by Wes Grant
Shrink shrugged off his shoulders and patted down his arms and legs and said, “This fits a little bit better.” Crank said, “Speak for yourself.” As he flexed his arms a little in a tight guard’s uniform. He then said to Shrink, “Who do we get out now?”
Shrink said, “The name I put together is Josh.”
Crank said, “So let’s get this Josh character.”
Shrink said, “I knew you were going to say that.” They then headed out toward the last guy on the list. When they got to the last cell, all they saw in the dark was a pair of glowing yellow eyes.
Shrink went up to the door and said, “Josh, I presume.” The glowing eyes rose, and the man in the cell said, “Who wants to know.” Shrink said, “There’s nothing I want to know because I already know everything. I also know you’re wondering who we are and what we’re doing here.”
Josh said, “Maybe I was, but that’s not the point. Who the hell are you guys?” Shrink said, “You can call me Shrink, and my large friend over there is called Crank, and we’re here to get you out of here. And no, I’m not called Shrink because I’m small, it’s because I used to be a brilliant psychologist, and my abilities of course.”
Josh said, “OK, I’m—” Just then Shrink interrupted and said, “Voltedge, yes, I know.” Voltedge said, “Well, if you know so much about me, you know I wanna get the hell outta here, so hurry up andget me outta here.” He stood in front of the door as Shrink put in the code to open his cell but, for some reason the code didn’t work this time.
Voltedge said, “Hey, what’s the problem? I thought you was gonna get me outta here.” Shrink said, “Silence, I’ll figure it out.” He then squatted down, so he could concentrate on figuring out the access code. He then mumbled to himself, “OK, it’s only a four-digit code, if I base off the code I have, maybe I can—” At that moment there was a loud pop noise, and Crank’s muscle almost tripled in size and ripped part of his clothes; he then grabbed the sides of the door and ripped it out the door frame with the door.
Shrink said, “What the hell are you doing?! Don’t you think . . . Wait, don’t say anything, I already know the answer.” The prison alarm went off and blared through the prison.
Crank said, “Little Man was taking too long.”
Shrink replied angrily, “It was a minute! 60 seconds! You couldn’t wait another 30 seconds!
Crank shrugged and replied, “Crank no like waiting.” Shrink replied, “But Big Oaf now let prison know we’re escaping . . . Wait, now you’ve got me talking like you.” He put his hand on his face to think of a way out of this situation.
Voltedge came out of his cell and said, “Thanks, guys, but shouldn’t we be getting out of here. I mean that is why you came to get me, right?”
Shrink said, “Hold on, I’m thinking.”
Voltedge said, “Well, don’t think too long because I think this place will be full of guards pretty soon.”
Crank said, “Let them come, it’s been a while since I’ve had a good workout.” Shrink said, “I’ve got it! Voltedge, you control electricity.” Voltedge said, “Yeah, but how did you—”
Shrink said, “Never mind that, how much voltage can your body handle?”
Voltedge said, “As much as I need it to.” Shrink looked around at the hall and said to Crank, “Crank, there should be some thick power cables behind that wall. Punch a hold right there.”
Crank did what he said and punched a hole in the wall.
Shrink then said to Voltedge, “Voltedge, drain those cables of all the power it’s got.” Voltedge said, “Gotcha, I was a little thirsty for some juice.” He then grabbed the cables and began to get electrocuted. His hair began to glow neon yellow as he shook uncontrollably as he held on to the cables. He stopped shaking, but smoke was coming from his body. The power in the whole prison went out.
Crank tilted his head to see how Voltedge was doing and said, “Are you OK?”
Voltedge turned around and said, “I’m ecstatic.” His eyes were glowing white, and his hair was glowing neon yellow. Shrink said, “Great, let’s be on our way.”
Crank said, “What’s next?”
Shrink ran to the double door and locked it. A moment later, the guards slammed on the door and started pounding on it. Shrink backed away from the door and went over to Crank and Voltedge. He then told Voltedge, “OK, when they make their way in, you electrocute them.”
