Chapter 27: Peacekeepers, part two

AN: Has anyone ever went to go make brownies or cookies and just when you're putting it into the oven you lick the spoon and think "Why bake it?" I think I understand the real problem behind American obesity. Sorry about the really late chapter release, I had some major blockage going on.

[Delta-Fo..errr Julia]

"You will NO personal contact with any of the male inmates" Droned a guard to our group "Nor will you be allowed in their cell blocks" Who would want to? Aren't some of the guys here for rape? "Finally, you will not shed a single article of clothing unless you're in your cell or taking a shower, that jumpsuit remains on you at all times. Any questions?"

I was discharged from the hospital little under a few hours ago and sent to this wonderful place. Gifted with sight once again I was able to take in the damage my once upon a time comrade dealt to me. Truth be told I'd say I came out of it all right. My arm was almost fully healed thanks to Vale's splendid medical care, No missing limbs or eyeballs (The second one almost came true) and I got a really cool scar running from one underneath one eye to the other. I tell them I fought a bewowulf with one hand, that otta earn me some street cred. I learned quickly that most female prisoners could be fit into two categories, bitches and whores.

A ditsy girl raised her hand in the back "Say I get an 'itch' while I'm in here officer…..could you help me out?" Whore

"How bout you shut the fuck up about your itch so we can get on with this damn thing!" Yelled another. Bitch

What a beautiful place the penitentiaries of Vale are. In front of us was a hallway of nothing but gates to ensure that if the inmates get lucky and break one down somehow they would still have about another ten to get through. And with about a couple dozen armed guards shooting at you why you're whittling away at the unforgiving steel bars. Makes you second guess trying to escape.

The prison I would be spending the rest of my life in was no other then Jones correctional facility, nicknamed 'Fort Ass rape' because of its rather impressive guard count and entrenchments….plus ass rape. This place was reserved for a special kind of breed and people the kingdom never wanted to see again. Here you wouldn't find your average 'I strangled my wife' or 'I'm uh gangsta and I shoot people, dig?' no here you would find terrorist, murdering masterminds and those who were a little too dangerous for regular prisons like say a Headhunter for instance.

Ex-Headhunter

What the hell did I get myself into? Betray everything I knew for a man I didn't know, did it ever occur to me he might be lying? No he was definitely telling the truth but did that make it anymore right? I wasn't thinking. Family or no family I made an oath that uphold the safety of my people and put them before myself. Now what I did was had a little girl sissy fit and for what? A White Fang member? I had lost my friends, my status, my freedom and my place in this world for that man. I'm an idiot.

"Face forward, hands to your side and no talking until we enter recreational area. Your cell numbers will be told to you when you get there" informed the officer as he marched us down the numerous gates. Berating myself isn't going to get me out of here or help in anyway. This is where I will be now until the day I die, Whoo-hoo. Please let the food here be better than the mess hall back at Amada.

Recreational area was just another way of saying 'lots of space. The most I could see in the way of things to do was a basketball court which was dominated by and all human crowd. The rest was just open area and places to sit. There was a clear sign of segregation here; you would be hard pressed to find a human and faunas talking to each other.

As if it was like some e unspoken command the inmates stopped what they were doing to harass the new blood. They banged on the fence and spewed a number of creative threats. The guards would attempt to smash their fingers to get them to back up but they would just move to another place. Not like it mattered, they were about release us to the wild.

"Every one of you will get one of these" He held a bracelet in the alit "This will monitor your locations and alert you of your curfew, which you better hope you're in your cell when this thing beeps or you're going to get a shock of a lifetime. On the side is your cell block and cell number. We hope you enjoy your stay with us" Unlikely

The large accumulated mass of inmates were going insane now, hooting and barking at us like animals. To be fair I wasn't picking out the faunas on that comment. Our temporary escort ushered me forward and instructed me to hold my hand out. It wasn't very astonishing or climatic when he slapped the bracelet around my wrist where it locked together by some unseen force. Then without warning they unceremoniously pushed me out the gate and closed it behind me preparing the next.

A wall of bodies seemed to impede my movement every direction I went. The purpose was obvious if the threating and jeering comments were anything to go by. They laughed as I tried to push past some of their hulking frames.

