Despite this nasty turn of events, Lilith kept cool. She clamped her legs together to make it impossible for Otter to yank her pants all the way down with just one hand. If she could just get him to lay off on the gun against her head, she could blow right into phasewalk without risking a bullet to the brain. He grunted in frustration and the gun muzzle lifted off the back of her skull. She hoped she would have enough time to grab the gun, hands tied behind her back be damned, shoot him and finally be done with this. Lilith held her breath and poised to flip.

"Looks like you missed one Otter…" Midget's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Shut up asshole, I'm busy." Otter leaned the gun on her neck. Lilith expelled her pent up breath in a rush. What the hell was Midget up to this time?

Midget laughed shrilly and returned, "Oh yeah! Just like Mr. Scythid over there. He's busy dining on Sammy! Hee hee hee!"

Otter shot to his feet. Lilith craned her neck and was flabbergasted to see Midget hopping up and down, bound feet and all, with a crazy kind of glee. He bopped a little victory dance as Otter charged by, trailing a string of curses. Otter kicked the Scythid away from Sammy and obliterated it in a barrage of bullets. Then he just stood for a minute, chest heaving, while looking down at his brother's body. When he slowly turned back towards them, Midget stopped dancing.

Otter marched over and cracked him upside the head with the gun. "We're not waiting till Max gets back. You're gonna start digging right now." Midget looked up at him from where he had fallen. Otter put the gun to his head. "Roll on your stomach." He produced a knife and cut loose Midget's hands and feet. "I don't care if you wear your fingers down to the bone.., start digging." Midget rubbed his wrists and climbed to his feet. As he walked away, Otter gave him a kick in the pants for good measure.

As Lilith laid there, pants partway down, watching Midget hack at the ground with a rock twice the size of his hands, she tried to think. Otter was distracted again, but what now? He just wouldn't put down the gun; the damn thing seemed glued to his hand. She noticed he kept shooting glances down the road. Anticipating Max's return... Or could it be the other way around? Lilith seized on the thought. Otter you greedy son of a bitch.., I'm gonna give you a chance to get what you want so I get a shot at what I want.

"Hey Otter..." Her voice was just a dusty croak and she had to clear her throat and try again. "Hey Otter! No way he's gonna finish that grave before your friend gets back... Awww, you won't get to do your dirty deed, too bad..."

Otter swung his head around and glared. "Shut up bitch."

Lilith snorted in derision and looked away. But she watched him in the corner of her vision. Otter resumed his vigil, but her statement irked him. His gaze danced between Midget, the road and her. It took all of one minute for him to break. After a long evaluating look at Midget, who was hard at work and actually making good progress, Otter turned and advanced on her.

Lilith smirked to herself. Playing right into my hands.., even though they're tied. Otter crouched down and put his face close to hers. She felt hot metal kissing her ear. "When I'm done with you, you're gonna wish you were dead."

"Is this a standard cover line for your poor performance Otter? Tsk tsk."

He jerked up on her tied wrists and she yelped as bolts of pain shot all the way to her shoulder blades. "Right… Keep shooting off your mouth and I'll dislocate em. Very painful."

Lilith elected to stay quiet. She was trying to pinpoint the location of the gun which had drifted off her ear. Without warning, Otter's whole body mashed her face into the ground. A second later, he rolled off and she realized Midget was on him, pummeling his head and yelling like a banshee.

Otter furiously pumped a fist into the side of Midget's skull and yanked ineffectively at the gun trapped between them. Midget reared back and head-butted Otter squarely between the eyes. He fell back, knocked out cold.

"That's one hell of a headache later…" Midget muttered and ran his hand over his stubby mohawk. Lilith sent him an incredulous look.

Midget climbed to his feet, dragging the sub gun with him. He fished the knife out of Otter's pocket and stumbled over.

With her hands finally free, Lilith restored the integrity of her clothing. Midget offered her the sub and she wordlessly refused it. She did take the knife though. Midget followed her over to Otter. She yanked her pack out from under him and settled it over her shoulder. Then she stood over him, turning the knife over in her hand.

She moved to run the knife through him and Midget stopped her. "Even if you won't listen to anything else, heed this one thing; Don't kill him. I know he's scum and deserves to die. But for now, Otter must live."

Lilith wrenched her hand free, "But why? Why should I let him live?"

Midget stared at her mutely for a few seconds and swallowed hard. "Because Otter has friends in high places. He's family to a high ranking leader. His death at our hands would be noticed.., and they would seek swift vengeance against us. My settlement would be slaughtered. We can't withstand a full out attack by the Hedgers.., yet."

Lilith tilted her head at him and sighed. That damn old saying is true. Not only am I now responsible for you, but also for the lives of your people as well. She tucked the knife away and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Fine.., we'll let him live. Now how bout we get the hell out of here and put some distance between us and those two?"

"Never heard more sweeter words…" Midget replied and Lilith knew that beneath his mask he was smiling.