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'And that's how I guess I ended up here.' Vil said while Simmini tried to digest the image of travelling outside the planet. She'd save the part about other worlds for later. There was too much information cramped in the time it took him to learn the basic but luckily similar language already, but it was necessary to explain the current situation from his side as a complete outsider.

He sat back and sighed. 'Right in the middle of your equivalent to our first world wars. Even their grey uniforms fit the style of a notorious military force of one of those wars.'

Simmini raised an eyebrow. 'You fought Ants before?'

He shook his head. 'No, we humans were always busy fighting amongst ourselves for the benefit of a few elite ones until the Ants came. Our violent history had the one advantage that it helped resist them for so long. Unfortunately it wasn't enough.'

Simmini looked down. 'And we don't have such advantage. Having your knowledge might have let us win.'

He hummed in thought. 'I do know a lot of the intelligence we gathered on the Ants but it's no use if I'm stuck here.'

'I don't have much hope on escaping though.'

'We have more of a chance with these Ants than with the ones I fought. The technology here isn't as advanced as I'm used to as far as I can tell now, but that should keep me a step ahead of the game. Especially if I can create better weapons. And I'm well versed in various tactics.' He chuckled and Simmini looked puzzled at him. 'In my world kids and some adults like to play games about our world wars. And here I am inside just about the same thing, only for real.'

'No game to me though.'

Vil nodded. 'Yeah. What were you doing out there when I tried to be a hero?'

Simmini looked up at the ceiling. 'I was on my way to a village a little away from here to ask for help fighting off an Ant unit that is attacking my village. We have many wounded and elderly there and can't flee quickly with them. I hoped to get some firepower to delay the Ants long enough for everyone to escape safely. But I made a mistake in direction and came too close to this place and was surprised by patrolling soldiers.'

'Ah.' Vil said and watched her bite her lip and clench her fists. 'Can they hold on for some time yet?'

She nodded once. 'The forest is thick and my people know it well so they're not easily caught. But without help it won't be long before they run out of ammunition. I have to get out of here but I don't know where to begin.'

Tiredness came over Vil and he stretched. 'We'll have to observe what we can and think of a way to use what we know to help us escape, but I need some rest now. I don't know how long I've been awake and my body still aches from coming over here to this world.' Simmini agreed and they lay back to get some sleep.

***

They both woke up at once when the Ant guards appeared. The one in front pointed at Vil and gestured for him to come. Simmini and Vil exchanged a glance before he complied without a hurry. “Let them think I feel worse than I am.” he thought.

He kept his eyes open to learn the layout and any point of interest but the walk was short. They led him inside a brightly lit white room filled with medical equipment and the moment he realised what the two Ants wearing white aprons were planning on doing to him he was pushed in a steel chair and strapped down. The guards left and after some discussion and gesturing at him by the other two Ants one approached him with a pair of scissors.

Vil's eyes went wide as the second Ant prepared a syringe. “Oh fuck!” he thought.

***

Simmini sat up straight at once when the cell door opened and watched the guards drag Vil inside and drop him face down on his slab. She didn't move until the door was locked again and sat down on her knees at Vil's head to wipe his sweat soaked hair from his face.

He opened his eyes a little and barely grinned. 'That was fun..' he whispered. 'Let's not do that again..'

'Vil.' Simmini said.

'I brought a present.' he said and coughed. 'My right sleeve.'

She pulled at his sleeve, saw a slim metal object and pulled it out. With some surprise she looked at the scalpel in her paw.

'I made sure to stumble against a cart of instruments and make a mess of things to smuggle this out.' he said and grinned slightly again. 'Hide it, will you? I don't want to risk stabbing myself while I get some rest now.'

She nodded but he'd already closed his eyes.

***

The next time the guards came it was to deliver their meals again. Vil leaned back and ate eagerly to replenish his strength as he had barely woken up. 'I don't want to disturb you but we have to escape at the first opportunity. I saw an anatomy chart of your kind next to a crude drawing of mine and I think they want to examine you next. And it won't be like one from a friendly doctor as I can tell from first hand experience.'

Simmini looked at the gruel in her bowl. 'We only had rumours, but that would explain why we never heard anything from anyone who was taken prisoner.' She looked up at him and frowned. 'But how can we escape? This place is packed with them.'

He drummed his fingers on his bowl. 'That's where my knowledge comes in. We didn't just call these guys Ants because they look like two legged versions of the insect, but also because of their strict behaviour. Once you know how they think it's easier to find their weaknesses. And with plenty of luck I think I know how to get us out.'