I remember the relief that washed through my system as I found myself on the outside on the muddy earth again. PAX had flipped open the lid that led down to the Tinker Room and I was greeted by the cloudy night sky. I nearly collapsed onto the ground once I had crawled out, but my liberator had put a finger over where their mouth was hidden.

"The guards for this area have been subdued, but there's always a risk of miscalculation," PAX informed me while gesturing for us to move behind one of the nearby tents. "In that case, please remain silent and keep your eyes open."

However, I had begun to realize that the Tinker Room had been placed on the outskirts of the base. "Why must we go through the camp? We're in a prime position to just run off into the badlands without being spotted."

"No, we cannot make it home without a vehicle. It is too dangerous of a trek, and the collaborators would most certainly catch us before we reached our destination. We have no choice but to go through it."

My liberator suddenly shoved me behind them roughly and began to back further into the shadows of the tent. A sensation to flee had overwhelmed my body as I heard the familiar stomping and churning of joints as a pair of collaborator droids came into view. They were striding straight through the camp, but judging by their projection, it appeared that they were preparing to scout the perimeter.

PAX motioned for me to follow their lead. We carefully circled around the exterior of the tent, and thankfully, the droids didn't seem to be aware of our presence. It still didn't stop me from shrinking away. I had dealt with too many horrors already that day.

"The vehicles will be held on the other side of the camp," my companion continued in a whisper as if nothing had happened. "We will need to be careful of any humans and hostile droids. Hopefully we can get through this without a fight."

I nodded, not wanting to give away the heavy sense of doubt saying on my mind. PAX was right; guards and collaborator droids were everywhere. However, I didn't have time to gather my nerves as my companion whispered as she began to move out toward the open path through the camp, "Follow my lead and stay quiet."

Despite my overwhelming urge to root myself to that one spot, I stumbled after PAX as quietly as I could. I remember as we hid and moved  among  the shadows around the camp that there was not as many people about as I would've expected. There were very few droids working, and I had maybe seen a dozen or so guards patrolling the area or stationed outside a tent. Yet with the help of the instructions and warnings from my companion, we managed to sneak our way to the dome-shaped garage on the other side of the camp. The only thing separating us from freedom were the five soldiers standing guard over the large metal doors.

"Hm, it was foolish to believe in the possibility that the garage would have less security than usual," my masked companion commented for the first time as we ducked behind another nearby tent. "We may need to fight our way in."

I stared at them in disbelief. "That's incredibly reckless! Is there a back entrance or a window we can go through instead?"

"This is the only way in is through those doors. They won't open without the proper access code. The only other way is to wait for a patrol buggy to return from patrol, but their all off searching for... you."

The stranger paused as if thinking deeply about our next course of action. "You are a mechanic, correct? Are you aware of a LEX droid's skill set and how they are used?"

"I keep telling everyone, I don't know anything about LEX droids. I've never worked on one or even heard of one until today."

PAX sighed heavily. "Of course they would not inform the public about LEXes. The short explanation is that LEXes are created specifically to be superior to collaborator droids in the area of stealth. We might have been able to use your body's skill set to our advantage, but you do not even know how a LEX works."

I remember the gears in my brain reeling to try and think of an alternative escape plan. It was true, I didn't know how to use the body or it's skills I now possessed. Yet that didn't mean it was impossible to take advantage of.

After a moment I questioned sternly, "How much do you know about LEX droid autonomy?"

"I know their full skill set and autonomy."

"Great, then show me what needs to be done."

"That is not possible. I don't know how a LEX would activate the required skill. It happens on a subconscious level of programming."

"Look," I began, starting to become agitated with PAX's pessimistic take. "I don't know how to work on a LEX specifically, but that doesn't mean I can't do what you want. I'm assuming there was a specific technique that you wanted me to use. If you can tell me how and where it works, I might be able to activate it a different way. We just need to use our heads."

I couldn't see PAX's expression behind the gas mask, but I remember beginning to wonder if they was readying to hit me. They merely stared at my face until at last they replied, "Very well. I will give your plan some attention. However, if all else fails, prepare to use your phaser rather than your head."

I nodded. "Fair enough. Now, what idea did you originally have in mind?"

