The courser blinked on Tim's screen, attracting his attention. We have a plan, it kind of sucks, but it's a plan.
Tim placed one hand on the side of console, in full view of the armed men and the vid-sceen. He tapped a finger one time.
Was that for me?
Tap.
Ok, good. I need to distract them so Katie can get people to the wardroom, we're flooding the ship.
Tap.
I'm going to let the sensors show it so they close the bridge doors and you don't all drown. But no one on the bridge will be able to turn on the siphons. Only me.
Tap.
Tim, I'm sorry, but you may be blamed for the distraction.
There was a pause, then, tap.
Maybe you can get up from your station so they know it wasn't you.
Tap tap.
No?
Tap.
Why?
Several rapid and annoyed taps.
Oh, right, sorry. Do you think they'll suspect you more?
Tap.
I just don't want you to get hurt.
Tim allowed himself an ironic smile and ran his hand through a clump of blood soaked hair on his forehead.
Ok, point taken. Do you have a plan of your own?
Tap, pause, tap tap.
Kinda?
Tap.
Be careful.
Tap.
"Sir! We have an incoming transmission." Kents called, as the towering vid-screen showed the UEO label.
York spun around and stormed to Tim's station. "What the hell did you do four-eyes? I told you keep everyone out!"
Rage and frustration surged in the normally mild mannered officer. "I didn't do it. How many times do I have to tell you I have no control?!"
"Then how is this happening? Stop it!" York screamed, inches from his face.
Tim found the courage to snarl back from his seat. "Do you really think the UEO wouldn't have a fail proof way to contact it's flag ship? I can't override this. They have their own codes to stop me." He noted in the back of his mind that every eye on the bridge was on the pair of them fighting. This better be what you wanted, Lucas.
"Fine," York reached into his holster and pulled out his pistol. "Are you sure you can't stop it?" Tim uttered a quick prayer before shaking his head. York nodded once before he started to fire.
The path the small crew had to take meant that they would round a corner that was diagonal from the bridge. They wouldn't been seen from inside, but they could be heard. Katie held her breath when she saw Bentley come out the door and head the opposite direction.
She silently waved her charges forward, trying to pay attention to everything at once. The door swung open at her touch, not needing a code. The last of the scientist were filing through when she heard the screams, followed by gun shots. "Rylie, inside, don't open the door for anyone." She ordered, "Jayde, you too."
The teen shook her head. "No, I'm not leaving you to hog all the glory from saving the crew." She smiled cockily, adrenalin spiking through her system.
Katie had lost enough arguments with Lucas to know the tone and expression coming from Jayde. "You need to do everything I say. And," she pulled her spare sidearm from the small of her back. "Get rid of the tranq, if we have to shoot, we shoot to kill."
"Yes, ma'am." Jayde said evenly. She took the pistol but only swung the tranquilizer gun onto the center of her back, and tightened the strap. "It's good to have options." She explained with a shrug. Katie had to agree with the small rebellion, and pulled the door of the ward room closed behind them.
Jayde jumped at the noise, the slight clang echoed in her head. "I think that counts as crossing the Rubicon." She muttered. "So, now do we get to go in guns blazing?"
Katie grinned, the girl's attitude was somewhat contagious. "Not exactly, we are very outnumbered. We need to see exactly what we are dealing with first."
"You have no idea what you are dealing with." A male voice said from behind them. They turned quickly, Chars stood with the stock of his rifle resting against his shoulder, aimed at them. There was no way he'd miss them in the hallway.
"What a pair of trouble makers." Bentley laughing coldly, coming from the other direction. He too, was aiming a rifle at the women. Katie tensed to move, seeing that the men were also pointing their guns at each other. If she could get Jayde and herself out of the way, one may take the other out. Bentley sighed when he saw her small movement, "how many times do I have to explain crossfire to you, Chars?"
Chars took a step to the side, "yes, sir, sorry, sir." Katie bristled at the lost chance.
