12 Breakout

Victorious yet wary, the prisoners climb the escape shaft toward long‑awaited freedom, unaware that the League’s minekeepers intend to exact a final, brutal price before letting their slaves slip away.

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SPEAKER_01 0:00

The author of the Exodus series is intentional about avoiding profanity and explicit sexual content. However, this episode does contain scenes of violence that some listeners may find disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. A triumphant yet worn group of inmates gathered near the platform at the shaft. Despite the hardships of the past several days, everyone seemed to be in good spirits now that they were well into executing the plan. Chattering among the prisoners expressed hope that they might be able to escape this hellish place. Ying Tai stood amongst the friends she'd made over the past year and months. Dex, Gecko, Tima, Otis, and Boog all stood nearby with smiles on their worn, dirty faces. Morston pushed his way to the platform lift and stepped upon it and turned toward the anxious group. Several men and women accompanied him, and she recognized Jake, Riva, Donald, and some others Dex had classified as bad apples. She gripped a newly acquired long arm. It felt good in her hands and its weight reassuring. Morston had also managed to get his hands on a rifle as well and now held it pointed over the heads of the prisoners. He fired one round over their heads, bringing them to silence. Jake and a red-haired man called Donald each held a weapon threateningly. Ying Tai brought her rifle up. He tries to screw us. I'll put a bullet through his head. This isn't over yet. Morston's voice boomed in the cavern. There's still a fight ahead. Stifle the cheer and stay focused. The prisoners murmured. This is what we're gonna do now. Morston waved his rifle back and forth over the heads of the group while he spoke, disguised as troopers. Twelve of us are gonna go topside and Hey! One of the inmates bellowed. You can't just leave us here. A few bolder inmates loudly agreed. He's right, he can't leave us anymore. Come on, we can all go. We can all fit on there. Morston's face became like stone as he leveled the rifle at the outspoken prisoner. May I finish? It sounded like a question. Nevertheless, the prisoner stopped protesting. Probably because there was an automatic gun pointed at his head. Once we've neutralized the soldiers topside, we'll send the platform back down and you can join us, Morston said. Why can't we all go at the same time? The prisoner asked. Morston took aim. I'm in charge here. Ying Tai chambered around in her long arm with a dry click and pointed it at Morston. You kill him. You're next to go, she said calmly. Morston's eyebrows dropped in anger, and he focused a sneer on Ying Tai and aimed the rifle toward her. Jake and Donald also shifted their weapons at her. She ignored them and looked down the barrel, placing the crosshair right between Morston's eyes. Try it, you sick piece of trash. You know what I am. The capabilities I possess.

SPEAKER_00 3:32

What are you doing?