I paused and tried to point out some break in the crowd but none could be found. Apparently my hesitation was seen as fear, they took turns running forward and stopping trying to make me jump or back up. I wasn't alone now; some of the others had passed the gate as well and were looking to be left alone.

One, a tattooed man with a scrawny build tried to laugh it off when someone made him flinch. He was doing a very unsuccessful job at melding in with the rest of the men. So that's all this is? A game of sorts to test the newbies, see who can be pushed around and who not too mess with. So then all I need to do Is-

In training one of the things they drill into you the most is your instinctual reflexes. Things like shooting at the first sight of movement, following orders when they are received and not thinking about it. This is one of the reasons Headhunters are regarded as savages. Now one of the most excessively trained reflex is self-defense. So there was no thinking involved when I directed a harsh fist with my good arm at the person who thought it would be funny to slap me on the back. The nose of Mr. Macho was the real victim here; it made a sound similar to a wet crunch.

There wasn't any retaliation from Mr. Macho who was not getting up anytime soon, but what surprised me was the lack of guard intervention. They seemed delighted that a fight had broken out. Many of them had quit what they were doing to watch. When they seen that there wouldn't be any continuation they begrudgingly went back to their duties. Hard working tax payer Lien at work right there.

After the swift knockout (The KO was actually eighty percent luck but I'm still taking credit for it) the crowd actually gave me a wide birth and decided to screw with someone easier. Less than sixty seconds in and I'm already a hardass,way to go Four. I'm keeping the name…Julia doesn't sound natural anymore.

SO where the hell is my cell block?

[Leon]

"Kick his ass Thomas" I whispered as the two took up their positions on the matt. I've been dying to see someone give that shit the beating had so very well earned. I don't even care if it's not me who gives him it as long as he gets it!

I don't know what it was but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth, Bravo has been a bit off today since I seen him. His movements seemed rushed like he's losing patience with himself and he was showing a lot more emotion, like growling underneath his breath when something didn't go his way. Whatever it was it was a weakness and Thomas would capitalize on it.

I stood to the side with Auburn on my right and Peachy to my left. Both had eager looks on their faces "Guessing you guys are hoping for the same thing I am?" I asked.

Auburn replied with a shit eating grin "Thomas is going to whoop the fuck out of him" I hope, I so very much hope.

"I'd be happy to see Bravo get his ass kicked but the real fun comes after" Peachy smirked

Did she have something planned or was she hoping to stitch him up? "Are we missing out on something?" Auburn and I listened as she explained.

"Thomas shared with me a little secret about his kind…some really x rated stuff" She laughed "And I cant wait to see the look on Bravo's face when I tell him"

"One major problem with your psycho confidential secret plan buttercup" Auburn said. She hummed in questioning "You can't see his face"

"…Well shit"

I turned my attention back to the ring where Robert was giving out the rules of the match. Just a formality of course, things like no eye gouging or neck snapping. If Thomas were to do any of these things to Bravo I'm sure I could forgive him. Robert backed away and signaled the match to start.

As expected Bravo was the first to charge with his better mobility and reflexes. He ran like he was going to tackle Thomas to the ground, our friend just stood there with his hands up waiting for him. The tackle didn't come, instead Bravo threw himself on the ground and rolled in an attempt to take the old mans legs.

It was quite funny when he just calmly stepped over momentum fuelled bowling ball that we call Bravo. He didn't wait long, when he realized that his 'clever' feint had failed he was on his feet and going at Thomas again but in a boxing stance this time.

I had to give it to Bravo he was fast. His jabs didn't even look like they were moving when tried hit his opponent so I couldn't tell if they were getting through or not. I tried to read Thomas as any indication he was being beaten. His face was stoic and his eyes were focused.

I cracked my knuckles out of nervousness. Thomas hadn't thrown a single punch yet; he was sticking to defense only and not even trying fight. Shit if he loses I might have to fight Bravo! Shit talking aside back in my MP days non-lethal takedowns were a major priority but I can't beat that thing!

Thomas didn't change tactics at all, just the same defensive stance while slowly backing away. I wasn't the only one frustrated with his choice of combat style, Bravo was becoming increasingly frustrated. OHHHHHH

Bravo was getting sloppy with his punches and was just hitting anywhere with reckless abandon not knowing he was being played like a drum. He stopped jumping back every few seconds to make sure he didn't take a hit.

