CHAPTER SIX

ESCAPE~

" How do you know that? " She gave a curious look.

" Later, now's not the time. " Elliot flinched.

" It's not impossible, Yeona. " Charlotte addressed her earlier statement. " There's a way to win. Jose, Leon and Jane have to attack at the same time. That way, they'll overpower the defenders. " She added.

" But what about our ball? " Yeona pointed. " The three of them can't attack and leave our ball " She added.

" They'll have to put our ball somewhere our opponents cannot reach it in time while we attack and win theirs by overpowering their defense before they can reach ours. Leon and Jose are already fast enough, Jane can keep up. " Charlotte remarked.

" That's a very risky gamble, I don't even think.. "

" No, she's right. " Elliot cut Yeona off. " Before the ball drops from the air if it's kicked up high.. " Elliot added with a satisfying grin.

" Exactly, that could work. " Charlotte nodded.

" Guys look at this " Yeona had turned to glance back at the game.

" What happened? " Elliot inquired.

" They won?! " Charlotte's jaw dropped.

" They won.. "

" They won! " Charlotte pitched.

" But how tho? " Elliot made a twisted expression on his face and gave Yeona who replied with a shrug a puzzled glance. The match had ended with group 7C successfully winning their opponent's ball at the nick of time. Leon, Jose and Jane had attacked the defenders all three at once like Charlotte had earlier stated. It was a tough game but the teens were knee-thankful of their victory. Elliot, Yeona and Charlotte didn't see how the game was won and that fueled their curiosity while they watched Leon, Jose and Jane congratulate one another.

" Did you guys see that? " Leon asked with beaming eyes as soon as he rushed over to where Elliot and the others stood.

" Y-yeah.. Of course, nice strategy " Elliot stammered a lie.

" Well, I didn't " Yeona said while turning to rebuke Elliot with a glare.

" All we did was add a little bit of basketball to the game. " Leon chuckled with pride.

" You used your hands? " Yeona asked with a brow shot up.

" Yes we did. The coordinator said it was a game similar to soccer. It wasn't soccer. So the rules in soccer doesn't apply. Jane protected our ball by holding it and making a long toss to Jose like you do in basketball. While our opponent's were confused by this because they thought it was soccer, they let down their guard and we all attacked their defenders at once with our ball in Jose's hands " Leon smirked.

" Sounds like trickery to me but it was a smart move " Charlotte giggled.

" Seems Elliot is a bit marveled " Leon said expecting a well done remark from him.

" Pfft, I could come up with something better " He retorted.

" Let's celebrate! " Jose yelled as he and Jane walked over to meet them.

" Well done! Group 7C " The voice from earlier exploded in the arena. " The goal was to by all means steal your opponent's ball while preventing yours from being taken. It didn't matter how you did it, and they were no rules stated. To figure that out, you've stretched out the original widths of your mind's thinking capacity. This gradually develops your mind and that's what we want.. "

" Wow Leon, I guess your plan was a stunner! " Yeona praised him.

" .. Group 5B you shall remain here to meet the consequences of your failure. Group 7C, you can take your leave " The voice concluded. Leon and the rest made little cheers of victory, they had succeeded in becoming victorious on their first phase of the STL.

" Nice strategy, I'm Luke " The group leader of the other team, Group 5B offered his arm for a shake towards Leon who returned a smile and did likewise. " It's Leon. " He said. " And thanks for the compliment. You guys weren't bad at all. " He added, glancing at Luke's group members while he said ' you guys. '

" Tch, I guess. I wonder what punishment we'd serve " Luke heaved a sigh.

" Nothing serious, these things haven't hurt anyone.. they treat us well enough. " Leon said " maybe you'd just have to run around this place twenty times " he added with a silly laugh and Luke joined him. " Well, I have to go now, my members are off already " He added.

" No problem " Luke replied as Leon ran off. " See you around ! " He yelled. Elliot and the others had reached the group room waiting for the arrival of the assigned Alienodroid guards to take them to their various cells, the highlights and analysis of the soccer game was the talk of the hour.

