Chereads / Empty Pockets / Chapter 50 - Heading To Jahtan

Chapter 50 - Heading To Jahtan

Arnold: "You made it."

Kaizen: "Took me a bit to find this place, but yes."

Everyone gets up on their feet.

Tobias: "Let's get these other prisoners to safety."

Lucia: "Right. Everybody, if you'll listen to me. We have help on the way, so follow us and we'll take you out safely."

While the prisoners look at her, they are conflicted. Some happy to leave, others not so sure.

Tobias: "There is nothing to fear. You will all be protected, with our lives, if necessary. That, I can assure. You are no longer prisoners. So follow us and you'll be safe."

The prisoners slowly start getting up on their feet as Captain Tobias walks to the door.

Lieutenant Michael: "That's the captain for you."

Lucia: "Yeah..."

All the prisoners gather up and walk out the prison slowly, following the Captain, along with the ACO officers behind them. Lucia turns back to see all four of them along with Ayana's friends staying back. Lucia continues up ahead.

Lieutenant Michael: "Shouldn't we bring them with us?"

Lucia: "They'll follow. Or our reinforcements will arrive and we'll catch them. I'd prefer to not cause unnecessary violence right now. We did just save the Captain and now have to leave without being caught."

Lieutenant Michael: "... Alright. You first."

They walk on ahead.

Kaizen: "Kassius, that girl told me to tell you something. She said go to Jahtan, specifically Central Jahtan Station. With those two."

Clyde: "Us?"

Kassius: "Jahtan?"

Arnold: "It's the city those coordinates gave us."

Kassius: "Oh yeah, you're right."

Bonnie: "For what exactly?"

Kaizen: "She didn't mention. All she said was to bring them there."

Kassius: "Maybe she's planning to bring the diamond there."

Kaizen: "Which means we have to catch up to them quickly."

Clyde: "So Ayana is danger..."

Feela: "Ayana..."

Kaizen: "Do not worry though. I have a plan. A risky plan, but a good one. It will help us leave these police people and go after the diamond."

Arnold: "Tell us."

Kaizen: "These bandits have vehicles. Problem is, they're all in the camp. So we'll need to sneak in, steal one, and leave."

Kassius: "Hmm... should we all go?"

Arnold: "No, that'd be too risky."

Bonnie: "If the worst case happens, can't we just fight?"

Kaizen: "We can, but we're disadvantaged."

Kassius: "Then let me and Arnold get the car, since he can drive. We can meet you at the cut off and pick you guys up."

Kaizen: "That works. Just be very careful."

Arnold: "Where are the keys?"

Kaizen: "She told me the first tent to the left. Keys are ordered like the cars, left to right."

Kassius: "First tent to the left, got it. Alright, let's go Arnold."

Kassius and Arnold leave the prison and walk to the end of the path. They turn and go into the right path, headed for the camp. Lucia looks back, unable to see the cut off.

Lucia: "What are they trying to do?"

Lieutenant Michael: "Let's hurry, before they cause problems for us."

They continue going towards the exit, as Kassius and Arnold head to the camp. The ACO group and the prisoners finally reach the end and exit the base.

ACO officer 1: "Hey, hey, hey! Look! They made it out."

ACO officer 2: "Ask for the signal."

The officer tries getting their attention, which works as Lucia spots him.

Lucia: "Fire it!"

ACO officer 1: "She said fire it."

The officer fires the flare, alerting Captain John's group. Kassius and Arnold reach the end of the right path and peek the corner.

Kassius: "Whoa! It's actually big."

Arnold: "Over there. The vehicles."

Kassius: "They're up ahead though. We'll have to sneak around the tents."

Kassius and Arnold slowly pass into the camp, trying to stay low. They see a lot of the bandits around the middle area, eating food. They sneak into the tent.

Kassius: "Nobody's here."

Arnold: "There."

They see the table, with the keys arranged. Kassius goes up to it, and sees them lined up. He chooses the third key and walks back. They sneak out the back of the tent and start going around the camp. Slowly, they go around the tents and sneak further back in the camp. They sneak through cuts in the tents, sometimes easy, other times almost spotted. They finally reach the vehicles.

Arnold: "Stay very quiet."

Kassius and Arnold start slowly going around, as footsteps get closer around them.

Bandit 1: "Hey, when do you think the boss'll share the riches from our last heist?"

Bandit 2: "Be serious. The boss won't even tell us where all the goods are kept. Heh... Keep it between me and you, I don't think we'll ever see that money."

Bandit 1: "Really?!"

Bandit 2: "Shh!"

Bandit 1: "Sorry, but if we won't get paid, why a-"

Bandit 3: "Oyy! Stop strolling. Come. Henzo is calling for us. About some new plans."

Bandit 3 walks as the other two follow him. Kassius and Arnold finally reach their car and try get in as quietly as possible. Over at the centre of the camp, Henzo is in front of all the bandits.

Henzo: "Starting from today, we'll need new regulations for the base. Clearly we are being found more often, so as such, we'll be increasing security. Not only on the outside, but around the base too."

The crowd get rowdy, groaning and ranting.

Random bandit 1: "You're overexaggerating."

Random bandit 2: "Yeah, nobody has come to this base and left alive."

Random bandit 3: "This is just extra work."

