The Industrialist

Damian

Prison. Axe Central and Bay City Borders. 15 miles from Axe Central

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Damian disembarked the jeep with the others, worrying about the heaving Abominated birds above the prison facility.

"Boss, are we safe here?" Damian asked as Jefferson disembarked the parked jeep too.

"Yeah. We have checked the locking system, it's still operating. But there is something I want to discuss with the council," Jefferson responded as they headed inside the prison and the unconscious were immediately attended by their comrades.

"What is it?"

"Our power source."

All the time, Jefferson would not disclose serious discussion with non-council member. Despite his discretion, it gave Damian great hint that the power source used in prison was not stable. What else that Jefferson wanted to discuss between the council members?

Damian only nodded and they pressed on the ajar heavy metallic doors that comprised the entrance of the prison. But before he entered, Damian had a quick glance at the prison facility, the façade however, had been a sturdy-looking, edgy concrete facility, three floors up, and reinforced steel railings on windows.

'Seemed like a fortress,' Damian thought.

As rebels, they felt imprisoned by the unfairness of the Government, lived underneath the city, and swarmed into the tunnels like rats. Whenever the rebel members exposed themselves outdoors, they would look over their shoulders with utmost fear. At that moment, their feeling of being prisoners had materialized in the prison facility.

Above the thick metallic doors, a metallic plating that held the prison's name - Felsom State Penitentiary- was bolted. It meant that they were now standing of the outskirts of Bay City, the Felsom State.

Externally the prison had whitewashed concrete walls, thick looking and impenetrable. When he entered inside, the walls were filled with heavy-duty metallic framings, metallic sheets, and large-width metallic beams that served as foundations.

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They knew that the prison already held their comrades as numerous vehicles were parked outside. At least, Damian had a comforting feeling knowing that his comrades had fled the city safely.

Some features of the prison were not functional as when they entered, the metallic gates were manually opened by their comrades on guard duty.

"Boss, welcome!" The rebel guard said as he forcefully pulled a lever beside the metallic door and it swung open after a smooth alarm sound.

"This prison may be old but it would still hold its purpose," Jefferson said to Damian, the latter walking behind him. The wounded were hastily carried with mobile cots towards the rebel healers.

"How do you manage to make this functional again? It seemed that the facility features are ancient," Damian said.

"Erik Berkley told me about this place. His close friend, a Civil Engineer designed this place during the pre Abominant wars, as the surviving cities still flourished." Jefferson answered.

Damian had heard about the stories of this Civil Engineer who practically built half of the cities of Bay and Axe. He built these monumental structures including prominent towers in Bloomforge Enclave.

He had a civil engineering profession but held the Corporation rank of Electronic Tier 2 based on educational attainment and project contributions.

He was one of the mysterious group of Lost Engineers.

After the wars, there were no stories about the Lost Engineers. Rumors were solidified by many citizens that these were some of the greatest minds in the Corporation that had lost faith in the Government and those in power and influence.

They eloped from the cities because not only did they fear for their lives, but they also wanted to continue their work, their passion as Scientists, not driven by greed and vicious self-interest.

The rebels believed that the Lost Engineers existed and they were vital ingredients of how the Outsiders survived for so long.

They pressed on the hallway, passing through a throng of prison cells, not that caged type, but enforced with heavy metallic doors, only accessible by digital switches.

"They must be in the mess halls," Jefferson said.

"What about the birds outside? You know the risks of a horde attack on this prison," Damian said.

"If they attack we will gun them down. This prison is reinforced with mounted sentry guns defense system. I know our people are working for it to function," Jefferson said. "And this facility is impenetrable."

Damian had doubts about the guaranteed impenetrability of the facility. 'There's gotta be a reason why the government had abandoned this kind of fortress,' Damian thought.

"I want you to join the Council meeting, Damian. With your years in rebel service, you earn a seat. I will just talk to the council members about your vital contribution to them." Jefferson explained and Damian nodded.

