S1, 11 Pointless (GC) (September 16, 2014)

Corresponding text underneath each picture.

**24th December 2094 – The day after Tank’s escape from prison**

**Qoter – Imperial Command Centre**

Superior #1: “You are a fool, Ramson.”

Superior #2: “You let twenty three men escape.”

Col. Ramson: “With respect, sir, I tried my hardest. It was an unexpected event, we had no…”

Superior #1: “Prison breaks are never *expected* Colonel!”

Superior #3: “You were there! You were on the rooftop!”

Superior #1: “Consider yourself lucky we are not demoting you, Colonel.”

Col. Ramson: “Thank you sir, but…”

Superior #2: “No but’s Ramson! This is your last chance. If you fail again, you will be court marshalled! You will be court marshalled, found guilty and executed! Do I make myself clear?”

Col. Ramson: “… Yes sir.”

Superior #2: “Good.”

Superior #1: “Now, you need to get back out there, rally your men and *hunt down* those convicts. Do you hear me, Ramson? I want them dead. Every one of them!”

Superior #3: “We cannot have criminals on the loose who can brag about having escaped Imperial custody.”

Superior #1: “Wipe them out, Ramson. You understand?”

Col. Ramson: “Yes sir!” \*He salutes.\*

Superior #1: “Wipe, them, out.”

Superior #2: “You can start with the Foster boy. The one you let slip through your grasp on the rooftop.”

Col. Ramson: “It will be done.”

Superior #1: “Make sure it is.”

**30th December 2094: Present Day**

Tank: “Tracks!” I whispered his name and took a step towards him.

Fredricks: “Wait, you know this thing?” he asked from behind me incredulously.

Tank: “Know it?” I repeated before answering. “Know *him*. And yes…

I built him.”

Fredricks: “You built him?” he asked incredulously, but I didn’t really hear him; I was too busy staring into the empty eye sockets of my creation – my creation that was locked up and de-activated.

Tank: “Tracks…” I whispered again.

I had created Tracks while Jarred and I had been hiding here on Iapra. He’d been created mainly as a hobby but also to provide us with extra company. I’d made him out of scrap metal and junk parts that I’d either found in the local town or managed to buy or swap from the locals, that’s why he was so miss-matched. After he’d been completed, he’d become a part of our company; Jarred and I liked him like a friend. I had fitted him with a fairly substantial AI system and so he easily joined in with conversations and after spending a good amount of time training him and filling him with fighting software, he became a pretty kick-ass fighting droid too! Jarred had been the one who suggested his name – a joke on my own nickname.

I continued looking deep into his empty eyes and couldn’t help but feel heartbroken seeing him restrained there.

Suddenly, voices from outside snapped me back into the present and we realised that our Imperial pursuers had caught up.

Fredricks: “Do you think they know we’re in here?” he whispered.

Tank: “I don’t know.” I whispered back. “Let’s see if they move on.”

Thankfully they did. After a few moments it sounded like they had moved on through the doors into the loading area.

Fredricks: “How the hell are we going to get out now?!”

Tank: “I don’t….” I began but then had an idea. I turned back to Tracks.

Fredricks seemed to realise what had occurred to me.

Fredricks: “Oh no! Oh no, oh no! You cannot let that out!”

Tank: “Trust me! I built him, I know he’ll remember me.”

Fredricks: “But what if he doesn’t! He could kill us both in seconds!”

But I had already moved over to the contraption restraining Tracks and was starting to take a look at it.

Tank: “He won’t.”

I set to work on the control board while Fredricks shook his head. A few seconds later and the electro shields had been disabled and retracted.

Fredricks: “I have a bad feeling about this…”

I ignored him and continued hacking through the system. A moment later and the rest of the restraints slid away.

Fredricks: “You really know what you’re doing?” he asked as I reached behind Tracks head and opened a small panel on his neck. I glanced back at him and said,

Tank: “Yup.” Before flicking the activation switch.

Tracks’s eyes suddenly lit up bright red and he lashed out amid a series of loud beeps and growling, mechanical sounds. I flew backwards and landed hard on my back.

