Victor looked out the window if his cab. The skyline of the city was blocking the view of the massive dome build around the city. Victor was growing restless. He didn’t like going through this part of town, never did. Too many people, he always said. They passed through the business district and headed for the prison on the east side of the city. The prison was now just around the corner.

‘You can drop me off here. I’ll walk the rest.’

‘Sure,’ the taxi driver said as he pulled over on the empty street.

‘That will be twenty-three bucks.’

‘I know, I know,’ Victor responded. He pulled forty bucks out of his pocket. ‘Thanks for coming on such a short notice, Fred. I know you hate driving here.’

‘It’s fine. It’s my job to drive people around. Remember?’ The old man chuckled and took the money.

‘Just make sure you-‘

‘I’ll make sure I won’t be seen. Don’t worry about that. You just get her out again, ok? I’ll see you in an hour.’

Fred closed his window and turned the taxi around. Victor raised his hand to wave him goodbye and then quickly started walking towards the prison gate casually with his hands in his pockets. He wore a hoody to conceal his body and head. At the main entrance it said: ‘‘Luna Prime federal prison’’. In front of the gate stood two armed guards.

‘State your business here, sir,’ The guards said.

‘None of yours, that’s what. This is above your legislation, boys. Now let me in.’ Victor walked towards the gate put the guards blocked his path.

‘We need your identification, Sir.’ The guards looked anxious. Victor was a head taller than either of them. His arms made theirs look like little golfsticks.

‘You do? I got it right here.’ He took off his hood, pulled his left hand out of his pocket and held it up. ‘Now you look at me and tell me that I can pass, or this will get uglier than your pay check.’

The guard aimed his gun up towards Victor. ‘I.. I need you to step back sir. Now!’

Victor held his ground and before the guard did anything, the other guard aimed his gun away from victor and pushed him aside.

‘You rookies don’t know anything, do you? You don’t know who this is?’

The guard shook his head.

‘I bet you never watch the news either. This is our general, you idiot!’ The guard pushed the rookie out of the way. ‘I’m so sorry general Stormborn. I didn’t recognize you at first.’

‘Just let me through. And one more thing: you didn’t see me here, you got that?’

‘Yes, sir. Of course, sir.’

Victor walked into the prison building. The warden recognized Victor immediately. Victor told him where he wanted to go, and the warden took him there without question. They walked past the cellblocks towards the solitary confinement unit. The warden stopped and opened the cast iron door of the cell. Victor stood in the door opening. In the cell sat a girl, seventeen years old. Short brown hair, brown eyes, and a grin on her face. She was sitting on her prison bed. Her hands holding each other and her body leaning forward, supported by her arms resting on her knees.

‘You cannot not get yourself in trouble, can you?’ Victor said.

‘Well, what took you so long? I spent a month in this shithole. It was doomed to end in a fight. Don’t worry, I kicked his ass, all of their asses.’

She looked up at Victor. Victor looked back at her. It was quiet. The warden, who was waiting on the hallway with his guards, didn’t get what was going on. Victor kept looking at her. Eventually she broke a laugh, followed by Victor.

‘Great to see you, Victor.’ She said with a smile as she stood up to hug him.

‘Great to see you too, Layla.’

Layla let go of him. ‘What are you waiting for? Get me out. I’m starving.’

‘I’ll have Fred make a stop at a fast food joint in the city, ok? Just stay here for a second.’

Victor walked out of the cell. He held the door open.

‘I will be taking this inmate with me. She has been pardoned for any or all her crimes.’

‘On who’s authority?’ the warden asked.’

‘Mine. I, Exode-General Victor Stormborn hereby pardon Layla Stripes for her crimes against the nation. Now let us leave, or I’ll have the president assign a new warden before tonight.’

Layla walked out of the prison cell with a wide grin on her face. She stopped before the warden.

‘I’m sorry, I got to go. I had a great time here, I’ll see you in never.’

With a grumpy and angry look on his wrinkled face the warden let Victor and Layla walk out of the prison.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

‘Your transport will be waiting outside, madam.’ The warden said as nice as possible.

