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Plait the Prison
Planet
The Saga of the Grey Ranger
Issue #1
by Tom Zjaba
Chapter One
A New Home
A large space ship zooms through the darkness of space
towards a mammoth planet. Four smaller ships escort it towards the planet. The
ship is a prisoner transport for dangerous criminals of the galactic federation.
It is headed to Plait, the prison planet. This has become the home of hundreds
of thousands of the galaxies most hardened criminals. The hundred plus members
of the federation have pooled their resources together to create this planet to
harbor their villains. The planet, while capable of supporting life, was
considered too harsh for settling colonies. Due to the unpredictable nature of
the weather with the torrential wind storms and harsh thunderstorms, it was
deemed unworthy for normal habitation. But the conditions were acceptable for
sending the murderers, rapists, drug traffickers and other enemies of the
federation.
As the ship nears the planet, it sends out a special code to
one of the home bases to bring down the barrier that surrounds the planet. It is
considered the last defense against any escape. The code is changed on a weekly
basis to keep outsiders from breaking it and trying to free their compatriots.
As the code is accepted, the shield comes down for a few moments as the ship
enters. The four escort ships fly off, leaving the ship alone. They return to
one of the huge dreadnoughts that circle the planet.
When the ship lands onto the planet, the prisoners are
prodded to their feet by the many guards who are on the ship. One special
prisoner is forced to remain seated while the others are herded off. He wears a
special helmet and special reinforced chains to keep him from breaking free.
Unlike the usual prisoner, this one is more powerful than an average man. In
fact he possesses the strength of many men and the fighting skills to match. He
goes by one name, the Grey Ranger. He was one of the Ranger Elite, a special
unit of the Dendrite government. He was a hero of his adopted people until he
didn't finish a mission. He was sent to retrieve the ancient tome called the
"The Chronicles of Infinity". This special tome had magical properties and
anyone who possessed it had the ability to alter the future. The tome would
record everything in history and showed everything that was to happen. As soon
as something would take place, it would become set in indelible ink. But before
an event happened, it could be altered and the future could be controlled.
Knowing this was too much power for any one man to possess, the Grey Ranger
destroyed the book. For this, he became an enemy of the state and was sent to
Plait to serve out his days.
The Grey Ranger is forced up by a chain around his neck. The
black robe he wears, does a good job of concealing most of his grey flesh. The
helmet completely covers his face and keeps him disorientated. As he is led from
the ship, he is taken into a large fortress. He is pulled into a room with all
the other prisoners. Above them, the warden looks down as he delivers his
welcome speech. "Welcome to Plait, you will be spending the rest of your natural
lives here. You will be escorted into the briefing room where you will receive
an implanted language translator. This will help you to adjust with the hundred
plus other races that occupy the planet. You will also receive an arm implant
which will serve as your identification. This will keep track of where you go
and will serve as your ID to use to get your weekly rations." the warden says
over the loud speakers. After the speech, huge steel doors open and the guards
push the prisoners through them. Some of the prisoners try and fight back, but
are quickly subdued.
The Grey Ranger is led to a table where he is forced to lay
down. Doctors hurry and place the metal implant on his arm while an overhead
laser sears it into place. Another doctor gives him a shot that sends the
language translator into his brain. As the laser finishes, the doctor looks on
in surprise as he never even flinches. "Not even a flinch, you just might
survive here." the doctors declares in his amazement. After the quick procedure
is finished, the Grey Ranger is pushed out into an open air courtyard where many
of the other prisoners are waiting. Many are trying to nurse their wounds made
by the laser. Each prisoner is given a bag full of clothing and rations. They
are then unshackled and allowed to move about. Standing over them is two
gargantuan robots that stand at least thirty feet high and armed to the hilt.
These well known and much feared robots are the first and most deadly line of
defense on the planet. They make sure that any problems are squelched before
they have a chance.
The two guards finally unlock the shackles and take off the
helmet that has held the Grey Ranger prisoner. As the helmet is lifted, his
glowing red eyes and bald grey head come into full view of the other prisoners.
For the first time, they realize who the mysterious prisoner is and a sense of
fear shoots through the crowd. Their new world has just become more dangerous.
Suddenly the warden's voice booms over the speakers "This is the first day of
the end of your life. From here on in, you are on your own. There are few rules
on Plait. All you must remember is that there is no escape from the planet. Any
attempt will be met with a swift and deadly retaliation. The only other rule is
that the possession of any firearms, lasers, or bombs of any kind is prohibitive
and anyone found with them will be killed instantly. While your IDs will work
with any of the fortresses, I recommend you stay close to this one as your body
may not be accustomed to their foods. Good luck and have an enjoyable life. Ha!
