Nicky hadn't intended to intervene, to shield the newcomer from the harsh welcome that awaited them. But something about the sight of the fresh inmate being cornered, the way the predators circled their prey, it got under his skin. It was more than just irritation - it was a visceral anger that boiled within him. He was making his way down the prison corridor when the scene unfolded before him. The newbie was being roughly handled, dragged into the one blind spot in this godforsaken prison devoid of surveillance cameras. Nicky knew all too well what this meant - a stabbing, or worse, was imminent. It wasn't his fight to interfere with, but something about the sight of the helpless individual being manhandled by a gang of lowlifes irked him. Before he knew it, his grip on the mop tightened, his instincts taking over. His heart hardly skipped a beat as he lunged forward, driving the mop handle with all his might into the skull of one of the attackers. The sickening thud of skull meeting wall echoed in the hallway, followed by a spray of blood.

In the next moment, he had flipped another attacker over his shoulder, pinning the man to the cold, hard floor. He pounded the man's head against the concrete, oblivious to the consequences this would bring. He knew he'd be missing dinner for this, but it was a price he was willing to pay. He didn't stop his assault until all four of the attackers were sprawled on the ground, beaten into submission. Before he could utter a word to the victim, he was tackled to the ground by two guards who had finally arrived on the scene. He could only sneer at their misplaced priorities, focusing on subduing him rather than protecting the inmate in the first place. Now, he found himself in the infirmary, nursing a fresh bruise on his cheek and a bleeding cut. The victim had been brought in for questioning, the prison authorities not trusting Nicky's version of the events. Not that he would be honest with them anyway. So, he sat in silence, tending to his wounds, his mind replaying the brutal encounter. Nicky glanced at the victim, his one good eye narrowing as he wiped at the blood trickling down his cheek.