Chapter Nine

Starsky

I must have lost consciousness again at some point, maybe it was the drug, I don't know and I was beyond caring. As I opened my eyes, I was aware of excruciating pain as I felt my arms stretched above me. I lifted my head with difficulty but the sunlight and brightness made it difficult to see. I could tell my arms were bound and stretched tightly but it was difficult to see what I had been tied to. I moved instinctively, trying to alleviate the pain shooting down my arms, but the movement only increased the pain. My feet were just off the ground and my weight was being supported by my wrists. I blinked my eyes, trying to focus but almost wished I would lose consciousness again as I noted the black-robed figures surrounding me.

"Die…die….die" were the words echoing around me now as I saw the whole band of freaks surrounding me. I looked in horror as Gail moved towards me, holding a very large knife.

I gulped and ran my tongue around my very dry lips as I forced myself to speak. "What planet did I come down on...? Yeah... it all looks familiar... we've been this way before..." My voice was very weak and I knew I was near to the end of my strength. I couldn't fight this anymore. It was time for it to be over. I prayed it would be quick.

"They're watching. Simon dreamed they would watch." Gail looked at me and I could sense her unease. I had to try to reach her, one more attempt to survive.

"You're supposed to kill me. Is that it? And your friends will watch to see if you do it right."

"No! I must not kill... thou shalt not kill... thou shalt not... shalt not... they are watching but I'm not to kill. Only make the first stroke. the first of hundreds... thousands ... millions..." I tried to hide my shiver of fear. I knew only too well what they were capable of. She raised the knife in front of her and kissed it. I could only stare at the sharp edge of the knife as it started getting nearer to me.

"Si-mon…Si-mon…Si-mon…" the chanting started. She raised her weapon, preparing to strike me. I had nothing to lose.

"Gail... think... think what you're doing... it's not you holding that knife, it's Simon... you're not like him,.. remember who you were before Simon scrambled your brains... you must have been a nice girl... a good girl... think!" I was pleading with her, especially when I saw her uncertainty. She didn't want to do this. I could see her confusion and horror at what she was about to do. "Good girl…that's right, Gail, you're not Simon's puppet…don't let him make you a murderer…" I tried not to see the others moving in, all holding various types of very sharp looking knives.

"Simon dreamed you would be weak. You aren't one of us but we will make you strong. Cut him, Gail. Draw his blood."

The chanting continued "Si-mon, Si-mon, Si-mon." I shook my head at the confused girl.

"Don't listen to him, Gail, please…"

"NOW!" The order was barked at her. I see her confusion but the knife was raised. I closed my eyes bracing for the first cut but instead I found myself falling to the ground. She'd cut me down. I was weak as I collapsed but I managed to roll away from the knives trying to skewer me.

Suddenly all hell broke out and I vaguely realized the cavalry had arrived. I even heard the voice I most needed to hear, yelling out abuse as he took on the mob of lunatics. I couldn't see Hutch but I could hear the shouting and punching, audible signs of the fighting which I couldn't see. From my position on the ground, I could only see the feet and legs as they fought back. Without knowing why, I looked up and saw that one of Marcus' followers had focused on me and it took my remaining strength and will to avoid the knife. I fought for my life, and Hutch's but suddenly I seemed to be surrounded again. I lashed out but didn't seem to strike anything. As I glanced up at the knife glittering in the sunlight, I knew I couldn't resist further. At least I wasn't going to die alone. Hutch had found me. I was dizzy and weak and braced myself, again, for death but the knife was suddenly gone and I heard the gunshot that saved my life. Hutch. I saw another freak raising his knife and approaching Hutch who was now battling someone else, so I tripped him up. It was all I could do, I simply had no more strength left to fight. I didn't even see when it was over, I had collapsed on the floor and lay there fighting for breath. I felt rather than saw Gail move to me and crawl onto my lap. I couldn't hold her, I was too weak. As I struggled for breath and equilibrium, I felt and welcomed the very familiar strong hands touching my arms and pulling me forward. From somewhere deep inside, I managed to grip Hutch's jacket and revelled in the warm strength I found. I felt Hutch's hand cradling my head and I held on with what little strength I possessed. From somewhere I found the strength to hold my partner.

"Hutch?"

"It's all over now, Starsk, it's all over…" My partner's usually strong voice was shaky and I wanted to lighten the moment.

"What kept ya?" I looked into his eyes and saw the pain he felt but he just held me close. I did what I hadn't done for a long time and broke down, uncaring of the eyes watching us. I held Hutch as strongly as I could, needing his strength, craving it like I hadn't craved anything since I was a child. He was my security and safety. He made no attempt to pull away and held me close.

Hutch

I'll never remember much of the drive to the zoo. It was fast, it was panic stricken, and I know I prayed for Starsky's survival. I don't know how I managed to get there without causing or having an accident but my driving speed would certainly have rivalled Starsky's. I found the Torino difficult to handle, but instead of cursing it, I welcomed the speed it offered. The sight of my bleeding and bruised partner hanging by his wrists was something I would never forget. The drive was a blur, but the rest, well it would live with me forever. He'd been surrounded by the freaks with large sharp knives. I had been involved in many fights and scuffles since I'd joined the force, but never in one which was so important. So many sharp knives and they'd all been directed towards Starsky. I fought frantically, desperately and hard, and eventually it was over. All of Marcus' nuts had been arrested. I nearly got stabbed myself but somehow my partner managed to trip him up and it gave me the break I needed. Finally it was over and I turned to look at him, my poor, battered Starsky. God only knew what he'd gone through but it looked like hell. There was even a burn next to his eye. My hands were shaking as I held him and touched his face lightly, trying to see some clear skin.

"It's all over now, Starsk, it's all over…" Words of comfort for myself as much as for him. I held him as tightly as I dared in view of his injuries. "What kept ya?" an attempt to lighten the moment but it didn't work. Somewhere he found the strength to hold me and as I felt him break down it took all my strength to keep it together. My partner was usually so strong and together and it killed me seeing his fear and open vulnerability, especially in public. The fact he was so far gone he didn't care about that told me all I needed to know. I gathered him in my arms and held him. I'd hold him for as long as he needed.