Chapter 16: Hostages and Ghosts
Wexler put his crew on the coms as Two was staring at him in the airlock.
"Everyone taken care of?"
Through the bag, things unfolded. Tall black boots, dark black pants, a dark blue/teal thin sweater with a thin dark leather scaled and hooded jacket. Leather fingerless gloves. Her hair braided fixed, hanging from the side.
"Unfortunately, we're missing one," Vons announced. Wexler furrowed his brows looking at Two.
"Which one?" Wexler asked.
A holster fastened with a pistol loaded at her thigh. Cutlass sheathed and placed along her belt. Dagger in her boot. And to top it off, her cross with and dark blue dragon scaled face scarf.
"That girl who kept you company on the mission," Cain responded.
Vivian pulled up her hood, pulled up her face scarf to cover up over her nose.
Wexler looked at Two narrowing his eyes.
"Well…why don't one of you go find her?" Wexler asked.
"Check her room," Vons suggested lightly as Cain nodded and proceeded to scout the ship while he and Tash stayed in the mess with the others. The Raza crew kneeled, unable to move with the various guns pointed at them. They couldn't warn her…their coms were taken.
"Come on Viv…" Three whispered.
"You ready boy?" Vivian asked under her mask. Bruce growled lowly yipping in anticipation. She then heard her door trying to be opened. She looked at Bruce who whined. She scoffed.
"Looks like we got company," she whispered, unholstering her pistol.
"Shit!" Cain growled at the door.
"What's going on over there?" Wexler asked.
"The door is jammed I can't-" Cain began but then the door slowly slid open, making him ready his pistol. Bruce was sitting there in front of the door his head tilted whining at Cain (looking all innocent). Vivian leaned close against the wall out of sight alongside the door. Cain furrowed his brows confused, directing his coms to the crew. "Uh boss?"
"What?" Wexler growled annoyed. Cain scoffed in amusement.
"There's a dog on the ship," Cain laughed under his breath, lowering his weapon. Everyone in the from the Raza looked up.
"Bruce," Five whispered as she was getting tied up from Vons.
"Is this a joke?" Wexler asked.
"No! It's sitting right here in front of me!" Cain mentioned, trying to peek through to her room,
"I hate dogs," Tash growled.
"Come on Cain just get rid of the thing!" Vons demanded.
"We need to find the girl!" Wexler added annoyed.
Vivian leaned towards Bruce.
"Strike," Vivian whispered harshly. Bruce then suddenly growled viciously at Caine forcing him to back up.
"Whoa! Hey!" Cain growled but before he could fire his pistol, Bruce then leapt at Cain, grabbing his pant leg and forcing him to the ground on his back. Vivian slowly made her way out of her room, watching Bruce distract him as she put a boot on his chest, holding him there to the ground.
"Hold," Vivian demanded, Bruce sunk his teeth in around Cain's leg, forcing him to cry out in pain.
"You little bitch!" Cain growled under his breath.
"Ah, ah, ah," Vivian sang, unsheathing her cutlass. "That's not a way to talk to a Captain…"
Cain swallowed hard, feeling the cold steel along his throat. "Give me one good reason to keep you alive…"
Cain scoffed, putting up his hands in mock surrender.
"We got your commander in the airlock," he smirked evilly at her. Vivian's eyes widened slightly, as she glanced towards the airlock. Cain grinned.
"You don't want to hurt me…So why don't you quit the act and-"
SLAM! Vivian took out her pistol, swiping it across his head and causing him to yell out in pain, grabbing his head. Bruce let go giving a disgusted look and whining. She immediately sheathed her cutlass, unholstering her pistol and running down the hall with Bruce at her heels.
…
"Give me the code of the vault and I'll let you out," Wexler demanded.
"Don't tell them anything!" Two commanded over the screen as the Raza crew watched her from the sidelines. Vivian slowly made her way down the hall Bruce at her heels, her sights on Wexler. Two furrowed her brows behind him, when she suddenly saw Vivian behind Wexler in her scarf and hood.
Vivian put a gun to his lower back. Before he could shift, her other arm wrapped around his shoulders, holding her dagger forcefully across his throat. He swallowed, putting up his arms.
"Who is that?!" Tash growled. The Raza crew looked up, rather confused at Vivian's masked and hooded appearance.
"What the hell is this?" Wexler questioned, glancing as Vivian pulled down her scarf and hood revealing her face both to him and on camera.