Tracks stood up straight, still with mechanical growling and grunting sounds coming out and then stepped out of the containment unit completely, the wires connecting him to it, ripping out as he did. Fredricks leapt out of the way and cowered in the corner of the room as Tracks stepped forwards and loomed over me.

Tank: “Tracks! Tracks, it’s me! It’s Tank!” I shouted at him. Tracks continued making gargled mechanical sounds that were completely unintelligible and standing over me, his blood red eyes glaring down upon me. It was terrifying.

Tank: “It’s Tank!” I repeated.

Tracks had stopped moving and after a couple more seconds, he stopped making the strange noises too.

Tank: “Tank.” I repeated softly, hoping, begging that he would remember me.

And then he made a sound that sounded like he was repeating my name.

Tank: “Yes! Tank.” I said again.

I was confused. Why wasn’t Tracks speaking?

He repeated the noise that sounded like “Tank” and slowly his eyes lost their menacing glare.

Tank: “Yes, it’s me.” Very slowly I stood up and Tracks watched me every second of the way but still did not move any closer. “What have they done to you?” I asked quietly and he whirred softly in reply and then his whole posture changed. No longer did he looks huge and terrifying – well, his eyes were always red and he stood a good head taller than myself so he was always scary, but now his shoulders seemed to slump and he looked at the ground and began to make more whirs and clicks.

Tank: “Why aren’t you speaking?” I asked and he looked back at me and began, well, I can only assume he was *trying* to talk, but only the strange mechanical sounds came out.

Fredricks: “I hate to interrupt this family reunion but shouldn’t we be getting out of here?”

Tank: “You’re right.” I shook my head slightly, reminding myself that now really wasn’t the time for a catch up. “Tracks, I promise I’ll have a look at you later, okay?” he nodded. “Are you good to fight?” He nodded again and made another affirmative whir. “Good.” I grinned. “Just like old times.” I joked and handed him one of my pistols.

Fredricks: “Um, excuse me, but don’t I get a weapon?” I looked over at him and realised that I suppose the more guns we had, the more chance we had of actually getting out of here alive.

Tank: “There was a sign nearby that pointed to ‘Confiscated Goods’; we’ll head there first. There must be some weapons in there.”

Fredricks: “Okay.”

Tracks nodded.

Tank: “Then let’s go.”

Together, the three of us crept out of the cell, making as little noise as we could. Tracks, although being a huge metal monster was, as he had always been, light-footed and made very little sound as we headed back towards the ‘Confiscated Goods’ area.

When we arrived, Tracks kicked down the door and together, he and I burst in, Fredricks bringing up the rear.

There were two officers inside and I shot one and Tracks, the other. We told Fredricks it was clear for him to come in and then we began searching for any weapons we could find.

About five minutes later, we had found a crate of assorted guns and so Fredricks had taken a standard rifle and Tracks had returned my pistol to me and taken two advanced looking blasters.

Tank: “Okay, are we ready?” I checked and they both nodded in response. I was about to give the go ahead when something, a big, brown hat to be precise, caught my eye. I grabbed it from the peg it was hung on and looked it over. I liked it!

Fredricks: “Is now really the time for a fashion change?”

I removed my own Stetson and placed the new, brown hat on my head and nodded my own approval. It felt good! But I didn’t want to throw away my old hat, so instead I jammed it down onto the top of Tracks’s head and smirked.

Tank: “Looks good.” I told him and Fredricks shook his head again in disbelief. “Okay; let’s do this.”

Now decently armed, the three of us went back the way we’d come and just a minute later were standing behind the door that led into the loading area.

Tank: “Ready?” I checked and Fredricks nodded, looking very scared and Tracks made an affirmative grunt, the best he seemed to be able to manage. “Go.” I gave the command.

Together we burst through the door and took the Imperial guards by surprise.

Just a few seconds in, I had already shot down three men, Fredricks had killed one and Tracks had got straight back into his old fighting mode and killed five.

The guards hadn’t been expecting us but their surprise soon wore off. There weren’t as many of them as we’d seen earlier, some must have moved out while we’d been elsewhere but there were still a good twenty or so of them.

I shot down another and then took shelter in a doorway. I could see Fredricks on one knee nearby, using a crate for cover and Tracks was still out in the open. He’d been shot several times but his armour protected him and so he was just mowing down the guards.

