Corrin awakened. His back ached horribly. He looked around. Prison. The walls and floor were a deep grey. There was a large opening ahead of him. The space in the opening shimmered slightly. It was a force field. He was trapped. "Panpacific?" and oddly mechanical voice asked. Corrin jumped and crawled backwards.
There was a bench in the back of the cell, made of the same concrete that covered the walls and the floor. A man, clouded by the lack of light, sat there. "Who are you?" Corrin asked frantically as he stood and backed up against the wall. "Are you here to torture me? Because I won't turn to your…"
"Calm down Earthling!" Corrin had a sudden realization. The man was a Martian. The adept stood and walked towards him, his hands outstretched in peace. "I'm not here to torture you, but you should expect someone soon. I'm your cell mate." Corrin looked at him suspiciously. "Aphorax Grange." The man held out his hand to shake.
Corrin slowly took it. "Corrin Grant. Merican."
Grange laughed. "Damn, can't even get it right anymore!" The Martian smiled. "You are the luckiest prisoner in this camp!"
"Camp?" Corrin asked quizzically.
"Oh yes, they are all over Imperial territory. The call them 'correction camps.' This is where they take men who completely renounce the Emperor and claim to despise him. I share a mutual feeling with all those in this camp, including you." Grange grinned. "We all want to kill the old man. Anyway, you are the luckiest man in the prison."
"How so?"
"Because you're in with me!" The man threw up his arms, as though it was obvious. "I am the angel of freedom, or that's what they call me around here. Whenever we get a new shipment of prisoners," He smiled and lifted what should have been his arm. Instead, a mechanical hand formed slowly into a drill.
"I get as many out as possible before getting back here. These Imperials haven't wised up yet, and being my cell mate is an automatic release…" Grange smiled slyly. "…If you help me."
Corrin had forgotten time itself. It was pitch black outside. The illuminators had been switched off for the night. The only light came from the sparks erupting from Grange's silent drill. There was a crack. "We're out…" The Martian whispered. Corrin nodded. Grange disappeared through a small hole. With a grunt, Corrin crawled in and followed.
The sharp, cold rocks of the tunnel pierced his skin. He brushed them off. This mission was important. He had fought Martians. He hated Martians for what they did to his friends and allies, but this man was fighting for a noble cause; risking his own life, or at least considerable pain, to rescue others.
He fell lightly from the hole and stood. Grange was holding a large data slate. "It's the map of the camp." He responded quietly to Corrin's questioning looks. "We need to work together. This escape has to be all in the time frame of seconds."
Corrin nodded. "Alright, I'll work on getting the gates open and telling everyone what to do, and you cut the power." Grange continued, pointing at a small building on the map with an electric bolt symbol over it. "Here, take this radio. We can coordinate our moves. Tell me when you're in, I'll tell you when to cut it."
"What happens after I cut it?" Corrin asked.
"We run like hell, so long as I get the gate open. It's always an adrenaline rush. They try as hard as they can to stop us, but they're Imperial." Grange laughed.
"Alright, I'm ready."
"Then get going! Let's do this!" Corrin smiled. They both nodded and rushed off in opposite directions.
The camp was eerily silent. Terrified prisoners occasionally gasped as he rushed by. They could only guess at what was going on.
Corrin had set a good pace. He stopped and glanced at the map. He was on row D25. So many prisoners. There were footsteps behind him. He stopped breathing. An Imperial stood there.
"Identify yourself!" He yelled in Imperial. It was a test.
Corrin smiled. "Johnson Rigby."
"New here?" The man said. His face eased. He seemed to be satisfied. Not many men on the Earth knew the Imperial tongue who did not worship that vile man.
"Yeah." Corrin replied.
"I think you have the wrong patrol route, this is mine." The man said kindly. "Don't worry. If you're new I can help you. Is that a map?" He asked. Corrin nodded. The man chuckled and walked over. He pointed at their location. "We're here and…"
Corrin threw his fist into the man's back. The Imperial buckled and fell to the floor. Corrin kicked him over and stepped down on his face. No one would patrol this area until daybreak. And then they would all be gone.
Corrin looked up. The small electrical building sat several cells away. He heard muffled cheers from the shielded chambers of some prisoners. He smiled and continued on.
He walked quietly to the door and rapped on it twice. He swung to the side and became one with the wall. The door slid open and a man exited. He looked around. Corrin wheeled around and thrust his hands around the man's chest. He squeezed hard. The man let out the last of his air. Corrin covered his mouth and held him for several seconds before throwing him to the ground.
"Delarian?" Someone asked worriedly. "Who is it?"
Corrin took a small laser pistol from the man's cold body. He kicked the door. "Delarian? What the Hell is going on?" A man emerged from the door way, only to walk into the barrel of Corrin's gun.
There was a silent click and the man fell dead. Corrin pressed his radio. "I'm in."
The radio came to life with Grange's voice.
Okay, there is a large, black lever.++ Corrin walked inside and examined a massive control panel. He spotted the lever and grabbed hold of it.
Pull++
Corrin tugged hard. It flung backwards. There was a flicker, and then all Hell broke loose. There were cries of joy as the power died. Alarms rang off of emergency frequencies. Crashes and bangs echoed throughout the camp. The loud speak boomed.
All prisoners, this is inmate Grange! We are in control! The gates are opening, get out of here!++
There were enormous cheers. Corrin rushed out. The Imperials were fast. Thunderbirds began landing in the prison rows, but there were so many escapees. He examined the battleground. Imperial soldiers were stretched thin fighting back murderous inmates.
You need to get out++ Grange called through the radio.
"They know it's you, Grange. You're coming too!" The answer buzzed through, but Corrin ignored it. His eyes were fixated on a man that had just emerged from one of the Thunderbirds. The man turned. Their eyes met. They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. Corrin's mouth fell open. It was impossible!