Nine: Freedom

Spike was fuming, to the point that the dragons running the farm had needed to restrain him and sedate him, but when he’d stopped eating the food or drinking the water as part of his protest, they’d found themselves in a pickle. There were concerns that the prince would be furious if they let the favourite die and they were trying their best to bring more enticing food, spraying water on Spike’s face through nozzles as the only way to get him to take in water. They were getting anxious and yet, Wind Blade and Magma were not sure how they could help Spike cope with this.

“They’ll be in the best of care and when he comes back, he’ll likely tell you all about them and how well they’re doing. He was different to the others… Spike… you worked hard with him enough to ensure that the rest of us will be looked at better and that they won’t let you die. Please… you don’t want to go numb like the others here… please…” Wind Blade was speaking in his low tone, the tone that felt weirdly like a teacher more than a warrior and Spike was listening to it as he lay there moping on the bedding, but he was just being motionless about it all. He didn’t care when it was obvious that he would never be able to look after his babies ever again? Wind Blade sighed in frustration, wishing he could help more and then Magma seemed to be the one that had more thoughts on the matter.

“Spike… I need you to listen to me very carefully, do you understand?” Magma stated firmly, snorting smoke even through her muzzle and growling to feel herself so restricted. The big female wanted nothing more than to wrap Spike into her arms and snuggle him, soothe him like he were one of her offspring and yet she could not get to him. Wind Blade must have felt the same, they felt Spike was special compared to some of the others that had come in and then gone so numb again. But as Spike heaved a sigh as if to say he would listen, Magma spoke calmly. “You don’t want to go numb here because this will all happen again… instead you want to remain as sharp and clever as you are because you’re the only one whose seen what this place looks like. Think about it Spike, you saw everything even briefly and that should be what’s occupying your mind now… not misery for offspring that are guaranteed happiness because you manipulated that situation to work for you.”

Spike listened and his tail lifted slightly as if he understood, but he did understand and he was glad of their help. The more they tried to soothe him, the more he was able to remember that he was alive and that he needed to help them all just as much as himself. He reminded himself that he could not become the numb egg-producing machines that others here had and he needed to get out of there. He had to escape the place… he had to escape with everyone… it was utterly vital for them to live!

However… Spike had a plan and that plan was to refuse to eat, refuse to drink, finding in as much as he would become weak, he would still be able to move and some of his senses were returning. He began to hear more, to smell more, and more importantly despite the fact that they had put so many soft things around them to stop them sensing vibrations, Spike could do that again. He could feel when the door opened and where it was and he could also hear beyond it and the keypad! Yes… Spike could hear the familiar tones and he could almost feel where the paws were to put it in. There were key codes to come in and out… and he also heard clocks, he could time things now and he could tell what was happening.

He had a great plan forming in his head, he could tell there was a time when there was only the most limited staff on hand that would be the ones to come in and try to encourage him to eat. He’d just refused for now but they were growling and grumbling about sticking a tube down his throat. Of course that would not be suitable but hearing it, Spike knew they were going to do it on that poor shift, when he could overpower the figure when the removed the mask from his head. He’d have to be quick, smother the guy in return with the mask, wrestle him and then pull back… run to the door and get out of there. Once he had this thing off his head, he’d be able to see but he doubted anyone was watching constantly on that poor shift and he was eager!

Windblade and Magma both began to realise that something was up with Spike, especially when he only lifted his head to drink a little water but would not talk to them. Certainly the pair rumbled to each other in concern, but their words were careful and so was their pitch, Windblade lifting his tone to sound almost quizzical as he spoke, noticing when they asked questions, Spike would wag and slap his tail in yes and no. Windblade started to converse with him in this manner and Magma soon picked up on it, using similar things with huge stomps of her feet whenever she needed to wake some of the others up and keep them alert. As she did so, Spike would hear who would react and he was surprised… some of the ones that seemed numb would react too and Spike was starting to have hope for all them trapped in here.

The only problem as, Spike had no real idea of how many other places there were like this… he would want to destroy them all, but instead he would have to rescue just this lot and it was not long before the day came.

A dull, yellow coloured male with long digits and a long body swung into the room with a growl of frustration, holding in his hands a pipe and a bucket of liquid food. He was swearing to himself, yawning and muttering about how exhausted he was and Spike was listening in interest, as was Magma. She’d learnt that stomping her feet and swinging, she seemed to obscure something because they would mutter about it. This male though muttered that his ‘friend’ wasn’t even in the booth but chatting up one of the good looking nurses that was on their break! He was muttering so much it was so easy for Spike to realise how much luck he might have in this moment.

