Sam stops in her tracks. What does this wacko want?
"Good!", says the figure as he steps into the light. "My name is Pierce, and you, my beauty will be me Queen after I take over the world! First, watch the monitor with the cow!"
Sam watches as the metal floor quickly disappears into the wall, dropping the cow into the water. She can see the water foam with activity for about one minute. When it stops, she sees the cow's bones float to the surface, clean of any meat, muscle, or tendon. She swallows hard.
"As you can see, my beloved, the floor in those rooms can be removed, plunging the occupants into the water below. The piranhas make short work of anything edible that hits the water, including people, like your two friends."
"Why you....", says Sam angrily.
"You will also notice," Pierce continues, "that the walls are smooth as glass, and the door doesn't have a handle on that side – there is nothing to hold on to. There are no windows. The only safe way out is if I release them through the door. Of course," he continues as he flips the switch, pulling the floor through the wall, "they can also get out through the water!"
"STOP IT! STOP THE FLOOR!", Sam says desperately.
"It will take 15 minutes for the floor to disappear at the current speed."
"Please! PLEASE!! STOP IT!", pleads Sam.
"That will all depend on you, my dear. I agree to stop the floor, and set your friends free, if, you agree to (a) remain here and be my loyal Queen; (b) never oppose me, or do harm to me and (c) never provide information to anyone who would oppose me or do me harm. Well, my dear, what is your answer?"
Sa m desperately looks at the monitors. The floor is 50% withdrawn. Five more minutes and both of her friends will be in the water. She has no choice.
"I agree, Pierce!", Sam says, almost inaudibly with her head hung down.
"Excellent!", proclaims Pierce as he stops the floor and puts them into reverse.
Sam watches as the floor totally covers the water in each cell. But she notices that Alex and Clover are still prisoners.
"Pierce! You said you'd set my friends free, if I agreed to your proposition!"
"And I shall, my dear. But first we must reduce the agreement to writing, for you to sign, and for your signature to be witnessed."
Sam shoots a look of betrayal at Pierce. He shrugs, "Oral agreements are not binding. Only written ones can be enforced. After you sign the written agreement, I will set your friends free."
"You had better, Pierce, or the agreement is off!!", states Sam defiantly.
"That's what I have always liked about you, Sam! You are a woman of principle!"
"What do you mean 'always liked about you'? I never saw you before in my life!"
"Aren't you curious as to how you got chosen as my queen?"
Now that he mentioned it, she was curious. What did he know about her? And about Alex and Clover?
Pierce explains, "While I was developing my plan for world domination, I chanced to see you and your two friends in action against a certain Dr. Gelee! I was immediately impressed by your long hair and radiant beauty. I was even more impressed with your intelligence and honor. I vowed to find out all I could about you and your friends. So I hired a detective agency. I also have access to the Beverly Hills High surveillance system.
"I know for example, where each of you live," and Pierce shows a picture of the three girls' homes. "I also know all your parents (picture of parents flashes on monitor) and where they work (workplace). I know you all go to Beverly Hills High School. I know that you just recently won the 'Perform under Pressure' test, and that you rank as a Master in chess. You have the highest GPA in the senior class, and may have very well set the record at the school. You and your friends work for WOOHP, although I do not know much about the organization.
"I know where each of you has their bedroom at home; what car you drive; where you like to shop; and where you like to hang out.
"So you can see, my sweet, I know a great deal about you all. You should also know that if at any time you violate the written agreement, I will use one of my pods to destroy your two friends first, followed by your parents!"
Sam lowers her head in submission, and starts to cry silently.
"As you can see, my dear, resistance is not only futile, it could be life threatening for your friends and family", says Pierce quietly, as he lifts Sam's face up by her chin, and kisses her lips.