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Tima hissed from nearby. Morston relented and raised the barrel of his gun up to the ceiling and glared at Ying Tai. She shook off the creepy feeling his dead eyes conveyed. Very well, he said coldly. What's your plan? The prisoners turned and looked at her. She suddenly felt the weight of all the expectant eyes upon her. Morston's plan should work. The group of prisoners moaned and she raised her voice. Once the topside is secure, then everyone can come up. How do we know you won't just leave us down here? Someone asked. Ying Tai didn't hesitate. We need you for the escape. There are only twelve uniforms available. If we all go up at once, those without the disguise and light armor will be cut to pieces. Wait here while those of us who have been chosen go up to clear a path. The inmate, who had come very close to eating Morston's bullet, weighed Ying Tai's words, and then looked at Morston and made a very obvious, wise decision. All right, we'll wait here. Morston slung his gun across his back and stepped from the lift and walked past Ying Tai, followed by the bad apples. She felt the hate emanate from him and knew she'd probably just hop from his bad side to his worse side. Oh well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Ha ha She sighed and watched him go, slung her gun across her backside and looked at the inmates watching her intently. Tima's face defined Ying Tai's emotions. Her face seemed to say, Of all the people down here, you just picked Morston for your enemy. So who's going topside? The same wise and lucky inmate asked, interrupting Ying Tai's thoughts. She looked at the crowd of expectant faces. Dex, Gecko, Tima, Otis. She began naming the most trusted and capable individuals. Boog, I'm definitely going to need you. Of all her picks, he looked the least happy. Just stick close to me. She reassured him, then chose five other prisoners whom she'd witnessed in the mine and judged that they could be trusted and be good in a fight. Go find armor that fits. Meet me back here in five. She and the ten others turned and went to find a dead trooper who no longer had any use for their combat armor. Ying Tai looked down at the decapitated corpse. A pool of blood had collected on the ground, leaving a dark stain in the gray dust. A rolling snake turned in her chest, and thoughts turned to the moon mites that were surely beginning to gnaw at her insides. Ignoring the blood-stained armor and helmet, she stripped the trooper and donned the armor. The coppery scent of blood mixed with the trooper's final moments of fear assailed her nostrils. At least he didn't lose control of his bowels, she thought optimistically. When she arrived back at the shaft, she found Morston clad in ill-fitting armor standing on the platform. Gun lowered threateningly at the remaining prisoners still waiting in the chamber. Jake and Donald, having surrendered their guns to Ying Tai's chosen team, stood unarmed next to Morston with disgruntled looks. Otis approached her with a look of simple consternation. Otis, too big for armor, he said. That's okay. We can still use you if you still want to go. A grin, almost as long as Ying Tai's forearm, split his cherubic face. Ying Tai faced the gathered inmates and pointed to one of the more hardy females. Go get some armor and hurry. Within about ten minutes, twelve convicts dressed in blood-splotched combat armor and Otis stood on the platform. She examined the arm of her light armor and found a keypad. She pressed on the key, marked lift, and the platform began to rise up into the dark shaft. We'll send it back down as soon as we're secure topside. Yungtai assured them. When the individual was standing next to her, he reached out and grabbed her arm roughly. She couldn't recognize the face behind the faceplate, but guessed who it was. The private line of her HUD signaled for attention. Reluctantly, she answered it, and the helmet's earbud crackled to life. She heard his raspy breath and swallowed hard. The rest of the team faced away from her and didn't notice anything amiss as he continued to force her closer to the edge. Is he going to back me to the edge and toss me off? Her thoughts raced. You cross me ever again, and I'll gut you like a fish. His voice hissed, and then he was gone, leaving her backed up against the waist-high pipe rail. A drop of sweat trickled down her forehead and into her eye. She blinked from the salty sting. Evil. Sure wish there was a way to get rid of him. She looked over at him. He had lifted the mirrored faceplate and stared back at her. One thrust from her cyberarm and she'd be free of his threat. A logical, internal voice supplied the brakes to this line of reasoning. Can't. He's the only one who knows our final destination. He thinks he can't trust anyone. He's probably right. Except maybe Jake, Donald, and a few others. During his long sentence in the hole, he'd surely made a few allies. I wonder if anyone calls him a friend. Most of the time he was alone. She couldn't recall anyone claiming him as a friend, other than Donald, Jake, or Riva. Friend was probably too generous a term. Ying Tai marveled, he was still alive after making so many enemies. Now, she and the rest of the convicts needed to protect his disgusting hide to make sure he didn't get killed without revealing their ultimate destination. She stared back, hiding fear with a look of cold hatred. Not only will we have to wash our own backs, but we'll have to diligently keep our eye on your sorry carcass. A flashing light on the HUD told her someone else was trying to talk to her on the private channel of her headset. She acknowledged it. What did he say to you? Dex asked. Ying Tai turned her head and saw that Dex had moved next to her and had raised their mirrored faceplate. She smiled behind her faceplate, relieved to know she wasn't without friends, but remained determined not to reveal her fears. He wanted to thank me for sorting things out back there. Dex cocked an eyebrow with a skeptical look. Uh-huh. And then he said something about going fishing. Uh, you better watch your back. Dex warned, shifting his rifle to the other shoulder. Right. Ink tie mock saluted. A glimmer of light on Dex's faceplate caught her attention and she looked up. A dim square of light marked the top of the shaft. Lock and load. Almost there. Morston's gravelly voice came over her earbud. Three people to a side. Shoot anything that moves. Booker, hunker down in the middle and don't get killed. Uh, right. Boo's voice trembled. Dexon Tima stood next to Ying Tai as the lift approached the opening in the floor of the cavern. Ying Tai initiated the festivities, firing her long arm at a soldier standing watch over the shaft as the lift breached the surface. He fell over with a hole through his head. One of the soldiers witnessed the demise of his comrade and unslung his weapon. Hey!

