The space station was plunged into chaos as alarms blared. Red emergency lights flashed wildly as the group scrambled to action stations.

"Perimeter breach in sector four!" Yuna reported frantically. "They've disabled the outer defenses."

On the monitors, they saw Lizayon's warships surrounding the station, cutting off all escape. How had he found them so quickly?

"All hands brace for boarding!" Jen yelled. "Get to the armory and barricade yourself in."

He ran to grab Aurora from her nursery, heart pounding. No way he was letting Lizayon's forces take her.

But before he could reach her room, the floor buckled violently beneath him as the station was rocked by the warships' bombardments. Jen was flung hard against the wall, his vision swimming. Through the ringing in his ears he could hear Liya screaming his name down the corridor.

Footsteps approached and Jen tried to push himself up, ready to defend Aurora with his life. But his battered body failed him. As his strength faded, the last thing he saw was Lizayon's white-armored soldiers standing over him.

----------------------------------------

When Jen came to, he found himself in a small metal cell, featureless except for a bench jutting from the wall. His head throbbed as he sat up slowly, trying to get his bearings.

The last hazy memories filtered back of the attack on the station. Lizayon must have captured them. But where was he now? And the others - Aurora - what had happened to them?

Jen went to the cell door and peered out the barred window. All he could see was an identical cell across the hall.

"Hello?" he called out hoarsely. "Is anyone there?"

A familiar voice answered. "Jen? Thank Newton you're awake."

Jen sagged in relief. "Kaganji! Are you alright? Where are we?"

"I'm unharmed, just a bump on the head. As for our location, I suspect one of Lizayon's infamous penal colonies." Kaganji sounded weary but composed as always. "They took us while you were still unconscious. I fear the others did not fare as well in the attack."

Jen's chest tightened, thoughts flying to Liya and Aurora. Were they even still... no, he couldn't think it. "Lizayon will pay for this," he said through gritted teeth.

"Patience, my friend," Kaganji soothed. "Our first priority must be regaining our strength and assessing the situation here. Then we can plan our next move."

Jen forced himself to take a calming breath. Kaganji was right - acting rashly now would only make things worse. He had to keep a level head.

Their conversation was interrupted by the echoing clang of a heavy metal door at the end of the corridor. Jen pressed his face to the window, trying to see who was approaching.

A squat, armored guard came into view, flanked by two hulking robotic sentries. Jen's cell door hissed open and the guard pointed a baton at him.

"Out prisoner, time for processing," he barked in a guttural voice. The robots stomped forward menacingly. Knowing he was outmatched for now, Jen reluctantly stepped out of his cell.

In the hall, he exchanged a grim look with Kaganji before they were ushered through a maze of grim passages. Eventually, they arrived in a large room filled with haggard prisoners queued up inside metal pens.

"Fresh meat!" the guard announced, shoving Jen and Kaganji into separate pens. "Time for delousing and processing."

Jen endured the humiliating ordeal side by side with hardened convicts. He was hosed down with frigid chemicals, fingerprinted, and issued a dingy gray jumpsuit. The guards chuckled darkly at his audible grunts of pain as they brutally tattooed his prison ID into his neck.

"Don't worry, it only hurts until you pass out," one said snidely.

After the "processing," he was reunited with Kaganji and they were escorted to the cell blocks. Jen took in their new surroundings - endless rows of cramped cells stacked vertically as far as the eye could see. The air was frigid and recycled, smelling vaguely of disinfectant.

They were deposited into a cell barely big enough for a bunk bed and toilet. As the door clanged shut, Jen sat heavily on the lower bunk. He probed the raw tattoo on his neck and winced.

"How are you holding up my friend?" Kaganji asked gently.

Jen shook his head. "I'll be fine. I'm more worried about Liya and the others. What's Lizayon planning for them?"

"I wish I knew," Kaganji said gravely. "But you must keep faith they yet live. We will see them again."

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Jen knew Kaganji was just trying to keep his spirits up. But he managed a small smile of gratitude. However dire their own situation, he was glad to have the calming scientist beside him.

They lapsed into weary silence. There would be time to plan their next move, but for now, rest was what they needed most. Stretching out on the hard bunk, Jen stared up at the underside of Kaganji's mattress above. Sleep eluded him as he wrestled with gnawing worry late into the night cycle.

----------------------------------------

The next day, a harsh klaxon sounded, jolting Jen from fitful sleep. The cells around them opened in unison and prisoners began shuffling out into the main corridor. Kaganji rose and straightened his jumpsuit methodically.

"I believe they intend to put us to work," he said. "We should comply for now and observe the routines here."

They joined the shuffling line of inmates until they reached a cavernous chamber filled with hulking machines and assembly lines. Jen realized this must be some kind of manufacturing facility within the prison.

Guard patrols watched closely as the prisoners were herded into stations along the lines. Jen and Kaganji were assigned to a particularly grueling gear assembly task, requiring constant cranking of heavy wrenches.

Within an hour, Jen's hands were raw and his muscles burned from exertion. But any slowing of the pace earned swift retribution from the guards' electro-prods. Water was only provided at allocated times. Jen guzzled his ration greedily, throat parched in the sweltering factory.

