size?
"And before I go, the battle is at sundown tomorrow in the main square, level three. Also I have disabled you and you friends comms so you can't communicate with anyone"
Aeryn looked across at Alexia who was right back where she started, back in the prison. She had tears avalanching down her face. Even though Aeryn was a strong woman and not afraid to die, the possibility of death still churned in her mind.
They needed a good plan, and fast……..
I hope you enjoyed reading this. There's more chapters to come.
Watch this space.
