Chapter 8: Prisoners



The giant named Judge lead the way down the boarding hall. Flint was behind Kuusco, and behind him was the buzzard and the canine who had a false right arm. They walked with their guns poking into Flint's back.

“You got a plan?” Flint leaned in to avoid the guns at his back and whisper, “I need to know.”
Kuusco grinned, “The situation always seems dire until you escape.”
Flint stopped, “That.....that doesn't make sense.”

The guards in back gave him a shove, “MOVE!!!” snapped the buzzard.
Flint picked up the pace. They exited the boarding hall, and Flint's jaw dropped in amazement.

The ship was enormous, not only the outside but inside. It harvested two trees inside the ship that stood seven stories high. Between the trees sat a bridge that other crew members walked across. The walls underneath the green vines were metallic, and the ceiling large lights that simulated the day sun.

Flint was shoved once again by the buzzard. Flint stepped out to catch his balance. Kuusco turned immediately in response, “Don't push him too far. I've seen him tear out a bear's heart and eat it.”
Flint stared at her with an obvious confused expression. The buzzard scoffed, but the canine took a step back.

Judge spoke out, his voice mechanical, “Deg. Take the little one to the brig. Ferten and I will get....Captain Kuusco, to the captain's quarters.

The canine pushed Flint, “Move!!!”
Flint took a glance at Kuusco with expectation of his rescue, but she didn't bother looking back. Flint was pushed another time and he picked his pace as Deg took him away.

“You will have no chance to escape.” Growled the juggernaut.
Kuusco only smiled as she waited.

The rest of the ship was unlike the main room. It retained its metallic rust. No vines or green, just a cold feel. Flint hung his head low as he was lead to the brig. It had bars for each cell, but all the cells were empty. Fifty yards of prison, and not one soul in it.

First glance all was empty, but Flint focused on the next cell he passed and he noticed they were filled with skeletons. Flint's eyes widened as he grew worried. His attention snapped away from the cells by Deg shout, “OK! I LOST IT IN THE WAR! You happy?!”
Flint flinched and replied, “I-I didn't say anything.”
The canine shook his head, “Yeah, but you were thinkin it!”
He clenched his robotic right arm into a fist. Flint shook his head, “No. Um....it wasn't on my mind.”

Deg tilted his head, “Really? Cuz everyone is always staring at it.”
Flint shrugged, “Didn't cross my mind.”

Deg glanced down and saw Flint's foot, “Oh! I see you have one too.”
Flint's ears lowered and he felt like Deg before. Deg stopped Flint and lifted his pant leg up. Flint shouted in agitation, “HEY!!!”
Deg ignored the shout and smiled, “Its a very old model.”

Flint did his best to slap away Deg's hand. The hand cuffs were restricting, but Deg let go. Flint's frustration spewed out with his voice, “WHAT DO YOU KNOW OF MODELS?!”

Deg laughed, “Why, I have the upgraded arm. We have spare legs for you.”
Deg stopped and leaned in to whisper, “Don't tell no one, I am not suppose to help prisoners.”
“THEN STOP!!!” Flint shouted.
Once again Deg ignored Flint, “Yeah. The best from Staltner.”
Flint snapped open his eyes in amazement, “Staltner? As in the robotics?”

Deg nodded, “Yeah! All of us have the products here.”
Flint shook his head, “Wait! You're pirates! How can you get.....you stole them?”
“No. We get them as....well its so we won't rob them I guess. I don't know how it works, but....”
Deg paused and then formed a cautious face, “HEY!!! Why am I talkin to you?”

Deg opens a cell door and shoves Flint inside. Flint fell on the dirty floor and the cell cage was closed.
“Nobody gets the slip of Deg Otto! NOBODY!!!”
He walks off twirling the key card on his finger and whistling. Flint got to his knees and grasped the bars staring out at the fading light across from his cell.

Judge pushed Kuusco into the office like room. The room stood out because of its wooden walls and large wood desk. A chair had its back facing Kuusco, “Thank you Judge.”

The large reptile closed the door with a window and blinds.
Kuusco smirked, “So you have me once again. Seems your lackeys just get bigger as they die off eh?”
The voice from the chair retorted, “You didn't meet the last one. Unfortunate for him he had no heart. Batteries can last only so long.”

Kuusco sat on the desk and her confident smile grew, “I know a lot about heartless guys.”
“You tore mine out. Remember?”
Kuusco scoffed, “And you left without it.”

The chair swiveled and in it sat the captain of the Gerna. He was in his mid-forties, but he seemed much older. A gray fox in a military uniform. His cap hid well his dark hair and his tinkering mind.

“I told you,” He said, “Never come to earth again.”
Kuusco shrugged, “Couldn't resist.”
Cpt. Darc stood and his stature was shorter then Kuusco, but only by her ears. He paced around the desk never taking his eyes off of her, “The Ant is it? That ship is outdated.”

Kuusco smirked and Darc continued, “I see your crew has changed a little. You recruit children now?”

Kuusco laughed knowingly, “You know I always wanted a child.”
Darc cracked a smile and let out a silent laugh, “You could never have one.”
Lowering her eyes she thought about what he said. She felt guilty about it for a while then retained her smug state, “Two years you and I. You never told me you had a child.”

Darc paused and closed his eyes. His fist clenched as anger surged through his body. He shook his head, shaking off his anger to keep his own smug state. He placed his hands behind his back, “I see you did some digging.”

Kuusco leaned in. Her face and voice showed pure cruelty toward Darc, “Tell me. Where is he?”
Darc held in his anger again, but his smug attitude faded, “He.....he died.”
In defeat the captain hastily walked back to his seat. He glared at Kuusco, who shifted her position on the desk to better revel in his suffering.

With a sigh Darc leaned back and lowered his eyes, “Six years. Thats before we met. After that his mother killed herself.”

Kuusco leaned in closer, “So sad.”
Darc leered back, “ You are a cruel bi...”
“Language Darc!” Interrupted Kuusco.
Darc stopped and turned away, “It's not worth it anymore.”

He pressed a reached for a button on his desk to call in Judge. Kuusco swiftly pushed his hand away with her still bound hands, “I have something for you. Don't be too quick now.”
The captain became wary of her intent, but this intrigued him as well, “Ok, Kuus. Talk.”

Flint sat at the door in his cell. Deg had a chair and was placed just out of Flint's reach.
“This one time we boarded a ship...” Deg rambled, “We found it was nothing but toilet paper. Man! Was Ferten mad!”

Flint rolled his eyes, “Don't you leave! Go away!”
Deg stopped talking and looked sided to side suspiciously. Then his eyes grew and faced toward Flint, “Did you really tear out a bear's heart?”

Flint groaned, but shot up when the door to the hall opened. Flint tried to peek but he could not see due to the bars. Deg stood up, “Ferten? What's up?”

The buzzard approached Deg, and whispered into his ear. Deg nodded and readied his gun as Ferten opened the cell. Flint started to stand, but the buzzard snapped, “Sit!”

Flint obeyed. Ferten grabbed his left leg and unlocked the attaching system. He then yanked the leg out of the pants, popping the wires, and hurting Flint. Flint howled and shout, “OW! What's the deal!”

“Shut up!” The buzzard snapped. Deg stood their just as confused as Flint was. Ferten locked the cell and walked away. Flint rub what was left of his leg and looked up at Deg who gave a sympathetic look.

Darc sat behind his desk rubbing his muzzle inquisitively. Soon after Ferten walked in and placed the leg on the desk. Darc glanced at it and stood up in shock. His voice almost a whisper as a tear rolled down his face, “F-F-Flint?”

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