A bullet lodged in the doorframe beside me and I dropped to the ground for cover. I knew I had to move on and so legged it for another crate a little further across the room.

Tank: “Keep moving to the door!” I shouted to Fredricks as I passed him.

I shot down another guard as he made a dash for cover and then saw Tracks shoot up a further two. There were about eight men left and there was an opening in their ranks.

Tank: “Okay, go!” I shouted to Fredricks who got up and sprinted across the open room. I covered him as one of the guards took aim at him, but it only took a couple of seconds for him to cross the room and get to shelter at the other side.

I glanced around and then I too made a dash for the far side of the room. Tracks was still in full attack mode and was going after one of the guards who had backed into a corner.

Tank: “Tracks!” I bellowed. “Let’s go!”

Fredricks hit the door release and the massive double doors slowly split in the centre and slid open. The guards seemed to realise what we were doing and began to come after us, but as soon as the doors had parted, we’d headed through and were now sprinting up a long, upwards sloping tunnel.

We could see light at the end of it and so knew we were heading outside.

We got about halfway before shots came after us. Fredricks and I ducked as the bullets hit the tunnel around us. Tracks on the other hand twisted himself in a way no human could ever do and began firing back at the soldiers while still running up the tunnel with us.

We reached the end of the tunnel and burst out into the blinding sunlight. Covering our eyes to protect ourselves from the glare, we paused but only for a split second because the soldiers were still after us.

Tank: “Come on!” I shouted over the howling sandstorm that was still raging all around us.

I pulled my bandana up over my face and we pressed on into the storm.

The Imperial soldiers began to follow us but we’d soon lost them. After spending half a year on the planet and getting used to the adverse weather conditions, I could easily navigate in these conditions. The soldiers however had never been trained for anything like this. Within an hour, if they hadn’t made it back to base, they’d be dead.

I guided Tracks and Fredricks to where I’d hidden the Viper and they both climbed on board. Luckily the ship had enough space for the three of us, although Tracks had to hunch himself over to fit.

We took off in silence and as we did so, I couldn’t help but hope that it would be the last time I ever had to set foot on that planet. It was only a minute or so later, as we reached the atmosphere that Fredricks broke the silence.

Becker: “Where are you taking me? You know, I know nothing about you! Other than your name is Tank! Who are you and where are you taking me?”

The three of us were sat in a single file line, Becker behind me and Tracks behind him. At his questions, Tracks made some indignant and annoyed sounds. I couldn’t understand a word he was saying but I got the idea from the noises.

Tank: “Tracks is right. A ‘thank you’ would be nice.”

Becker: “Okay, yes. Thanks for the rescue but my questions still stand!”

Tank: “Okay, let’s just sort this out, shall we?” I snapped, growing annoyed with his lack of gratitude. “I was sent to break you out by a very powerful and influential man. He believes that your time is not yet up and that you may still be useful to the war.”

Becker: “The war? What’s this got to do with it?”

In the pilot’s seat I frowned.

Tank: “Well, *everything!* What did you think it was about?”

Becker: “I don’t know, do I! That’s the point!”

I rolled my eyes. How this guy got to be in charge of so many men, I’ll never know.

Tank: “I was told to break you out and then hand you over.”

Becker: “Who to?” he interrupted.

Tank: “If you’ll shut up, I was about to tell you.”

Tracks grunted in the back.

Tank: “To a guy named Avorax Wolfhide. Do you know him?”

Becker: “No. Never heard of him.”

Tank: “Well, we’re meeting him on Etrion in the morning, so you’ll get to know him pretty soon. If my boss trusts him, then so do I.” I lied. I might have been told to hand him over, but I had no idea whether I could trust him or not. I had in fact heard of Wolfhide once before, in prison. I’d heard two guards saying that a guy named Wolfhide had taken out a whole squadron of Imperial soldiers alone. Wolfhide was clearly no friend of the GI’s and he was also clearly talented.

Tank: “Get some rest; I’ll wake you when we get there.”