Ha! Ha!" Suddenly the huge metal doors in front of the prisoners opens and in
rushes about fifty men and aliens with swords and clubs. The robots let loose a
volley of bullets that kills the majority of them. The few that get past the
deadly rain of bullets are swiftly dealt with by the guards. After the carnage
is finished, the guards force the new prisoners out into the world. As they get
their first glimpse of the new world, other prisoners rush in to drag out the
dead bodies and scavenge them for anything of value.
The Grey Ranger pulls up his hood and makes his way out. All
around the fortress is a bustling town. There are various buildings made of
wood, mud, stone and whatever other building materials can be found. There is
also a makeshift marketplace where the prisoners trade their wares for much
coveted rations. While every prisoner gets weekly rations, it is just enough to
maintain life and there is little extra. Also, some of the different foods are
highly sought by other races. They have become delicacies. There is a thriving
black market where different weapons can be bought and traded, even illegal
ones. But everyone is cautious as the giant robots are sent out at the first
sign of danger. All around the planet are hundreds of small robot eyes that
float through the sky and observe the prisoners. While they cannot be
everywhere, they do a good job of keeping the prisoners in check. Much of the
shady dealings take place indoors or underground where the eyes cannot see.
As the Grey Ranger makes his way through the marketplace, he
is constantly badgered by the vendors who try to get him to part with his
rations. He stops at a vendor who is selling swords. "Best swords on Plait.
Without some protection, you won't last a day." the vendor barks. As he looks
over the selection, the vendor keeps the pressure on. "Best made blades around.
The cost is only a bottle of Sludge and two meat rations." he adds. The Grey
Ranger picks up one of the swords and examines it. After he looks it over, he
takes it and breaks it into two. "What the hell are you doing? You just bought
that." the vendor yells. "I will not pay for poorly crafted weapons" he replies.
The vendor then pulls out a dagger and lunges at him. He easily dodges the
attack and retaliates by grabbing his arm and breaking it. "Only a fool would
attack a Ranger Elite with a dagger" he says as the bone cracks. He then walks
away as the vendor falls to the ground writhing in pain. As soon as the Ranger
is out of sight, some men come over and kill the vendor and steal all his wares.
One of the thieves says "Never thought I would see a Ranger Elite on this rock."
"Guess the new regime viewed him as a threat" the other adds in. "Cannot wait
until someone does him in. He has to have more enemies on this rock than anyone
else in its history" the first thief replies.
As the Grey Ranger makes his way through the marketplace, a
stranger walks up to him and begins talking to him. "You know a man with your
skills can go a long way with the right connections" the stranger says. "Not
interested" he answers back. "You won't last a week without friends" he responds
as he tries to get the ranger's attention. "I'll take my chances." the ranger
adds as he walks away. "Well, if yar not interested in getting off this rock,
that's ok by me" he yells back. The ranger turns around and glares at him "No
one has ever escaped. They have taken every precaution to ensure that". "Hey,
space travel was once considered impossible and now they can travel faster than
light" he responds in a cocky voice. The ranger then walks right up to him and
stares into his eyes "You have peaked my curiosity" the ranger says as he tries
to scare the guy. "By the way, the name's Tredd" he says as he puts out his
hand. The ranger ignores the gesture as he responds "I am known as the Grey
Ranger and as you probably heard, I was a member of the Ranger Elite". "Yeah,
everyone has heard of you and many have been anticipating your arrival" he adds.
"Many that I have imprisoned are here, there must be a target on my head" he
says in his solemn voice. As they continue down the market street, Tredd adds
"If you wanna survive a place like this, ya gotta align yourself with one a da
gangs. There's two in this zone, the Bloody Tooth and the Second Lifers. I can
help get you into either one." Showing no emotion, the Grey Ranger continues
along. He now quickens his pace as to lose Tredd. "Whattsa hurry? Ya don't gotta
be in any gang if you don't want ta, just makes things easier" he says as he
tries to get back in the good graces of the Ranger.
Suddenly, the Grey Ranger stops and turns his head to the
left. As he stands there, a makeshift arrow flies towards him. Instinctively, he
puts up his hand and catches it, inches from his face. He then drops the arrow
and runs in the direction that the arrow came from. As he nears the doorway into
the building, he hears the sound of scurrying feet. As he rushes up the stairs,
Tredd rushes after him. All the people in the market drop what they are doing
and circle around the building, in hope of seeing the fight that is sure to
follow.
