The Seven Shade System - Adventures!

Chapter 7 - Mission 2

The damp, metallic stench of the prison pipes clung to Randy’s clothes as he crawled through the labyrinthine tunnels.

A smug grin stretched across his face. He had done it. He had saved Pamela. The first part of the Six Shade System’s mission was complete, and his own, even more so.

A mechanical whirring echoed down the pipes, the sound like a ghostly metallic platform gliding through the air. But all was happening in his head.

It was accompanied by the robot’s voice, a voice that had become as familiar as his own heartbeat.

“CONGRATULATIONS, RANDY,” The robotic voice rasped in his head. “YOU HAVE SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE FIRST PHASE OF YOUR MISSION.”

“And what’s the next phase?” Randy asked, his voice a low rasp.

“THE NEXT MISSION IN THIS PHASE REQUIRES YOUR EXPERTISE IN ELIMINATION,” the robot stated. “AN ASSASSIN IS BEING SENT INTO PYKES PENITENTIARY TO SILENCE MINISTER THOMAS. HE IS BEING ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLEMENT BY AN OPPOSING PARTY, A CHARGE THAT HAS BEEN DEEMED FALSE. YOUR MISSION IS TO ELIMINATE THE ASSASSIN BEFORE HE REACHES THE MINISTER.”

“How do I know the assassin?”

“THAT IS YOURS TO FIND OUT. IF THE SYSTEM CAN DO EVERYTHING, YOU WON'T BE SENT. THE MISSION IS ASSIGNED TO YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO SOLVE IT.”

It was true. He was in place of power as the 001 of Pykes Penitentiary, and all the inmates respected and feared him. “I see.”

“THE ASSASSIN IS A SKILLED OPERATIVE, TRAINED IN THE ART OF STEALTH AND DECEPTION. HE WILL BE DISGUISED AS AN INNOCENT INMATE,” the robot replied. “YOU MUST BE VIGILANT AND ANTICIPATE HIS EVERY MOVE. ANALYZE HIS PATTERNS, HIS HABITS, AND HIS WEAKNESSES.”

“All right,” Randy answered.

“REMEMBER THE RULES. YOU DON'T FAIL, AND YOU DON'T DIE UNTIL THE MISSION IS COMPLETE. OTHERWISE, YOUR BODY WILL DETERIORATE, AND YOUR DAUGHTER WILL BE LOST FOREVER.”

“I understand,” Randy answered.

Randy slid into his cell through the lid underneath Robin's bunk and he opened it for him. “Boss, what took you so long?” Randy asked.

“I had unfinished business with Jamie Doss and now it's settled,” Randy answered.

“I hope it won't affect Councilman Tate?” Robin asked.

“I don't care,” Randy responded and lay on his bed after. “I had a busy day. I just want a sound night's rest.*

***

Randy sat within his circle, a brooding figure amongst the other inmates, a knot of anxiety churning in his stomach.

Three days. Three days since he'd thrown a wrench into Councilman Tate and Jamie Doss's illicit deal, leading to their arrests and plunging his mind into a state of tense uncertainty.

Three days since he'd last heard from them. He knew they'd be cooking up a plan, and he knew he had to be prepared.

"Guys," he said, his voice raspy, "we need to be careful from now on. Some new faces are joining us, and one of them could be a real snake in the grass. An assassin. Don't get chummy with any of them, and keep your mouths shut."

"Yes, Big Axe," his men, Robin and Piper, as well as the rest of the gang responded.

“Who's the assassin after, Big Axe?” Piper asked.

“I will tell you if there's a need to know. Just be on alert,” Randy explained.

Randy stood up, his legs stiff from sitting, and headed towards the latrine. As he walked, flanked by his two lieutenants, the heavy prison gate clanged open, revealing the governor and a contingent of ten guards. Behind them, five new inmates shuffled in, looking like a motley crew of lost souls.

The governor, a man with a perpetually worried expression, addressed the yard. "Men, we have five new arrivals, and I implore you to treat them with respect. They are fellow prisoners, and we need to maintain order."

The guards, their faces hardened and indifferent, together with the reception officer ushered the new inmates towards the cell to show them their room and Randy watched, his gaze fixed on the newcomers, a flicker of recognition flashing in his eyes.

He knew instantly who the minister of finance was, Minister Thomas, a man whose name had been synonymous with corruption for years. Why the system wanted to protect him was something he didn't know, but that was not his concern; he had one task — to protect him and kill the assassin.

He scanned the other four faces, trying to pinpoint the assassin. They looked harmless enough, each with their own story etched on their faces.

One, a young man with a nervous tremor in his hands, seemed to shrink back at every noise. Another, a gruff, weathered man with a missing tooth, appeared lost in his own thoughts. The remaining two, a slender man with a haunted look and a burly man with a tattoo of a serpent on his arm, seemed indifferent to their surroundings.

Something within him told him it would be the tattooed man but he didn't want to bet on it. He would be too forward to challenge him immediately.

Randy felt a chill run down his spine. The assassin was there, disguised within the ordinary, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. This was a different game now. It was a game of shadows, where trust was a luxury he could no longer afford.

"Watch them," he instructed his men, his voice low and menacing. "Watch them closely, and don't let your guard down for a second."

The gang dismissed, trying to get some clue about the new inmates.

After a while, Piper and Robin returned. "So, it's confirmed," Robin said, his voice low as he perched on the bench beside Randy. "The new arrivals, one has a VIP cell, the others are paired with existing inmates."

"The guy in the VIP cell...he's a big shot. They're treating him like royalty,” Piper added.

Randy nodded. "That's Minister Thomas, the Minister of Finance. The one the assassin is after."

Robin gasped. "No way! We need to protect him. He can be of help on the outside.”

"Exactly," Randy said. Although the reason was different. "Piper, you're good at making friends. Get close to the minister. Keep an eye on him and try to find out who might be targeting him."

"I'm on it. I'll make sure he's safe."

Randy huffed. This time, not relief. But of worries. He got the bigger picture. It might be two assassins — one to hunt down the minister, and the other from Tate and Jamie, to kill him.