As strange of a situation I was already in with being in another being's body, I don't think anything I experienced at that camp was stranger than reconstructing my own arm. PAX had given me a blade to cut back the skin on my left arm so I could forcibly access the necessary system. It was almost nauseating, but I had no time to be feel disturbed. With collaborator droids searching the perimeter of the camp and guards circling the nearby garage, I had to be prepared to stop whatever I was doing to fight back.

It must've taken about ten minutes, but at last I managed with trembling hands to access the tool to our escape. I would've laughed with relief, but instead I whispered to PAX, who was watching for guards, "I think I got it. How does it look?"

As PAX glanced into my direction, the device implanted in my arm suddenly came to life. Once it straightened up, I noticed it looked a bit like the pocket laser I had in my workspace for fusing small parts.

"I must admit, I am impressed," PAX replied rather curtly. "Do you know how to work it?"

"I think I can manage."

"Good. We only have five minutes tops, so I hope you are ready. Remember; if this fails or we are caught in the act, we fight back."

I didn't reply, but instead clasped my hand to my exposed arm as PAX and I snuck out from our hiding spot. We snuck around to one of the unguarded sides of the garage, making sure to hide ourselves in the shadows.

Once reaching a secluded part of the garage exterior, I knelt in front of the wall removed my hand from my arm. The laser shot back up again once the pressure was lifted, moving about like an entranced snake. With baited breath, I flicked open another small opening on the laser and manually activated it. Flames fired out, and as steadily as possible, I began carving a second entrance into the wall.

"The guards are starting to circle," PAX hissed to me as I was half way through. "I can hear them starting to come around the back. You best quicken your pace."

"I know, shut up!" I remember snarling with frustration as I struggled to keep my grip on the small laser. "For the record, I want to avoid getting caught just as much as you do! I almost got it..."

And I did— barely. There was no time to celebrate as the piece of metal wall I cutout collapsed. Two guards had just appeared around the edge of the dome. They immediately readied their weapons and hollered, "FREEZE! STAY WHERE YOU ARE AND DON'T MOVE A MUSCLE!"

"GO!" Pax had shouted as she unexpectedly shoved me through the hole I created.

I could hear the exchange of phaser fire as I stumbled back to my feet. I had a quick glance of the many, heavily armed vehicles parked on different levels, but PAX had just dived in after me. As they stood up, I noticed that sparks were flying from a phaser hole burned in the side of PAX's coat.

"Are you okay—" I began, but PAX was quick to snap, "Not the time! Quick, onto one of the aerobikes!"

There were several aerobikes parked along the rim of the dome closest to the entrance. Even PAX in their injured state didn't fall behind as the guards were now attempting to crawl through the hole we had made.

Truth be told, everything was a blur. We had barely dodged the phaser fire as we mounted one of the bikes. Although PAX took control of the steering, they looked back at me and instructed in a shout, "Grab onto me. No matter what happens, don't you dare let go."

Even in that moment of terror, I thought it was incredibly awkward to wrap my arms around this stranger's waist . Knowing what I know now, I'm so grateful I listened. As they powered on the motorbike, it had only then occurred to me what PAX had planned.

I thought for sure we were going to die as we shot straight for the closed doors. For what felt like the hundredth time since this whole mess started, I squeezed my eyes shut and waited for the crash— the impending darkness.

It never came.

Instead there was a swoosh of a wind and a flash. As I opened my eyes, I was shocked to find that the bike was speeding away from the garage. The cool night wind blew against us while also drowning the sound of weapons fire and alarms. I couldn't fathom how we had escaped, but PAX seemed to already suspect what I was thinking.

"You're free now," the distorted voice shouted over the wind as we rode off into the badlands. "Just soak that in for the rest of the ride. I promise I'll explain later."

I did what she said. As confused and as terrified as I felt, I couldn't help but seem to relax a little easier. I didn't fully trust PAX yet, but after what I had experienced in that camp, in the Tinker Room... it was hard not to be relieved that the light of those horrors were slowly becoming dimmer and dimmer the farther we went.

Little did I know in that brief period of bliss that my troubles had only just begun.

~*TO BE CONTINUED...*~