Go It Alone

{if S1 = true}Taking a deep breath, you unsling the rifle and prepare to creep closer to the pod. You are stopped by Serena's hand on your shoulder. "Please. Let me help," she whispers. You look at her for a long moment, deep in thought. She's been through a lot...and you are loathe to put her in danger (exactly why regulations frowned upon developing relationships with junior officers you realize ruefully). Slowly, you shake your head. You have a responsibility to her. "I'm sorry, Serena. Let me handle this. I will be able to think more clearly if I don't have you to worry about," you say, trying to justify your argument. She bites her lip, and for a moment you think she's about to argue, but eventually she just nods her head. "Stay here and stay hidden. No matter what happens, don't come out until I call for you." Leaning in and giving her one last quick kiss and leaving the knife with her, you begin to stalk down toward the pod.

{else}Taking a deep breath, you unsling the rifle and prepare to creep closer to the pod. You are stopped by Serena's hand on your shoulder. "Please. Let me help," she whispers. "I have a score to settle with those bastards." You look at her for a long moment, deep in thought. She's been through a lot...and you are not sure just how far you can trust her with her apparent vendetta. In the end, you shake your head. "I'm not sure you are ready for this after all you've been through. And I can handle myself," you tell her. She starts to argue, but you hold up your finger. "That's an order, Ensign." She quiets down immediately, and nods. "Yes, Ma'am," she says, still a bit surly. "Stay here and stay hidden. No matter what happens, don't come out until I call for you," you say, turning and beginning to stalk down toward the pod.{endif}

Staying in cover, you get close enough to the pod to actually identify your targets. The Dansby brothers, you think distastefully. Low level enforcers and runners for the higher ups in the brotherhood. By themselves, they shouldn't be too much of a problem. They were notorious cowards, not very dangerous unless in the company others of their ilk. And that is what gives you pause. There was a third prisoner you captured along with the brothers...one eminently more dangerous than the brothers. But after observing for almost an hour, you see no sign of him. Deciding you may as well get this over with, you slip around behind the pod, and sneak across the last gap to the pod.

Standing up behind the two men, you cough to get their attention. They both stumble to their feet, shocked by your sudden appearance. "Hello, boys," you say, aiming your rifle at them ominously. "Kind of an odd place for a stroll, don't you think?" The men are too dumbfounded to even respond. The fear is evident in their eyes...they certainly remember you from their capture. Frowning, you take a step toward them. "Now...where is your boss. Is he still around here or did he die in the crash?" The two patsys still can't even been bothered to speak. Sighing, you lower the rifle a little. "Ok, guys. I'm not going to hurt you. Just tell me where Big Baarden is..." referring to their boss. Suddenly, you feel a large hand grabbing you from behind...pulling you back against an even larger body. It reaches down and encloses your wrist in an iron grip. "Right behind you," a gravelly voice says, coming from above and behind you.

Baarden is half-Naavalan...7 1/2 feet tall, and as ill tempered as they come. The undisputed leader of this cell, and the real prize of your capture. "Major Hathaway," he says, and obvious leer in his deep voice. "You have no idea how much I've wanted this day since you stuck me in that jail of yours. I've dreamed of nothing else. " You struggle against his grip, but his grasp is unwavering. "Oh, the things I'm going to do to you. I'm going to enjoy this immensely." He squeezes your wrist just a bit harder, and the rifle falls helplessly from your nerveless grip. "Let me go, you bastard," you grimace, but Baarden has other ideas. Just what those ideas are become readily apparent as his meaty fingers move into the neck of your jumpsuit and begin to pull down the zipper in the front...separating apart the fabric as the brothers now leer at you.