Title: The Light Shines in the Darkness Rebirth: Breakout Authors: Kristen Sharpe and Sage SK E-Mail: skgirl@hotmail.com and sagesk@hotmail.com Date: February 26, 2001 August 11, 2001 Kris's Note: Yow! I'd forgotten how quickly these short chapters could go. So, here's the first of Book Two, continuing where "They That Walk in Darkness" left off. Tremendous thanks to Worthy/Cybra for her "gift fic" based on our series. ::squeal:: Read it! I love it! And, always, thanks to everyone who reads this. Special thanks to my mother for her proofreading skills (as always) and thanks, hugz, and Stix to Sagey! Sage SK's Note: To quote a famous SWAT Kat pilot, "We're baaaa-aaack!" Here is the first part of the Boys' rebirth. Their time to live again, to gain back what they've lost over the years. Our many thanks, as always, to our readers. Thank you for the encouragement and the great reviews. And, thanks again to Worthy/Cybra for the "gift fic" she sent us just a week ago. Read it! It's great! :) And, my big thanks and many Stix to my co-author, Kris. ::hug Kris:: ----------------------------------------------------------- Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow Don't walk behind me, I may not lead Just walk beside me and be my friend. ~unknown ----------------------------------------------------------- I'm sitting on my bed, staring down after eating the usual gruel. At least I've managed to gain *some* strength back. It's late afternoon. Only a half hour ago I was outside with the other prisoners. I haven't seen Jake today. Too bad our schedules coincide only once every week. I wonder what the prison administration was thinking when we were brought here... Did they think that Jake and I would plan to escape if we were in the same time slots? Did they think that we'd be capable of hurting each other if the first option wasn't possible? Whatever. At least we're on good terms with each other again. I smile at that. Things seem to be looking up a bit now. --------------------------------------- I'm actually enjoying a decent nap. My head is buried under my pillow, my rail thin body actually comfortable on the even thinner mattress. Then, the sound reaches my ears. A roar of sound. And, following just behind it, a bone-jarring rumble that seems to shake the very prison itself. Something's happening. I sit bolt upright, sweating and breathing heavily. Like waking from one of the old nightmares. I can feel the tension in the air. Something's happening. Then, I hear the voices. Yelling. Whoops of excitement. Looking through the bars, I see inmates run past my cell. What? Where are the guards? I see more prisoners. Running past my cell. The eyes of some look excited. Some look frightened. Others gleam with pure malice. I realize at last. "Jailbreak..." And, for a moment, I can't comprehend it. No one breaks out of Alkatraz. It doesn't happen. But, it is. I could probably walk to that door right now and it would open. I could be free. No. I belong here. I deserve to be here. I let myself slump back onto my creaking mattress and stick my head back under my pillow. "Nuthin' you're interested in, Clawson." --------------------------------------- Blinking, I sit upright as a sudden explosion rocks the island. "What was that...?" In a sudden reflex, I run to look out the bars of my cell. What is going on?! Turning to look out, I see but a few prisoners running down the hall, guns in hand as they do. The guards, on the other hand, don't seem to be anywhere. Breakout, I suddenly realize. Jail breakout. I look at this, thinking it over, willing to admit that I do want to get off this island as much as the next kat wants to. But... is this worth it? What if I do escape? Then what? Become a fugitive on the run? Be hunted down like some primitive beast once the law finds out I'm gone? No. It's not worth it. I've been through enough. I shake my head. "No... No way. I'm not doing this..." I murmur to myself. From there I go back to sit back down on my cot, praying it will end soon. "No way..." A frightful thought crosses my mind at that. What about Jake? Where would he be in all this? With them? No. Think positive, Furlong. He wouldn't do that... Not now. Not when he's promised you he's changed. Shots ring out, the sizzle of blasters... then a trio of prisoners armed with laser rifles strides down my cellblock, looking for guards. I can hear them already. "Wuss!" one of them yells, clearly