The Pale Cage

Chapter 7

Roangy put something smooth and cold onto his chest and it sent a powerful shock into his chest. Raeburn yelled as his left heart jolted back into rhythm. He ignored Roangy's shushing as she took the defibrillator paddles off of him. He complied and relaxed, ready to sleep again.

“No, Montmore stay awake!” Roangy whispered loudly. She tried to pull him up into a sitting position, but he slouched, he really just wanted to sleep. “Montmore!” Raeburn didn't respond to her efforts, but when she slapped him across the face his eyes flashed opened.

“Roangy-- what?” He was having difficulty focusing on her blurred face.

“Montmore, we don't have a lot of time. I'm sorry about earlier, I really am, I didn't know anything and you were right about everything.” Raeburn nodded as he tried to keep his eyes open. “Montmore, this is our best chance to get out of here.” With the promise of escape he nodded and focused in on Roangy. “I've also got this.” Roangy put into Raeburn's weakening hands the converter. “I took it to the pocket you pinpointed...just like you said...How do we channel it to you?”

“Back up...” Raeburn warned. Roangy scooted back. Raeburn looked at her. “A bit more.” Roangy stood up and moved to the opposite wall. Raeburn nodded to her and then fiddled with his machine. A golden tendril of lightening lashed out from the box hitting Raeburn in the chest. He really wished he could just walk into the Tardis, that would have been much simpler...and less painful.

“Montmore?” Roangy asked, thoroughly concerned.

There was no way Raeburn could answer her, he was working very hard not to scream. A second bolt of energy hit him in the face. The energy seared through his whole body, lighting him up. Everything felt like it was on fire. He gave in and screamed as the energy tore at him. Then his whole body gave out and he slumped. The lightening fizzled out and he released the converter.

“Montmore!” Roangy dropped down next to him, checking his pulse.

“I'm okay” Coughed Raeburn. But he couldn't bring himself to move.

“Did it work?”

“I think so.”

Roangy tried to bring him back up to sitting, but he was too wobbly. “Can't you move at all?” Roangy asked, trying to steady him.

Raeburn flexed his hands, opening and closing them. “Yeah....I'm good.”

“Okay, you made a lot of noise, we've got to get out of here—fast.”

“Okay”

“Can you stand?”

“Yes.”

Roangy helped him when he wobbled. But instead of walking him to the door she set him down onto his bed. “I've got clothes for you.” Roangy pulled a bag out from under the bed and set out clothes for him.

“Can't go walking through Mordor, but in your skin.”

“I'm sorry, what?”

“Nothing, just had a thought.” Raeburn quickly dressed. He flexed his hands, already he was becoming stronger, the dose of Artron energy was exactly what he needed. When he was dressed, in a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, a jacket and shoes (He really missed his bow tie), Roangy led him out of his room. She led him down the hall, making many turns (Two lefts, a right and then a left) and then up a set of stairs.

“How big is this building? I thought coming to Cardiff was on a whim, how did you lot score all of this?” Raeburn asked, the stairs seemed to go on forever.

“Most of our buildings have at least three underground levels. We also have at around a dozen facilities within Great Britain.” Roangy told him with pride.