============================================================

IC:

Jet was still pretty dazed, but he heard what the Teknian had said. He wanted to bring him food?? Was this a joke? He didn't feel much like having water and stale bread, but it was better than what he was eating before. Jet simply answered, "This is my first day sir."

TH nodded and waited for Kanal to reply. "I.. I." She studdered.

"Go ahead and tell him Kanal. It's ok." Jet encouraged her.

"I've been here for a few days sir." the young echidna responded.

TH nodded and then stepped out of the room.

Jet had only been there for a day, but it had been a long time since he had any decent food. Before his capture he had to eat whatever edible items he found in trash and such. Just enough to survive...

Jet then stammered to where Kanal was and tried his best to take care of her. He had a bit of difficulty from being so weak but he did it! He had cleaned and dressed Kanal's injuries.

Kanal just smiled at Jet. "Thank you Jet." she said.

"It's no problem Kanal." he replied with a slight smile.

Kanal was scared, but she was glad that Jet was with her at least. She leaned over and gently hugged the weasel. She was scared for her friends, for Wraith, for everyone she lost! She was worried as she buried her face in Jet's furry chest and was on the verge of tears again.

"I'm sorry Jet." she began. "I'm sorry I'm crying but I'm so scared! I don't know what's going to happen to the others!"

Jet noticed her crying and instead of telling her to stop, he just tried to talk to her. He could understand her fear, and right now telling her to stop crying would only upset her more. He simply wrapped his arm around the frightened girl and talked to her.

"Don't worry Kanal.." he began. Kanal let go of him to listen. "As long as Wraith and I are here we'll make sure we do everything to make sure they're safe. You just need to be strong for them." he said as he found a clean cloth and wiped her tears. Kanal just looked at him a moment in thought and nodded as she tried to control her crying.

"It'll be ok." he said to her as she had finally stopped crying and was almost smiling now.
============================================================

OOC: Hope I played Kanal ok there Kaze! You can let me know if I goofed. XD

T.H came back into the torture room with the food but instead of gruel, stale bread and water, it was a plate of fried meat for Jet and a plate with chicken soup for Kanal acompanied with two glasses of lemonade.
"I hope you enjoy it, the chicken soup is for the child and the meat is for you Weasel" said T.H handing the food and glasses of lemonade to Jet and Kanal.

============================================================
IC:

Jet was extremely suprised. Meat?? The first thought he had was "What's wrong with it" as he examined the meat.

His sense of smell is very good. He stared at the meat a moment and then brought the plate up to his small black nose. Yes. It's a small nose, but like a cats nose the nasal cavity behind it was quite large in comparison making it very sensative.

He decided to try smelling it to see if something was added to it. He had to be sure. He took a few long whiffs of it and was suprised to find nothing wrong with it. In fact it was a perfect slab of beef! Jet loved beef! The lemonade was fine too!

Jet was quite pleased. He took off a small piece of the meat and sampled it.

It was PERFECT!

In fact he caught himself starting to drool a bit as he wiped his mouth. He glanced over at Kanal. She was happily enjoying her soup. Jet was glad that Kanal was getting to eat finally. He was a bit worried for her because of her age. He was relieved though.

He then looked back at his meat and tried taking off a larger piece. It was a little tough, but that's why he was glad he had such sharp teeth. As Jet began to devour his meat he could almost feel his strength returning to him. His stomach felt better too now that it had some real food in it.

After he had finished he felt a lot better overall. "Thanks!" he said."Call me Jet."

"Thank you sir. My name is Kanal." she chimmed out. Kanal felt much better too.

============================================================

(OOC: Sorry for the delay in posting)

IC:

"I will beat that rebellious aditude right out of you and will really like to see you all broken and whimpering"

Wraith caught his breath as the whip slashed across his back again...he could feel blood trickling down from umpteen wounds between his shoulders and down his spine. The pain was unimaginable...like a million glowing hot knives were being raked through his skin, tearing down right to the bone and slicing his back into ribbons!

He was beginning to lose consiousness again...

"Enjoying it, hm?" asked KH sadisticly. "You will break...I will see to that!"

Wraith could barely beath from the pain...his breath was coming out in whining, winded gasps, but slowly he opened his mouth and murmured something quietly...

