Captive

Who: Jo, lost Eniram thug
<br>When: While the ship is being sprayed by the strengthening
solution
<br>Where: Lower decks and Docking Bay 26
<p>Once back on Blue Dwarf, Jo headed down to the hangers to check on
her ship. Halfway there, while manoeuvring through the winding network
of suspended corridors of the lower levels, she was forced to stop by a
familiar phrase and the light pressure of a razor sharp object in the
middle of her spine.
<p>“Surrender or Die!” Jo slowly turned to face the Eniram with her
hands held up by her shoulders, one palm open, the other loosely
clasped power rifle loosely clasped by the barrel. The fishman looked
decidedly spooked by his surroundings, shuffling his feet while
glancing nervously in every direction and shakily fingering the trigger
of his harpoon gun. In a lighting quick moment, he flicked the harpoon
sideways, sending her weapon tumbling over the rail of the platform
where they stood. Jo could hear it clatter as it fell into the lower
levels.
<p>“Now I’m unarmed, I’m of no threat to you,” she stated simply,
acutely aware of the deadly point of the harpoon quivering millimetres
from her chest. He looked at her shrewdly.
<p>“You will die anyway, Aeron. But first you will show me the way out
of these confounded tunnels,” he demanded, becoming increasingly
agitated. Jo decided to try her luck, watching carefully for any
weakness in her opponent.
<p>“Put down your weapon and I will lead you wherever…”
<p>“No!” The harpoon shot forward forcing Jo to take half a step back.
For an instant, she thought he had pulled the trigger. The cold blade
was now pressed hard against the base of her throat. Jo felt the seep
of blood slowly trace its way over her collarbone.
<p>“You will walk in front of me and we will take the quickest way out.
You make any sound to attract the attention of others. I will kill
you. You make any sudden move. I will kill you. You take me deeper
into this blighted ship, and I will kill you,” he rasped. Holding
herself very still, Jo stared at her captor steadily then slowly
inclined her head in a small nod. The Eniram disengaged the bloody tip
of the harpoon and gradually lowered it. Jo unconsciously made to
check her wound with her fingers, but he brought the blade swiftly back
up to bite into the soft palm of her hand, pushing it back to its place
by her shoulder.
<p>“Keep your hands up,” he snarled, “Turn around.” Resigning herself
to his bidding, Jo turned unhurriedly to face the opposite direction.
A prod from the harpoon motioned her to start moving. Electing a slow
steady pace to prevent sending the already panicked Eniram over the
edge, she began leading him towards her initial destination, Docking
Bay 26.
<p>Their footsteps rang out against the metal grating of the
scaffolding walkway in an even rhythm, marking their passage through
the monotonous suspended corridors. Each turn lead into passages
indistinguishable from the ones previously passed through. The
Eniram’s nervousness increased with their progress, jumping at shadows
and mumbling continuously under his breath something that sounded like
a curse or a prayer. Occasionally Jo felt the brush of the harpoon
against her jacket.
<p>Normal circuitry to this part of the ship seemed to have been fried
in the dunking. The corridor was lit every few paces by dull yellow
emergency lights that cast ill-defined shadows around them. In the dim
lighting, the sounds of their boots mimicked a funeral march.
<p>Turning a corner, Jo stopped at the doors to a lift.
<p>“We have to go down,” she told the Eniram guard and indicated he
should press the button. The lift descended, coughed to a stop, and
the doors screeched open. Jo was propelled into it by a forceful shove
from the Eniram who stepped in quickly behind her, harpoon raised. She
stumbled into the wall and spun around to face him. He signalled with
the weapon to choose a floor. Glowering at him, Jo reached out and
punched a button. The lift jerked and began its descent. The guard
rested against the opposite wall, but kept the harpoon gun trained on
her.
<p>When the lift finally squealed to a stop, Jo held down a button to
prevent the doors from opening. Immediately the Eniram snapped to
attention and advanced upon her.
<p>“Calm down,” she said, raising her other hand, “I’m just warning you
that there will be Humans around out there. They could kill us both.”
He studied her with suspicion for a moment then stepped back.
<p>“Stand in front of the doors. Facing them.” Jo complied, confused.
Suddenly, strong webbed fingers closed around her neck. She shivered
at the abnormally icy grip, and forced the image of him crushing her
like a doll out of her head. A long, cruel looking knife was waved in
front of her face.
<p>“Do not struggle…”
<p>“Or you will kill me, I know,” she finished. He grunted and
tightened his grip painfully. A second later the doors folded back to
reveal the hangar. It was deserted. Jo felt his relief at the
complete absence of people, but inwardly she groaned.
<p>The damaged <I>Quasar 4</I> lay silent against one wall, made into a
metallic porcupine by the prolific mass of harpoons embedded in its
hull. Bodies littered the floor, mostly Eniram, but Jo winced as she
recognised a few faces.
<p>“Thankyou scum. You have been most useful,” he laughed. Increased
pressure on her neck made Jo step forward out of the lift. Adjusting
his grip, he brought the knife up to draw it across her neck. She
stared straight ahead calmly.
<p>A flicker of red light in her eyes made her blink. The realisation
of its origin came immediately after the sudden wet thud and spray of
moisture on her face. The Eniram’s body crumpled beside her, as she
looked around frantically for the sniper. She laughed out loud as she
saw Brett stroll across the top of her ship, rifle in hand.
<p>“Another one you owe me,” he yelled, a grin splitting his face.
<p>Jo took a little insane leap of joy, but upon landing her legs
failed her and she sat down abruptly next to the now dead body of her
attacker, giddy with relief.
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