He left one of those right jabs out there too long…Thomas eyes lit up like he was about murder someone, he didn't need to speak because I knew exactly what he was thinking. 'I'ma kill those ribs' his eyes said and with a hook that I think came all the way from Vacuo he nailed Bravo. The operative stumbled back gasping for air leaning heavily on his right side. Damn Thomas how hard did you fucking hit him?

There was no time to recover as Thomas finally went on the offensive sending speeding semi like fist into Bravo like he was a punching bag. The fight had become completely on sided and almost painful to watch. I was loving every minute of it.

"Fuck" Auburn winced

Thomas pulled Bravos head into his knee when the ladder had bent down to cover his stomach.' I got to record this!' I thought while searching through my pockets. Damn I forgot scroll in my bunk! Of all the times I would actually use the thing!

"FUCK!" Auburn yelled when Bravo was flipped over Thomas back and slammed on the ground. His arm was twisted back and a knee pinned him down.

I can die happy now. This room could explode and I would be fine. All the requirements of a good death had been met, I had seen and got crazy with my wife in the last twenty four hours, I had finally seen what happened to Sam on 'Valean life' (Love that show) AND Bravo got his ass kicked.

"You give up?" Thomas calmly asked while applying pressure to his arm. The match was done. The only way Bravo could get out of that is by letting Thomas break his arm and even then if he couldn't handle him with both arms then I I'd say using only one arm would be suicide.

His answer was crude "Fuck you"

Thomas without a doubt would break his arm. This day just keeps getting better and better! The masked man tried to crawl, to where I don't know. Yes that's good keep being defiant. Snap it! Break it! Crunch it!

"It's over" announced Robert "Thomas wins"

Damnit!

[Four?]

Cell one-twenty second floor, Shouldn't be hard to find. This might be weird but this place actually wasn't that bad. After the gates people just left me alone. The worst I got was groups glaring at me when I walked by. And I stopped by the chow room, it was pretty great! You actually got to choose what you eat! To think that these people ate better than the brave men and woman that protected Vale from all its enemies foreign and domestic.

Guards were scares in the hallways and they were always behind some sort of barrier hindering us to get to them. The majority were posted above us on long bridges. They didn't care if the inmates killed each other? Judging by their choice of weapons subduing a riot wasn't their quota. They were equipped with Atleasian dust weapons, the things that could inflict some excruciating pain to not aura users. I couldn't see any stun batons or anything of the like on them. Not the place to be a trouble maker.

The cell block was pretty cozy looking for a prison. On the bottom floor was tables, couches and even tvs. These guys are a really privileged group, if it was up to me they'd be mining dust all hours of the day. That would teach them.

It's not 'them' it's 'us'. "Welcome home Four" I deadpanned.

The stairs were on the side of room attached to the wall. I sighed and walked over to it. On the bright side there's only two to a cell so I won't have to deal with a whole lot of people. Plus I won't be here very long, it's like the inspector said I'm just here until they set my execution date.

'Yeah because that's something to hope for'

I think I'm just to call it in early today. It's been an exhausting one for sure. Going up the stairs every step up was harder than the last. Well are you happy? You fucked up everything you've worked for and now they want your neck in a noose. Private wasn't a glorious position but it was still a rank, a sign that I was a part of something bigger then myself.

There it was Cell one-twenty. A small room with a bunk bed, one table and a sink, no toilet? It was also occupied. She had claimed the top bunk and was flipping through a cosmetics magazine. Step one, make it be known I'm top dog of this and that top bunk is mine.

I walked over by the bed "Get up, I'm sleeping up there"

She jolted probably use to having the room to herself. She still hid behind the magazine not wanting to make any eye contact. This one would be easy "Here you can have it I don't want any trouble please" She said while sliding off "Maybe we can be friends" she asked while pulling the magazine down from her face "Oh no"

Her.

"Listen I haven't done anything wrong don't hurt me!"

HER.

"You know I never got to thank you…." Was her lame excuse

I turned around to see if anybody was looking then focused back on her. I popped my neck and let out another sigh "I think I'm going to rape you"