Time's up.

"Well, looks like time's about up," Sparks observed as he dragged Eighteen forward. "Once the 'yperspace drive finishes activating there's jus' about ten more minutes 'til it charges up enough for the jump. 'Ansome, what say you an' me get this bitch strapped down and call it a night? We'll need to 'ead to out bunks in jus' a moment."

Eighteen gasped. "What about the Lieutenant?" the shapely blonde demanded.

"What about 'er?" Sparks chortled.

"You can't just leave her!" At that the woman twisted out of the old man's grasp, shoving Calvo forcefully away in the same motion.

He stumbled back, finding himself sympathizing with the girl despite the harsh conditions he'd been subjected to in prison. Still, he wondered what she possibly thought she'd accomplish here?

The lieutenant must have realized the same thing, for her dark face took on a bleak expression and she said in a harsh voice, "Eighteen, be reasonable. You keep this up and we'll -both- die. Forget me and let them get you prepped."

The blonde guard hesitated a moment, and it was apparently a moment too long for Sparks, for he lashed out with one of his metal tentacles, belting her across the face and sending her sprawling.

"Forget both of 'em," he said simply. He paused a moment to yank on a lever, and there was a sound of hissing gas. "Send the rest of these bitches to dreamland first, of course. We got more 'en enough 'ores to turn a tidy profit, we don't need these last two." Scowling down at the dazed woman, he continued. "'Ansome, toss this pretty yella' cunt back into the cage, will you?" When he got no answer, he glanced up questioningly. "What're you wait--" He stopped, his eyes widening. "'Ansome?"

Calvo found that his gun had leapt to his hand, almost of its own accord, and was now trained on Sparks. Out of the corner of his eye he saw the lieutenant looking on in surprise.

The old man gave him an disbelieving look. "'Ansome, what in the 'ell's gotten into you? We ain't got time to play around!"

"I'm not playing," Calvo said coldly, though at the same time a voice in the back of his head asked him what -he- hoped to accomplish here. Still, an escape plan had begun to form...

Stepping toward the holding cage, he said, "I'm releasing the lieutenant here, and then the three of us are--"

He was cut off in mid-sentence by an infuriated yell. "You!" Sparks spat the word out, his tentacles seeming to quiver with rage. "When'd you learn to talk? You ain't 'Ansome, you're a damned imposter!"

The tentacles shot forward with inhuman speed.