The yellow groaned, prodding Spike who was remaining motionless and then the figure muttered as he yanked the hood off, assuming Spike wouldn’t move at all! He gave a soft grunt of frustration, just wriggling the hood off and then he pulled the pipe forward. As he did so, Spike opened his eyes and then swung upwards with his paws… the pipe fell on the ground and the yellow’s muzzle was being squeezed. He tried to pull back but Spike jabbed his thumbs into the nostrils, squeezing the mouth too tight for the male to be able to breathe. He grunted and tried to struggle but Spike held on until the figure passed out.

Once done, Spike slid the hood over his head and pulled him into his stall… the fool had undone the restraints so automatically, they clipped back on around him as Spike gave a snigger. Spike then turned to pat Windblade and magma on the bum, beckoning them to be ready as he then slid over to the door. Spike carefully put in the code, smirking even if he felt like he could collapse at any moment form exhaustion and the painful lactic acid building up in his muscles. He hopped through the door as it opened and then was overcome by the sudden bright light, but he turned his head to notice the booth and very calmly shuffled inside and found the release button. He pressed it and slowly, all the pens unlocked and Spike then turned off the cameras in the area and, he opened the door and waited for Magma and the others to come out to him.

There was the sudden of shuffling, the dragons wrestling to get their hoods off and then go to others, Spike remained waiting outside, keeping an eye out for danger and finding there was something very interesting he could do to keep everyone else distracted. One of the other creatures being trapped in the nearest cell was a very dangerous serpentine creature, Spike released the button and there were red lights flaring and sounds to notify that the monster was being released. It closed down one corridor but, opened a door inside the farm pens that led outside to an emergency exit and this Windblade went to.

As Spike shuffled out of the control booth, glad the keys were simple and could be run by idiots, he limped back into the room to join the others. A few dragons had remained standing there, unable to do anything but just wait for the breeding, the food or the water. Spike didn’t have time to grab them and wake them up, he wondered just how ruined they were, but magma had gathered the weakest but more aware upon her back. She and the others that were more awake had all gathered whomever they thought they could save, there were only a few left behind and so Spike followed them out into the emergency exit.

They heard Windblade swinging his wings and his tail about, knocking or killing some dragons up the passage they all padded up and finding that there was an electric fence and then a great wilderness. As soon as Magma got up to the top, she settled the ones on her back to the ground and before Windblade could suggest cutting the fence, Magma charged it and well, she ran through it and onwards, stretching the damn fence out until it practically exploded with the wire pinging aside and bending enough they could either jump or slide under most of it. Windblade was just stunned but neither he nor Spike were going to question it as they began to lead the others out. There were a few guards hurrying their way, but Thunderclap and Rainstorm seemed to have a sudden burst of energy and charged them.

Thunderclap opened her wings out, swept up the dirt around them and then the wind, grinning before slamming her wings together. A sudden wave of energy slapped out into the guards and the monitoring equipment, making glass shatter and the guards bowl over, howling that they suddenly could not hear before Thunderclap then helped ease Spike out through the gap. On the other side, Rainstorm was up in the air, her wings able to get her up enough she could start pulling in water vapour from the air and dust, suddenly forming something fast and like a waterspout at her muzzle before she then spat out and knocked them out too before she flew over to the others.

Once they were all through, they all looked to Spike for some kind of guidance, Spike had no idea where they were going to go from here, but he had high hopes to go right in the direction of the wastelands. He pointed it out to them and, without even questioning it, they all began to hurry in that direction, ignoring everything else. They hurried onwards, galloping on with a cloud of dust around them and it obvious where they were going. They did not know how long it would be before the search parties would go after them, but by some curious luck, on their way towards seeing the facility as a shape on the horizon, there was a sound of something exploding and Windblade gave a cackle of delight.

“You couldn’t have chosen a better morning for it Spike, the facility is under attack from someone, do you think we can convince them to help rescue us?” Windblade queried, but no sooner had he questioned then they heard another warship heading in their direction. They turned their heads, a little excited if it would protect them, but for the guns being released and Windblade to give a bleat of anxiety as Spike gave a groan.

