Cad Bane's Apprentice

The Box [2]

"That's it." Moralo Eval told the bounty hunters. "Everyone inside. Keep moving,"

Bane pushed Skysati onto the platform.

The platform lifted the bounty hunters into a pristine white room.

Moralo Eval's face surrounded the group as he transmitted a video onto all sides of the room. "Before we begin our first challenge, let me say there is only one rule inside The Box. There are no rules,"

"Typical..." Skysati huffed.

One of the Bounty Hunters spoke in their native language.

"The point, my friend, is to escape. And quickly, because only the survivors will advance to the next challenge."

"Looks like you've got this in the bag, kid," Hardeen joked.

Skysati glared over at him "Hope you're the first to die,"

The group moved back when one of the squares disappeared and a green gas began to fill the room.

"Dioxis." Hardeen noted. "Breathe it, and you're dead,"

Skysati moved back with Bane only to trip as the cubes began to raise.

"Every man for himself," A bounty hunter exclaimed as he leaped onto the raising platform.

All the bounty hunters moved to get on their own platform.

Cad Bane dragging Skysati with him.

"That wasn't so hard," A bounty hunter claimed.

Skysati glared over at the man as the platforms continued to rise until they reached the ceiling and began to lower.

"The way out isn't up. It's down," Hardeen noted. "The filters in my helmet can protect me for a short time. I'll scout a way out," he jumped down into the green mist. "There's a hole in the floor that gets you below the gas line. Jump down the hole and follow the tunnel,"

"What if he's wrong?" A bounty hunter asked.

Cad Bane glanced at Skysati.

"Oh, come on Bane," Skysati said with a shake of her head.

"Ladies first," Bane said as he pushed Skysati down.

Skysati screamed until she landed with a thud in someone's arms.

"Glad you could drop-in," Hardeen said.

Skysati pushed Hardeen away and glanced up the hole "He's telling the truth, we're all clear!" She followed Hardeen through the tunnel until they came into a dark room. Skysati glanced down when Cad Bane made an appearance.

"What took you so long?" Hardeen teased.

"Moralo Eval is impressed." Moralo Eval reported over a loudspeaker before his image showed across all sides of the room "No casualties on the first challenge."

Skysati stumbled into Hardeen when the platform they were standing on began to lower.

"I guarantee you that will not be the case in the next.

Skysati looked along the darkroom and instinctively moved to the side when a laser came out of the cubes. She watched as the platforms moved and so did the lasers "Great the lasers move," Skysati heard a whirring sound and noticed the walls close in. Her fists began to clench and unclench.

"Focus on finding a way out." Hardeen told her "Don't focus on the walls,"

Skysati took a deep breath and observed the platforms until she noticed the hole in the ceiling "I know how to get out,"

"Show me,"

"There's a pattern to the blades. Watch," Skysati pointed to one above them "That one's next. If I can time it right, I can climb up to that exit shaft." She glanced over at Hardeen and Bane "Just follow me and time your jump,"

Hardeen nodded "Go,"

Skysati began moving on the platforms, ignoring the bounty hunters down below.

"Get moving," Hardeen told the group.

Skysati reached the ceiling and jumped up through the hole, frowning when she saw they were still inside The Box.

"Not bad kid," Hardeen said as he patted Skysati's shoulder.

Moralo Eval's face once more appeared "To reach your final challenge, you must pass through my ray shield,"

A ray shield surrounded the perimeter.

"Great..." Skysati muttered "More closed-in spaces,"

A piece of the wall broke away to reveal a switch only to be covered by another ray shield.

"The switch to turn it off is on the other side." Moralo Eval continued as a small platform appeared "The syringe on the platform contains a highly electrolytic serum that will allow you to pass through the shield,"

One of the Bounty Hunter's reached for the syringe.

"However, it is toxic to all but one of you." Moralo Eval let out an evil chuckle before ending his transmission.