Chapter 10:
Bonnibel Bubblegum was used to not sleeping. There were times where important work kept her up for days at a stretch. Right now her important work was dodging assault and looking for a way out. She had already found the Devourer before they kidnaped her. Right now, she was stalling for time. Fortunately, while Martin knew she was stalling, he had no idea just how much. Bonnie imagined it would never have occurred to him that she would already know what he was after and where it might be found. Not having to spend time on damaged and deteriorated scrolls left her free to pursue other interests.
The exercise of the moment was finding a way to use the computers to disable the ship. It was a pretty safe bet these people wouldn't destroy Ooo while they were still on it! Problem was she was having difficulty teaching herself the language while she waded through multiple security layers. The constant interruption of guards checking up on her wasn't helping. It was Martin's way of protecting her from his crew of mass murderers and rapists. Bonnie would honestly have preferred he didn't bother. She had a knife, purloined while Gorg was assaulting her, and she would happily use it on it's former owner or anyone else for that matter.
As if summoned by her thoughts, Martin came through her door. The Princess quickly changed screens to the scrolls she'd been translating. As the evil human approached, he said, "don't bother Princess. There's nothing you can access without my permission. Everything on this ship is coded to my DNA." Stopping beside her, he took a good look at her scroll translation. "Good stuff, Princess," he congratulated her. "When do I get the rest?" "Another day," replied Bonnie. He laughed. Shaking his head, he tousled her sticky hair and said, "now what did I tell you about stalling, sweetheart?" Bonnie glanced away.
Sitting down on the console, he said, "I'm not such a bad guy, sweet-girl. I'd be willing to take you along if you play ball." Her eyes narrowed, and he chuckled, "you don't think the old Earth will survive the birth of the Devourer, do you?" Stroking her pretty face, he said, "I could take good care of you..." Bonnie flinched away. Coolly, she told him, "it amazes me that someone like Finn could have come from your loins. What happened to his mother? Did you take care of her too?"
That made him a little irritated. Hand curling into a fist, he almost punched her. Bonnie merely sat there staring at him. Voice a low growl, he said, "is all of you gum? I wonder how bubblegum would feel wrapped around my dick? Maybe I should find out." Bonnie retorted, "you'll never know..." Grabbing her by the hair, he said, "won't I?" The pink princess said nothing. "How many times did my son hit it," he asked? "Must have hit it pretty good for you to be so loyal to him. Tell me, are you a squealer, girl...?" Bonnie's face went red-hot at the suggestive language he used. Laughing, he said, "but he seems to have dumped you for a real human. Guess mutant pussy's not near as good as the real stuff."
Bonnie spat in his face. Angry, the evil human backhanded her, knocking off her glasses and knocking her out of the chair. As the proud princess lay there sobbing, Martin came very close to kicking the shit out of her. Rising, he said, "you've got four hours, princess. After that, I'll let Gorg have you." He walked out, completely oblivious to the knife she clutched in her hand. Bonnie stared at the door. Four hours. She had a deadline now.
As the sun was setting over the alien spacecraft, an unlikely team of heroes came slipping up on the strange vehicle. They'd almost had a disaster when Banana-Man's truck broke through a crumbling old bridge and nearly plummeted into the lava below. Now they had made it across to this strangely verdant island in the midst of a boiling cauldron of molten rock. The air was thick with toxic gasses, and even the fire-shield spells everyone sported did little to keep the heat at bay. Rattleballs was in the lead, simply because he had the strength, in spite of the temperature, to keep going. Finn strode forward in his tracks with single-minded purpose, his eyes fixed on the place where his senses said his father stood.
Huntress was right behind him, staring at his back, as her mind went over and over the various ways she'd approached this little puzzle. She'd flirted relentlessly. She'd used all her tricks and charms. She'd even paid for his meals! What kind of woman did that?! A desperate one, Emeraude, thought the wizard. She was becoming increasingly desperate. What would she offer him next? If she gave everything away, what would happen then? She wasn't sure she could manage to do that.
Finn signaled a halt, and he motioned everybody off the trail. His six companions gathered around him, as he squatted there in the brush. "So we've found the ship," said the hero. "My dad's aboard, and I can sense there's at least eight guys here from the Crystal Prison..." "Which means there's probably a lot more," opined Huntress. Finn nodded. She had that right. "From what the Banana-Guards said, they're armed with some kind of gun," said Finn. He'd read about guns in the library, and he knew there were a few in Bonnie's Kingdom, but he'd never really handled one. He'd never seen the need. Now he was facing them, giving the enemy a really big advantage against his team.