“I doubt it! Run towards the canyon!” Spike yelped and all of them picked up their speed as there were shots fired into the dust cloud where the were. Dusty bleated in fear, asking what was happening but Spike was sure it was just mistaken identity. Whomever they were, they probably hadn’t seen them escape and assumed them the enemy, so it was better to keep running towards the nasty ragged rocks that dipped down into a nasty looking canyon. As they hurried into it, they were soon slipping down the sides as carefully as possible and searching for a familiar looking form of a cave. This would be the best place to rest up before escaping again, but they were all anxious about being closed up in darkness again as Magma spotted one.

“There’s very little we can do about it; those guys don’t know if we’re friend or foe so… better get in guys!” Hauler grunted, the dragons on his back whimpering but gripping him tightly for protection. Racer decided to try and show off their speed, hurrying forward and launching into the cave with speed before then suddenly spinning around. When their head popped out and looked to the others, they beckoned them inside and insisted it was a safe spot! Seeing the smallest dragon amongst them showing such courage, they all felt stronger as another warship came over and littered the rocks around them with pellets and laser fire as they all hurried into the cave with yelps and squeals of fear!

Once inside, they were all soon panting and grunting in disbelief, looking to one another in anxiety before Racer then beckoned to them all. Their eyes took a while to adjust to the darkness, but when Ripclaw managed to show she still had strength enough for a single flame… and thankfully Dusty had picked up some wood to use as a torch, they were all given some relief. After being swallowed up in the darkness for so long, turning around and seeing fire produced by their own kind for the first time in ages was almost heartwarming. But they were all intrigued as Racer insisted they travel through the cave and well, caves were usually caused by water were they not?

“If we go in deep enough than there’s the chance we’ll either come across water or get somewhere that we might be more comfortable. To be fair, the deeper we go the harder it will be for the others to come after us and we might be able to stop and have a rest!” Smoky chuckled as he turned to check how Shadow was doing upon Magma’s back. This dragon looked exhausted but oddly very excited to see that they were heading somewhere and of course, the regal Coldstar was standing right beside Spike with a curious expression upon her face as she turned to the only red dragon amongst them.

"You were very clever Spike... in the whole time I was there, all I could think was how sad and angry I was… I’d given up on trying to fight so… thank you.” Being Imperial it was a bit of a surprise for her to show such humility towards any of them. Spike though just shrugged, insisting that without the lot of them, none of them could have escaped. It made the others all snigger before turning back to Smoky and insisting they had the right idea and together, the group began marching down the passages. Windblade and Spike dropped to the back, walking behind Thunderclap who was panting from their exhaustion and Rainstorm, who was sporting a bleeding graze but thankfully nothing to serious. As they moved on through the darkness, Windblade opened their wings out protectively behind them all and then turned to Spike thoughtfully.

“What is the plan once we leave? As much as some of us might be good at lead in certain situations, you’re the one that got us free and I assume that you would be the one to tell us who will protect us?” Windblade queried, all ears open and listening out for the response as Spike just gave a wheeze of relief to be getting further from the entrance but still to find there was air to breathe down here. However, he turned his head to the side, a little curious about the thought before then shrugging his shoulders at first before then giving a soft snort that was almost of amusement as he gave a slow sigh.

“I guess to the rebellion, Tyrant is going to work hard to rescue us from the constraints we’ve been under and the reduced meat and what not. He is the one that will likely hear out stories and spread them, tell everyone how we’ve all been betrayed and more than likely work to bring down the imperial household…. No offense Coldstar.” Spike stated calmly with a soft chuckle from Coldstar to hear it. In truth, there was a part of Spike that was hopeful that maybe Boulder would be out there to rescue them. Of course there was no likelihood of that, knowing Boulder he was the sort to have gotten right into the trouble and gotten killed already. But at the same time, there was a serious pain within Spike that only these beings could understand and Windblade dropped his head to whisper to him very carefully.

“And… the possibility of regaining our young?” It was obvious that despite being a wise warrior and a great male, WindBlade’s ability to birth had marked him and he wanted to know what had happened to those he’d brought into the world. No doubt, the others were thinking about that too, no doubt they were all wondering if Tyrant would not only free the rest of them, but that they might actually dare to free the youngsters and return them to their parents. But was it even likely? Would Tyrant even want to free them or just use them? Spike’s mind thought of Thunderwing, Tyrant’s right-hand dragon and what he’d done and Spike heaved a sigh of relief.

“I think so… I hope so…” Spike began, but he was not too sure and there was something else that was stabbing into him right now. Although he had been betrayed by Comet Chaser too, something about him had just been different and he hoped that the male was looking after their babies well. But he also wondered… was Comet missing him? It felt stupid to think like that, especially when he should be thinking about getting back to Boulder… but it was still there.