" I was nervous at first .. " Jane stated openyl before her attention was caught by Elliot who wasn't talking for a while.

" Are you alright, Elliot? " She asked noticing he held his head.

" Yeah I'm fine. Just felt a little pain. " He replied.

" Headaches? " Yeona asked.

" I think you need to see the medics. The other time you entered the room you seemed lost until Leon said you should introduce yourself. " Jane added.

" Yeah, you appeared like someone who was troubled. " Charlotte said.

" More like someone who was scared " Jose added.

" Jeez, I already said I'm... " Elliot's speech went incomplete, he slumped.

" Elliot! ... "

Elliot's POV

" He's out of harm's way, Lord fourth. You don't have to be worried " An Alienodriod said in an assuring voice. It seemed to be the one in charge of my well-being. My eyes flashed open and I noticed my environment had changed. It was a familiar environment. I layed on a bed in the room waiting for answers concerning my health status.

" What went wrong with him? " I heard the fourth Lord ask inquisitively.

" Lord, He's .. " The fourth Lord ordered him to stop then said something in their own language and I couldn't understand them any longer.

" You may speak in our language "

" Yes Lord. Elliot is suffering from a slight mental distress that causes severe head pains and some times, loss of consciousness. After examining him, I realized it must have been triggered by the words of the STL conductor after they had finished the game "

" An emotional wound leading to a psychological injury "

" Yes my Lord. But miraculously, it has no severe damage on his mind. You need not to worry "

" I can see he's greatly troubled by the information I gave to him. Hence his act of escape some days ago. I didn't expect it to create a trauma. Humans have so much value attached to their lives, most of their lives produce nothing or less than expected based on their actual potentials. Isn't that a waste? Elliot doesn't understand, I'm only taking what they've failed to utilize. "

" Don't worry my Lord, Elliot is still capable of givjng to us what we need. It's just a matter of time until you and your brothers dominate the Cosmos like your creators in the ancient tale "

" Do not talk about the ancient tale! "

" I'm.. I'm sorry my Lord. "

" Uhhhh.. Helloooooo?? Can you guys act like I'm alive and here? " I interjected staring at both Alienodriods. " I feel better now, but what happened to me? " I asked further.

" The doctor says you need more rest. You must be experiencing fatigue from the game " The fourth Lord replied in English.

" I didn't even participate. " I chuckled knowing it sounded silly.

" The tests in general. Not just the game " The fourth Lord corrected but I could still feel something didn't smell right. " Send for a guard to take him to his chamber " It added and walked out of the room. The other Alienodriod whom I could best refer to as a doctor stood there gazing at me.

" Before I go back to my cell, can I please use the toilet? It's urgent " I pleaded.

" Are you thinking of trying something stupid like the other time? "

" Wait, are you the same Alienodriod whose ass I kicked the other time? " I said in a mocking tone then chortled to somehow offend it. " I knew this place was familiar, section 6 right? " I asked as I took a quick glance at everywhere before an Alienodriod guard walked in. I could tell the difference between Alienodriods now. After seeing the fourth Lord, the Alienodriods building ' The extractor, ' the guards and the doctor here in section 6, all Alienodriods have different appearances according to the task they performed. The fourth Lord had weird red markings like tattoos around it's body with a unique clothing I haven't seen on any other Alienodriod. One look at the fourth Lord and anyone could tell he had authority over all others. As for the Alienodriods building ' The extractor, ' I could best describe them as employed workers, they weren't armed and they all had huge tyres for legs which made them short. The guards were six feet fall, even taller than the fourth Lord. Every inch of their body seemed to be covered by a weapon while they carried a heavy technological weapon similar to a gun in their hands each. This made them appear intimidating. As for the Alienodriod doctor in section 6, it was less intimidating and the only Alienodriod in clothings other than the fourth Lord.

" Finally I can .. " a thunder-like crash echoed in the hallway outside the room. ' what was that? '