Voltedge said, “I can do something better.” He then opened his arms as wide as he could and electricity began to surge between them. He opened his hands and slowly began to bring them together forming a small ball of electricity right in front of him. He opened up his arms again and forced more electricity in the ball, making it bigger. He opened his arms one more time and drew them together, making the electric ball the size of a kick ball. At that moment the guards broke through the door. Voltedge shot the electric ball straight at the guards, and it disintegrated them all on contact.
Crank said to Voltedge, “Lightbulb Man isn’t as weak as originally thought.” Shrink said, “OK, now that we’ve all finished showing off our abilities, let’s be on our way.” He then began to walk toward the double doors and said, “Let’s go, gentlemen, the night’s young.” Crank and Voltedge followed behind him. They came to the main cell block with all the regular inmates.
Shrink said, “We need a diversion. We need to get the rest of them out of their cell.”
Crank said, “Do you want me to rip of the cage doors?” Shrink said, “No, that will take too long.” He looked a t the wall and saw an emergency master switch to the cells. He then said, “Voltedge, send a surge of electricity through that switch box over there.” Voltedge put his hands over the box and sent electricity to it, causing all the cell doors to open at once. He then walked in the middle of the cell block and yelled, “Gentlemen, you have been given a rare opportunity. An opportunity to take back what was taken from you. It’s time to take back your freedom and get your vengeance.” As he talked, the inmates slowly came out of their cells. He walked toward the double doors at the other end of the room. He then said, “Gentlemen, if you wish to exit out of the current place you reside in, follow your guide to sovereignty.”
The inmates looked confused, and Voltedge yelled out, “We’re breaking you guys out.” The inmates all began to cheer. In the next scene, the guards were lined up in the front and rear exits. When the front doors burst open, all the inmates poured out. They tried to overtake the guards, but it got messy. In the midst of all the confusion, there was a thin officer with his head looking down and his hat covering his face. He got in a police car and slowly pulled away from the other cars and drove off down the road. The officer stopped next to the woods and waited.
Crank popped up on the side of the car and tried to scare the officer. The officer took off his hat nonchalantly revealing Shrink, as he looked at Crank, and said, “Are you done?”
Crank said in his Russian accent, “You’re no fun.” Voltedge came out of the woods and said, “So this is our new ride. Sweet, I call shotty.”
Crank got in the back of the car, and Voltedge got in the passenger side. Voltedge then said, “So where do we go now?” Shrink said, “I’ll tell you on the way, but first, do yo u think you could turn off the light show? The light bright in the car might draw some attention.”
Voltedge said, “Sure, Doc.” And powered down. He then said, “I can’t believe how you got us out there. My ribs still hurt a little. How’d you know he could make that jump?”
Shrink said, “It was simple, all I had to do is measure the distance, take into account our combined weight, and estimate Crank’s here strength along with his height and stride distance and voila, instant escape.”
Crank said, “All this math is hurting my head. Can we just go?”
Shrink said, “Of course,” and drove off.
Flashing back to the escape, you see the three of them on the roof.
Voltedge went off to the edge of the roof, looked down, and
said, “What are we doing here? We’re trapped up here , at least down there we had a chance to fight our way out.” Shrink said, “Don’t worry about it. This is the best place to get away from.”
Voltedge said, “Why, do you have a helicopter coming to get us?”
Shrink said, “Of course not, that would draw too much attention.”
Voltedge yelled, “Then what? And why the hell did you tell me to take a pillow with me?”
Shrink said, “We’re going to jump to freedom.” Voltedge looked over the edge of the building and said, “OK, have you seen me? I don’t know if you have taken a really good look at me, but I’m not exactly in the best shape of my life. I mean I got the power of electricity, but it stops there. Mr. Universe over there might be able to make that jump, but me, uhoh, not happening.”
Shrink said, “Great because you won’t be jumping, he will. With us along for the ride.”
Voltedge said, “OK, I’ll admit you’re pretty smart, Doc. But right now you’re talking crazy.” Shrink said, “You said it yourself, you can’t make that jump, and I know I can’t either, so the only one of us that can is Mr. Crank over there.”