"What?" KH raised a hand to the slavedriver holding the whip, and he paused. "What did you say?"

Wraith wheezed for a moment, trying to get his breath above the pain and the position he was in, then he opened his mouth again.

"I have...faced...Robotnik..." he hissed, barely able to speak. "I have...fought...street gangs...and criminal...masterminds..." He went into a coughing fit, some blood spattering on the metal floor below from his mouth. As he recovered, he looked down at KH through narrowed eyes and continued. "I am...a Mobian...Freedom Fighter..." he spat, with amazing conviction despite the weakness of his voice! "Do...your worst! You won't...break me...!"

KH's face darkened with anger, and a quick hand signal to the slavedriver started up the whipping again. "Wrong message, furball!" he hissed, his voice full of rage.

"I...won't...break!" retorted Wraith, shouting through clenched teeth as the whipping continued. "Won't...break...won't...break...won't...!!!" His head dropped to his chest, unconsious once again.

T.H smiled warmly.
"Im glad you enjoyed your meal, my name is T.H if you havent already heard it before in the slave workshop, I want to help you and your friends escape to freedom" says T.H while he kneeled down in front of the wall and lifted a cover of a undergroung duct, the opening was big enough for Jet to slip in.
"get in here and rest while I go to help you other friends" says T.H to Jet and Kanal.

OOC: Many apologies for not being here since last week, but I have returned! Jet, you got Kanal's personality perfectly in that second to last post there! In any case, I've got an IC here for you all!

IC:

Kanal's eyes widened. "A-are you serious?" she questioned the Teknian.

T.H. nodded. "Hurry, now," he told her. "I do not want you to be hurt."

Jet put a hand on the girl's shoulder. "Come on, better do as he says."

Kanal nodded, then followed Jet into the duct opening. T.H. closed it behind her.

"Try not to make any noise," he said. "The other slavedrivers may hear you."

"Are you really going to bring Wraith back?" Kanal spoke up again.

"Of course I will," said T.H. "Do not worry, Kanal."

OOC: I hope that was okay. Sorry if it's short!

Jet and Kanal climbed down into the hole and made themselves at home. T.H. had apparently planned this all along. There was a small lanturn to provide light when they went into the hole.

The opening was big enough, but the hole was a decent size as well. It was deep and very quiet.

Jet could pick up the sound of an occasional critter, but it was empty besides the critters, the two slaves now occupying the hole, and the lanturn. Jet glanced at the hole when he heard his name called out.

"Jet. You and Kanal be careful not make any noise. I will return with your friends." T.H. spoke.

"Alright." Jet replied. With that the door closed behind them darkening the area. It was very dark in that hole, but Jet could see fine at night. He felt his vision was actually better in the dark. Lighting a lanturn would be simple.

Jet then moved the lanturn to the center of the room and lit it. The whole room lit up to reveal the walls. The walls were stone along with the floor.

"It's creepy down her." Kanal spoke quietly as she held Jet's arm for comfort.

Jet glanced to Kanal. "It's ok. There's nothing down here." he said in a whisper. "We should get some rest." he said as he walked over to a corner.

He just sat down by the wall. He was going to rest a while. Kanal sat down next to him and held his arm again. He could tell she was still nervous and it was a bit cold in that hole.

Jet's tail was increadibly long. It was almost twice his body length! It served him as a weapon and to balance him when he jumped. It was going to find another use as well.

His tail's fur was very thick and still soft so he wrapped it around Kanal's back and over her legs to do two things. She now wasn't leaning against the hard wall, and she was now being kept warm down there.

Kanal smiled and hugged his fluffy tail as she got comfortable and leaned against him as if he were a big brother.

Jet was deep in thought. Was T.H. really going to be able to rescue his friends? Were they still alive?

Jet didn't know. He did notice that Kanal had fallen asleep. He couldn't help but smile at her innocence. He just let her lean against him as he adjusted his tail a bit more and dozed off too.

