Slyder and Jackie reached the end of the tunnel where all the prisoners began to file off and began to dig and carry carts to and from. It was harder to breathe with the air filled more with dust and other fumes. Jackie covered her mouth as she coughed.
"This way." Slyder muttered as he followed the larger crowd deeper into the tunnel. On the other side, there were assembled prisoners, attending a speech in which a robot that possibly lost all his insanity chanted about the world ending.
"Quit yer yappin' will ya!?" Said an angry worker. "Tired of yer bullshit 'bout the world endin'!"
"It's enough most of us been here for years!" Another said.
Jackie saw out the corner her eye another angry prisoner throwing an old can at the trembling, short robot. But he was persistence, holding back the tears in his beady eyes. He clenched his tiny metallic fingers.
"The only ones that can help us are the Earthlings! They'll come back! And they'll stop Hacker!" The robot croaked. More people threw anything they could find at him as he ducked away and retreated behind the boulder.
"HOW DARE YOU! Those Earthlings betrayed us! It's the reason we're here in the first place!" A taller and more angered robot replied. "
Slyder couldn't take the atmosphere. Oxygen was spared for them, but the humidity was killing him especially with the woolly cloak on. These robots had no idea the struggles they had been through to get here and that they're the only ones who can stop Hacker.
"Slyder!" Jackie called as he shoved past the crowd and made his way to the front. He climbed on the boulder, his metallic hand gleaming as all the prisoners turned back, ready to criticize him.
"EH? AND WHO ARE YOU?!" Said a grumpy, short worker that probably worked at the dump.
"Someone important. So I advise you to listen well or you might regret it." As he began to claw the wall and create an agonizing screeching that made all the robots groan and moan in pain. They pleaded to stop, as Slyder lifted his hand.
Some of them fixed glares at him.
"You betta' talk quick or else!" Said a snarling bot.
"There's a way off this island. I know how to get there and in return I need pilots." Slyder said.
"We don't even trust you! How we know you ain't one of Hacker's?"
"Because." As he pulled down the hood. "I'm an earthling."
/
Digit was dozing off on a palm tree when suddenly he heard his systems blaring. He fell out the tree and on his head up to the jump-scare, shaking his head to rid of the dizziness. He flew back up and checked his coordinates. Ahead he saw a UFO, only to carefully zoom in on his improved sights and spotted his old frenemy.
"I've lost my marbles if I'm seein' Wicked flyin' here. It can't be true!" Digit scoped and locked on Wicked. She was escorting a giant black ship that probably held more prisoners to drop off. Her face wore a mask of distaste and long-term intolerance.
Digit tuned in and called Matt, "Aye Matt, I might be seein' things, but I think I spot Wicked flyin' over here."
A long silence, "Wicked? That old bat that's been haunting us ever since she went out with Hacker?"
"Yeah, that one." Digit snickered. Then he heard other distance chattering before Matt returned.
"Wait Digit, Max got somethin' to say. Just for a bit." Matt said. A bit of shuffling before Max exhaled.
"You need to intercept her. She's going to be a lot of help for us if you can get her to sabotage the ship. Don't worry, she's not a threat." Max warned him. Digit's brows raised.
"You want me to catch Wicked off-guard, and get her to cast a spell so that it sabotages the ship?" Digit repeated this as if he was incapable of this task.
"Digit, do what he says." Inez interrupted. "I know it sounds kinda weird and I hate to admit he's really our last hope."
He sighed. Digit knew better that Max had a plan after a plan. It was an infinite cycle for him and he always had a way out. He just played along like he was surprise about this.
"Alright. I'll try." As Digit nodded. The call ended as Digit's sights focused on Wicked again. Her bodily features catching him by surprised as he saw more attractive she was. He shook his head as he remember the times he was forced to be her escort.
"The things I do for them." Digit grumbled as he gained altitude with his wings and began to fly in an acute direction towards the witch.
/
Slyder lead the crowd of prisoners outside as he tore down fences with a single swipe of his claw. It was a mere convenience that his new hand contained ten times more of the power he usually had. He was glad Jackie was here to control the crowd when they grew anxious. He smiled.
They stood in one area as Slyder gestured one-by-one the pilots that were qualified to drive ships. Out of the crowd, Slyder was about to get 8.
"You think this'll be enough to get them ships?" Jackie asked.
"Yeah." Slyder flexed his inhumane hand. " I have a hunch Matt and Inez have a plan for us on how to get these other prisoners out. "
Jackie switched on her watch and tuned in for Inez, "'Nez, Slyder and I just got the prisoners on our side. They're willing to fight with us."
"That's what we're trying to avoid. But I'm glad we have more allies. What about pilots?" Inez asked.
"Eight. We managed to get eight of them. How are we getting these other's ships?" Jackie asked.
"Max, has a plan." Matt stepped in. "He's planning on getting Wicked's attention."
Jackie's blood went cold as her eyes harden, "That bitch?"
In a distance, she heard Max growled.
"Easy Jacks'" Slyder soothed his girlfriend. She groaned in disgust.
"I don't have time to ask what she's got to do with any of us. But that Max guy always have a crazy plan." Jackie growled.
"After this; getting the ships for the pilots, the civilians off the island, are we going after Hacker?" Slyder asked. Matt and Inez were silent for the moment. They prepared very-long for this moment. To confront the megalomaniac that has terrorized their childhood through cyberspace, and now back in their later teen-years to destroy.
"Yes." They both said in unison. "Now, make your way back to the ship. Digit will meet us up last because he's getting Wicked's attention. Try not to get killed."
"Will do." Slyder grinned. The call ended as the two teens were faced with a crowd of thousands. Slyder made his way on top of the wooden crates by the shore, so he stood above the crowd by an extra 6 feet.
"Alright, so we have orders to take in the eight pilots first before you. This is because they'll be able to pilot more ships and transport you quicker than us. I don't know when they'll be back when find other ships. But I assure you, they will return. AND WE WILL DEFEAT HACKER!"
The crowd cheered for Slyder as manly reached out and touched his inhumane hand for good luck. He felt much stronger. Because not only he felt the optimism of seeing the civilians that understood that it wasn't their fault, and that they were here to help; they felt more appreciated.
Slyder reached down to lift his girlfriend up and grasp on to her with an arm around her waist. They touched their ankles and calves as they waved and nodded.
Jackie turned to Slyder, "We should really go."
"I know." Slyder groan, "Let save the worlds?"
"Yeah." Jackie grinned as they hopped off the crates, waving goodbye to the freed civilians as they disappeared behind the tall grass.