Back in the stairway, the Grey Ranger quickly ascends the
stairs. As he reaches the top, he sees that the door to the roof has been
locked. Without another moment wasted, he easily knocks the door down and rushes
in. As he does, he is greeted by three men. The two in the front are wielding
crudely made swords, while the one in the back has the bow and arrow. They are
all sporting identical brands of a letter L that is shaped like a gallows with a
rope and a number two in the rope as if to signify it being hung. The Ranger
quickly rationalizes that they are members of the Second Lifers, which signify
that they have done so many crimes that their sentence is the equivalent of two
life sentences or more. "Don't know how ya grabbed that arrow, but your luck has
run out Ranger" one of the swordsmen says as he takes a hack. The Ranger easily
dodges his clumsy attempt and breaks his arm, sending the sword flying. As the
other swordsmen rushes in, the Ranger pulls the injured foe in front of him and
he takes the sword into the stomach. Before the startled man can do anything,
the Ranger gouges his fingers deep into the man's eye sockets, blinding him and
causing unfathomable pain. As the fingers are withdrawn from the now empty
sockets, the man falls to the ground screaming. The Ranger then looks at the
archer who is standing there shaking. "You may go, but give this message to your
boss, the next time he tries to take my life, I will take his and every person
who tries to stand in my way." As soon as he finishes talking, he motions and
the archer runs off.
As the Grey Ranger makes his way back down the stairs, he is
met by Tredd, about halfway up. "I was just on my way up to help you" he says
with a winded voice. "Took your time coming up" the Grey Ranger says. As he
walks down the stairs, Tredd yells "Whatta doing? These guys have perfectly good
stuff we can take and sell". "Be my guest, I have more important things to do"
he says as he heads down the stairs. Against his better judgment, Tredd heads
after him. While he would like to search the dead guys for valuables, he knows
that the Grey Ranger is worth allot more.
Back in the marketplace, the Grey Ranger makes his way
through the crowd with Tredd running after him. As Tredd catches up, the Grey
Ranger inquires "Tell me more about getting off this rock". "Whew, let me catch
my breath...." he says as he can finally slow down his pace. "Your a fast one,
you are" he says as his breathing slowly returns to normal. "It isn't easy as
you know, to get off this rock, but it can be done" he replies. "I know a few
people that know a few people that are working on a teleporter of sorts" he says
without giving away too many details. "What kind of range would this teleporter
have? How about accuracy?" the Grey Ranger inquires. "Details, details, look I
just know people. I did not make this teleporter, I merely know about it. But it
is very hush, hush. Eyes are everywhere" as he says that, he points to an orb
that is floating overhead. "They are everywhere and they keep an eye out. One
sign of trouble and out come the bots and even you cannot stop the bots" he
adds. "Take me to these people." the Grey Ranger demands as he stares down Tredd
with his emotionless black eyes. "Hey, hey, what's innit fer me? Why should I
put my neck out fer you?" he says as moves back a little. The Grey Ranger just
stares at him for almost a minute before he says "Then I will find them on my
own." With that, he turns and walks off. As he begins to leave, Tredd comes
running behind him and says "Hey, wait a minute. I will take you to them, just
give me some time." The Grey Ranger stops and turns to Tredd and says "How much
time?" Tredd gulps and says "It will be at least a few weeks. The storms are
coming in a week and it will take at least a week to travel there." "Storms?
What storms?" "You are a thick one, isn't ya?" smiles Tredd. He then adds "Why
didja think this place was made into a prison planet? Lookee around. The air is
breathable. There's plenty of clean water and lots of plants and animals. Would
have been a paradise fer settlers, except fer one thing, the storms. At least
twice a year, storms like you never seen, come whipping through here like some
damn angry beast. Everyone goes underground and all life stops for at least a
week. The only thing that can withstand the storms is the fortresses. They is so
strong, that the winds and rains just go over them. But all of us out here have
to find shelter or die." The Grey Ranger stopped to think about this. He never
heard about the storms on this planet, but then he never knew anyone who ever
came to Plait and left. This planet was a one way ticket. Sure there were the
workers who got to leave after they put in their time, but none ever came from
his planet. His was one of the last planets to achieve space travel, so allot of
what was common knowledge in the universe was lost to them.
As the two of them walked along, the Grey Ranger realized
that this pathetic little man may be of use to him. He was new to the planet and
he had nowhere to go when the storms hit. If what Tredd said was true, he would
need a place where he could hole up, so to speak. "Where do you suggest we go
during this storm?" he asked Tredd. "Just follow me and let me do the talking."
he said with his evil grin.
Plait the Prison Planet
© 2007 Tom Zjaba
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