Jailbreak

I teleport next to Sasha. She takes my hand as we watch the three space vessels land. Hundreds of soldiers pour out, each looking stronger and more disciplined than anyone we have faced. They all lined up in formation in front of the ship, but so far, none have made an advance on the tower. 

"If the Preservers sent a force like this, they could have dealt with us much quicker."

Sasha hits my arm. "Don't talk like that. We are making it out of this alive and with all of the prisoners."

"What is your plan? I doubt they will let us open a portal in there now."

"Probably not, but they might be unable to detect someone teleporting the girls out one at a time."

"Absolutely not. You are not facing that army alone." I try to grab her hand, but she hits it away, giving me her signature glare.

"And every second you sit here doing nothing, we waste time getting those girls out of there."

I sigh and lower my head. Her mind was made up, and even worse, she was right. I had just to suck it up and do what she wanted. I kiss her deeply and passionately before heading to the holding cells and sneaking in.

I first needed to eliminate the control tower. They were still monitoring the cameras, and even one missing girl would tip them off. The easiest way would be to destroy it, but then the men outside would understand what we were attempting. Skeeter had already sabotaged the elevator, so I had to find an alternate way to get to the top. After cursing myself for getting into this difficult situation, I head to the elevator.

I phase myself through the doors and start to climb the tower. I focus my magic on my fingers and the bottoms of my feet, allowing them to stick to practically any surface. In less than a minute, I reach the top. I wedge into the elevator doorway and turn my body black before phasing through them. 

Shouts and cries of agony fill the room as I cut down the men closest to me. The Guards in the control room weren't the best fighters, but they had guns and a number advantage. I kept my body intangible except my feet and hands to hold my swords and stand on the ground. I noticed a man trying to contact the drop ships outside. I throw my sword through his back and into the control panel. I pull it back and use the strings to rotate it in midair so it goes into the back of an attacker.

Soon, I was the only living soul in the room; blood and insides covered the computers and floor. I looked out to the ships of reinforcements. I saw Sasha talking with a few men, two of them looked insanely large compared to those around them but the fighting hadn't started, and they didn't seem concerned about what was happening inside. I sighed in relief and started making my way down the elevator shaft. 

I get to the first floor that holds prisoners and make my way inside. The girls scramble and start to scream. I amply my voice to try and address them all at once. 

"I am Healer of Worlds; I am here to set you all free. There is a portal to another world on the farm, and I can take everyone there. After that, we can take you anywhere you want to go. Otherwise, you can work for me, but those details can be worked out later. I can't open the cells simultaneously since that would trigger the alarm. Come to the door's bars, and I will get you out."

The woman closest to me comes to the door of her cell. She was a middle-aged woman and very malnourished. Sasha had told me some of the girls were left in their cells to die if they were no longer needed instead of killing them instantly or releasing them. I take her hand and teleport her to the portal.

"Edmund! Edmund!" I call out for the farmer, and he comes rushing over to me.

"Yes, Healer, is everything okay?"

"No, but there isn't much time. I will be bringing the girls here one by one. Please get them through the portal to the area prepared for them. Hopefully, Iona and Al can explain everything and keep them calm."

"I understand. I will handle everything. Stay safe."

I nod and teleport back to the cells. Before taking them to the farm, I make a teleportation spot in front of each girl's cell. The process was slow but proceeded smoothly. I informed Iona over the headset while moving down the line. She was just inside the portal, bringing groups of girls to their temporary living space. Some of the healthier women had taken it upon themselves to share the burden of getting the others situated, and quickly, a brigade was formed. I smiled, thinking of the community we had created from this dire situation. 

Soon, I was done with the first floor and went down to the second. There were five floors in total, each with almost fifty girls. Once again, I had to calm the entire floor after entering, but soon after, the process started over. Since starting the jailbreak, I hadn't heard anything from Sasha, and I wasn't sure if that was good or bad. How long could the negotiations outside last? What was there to negotiate?

I pushed those thoughts aside as I focused on saving the prisoners. I moved down to the third floor of girls, but a few women didn't come to the door this time. I saved the rest before coming back to them.

"Why do you want to stay? I can provide you much more than The Company can and in much better conditions."

"The Company provides my family with jobs and security. They might treat me poorly, but the rest of my family lives better."

"If you give me the names and locations of your family, I can rescue them too. I don't want to leave anyone behind."

One of the other women comes to the door of her cell. "How can I believe you?"

"Just look around; there are no alarms nor Guards. I can protect your family, too."

The first woman I spoke to didn't budge, but the others reluctantly let me save them. I hoped they would have more faith in me once they were in the pocket dimension. I stood in front of the final woman's cell one more time.

"Last chance." I reach my hand into the cell.

"I refuse." She turns over and puts her back to me.

I sigh and shake my head but leave her behind. I wasn't going to force anyone to come with me. Thankfully, the girls on the second to last floor were more reasonable again, and the process proceeded as planned. After teleporting the last girl, I ran over to the elevator.

Suddenly, the doors opened, and two huge men with Sasha tied up entered the room. They tossed Sasha on the floor. She was breathing but unconscious. A third man stepped between them and approached me. He was well-dressed and wore a sinister smile. 

"Well, hello, you have been busy, haven't you."