K.H notices Wraith getting unconcious.
"Such a stubborn slave, you Tekdroid slavedriver leave the maroon Echidna hanging there" K.H said to the Tekdroid slavedriver who had stoped whiping Wraith after noticing that the maroon Echidna got unconsious as well.
"Okay boss" said the Tekdroid slavedriver, K.H then decides to continue his fun by torturing Bean who was now hanged by his wrists, before K.H could whip Bean he noticed a Tekeye flying nearby.
"Come here, I have a message for the Teknian General!" K.H yelled, the Tekeye flyed toward K.H making computer like sounds.
"Go and tell the Teknian General I have the responsibles slaves now" K.H said, the Tekeye made some more sounds and then flyed to the Teknian base, K.H turned back his atention to Bean
"Now I will continue my fun slave" says K.H and then started whiping Beans back, the other Tekdroids slavedrivers where already whiping Nack, Bark, Mighty, Flaming, Ice and Ray.

OCC I could finally introduce the Tekeyes heh.

Bean winced as K.H.'s whip cut across his back, opening old wounds and injuries.

The pain was unbearable beyond imagination, but he was used to it by now; since he'd arrived in this stinking dump he had gotten off on the wrong foot with the slavedrivers here, and as a result he often ended up in the torture room, whipped until he was unconscious.

He could feel the blood running down his arms and back, but he didn't flinch. Nor did he cry out in pain. K.H. was getting furious at this.

"Another stubborn one, eh?" he growled. "You're not going to be that way for much longer..."

"Up yours," Bean said rather coolly, but fiercely. "You're not gonna break me, either, alien scum..."

K.H. was now piping mad. "You dare talk to me that way, insolent slave?!" he bellowed, whipping Bean even more. "You'll wish you'd NEVER SAID THAT!!"

The duck clenched his teeth and fists firmly, fighting against the agonizing pain. He was growing weak, but he was not going down!

----

"You're weak, Kanal... You should be able to do more with your power by now."

"But, I can't. I don't like fighting..."

"You can and you will! You know what will happen if you don't listen to me..."

Kanal's eyes snapped open. Quickly checking her surroundings, she saw she was still in the duct.

"Another nightmare," she murmured to herself. "The same one as before..."

The young echidna held on tighter to Jet's tail, trying to keep her composure. "I want to go home..."

***
continued

OOC: Just a wee bit of a peek into Kanal's past. It's just a distant memory that keeps coming back to her in the form of a dream... only she doesn't know where it's from. =/

Jet woke up when he felt Kanal grip tighter on his tail.

"Kanal? Are you alright?" he asked a bit suprised she was awake already.

She clung to his tail and buried her face in it's long soft fur.

"I want to go home." she whimpered.

"We'll get out of here." Jet told her.
============================================================

OOC: It's just a quickie. ^^;

K.H and the Tekdroids slavedrivers imediatly stoped whiping the slaves and bowed with respect when they noticed the Teknian General coming from the Teknian base acompanied with two Tekdroid Corps.
"So these are the responsibles behind the rebellion?" said the Teknian General.
"Yes Teknian General, I made sure that my Tekdroids slavedrivers and I tortured them well, but they are very stubborn, especialy that maroon Echidna and purple Weasel, also they are the principal responsibles who started the rebellion" K.H said pointing at Wraith and Nack, As K.H said this T.H had arrived to the whiping platform and bowed as well in front of the Teknian General.

"Hey!!!" exclaimed Nack, his eyes wide. "I had nothing to do with it, you hear! It was him who masterminded the plan! In fact, I tried to tell one of your guards about it but he wouldn't listen!"

KH turned venemously, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Silence!"

"I didn't do anything!" Nack turned in his restraints and fixed the General with a look. "I'm telling you man I had nothing to do with it! I'm working for the good of your empire...I'm on your side! Look, what do you need, eh? Information? Metals? Gems? Anything, I can get it for you! I'm good at that, you know! Come on, let me know what you want!"

Wraith, meanwhile, had woken up again, however he had kept his eyes closed, keeping his consiousness secret for now. He had heard KH's speech...so, the Teknian General was here now was he? If only he could get one of his hands free, just for a moment, just to get a crack at him...

No doubt death would soon follow, but it would be a small price to pay for martyrdom...he didn't want to be a martyr, but he did want freedom for Mobius, and if his death and the death of the Teknian General would stir the other prisoners into an uprising, then it was a step he was prepared to take!

He tried carefully to twist his wrists, scratching away at the metal around his hands with his knuckledusters slowly...