"Drop your weapons." Bentley ordered. The women let the guns clatter to the floor. "Back up to the wall." They obeyed and Chars picked up the firearms. "And now, why don't we all go visit the bridge? I'm sure the boss will be very interested in where our men are."
Katie placed her hands on the back of her head without being asked, Jayde followed suit after a moment. They had no way of fighting these men currently, and getting shot for making a sudden move wouldn't help matters. They were marched to the bridge where they could hear Kristin yelling angrily.
"You must let me examine him! It's the law!"
"I am about to fire warheads at the people make these laws, do you really think I give a damn?"
Katie entered the bridge's clam shell doors and took in the scene. Kristin was inches away from York, screaming in his face. Another of the terrorists was holding her arms behind her, but couldn't control her completely enough to cuff her. Ben and Captain Bridger were several feet away, being pushed back by an armed man. Their faces were red with repressed rage. The unconscious body of Lucas laid on the floor, seemingly forgotten by everyone. And Tim was half hanging off his chair, his legs tangled under the destroyed and smoking communications console. His normally crisp uniform was saturated in blood.
"Sir, we found two of them." Bentley announced from the open door. Every one stopped and turned to look at them. "What do you want me to do with them?"
York pushed Kristin away from him. "Cuff everyone together," he gestured to a corner of the bridge. "Out of my way."
Bentley gave the women a shove in the room. "You heard him, over there."
Jayde hesitated, "what about Tim?" She lowered her hands, and held them out in a non-threatening manor. "Let me look at him." She pointed to the pillowcase she was still carrying. "I have some medical supplies." Her green eyes narrowed, "you can't possibly think I'm a threat to your plan if I just make sure he isn't dead."
Her taunting had it desired affect, and York gave a short nod. "Dump it out in front of me first." She approached the captain's chair beside him and slowly pulled the bag loose, and upended it on the seat. "What is in the bottle?" York asked with suspicion.
"Just a pain killer."
"Ok, do what you have to, but don't touch any computers."
She sneered at him, staring him down coldly. "Yes, sir."
York's eyes widened briefly. He closely watched as she went to Tim. After taking his pulse, she announced, "he's alive." Jayde pulled open the bloody shirt and winced when she saw the gouged, pale skin underneath. She breathed with relief. "He wasn't shot, just full of shrapnel."
"Can you stop the bleeding?" Kristin asked, now handcuffed between Katie and Ben.
"Yeah, I think so." Jayde awkwardly pulled his limp body off the chair and laid him on the floor. She pulled the shirt off completely and surveyed the damage. "Should I try to pull some of this out?"
Kristin shook her head. "Not until I've had a chance to look at it. It may make the bleeding worse."
The teen nodded and started to wrap Tim's torso with the roll of gauze. She inserted a needle into the vial and drew out a dose. Shielding her work with her body, she slipped the hypodermic into her pocket. "I think that's as good as I can do. I only know field medicine." She glanced helplessly to the crew. "He needs a real doctor." Standing, she addressed York, who was still staring at her. "He needs a doctor," she repeated.
He blinked slowly at her, his face blank. "Who are you?"
Jayde raised her chin defiantly. "Why does that matter?"
York took several long steps to her side and grabbed her arms. "Who are you?!" He screamed.
"M... my name is Jayde." Her bravery wavered with the intense expression on his face.
"Jayde what?"
"Tasker," she winced in his grip. She stared into his eyes and her own widened in recognition. She felt deep flicker of panic rising. "No... it can't be you."
A lunatic smiled crossed the man's face. "I guess that means all the plastic surgery was worth it."
He let her go and Jayde sunk to the floor, curling into a fetal position. "No..." she whimpered.
"It's a sign... a sign that I'm doing what's right." York said triumphantly. "You almost made me change my mind a few times Captain, but I know it was just a test. I won't fault you for that."
"What are you talking about?" Nathan fought the fear he felt when he saw the extreme change in the girl. She had been frightened before, but this was different. She looked utterly defeated and broken.
York started to pace, "I don't know how she came to be on this ship with me, but this little... bitch... killed my brother years ago."