Becker: “Thanks.” He said quietly and for the first time, sounded like he meant it. I looked at the reflection in the windscreen and saw him close his eyes. A few minutes later he was snoring. I set the co-ordinates and put the viper on auto-pilot.

Tank: “Tracks; plug yourself in and keep watch, will you?” I asked, suddenly feeling very tired. He responded with an affirmative whir and so I made myself comfy and closed my eyes.

When I awoke to a loud bleep from Tracks, I thought we were in trouble. Both Fredricks and I sprung awake and looked around for the danger but upon seeing nothing I turned to look back at the robot.

Tank: “What was that for?”

He pointed out of the cockpit window and I looked. It was morning and we were flying low over one of the ruined cities on Etrion. We were at the rendezvous point.

Tank: “You could have just nudged me or something.” I told Tracks annoyed and he just shrugged indifferently in reply.

Becker: “Look, there.” He pointed over my shoulder to a rooftop where a lone figure was standing, a cape billowing in the wind.

Tank: “I see him.”

I took the ship off of auto-pilot and we touched down on the designated rooftop.

We clambered out of the viper and slowly walked closer to the figure who hadn’t moved.

Tank: “Where’s his ship?” I muttered aloud, more to myself than anyone else, but Tracks replied with a sound I took to mean “I don’t know.”

We stopped a few meters away from him. He was a grizzled looking man. Human, with grey hair and a rugged beard. He was wearing armour but it certainly wasn’t Imperial, a cape and a large pack on his back.

Tank: “Are you Wolfhide?”

Wolfhide: “Who the hell else would be stood on a rooftop on this God-forsaken planet?” he growled in a deep, raspy voice. “Is that the cargo?”

Tank: “Yes. Please remember to pass on to Mr. Grey that I did my part, as per the assignment briefing.”

Wolfhide: “Oh, trust me – I will do.”

Tank: “My thanks, then.”

Becker: “Becker Fredricks. A pleasure to meet you.” Fredricks began to walk towards Wolfhide as he spoke.

Wolfhide: “Oh believe me, the pleasure’s all mine.” He smirked nastily and I could see where he got his reputation from.

Fredricks bowed his head in acknowledgement.

Wolfhide: “Let’s go then.” He nodded to me, glanced at Tracks and then turned his back on us and began to walk away. Fredricks nodded to us both and then jogged after Wolfhide.

They reached the far side of the roof and then stopped. I wondered what Wolfhide was planning on doing seems how he didn’t appear to have a ship.

Wolfhide: “So tell me,” he began and turned to look at Fredricks. We were quite a distance away but the wind was blowing in our direction and so their voices carrier. “Are you ready to meet the creator?”

Fredricks: “I certainly am. I can’t w… hang on, what?”

Wolfhide: “Good.”

And with that, Wolfhide raised his arm and blasted a hole through Fredricks’s chest.

I screamed “NOO!” and Tracks roared in anger and we both drew our weapons and charged forwards, but it was like time had slowed down. We saw the wound erupt on Fredricks’s chest and saw him fly off of the rooftop backwards from the force. We saw and could hear Wolfhide laughing as he turned his back on us, clearly unbothered by the fact we had begun shooting at him.

He jogged the last couple of feet to the roof edge and then jumped. As he jumped, he turned in the air, spraying bullets back our way, causing us to duck for cover, and then he vanished from sight.

When I looked up after a moment, I saw him flying away from us. Robotic glide wings had sprouted from his backpack and he was jetting away on thrusters into the distance.

We both stood up straight and watched him go. There was nothing we could do. We had lost our precious cargo and had no proof that any of this had happened. For all Mr. Grey knew, I might never have rescued Fredricks at all! I was going to have to report back to Mr. Grey empty handed and disappoint him for the first time. I knew that he would not be pleased and that it would not go down well with his boss. Why had Wolfhide done that? What did he have against Fredricks? Or was it Aurelia? I didn’t know, but what I did know was that I was likely going to be in a lot of trouble……

**BONUS PICTURES:**

The command centre.

Alternative shot #1.

Alternative shot #2.

Alternative shot #3.

The shoot-out in the base.

As my series is going to be jumping around though time, I will include a date on each episode and add it to the timeline at the end of each episode so that you can follow it.

TIMELINE