OOC: Gah. Forgot about this. I got something to do right now, but I read up, and should hopefully get back to this shortly. I must say this is getting really good. Still not sure which char(s?) I want in this...it may be Viv n' Dom...maybe somebody else...maybe both...Still thinking....

The Teknian General looked at the pleading purple Weasel.
"Whats so special about you slave, why should I spare you from punishment?" asked the Teknian General walking toward Nack, K.H turned to his brother noticing that Jet and Kanal werent with him.
"What did you do with those two slaves?" K.H said.
"I send them back to work after I gave them a good beating, they where easy to break and will not fight back anymore" T.H lied.
"Very good brother" K.H said proudly to T.H ignoring that he is protecting Jet and Kanal.

OOC:
Sorry I've been busy lately. You can expect an IC from me tomorow.

OOC: Been busy as well! I don't know when I'll have an IC (maybe tomorrow), but I just can't think of anything at the moment...

"Because of what you can get in return!" exclaimed Nack. "I'm not saying this for my own good, I'm saying it for you! I can get you all sorts of things that'll help with your conquests...info on other possible troublemakers, help locating metal deposits you want to mine, you name it!"

(OOC: Bwargle...mind has gone AWOL recently. Longer IC post to come soon as I can.)

"Would you just shut up?!" Bean growled at the weasel through clenched teeth. "Your dumb antics are gonna get us all whipped even harder than before!"

"Heh, see if I care," Nack said coolly. "It's only going to be you who gets it... you can't even do anything now as it is, duck."

Bean was going to say something else, but decided against it. He felt like strangling that weasel to death and blowing his corpse to pieces, but he could save that for another time...

============================================================
IC:
Ray was just as angry with the weasel! He couldn't do anything though. He was in no shape to try either. He would just have to wait like everyone else.

============================================================

OOC: I'll try and update Jet and Kanal later. ^^;

"We'll get out of here."

Kanal looked up at Jet. "Oh... okay," she said, nodding.

It seemed like an eternity that they had been sitting here in this duct. Kanal looked longingly at the entrance ahead of her and Jet, hoping TH would come back with Wraith and the others now. He had been gone a while.

It had been pretty silent in there for a while. The girl could hear the light scraping of small creatures scurrying around the duct. One even came close to her before scampering off into the darkness behind them.

"What's taking him so long," Kanal finally whispered softly.

***
OOC EDIT: Okay, this should suffice... hopefully... ^^;;

IC:
"I don't know. we have to remain here though. It'll be ok Kanal. try to get some sleep huh?" Jet replied calmly. He was concerned too though. He was really hoping the others were safe. He couldn't help them now. Not in his condition!
============================================================

OOC: It's just a short one. ^^;

The Teknian General thinks a bit after listening what Nack said.
"I dont need anything from you but I will spare you from punishment since you have important information about the slaves, release the Weasel" ordered the Teknian General to one of the Tekdroids slavedrivers who quikly obeyed and released Nacks wrists from the thick metal cuffs.
"Take the Weasel to the cells in the torture room" Ordered the Teknian General to one of his two Tekdroid Corps that acompanied him.
"Afirmative Teknian General" said the Tekdroid Corp.

OOC Dont worry I havent forgoten Mikey and Craig they will appear in my next post.

Nack's face creased into a beaming grin as the soldiers stepped forward to releace him, but fell again as soon as he heard "torture room". "Hey!" he exclaimed. "I said I'd give you thin info willingly, but I expect something in return! What's with the torturing???"

"Your voice is beginning to annoy me! Silence!" retorted the General coldly. "Take him away."

"You can't do this!" shouted Nack, his eyes growing wide with fear. "I'll give you all the info you want but you have to treat me right! Let me go! I won't ask for much, just to be let out of this camp with some decent food! Please, that's all I need and I'll tell you everything!"

Wraith, meanwhile, was still working away at his cuffs with his claws. He could feel the metal beginning to give around his wrists.

Just a little more...!

"You're gonna get what you deserve, Fang," said Bean under his breath so the Teknian General wouldn't hear. "One of these days..."

WHAP!!

Once again the green duck felt the stinging pain of a whip across is back and arms. He clenched his teeth, trying to endure the pain while trying to keep from passing out.

