Life in prison. Those words had echoed through the mind of Alex Cummings for 3 long months now. Not long ago, although it seemed like ages now, he was in charge of the largest most powerful corporations in all of Sirius and one of the richest men alive. He could buy anything and go anywhere. Now he found himself in no better status than common thieves and beggars. Doomed to an eternity in this hell hole he now called home, Vierland Prison. Every day longer than the last, every night a bitter torment. No more lavish parties, no more women at his beckon call and no longer did simple men cower in his presence. He was now worthless and alone. Not a soul in Sirius visited him. The only person with any like for him at all was Patricia Craig and well, she too was facing a life of imprisonment.
It was 5 o'clock now and time for dinner. His cell door slid open, as it did every single day at this time. Alex slowly wheeled himself out the door and down the hall toward the mess hall. The same group of Bundschuh thugs that had harassed him every day run by and slap him in the back of the head and laugh. The great Alex Cummings had become a disheveled shell of his former self. He collects his packet of Synth Foods paste and rolls over to the empty table in the corner of the hall. He deplored the stuff, but what choice did he have. He tore the top corner of the pack and began eating the chalky paste. Then it happened...
All of a sudden the lock down alarms sounded and the red lights began to flash. At first the inmates sat stunned but quickly bedlam ensued. Packets of food paste began flying across the room and loud shouts began emanating from all over the hall, so many that it was near impossible to make any of them out. Guards began crowding the catwalks above the hall all with guns drawn and pointed down into the crowd. Then the loud speakers sounded, Attention, this is a level 5 lock down alert. All inmates will return to their cells immediately. Any inmate refusing to do so will be dealt with by deadly force. Repeat... But before the voice could repeat it's warning the entire station violently jerked, the lights flickered and the distinct sound of an explosion could be heard from afar.
Guard and prisoner alike froze, just for a moment. Then another explosion, and another, and yet another. Then the lights went out completely and the emergency power kicked in. All hell broke loose in the mess hall. Then an explosion seemed to hit right outside the mess hall walls, sparks flew and one of the catwalks carrying the guards collapsed. Immediately after it hit the floor hundreds of inmates rushed the fallen guards disarming, beating and eventually killing all of the guards. Gunfire from every corner of the room began to ring out. All this time, the explosions kept occurring and meanwhile Alex Cummings had been knocked out of his wheelchair and onto the floor. He dragged himself under the table and just watched in seeming enjoyment as one after another body hit the floor lifeless. Then the room went pitch black.
Now the melee could only be heard. Then a new sound emerged. Repeating laser blasts began emanating from both sides of the room. Their blasts could be seen coming from both previously closed entry doors. Dozens of them from both sides. After what seemed like an eternity only a few groans could be heard. Several flash lights then shined in an instant and began scouring the room. One by one a laser blast would fire and a groan would cease. His delight now replaced with fear Alex lay still and quite under his feeble shelter. Then a light shown at him and quickly approached.
Alex Cummings? spoke the voice behind the light.
He stayed silent at first but then managed to shake out one word, Y-y-yes?
All he heard was a slight 'zap' and then darkness. He had been stunned and knocked unconscious.
When he came to he found himself strapped to an operating table that was positioned vertically. The room seemed empty, nothing but the table and a very bright light shining in his face. Based on the sounds around him and the distinct vibrations he was definitely on a ship of some sort and it was in cruise speed. HAY, what the hell is going on here? Where the hell am I? Can anyone hear me? HAAAAAY!
He couldn't see it through the light in his eyes, but he then heard a door slide open and footsteps approach him. Alex Cummings, I am Dieter Schultz of the Wilde.
Holy s**t, he thought to himself. The Wilde? Many times had his convoys run from these Nomad infested soldiers. Many times had he watched his security details fight and be destroyed at the hands of these, these... creatures. What the hell did they want from him, and why hadn't they killed him?
You have been selected to be joined with us. Do not resist as it will be futile. You will be infested and become one with the Wilde.
Oh how he missed his prison cell now. No, NOOOO, I don't want one of those things put in me. I will not submit you son of a b***h. The Wilde then slowly lifted the definite shape of a Nomad towards Alex's face. Get that f***ing thing away from me. He desperately struggled to free himself from his binds, but his resistance was pointless. The Nomad reached his face and began to painfully enter his throat. The room went completely black and that would be the last thing that the true Alex Cummings would ever experience. He was now a Nomad infested member of the Wilde.
As it turned out, Alex Cummings seemed to have some value yet to someone. Being one of the most infamous and recognizable men in Sirius, he seemed to be the perfect way for the Wilde to gain some much wanted notoriety. From this day forward, Alex Cummings would only exist in body and in name.
<span style="color:#FF0000"><strike>RETIRED</strike></span>
ON MY WAY OUT OF RETIREMENT