Who would not want an access to the leaders of the faction and would know the plans first hand?

After a few long hallway walks, they arrived at the mess hall. Hundreds of women and children combine, heaved the unkempt arrangement of abandoned chairs and tables of a thousand square meter mess hall.

Some people moved the chairs and tables on the side, to accommodate rooms for their tents. Women tended with the children of food and water, and also to the old ones.

Damian received curt smiles from the kids and some rebel members as they passed along them. Jefferson talked to the others and eased their tensioned minds. "Don't worry, I will be making announcement after our council meeting." Jefferson whispered.

It was clear from their expression that they were tired from running and the discomfort of moving such a population for fifteen miles outside the walls.

He saw George and the other two lying down at the far end where the rebel healers checked on them. Behind him, Joe exchanged smiles with the others.

Expectedly, Joe was one of the friendly-type neighbors. He used to share their exploits outside the wall and their journey with Lance Berkley. After a few months, Lance became a rebel celebrity because of the business opportunities that the kid offered and the stories conveyed by Joe.

On the far end, away from the soft guffaws of their comrades, the Council members had their on-going meeting around a mess hall table, five of them.

"Excuse me, council!" The respective smile of the rebels could be seen. Damian followed as Jefferson lowered himself to a chair along the encircling council members.

"Jefferson, glad that you could join us." The only female council member said.

"Yes. I know it's a bad time to discuss about bad news. We are still recuperating our ranks, and such activity needed physical presence and attention." Jefferson said. "But, such predicament raised extreme levels that needed your undistracted attention."

"We are talking about the unstable power source, Jefferson," The female council said.

"Yes. I know I have anticipated this discussion as we inspected the place days ago." Jefferson said as he settled himself in a chair together with Damian. "I included Damian in this council meeting because of his close relationship with Lance."

"Why? Why do we need Lance in this situation." The older council said.

"For now, we are powered by an Electric generator, an old-school system, and powered by Diesel. You know that Diesel is an expensive resource that we don't have. Otherwise, we will sacrifice food supplies for fifty people at least to keep this place afloat." Jefferson explained. "Lance's connection with our situation is that Damian told me about the kid's pursuit of building an Ultragenerator."

"Ultragenerator? What is it?" The councilwoman said.

"The Ultragenerator is a self-sufficient power generator that needed no external resource for it to operate," Damian explained. " Lance had been telling me about this that he has been meaning to buy the Energy Accelerator in Axiom Trench."

"Let's acquire the Energy Accelerator," the other councilman said.

"The thing is, we need to buy it for three thousand units," Damian said and frowning faces emerged from each of the rebel council. "Lance needs that money to form the Ultragenerator. I urged the council to allocate resources for the kid to acquire such a component."

"What? Three thousand units? Are you insane?" One councilman said. Jefferson was rather silent and Damian wanted the former to express his support about this.

"If we continue with Diesel, we will spend a lot more and the acquisition nowadays as the Demetrian season was approaching, the rigs are almost dry," Damian said.

"We need that money for food!" The councilwoman said.

"Now, council. I want the treasurer to speak up. How much is the money we have?" Jefferson said.

"Ahem.." the treasurer straightened his voice. "As the SHF raid transpired, our money cards were left back at the camps. So, what we have currently is around 3300 units. That's enough for a week's food supply for our comrades."

Silence fell on them.

"What about we ask for a loan in Axiom?" one middle-aged councilman had raised.

"No. Axioms don't accept loans nowadays. They are also saving up for the Demetrian season."

The Demetrian season had been challenging for many citizens, especially the commoners. Especially for the dire need for food. The Government and the Corporation had allocated their food reserves to the tycoons who controlled the markets, only serving to those who could buy in bulk, mainly.

And with the worsening economy during this season, food traders will increase the prices just to compensate for the food storage rentals.

"Therefore, our hopes are directed to our comrade, Lance Berkley." Jefferson said.