He had no idea how he was going to get free of his restraints, but there had to be some way he could get loose...

As Mikey and Craig where working breaking rocks the dark green Echidna wondered what awaited the responsibles slaves that started the rebellion, suddenly he noticed Craig collapsing on the ground breathing and sweating heavily from the intense heat.
"Craig!" yelled alarmed Mikey getting beside the smokey black Cat.
"So...tired..." said the young Cat weakly his sweaty chest heaving as he panted hard.
"Hey you two slaves get back to work!" ordered the Tekdroid slavedriver.
"My friend is to exhausted to keep working, he is just a child!" said Mikey.
"I said get back to work!" yelled the Tekdroid slavedriver and whips Mikey, that made Mikey snap and jumps on the Tekdroid slavedriver, punching fiercely the Tekdroid slavedriver using his full strenght now that he didnt have the Teknolia collar and easily destroys the Tekdroid slavedriver, the other Tekdroid slavedrivers noticed what the angered dark green Echidna did and are going to stop him, Mikey turned to the other Tekdroids slavedrivers and runned toward them to destroy them as well but since they where more than him he was tackled to the ground and was horribly beaten by the Tekdroids slavedrivers, Craig watched sadly how his friend was being beaten cruelly and felt terrible in his stomach making him whimper as he curled up, when the Tekdroids slavedrivers finished beating Mikey one of the Tekdroids slavedrivers picked up the battered and bleeding Echidna while another Tekdroid slavedriver picked up the exhausted cat.
*Lets take this slaves to the Teknian General, he is at the whiping platform with the responsible slaves* said the Tekdroid slavedriver carrying Mikey, the other Tekdroids slavedrivers nodded anf followed the Tekdroid slavedriver towards the whiping platform.
After Nack had been taken to the cells in the torture room and the Tekdroid slavedriver stoped whiping Bean, the Teknian General was going to tell the slaves their horrible fate.
"Since you started a rebellion, ruined one of the tunnels, destroyed many Tekdroid Corps, Tekdroid slavedrivers and Tekbots, you are going to be left in the cells of the torture room without food or water to starve and be tortured for two hours continuosly each one of you in turns, then when you are almost going to die you will be executed painfully!" said the Teknian General.

That's got to suck, Bean thought, but it's not gonna happen to me, though. Not if I can help it.

He looked over to his right, and saw an unconscious Ice hanging by is wrists. His blood was dripping from numerous fresh cuts made by the Teknolia whips. The duck winced at the sight, and turned his head away.

It was then that his thoughts returned to one thing...

Kanal! Where was that kid? Was she being tortured as well? If that Wraith guy found out she was in trouble, he'd go mad!!

***
OOC: I'll have an IC next week, maybe putting in another small piece of Kanal's forgotten past, if it's all right...

As it happened, Wraith was going mad anyway. With a sudden roar, partly to psyche himself up and partly of pain, he threw his wrists apart, the chains rattling with the movement. The manacles around his wrists, weakened by his claws, snapped with a CHINK sound, and he dropped to the floor, almost collapsing in his weakened state!

The General and the other Teknians all spun round in shock, but before they had chance to move, Wraith lunged towards the leader, shouting "FFFRRRREEEEDDDOOOOMMMM!!!" His knuckles connected with the General's face with a CRACK, sending him staggering backwards and almost falling off the gantry!

Instantly the slavedrivers around them were jumping at the maroon echidna menacingly. Wraith flailed around with his fists, knocking many of them flying, but in his weakened state, he simply couldn't keep up, and it was mere moments before he was securely grabbed and held. Well, he'd done it...now, it was time to meet his fate. The others had seen his stand though, and he felt confident that they would take up the torch after him. He took a deep breath, wincing slightly at the movement, as he watched the Teknian General recovering from the blow and turning to face him, his face as black as thunder...

Jet was beginning to get uneasy as he wondered what had happened to Wraith. Kanal was quietly resting next to him wrapped in his tail still.

He could only hope his friends were ok. He then brought the small lanturn closer to where he was and set it down close enough to feel the slight warmth it was giving off. He wanted Kanal to stay warm.

He almost jumped when then thought he heard someone coming down the hallway to the torture room. He stayed calm and listened. Where were they going?