SPEAKER_00 11:40

What the?

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Through her helmet, she heard the muffled blast of twelve unmanned weapons begin blasting away. In the control tower against the cavern wall, she spotted a female trooper looking out at the scene. The trooper picked up a cone, and fired. Punting the floor through the window and mocked the store against the back wall. A few seconds later, a loud alarm broke the relative silence of the cavern, and red lights began flashing. She said over the headset. Dick said. Four troopers popped out of a hatch and ran for cover between a large vehicle, but not before a wren blasted a hole in the trooper's skin. Even said, a trooper popped out from behind the vehicle's front screen. Dick shouted and swung his rifle toward Ying Tai. She ducked beneath the muzzle as he began picking up several troops approaching their left flank. Ying Tai heard grunts of pain and screams of enemy as the mine soldiers managed to hit a few prisoners. A quick glance behind showed the backside of the lip now undefended. Three prisoners lay in the heap.

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It's exposed.

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She stepped over the three corpses, ducked behind the pipe's rails, meager protection, and fired at the main troops. Approaching the window cabinet. Three went down to one. The rifles trace was into them. The remaining troopers retreated. Morsted shouted, pointing to the tall building, set back against the cabinet's wall. Ying Tai turned around and saw Boo lumming on the deck.

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I got your cover.

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Gekko yelled. Boo lurched to his feet and followed the rest of the inmates as they bolted the piper in the race for the town. Dex and Tim fired to one side while Yeko and another prisoner poured fire into the other. Ying Thai began backing away, fire as more troops came into commotion. Out in the middle of the cavern, she spotted three large ore carriers rumbling toward their position. Troops fired from the top of the cock, but they were still too far away for any accuracy. A bloody pain sliced across her left thigh and she cried out. Another round glanced at her bionic arm, sending a shock up or something. Get a blast. She managed through clenched teeth. Blood ran down her leg as she glanced in to see the light armor that took her gash where the rim had hit. She felt the rib behind her and tried to lift her leg over it. Another round struck her bionic arm. Its force tumbling over the rib. She lay on the ground, finger squeezing the rifle's trigger, sweeping the muzzle in front of her. Dex came running toward her. She yelled at him. She heard Odishi ran shake as an explosion first near the platform. Through the haze of smoke, she saw him lumbering toward her. I get ya! He bellowed. A remnant fingered into his right shoulder, then another hit him in the right arm. But still he barreled toward her. It seemed the bullets had no immediate effect on the giant. Dex and Tima crouched, turned, and swept the area with withering fire as another explosion shook the ground. Mastiff Hands reached around Ying Tai and lifted her up. Otis, here, he said, turned around, and ran for the tower. Dex and Tima followed, walking backwards, ending their retreat. Two more rabbits pounded into Otis's flesh, and Ying Tai fell over his shuddered and heard him groaning as he almost fell. Ying Tai, my friend, he said heavily. Two massive explosions blasted gray rock and dust into the air, raining down on the fleeting rope. Otis stumbled through a large door at the tower base and sat in tight gently on the ground. And then whimpering laid down.

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Otis.