"Halvor…" One swallowed.
"It's the girl," Tash announced. "Cain! Where are you?"
"Well, well…look who we have here…" Two smirked. Vivian leaned close to his ear with his coms.
"What do you know…I found a rat," Vivian sang smoothly. The Raza crew shivered at her voice. Two swallowed as she saw the hate in Vivian's eyes. A side of her she never saw.
"Aren't you one for surprises," Wexler scoffed. "This doesn't change anything…"
"Strike," Vivian growled harshly as Bruce immediately chomped onto his leg, clamping on forcing Wexler to howl. Everyone jumped over the coms.
"Jesus," Six breathed as Bruce forced Wexler's leg to bleed.
"Let me make one…thing…clear," Vivian growled into his ear inside reaching out into the coms. Everyone tensed. Two narrowed her eyes at Vivian.
"If you move, he breaks your leg," Vivian motioned to Bruce. "And if you try anything…this bullet goes right through your spine."
"You're bluffing," Wexler scoffed.
She cocks the pistol at his back. He swallowed.
"Okay you're not bluffing…" Wexler grunted, trying to recompose himself. "Let's talk."
"You think I want to talk?" Vivian growled. Bruce clamped on harder forcing Wexler to growl in pain. She pushed.
"Now…let's make this simple for your little monkey brain," Vivian breathed threateningly. "She gets back on the ship and you let my crew go…or I slit your throat in front of your own…"
Vons and Tash keep their guns pointed at the Raza crew.
"Boss!" Vons called out.
"Well Wexler…looks like we hit an impasse," Two remarked. He scoffed.
"No, no it's okay," Wexler put up his hands. He glanced at Vivian. "We're just having a little chat."
"I'm not playing games with you," Vivian remarked. She pressed her dagger closer to his throat. The Raza crew straightened up as Cain slowly approached Vivian and Bruce on Wexler.
"Viv look out!" Five cried.
"Yeah…well neither are we," Cain announced, shooting a tranquilizer gun at Bruce forcing him to yelp and immediately let go of Wexler's leg, falling to the floor unconscious. Cain immediately placed his pistol at the side of her head.
"No!" One cried out. Four tensed as she kept her position. Vivian breathed feeling the pistol on the side of her head.
"Now…back away," Cain demanded. Two swallowed.
"Come on Vivian…let's think about this…" Wexler smirked. "It's 4 against one. And you're all alone…"
Vivian hesitated, keeping her position.
"Halvor," Two urged. Cain cocked his pistol.
"I'm not going to ask again," Cain demanded. Vivian's jaw tightened staring at Two.
"Viv…please," Two growled. Vivian was shaking.
"Come on Viv…" Three whispered. "Don't be stupid."
Vivian swallowed, hesitant before she leaned back, putting her hands up slowly with her dagger and pistol still in her hands. Cain immediately grabbed her dagger, sheathing it on his belt, and her pistol holstering it on where his pistol would be normally. He reached out immediately grabbing her, and pulling her back, his pistol still at her head. Wexler exhaled, rubbing his neck.
"You got balls, I'll give you that," Wexler scoffed. "Put her with the others."
He glanced back at Vivian before staring Two down. Cain dragged Vivian down the hall to the mess. She was tossed to the ground as Five and One flinched as she hit the floor hard. She grunted as she kicked Cain hard where Bruce bit him along his leg. Cain screamed as Vons growled at Tash.
"Grab her," Vons ordered. The crew watched as Vivian unsheathed her cutlass, standing up to strike but Tash immediately disarmed her, twisting her arm. Everyone watched as her cutlass dropped.
"Viv!" Five cried. She struggled to get out of Tash's grip with her arm behind her back. She ground stepped on her foot forcing a yelp out of Tash. Vons immediately punched Vivian across the face.
"HEY!" Three growled. Vivian gasped as she swayed from the hit. Tash let go as Vons hit slammed butt end of his weapon into her gut. She toppled over to the floor.
"STOP! Jesus," One yelled out. Five was crying. Four stared at Vivian as she spit out blood from the impact. Her head was swimming, her adrenaline tried to overcome the pain. She stopped as Cain regained his composure pointing the gun at her head.
"Tie her up," Cain ordered. Tash immediately grabbed the tape, pulling Vivian up (still facing the crew) and forcing her arms behind her back. She glanced at Three who was inwardly fuming. She tried to smile at Five reassuringly. The others watched between her and Two.
