Machine Story

Enclave’s Jail

After carrying the two prisoners into the jail area, Chelle Chandra put each of them in separate cages and locked them up tight. She took Niall’s weapons and placed them on a weapon’s rack nearby before leaving the area to the guards. David and Niall’s arms and legs were tied up but they could speak.

Niall asked David if he could move his body. David replied that he could slightly move his arms but the rest of his body still needed time to recharge. Niall grew curious, he wanted to know if David knew the risk he had to undertake to unleash such an attack back in the forest. David looked up and stated that he didn’t know the exact risk but the greatest danger in that scenario would have been to have done nothing at all.

Wanting to change the subject, David asked Niall what the current plan was to escape. Niall gave David a signal to keep quiet. David was initially confused but then he noticed there were a couple of Amazonian guards at the entrance of the prison. Any plan they came up with now could be heard by the two so David had to think quietly for now.

He then had a realization. “Addyson! She is one of them! She will help get us out!” Niall let out a laugh, “Ha! Sorry kid, but you need to stop daydreaming. She ain’t going to get us out.” David disagreed, he knew for a fact that their friend would come to set them free. Niall continued laughing but then he noticed how serious David was.

For a moment, Niall saw a glimpse of someone in his mind who resembled David’s persistence. “Unbelievable, you are just like her.” Niall spoke to himself out loud, which David overheard. “Her? Who are you talking about?” He inquired. Niall realized he blurted out his last sentence by accident and immediately turned his back towards David. “Go sleep and recharge. Hopefully you are right about your amazon friend.”

David tried to bug Niall to continue their conversation but there was no longer any reply. He turned to face the top of the cage and even though he wasn’t sure if Niall was still awake he assured him, “She will get us out.”

In the middle of the night, with nearly all the warriors of the tribe asleep except for a few guards on watch, Addyson began to sneak out. As she was about to leave the area, Sonia woke up and asked her where she was going. Addy told her she was having a hard time sleeping and wanted to go out for some fresh air.

Having been friends for so long, Sonia could sense when Addyson wasn’t telling the truth. “You are going to try and free those prisoners aren’t you?” She questioned. Knowing she couldn’t lie, she nodded and pleaded her case. Thankfully, Sonia didn’t need to hear more. She knew better than to try and stop her best friend.

Sonia made it clear that Priya was going to be extremely unhappy once she finds out and that punishment will be severe. Without any hesitation, Addsyon accepted the consequences that would come with her choice. “Both you and Priya are really good friends to me.” She stepped to the side, “I won’t stop you from saving them, but if Priya asks, I will have to tell her the truth.”

Addyson walked up and gave a hug to Sonia. She thanked her for not trying to stop her and she would not hold any grudge for what happened next. After exchanging the farewell, Addyson quickly ran towards the jail cell, without looking back.

The wind was strong during this night, causing unsettling noises outside the jail cell. It was so strong, Niall and David couldn’t fast asleep. Along with the strong winds, a strange noise appeared not too far from the entrance of the jail. One of the guards left her post to investigate the anomaly while the other one remained at her post.

All of sudden, the prison became extremely quiet and neither David or Niall could hear the guards anymore. “What’s going on out there?” Niall asked. Meanwhile, David was able to activate a mode on his eye to see through the walls of the prison. He could see that both the guards were lying on the ground unconscious.

“Something happened to the guards. We have to…” before David could explain, a mysterious figure broke through the doors. It’s entire body was covered in metallic armor and its face was concealed with a metal mask. David was about to question the wanderer but before he could, the rogue activated a device that caused David a massive headache.

David attempted to cover his ears but it was too late, the sound wave got through and he fell unconscious in his cage. Once David was immobile, the unknown figure broke the lock on the cage and escaped with David. Niall was the only one left in the prison and he shouted as loud as he could to grab someone’s attention.

When Addyson came upon the entrance of the jail, she found the entrance was unguarded and left open. She looked around and found one of the guards lying on the ground, alive but unresponsive. Fearing the worst, she blew past the doors and arrived into the jail cell where she found one cage empty and the other that Niall occupied.

“Well what do you know? David was right, you did come for us.” Niall blurted. Addyson looked around and asked Niall what happened to David. Niall explained everything that had occurred before Addy had arrived.

“We have to get out of here and find David right away.” Addy stated. “Great idea, do you happen to have the keys by any chance.” Niall questioned. Addyson realized she forgot to take the keys from the guard in the front. She told Niall to wait a little longer but as she turned towards the door, she was met with a couple of guards and a familiar face, Priya.

“So you really would betray your kind to save these criminals?” Priya contended. Niall tried to plead Addy’s innocence, that someone else took out the guards but Priya ignored him. She commanded the guards behind her to fire their arrows at the traitor. Addyson moved quickly for cover to avoid the attacks. And then there was Niall who thought to himself, “I’m never getting out of here am I?”

Addyson was in a terrible spot, the two archers were ready to fire the instance she came out of hiding. Priya also pulled out her glaive and began to walk towards Addyson to force her out. Once she was in range, she swung her weapon forcing Addyson to jump away from hiding.

One of the archers fired her arrow and it just skimmed Addyson’s left cheek. The archers were ready to fire again but Priya held out her hand to tell them to hold off their attack. She raised her weapon to signal that she wanted to finish the fight herself.

With only a dagger to defend herself, Addyson was pushed back against Priya’s relentless pressure. She kept swinging her glaive to make sure Addyson never had time to recover. Eventually Addyson was backed into a wall and her weapon was knocked out of her hands. The sharp end of the glaive now pointed near Addyson’s neck, “End of the line traitor.”

Addyson lifted up her hands in surrender, and the two archers lowered their weapons after she conceded. However, from behind, Niall swept both the guards’ legs from underneath them and knocked them down. He then charged towards Priya, who had to quickly turn around and block the oncoming attack. Once they were at a deadlock, Addyson kicked Priya from behind.

Priya and her two warriors were confused as to how Niall broke free. Pointing to an arrow fired at his cage Niall explained how he used the arrow to cut through the ropes tied on his hands. He then used the arrow to pick the lock open and retrieve his weapon before joining the fight.

Addyson couldn’t help but be slightly impressed. However, there was no time for celebration. Priya and her soldiers were back on their feet and ready for battle. They were all ready for a second round but suddenly, the entire ground began to shake violently.

A loud horn from outside was sounded, alarming everyone that the Enclave was under siege. Hearing the tribe in panic, Priya immediately commanded their other two warriors to gather all their remaining forces and head to the entrance of the Enclave. She then turned around and looked at Addyson, “You got lucky this time, but I will find you once this is over.” And she rushed towards the frontline.

Seeing her former friend run into battle, she told Niall to go find David while she stayed back to help her people. Addyson was about to follow after Priya but Niall stayed behind saying he would give her a hand. “David can handle himself, he is a lot tougher than he looks. Besides, I still owe you for breaking me out.” Addyson thanked Niall for his offer and together they proceeded to the entrance of the enclave.