Chapter 5

The scavengers scouted the area near the door, quickly realizing they wouldn't go undetected for long. Guards would probably spot them before they'd made it 30 feet. A more strategic approach would be necessary. Newman anticipated that someone would probably arrive soon to fix the door and came up with a plan to obtain free reign over...wherever they were. After explaining everything to his men, he stationed a lookout near the door, while everyone else hid behind nearby boats. Skills picked up during some of the more unsavory parts of Newman's past were again becoming useful.

Eventually, the lookout signaled that someone was coming and, after confirming this, hurried to his hiding place. A tech escorted by two guards arrived and began work on the shorted-out door panel. Before he could get started well, Newman signaled for the men to move in. The guards realized they were approaching and whirled around to face their attackers, only to be quickly overwhelmed due to the superior numbers. Newman's men numbered about 30 between the crews of two ships, with 20 currently with him on this assignment. While the Akierans looked human, the scavengers didn't want to take any chances.

The tech, being far from a fighter, surrendered immediately. After the guards were down, they were relieved of their armor and weapons, which were donned by Newman himself and his first mate/second-in-command. Since the armor included helmets that covered the wearer's face, they could now explore undetected.

looking at the terrified tech, the captain announced as he picked up his sidearm from the ground, "Unfortunately, you've seen too much and we can't risk you talking so..."

At that, he shot the tech, who immediately slumped over. Next, it was time to learn how to use their new weapons. They had seen their captors were obviously aliens and knew whatever they used had to be more effective than bullets.

After firing a few energy blasts from the sort-of silver rifle for practice, and ensuring that everyone knew how to fire the weapons, the two wearing armor prepared to venture out. Their job would be to scout around nearby and hopefully find at least a few more guards to lure into their trap.

–-

Meanwhile, Bandit had finally managed to catch up to Race and Dr. Quest as they were leaving an engineering lab to go look for the teens. Race was the first to notice the dog, pointing him out to Dr. Quest and commenting, "Hey Doc, here comes Bandit."

Dr. Quest replied with concern as he noticed Bandit barking rather urgently, "It looks like something's wrong."

Bandit approached the two, still barking. Dr. Quest asked, "What's the matter, boy? Are Jonny and the others in trouble?"

After he was sure he had the men's attention, bandit turned and began running back in the direction he'd just come from, pausing to look back and bark to make sure they were coming.

Race was the first to pursue the dog. "Looks like he wants us to follow him."

Bandit led the pair to the place where everyone had been captured, just outside the door of the building holding the facility's leadership and where they had been a few hours earlier.

"There's no sign of the kids, but I think Bandit's trying to tell us they were here a short while ago when something happened," Dr. Quest theorized.

Race suggested "We could always go in and find out if anybody's seen them,"

The men entered the building where, like the teens, they were met by Siert'a, shortly before the primary room.

"Greetings. I hope you are enjoying yourselves," he commented nicely.

Dr. Quest replied, "Actually, we're looking for my sons, Jonny and Hadji, and Race's daughter Jessie, but we can't seem to find them."

His demeanor turning cooler, Siert'a replied, "Ah, yes. I believe my guards arrested them earlier."

"For what?!" Race demanded.

"The guards reported that they were attempting to stir unrest among the people and saw it as a security threat."

Dr. Quest scoffed at the suggestion. "That's ridiculous. None of them would start any trouble here."

"Hmmm. Perhaps it is a mistake. Regardless, I will have someone take you to them, if you wish," Siert'a offered.

"Thanks," Race accepted.

Siert'a called for a guard and ordered him to escort the humans to the detention area. Beginning to wonder if they could trust the Akierans, especially the guards, Race and Dr. Quest avoided discussing the situation as the guard led them to the teens.

–-

While all this was going on, Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji had spent a majority of their time trying to find a way out of their cell. It was in a rather plain cellblock, with a small guard station nearby and dull, greyish metal walls. Eventually, Hadji sat down on the floor to meditate on the situation, while Jonny and Jessie continued trying to brainstorm a way out. They had taken off their translators to hopefully keep the guard from knowing what they were talking about.

"Okay, we already sent Bandit after Dad and Race, so him squeezing through an opening is out," Jonny thought aloud.

Jessie added, "And the openings we do have are too small for any of us, even the air vent."

She then looked back at Hadji and suggested, "Maybe Hadj could hypnotize the guard."

Hadji, though meditating, was alert enough to open his eyes when he heard Jessie speak to him. "I have already tried, my friends, when the guard was forcing us into this cell. They seem to be resistant to it."

"Great," Jonny said dejectedly, "Now, what?"

Right on cue, the guard escorting Race and Dr. Quest came in, with the men in tow.

"Dad!" Jonny and Jessie exclaimed to their respective fathers in unison.

"Dr. Quest! Race!" Hadji exclaimed.

"Is everyone all right?" Race asked.

"Yeah, Dad," Jessie answered, "We're fine."

"Other than being stuck in here for a while, anyway," Jonny added.

"Don't worry. We'll get you out," Dr. Quest reassured him, "But it would help if we could talk to J'orda. Now tell us what happened."

Since the guard who escorted the men had returned to his post and the prison guard was called away, the trio related what had happened, with Dr. Quest and Race removing their translators for good measure.

"And then, they put us in here," Hadji finished the story.

"That's it. We've got to try and talk to J'orda. Whether he believes us or not, we have to try," Dr. Quest proclaimed with determination.

Just then, the cell guard returned. Everyone had just put their translators on again, when the guard pointed his energy rifle toward Dr. Quest and Race, "I've been ordered to place you two under arrest as well. Now get in that cell next to the young ones."

"I don't think so," Race replied as he dropped to the floor and swept the guard's legs from under him and took his energy rifle. He used the rifle to knock out the guard, but the encounter had already attracted unwanted attention, preventing them from figuring out how to open the cell door.

"C'mon, Dr. Quest!" Race ordered as he exchanged fire with the other guards. Thanks to his prior training, he was able to figure out how to use the futuristic weapon rather quickly, "We'll have to come back for the kids!"

Dr. Quest nodded and told them quickly, "We'll be back for you soon. At least you're safe, for now."

Jonny, Jessie, and Hadji nodded as the other two left, although not before Dr. Quest had grabbed an energy rifle of his own.

Jonny stared at the door for a few seconds after they left. "I wish we could get out there and help Dad and Race."

"Unfortunately, we cannot. We can only wait and trust that they will be all right," Hadji commented tensely but reassuringly.

Jonny hesitated for a few seconds, before turning his attention back to his companions. "I know."