"Now…I'm gonna count to 5, if I don't hear an answer for the code, out she goes," Wexler demanded. "And maybe next…we'll have Miss Halvor's head on display while the kid watches."
Vivian shook her head looking down at the floor.
"5…4…3…2," Wexler counted down confused why no one was answering. One was about to answer anxiously before a voice blurted out.
"Maplethorpe…" Three replied. "The code is Maplethorpe…with an 'e'."
"Check it out," Vons ordered Cain as he left, leaving Tash with Vivian.
After a few minutes, Cain confirmed the code and the newly stolen merchandise.
"You know…we could've had some real fun together," Wexler announced, then immediately opened the airlock, forcing Two out into space. Everyone yelled as Two escaped the airlock. Vivian swallowed in horror, closing her eyes tightly. She felt a rage, a sickness in her stomach that made her want to keep fighting.
"HEY!" Vons growled, keeping his guard up. "Let's take a little walk."
Wexler dragged unconscious Bruce into the mess with the others.
"Find some rope, leash this mutt up before he wakes up," Wexler growled. Cain arrived not too far behind him. Vivian opened her eyes. She glared at Wexler as he put his hand on her shoulder gripping onto it. She shoved it off rough.
"Now…you and your little friends are going to have a little walk," Wexler mentioned as he leaned down at her eye level. "So why don't you be a good little girl and behave."
Vivian spit in his face.
"You worthless piece of sh-" Vivian growled but stopped as she felt a smack across her face from Cain and he immediately picked her up by her throat. Everyone froze as she was lifted just above her height.
"Stop it!" Five yelped a Vivian struggled to breathe.
"You stay out of this! Or you're next!" Wexler growled, pointing at her.
"You're becoming quite a handful," Cain growled.
"Bite me," Vivian growled, struggling before getting enough energy to kick him in the groin. He doubled over. She fell to the floor, coughing harshly. Tash kicked her in the face causing everyone to gasp.
Cain recomposed himself, lifting her up. He pointed the pistol at her head.
"Try that again…" Cain growled. Vivian was breathing harshly from the number of blows in a matter of minutes. She tried to glare at him.
"Cain…remember we had a deal," Wexler reminded. Reluctantly, Cain glanced at him, his grip on Vivian's jacket firm.
"Let's lock them in the Vault," Wexler suggested with spite in his tone.
"Let's go…all of you," Vons demanded.
…
The crew walked single file as Vons, Tash and Cain forced them down the halls towards the cargo bay. Vivian was being forced towards the back where Cain kept eyes on her. She glared at him, looking around. There had to be a way out.
Vivian…a voice echoed throughout her head. She recognized the voice closing her eyes tight. Not now…anything but now.
They approached the cargo bay. Three and Four gave a nod before immediately ambushing Tash, Vons and Cain. The others gathered next to each other as the two scattered. Four broke Cain's nose before Vons shot his gun allowing the pulsing pressure charge to smack him into inventory barrels. Three got tousled around by Tash with a few punches that made him fall to the floor. Vivian attempted to kick but Tash grabbed her, wrapping an arm across her shoulders. Vivian bit into her arm, stomping onto her foot again. Tash yelled out shoving her forward onto the ground. Vivian gasped as she hit the ground.
"You bitch!" Tash growled, pointing a gun at her.
"Are we done?" Vons called out to everyone. Everyone stared at those on the floor. Four was recovering from the blast and Three was groaning, feeling the pain along his head and mouth. Vivian was breathing heavy watching the others.
"Son of a bitch broke my nose!" Cain growled, pointing his pistol at Four.
"Stand down Cain!" Vons commanded. After a few hesitant seconds, Cain finally stood down, lowering his weapon. Tash pulled Vivian and Three up as Cain pulled Four up from the floor.
"All of you in the Vault, now!" Vons demanded forcing open the door, pushing the entire crew into the vault. They filed in, hands still tied behind their backs.
Vivian glared at Cain as his gun kept aimed at her.
"Now just get nice and cozy. We'll be back," Cain sang. "And you be a good little girl."
"You're a bastard," Vivian growled. Cain scoffed in amusement as he looked at Vons and Tash in disbelief.
"Tell you what. If you misbehave…your little mutt goes in the airlock," Cain grinned evilly. Vivian growled as they closed the door, leaving the Raza crew stranded with their own loot.
