The watch had been slowly counting down deep within the bowels of the ship.
Upon reaching zero, it simply fulfilled its requirements, and exploded. Q
had once more excelled himself, the amount of explosive charge he had
prepared the watch with was extraordinary. The explosion tore into the
side of the ship causing not a major amount of damage, but created a gash
into the side of the metal hull. Immediately sea water, raw and salty
began to gush in. The ship slowly began to creak forwards, inch by slow
inch, barely noticeable at first.
The damage was enough.
*
The explosion had caused enough of a distraction for Bond to launch an attack on Deronda. The two men began a desperate struggle for supremacy. Deronda was quick, strong, powerful, a good match for Bond.
Punches were thrown, the men wrestled, all the while the ship was sinking.
*
The explosion that had occurred was disturbingly close to where Lucinda and Ashleigh were faced off. The water pressure inside the chamber built as the two women glanced round in confusion. Lucinda withdrew the gun away from Ashleigh and turned to face down the corridor. A roaring sound was building up somewhere nearby, an awful loud, terrifying sound.
The metal hatch at the end of the corridor exploded in a huge cascade of roaring water, sweeping the two women away.
It was like being hit by a brick wall, Ashleigh was flung off her feet and propelled backwards, freezing cold salty water filling her mouth, her nose, the breath knocked out of her. She was unable to help herself, her hands locked together; she kicked frantically trying to keep afloat.
Lucinda. Where was Lucinda? Forcing her eyes open, the salty water burning them, she could make out tendrils of blonde hair ahead of her. If she lost track of Lucinda, she was dead, simple as that.
The water pressure finally eased now it had places to go, and the two women found themselves unceremoniously dumped against a wall. For a moment, both of them lay there, spitting out water, wondering what on earth had happened.
Ashleigh groaned, she had hit the wall hard, and dropped down to land awkwardly on her arms. She fought to raise herself to her feet. Her brain struggled to work, she tried to push the wet hair from her face, wipe the water from her eyes. Lucinda was doing the same, their eyes met, and the rivals realised that things were once more equal. Lucinda had dropped the gun at some point, they both threw themselves forward, but Lucinda had already reached it, standing, gun aimed directly at Ashleigh who fought to stand.
Lucinda's thumbs edged towards the safety, but Ashleigh reacted completely on instinct, kicking out high and hard, her foot catching the gun, sending it soaring well out of arms reach, it landed in the water with a wet thud.
For a moment, Ashleigh savoured her brief moment of victory, allowing a small smile of satisfaction at the look of fury that crossed Lucinda's face, but it seemed she was prepared with a back up plan, the blonde launched herself at Ashleigh, something bright and sharp glittering in her hand. Ashleigh forced herself to one side, but it was too late to prevent Lucinda slamming her back against the wall, something buried itself deep with her right arm, and Ashleigh screamed at the sudden pain that tore through her. Then the foreign object was gone as Lucinda pulled back, in her left hand a small, but sharp, and definitely lethal knife. Blood was gushing down Ashleigh's arm, it felt hot and heavy, but still she was able to move it.
Lucinda threw an arm out, pinning Ashleigh by the chest to the wall, preparing for the next strike. It was time to play dirty, and Ashleigh slammed her head forward, feeling her forehead bounce off Lucinda's nose. She'd never attempted to headbutt someone before, and now she knew why, small stars danced in the corners of her vision, and her head exploded in pain. It had the desired effect though; Lucinda fell back clutching her nose, blood appearing between her finger, bright red and fresh.
'Bitch!' Lucinda howled, obviously in some pain.
She's never fought properly before, Ashleigh realised suddenly, she'd never had someone hit her deliberately, with the intent to hurt her. It gave Ashleigh, even though her hands were bound, a distinct advantage. All the academy training, all the mock fights, all the missions previously, she'd learnt how to throw a punch, and more importantly, how to take one. She could win this. She knew she could.
Lucinda looked up, and Ashleigh saw, over her bloodstained hand, that the china blue eyes were filled with rage. Just concentrate, Ashleigh told herself, block and defend, and get that bloody knife well away from her. The attack came sooner than she expected, but she was ready this time, Lucinda ran at her, knife held high, and the advantage was there, and Ashleigh took it, managing to grab Lucinda's knife hand and twist it back in a direction that it was never meant to bend in. It threw them both off balance, and with a splash, they fell struggling into the water, Ashleigh landing heavily on top of the other woman.