to some prisoner not escaping. All I hear is a half-hearted whimper, then the same voice sneers back. "Suit yourself!" I look up at the trio with a blink. I can only narrow my eyes towards them as I stay put. I'm not ready to walk out like this... not ready to be part of their criminal tendencies. One of them looks at me. "Chicken, Big Guy?" he sneers. Good. He hasn't recognized me. Granted, I haven't seen this guy before, but rumor has been spread around the prison of my reputation as one of the SWAT Kats. But, he doesn't mention that. He sees me as just another law-abiding wuss the prison managed to break. "Not quite," I retort. "Maybe I'm just sane enough to stay put where I belong." The henchman sneers at me. Maybe now he'll leave me alone. Their leader abruptly looks over to join in the sneering. I can only pray that they'll be on their way and let the rest of us law-abiding wusses behind. The leader blinks upon seeing me. "Well, well, well... The SWAT Kat is gonna be a good little boy?" Crud! Think, Furlong, think! Get these creeps off your back! "What is it you want?" I snarl through clenched teeth. One of the henchmen snarls back. "Not wimps like..." The leader shoves him aside. "Considering how hot Dark Kat was to kill you two months ago, I'll just settle for you." He shoves the barred door in and steps into my cell, leveling his blaster on me. "C'mon, SWAT Kat... Maybe I can get off this rock with some extra cash in my pocket." No. I'm not getting off this island. Not like this! If I have to fight them off, I will. "In your dreams, creep," I snarl with my fists raised. The leader raises the blaster towards my head. "I *can* drag your seared carcass out, you know..." I pause at that. He has the upper fist for now. At that, I raise my hands. It doesn't mean he can shut me up. "You're crazy!" "No," he returns. "I'm going to be free and rich." He gives me a nasty grin. "Now, come on." Crud! I don't want to do this! Getting off the island and becoming a fugitive isn't what's bothering me. It's the fact that if this guy *does* get me off this island, I'll be facing Dark Kat... Just when I thought I was free and safe from his torment. No! I can't do this! My mind made up, I take a few steps, then turn to deck this creep right in the face. "I'm NOT going!" The leader is sent reeling back, but not as far as I would have liked. In the last year in jail, I've lost the full strength I had when I worked out daily. Unlike the rumors I've heard about some prisons, Alkatraz clearly isn't one of those cushy prisons with satellite TV and gyms for the prisoners. The henchmen level their guns on me, and one fires, grazing me. I scream as the burning sensation of that laser penetrates the fur and skin on my left arm. The leader in the meantime recovers, rubbing his jaw from the blow I gave him. "Git him outta here," he tells the others. "I want him alive so we don't have to carry him." And, with a sneer, he adds, "But, the important thing is a body for proof." I snarl at those words as I grasp my arm, giving him a patent pending glare that only few know. It means that deep down I'm ready to rip out his spine and floss with it if he isn't careful. I start thinking. They haven't mentioned him through all this. Hopefully, they'll forget about the "other SWAT Kat." I hiss as the henchmen get on either side of me, one of them jabbing me with his gun roughly in the area of the wound on my arm. "Move it!" As this goes on, the leader looks down the hallway. "And, I need the other one too...." I feel my heart skip a beat. They remembered. "You leave him outta this!" The leader blinks at my reaction. "What's this? Concern? I thought you two hated each other." He smirks at that. "Look, Dude, Dark Kat won't be real thrilled with just *one* of the guys he wanted dead, now will he?" "That's *your* problem!" I scream. "You want the SWAT Kats, you take *me!