"YOU FUCKING MONSTER!" Vivian yelled as she slammed her foot into the vault door several times. Everyone watched her as tears filled her eyes, kicking the door repeatedly until she the pain from her injuries washed over her.
Vivian takes a breath, tears running down her face, then leaned her head against the door. The Raza crew watched her cautiously…and with sympathy.
"Don't you fucking take him from me too…" Vivian whispered desperately.
"We'll find a way out," Five reassured hopeful. "We have to."
Vivian couldn't pay attention to any of them. What they did to Two…what they might do to Bruce, to the rest of the crew…she couldn't accept it happening. She struggled to clear her mind of a plan.
"Well…how the hell do we get out of this one?" Six asked. Five put up her boot.
"I have a knife in my boot. They didn't frisk me," Five announced. Six immediately walked over, struggling to grab the small pocket knife from the inner lining of her boot. Five got herself out first, then proceeded to cut Six's bonds.
"Since when do you start carrying a knife?" Six questioned. Five gave him an odd look.
"Seriously?" Five asked as she set him free.
"Even if we get out of these bonds, it won't help us getting out," Four remarked. Five went over to One.
"Two is gone…"
"They didn't have to kill her," Five agreed, unleashing his bonds then proceeding to Four. "But Why?"
"They needed to send a message. To tell us not to mess with them," Six gritted his teeth.
"We made a mistake," Three admitted. "Oh, I tell you…as soon as we're out of here…I'm gonna kill them all."
Four thanked Five as she proceeded to Three cutting him out as well. Then she turned to Vivian. Something was different. And everyone could feel it. They looked at her for the first time since they were captured. She looked like a foreign stranger. She was acting like a person out for revenge. She wasn't Viv.
Vivian… the voice echoed in her head. Vivian closed her eyes; her head was pounding as she tried to steady her breathing. Her nose still looked bloody from the hit. Five approached her carefully the others looked on…not sure how to help.
"Viv?" Five asked.
Vivian…
"Shut up…not now…" Vivian whispered harshly. The others looked at her strangely.
"Kid…" Three sighed.
Vivian felt Five's hand but the hand she saw wasn't hers. She swallowed when a very unfocused, familiar hand formed, with a calming voice. She swallowed hard struggling to as she saw a very unfocused version of her brother. James.
Sleep…
Five rocked her a bit.
"Viv?"
"James…" she whispered. Five furrowed her brows as Vivian's slowly head rolled, the pain in flowing through her was too much that it forced her out of focus. That's when Five saw the light leaving her eyes. She was about to pass out.
"Someone grab her!" Five yelped. One grabbed Vivian as she fainted and caught her before she could hit the ground.
"Jesus," One gasped as he felt her weight.
"Hold on! Let me get her lose," Five ordered, breaking the bonds of her wrists. As soon as she was free, One carefully sat himself onto the ground with her torso in his lap.
"Sit her up," Four ordered. One gently tried to get her in a more comfortable position.
"Did anyone else hear her say James?" Six asked. Three's eyes widened.
"Oh no no no no," Three growled, pushing Four slightly out of the way.
"What's wrong?" Six asked.
Three grabbed her face gently, examining it, then froze. He could see her breathing.
"Oh thank God…" he whispered, he shook his head.
"Is she breathing?" One asked desperately. Four and Five were on opposite sides in front of her and One.
"She's breathing…just unconscious," Four sighed in relief. He examined her face, her nose still bleeding, her face pale.
"Good, I knew she was stronger than that," Three scoffed, patting her face gently. He got up, starting to pace.
Five helped One get Vivian out of her jacket and scarf. Four furrowed his brows at her lower stomach. He could see discoloration.
"Lift up her shirt," Four ordered. One furrowed his brows at him. Three immediately did a double take.
"What?" One asked confused.
"She was hit in the down there earlier," Four motioned to her abs. "Lift it up."
"You do it," One motioned to Five. She nodded, reluctantly lifting the bottom end of her sweater, showing her abs. They were bruised bad where she was hit. Three growled, looking away.
"Jesus…" Six whispered. "Took a real beating huh?"
"All while trying to save us…and Two…" One scoffed.
"Those bastards are going to pay. What they did to Two. What they did to her," Three growled nodding over to Vivian adrenaline pumping. "Let's search the place. There's gotta be something in here that's gonna get us out of here."
…
Vons, Tash and Cain made it to the bridge to meet up with Wexler who already patched himself up from Bruce's attack on his leg. Although despite the circumstances, he seemed pretty confident.