One of the two Tekdroid Corps that acompanied the Teknian General walked toward Wraith and pointed his rapid fire Teknolia gun on Wraiths head awaiting the Teknian Generals orders. The Teknian General looked at Wraith with a angry expression after he got punched but then calmed down, he didnt know that the maroon Echidna was that strong.
"I didnt expect that from you slave Im impresed, I think you will be spared as well" said the Teknian General signaling the Tekdroid Corp to not shoot him, the Tekdroid Corp obeyed and got back beside the Teknian General.
"With that strenght and energy you will be of great use to the army of our creator Emperor C.R after we erase your memories and get placed in second in command after me" said the Teknian General. The group of Tekdroids slavedrivers reached the whipping platform with a struggling Mikey and a limp Craig.
"We captured this two slaves, the Echidna tryed to fight back and the cat stoped working" said one of the Tekdroids slavedrivers.
"Take them to the cells in the torture room as well with the others, just make sure to separate them" said the Teknian General, the Tekdroid slavedrivers nodded and took the whiped and beaten slaves to the torture room, when they arived Wraith, Mikey and Craig where pushed inside the cell with Nack while Flaming, Mighty, Bean, Ice, Bark and Ray where pushed to the cell besides them.

Kanal was awakened by the sound of footsteps coming from somewhere.

"Jet--!" she started to say.

"I know," the weasel told her in a hushed voice. "Stay quiet..."

The two of them remained silent. Soon, a group of figures began to march by right where they were hiding. As Kanal looked on, there were a few Tekdroids surrounding them, so she couldn't get a good look at what they were doing until she saw a certain someone she was especially worried about...

"Wraith," she murmured, barely audible, "and everyone else..." Kanal crawled quietly away from Jet towards the duct opening. "Wh... Where are those aliens taking them?!"

"Maybe to the torture room," Jet said calmly, following behind her.

Kanal felt herself getting upset. "But why? What's going to happen to them, Jet? They aren't going to be tortured, are they?"

"I don't know. There's nothing we can do now at the moment. If we go out there now..."

---

The torture room door was shut behind Bean as he and the others were shoved inside by the Tekdroid slavedriver.

"You slaves better not make a sound, or else you get an extra helping of lashes from the whip on your back," the Tekdroid growled before walking off down the hall. "Lord T.H. and the boss will be here soon to administer your punishments..."

"Yeah, whatever," Bean muttered bitterly. "Stupid Tek-whatevers..."

"Looks like all of you are getting the short end of the stick, eh," Nack immediately said, sitting on the floor of his own cell, his voice full of cockiness and bravado. "I'll be on my way to the top while the rest of you get beaten, starved, and executed!"

"Shut up," Bean told him, "Or I'll personally wipe that smile off your face... permanently."

"I'd like to see you try," Nack shot back defiantly.

"Now isn't the time to fight," Bark interrupted. "What we really need to focus on is how to get out of here and find Jet and Kanal."

"They've probably been tortured and killed," Nack said nastily. "If it's gotta be anyone's fault for this whole mess we're in, blame it on 'Mr. Big Shot Freedom Fighter' over there in the corner." The purple weasel shot a finger over to Wraith, who sat leaning against the opposite wall of the cell. "If he hadn't had that stupid idea in his head to start a riot in those tunnels, everything would have been fine--"

"I've heard enough outta you!!" Bean spat furiously, lunging at the bars between his cell and Nack's. "I swear, when I get out of this cell, I'm gonna make you wish you were never born!"

***
OOC: Hi!! Sorry for not posting yesterday, it was my mom's birthday.
-Edit: Hopefully this is okay... if not, then let me know and I'll make some more changes.

(OOC: Kaze, small note. Check the last paragraph of Alex's post. Bean and Nack are actually in different cells, so they may be able to hear each other to talk to each other, maybe see each other if there are just bars between them, but not actually fight. You may want to edit your post a little.

On another note, I'm sorry for dissapearing too, but I'm hoping to be around more from now on. Won't be able to post tomorrow, but if I can I'll post over the weekend.)

OOC: Gah. i am going to get into this sometime...but...live has been crazy lately. And I don't have 'net in the new place I'm going to, so I will be semi-MIA from the net for a while while I get my life matters sorted out, get myself a decent job, and upgrade my living arrangements.

