-/-
It had been going surprisingly well. Trac and Osgood had taken to keeping a human and android buffer between Missy with her impulsive trigger finger and Prospector and his prickly pride. They had manage to skirt around several large mud pools without incident, confirming theory that physical contact was first required to activate it's locomotive properties. Even so Osgood had kept one protective eye on Missy every time they came anywhere near one of the pools no matter how tiny. After all one wrong step or trip or imbalance and she was without her guide to life the universe and everything and Trac and Prospector were without their ride home.
Still Osgood had known it was going too well to last and suspected that right up to the moment their little group ran, almost literally, into a group of armed men.
Hiding behind the only cover available Osgood could only stare in horror as the beams of light lit up the cave system. Where the shots hit the walls they left a worrying scorch mark behind and Osgood could only imagine what they would do to her if any of the shots connected. She wasn't keen on becoming a human piece of toast which between the lasers and Trac's flame thrower was a serious possibility.
"Why the hell are they firing at us? They didn't even ask us any questions first."
Snorting in amusement Missy turned to stare down at her frightened little pet, Skip had clearly been too sheltered in her days at UNIT if this little bit of crossfire was causing her to turn that colour. "Does it matter?"
"It does to me!" Osgood spluttered wincing as one shot came a little too close for comfort. "If I'm about to be shot I would rather like to know why!"
"Well perhaps my reputation precedes me?" Missy teased as she fumbled into her pocket and pulled out her incomplete disintegrator and the spare part she 'liberated' from Ril's shop. Then reaching into her updo she pulled a hair pin free, it wasn't a sonic screwdriver but it would do.
"Or perhaps our companions are on a shoot on sight list?" Missy mused, prising open the back of her hand held device, biting down on her bottom lip as she concentrated on the delicate little machinery.
"Or perhaps they managed to lift our images from that trader's shop?" Osgood retorted pointedly as she nodded towards the innocent looking oscillator in Missy's lap.
"Or yes perhaps that." Missy huffed rolling her eyes at her pet's pedantic return to that point. "The Cybermites should have wiped his surveillance system as well but I suppose he could have had a backup…or someone gave a description…I would say the point is mute pet since they are shooting at us regardless. Now be a good girl and hush I am trying to concentrate." She added scraping off some gunk that had congealed against the power cells.
Picking up the replacement part The Mistress scowled as the damn thing didn't want to fit properly and she didn't the tools to refine the technique, in the end she settled for brute force smacking the part into place with the palm of her hand.
"Well that was worth going through all that trouble for." Osgood muttered mutinously. The damn part was probably broken now due to Missy's impatience.
Realising she wasn't going to get any answers or sympathy from Missy Osgood rolled onto her stomach and crept up until she could peer over the edge of the rock protecting them. So far Trac's flame thrower was keeping the guards back from rushing at them but that was all it was doing, built for dealing with mud monsters it wasn't equipped to deal with a threat that kept its distance and was able to take pot shots at them from a distance.
They were just toying with them.
Even hidden Osgood could see the leader talking into some sort of wrist communicator, probably calling for reinforcements to surround or cut them off. Their only advantage probably lay in that the guards were probably more out of their depths in these surroundings that Trac or the Prospector were, yet if they headed deeper into the cave system away from the known routes how long would that superior knowledge last?
Well it seemed they were about to find out…
The flame thrower Trac was wielding suddenly began to splutter, the once firm gushes now began to abate and flicker as the weapon began to run out of fuel. As if sensing victory was close the guards began to hedge closer and one raised his hand to signal them to stop shooting for a moment.
"There is no possibility of escape, drop your weapon and surrender peaceably and you will not be terminated."
"Somehow I doubt his credibility." Osgood muttered ominously sharing a look with Trac that merely confirmed her suspicions.
"We have order to take the two females alive, if you hand them over with no resistance then we may show leniency."
Shooting a look at Missy that summed up her belief that it was all the time lady's fault Osgood was surprised and unprepared when a strong arm grabbed her and she was hauled up bodily and held tightly against The Prospector's chest.
"Do not shoot." Prospector demanded his strong android hand closing tightly around Osgood's throat. "If anyone moves towards us I will snap this one's neck!" He added with a pointed gaze towards the armed guards and The Mistress who had gone worryingly still.