"Made a call, the team will rendezvous with us here in 2 hours," Wexler announced. "Once we hand over the device, we'll head to the nearest GA to drop off our little friends."
Wexler made his way to the crew when he noticed Cain with his bloody broken nose.
"What happened to you?"
"Ishida gave him some trouble," Vons informed.
"Oh yeah? Well you can get your revenge on him after we split the bounty and only after you understand?" Wexler mentioned. Cain nodded.
"The little bitch wasn't easy either," Tash mentioned. "You sure you want her alive?"
"You know what's funny, I found out a little something about her," Wexler smirked.
"That being?"
"That name Halvor. Do you recognize it?" Wexler asked. Cain nodded.
"Yeah there's an upper-class mercenary by that name so what?" Vons asked. Wexler put up a finger.
"Close…but not even close to how valuable that name is…" Wexler informed. He hit a few keys on the computer, pulling up a picture of Erik Halvor. Another picture popped up of the Neptune's Dragon.
"This my friend is Erik Halvor, and this is his ship. One of the richest and genuine pirate legends with a huge mercenary name. See any connections here?"
The others were watching the screen as Wexler pulled up Vivian and James' pictures underneath him.
"And the loving family. Poor boy died at a young age. But guess what our girl has?" Wexler smirked. "A family fortune of 2.3 billion dollars and counting."
"So…what do we do?" Vons asked.
"We get dear old dad to cough up some money," Wexler grinned.
"How are we going to do that?" Tash asked.
Cain grinned.
"We send him a message…"
…
Viv…Wake up…
The pain…it swam throughout her head. Even the relief of sleep couldn't ignore that. She felt pain in her abs. She tried to open her eyes, but she didn't have the energy. Flashes of Two getting spaced, Bruce getting tranquilized and Vivian getting hit just came and went.
You need to wake up!
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Vivian's eyes burst open, straining from little light that there was in the vault. Three was banging the crates within the vault with sheer force against the shelves. He was desperately trying to open the crates with any force necessary. She tried to sit up quickly, but her body immediately protested. She cringed, and her head pounding. She found herself on the floor, with her jacket and scarf used as a pillow.
"THREE!" she growled, flinching at the sound of the banging crates. He immediately stopped. Everyone looked up from their tasks of searching for ways out of the vault looking directly at her.
"Viv!" Five cried in relief. Vivian almost gasped when Five tackle hugged her without thinking. Five regretted it giving an apologetic look.
"Do we have any meds in here? My head…" Vivian groaned, looking at her beggingly. Five nodded, getting up from her place. Vivian shifted, grabbing her jacket and pulling it back on. It was freezing. Or maybe that was just her body adjusting. Grabbed her scarf as well, pulling it down to the proper place around her neck. Five came back with a small hand sized cylinder with some pain relief pills. Vivian grabbed one of the pills slowly popping it in her mouth, swallowing it dryly. "What happened?"
"You passed out," Five replied. "Probably from when they hit you."
Vivian shook her head. Three tried to ignore the rage he felt. He couldn't figure out why he was so mad seeing Vivian that…beaten. It didn't help that Two was blown out despite giving the bastards the code. He occupied his rage on the crates.
"Help me up. Please…" Vivian asked Five. She nodded, extending a hand and pulling Vivian up. Even getting up was a pain. The medicine wasn't working as well as she wanted it to. It wasn't just a normal migraine from stress. This was injury. She felt herself exhale sharply as she grabbed one of the shelves. Her abs ached, her head was swimming. Five was about to help but Vivian put a hand up.
"I'm fine…" she breathed. "Just…give me a minute…"
"I'll be right over here okay?" Five mentioned lightly as she moved towards the back of the vault to an open crate looking through the various gadgets. She carefully turned herself around, leaning against the shelves. Vivian glanced at Three. She noticed he was trying to avoid looking at her. And…it kind of hurt. Her stomach clenched from nerves, adrenaline…pain. She crossed her arms about her chest, feeling uneasy and almost wanting to vomit. She closed her eyes for a moment.
"Hey Halvor," One greeted quietly, making her jump back into reality. Her eyes opened seeing a very sympathetic look from One. "Well…nice to see some color back in your face."
"Thanks I guess…" Vivian scoffed shaking her head. One smiled sadly.
"What you did-" One began but Vivian swallowed.