Voltedge said, “Yeah, but I’m not exactly lightweight like you.”
Shrink called over to Crank and said, “Crank, what’s the maximum amount of weight you can lift in your big form?” Crank said, “Last I checked, a little over two thousand pounds.” Shrink said, “There, are you happy now? We need to hurry ;, the inmates should be breaking out anytime now.” He walked Voltedge over to the edge of the roof.
Voltedge said, “OK, but how’s this supposed to go down? Does he lift us up and jump with us on his shoulders or something?”
Shrink said, “I suggest you put the pillow in front of you and close your eyes.” Voltedge replied, “Why close my eyes, what’s supposed to hap—” Just then he saw Crank on the other side of the roof go big and sprint straight at them. He spear-tackled them and jumped from the roof over the prison walls into the woods.
NEXT SCENE From the inside of a dark motel, the door opens. Shrink walked in and Crank followed after. Voltedge came in a few seconds later panting and breathing very hard. He then said, “And we walked the last three miles instead of driving, why?”
Shrink said, “You have heard of tracking devices, right? All new police cars pretty much have it. And do you want the police joining usin this apartment?”
Voltedge said, “Well anyways, thanks for getting us out of there Doc, but I’m tired, so I’ma head to bed.” Just then there was a knock on the door. The three of them looked at the door in surprise. Shrink read the mind of the person onthe other side of the door and said, “It’s OK, we can open the door.”
Crank opened the door, and a well-dressed gentleman stepped through the door. He said, “I take it you gentlemen are making yourself comfortable. I’ve come here to provide you with the names of two more gentlemen to get out.”
Shrink said, “Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, as I understood it, I just had to get these guys out. I did not agree to become this mysterious person’s errand boy.”
The man said, “Rest assured, Mr. Shrink, you will be well compensated.” Voltedge said, “How much are we talking, Doc?” The man replied, “How does 20 million each sound?”
Crank said, “Twenty million and all we have to do is break out two more people. They must be in Alcatraz or something.” Shrink said, “Alcatraz has been closed for decades now, Crank. But he does raise a good question. What makes these two gentlemen worth all this effort?”
The man said, “To be honest, I really don’t know. I’m just the messenger. Once you complete this assignment, there will be a different person to greet you at your new location.” He then handed Shrink an open envelope and said, “All the information you need is in there.”
Shrink took it from him slowly and said, “You . . . didn’t look in here, did you?” The man said, “No, sir, I’m just the messenger.”
Shrink said, “OK, you can go now.”
The man said, “Thank you, sir,” and walked out of the apartment and down the walkway.
Shrink turned to Crank and said, “Kill him please.” Crank said in his Russian accent, “I don’t know if it’s a good idea. They said, never kill the messenger.” Shrink said, “Well, that messenger looked at the package and he knows the next place we’re going to be hiding out at. That is not the actions of a loyal employee.”
Crank said, “OK, if say so,” and began to walk toward the door. Before he went out the door, Shrink said, “Oh, and Crank, don’t go too brutal. Make it look like he was robbed by a normal human being. Just snap his neck or something.”
Crank said, “OK,” walked out the door and closed it behind him. Shrink then began to open the envelope. Voltedge searched through all the cabinets to see if there was anything to eat and asked Shrink, “So Doc, who’s behind all of this?”
Shrink said, “For once I don’t know, and that man didn’t know either. This just has the names of the two kids we’re helping escape.”
Voltedge said surprised, “Kids, what do you mean kids?” Shrink said, “I assume they’re kids considering they’re located in the New Jersey Juvenile Correctional building . . . but these kids seem to be special like us.”
Voltedge said, “Really? Special like how?” Shrink said, “It said here, one has the ability to control fire and the other has the ability to give off microwaves and burn things from the inside.”
Voltedge said, “I’ll admit those powers sound a little bad ass, but why do you think this mystery guy wants all of us together and is willing to pay us so much.”