Henzo: "Enough! We all became bandits to help the boss, and ensuring this place is protected should be one of our top priorities. That includes you two as well."

Dune: "What?! No way! Why do we have to do it? Aren't they enough?"

Sandworm: "I agree."

Henzo: "You'll need to chip in too. As fo-"

The car engine shocks everyone.

Henzo: "What the? Sandworm!"

Sandworm: "Hey! I told you all to group up here!"

Arnold starts the car and they speed off through the camp. As they rush through the open centre, everybody clears the way. They drive past and head for the exit. The bandits pull out their guns and start shooting but the car gets away and exits the camp.

Henzo: "Shit! Stop them!"

As some bandits chase by foot, others head to the vehicles, including Henzo, Sandworm and Dune. After driving down the path a bit, they see the rest of the group and break at the cut off. Arnold rolls down the window.

Kassius: "Jump in quick! They're coming!"

Random bandit: "Hey!"

Shots are fired in their direction but too far away. They all rush into the back of the car and close the door, driving off towards the exit. The other vehicles a distance back, follow them; other bandits running on foot. Henzo in one of the cars peeks out the passenger seat.

Henzo: "Check on the prison!"

Some bandits divert and head to the prison. Henzo pulls out a walky talky.

Henzo: "Control room, close the entrance, over!"

The line stays static and nobody returns a voice.

Henzo: "Control room, respond, over! Control room! Shit! What the hell is happening?!"

Arnold speeds out and exits the base, following the path and riding away. As they drive off, they pass Lucia's group and speed off. They drive to where the backup officers are and drive directly at them, causing them to dive out the way. Weaponless, they begin to panic. Kassius and Bonnie jump out the vehicle and grab the group's bags and toss them in the car. The officers try go at them but Kassius holds a gun at them.

Kassius: "Not today. We're leaving. Tell that female officer something for me."

After telling the officer, Kassius and Bonnie jump in and drive off. Lucia's group finally arrive with the backup officers.

Lucia: " 'We'll give you title credits' ?"

ACO officer 1: "Yes."

Lucia: "Urgh! I can't believe this! We have to chase after them."

Captain Tobias: "We can't afford to do that. All we can do now wait for reinforcements to secure this base."

The other vehicles stop before exiting the base. Henzo steps outside the vehicle.

Henzo: "I need news, now!"

Random bandit: "The prison, it's empty."

Henzo, furious, loses his composure and throws the walky talky into the wall.

Random bandit: "Sir-"

Henzo: "The base is compromised. Gather any important belongings and get the remaining vehicles. We'll head to Jahtan and meet with the boss. Immediately!"

The bandits on foot rush back to the camp. Henzo, Sandworm and Dune all get in their vehicles and head to Jahtan, driving off from the base. As they drive by, Lucia notices them leaving but ignores them. As both Kassius' group and the bandits led by Henzo leave to Jahtan, the ACO group led by Captain John arrive and circle the entrance of the cave.

Lucia: "Captain!"

Lucia, Lieutenant Michael and Captain Tobias go down towards the base entrance, where they meet up with Captain John.

Captain John: "Captain Tobias, you're alright."

Captain Tobias: "I am, thanks to your group of officers."

Captain John: "Lieutenant. News on Kassius Moore and Arnold Jenovise? I'm assuming you found him, since you found the bandits."

Lucia: "Yes. We did find them. However, they... escaped."

Captain John: "Escaped? Where?"

Captain Tobias: "They drove off into the desert. It was out of the Lieutenant's control."

Captain John: "Any idea of where they were headed?"

Lucia: "I-"

Lieutenant Michael: "They are headed to Jahtan."

Captain John: "Jahtan? Are you sure?"

Lieutenant Michael: "I overheard their conversation as we were escaping the prison. Which also means Sado Talman is not here."

Captain John: "Hmm... regardless, we will secure this base. As for the issue arising in Jahtan, we will contact the ACO branch there to deal with them."

Lucia: "Sir, request to go deal with this problem?"

Captain John: "Denied. I've only requested for this task. As general affairs officers, we are already beyond our reach. Anything further is pushing boundaries, breaking established rules."

Lucia looks on, disappointed.

Captain John: "Chin up, Lieutenant. You will always have a chance to catch those criminals another day. For now, rejoice in this victory. You've played a big role in the termination of the black sand bandits. This is something to be proud of."

Lucia: "Yeah... thank you Captain."

The base is infiltrated by the ACO, catching bandits trying to escape. Although they put up a struggle fighting back, in the end, the ACO suffered minimal injuries, capturing each and every one of the bandits that remained. Equipment in the base is removed, every corner searched. The black sand bandits' base was compleyely taken control of by the ACO. Driving off, Kassius' group continue heading for Jahtan.

Kassius: "Wouldn't it be shorter to go that way?"

Arnold: "It would but I'm sure that's the route they took. Best to avoid confrontation as we are now."

Kassius: "You're right... Jahtan..."

Over with the bandit's group, Sandworm, Dune and Henzo continue forward to Jahtan. Frustrated, Henzo lies back in his seat.

Random bandit: "Should we contact the boss?"

Henzo: "Don't. We shouldn't cause unnecessary problems for him. We'll tell him in person when we reach the other base."