It wasn't exactly how Ashleigh had planned it, but the other woman was smaller than her, it was easy to put all her weight on Lucinda, hold her under the water, oh god, how long did it take someone to drown, she was counting silently, she counted one minute, a minute and a half, and then Lucinda went limp. Her body laid motionless under the water, her blonde hair floating in the slight current.
She was dead.
Feeling nauseous, the same feeling that swamped her every time she took a life, she staggered to her feet. Blindly she looked round, the water was rapidly turning red, she glanced down at her arm, saw the open wound there, red and raw, and gagged. Fighting for control, she weaved through the water, unsteady on her feet, wondering how long it would take to reach the higher levels of the ship.
The hand that snaked out to grab her ankle was fast, and unnoticed. Ashleigh felt the sharp tug, and fell face first in the water, her head hitting hard against the floor. Did the other woman still have the knife? She could feel Lucinda's knees resting heavily on her back, she couldn't breathe, the water was choking her.
Through the water ahead she could see a pillar with large riveted holes punched through. Summoning all her strength she dragged herself toward it, Lucinda a dead weight on her back.
She didn't want to die, she didn't want to die here, somewhere where her body would never be found. She didn't want to die.
Her fingers closed around a rivet, reaching up she hooked her fingers around the metal ledge. Her lungs were bursting, she had to get air, she had to fill her lungs. Muffled by the water, she could hear Lucinda laughing above her. It gave her the anger she needed to propel herself the final few inches, and heave, she got a good grip and heaved herself upwards, sucking in air. She had her leverage, and she felt Lucinda topple from her back.
Turning, she saw the knife fall from Lucinda's grasp, catching the light as it turned in the air, and all bets were off, it was all down to simple luck now. Life or death depending on which woman got the knife first. Both were on their knees, hands scrabbling in the water, pushing the other out of the way, desperately trying to reach it. Ashleigh felt her hands brush against the handle, but she was too clumsy, hindered by her tied hands, she merely knocked it towards Lucinda.
Triumph shined madly in Lucinda's eyes, mad, crazy triumph as her fingers closed around the knife. Her hands were coming out of the water. Without thinking, Ashleigh grabbed Lucinda by the wrist and jerked upwards, met with sudden resistance. Pulling back, Ashleigh saw the knife was buried deep within Lucinda's throat, Lucinda's hand still firmly wrapped round the handle, but with Ashleigh's hands locked round hers. Lucinda's eyes were wide with shock and pain, blood bubbling at her mouth, staining her teeth and lips a horrific red. She gave a horrible, liquid laugh, spraying Ashleigh with droplets of blood, then slumped forwards.
She died in Ashleigh's arms, and Ashleigh staggered under the sudden weight. She embraced the dead body awkwardly, supporting her by the knife alone, until with a jerk she pulled the knife free.
Blood. There was blood everywhere, slicked over Ashleigh's arms, Lucinda's blood mixing with her own, there was so much blood, and Ashleigh moaned, dropping Lucinda face first into the water. As lifeless as a doll, Lucinda's body floated, buffeted by the current, staining the water all around her a brilliant red. She floated idly along, until Ashleigh, unable to bear it a moment longer, placed a boot firmly into her ribs and shoved the body along until it was caught by the current, floating slowly down the passage way.
Her hands were slick with blood, she nearly dropped the knife more than once as she desperately tried to get the knife to an angle where she could saw at the strap. She slipped, dragging the sharp blade along the edge of her hand so more blood flowed, but finally, finally she managed to damage the strap enough until she could break it free.
For a moment, Ashleigh stood panting, massaging her wrists, smearing more blood onto her pale skin. Lucinda still floated, a distant shape bobbing in the water.
'I've done it,' she whispered to herself. 'That's part of it done.'
Her body was shaking, she felt sick, but there was no time to think about things yet. The ship lurched beneath her feet, and she heard the eerie creak of metal underwater, unfamiliar, but definitely recognisable. She knew immediately the explosion had done more than sweep the two women away, and she knew time was running out.