"I couldn't save her…" Vivian interrupted, looking torn. "Or any of you."
"What you did…was the craziest thing I've seen any of us do on this ship," One swallowed hard recomposing himself.
"And I still lost," Vivian choked. "And now I might even lose Bruce."
He put his hand on her shoulder. She felt a lump in her throat. He saw tears forming in her eyes.
"I'm not going to be responsible for another life that I care about," Vivian swallowed. One sighed as he immediately pulled her in for a hug. She almost instantly gripped onto him, holding back tears.
"You are not responsible for what happened to any of us," One whispered sternly. She gripped onto him harder. "We are all in this together. And none of us are blaming you. You hear me. None."
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Vivian broke out of her embrace with One slowly, as Three continued to bang the crates locks trying to break it open.
"These damn things are still locked!" Three growled. "I swear next time I come in here I'm grabbing a blowtorch to all these things."
Suddenly, the vault opened with Tash, Vons and Cain gradually making their way in, guns at the ready.
"Well looks like you got out of your bonds," Vons greeted.
"Now you can scratch your asses when we hand you over to the GA," Tash added.
"Corso. We got some business with you," Cain announced. Vivian glanced at One. She swallowed hard as he nodded in reassurance slowly stepping forward to join the three intruders.
"What are you going to do to him?" Five asked as Six stood behind her protectively.
"Just as a few friendly questions," Vons grinned as they slowly closed the door. Vivian stared at the door then glanced at Three who scoffed shaking his head.
"Brilliant…" Three commented as he slammed the crate back into the shelf. Vivian swallowed, the pain rushing to her head.
"Is he going to be okay?" Five asked Six. Six shook his head.
"I don't know," Six replied honestly. "Let's keep looking. Maybe there's something we're missing in these vaults."
…
One was gone for a while. Vivian sat on one of the crates in the center not far from Five. The crew tried to remain calm. She gave up looking, her mind and body could feel the air thinning. Her muscles and head ached. The vault only had so much air when it's sealed as tight as it was.
"There's nothing here…" Five sighed hopeless.
"So, I guess we just wait huh?" Six asked as he stood beside Five. Vivian watched as Three was rummaging through another locked crate at the opposite corner of the room. She sighed, rubbing her eyes.
Corso has been gone a while… a voice mentioned in the corner of the room. She froze at the voice then slowly looked up. James stood there, arms about his chest, leaning against the opposite corner of where Three was standing. Sandy brown hair like his mother, eyes of his father, his leather jacket torn, his clothes in the same uniform she mimicked now. She swallowed staring at his corner. He watched Three closely.
And it's only a matter of time before this one does something stupid, James commented motioning to Three. Vivian tensed, jaw tightening as she immediately looked away putting her hands over her face. Five noticed and was about to say something until Three slammed a crate back into its place.
"This is ridiculous!" Three growled, putting a crate back on the opposite end of the corner where James was standing. Three paced down the vault where the rest of the crew sat waiting. "There has to be something in this place, right?"
"I told you there was nothing," Five reminded. Three shook his head, then looked up.
"What about the vents? Can't you just crawl out and open it from the other side?" he suggested. Everyone looked up curiously.
"There are no vents. It's a sealed vault that's the point," Five informed.
Not the world's brightest light under pressure, James commented. Vivian growled, punching the crate she was sitting on hard. Everyone looked at her.
Three ignored the gesture and continued to work on the lock of one.
"Easy man. You might want to calm down. We only got so much air," Six advised. But Three wasn't having it. He grabbed the crate throwing it across the corner of the room. Vivian jumped, watching Three approach Six as they stood eye to eye. Vivian felt the immense tension in the room. Her hands balled into fists.
Watch him Viv…he's on a short leash, James' voice mentioned as he stood in the corner. Vivian's eyes closed tightly.
"Viv?" Five asked, noticing her tension.
Vivian shook her head shortly, her hands turning white. Five grabbed her hand instinctively, gripping onto her.
"Come on man. Tell me to calm down one more time! See what happens!" Three growled getting in his face.
"Could we not do this?" Five pleaded looking worriedly at Vivian.
"They blew her out into space and we did nothing," Three breathed.
"What were we supposed to do?" Six asked.
"I don't know fight back maybe," Three encouraged. "Four and I tried."
"Unsuccessfully," Four remarked. "Plus, you're forgetting we're not the only ones who were damaged."