* I'm just as good a prize as anything! You just KEEP JAKE OUTTA THIS!" My words are as true as any. I don't want this, but if I want Jake alive, then it's the only way. Let them take me and let him be. He doesn't deserve any of this. He doesn't deserve to die if we're brought to Dark Kat. It almost happened once. I'm NOT letting him die. My outburst makes the leader step back. Apparently, my concern for my partner is something new. But, he just grins and makes a short motion with the blaster to one of his thugs. "Find me the other SWAT Kat. Little orange kat. Most pathetic thing in the whole prison. Can't miss 'im." No! "Do I hafta' spell it out for you!?" I scream again, grabbing him by the collar. Only seconds later do I feel a sharp pain against my gut, just seconds after this guy quickly thumbs his blaster's setting down and nails me without thinking. "Do I have to spell it out for YOU, you lunatic!" he screams. I fall to my knees clutching my stomach. Crud. I never thought I'd be *this* weak. It's a sharp pain that's going through my gut, later to be felt against my chin as he kicks me again for good measure. I yelp then listen, stunned, as he talks while I'm lying on my back. "Let me explain... I'm only keeping you alive because I don't want to drag your stinking carcass. Once we're off this island, you and your partner are toast. I just need your bodies so Dark Kat can't short me out of a reward." Teeth clenched, I clutch my stomach as I pick my head up to look at him once I'm on my knees. "You're outta your mind..." "Out of my mind?" The leader bends by me. "What happened to you, SWAT Kat? There a prison brainwashing program going on? You know the deal - money makes life easier. I'd like a little more. You guys are a nice bonus." "We're not a prize to be sold out on the open market," I growl. "Open market?" He's mocking me. "Think you got whacked one time too many. I'm taking you straight to Dark Kat, dead or alive - I don't care." This guy's *that* desperate?! "He wants you bad enough I'm sure there'll be a reward in it. Hey, with you guys gone I'll bet he needs some more help. Sounds like my kinda job." I can only think one thing to myself - what an idiot. Smirking, I pick myself off the floor and lean against the wall. "Seems stupidity IS contagious..." He takes no hesitation in smacking me one with the blaster again. "Shut up and come on. I've wasted enough time already. We'll have the Enforcers..." He abruptly pauses, then goes ahead to hit me again... a whole lot harder, this time in the face. "Is *that* your plan?!" he snarls. "Distract me 'til they come so you can claim to be a hero and get your sentence lightened?!" I fall back down to the floor, fighting to remain conscious. Kats... I'm a whole lot weaker than I thought. I'm rather surprised, though. Distracting this guy wasn't anything I had in mind. Sure, I want to get off this island... but not like this. "Distraction?" I manage. "N... Not quite.... I wasn't thinking about myself..." I growl first before continuing. "I was just thinking that someone's taking this whole business of becoming one of Dark Crud's henchmen a little to seriously. Dude, you'll get fried the minute you say something he doesn't like." Once again, the leader bends by me as I struggle to stand. "No, I won't. I'm smarter than you, Flyboy... I'll get my money and not give him the chance..." He suddenly pauses to look up as his henchman abruptly haul in another kat... one I feared they'd find. Jake doesn't look much beyond disgruntled, and he's still his thin self. But, he's coming in willingly. I wonder what they told him. His cry stops my musings once he sees me on the floor. "Chance!" I have to reassure him that I'm okay. With a grunt, I pick myself off the floor once again. "I'm okay, Bud," I say through clenched teeth. "I'm okay." --------------------------------------- I know Chance is lying. I can see where he's injured. Can see the blackened fabric across his stomach. The angry welt rising under the fur on his face. But, I hold my tongue. No need to make the guys with the guns get rowdier. "Let's go!" I turn my head to see what's obviously the leader of these guys motioning for us to move out. Resigned, I let myself be herded along, making sure I end up beside Chance. Once I'm in hearing range, he grumbles something about the leader being insane. Holding what must be another injury on his left arm, he gives me a side look. I can see the pleading in his eyes. He's pleading for me to get away when and if I get an opportunity. Protecting me again. But, you know the rule, Chance. It hasn't changed. It may have been a bit forgotten there for two years, but I remember it. It's either both of us or neither of us. We're a team. We're partners. We're *friends*. That in mind, I give Chance a determined look in return. I can almost sense him sigh back. As we're lead out of the cellblock and to the front entrance, we pass a lot of guards. Some of them are moaning