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Dex and Tima burst through the door and slammed the control button to lower it. The massive door dropped into its frame just as several explosions pounded the tower's exterior. The structure continued to liberate from the explosions, punishing its facade. Ying Tai reached out a hand and laid it on Otis's massive forearm.

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Otis?

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Dex looked down at her.

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You look like crab.

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He bent down to examine the wound in her thigh.

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Looks like it went clean through. You're see to Otis.

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Ying Tai clenched her teeth, removing her helmet. I'll be fine. Just wrap it for now. Gecko handed her some cloth material he'd scrounged, and she tied a tourniquet above the wound in the joint of the armor. Done, she exhaled deeply and leaned back against the wall. Bullets rounded the exterior of the explosions shook the floor, and then all at once they ceased. Dex, come with me, Morston said, tossing his helmet aside. Let's go see what they're up to. Dex looked down at Ying Tai. Are you gonna be okay? I'm fine. Go with Morston. He turned and followed after Morston. Ying Tai remained seated and sent neural signals from the pain center in her brain to block the affected nerves. When the pain settled to a dull ache, she motioned to Tima. Help me up. Tima extended her hand and Ying Tai stood. The waves of pain rose slightly, but remained tolerable. Tima looked up at her, concern on her face. Maybe you should rest longer. Do I look that bad? Tima dropped a corner of her mouth, but didn't respond. I want to see Otis. With Tima near to offer support, she shuffled over to where Otis lay on the ground. She looked at his peaceful face and noted the wounds on his body. One of the other prisoners was cleaning and dressing Otis's wounds. Otis? She whispered and looked at the other inmate. Alive? Without opening his eyes, Otis asked, Otis?

SPEAKER_00 18:37

Do good?