Four looked at Vivian. Three glanced at her. He didn't want to get riled up again. He wanted to ignore her. Because if he thought about it…there would be rage.
"So, you want to just give up now?"
"No. But we're in a position of severe disadvantage," Four mentioned. "Last thing we want to do is act on emotion."
"That whole Zen thing doesn't work on me," Three growled, pushing a bunch of nearby crates off in anger. Vivian got up as she immediately heard the door open. The others stood in their place guarded as Three got closer to the door daringly arms out at his sides.
"Bring it!" he greeted the three intruders as they pointed their guns at him. Six and Five immediately got behind him.
"Back away," Cain ordered.
"BRING IT!" Three growled.
Grab him… James growled as Vivian marched over to Three. Cain stood his ground.
"Back away!" he ordered again.
"Come on," Three beckoned, ready for a fight, adrenaline pumping. Vivian stood right behind him.
"Marcus!" she growled in an orderly fashion without thinking. Everyone almost glanced at her except for Six and Five who stared Three down. It wasn't until Six put a hand on his arm that he finally backed off. Vivian stood behind him, watching Cain, Tash and Vons carefully.
"What do you want?" Six asked.
"Corso needs a little company," Cain replied, motioning over to Five. He stepped in, about to grab Five until Vivian stood in between her and him. Cain sighed.
"Come on sweetheart," Cain whispered. "We're armed and you're not. Don't make this hard on yourself."
Vivian stood her ground protectively in front of Five.
"I don't need a weapon to break your arm," Vivian whispered threateningly. Cain smirked in amusement.
"We just want a little company," Vons reassured. Vivian narrowed her eyes at Cain.
"I'm going to ask nicely," Cain stated smoothly. "Step away from the girl…"
"Not a chance," Vivian growled threateningly. Cain scoffed as Five looked at Vivian stood her ground.
"Viv…it's okay. I'll be all right please!" Five begged urgently. Cain nodded to Five.
"I'd listen to the girl if I were you," Cain mentioned. "Or do you want to end up like your mutt?"
Vivian froze. Did they airlock Bruce? Or was he safe and they were just playing games? She immediately glared at him, feeling the adrenaline rush.
Vivian… James warned. But her mind was gone.
He reached out to grab Five, but Vivian grabbed his arm twisting it hard forcing him to yell out.
"Halvor!" Four yelled. But Vivian ignored him, twisting it behind his back trying to choke him with her other arm. She then bear hugged him from behind hanging onto his back and he immediately backed into the crates, making her slam into them.
"Knock it off!" Three growled at him.
She grunted from the blow but held onto Cain from behind as he scratched at her arm.
"Hey!" Vons shouted as he and Tash marched into the vault. Tash grabbed Five away from the group. Cain finally elbowed her in the ribs and slammed her into the shelves causing her to release him. Coughing and pointing his gun at her he growled.
"Viv!" Five yelled. She was breathing hard, tears forming in her eyes.
"You bitch," he growled hoarsely. Vivian was about to grab him, but Vons immediately headbutted her, causing her head to just swim with pain.
"Hey!" Three growled his emotions riling up about to approach Vons. But Tash was there, pointing her gun at him. Three immediately backed off, seeing Vivian's eyes close having a hard time focusing on her attacker.
"You better watch yourself," Vons threatened as he pointed his gun at her.
Cain regained his composure, rejoining the group.
Vivian couldn't focus. The pain was swarming her again.
"Now…why don't you behave…" Vons added as Vivian watched the three of them walk out with Five.
As the door closed, Three and the others immediately went up to Vivian as she struggled to sit up, leaning against the crates.
"What the hell are you nuts?" Three growled in frustration. Her mind was blurring reality.
"You need to be more careful," Four stated simply. "They could've killed you."
Three shook his head.
"Why did you do that?"
Vivian's eyes suddenly focused, looking angrily at him.
"You know why James. You of all people," Vivian growled at Three. Three furrowed his brows at her. At that moment…she didn't see Three…she saw her brother sitting in front of her lecturing her.
"James?" Six asked.
"What?"
"I have to get out…I have to…" she began but her eyes closed in pain as her body went limp and unconscious. Six grabbed her before she fell totally to the floor.
"James? Isn't that her brother?" Three asked looking at Four confused. Four and Six looked between him and her worriedly. Five and One were with the invaders. Two was gone and now Vivian was injured. It was only a matter of time before the air would stop coming.
