”I’m hourly.” Carrick shrugged, he knew he got paid its just what he got paid exactly was never discussed nor did he ever bother to read the pay stub. He just knew when the money hit his account. ”I could go fer some gold.” Carrick said getting distracted by the idea of more money as Ranger took out another handful of inmates by charging into them.

”Towards the danger?” Carrick asked as he stepped over a few of the men that Ranger dropped almost bouncing with each step. ‘Fight!’ shouted the voice in the back of his head. ‘Fig-’ Carrick looked to Ranger briefly shutting the thought process up. It was clear Ranger wasn’t the source of the ‘fight’ feeling.

”I’m gonna guess someone who wants out of the prison.” the shifter said stating the obvious. ”Got the feeling our big piggy in the room back there knew about it. He was smiling before the s*** hit the fan.”

The further in they moved the more on anxious the shifter became. It wasn’t a bad anxiety that induced fear or scared him but the kind you get into when you get into a fight. Hairs stood on end and his pupils turned more cat like the further they went.

He was ‘raised’ by the beast of Belfast. He learned quickly how to take a punch and when to find something to use as a weapon. Unfortunately there weren’t any weapons around he could grab. A bat would have been perfect. Half tempted to call Zek the shifter pointed as a group of orange jumpsuits came into view. Another group of them. They were circling someone. They were cowering. Trying to get away. It was a guard. Unarmed by the guess of it.

They were distracted. ”Me first?” Carrick asked before running forward jumping and landing two of his feet into one of the jumpsuit knocking him backwards and wrapping an arm into a headlock into another shouting ”Hello!” all three including Carrick went down after gravity took over. His free hand dropped a smoke pellet. It wasn’t a grenade but it was enough to distract the other inmates. Now was the time to show off to the supervisor. Maybe he’d get more gold (stars) out of it.

”Of course toward the danger. No fun goin’ the other way.” Ranger said, an almost glee slipping into his voice. ”Behind enemy lines, not sure when backup’s comin’. This is what I do best.”

Carrick suggested someone wanted out of the prison and that was the cause. Ranger nodded in agreement. It made sense, especially given the Vepr’s behavior.

Ranger waved for Carrick to follow and set off at a job further into the prison. Slowing once some noise was coming from around a corner. Once they rounded it Carrick pointed out some inmates circling someone. They hadn’t noticed Carrick and Ranger, they were too caught up in whatever they were doing.

”Get ‘em.” Ranger said to Carrick, confirming that he could go first.

Carrick did not disappoint. The man hand;ed the group almost expertly, and… where did he get that smoke pellet? Ranger moved past the fight and bladed off from it. He stood where he could watch Carrick and listen down the hall. If more trouble came, Ranger could put it down.

Carrick was busy and didn’t need a party crasher.

Carrick was laying on the floor now partially on top of the three inmates as a tiny bit of smoke filled the air surrounding them. He rolled and crouched low finding the first person he could hit and pounced bringing a knee into the part of the jaw. At least it felt that way. Carrick’s vision was blurred as well but it wasn’t the first time he fought with obscured vision.

There was a groan from one of the people he kicked. “What was that!?!” “I don’t know!” cried another. The third didn’t say anything now that Carrick was on top of him. Kicking off the downed inmate like a springboard he leapt onto the next one who was busy pushing himself up from the ground. ”Hiya!” Carrick said with a greeting forcing the next one into the ground his face met the tiled floor and then went limp.

The shifter shouldn’t have said anything, it was all the third needed to find where to throw a punch. Right into Carrick’s face causing him to roll backwards. ”Ow!” he grabbed his mouth and looked at his hand which now had some blood. ”You punched me!” he said surprised.

The smoke was starting to dissipate the guard was scrambling to get away, he was terrified. This was what he was trained for but still wasn’t ready for a full blown prison riot. He decided then and there he was going to quit his job after this. Carrick could smell it through all the body odor. Fear. ‘Hunt’

The shifter’s eyes narrowed into slits more, ‘Fight!’ his aderniline was pumping which was good, otherwise the shifter would have never been able to hold onto the burly inmate who punched him. His back was turned and Carrick leapt gabbing hold of the man’s back and held on as he flapped his wings forward trying to disorient the inmate so he would release the terrified guard. “Let go!”

”Make me!” Carrick said climbing up the man further until he could place his arms for a rear naked choke. From there Carrick pulled and pulled until the inmate went down... by falling backward. ”Awww ****” the shifter said as he was now pinned on the ground. ”Little help?” Carrick asked flailing his wings and tail.

The sounds of a brawl came from inside the smoked off area. Confused inmates getting pummeled and Carrick taunting them. Then it sounded like Carrick took a hit, later confirmed by Carrick announcing that he had indeed been punched.

As the smoke was clearing Ranger could see Carrick hanging onto an inmate who had hold of a guard. Smoke swirling as Carrick’s wings flapped. A moment later Carrick had the inmate ina chokehold and then he was on his back, under the dead weight of the unconscious man and he was asking for help.