"What's the play," asked the beautiful wizard? "We need to get Banana-Man to the engine room or the control room... somewhere he can maybe break something or shut something off to keep them from leaving. While you guys are doing that, I'm'a go find the princess." Simon frowned and asked, "by yourself?" "If anything, this'll be a diversion for you guys. They'll pro'lly guard her better than the other two places," said Finn. "My dad wants this Devourer thing, and Bonnie's the last person who might know where to go." Simon nodded. He was right about that. "Ok," said Simon, "but I'd feel better if Rattleballs was with you." "Where'll I be," asked Huntress? "Go with Banana-Man," said Finn. "I need you to make sure the ship can't fly. Do whatever you have to do."
Banana-Man looked a little nervous. This seemed to all be hinging on him. He wasn't sure he was up to the task. At the same time, he knew there wasn't anybody else here who could help. It would have to be him. Turning to Betty, Finn said, "gonna' need a diversion. Need you to make some lights or sounds or something. Get their attention so we can sneak in." Betty nodded. She could do that. "If we get separated," said Finn, "get back to the bridge and wait." Finn rose then, but Huntress wasn't happy with her part in this. Taking him by the arm, she stopped him. Finn directed the others to go on ahead.
"What's wrong," he asked? "Why're you doing this," she asked? "This is my fault," said Finn. "I let that fucker out. Now I have to kill him. Wherever PB's at, that's where he'll be." Huntress's face twisted into a sour grimace, as if she was swallowing something nasty. Resting a hand on her shoulder, Finn said, "I know I can count on you. You're smarter than me, and you're a good fighter. I'd... I'd just mess this up. You can make sure that jerk can't leave." Blinking back tears, Huntress turned away and walked off. Finn moved quickly to catch up.
The little party slipped through the woods and undergrowth to the ship, crouching down again in the brush near the entry ramp. Light coming down the ramp told them that the aliens were home, and the ship active. There were no guards in sight, but an audible hum and a tingle told Banana-Man that there were defenses they couldn't see. "They may have some kind of force-field," rumbled the genius. Finn frowned. This could be over before it got started. Simon picked up a pebble and chucked it at the space where the ship sat as a test. The pebble bounced back from an invisible wall, landing back at their feet. Finn muttered curses. What the hell were they going to do? Dig underneath?
Inside the ship, Bonnie sat watching the security cameras for signs of the crew's activities. Ironically, Martin had given her the key to getting access to some of the ship's systems. He'd told her how the security system was keyed–and then given her the means to access it–a handful of hairs from his fat face. Bonnie had used them to access the computer, but there were still levels of security that eluded her. She had been able to access the cameras, and now she had access to something marked 'defensive screens'. Now, as she watched her friends on the monitor, puzzling at how to get inside the ship, the pretty princess decided it was now or never.
Flicking a couple of icons on the screen before her, Bonnie turned off the defensive screens. Rising, she rushed out the door and turned for the exit. She'd been dragged straight to her prison when they arrived at the ship, and she could easily remember how to find the way out again. Quickly but quietly she made the twists and turns, reaching the main hallway in just five minutes. The exit ramp was just ahead, and she began pondering the question of guards. If there were guards, she might well have to fight. She could only hope that Finn and the others noticed that the barrier was gone.
As she was considering just trying to run for it, an alarm sounded, indicating her sabotage had been discovered. Bonnie took off. It was now or never. She'd at least try to get her friends' attention. As she approached the turn, three aliens came rushing around the corner and down the hall, Gorg among their number. Bonnie skidded to a halt, as her lively mind searched for a way out of this. The beautiful candy-person backpedaled, searching this way and that for a way out. The slavering alien, with his antlers, and burning eyes reminded her of the strange mutant deer that had held she and her citizens captive underneath the Candy Kingdom. That was an experience she didn't really want to repeat–especially with the threats this thing had levied on her.