Shrink said, “I’m still trying to put it all into place, but right now I presume it’s something that will require all our abilities.” Voltedge said, “Well, Doc, I don’t care as long as I get paid. I’m exhausted, so I’m going to sleep.” Just then Crank opened the door and entered.
Shrink said, “Did you take care of him?” He then looked at him and said, “Wait, where did you get that food from?” Crank with his hands full with bags of food said, “Was hungry, so I bought food.”
Voltedge said, “Wait, Where’d you get the money?” Crank replied, “After kill Little Man, I took car and wallet and went to drivethrough.”
Shrink said, “Are you crazy? You could have blown our hideout. What if someone recognized you?” Crank said, “No worries, Crank not as stupid as you think. I put on shades and got rid of car after buying food. Car nowhere near here.”
Shrink said, “OK, I suppose it’s OK for now, but next time, could you run it by me before you do something spontaneous like that again? Remember how bad it turned out at the prison when you just did things on your own.”
Crank stepped up to Shrink and looked down at him and said, “Crank is no little kid, Little Man. Just because you help Crank get out of prison doesn’t mean you boss of Crank.”
Shrink said calmly, “Nobody said I was, we just found out we’re getting paid 20 million to do a job, so let’s put our egos aside and work together, and get paid… OK.”
Crank took a deep breath and said, “OK,” and walked off to the couch and sat down. Voltedge said, “Hey, you didn’t get us anything.” Crank tossed Voltedge the smallest bag of food he had.
Voltedge looked in the small bag and said in a sarcastic manner, “Geez, thanks.”
Crank replied without looking, “No problem, Lightbulb Man,” and began to eat.
Shrink thought to himself, “This better be worth the headache.”
NEXT SCENE The next night Shrink, Crank, and Voltedge were outside of the New Jersey Juvenile Correctional building going over their plans to get the delinquents out.
Shrink said, “OK, gentlemen, we each have a copy of the blueprints of the building. We’re splitting up in two. It’ll be me and Voltedge on the north end. We’ll get out the one named Larry, and Crank, you get the one named Michael out of the south end. Crank, now remember to wait exactly fifteen minutes from when we part to break yours out and try to ma
ke it as stealthy as possible.”
Crank said, “Don’t worry, will be quiet as baby,” then ran off to get in place.
Voltedge turned to Shrink and said, “Don’t babies cry loud as hell.”
Shrink replied, “Don’t worry about it, let’s just get into place.” They got to the designated spot in a few short minutes. Shrink said, “OK, let’s begin.”
Voltedge said, “Wait, I thought we were going to start after fifteen minutes.” Shrink said, “No, Crank has to start in fifteen minutes or to be exactly twelve minutes and thirty-four seconds. Which means, we have about eleven minutes to get our target out before the alarms go off.”
Voltedge said, “So what’s next, Doc? Lightning bolt to the wall to blow it open.”
Shrink said, “That’s a no. That might alert the security we’re here. Let’s try a more stealthy method.”
Voltedge said, “What you got in mind?” Shrink said, “I have an idea. If you focus your electricity on one specific area, the current might weaken the wall so we can quietly break in.”
Voltedge said, “OK, Doc, how do you know I can do what you said, I don’t even know if I can do what you say.” Shrink replied, “Just call it a hunch. Ok now put your hands on the wall and try it.” Voltedge said, “OK, Doc, I’ll try it, but don’t blame me if this doesn’t work.” He then put his hands on the wall and ran an electric current through the wall. After a good couple of minutes, the wall began to crack. Larry was lying back on his bed when he heard noise coming from behind the walls of his aluminumcoated cell. He then sat up and looked at the wall where he heard the noise coming from. All of a sudden a spark started at the bottom of the wall. It went up into an arch and stopped back at the bottom, making a partial doorway. The metal sheet was pulled out, and Shrink stuck his head in and said, “Larry, there’s no time to explain. If you want to get out of here, come with us now because the alarm will be set off shortly.” Larry wasted no time getting up and crouching out the hole to freedom. When all three got close to the meet-up point, there was a huge bang.