softly, clearly very much alive. Not stunned, but obviously hit with blasters set low enough to only sear the upper layer of fur and skin. At least the masterminds behind this - our captors - weren't willing to be guilty of mass murder. Point for them,... but they still don't get a star or a cookie. I look ahead to see a large supply boat waiting at the prison's single pier, crowded with prisoners, pushing and shoving. Looks like this is going to be a fun ride. Once we're close enough we could dive into the water. It's murky enough to give them a hard time pinpointing us if we stayed under and headed around the coastline. Headed to the back of the island where we might could hide. There should be some drainage openings along there. And, all we need is time. Enforcer choppers should be arriving any minute. Surely someone got off a distress call. At the least, surely the blast was reported. Surely they've pinpointed it by now. We're nearing the pier. I look again at the shoreline. No... It doesn't get deep enough fast enough. We wouldn't be underwater before we were flash-fried. Blast! I look over at Chance, wondering if anything has occurred to him. That's when I decide it's best I ditched my idea. He'd never make it anyway. As we're herded down the pier and onto the rocking boat, I can tell Chance is getting dizzy, fighting to remain conscious as he stumbles along. Reaching the boat, we're met with a wall of kats. The leader screams at them and quickly clears a path by waving and using his blaster liberally, still set low thankfully. Once we're through, he forces us on, up to the control room. As we're shoved into the tiny room, he hisses something like, "Can't have you jumping overboard, now can I?" Blast it! I continue thinking even as I lean into Chance to help him stay up after a rough shove from one of the thugs. He's not doing well. "Thanks, Jake," he whispers before sliding to the floor. Good. He might as well try to regain some strength. We're both gonna need it. I sit by him, leaning against the wall as the boat starts moving. I need a plan. I look from my partner to the goons standing around us. Their weapons are only casually aimed our way. They're obviously more interested in their escape at the moment. Good. The slacker they are, the easier it will be. And, Chance and I need every point in our favor we can get. After long minutes, Chance finally whispers, "What now?" I'm honest with him. "I don't know... But, we have to get off this boat or Dark Kat's getting our barbecued hides as a birthday present." And, I'd hate to give that piece of slime the satisfaction. Not to mention my vow. I'm not dying only weeks after I chose to live. And, I'm not letting Chance die either. "You think...," Chance starts, "It would be possible to get away once it comes to a stop?" "I don't know..." I look down. "I'm not sure we'd live long after that..." No, once we're off this boat we might as well already be dead if they have a ride waiting on them. But, that's not what Chance is thinking as he blinks at my words. "Jake... don't tell me you're giving up a'ready..." No, I wasn't being fatalistic, just analytical. "No," I reply firmly. "Not by a long shot." I look at my wounded partner. And, feel more determined than ever. "We just have to get off before then." With effort, the big kat manages to stand up and look out. I watch him... and the guards. One glances our way, but, after checking to see that a friend is stationed near the door, looks away. I look back at Chance. From his frown our time must be running out. We must be nearing the docks. He sits back down. "My only guess is to swim for it..." I nod. Then, I quickly search the cramped cabin for anything we can use. Any way to distract the guards. Looking up, I note a fire extinguisher over Chance's head. Crude. But,.... I look back at the guards. Their eyes are focused outside, toward the shore. Good. I turn back to Chance and ask, "Can you stand again, bud?" He nods. "Yeah, I c'n manage... I take it you have a plan?" he asks, giving me a weak grin. I return it. "Yep." Then, I stand slowly, riveting my eyes on the window. As discreetly as I can, I nudge my partner toward the fire extinguisher with a foot even as I turn to the nearest thug. "You have a Kleenex or something I can clean him up with?" I ask, nodding toward Chance. I can only hope that Chance is already taking the cue and using my distraction. --------------------------------------- A