Ranger helped the guard to his feet and sent him on his way before rolling the inmate off of Carrick. ”Sure y’ ain’t part turtle? Gettin’ stuck on y’r back.”

The exchange didn’t help. He wasn’t a turtle. If anything he was a cat, however in this instance he didn’t land on his feet so maybe less cat and more... ”Har Har Har! Ya been waiting ta use that one?” Carrick asked trying to push the behemoth who was limp on top of him. The man was heavy, and wow... he smelt bad. ”Uggghhh.” Carrick said trying to hold his breath as he pushed with all his might.

The weight was lifted, or rather rolled... why didn’t he think of that. He was pushing up... it didn’t matter it was done with and the smelly guy was off of him. Carrick took a whiff of his clothes and shook his head as if the scent was stuck to him now. Great. ”I mean, a shell wouldn’t suck.” he said thinking about a better comeback and coming up with nothing.

”I’ll let you take lead next!” Carrick said touching the spot where he was punched. He tapped his nose and winced, a little blood forming taking away the smell of awful body odor to copper. ”Don’t think it’s broken...” he said looking for a reflective surface and touching both sides of the nose. It hurt. Besides he figured he did enough to get the approval from Ranger, if not approval at least a nod one that said, ‘Don’t worry, partner. I think I can rustle up a raise fer you on you’re next paycheck.’

”How long ya think they planned this? the shifter asked blowing a snot rocket containing a little blood off to the side of the hallway. ”Doubt these guys knew about it.” his foot might have found it’s way into the side of the guy that punched him in the face one more time as they continued onwards.

”Nah, I come by my jokes honestly. In the moment an’ probably at someone’s expense.” Ranger said with an authoritative nod.

Carrick got up, smelled himself and was clearly displeased. Ranger assumed Carrick had a better sniffer than he did, which was not a good thing as Ranger could smell a little of what Carrick must have been smelling. Carrick then commented that a shell wouldn’t suck.

”If I couldn’t already shrug off handgun bullets I might be inclined t’ agree. Silver medal for protection.” Ranger said as he looked down the hall. He could hear noise in the distance. They were near a large gathering.

Ranger looked at Carrick, who was checking the injury to his nose. ”Doesn’ look broke. Maybe an improvement.” Ranger said with a smile.

”Probably a while, but I’d imagine only an inner circle knew until recently.” Ranger said, postulating as they made their way further into the prison. ”Question is why. Doesn’t feel like a prison break, more like they’re takin’ over ‘r somethin’.” Ranger trailed off.

The noise of a crowd had grown much, much louder and around a bend Ranger could see into a common area, maybe a cafeteria but it was hard to tell. Possibly the center of a panopticon. Ranger held up a hand for Carrick to hold. ”Found the circus.”

”Says you.” Carrick said sniffing and blowing a snot rocket to clear out any blood that was in there. ”It’s the money maker. I’m dating a princess, can’t be having a broken face all the time.” while he knew he was a fast healer the headache from the lecturing from the princess was not something he wanted to deal with. Nor Praxi, she too had been a bit more concerned for the shifter’s well being as of late... it was... also a headache.

”Well they still have walls surrounding them right? Wouldn’t be too hard fer Mom – I mean Sabine and the rest of our crew ta close the place down and start getting control right? If anything I’d use it as a distraction ta get me pasty @$$ outta here.” the shifter never understood this. One of the reasons he was glad he parted ways from the family business.

”S&&& circus!” Carrick said following behind Ranger, he was more than willing to let his on site supervisor handle the next beating, Carrick was just an intern after all. ”All clowns, no show. Who do ya think the ring master is?” he asked curiously knowing all too well there wasn’t going to be any cotton candy or popcorn for this.

Carrick walked to the edge of the hallway to see a bunch of men in orange jump suits cheering all looking up to a few people standing over them on a walk way holding a few terrified guards. The prison guards were cheering as one of the guards was pushed from the walkway. ”Boss, throw me!” it was the only way Carrick would make it in time.

”That’s right, y’ the trophy boyfriend.” Ranger said with a nod. ”Gotta stay presentable.”

”Makes sense. Cause a riot then slip out in the chaos… Unless they want SUPER t’ send in more people.” Ranger pondered the idea as he said it. Cause a big enough disturbance and you would draw in more law enforcement like moths to a flame.

Ranger grunted in agreement to Carrick. S&&& circus indeed. ”Cain’ tell from here. Probably whoever Mister Personality is in here.” Normally the biggest meatheads caused the problems, but the incident had a strong feel of planning and coordination.

Thoughts of who might be behind the incident went out the window as a guard was being pushed from a walkway. Ranger gauged the distance ass too far for him to run it and catch the guard. Before he could come up with another plan, Carrick chimed in.

