The Seven Shade System - Adventures!

Chapter 4 - Retribution Cooking

It would soon be dinner time and Randy sat amid his gang in the prison cafeteria. His gang consisted of Piper, the tough muscle of the group, and Robin, the quick-witted strategist.

"I'm stepping out tonight," Randy said, looking around at his companions.

"You are the boss, the Big Axe, should we make it happen?" Piper asked.

Randy nodded. He had fully immersed himself in the life of Randy the Big Axe and he knew his power. One thing was on his mind – using the power at his disposal to step out of the prison yard and find Pamela as he had promised and to hurt Jamie Doss.

"You know what to do," Robin said to the gang, and they all spread out, ready to carry out their plan.

In the respite that followed, a crisis arose. Inmates came running back through the passage that Randy's gang had used, followed closely by the prison guards. The guards forced the prisoners back to their cells, and just as they were locked in, the Governor's voice came through the wired pipes.

"You have broken rules, rules which are laws and since there is a law that guides this place, you will be punished. Your punishment includes early lockdown tonight, which means no super. Also, you will remain locked till the broken clinic glasses are repaired."

While other inmates grumbled, Randy was glad. All he wanted was a lockdown and he had achieved it.

After an hour, the head count was completed and then the lights were killed.

As the lights went out and the prison fell into darkness, he turned to Robin, his roommate. "Put the mannequin on the bed and cover it," he instructed. Without a word, Robin did as he was told, masking the escape plan in plain sight.

While Robin set up the decoy, Randy grabbed his backpack which contained his carefully hidden clothes and supplies. "Sleep with your ears open, I'll be back before the cockcrow," Randy whispered to Robin as he climbed into the narrow, dark pipe that would lead him to freedom.

"Yes boss," Robin replied, his voice tinged with admiration and loyalty. As Randy disappeared into the shadows of the pipes, Robin settled into his bed, keeping watch and waiting for his leader's return.

In the pipe, he changed into the clothes that were in his backpack – a baggy of jeans and a jacket that had an axe inscription on the back.

Sliding down the pipes that led to the field, Randy carefully avoided the torch from the watchtower. He moved quickly and silently, his senses on high alert. As he reached the gate, he pulled out his spare key and unlocked it with ease. Stepping outside, he signaled for the car that was waiting for him.

"Take me to the Keek's Club," Randy said to the driver.

"Yes, boss," the driver replied, and they sped off towards their destination.

After an hour of driving, they arrived at the Keek's Club. Randy was ushered to a table where Councilman Tate was waiting for him.

"Big Axe, welcome," Tate greeted him with a smile.

"Where's Jamie Doss?" Randy asked, getting straight to the point. He wished to see him, knowing quite well that Jamie would treat him blindly, not knowing that it was Leonard St Chadwick, the man he killed inside Randy The Big Axe.

"Calm down, mate. He won't be here today. But he has made the mediums ready. We will go check on them," Tate informed him.

"Mediums?" Randy questioned, intrigued.

"Yes, the ones who'll be moving the drugs," Tate explained.

Randy knew somehow that Pamela would be one of the mediums. He had a feeling deep within him that he couldn't shake off. The anticipation was building up inside him, and he was eager to finally see her again.

He could see what the robot meant. That somehow, the missions he would run for the Six Shade System would lead him to his personal missions, and it was playing out just as he wanted it.

"Let's go," Randy said eagerly, ready to get this mission underway.

Tate and Randy and three other thugs drove to the port where the shipping containers were lined up in rows.

"Come with me," Tate said and led them to the biggest container which was in the middle. He opened it and there it was, heaps on heaps, stacked together – drugs. When Tate said it would be the largest drug ever moved, he wasn’t lying. "Others are filled with the mediums."

"I would like to see them. To be sure if they would be enough to move the drugs.

"You are free to check," Tate said.

As they approached, Randy couldn't help but feel a sense of unease at the sight of the containers, knowing that they were likely filled with innocent people who had been trafficked.

Randy heaved heavily as he went, trying to keep his emotions in check. He couldn't let Tate see the compassion he felt for the victims, especially for his daughter, since he was in Randy's body and might not understand. At the moment, he was Randy the thug, not Leonard.

One by one, Randy entered the containers. He checked the ones where in there were kids and saw them, all glum. "Pamela!!!"

He kept calling and running out of each container and going to the next one.

It was when he reached the sixth container that he heard a faint voice calling out, "I'm here."

Randy's heart skipped a beat at the voice. Then he paused and called again. "Pamela?"

"I am here," she said again. "Do you know me, mister, please help me," she pleaded and stepped out of the line.

Randy's heart broke as he knelt to her level and hugged her. He felt like telling the little girl that he was her daddy and had come to save her, but how on earth would she understand, "Where is your mommy?" he asked gently, trying to keep his voice steady.

The girl shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Please don't take me to mummy, mister Jamie will hurt me," she whispered.

Randy's blood ran cold at the mention of Jamie's name. He knew from the onset what Jamie was capable of. He knew that Jamie would make use of Pamela in moving drugs and he didn’t disappoint.

He wondered how Maggie was brainwashed easily to think that Jamie loved her and would not hurt Pamela. Well, that doesn’t matter. He was holding and looking into his daughter’s face and that meant the world to him.

Randy's heart clenched with dread as he realized he had to leave the girl behind, at least for now. "I'll come back for you," he promised softly, his voice laced with regret.

"Who are you, mister?" Pamela asked.

"I am daddy’s friend. The bad guys outside must not know that I am coming back for you," he said with a smile.

"Mister Jamie said daddy is dead and he hits mummy. Is that true?" Pamela asked and this nearly reduced Randy into tears. The jinx around being Randy wasn’t enough to keep his tears as Leonard puffed out and he shed a tear. For real, he was dead, but he mustered courage when he heard his name.

"We're leaving, Big Axe," Tate called from outside the container, his voice impatient.

“Your daddy is alive, and I will take you to him. Okay?" the girl nodded.

As he emerged from the container, Tate gave him a suspicious look. "What were you doing in there for so long?" he asked, his eyes narrowing.

"Just making sure everything was in order," Randy replied quickly, trying to hide the turmoil within him.

They set out to leave and Randy held his jaw in his hand, thinking. "How do I save her? Where do I keep her?" as he questioned himself, he wondered what would be his next shade. Was it going to be in the city? Will he be able to connect with Pamela still? This made him want to wrap up the shade as soon as possible. "I will find you, Pamela. Jamie, I am coming for you!"