Freegans part 50

Lucy
We were right below the Prison. It was on an island, out in the middle of the ocean, and it did, indeed, look like a giant squid from below. The giant mass overhead had several branches out in different directions, like giant tentacles. As we floated up, I saw that some were actually hollow tubes, big enough for some kind of underwater transport to pass through. We all stared, goggle-eyed. Finally, Matt asked, "So, how do we get in?"

"We need to park in one of the docking bays."
"Isn't that a little risky? After all, they may recognize the fact that we don't belong to them," Cara pointed out.
"We'll enter on the far right bay, where we're least likely to be noticed. Besides, almost all submarines look the same nowadays."
"But won't they ask for some kind of code or something?"
"That's where I come in," the Kestrel replied.

We slowly began to rise up toward the docking bay. Cara, Matt, Ben and I looked at each other nervously. Madiza was smiling, as if this were the best day of her life. Without saying anything, we took each other's hands, and squeezed hard, in a reassuring way. I felt as if there were something in my throat, and imagined that it was probably my heart. Looking at my friends, I realized that the same was true with them. It was nice to know that they were as afraid as I was. Except Madiza, that is. Even if she had been looking scared, she probably would not have reassured me.

Finally, the submarine was parked at the docking bay. On the viewing screen came the phrase, Password? Walking to the keyboard, Kestrel quickly and efficiently typed something in. After a tense second, we saw the words, Password confirmed. Everyone let out a breath of relief. We were in.

Freegans part 49

Cara
We were in a submarine! I had never seen one before, except in books, so this was a really exciting experience for me. As I peered out one of the portholes, I saw several species of fish; this was unusual, since I'd assumed they'd all be extinct by now. Then again, maybe the consumerists needed them as a food source.

Us kids (well, all except Madiza) sat on a bench in front of the Ox, who explained what was going to happen when we got there.
"We need to go in quickly, and quietly. If any Drones catch us, it will be disastrous."
"Why?" asked Lucy.
Kestrel pressed a button on his watch, and a hologram appeared. It was a giant creature, about 8 feet tall, and because it had some kind of levitation boots, it wasn't touching the ground, making it look even taller. I craned my neck, getting a look at its face. The Drone had a hard face that looked vaguely like a human's, except it had no mouth. That, and something about it just looked creepier. Probably the fact that it was obviously not human. It's arms reached down past it's knees, sort of like a chimpanzee. The hands on those things looked incredibly strong. I was not liking this thing already. My low opinion increased when the hologram slowly turned to reveal the guns on it's back. I was reminded of a scorpion's tail. The overall effect of this Drone gave me the creeps.

Suddenly, Matt said, "Doesn't look too bad." I gave him an 'Are you insane?' look.
"What?!" he protested. "All we have to do is-blast them with plasma rifles or something! I mean, it's not like they have secret weapons or anything, right?"
"Why do you think they're called Drones, Matt?" asked Kestrel.
"...Like the male bees?"
"No. It's because of the low moaning noise they make. It messes with your inner ear, making it impossible for you to run away. If you try, you stumble and fall, every time. Also, these Drones are incredibly strong. Once one grabs you, it would be nearly impossible to make it let go. They are the ultimate capturing machines."
Matt sat silently for a moment. Finally, he said, "I would like to retract my previous statement."

"So, what do we do about them?" asked Lucy.
Kestrel pressed another button, changing to a different hologram. It looked like a cross between two different machines.
"This is the Sacred Computer and ATM of Light," announced the Ox. "We need to get to it, and then Madiza needs to punch in the KillCode. That will give us an extra hour in which to find Deep Thought, and any of our other comrades, and set them free. If we don't manage it in the alloted amount of time, we are lost."
Something in the finality of his words sent chills running along my spine. I knew he wasn't talking about not finding the way back. I involuntarily shivered.

We were led to separate rooms, and given new clothes. They were in black, and made out of some weird material. I wondered if they were mithril, and had a small chuckle with myself. I changed clothes, but kept the levitation boots. Call me sentimental, but since they'd saved my life at least twice, I felt a kind of attachment to them. When we came back, I smirked at how Matt and Lucy looked: like little kids playing at being ninjas. At least, until I realized that I probably looked the same way. The dark coloring made Madiza look even paler than she was, so that she was practically the color of snow. Ben, despite his emaciatedness and matted hair, looked dashing, but that was what came of coming from the consumerist community. There was no such thing as an ugly person there, at least on the outside.

Matt asked, "Do we get any weapons?"
"You shouldn't have to. At all times you will be protected," was the Ox's reply. Matt looked crestfallen. At that moment, Madiza cried, "Ooh, it's a giant squid!" We went to see what she was looking at, and realized that we were here. At the Prison Sanctum.