Only Osgood recognised that look, the way The Mistress seemed to freeze her expression, those ice blue eyes turning glacially cold as her stare bore into the side of the Prospector's head as he held her human hostage. Scuffed red tipped fingernails closed around her almost repaired device, stroking the button that could if the repairs worked vaporise the arrogant android on the spot. It was only the minute shake of Osgood's head and the risk that she might damage her pet in the crossfire that made her hold her fire.
Yet Osgood knew it was only a matter of time, one way or another she doubted the android would be leaving the cave system alive.
"This is not a negotiation." The guard leader replied. "We have orders to take the females alive but that does not preclude harm coming to them, there is considerable range before death will occur."
"Then agree to take them and let us go." Prospector insisted. "We were only bringing them back to the surface to sell them, we are not party to whatever crime they committed before we captured them in the tunnels."
"You fired upon the city enforcers!"
"None of you were harmed." Prospector retorted.
"Very well if you will hand over the females I will ensure that you are not detained."
Puffed up with pride that he had been successful The Prospector handed over a shaking Osgood to the city guards before turning to Trac and instructing him to do the same with Missy; surprisingly the time lady allowed herself to be easily captured and manhandled, not even attempting to resist as two young guards came forward and took her arms.
"There now we will be on our way." Prospector insisted not sparing the two females a second glance now they had served their purpose and so missing the way The Mistress's smile seemed to grow, her eyes narrowing as she took a moment to savour the anticipation.
Then with speed and strength the guards had not anticipated from one so slight and small she wrenched her arm free of the inexperienced grip and liberated the weapon from the guard's holster. With a flick of her blood red fingernail she changed to maximum power before firing at point blank range.
The resulting explosion had everyone ducking for cover, the head of the android blowing apart and firing springs and coils and sparks in every direction before the now husk of a body fell in a smoking ruin at The Mistress's feet.
"Mister Prospector I'm afraid your travel permit has been permanently revoked!" Missy quipped, sniggering at her own joke before the whine of weapon's build up caught her attention.
All but two of the city enforcers now had their weapons armed and pointed at her, all save the green boy she had stolen from and the leader of the group who had his weapon pressed against the side of Skip's head.
"Drop your weapon or I fry her brain." He threatened calmly.
"And the difference would be?" Missy snorted cruelly, relenting slightly when Skip began to tear up, either at her insult or from fear of being turned into a vegetable. Or perhaps it
"Missy please…"
"Oh alright." Missy pouted handing over her new toy to its original owner who snatched it out of her hands. "Now now play nicely, didn't your mummy ever teach you that good boy's share their toys?"
"Restrain her."
This time the guards were taking no chances, they had underestimated Missy once they weren't going to do so twice. Even so the restraints at both wrist and elbow were probably taking things a little far in Osgood's opinion, although she had seen Missy escape from the handcuffs on board Boat 1 so perhaps they were more sensible than UNIT had been. The Mistress didn't seem to be phased by it all and that reassured Osgood as she was herself pushed into similar restraints.
Although when the guards approached with an actual collar Missy's nonchalance suddenly seemed less than convincing, although Osgood doubted anyone but her would have noticed the difference…the broad demented grin suddenly looked forced, the blue eyes suddenly too bright and the previously relaxed red nails now dug into the skin of Missy's palms.
"Hmmm that's a good look on you Skip." Missy teased her bright blue eyes blatantly raking over Osgood's restrained form, as she tried to distract herself from the jarring sensation of a collar once more around her pale slender throat. Her human pet was perfect for that and Missy forced herself to concentrate on Skip and her delightful blushes and making them deepen. Pushing down the fragments of memory that threatened her fragile peace of mind.
"I'll have to introduce you to a little room I keep on the Tardis…"
Blushing deep fuchsia despite their audience and the fact that Osgood was sure Missy was joking…well seventy five…maybe fifty percent sure…oh well who was she kidding of course The Mistress probably had some kinky little secret room full of things that would probably Osgood scare for life.
"We have to get back to the Tardis first." Osgood reminded her, her confidence growing as Missy didn't seem to that would be a problem shrugging nonchalantly.
It was that she clung to as one of her impatient guards pushed her roughly by the shoulder and unable to balance herself Osgood almost tripped over Prospectors still smoking android corpse. "Hey no need to be so rough. You could try telling me where you want me to walk and I'll…"
"We could just as easily carry your unconscious body." The lead guard retorted and Osgood shut her mouth with a decided snap of teeth as she felt the barrel of his weapon once again pressed against her cheek.
Perhaps the wiser part of valour was in shutting up right about now?
-/-