Please bear with me. i may be able to come on sometime from the library or something. (Why haven't I had RP drive lately? >.< *Siiiiigh...*)

Mikey was getting angry with Nack as well.
"You should do what Bean said and shut up! he may not be able to reach you here to beat your sorry butt" said the dark green Echidna looking angry at Nack then cracks his Knuckles "But I will gladly beat you for him if you continue" said Mikey treatingly.

Wraith remained silent during the exchange, still slumped in the corner with his eyes closed. Under normal circumstances he would tell the others off for the argument, maybe giving them a lecture about how they needed to stick together, but after all he'd been through he simply didn't have the energy.

He was thinking about what the General had said they would do to him...brainwash him and put him in their own force...hmm, unusual. Well, it wouldn't be the first time he had been brainwashed...in fact, for some reason he found it funny that they should suggest something like that for him considering his history - how he got his implant and all. The more he thought about it, the more funny it seemed to become, until shortly he was actually chuckling out loud to himself, the others pausing their argument for a moment to stare at him confused!

Mighty stared at Wraith with a raised eyebrow.
"Wraith, are you getting insane?" asked worried the black Armadillo. Craig fell asleep on the floor and curled up, even if he is going to get whipped, he wanted to rest as much as posible now.

Bean forgot about his anger when he heard Wraith laugh. Turning to the echidna, he couldn't help but be puzzled.

What is going through that guy's head?

He felt a little chill down his spine as well, which surprised him. It was like there was something different about him now...

***
continued

OOC: Hey? Are these guys in the torture room then? I'm at a loss for what to do with Jet here. ^^;

OOC: I think they are. Just remember that Jet and Kanal are still in that duct.

OOC: I think I have a quick one here. Alex said it would work too. Let's see here....
============================================================

IC:

Jet didn't know about Kanal, but he was about ready to give up on finding Wraith and his friends. He had no clue where T.H had gone too.

Then his ears perked up when he heard a loud commotion in the room! Was that... It was Nack and Bean! Was Wraith there too he wondered. After some careful listening, Jet determined no Tek droids, bots or anything like that was with his friends.

He decided to try and speak up through the vent. After looking a bit he and Kanal found a spot near the commotion with a cover over it that allowed him to see into the cells.

He couldn't believe it! His friends were all there and were alive too!

"Guys!" he spoke through the vent.

Wraith had looked up when the others questioned him, his face wearing a tired but definite smile. "Brainwashed." he muttered, more to himself than anyone in particular. "Last time someone did that to me I ended up killing them all in cold blood cause they couldn't control me." He chuckled again, allowing his head to drop back down to his chest. "Funny if the same thing happened...the exact thing they're trying to protect against..." he murmured absently.

The others were staring at him, puzzled. Nack looked around at the rest, his face clearly saying: "You getting any of this?"

"Guys!"

Instantly Wraith was on his feet, with a speed supprising due to his injuries and (seemingly) apparent mental instabillity. His eyes were scanning across the room quickly as he replied: "Jet, that you?"

"Yeah, it's me! Dang I'm glad you're okay Wraith...the rest of you too!" came the reply. "Over here, in the grate!" There was a slight squeak of metal as the grating was lifted a little, just enough to see Jet's face peeping out from behind it.

Wraith stepped over to the bars of the cell, sticking his head through. "Dude! Thank goodness...where's Kanal, is she with you? Is she okay?"

"Whoa! Calm down man. Kanal's fine! She right here with me!" Jet said excited at finding his friends well.

"Wraith!" came a small and scared voice from behind Jet. Jet let the young echidna stand in front of him to talk to the others through the grate.

"Wraith? Bean? You're alright aren't you?" Kanal asked on the verge of tears from being so happy to hear them again.

"Yeah. I was wondering where you were, ya know," Bean said irritably. "I was startin' to think something bad happened to you, kid. You all right?"

"Uh-huh," Kanal said. "Mr. T.H. was the one who helped me and Jet. He treated our wounds and gave us food."

"What?" Nack jumped up to his feet. "You were fed while I was tortured mercilessly?!"

"It's true Wraith. T.H. cleaned us up, fed us and hid us from K.H. He wants to help us get out of here Wraith!" Jet said. "I think we can trust the guy."