She'd completed the first part of her deal with Alec. Lucinda was dead, Bond and Deronda were god knows where. She had to keep moving, she had to find a control room. Mentally she called up the blueprints of the ship that Alec had shown her. The most likely location was on a higher level, and she began the long wade upwards and onwards.
Blood trailed in her wake.
The damage was enough.
*
The explosion had caused enough of a distraction for Bond to launch an attack on Deronda. The two men began a desperate struggle for supremacy. Deronda was quick, strong, powerful, a good match for Bond.
Punches were thrown, the men wrestled, all the while the ship was sinking.
*
The explosion that had occurred was disturbingly close to where Lucinda and Ashleigh were faced off. The water pressure inside the chamber built as the two women glanced round in confusion. Lucinda withdrew the gun away from Ashleigh and turned to face down the corridor. A roaring sound was building up somewhere nearby, an awful loud, terrifying sound.
The metal hatch at the end of the corridor exploded in a huge cascade of roaring water, sweeping the two women away.
It was like being hit by a brick wall, Ashleigh was flung off her feet and propelled backwards, freezing cold salty water filling her mouth, her nose, the breath knocked out of her. She was unable to help herself, her hands locked together; she kicked frantically trying to keep afloat.
Lucinda. Where was Lucinda? Forcing her eyes open, the salty water burning them, she could make out tendrils of blonde hair ahead of her. If she lost track of Lucinda, she was dead, simple as that.
The water pressure finally eased now it had places to go, and the two women found themselves unceremoniously dumped against a wall. For a moment, both of them lay there, spitting out water, wondering what on earth had happened.
Ashleigh groaned, she had hit the wall hard, and dropped down to land awkwardly on her arms. She fought to raise herself to her feet. Her brain struggled to work, she tried to push the wet hair from her face, wipe the water from her eyes. Lucinda was doing the same, their eyes met, and the rivals realised that things were once more equal. Lucinda had dropped the gun at some point, they both threw themselves forward, but Lucinda had already reached it, standing, gun aimed directly at Ashleigh who fought to stand.
Lucinda's thumbs edged towards the safety, but Ashleigh reacted completely on instinct, kicking out high and hard, her foot catching the gun, sending it soaring well out of arms reach, it landed in the water with a wet thud.
For a moment, Ashleigh savoured her brief moment of victory, allowing a small smile of satisfaction at the look of fury that crossed Lucinda's face, but it seemed she was prepared with a back up plan, the blonde launched herself at Ashleigh, something bright and sharp glittering in her hand. Ashleigh forced herself to one side, but it was too late to prevent Lucinda slamming her back against the wall, something buried itself deep with her right arm, and Ashleigh screamed at the sudden pain that tore through her. Then the foreign object was gone as Lucinda pulled back, in her left hand a small, but sharp, and definitely lethal knife. Blood was gushing down Ashleigh's arm, it felt hot and heavy, but still she was able to move it.
Lucinda threw an arm out, pinning Ashleigh by the chest to the wall, preparing for the next strike. It was time to play dirty, and Ashleigh slammed her head forward, feeling her forehead bounce off Lucinda's nose. She'd never attempted to headbutt someone before, and now she knew why, small stars danced in the corners of her vision, and her head exploded in pain. It had the desired effect though; Lucinda fell back clutching her nose, blood appearing between her finger, bright red and fresh.
'Bitch!' Lucinda howled, obviously in some pain.
She's never fought properly before, Ashleigh realised suddenly, she'd never had someone hit her deliberately, with the intent to hurt her. It gave Ashleigh, even though her hands were bound, a distinct advantage. All the academy training, all the mock fights, all the missions previously, she'd learnt how to throw a punch, and more importantly, how to take one. She could win this. She knew she could.
Lucinda looked up, and Ashleigh saw, over her bloodstained hand, that the china blue eyes were filled with rage. Just concentrate, Ashleigh told herself, block and defend, and get that bloody knife well away from her. The attack came sooner than she expected, but she was ready this time, Lucinda ran at her, knife held high, and the advantage was there, and Ashleigh took it, managing to grab Lucinda's knife hand and twist it back in a direction that it was never meant to bend in. It threw them both off balance, and with a splash, they fell struggling into the water, Ashleigh landing heavily on top of the other woman.