plan. Thank heaven. I trust you on this one, Jake. I stand up, reaching for the fire extinguisher Jake's spotted. I'm suddenly beginning to realize what his plan is. It's desperate, but it's the only chance we've got. With one hand, I take the extinguisher and hide it behind my back. Jake, on the other hand, doesn't have this thug's pity. "Shut up and sit down." At those words, Jake shrugs and turns away... before abruptly swinging around and sweep-kicking him. Thank goodness for those martial arts lessons when we were in the Enforcers! Taking this advantage, I shake the extinguisher and nail the others, including the leader, with the foam. That done, Jake grabs me by the collar and bolts out the door, plowing over the blinded kat barring the way. Blinded, the leader doesn't stop there. "Get them!" I'm not ready to turn back. I make a run for it towards the other end of the boat. And, without having any second thoughts, I run towards a side, and leap headfirst into the bay. I feel Jake following my lead as I hit the water. Popping up for air, I barely miss the firepower of two other thugs that are taking no chances in letting us get away alive. The leader joins them in the firing. "Get them, you idiots!" I dive under again to avoid the blasts, Jake doing the same as we make a swim for it. I feel the heat cut past me in the water, and I avoid it as much as I can as I blindly swim forward, every second making sure Jake's right behind me. In fact, he's right beside me, taking the advantage that he's a faster swimmer and that he's not injured. Half-starved as much as I am, but uninjured. I'm weakened due to my injuries, but I continue swimming. For the moment, my main focus is getting on dry land and finding shelter... finding a place to hide. My fear has come true. I escaped from prison and am now a fugitive from the law. Unwillingly, yes. But, I still escaped. It seems like an eternity, but I finally manage to reach shore, crawling out and gasping for air as I do. Suddenly, the thought of finding shelter is no longer with me. I'm too weak. I can't take another step. --------------------------------------- I struggle out of the water right behind Chance, staggering to my feet. Only one thought is on my mind. We have to keep moving. Have to get out of here. "C'mon, Bud..." I stumble over to where Chance is kneeling on his hands and knees. "They'llve reached shore soon. We have to get as far away from here as possible..." I look up to eye the filthy spit of land we've found ourselves on. Just before us is a cliff dotted with drainage pipes. I try not to think of the crud that must be in my fur after swimming through water from *those*. At least it hid our trail. Chance sees the cliff too. "Jake... I can't..." He's gasping for breath. "I can't..." I bend by him. "C'mon, Chance.... We gotta get somewhere safer than this..." I quickly check the big guy's injuries. Nothing too severe. The cuts've almost stopped bleeding. It's the burn on his stomach that worries me. And, Chance's next words terrify me. "Bud.. save yourself.. I can't walk... I'm too weak, bud..." The rule, Chance. "I am NOT leaving you, Chance," I growl fiercely. "I just got you back, and I'm not going to abandon you." Over. My. Dead. Body. And, he must hear the unspoken sentiment in my voice. He gulps once more, then picks his head up, eyes searching. "T...There's... There's a cathedral not too far from here... I think... maybe a block or two inward, towards the city..." I don't think they still grant sanctuary, but there should be someone there that will ask questions before firing and maybe offer us a First Aid kit while we wait for the Enforcers to come pick us up. Good enough. Nodding, I reply, "Good. We'll head there..." Then, I turn my eyes to the cliff. I start to think I've crossed higher mountains than *that* in the last few weeks. Both of us have. I bend to sling one of Chance's arms over my shoulder. "C'mon. You *can* do this. Remember... Back in the Enforcers.... that first week of boot camp?" "Boot camp...," Chance murmurs. "Yeah... I remember..." He lets me help him struggle to his feet. "I'll make it... And, I'm staying with you all the way..." --------------------------------------- Inspirational Music: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Soundtrack "Overture and a Prisoner of the Crusades (From Chains to Freedom)" Composed and Conducted by Michael Kamen