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Ying Tai, startled, knelt down toward the giant, feeling her leg protest. You're alive. She put her hand on the shoulder of the inmate, playing doctor. Do you know what you're doing? The man looked up at her. Been years since I practiced. I'll do what I can for now, but eventually the bullets will have to go out. This will have to do for now. Otis be all right. Otis smiled up at her with a dopey grin. I've given him something for pain. I found an innate kit. I think he'll be okay until we get to where I can operate. It's amazing. His copious amount of muscle and fat may have prevented the bullets from penetrating to any vital organs. Otis looked up smiling. What did you give him? Tima asked. I found some choraphine with a medical kid in a storage locker. He rose. Uh excuse me. There are others that need my help. Ying Tai watched him go. Who would have guessed? We had a doctor in our midst. Tima smiled sheepishly. Before becoming an assassin, I was an architect. She looked at her. An architect? Why didn't you tell anyone? Tima shrugged. Didn't seem important back down in the hole. Ying Tai nodded in understanding. Come on, let's go see what Morston and Dex are hatching. Ying Tai walked over to a lift in the corner of the room. Boog sat in a chair near one of the control consoles and watched them head for the lift. Uh ladies, what should I do? He asked. Ying Tai paused at the door to the lift and looked back at him. Find someplace safe and sit tight. Yeah. Don't get shot, Tima added, just before the door slid shut. In the observation room of the tower, Dex and Morston looked out across the cavern. Ying Tai stepped over a dead soldier's body and examined the remains of the shattered window and room. Dex and Morston stood back from the opening to avoid getting hit. Morston pointed. About thirty troops behind that conveyor belt. I see it. Dex said, looking in the direction of his finger. Looks like they're preparing for a frontal assault on the tower. Ying Tai stepped up and Morston cast a warning glare at her. We need to grab one of those ore haulers. She pointed to a row of trucks lined up several hundred yards away. Dex looked where she pointed and asked. Should you be up? Morston continued to glare at her. The comment irritated Ying Tai. After all, it was only a gunshot wound and the bullet passed completely through. I'm fine. She said, a bit too harsh, and Dex recoiled. Sorry. He whispered. Morston mumbled to himself, then shook his head. Ying Tai stepped over another body and approached closer to the huddle. Morston, we're going to need one of those trucks. She pointed out the window. Taking charge again? He asked, folding his arms across his chest. His voice made her shiver. But she forced herself to show no fear. No, just stating the obvious. She shot back. We could take the floor trench, but then we'd be vulnerable from above. She directed their gaze to the catwalk system above the cavern floor. We need to be mobile and protected. Dex pointed overhead. You're right. They might attack from those catwalks. We'll be at their mercy, she said. Morston said. Dex pointed a thumb at him. Morston thinks we should sneak along the catwalk near the cavern ceiling. It's dark up there. They won't be able to see us very well. If we move fast, we can circumvent the entire processing floor. King Tai looked up at the catwalk in the gloom. It looked rarely used, maybe even forgotten. She traced the catwalk path with her gaze until it disappeared in the distance. There were several sections that had to be climbed up or down. She wasn't looking forward to traversing the entire cavern on a catwalk with a hole through her leg. What about the wounded? They'll never make it. There are too many ladders and elevation chains. Let the wounded take care of themselves. Morston looked down at Ying Tai's wound. A thin smile crept onto his face. You're just gonna leave them behind? They'll only slow us down. He leaned in close, threatening her and Ying Tai. Not gonna leave anyone behind. Except the dead, Dex said softly. Morston turned on his What? Dex raised his gaze to Morston's. We all go. His jaw jutted out slightly as he stared at Morrison. There are some wounded whose talent and skills we'll need. We can't afford to leave anyone behind. Morston's face grew visibly red, and Ying Tai noticed his fist turn white with pressure. He's right, she said, emboldened by Dex's support. Otis is hurt and too big for the catwalk. He's indispensable in a fight. She folded her arms, recalling the giant's recent selfless bravery. We need transportation for everyone. He's a fat oolf, Morston growled. Tima looked at Morston with an aha look on her face. You were planning on leaving the other prisoners down in the hole. It wasn't a question. Morston ignored her, and Ying Tai turned to Tima, put a hand on her arm, and shook her head. She tried to communicate with her eyes. Don't start pissing him off. The sound of gunfire suddenly resumed, peeing off the tower walls. They're on the move, Dex said. Alright. Then, what's your plan? Morston asked, relenting for the second time in one day, and appearing none too happy about it. Ying Tai looked at Dex, still Morston. Simple, really? While you hold off the attackers, and while the troops are distracted, someone will traverse the catwalk and drop down on that parked ore hauler out there. She pointed to the group of empty ore haulers sitting about 200 yards away. Drive it back here. Park it in front of the shaft. It can provide effective cover while we haul up the rest of the inmates. We can easily mount a defense from the truck's bed. The thick metal sides will provide protection when we drive to the other side. A round of heavy fire struck the tower and blew out some of the remaining glass from the tower window. They all ducked as smoke and flying glass peppered the room. When the smoke thinned, Dex nodded his head. Okay. Who's the lucky catlock walker? She is. She has special talents that none of the rest of us have. Morston gave her a knowing look. Let's go, Dex. We'll hold them off and keep them distracted. Dex turned back to Ging Tai. What's he talking about? She shook her head. I have no idea. Morston, you anus, she thought. More bullets decoded off the interior wall, ducked instinctively. Squatting behind a piece of equipment, Dex pointed to a ladder secured to the wall in the corner. You can access the catwalk through that roof hatch. He crouched and moved toward the lift. Good luck. He raced after Morston. Tima knelt on the glass covered floor, looking at her, worry in her eyes. Need some help? I'll be all right. Take care of Otis. He saved my life. Tima spoke as she crouched low and ran toward the lift. God speed. If you crave rebellion, high stakes heists, and lunar warfare, this science fiction audio drama will leave you breathless. Read the entire Exodus Five Book Series. Available wherever digital and physical books are sold.