It wasn't exactly how Ashleigh had planned it, but the other woman was smaller than her, it was easy to put all her weight on Lucinda, hold her under the water, oh god, how long did it take someone to drown, she was counting silently, she counted one minute, a minute and a half, and then Lucinda went limp. Her body laid motionless under the water, her blonde hair floating in the slight current.
She was dead.
Feeling nauseous, the same feeling that swamped her every time she took a life, she staggered to her feet. Blindly she looked round, the water was rapidly turning red, she glanced down at her arm, saw the open wound there, red and raw, and gagged. Fighting for control, she weaved through the water, unsteady on her feet, wondering how long it would take to reach the higher levels of the ship.
The hand that snaked out to grab her ankle was fast, and unnoticed. Ashleigh felt the sharp tug, and fell face first in the water, her head hitting hard against the floor. Did the other woman still have the knife? She could feel Lucinda's knees resting heavily on her back, she couldn't breathe, the water was choking her.
Through the water ahead she could see a pillar with large riveted holes punched through. Summoning all her strength she dragged herself toward it, Lucinda a dead weight on her back.
She didn't want to die, she didn't want to die here, somewhere where her body would never be found. She didn't want to die.
Her fingers closed around a rivet, reaching up she hooked her fingers around the metal ledge. Her lungs were bursting, she had to get air, she had to fill her lungs. Muffled by the water, she could hear Lucinda laughing above her. It gave her the anger she needed to propel herself the final few inches, and heave, she got a good grip and heaved herself upwards, sucking in air. She had her leverage, and she felt Lucinda topple from her back.
Turning, she saw the knife fall from Lucinda's grasp, catching the light as it turned in the air, and all bets were off, it was all down to simple luck now. Life or death depending on which woman got the knife first. Both were on their knees, hands scrabbling in the water, pushing the other out of the way, desperately trying to reach it. Ashleigh felt her hands brush against the handle, but she was too clumsy, hindered by her tied hands, she merely knocked it towards Lucinda.
Triumph shined madly in Lucinda's eyes, mad, crazy triumph as her fingers closed around the knife. Her hands were coming out of the water. Without thinking, Ashleigh grabbed Lucinda by the wrist and jerked upwards, met with sudden resistance. Pulling back, Ashleigh saw the knife was buried deep within Lucinda's throat, Lucinda's hand still firmly wrapped round the handle, but with Ashleigh's hands locked round hers. Lucinda's eyes were wide with shock and pain, blood bubbling at her mouth, staining her teeth and lips a horrific red. She gave a horrible, liquid laugh, spraying Ashleigh with droplets of blood, then slumped forwards.
She died in Ashleigh's arms, and Ashleigh staggered under the sudden weight. She embraced the dead body awkwardly, supporting her by the knife alone, until with a jerk she pulled the knife free.
Blood. There was blood everywhere, slicked over Ashleigh's arms, Lucinda's blood mixing with her own, there was so much blood, and Ashleigh moaned, dropping Lucinda face first into the water. As lifeless as a doll, Lucinda's body floated, buffeted by the current, staining the water all around her a brilliant red. She floated idly along, until Ashleigh, unable to bear it a moment longer, placed a boot firmly into her ribs and shoved the body along until it was caught by the current, floating slowly down the passage way.
Her hands were slick with blood, she nearly dropped the knife more than once as she desperately tried to get the knife to an angle where she could saw at the strap. She slipped, dragging the sharp blade along the edge of her hand so more blood flowed, but finally, finally she managed to damage the strap enough until she could break it free.
For a moment, Ashleigh stood panting, massaging her wrists, smearing more blood onto her pale skin. Lucinda still floated, a distant shape bobbing in the water.
'I've done it,' she whispered to herself. 'That's part of it done.'
Her body was shaking, she felt sick, but there was no time to think about things yet. The ship lurched beneath her feet, and she heard the eerie creak of metal underwater, unfamiliar, but definitely recognisable. She knew immediately the explosion had done more than sweep the two women away, and she knew time was running out.
She'd completed the first part of her deal with Alec. Lucinda was dead, Bond and Deronda were god knows where. She had to keep moving, she had to find a control room. Mentally she called up the blueprints of the ship that Alec had shown her. The most likely location was on a higher level, and she began the long wade upwards and onwards.
Blood trailed in her wake.