Chapter Five – Time Flies

She had lost track of all time, her jail devoid of luxuries like a clock. She had been stripped of clothing and jewelry and dressed in some sort of jumpsuit.

The room was dimly lit, showing that there was a table next to the cot she sat on. Her head was throbbing and Hoshi rubbed the goose egg that had formed on her forehead. She must have hit her head when she fell. This was a nightmare. She really did need to wake up.

Along with her headache, she felt the urge to relieve herself. Yet she saw no place to take care of that most basic function.

Standing, Hoshi swayed on her feet and stumbled along the wall. Banging on what she hoped was a door, she yelled, "Hey, out there! I've got to go to the bathroom!"

There was no answer.

"I've got to go!" she shouted again and banged harder, the urge to relieve herself growing stronger.

She pounded the bulkhead and screamed louder. The hatch slid open part way, allowing a sliver of bright light into her cell. A clatter of metal on the deck rang through the tiny room and Hoshi groped around on the floor for what had been thrown in. She felt cold smooth metal, picked it up and held it up to the light. "A bedpan! You expect me to use a bedpan!"

Her only answer was a soft, mocking laughter.

Swallowing her pride, she set the pan on the floor and used it, tears stinging her eyes.

She knew who her captor was – Captain Tucker. Why was the question that kept repeating in her head. Surely Travis had nothing to do with this. He was probably worried sick about her as was Jon and her mother.

Thinking of her mother, the tears started to flow unchecked down her cheeks. Her mother, the proverbial angel with wings always sitting on her shoulder and guiding her to do the right things. What would her mother do without her? Were they going to kill her? Why hadn't he killed her already?

Hoshi curled into a ball on the cot and sobbed, finally realizing how much danger she was in.

--

The hatch opened and Trip walked into the cell. With his phase pistol he incinerated the bedpan and its contents.

Hoshi shot up in bed, startled and disoriented.

"Rise and shine, darlin'" Tucker said, kicking the cot with his boot. "I need to get some footage of ya unharmed so I can send it along with the ransom demand."

Hoshi scurried away from the voice as a light was shone in her voice.

"Except for the nasty bump on her head, she's fine," Trip narrated while filming Hoshi.

The light clicked off and Hoshi could see that her captor had lowered the camera. "Why are you doing this?" she asked softly.

Trip scoffed and set the camera on the table. "For the money of course."

"Are you going to kill me?"

Sitting on the cot next to her, Trip put his arm around her and squeezed her shoulder. "Now why would I do a thing like that? You're much more valuable alive. I can make off with the ransom and turn around and sell you to the Orions."

"How do you plan on doing that?" Hoshi sniffed. "It doesn't sound like a very sound plan."

"For your pretty little head, the Orions will offer me amnesty," Trip murmured and inhaled deeply.

Hoshi shuddered as his words replayed in her "pretty little head."

"You sure do smell pretty…Hoshi," he whispered against her hair, running one hand along her shoulder and the other along her thigh. "Maybe I'll just keep ya for myself."

She felt him press his lips against her hair but didn't react. Her thoughts were on what he had told her about selling her into slavery. Even as he pushed her down on the cot, her thoughts blocked out his intentions. Simply put, she was stunned with fear.

Tucker took her lack of movement as compliance. "That's a good girl," he growled, kissing a wet trail along her jaw and moving over her.

Her breath caught when she finally realized Tucker's carnal intent and she instantly felt as though she was drowning. She knew she had to act before things went any further. Hoshi shifted her leg between his and thrust her hips up, trying to get away.

Trip groaned and ground his manhood against her thigh. "Oh yes, darling. That's right. Travis was right. You probably will be a real firecracker in the sack."

"T-Travis?" Hoshi stammered, gasping for air as Tucker's weight settled on her.

"We'll meet up with him later," Trip mumbled, moving her jumpsuit to one side and licking a path to the hollow of her throat.

His words sunk in slowly, wounding her. Her greatest champion…her greatest friend had betrayed her. He had set her up! Fury inflamed her and she brought her knee up as quickly and as hard as she could.

Trip screamed in pain and rolled off her and onto the floor.

She jumped up, not even sure where she was going, a raging instinct to lash out consuming her. Her captor was doubled over, cursing, and she kicked him again. But he blocked her attempt and twisted her foot.

The pain shot up her leg and she cried out, falling to the floor.

"You stupid bitch! I'll kill –" His words stopped as a phase blast hit him in the chest and he collapsed to the deck plating with a thud.

She crawled into the corner of the room as fast as she could, bracing herself for the end. She gasped as a pair of hands clamped around her shoulders and lifted her to her feet.

"Are you okay, Hoshi?" a raspy voice asked.

Finally opening her eyes, she saw Malcolm's concerned stare and felt his hands roam her body.

"Are you okay?" he repeated sternly, shaking her.

The shock and pain turned to anger and she slapped Malcolm. "You bastard! How could you? I trusted you! I –"

"What the hell are you talking about?" he asked through gritted teeth, holding her wrists.

"You're in on this!" she shouted, and struggled against him. "How much are you getting? What's your cut?"

He'd had enough and he hadn't the time to deal with her hysterics. There were scout ships in pursuit. Slamming her against the bulkhead, he pinned her body with his. "I don't know what you're talking about," he growled. "I'm trying to save your ass. If you want, I'll turn around and walk out of here and leave you to get more comfortable with Tucker!"

As if the mention of his name was important to him, Trip moaned.

"We've got to go," Malcolm pleaded softly. "He sent a hail to his buddies and they are on their way. We can't outrun them in this thing and the ship I borrowed isn't much better."

"Where are we going? How are we –"

"Be quiet!" Malcolm commanded and pulled her behind him. "Follow me."

Hoshi did as she was told and hobbled as quickly as she could after him. They made it to the transporter alcove and beamed aboard a private shuttle. Stepping out of the alcove, Hoshi collapsed into the nearest chair.

"Strap yourself in. I'm going to try to lose them in the nebula," he shouted as he made his way to the pilot's console.

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked quickly as alarms blared overhead.

"They're here!" he shouted in response. "Hold on."

--

TBC