Death Nail

Part 1 - What ifs’

What if, you were a young child around the age of ten and you suddenly found yourself alone, without someone that could give you guidance, lead you in an appropriate manner, point you in an honorable direction.

What if, at twelve, you were shuffled from to home to home, where there was no stability in you life, no one you felt you could look to for answers, no one that could calm things down for you, no one that could make sense out of a lot of things that were confusing.

What if, at age fifteen you were out on the streets, in a band of misfits, the only people you could call family, yet even with this you had to prove yourself every day.

What if, at age sixteen you were a leader of your own group, with an ability of calling your own shots. Making decisions that hurt people, that violated people, that sometime caused folk pain.

Derrick Neal had lived this kind of life. It wasn’t one he was proud of. It wasn’t one that he would have chosen for himself, it wasn’t one he would have chosen for someone else. It was a cold, hard, fact of reality.

Derrick had grown up in the less desirable locations of the core planets. Yes, with all their beauty and charm and ability to captivate the imagination of folk visiting from the rim worlds these places still had their underbelly. The places that were talked about very little at fancy parties or high dollar shindigs. The places where illicit deals and unlawful agreements were still made in dark alleys and backdoor rent rooms.

“ Black-Out Zones” They were called, and just being caught in one of these could cause a person a world of trouble, even for their family.

These areas were a nuisance for authorities who were trying to create a sense of nirvana within present society. A growing plague throughout the known universe. In a way this helped out the kind of people like Malcolm Reynolds, those folk that lived out on the edge. It kept the authority from being able to bring it’s full weight of power out to the rim worlds. If it weren’t for this thorn in the soles of high ranking individuals then the likes of Malcolm Reynolds and his crew of pickpocket ruffians would have a lot more grief in their lives.

He should be thanking folk like Derrick Neal, shouldn’t he?

At age nineteen Derrick Neal found himself in prison. Not the kind of place a young man wants to be. Still, even here his soul was able to adapt and flourish. The young man, with his street smarts and natural talent of assessing situations quickly soon had him moving up in the society of prison life. Even within the deep, dank wall of the incarcerated there were rules. Derrick learned them and began to manipulate them quickly.

He soon had his own group of inmates, and like many of the barbaric groups inside fortified walls they were trouble for anyone that got in their way. Usually groups like Derrick’s were given a name. Something that distinguished them from other groups. These names also, most of the time were stated with the initials of the leader of the group. Derrick’s group, Death Nail………Derrick Neal-Death Nail, was in reference to the final nail driven into the coffin of a pine box. That nail signified the finality of someone’s life. Once that nail was driven into the wood it was all over, there was no coming back. Derrick had eared this reputation…..and he did his best to live up to it. The groups symbol, a red heart with a black nail driven in through the top. If someone had this symbol inked into their skin, they were given a wide berth.

Although Derrick was a great leader and trusted among his men, there is no honor among thieves. After his second year of incarceration Derrick met up with another individual as tuff as himself. They became fast friends and did much things together. Colt Harley was the kind of person you always wanted by your side. Smart, but not as smart as yourself. A brilliant planner, groups in prison were always making plans to steal from one another, and tuff as nails. Which made he an excellent candidate for “Death Nail” he soon moved up in top position, second only to Derrick himself.

Colt had proven himself worthy of the Death Nail society many times within the groups dealing in prison. The other members of DN looked up to him with respect and almost worship. He was near top man himself and would take over if anything should happen to Derrick Neal. The one thing he had left to do was to prove himself one more time then he felt that he could take over the clan.

That opportunity came a short time later.

Colt had learned from one of the prison guards that there would be an opportunity, a window, in which several inmates would be given a change to make their way to the outside. Just as in any place the likes of Tusca Prison their were corrupt employees that could be had for a price.

Colt went to Derrick, who thought that it was an excellent idea. There would be only room for ten men to escape, which “ Death Nail’s” group was a band of twenty. The prisoners flipped a marked pewter octo to see which ones were the lucky ones to make the journey. The coin would only be flipped nine times. Derrick Neal’s position in the escape plan was automatic.

The coin toss came to Colt.

“ Not me, I’m staying!” He told Rick as the leader passed the pewter over to him.

“ Where else can I start my own band of cutthroats?” He told the Neal.

Derrick smiled and pass the pewter on.

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With the coin toss made and the chosen waited patiently the three nights before their opportunity came.

When that night arrived they lined up ready to go, Colt lead the group down a steep corridor that had a tunnel that no one knew about, not even Rick.

The place was dark and cold and led down in a steep angle.

“ This leads down to a maintenance shaft I learned about from one of the guards on my payroll.” Colt bragged.

It was a good thing that he was leaving. With the abilities of this new inmate Derrick’s role as leader of “ Death Nail” may soon the challenged.

“ From here it’s out to the yard, past the mess hall, then on to the north fence, sector 16. There, you’ll find a hole in the fence leading to the supply depot. A hovercraft was landed yesterday morning to offload materials. I’ve got an agreement with the captain of that ship to lift off in thirty minutes. With his crew on board, and a few extra it should be a piece of cake. Once he leaves he will make a landing ten miles away. At that point………. everyone is on their own. That’s the deal!”

Derrick said it was a good plan.

“ Should take but about twenty minutes.” Colt finished.

Neal signaled his men to start the journey. They entered the tunnel one by one. In the matter of a few seconds all had gone but Death Nail himself.

He shook Colt’s hand.

“ See you sometime on the other side.” He smiled. Then reached behind him and pulled out an RK-387, 20 shot mini gun.

Colt was stunned.

“ What the hell is this!??”

“ You my friend are accompanying our little band of escapees there.” Rick nodded down the tunnel showing Colt the way to go.

“ But……” Colt was about to protest.

“ No….no….I insist.” Rick told him, Colt’s eyes glazed over.

“ I’m staying here to run the show for the remaining, unlucky bastards that are staying imprisoned.” He motioned the gun in the indication for Colt to leave.

Without a word the second in command slipped down the tunnel and out of sight. Rick smiled.

“ Or should I have said, the lucky bastards.” He went back to his bunk.

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Twenty minute later there was the sound of gunfire and the shrieks of dying men. Derrick lay in his bunk listening to the sound of slaughter. Colt’s plan had gone way too easy. Rick had always had his misgiving about his new friend. Things always went too well for the guy.

The ten men he had sacrificed were good, but they could be replaced. He’d kept the best with him. Yes, Rick had rigged the coin toss. In a way only he knew about. He knew that the power authority over Tusca stockade were gunning for him. He had become too powerful for the prison’s liking. He just didn’t know how they would try to bring him down. That is until Colt had come up with his plan. Ain’t no way people get out of a maximum cell, les the thoroties wants them out. Derrick was smart enough to know this. They had killed all those inmates in the compound. His body would not be among them, he wondered if Colt Harley’s body would be? He had his doubts. Why would a man go to his own death?”

Of course with all the commotion the whole stockade was awakened. The men in their cells were dazed and confused, but Death Nail knew what had happened. The light to his bunk soon came on and gauds were sent to escort him to a private chamber.

There sat a man, across a table from him. With the nod of his head he motioned for the prisoner to take a seat in the chair opposite him.

“ Well Mr. Neal………..Death Nail. You seemed to have passed our test.”

The man shifted his position and brought his arms up to the tabletop. Derrick noticed on his hands were blue gloves.

“ A job opportunity has just opened up!”

End Part 1