Nasty tongue lolling out, the evil alien approached her, hand on the giant knife he carried. "You remind me of that pretty human woman Martin gave us on our last job," chuckled the giant thug in his grating voice. "Mmmm... she was nice." Bonnie backed into a wall, and her hand went in her pocket for the knife she'd stolen earlier. Gorg grabbed her by her collar, looking for all the world as if he might tear her clothes off. There were three of them. Bonnie did the calculation in her mind. She wasn't a knife fighter. These guys could be wearing armor, and if she revealed the knife she had, she'd lose it. If she started swinging, she could well end up dead. They'd almost certainly beat her very badly. Deciding it wasn't time just yet, the candy-person drew her hand out of her pocket. C'mon, Finn, thought the Princess.
The intercom came to life then, with Martin's voice announcing, "Gorg! Bring that fuckin' bitch up here immediately!" Gorg grinned at her. "Looks like you get to keep it to yourself a little longer, sweet thing," said he. The sick bastard cut off another lock of her hair and began chewing on it as he frog-marched her up to the ship's control room.
Martin was there, sitting in a chair before the controls, and now he turned to face Bonnie, with a look of rage on his face. "How the fuck did you do that," he demanded?! Bonnie glanced away. "Real smart, Princess," he allowed. "You're smart as they say you are. Lot smarter than the little bitch in the turtle-shell. Couldn't tell us what we needed to know. She pissed herself just before Gorg had t'shoot her." Bonnie flinched at the shocking confirmation of what she'd guessed. Rising, Martin came over to her, and she found herself standing between a rock and a very hard place. Gorg stroked the side of her face with one of his many knives as Martin asked, "where's the Serpent, Princess? I know you have the answer."
Defeated for the moment, Bonnie replied, "I'll tell you if you swear to take me with you... I... I'll do anything you want." "Better," growled Martin. Taking her by the arm, he jerked her towards him. Turning her towards the console, he said, "input the coordinates. There." Bonnie leaned down over the console and typed in the coordinates, praying that Finn had a backup plan. She wasn't sure he'd been able to get on the ship, and right now she was still very much alone.
Done inputting the coordinates, Bonnie straightened. Martin grabbed her and pulled her to him. Grabbing a handful of her ass, he said, "you'll learn to like it, Princess." Turning to his men, he said, "lock her in my room." He intended to have him a piece after they finished up with the monster. In the now, he turned to his chief scientist and said, "where do things stand with the Controller?" Bonnie's ears pricked up as her captors hauled her towards the door. The little bug-eyed alien replied, "it's almost finished. I'll have it in another hour." "See that you do," said Martin. That was the key to this. They had to have the controller fitted before they released the Devourer. If they didn't, it would likely go on the rampage, and they'd have nothing to show for all the work.
Sitting down again, Martin checked and double-checked the coordinates against known hazards on this planet from his survey of a few years ago. She'd kept her end of the bargain, so he wasn't going to smash her. She was pretty enough to make a nice bonus prize from this job, and he could easily see what his son saw in the little whore. Honestly, he was really tempted to go have a little fun with her right now, but there was work still to be done. He was close now. Having tried three times to get the Devourer, he didn't want to fail again.
As much work as he'd put in on this, he was really tempted to just keep the thing–to use it to further his own goals. Instead of being a nobody, he could turn the tables on his employers and make them serve him. The thought of smashing their homeworld–of watching the Devourer well... devour the chunks, gave him a thrill. Then he could make the little princess a princess again–over his own empire. One thing at a time, Martin, old buddy, he thought. He had to get the creature first.
Powering up the engines, he raised the boarding ramp and slowly brought the thrusters to full power. As the ship became stable in the hover, he raised the landing gear. And then he increased thrust, gaining altitude. This wasn't ideal. The ship was meant for space-travel, not for puttering around in an atmosphere. He had to be very careful how much power he used, lest he overshoot his goal or worse, damage something. Unfortunately those fucking robots of hers had wrecked most of his shuttles. Right now they had one shuttle left. After that, it was escape-pods.
That thought led to other thoughts. He had hoped the bitch would cave because he'd seen how useful she could be to him. Now that he'd started breaking her, he could work on turning that brilliant mind of hers to what he wanted. If she could build machines like that on top of the ruins of Earth and even teach herself how to operate this ship under the noses of his guards, she could do a lot for him. If she was good enough in the sack, he might not even mind that she was a fucking mutant. He'd find him a good human woman to breed a son on, but he would certainly not mind keeping the mutant around for a while.
For those who were expecting a little more Lemons, I came to the realization that it wouldn't fit very well in this segment. Sooo... More lemons later.