During brief reprieves, he and Kaganji discussed possible escape plans under their breath. But the prison seemed inescapable - endless locks, automated defenses, guard patrols everywhere. For now, their only option was to bide their time.

When the work shift finally ended, Jen could barely stand. His legs shook violently as they were marched back to the crowded, noisy cell blocks. Vicious fights seemed to break out regularly in the seething queues for food dispensation.

Jen collapsed gratefully onto his bunk, every muscle howling. He glanced up to see Kaganji favoring his left hand where blisters had formed.

"That was...quite miserable," Kaganji said weakly. "But I believe I have mapped our route and identified potential vulnerabilities."

Jen managed a pained smile. Even here, Kaganji's big brain was working overtime analyzing and plotting. The scientist's unbreakable spirit lifted Jen's own hopes just a little.

In their first week, they fell into a dreary routine of back-breaking factory work, rationed meals, crowded bunks and minimal sleep. Their downtime was spent subtly surveying the complex for any possible flaws. But the prison was a fortress, engineered to crush souls and prevent escape.

One day, Jen was distracted by a scuffle across the factory. A guard was viciously beating a scrawny, wild-haired prisoner with his shock-baton.

"You want another helping freak?" the guard sneered as the prisoner writhed on the floor. "I'll teach you to make trouble again."

Jen's protective instincts flared. Planting himself between them, he caught the downward swing of the baton with his palm. The shocks sent spasms through his body but he held firm.

"Enough," he said firmly. "Your point is made."

For a tense moment the guard seemed ready to attack Jen too. But something in Jen's steely gaze gave him pause. With a grunt, the guard turned and stormed off.

Jen helped the dazed prisoner up. One of his eyes was swollen shut and electrical burns covered his gaunt frame. But he managed a defiant grin.

"Not bad newcomer," the man croaked. "Name's Jax by the way. And I owe you one."

Later at mealtime, Jax joined Jen and Kaganji. He explained he was a Grizzilian smuggler captured on a botched job. His disheveled appearance came from countless escape attempts over his decade imprisoned here.

"No one's ever managed to breach this place," Jax said between gulps of mushy protein cubes. "Old Lizzy himself designed it. But I just can't stop trying."

Kaganji's eyes glinted thoughtfully. "Perhaps your knowledge could aid our own escape plan. With joined forces, we may yet find a way out."

Jen clapped Jax's bony shoulder. "What do you say Jax? Feel like teaming up with the new guys?"

Jax gave a gap-toothed grin. "Now you're speaking my language buds!" He leaned in conspiratorially. "In fact, I've been working on something big. A real game changer..."

----------------------------------------

Over the next few weeks, they subtly gathered materials Jax needed for his mysterious escape plan. Jen distracted guards during mealtimes while Jax swiped utensils and wiring. Kaganji memorized guard shift changes and analyzed the prison's mechanical workings. Piece by piece, their hope grew.

Late one night cycle, Jax proudly unveiled his secret project - some kind of makeshift sonic resonator fashioned from salvaged parts and bedding.

"Once I get this baby powered up, it'll overload the locks and alarms across cell block C long enough for us to make a break for it through the maintenance tunnels," Jax said eagerly.

Kaganji turned the device over in his hands. "Ingenious work. I believe this may actually succeed."

They hashed out the details. Tomorrow during the work shift change, Jen would start a diversionary fight while Jax and Kaganji enacted their jailbreak.

"Let's get some rest," Jen told the others. "We've got a big day tomorrow."

But sleep still evaded him, his mind racing with possibilities. Either their bid would work and they'd finally be free of this place, or it would fail and likely end in their deaths. The stakes could not be higher.

Jen must have eventually drifted off, because the next thing he knew Kaganji was gently shaking him awake. It was time.

Heart hammering, Jen started a brawl at the shift change as planned, drawing the guards' attention. Meanwhile Jax and Kaganji slipped away unnoticed and hurried to cell block C.

Jen continued wreaking havoc until alarms suddenly began blaring - the signal that Jax's device had worked! Now he just had to get to the rendezvous point.

Dodging grasping hands, Jen sprinted down cell block D toward the maintenance access tunnel. But as he rounded the last corner, his heart sank. A whole squad of guards and sentry robots was waiting, weapons trained on him. It had been a trap.

Rough hands seized Jen and slammed him to the hard floor. As a boot pressed down on his neck, he saw Jax and Kaganji likewise pinned down, their faces heavy with despair. They had been so close this time.

The prison warden approached, clucking his tongue. "Did you fools really think we did not know precisely what you were planning?" He tsked. "We permitted your pathetic scheme just long enough to ensure you cannot try something so foolish again."

He nodded to the guards. "Have them flogged and starved for a month. Solitary confinement too. Maybe then they will accept their fate here."

As Jen was dragged away, he managed to lock eyes with Kaganji and Jax. A silent promise seemed to pass between them - this wasn't over yet. Lizayon had tried to break their spirits before and failed. Whatever came next, they would be ready. United in hardship and hope, their resistance lived on.