Layla stepped into the back of the taxi and Victor in the front. Fred hit the gas and they speeded away.

‘That look on the wardens’ face… aahh, never gets old.’ Layla leaned back in her seat. ‘Nice to see you again, Fred. It’s been a while.’

‘Always happy to pick you up, Layla. I almost thought they weren’t going to capture you at all anymore. What went wrong?’

‘They ambushed me when I was loading in cargo at Site Delta. Nearly got away as well, but they cornered me before I could make it into outer space.’

‘What was the load?’ Victor asked.

‘Six tons of fresh wheat taken from Evonade food& farming corp.. It could have been on mars right now, feeding hundreds.’

A sudden silence fell in the taxi. The sounds of vehicles outside filled the silence.

Layla rubbed her wrists. They were still red from the handcuffs she had to wear.

‘What took you so long, Victor? You normally get me out in two weeks at most.’

‘There has been a lot going on lately. One of which might interest you.’

‘I’m listening.’

‘I’m asking you to repay me for the favours I’ve done for you. And you might find what you want as well.’

‘What do you want me to do?’

‘I’m putting a team together to head back to earth.’

The car shook a bit. Fred looked at Victor.

‘Are you serious. After all these years…’

‘Yes I am. I’m putting a team together and I need a pilot. You’re far better than any government licenced pilot, and I wouldn’t let those fly if it was my only option. It wouldn’t be safe.’ Victor looked away and outside the window.

‘This is a serious favour, but I sense you’re not telling me something. What aren’t you telling me Victor. I want to know. I won’t tell it to anyone, promise.’

Victor took a deep breath. ‘Vallum has ordered that Sarah is to go on this mission… I want her to be safe, and I need you at the wheel of the ship to make sure of that.’

Layla raised her eyebrow. ‘I don’t get it. Why would you listen to him. Screw Vallum!’

‘That’s not the problem. The first thing Vallum would have done is make sure Sarah knows about it. I won’t be able to convince her not to go.’

Layla put her hand on Victors’ shoulder. ‘I got your back on this. You know what? I’ll do it.’

‘You will?’

‘Yep. I’ll get her down there safely. And make sure she gets back too. I got some family matters to clear out down there as well, so I kinda have to.’ Layla smiled.

‘Thank you very much, Layla. I’m gonna do everything in my power to get you all back. I swear.’

Victor looked at Layla. ‘You’re gonna be in for a treat. You’ll be flying a Photon .55 there.’

‘The new one? That’s awesome! I always wanted to get my hands on a .5 series!’

‘That is a fine craft to play with,’ Fred said to himself.

‘Who’s gonna be my co-pilot. I need one for that kind of craft.’

‘A guardian marine who I trained personally. He and his sister will be providing you with security.’

‘I feel safer already.’

‘There’s the mall. I’m gonna park it here guys.’ Fred parked the car next to the busy sidewalk. Layla didn’t get out immediately. Victor handed her a small piece of paper and a card.

‘Come to this address in three days. Show them this card and they’ll let you in. I Wait in room 12.’

‘Room 12. Got it.’

‘Layla, I really appreciate what you just said. If you get my daughter back safely, I’ll see to it that you can keep the .55, deal?’

‘Deal,’ Layla said trying to hide her enthusiasm. She stepped out of the taxi and onto the busy sidewalk. Victor opened his door.

‘And Stripes.’

‘Yeah?’ Layla responded.

‘Next time you’re doing a smuggling trip, just give me a call. I won’t let a police craft ten kilometres near you.’

‘Gonna keep you to that.’ She said as she disappeared into the cloud.

Victor shut the door.

Fred drove away. ‘She’s a good kid,’ he said.

‘She is, and she keeps her promises. But I think she’s underestimating this mission.’

‘Maybe. Maybe you’re underestimating Sarah. She’s tough, you know. If she looks as much like here father like you say she’s gonna be just fine.’

‘I hope your right Fred. Just drive me home, I don’t feel like all the incognito stuff today. I got a lot on my head.’

‘I got you pal. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the ride.’