Six Steel

Chapter 9: The Lone Traveler And State Fis [OLD]

Jed slowly crept through the winding passages of the Fis Prison, occasionally pausing at various sounds only to realize they were the other prisoners, most seeming too weak to make any noise at their sight of Jed or simply didn't care. They must only have a few guards patrolling these prisons. It must have been an hour or so, and there was still no noise of anybody finding the bodies of the dead guard and soldier near the interrogation rooms. Eventually, Jed saw a door with "Storage" written on the front. Upon entering, he dug through the various drawers and shelves in the storage room and found all his things except his snakeskin hat. He remembered a younger soldier accompanying the older soldier when he was first captured. That young twerp must have taken it. Jed checked his Crimson to ensure there was no damage done to the pistol, and after everything seemed satisfactory, he walked back out of the storage room. He closed the door and heard people talking in the distance. He stood still for a moment, and the noise gradually grew closer. If he were to go back into the storage room now, they would get suspicious and investigate the room, but if he stayed out here, he'd be stuck in a hallway with just his guns to protect himself against what seemed to be multiple foes. Jed's eyes scanned the hallway, trying to devise a plan. Three guards rounded the corner, and Jed executed his plan, praying it would work.

"S'cuse me, fellas, I seem to be a bit lost. You see, I was trying to find the bathroom and found myself here. Could you help me out?"

The guards looked at each other, unsure whether to believe the man. One of them, a tall, thin man with a buzzcut, approached Jed.

"This is a prison, buddy. How did you get here in the first place?" Inquired the man, the other two preparing to draw their pistols.

Jed shrugged his shoulders, "Came to visit a family member."

The man with the buzzcut nodded in feigned understanding, getting closer to Jed.

"You know you resemble a certain outlaw. He goes by the name Jedidiah Prave. You heard of him?"

"Can't say that I have."

The man was now towering over Jed and said, "Funny, because you have the same platinum streak in your hair that he has, even though you seem to be - What? - 28... 30?"

Jed smiled up towards the man, "I get that a lot." Somehow, you idiots forget to keep your distance from a potential threat.

Jed took the Crimson and Shadow tucked behind him in his belt, fired the Shadow into the gut of the man with the buzzcut, and used the Crimson to fire two more shots into the guards behind him, the soldier's tall build acting as a perfect shield.

Blood began pouring out of the two shot with the Crimson, their faces going pale and collapsing to the ground. However, the tall one stayed standing. When Jed looked down, he realized he hadn't even left a mark on the guard. Jed jumped back instinctively as a punch flew towards him. The guard drew his Norman, but before he could even lift the gun, Jed fired another shot from his Crimson into the head of the guard. Jed saw a hole in the wall behind him as the guard fell, presumably from the Shadow. What the hell kind of gun is this.

Jed eventually found his way out of the prison and took in a breath of fresh air. He was happy to be out and immediately cursed the blazing sun for being so hot. He saw a city in the distance and the most significant building at its center glowing with gold leaf, which was placed graciously along the entire building to contrast the bone white stone which made up the rest of the structure. I guess that's the house of State Fis. Jed began walking, hoping it wouldn't be too long as the Anthru Desert sun was starting to grow uncomfortable, and he didn't have his hat to protect him from its rays.

When he got closer, he noticed a caravan heading towards the city. Jed trudged as fast as he could in the sandy dunes towards the caravan and eventually caught up to them. They seemed to be tradesmen, and many of them rode on camels.