The Sellouts by Jeffrey Henning

minute.” the doctor said as he was looking at a tablet that was on a shelf near him. “Grab that case down there.” he said as he pointed to a medium sized satchel that had a zipper opening.
    Chancer was curious, and grabbed it and quickly unzipped it. It was empty, but was used to transport vials, based on all the slots. “Ok… what am I doing with it?” he asked.
    “Take as many of the vials on that shelf as you can. And be careful not to break them.” the doctor said quickly as he grabbed another satchel and started loading vials from the shelf he was near.
    “What are these?” Chancer asked as he was grabbing four at a time.
    “Powers.”
    “Seriously?” Chancer asked, holding up a vial. He felt an urge to leave – now.
    “We have to go!” he said as he zippered up his satchel that was only three-fourths full.
    “We need more!” the doctor said as he put the tablet in the pocket on the satchel and closed his as Chancer pushed him towards the door that led to cell block five.
    “No time.” he said. Right as he closed the door, he looked back through the window to see Mrs. Oslett coming in through the main doors. He pushed the doctor down and quickly got out of sight. “Fucking close…” he whispered to the doctor.
    The doctor didn’t say anything, but had wide eyes and was staring down the length of cell block five, and all the prisoners in their cells. Each cell was different, modified in a way to contain the super that was in it, but the majority of them had a newer, high density transparent acrylic that Robb had invented that could withstand the impact of even the strongest super. TSO had patented the new material and quickly sold it.
    “What’s the matter doc?” Chancer whispered.
    “I’ve never been in a cell block before…” he said quietly. “Is it safe?”
    “Never?”
    “No… is it safe?” he whispered again.
    “Completely safe. No one’s ever escaped.” Chancer said quietly. “We need to move, before she comes looking for us.” he said as they hobbled down the corridor and turned down a left corridor as quickly as they could.
    “Wait.” the doctor said.
    “What?” Chancer asked, looking back quickly.
    “I don’t sense anyone.” he said. “I sense these…” he patted the satchel he was carrying. “But no live people.” he looked at Chancer. “Shouldn’t I be sensing the prisoners?”
    “How would I fucking know?” he asked. “Should you?”
    “I think I should.” the doctor said as he hesitantly stepped up to one of the cells. The prisoner looked like he was sleeping, so he went to the next, and the prisoner looked like he was reading a book. “There’s no one here but us.” he said as he went to the next, and the next.
    “No doc, there’s a bunch of baddies in here with us. I think you’re fucking losing it. Let’s go.” Chancer said as he pulled the doctor down the corridor and out the exit. Outside the entrance to cell block five were six guards, standing with rifles at the ready.
    “Identify yourselves!” one of them said quickly, and they all pointed their rifles at him and the doctor.
    They immediately put their hands up.
    “So much for your luck...” the doctor grumbled.
    “Agent Chancer and Doctor Perry.” Chancer said quickly, using his finger to point to his badge that was luckily still attached to his jacket while his arm was in the air.
    One of the guards came over and pulled his badge off, and then the doctors and brought it to the man in the back, who put them through a handheld scanner. It beeped and a green light appeared at the top for both badges.
    “Fingerprint them.” he told his men.
    Another guard came over and pulled a smaller device from his pocket. He held it up to Chancer, who put his thumb on it. It lit up green, and so did the doctor’s when he did his thumbprint.
    The man in the back came forward and handed their badges back. “Sorry Agent Chancer, Doctor Perry. We’re in lockdown. Just following