Wraith was leaning on the bars of the cell, his head turned towards the door of the torture room, his eyes narrowed in thought. "That could be helpful." he muttered quietly. He closed his eyes and shook his head, still a little dizzy from blood loss. "Anyway, it's good to hear you two are okay." he continued, looking back at Jet and Kanal. "Listen, no matter what happens, it's imperative you two don't get caught, okay? No heroics or anything. If you see a chance to help us, take it, but if there's the slightest risk, don't do it!"

Kanal looked worried. "But what if they start torturing you?" she asked. "KH is good, but none of the others seem on our side!"

Wraith shook his head. "That doesn't matter." he retorted. "So long as you're free, there'll always be a chance you can help us out, but if you take risks and get caught, we're all done for."

"Erm, excuse me, but I'm none to excited about being tortured mister!" spat Nack, striding forward and tapping Wraith on the shoulder stiffly. "If they can get us out, they should do it!"

Wraith glanced at him darkly. "Why would you care? You're the one that's going to be on easy street." he muttered, not without a hint of sarcasm. He turned back to Jet and Kanal before the rapidly reddening weasel could reply. "You two just stay put for now, okay? Here's hoping this TH fellow has some kind of a plan for us escaping..."

Kanal opened her mouth to speak, ready to protest, but no words came to mind. She was at a loss, and she knew it.

For once, she wanted to help her friends out (even Nack, though she didn't trust him) instead of running away as usual.

Taking one last look at Wraith, her light blue eyes showing some worry, and nodded.

"Okay," she finally said.

T.H was walking back to the torture room, he was glad that he was given the first turn to torture Wraith or one of his friends, that meant he could do his plan now to help them escape, with the help of Jet and Kanal he was sure the rest of their friends could trust him.
"Im here dont worry, I will help you escape" T.H says to Wraith and his friends as he gets in the torture room and closes the door.

Suddenly there was a noise outside the door, and Wraith quickly signalled to Jet and Kanal to get back into the ventilation shaft! As the door opened and a figure stepped in, he began to shout, pulling on the bars of the cell and making a scene, hoping to distract whoever was entering from the grate long enough for the two of them to hide!

A figure stepped in, not one Wraith recognised...or was he? Ah, they all looked the same to him anyway. Glancing quickly at the grate to make sure the others were hidden, he quietened down and fixed the newcomer with a glare.

The figure stepped up to the cages. "Im here dont worry, I will help you escape"

Wraith raised an eyebrow, straightening up slightly. "Who are you?"

"I am TH."

Wraith looked him up and down for a moment, as though evaluating him, then sighed slightly. "You're the guy they were talking about then?"

"Yeah, that's him Wraith!" called Jet from the grating...he and Kanal had heard TH's introduction and had scrambled forward again.

Nack was also looking the newcomer over testily. "I don't trust him." he muttered. Wraith shot the weasel a glance, then turned back to the Teknian.

"Okay, we're all ears...what do we have to do?"

T.H smiles and then procedes to open the cells.
"You all must get in the duct with Jet and Kanal and walk to the end of the duct, there will be another grate that will take you outside of the slave workshop but you will have to wait until I get my brothers Teknolia Truck and come and tell you its safe to go out or you will be detected by the Tekeyes, once I have taken you to safety I will cure your wounds and give you something to eat" T.H says to Wraith and his friends.

"Sounds good to me," Bean spoke up after hearing T.H. explain. "I can't wait to get out of this dump." He shot a glance at Nack. "You'll get your beatdown at another time, weasel..."

"Not now, Bean," Bark said, standing in front of him with the unconscious Ice laying over his shoulder. "There is no need to start anything at the moment..."

"Whatever." The green duck leaned against the wall of the cell. Though he didn't look it, he was very irritated...

***
OOC: Back with a short post here. I'll try to post this weekend or next week.

The truth was, Wraith didn't really trust the Teknian either, but right now anything was better than staying in those cells! He shrugged inwardly to himself as he stepped out. Better than nothing...what did they have to lose?

"Thank you." he said to TH as he passed him, throwing him a respectful nod, before stepping over to the grate. Jet held out his hand, and Wraith took it and pulled himself up...