Ranger didn’t question, he spun. Making a full 360, Ranger took hold of Carrick and pulled him along for the ride along the rest of the spin. As he Ranger spun with Carrick in tow, he bulked. When he reached the termination of the spin he snapped his hips around and gave his all with a throw from his hips through the shoulder and the arm. It was a throw an anime would probably animate with circles of dust radiating out around the path Carrick took.

Carrick launched, Ranger had to take a few steps to stabilize himself. He nearly went ass over teakettle from the movement. Once righted, he took off behind Carrick, jumping toward the wall as he closed in on the group, he then sprang off the wall to launch himself up onto the walkway and bodily toss the man who dropped the guard.

Hindsight it probably wasn’t the best idea, Carrick was only used to move that fast when he was diving and was prepared for it. He wasn’t prepared, his mouth was open and his lips rippled in the wind as he cut through the air. His wings were tucked close to his body while his tail stabilized the flight. This was fast. Was his supervisor always this strong? It must have been Carrick’s healing factor that kept him upright after he got a beating during the spar sessions?

Clearly that was it.

Carrick’s ego soared along with his body. Until he spotted his prey falling after being thrown from the balcony. There were three guards, it was going to hurt and he’d lose flight when he caught them but it would be fine. Better than falling all that way. Golden brown wings snapped open and flapped twice in the opposite direction he was going slowing his speed. His wings strained and his arms opened as he caught one of the guards with one hand and the other two with his shoulders.

It was more weight than he was good with. Way more weight. The body armor the guards wore didn’t help, nor did their screaming and flailing as the shifter caught them. ”****ing heavy!” Carrick shouted as he caught a glimpse of a bulked Ranger tossing inmates aside above him as the four of them spiraled down into the ground into a sea of orange jumpsuits. They were cheering, then they weren’t when they realized Carrick caught the guards. When they landed they started cheering again and circled the four with Carrick currently being held by the guards he was holding.

”Do ya have ear protection?” Carrick asked before dropping the guards and inhaling before unleashing a lion’s roar.

Ranger impacted the inmates like a bowling ball and he hit a strike. When Ranger’s power boosted his strength, his mass increased. The force of throwing Carrick then jumping like Mario off a wall required enormous power and Ranger’s mass had almost doubled to accommodate it.

The only warning the inmates had was the wall cracking under the force of Ranger kicking off

One inmate was knocked off by Ranger impacting him, the other two were given a less controlled toss than Carrick. No thought to where they went, as long as it wasn’t at Carrick.

Ranger looked down at where Carrick had landed with the guards and with only a moment to realize what was happening, covered his ears. A roar crackled through the air, reverberating off the walls that were designed with the acoustics of a urinal. Smooth and reflective.

It took a few moments for the sound to die down and Ranger lept down from the walkway to join Carrick and the guards he had rescued. He landed on a discombobulated inmate, driving the man down to the ground.

”Ready t’ see why they pay me the big bucks?” Range said with a smile before he grabbed one inmate by the face, pulled him closer, put his other hand against the man’s chest, and then sent him sailing into an inmate who had vaulted over the crowd to come at them. ”Y’ get them guards outta here. What’s this? Twenty t’ one? At least they’ll have a shot.”

The sound of his roar echoed throughout the prison cell block. Inmates dropped what they carrying and4 tried to cover their ears. Even Carrick had to cover them towards the end of it. The room clearly wasn’t built to let sound dissipate.

Grabbing the guard by the collar and helping him up Carrick began to dust the man’s shoulders a little as his supervisor grabbed someone else and threw them like a weaponized sack of potatoes and boy did they fly far.
”Cause all the small doe were taken?” Carrick asked smirking as he pushed the guard behind him. ”Don’t be scared. You can laugh.” his wings opened and flapped once giving the guard an extra push.

They started moving as Mike counted. ”Well have fun! Be sure ta tell everyone how well I listen!” ‘Fight!’ he resisted the urge to listen to his bestial instincts. He was immortal sure but it would have been well hell of an @$$kicking before they’d stop hitting him. How long would it take to heal from that?

”Anywhere ya can be put till more help arrives? I kinda want ta see the fight.” The guard tensed up as one of the exits they were heading towards was blocked by two inmates. ”Not that way, come on act like I’m gonna get punched if ya don’t start moving!” the shifter gave a push in the other direction as inmates started flying just out of view no doubt being thrown like rag dolls.

As they approached the door that was the shifter felt it. A sudden unease, the voice in his head went from ‘Fight!’ to ‘Flee’. The sudden change in his instincts caused the shifter to look around slightly panicked. He pushed faster. The voice boomed near them the deep baritone carrying the potential weight of a lions roar behind it. “Me lil’ nephew! Carrie! So good ta see ya. Where ya running lad? Come see yer favorite uncle! Been a few!”

”**** Move faster!” he pushed harder as the guard started to run and Carrick quickly followed.