The good guys win, OF COURSE.

Calvo reeled back as the tentacles leapt towards him, either reflex or pure luck allowing him to dodge the worst of the attack, though a pincer still managed to take hold of his left arm and there was a sharp sting of pain as a buzzing little instrument sliced a thin piece of flesh out of the side of his cheek, taking the bandages he'd been using for a disguise with it. He flinched, and the gun he held went off, striking a glancing blow off the whip-like tentacle that had cut him.

Sparks let out an enraged bellow as blue energy began arcing from the damaged area of the now useless tentacle, but he obviously still had control of the others, as Calvo found himself being yanked forward by the one that gripped his arm. He barely had time to cry out before the tentacle, fast and unbelievably strong, whipped around and sent him crashing into the far wall.

He hit it hard and then flopped unceremoniously on the ground, too disoriented to even lift his throbbing face from the cold floor. Then he gasped as a segmented tentacle began winding slowly around his ankle. Forcing himself to act, he began fumbling weakly for the gun. It was gone.

The realization hit him like icewater, and there was a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach as he was helplessly dragged backwards, to the tune of the engineer's deranged laughter.

"Think you can pull a fast one on old Sparks an' get away wit' it, did you? Well, you're about to learn otherwise, boy! I've got 'alf a mind to take these little pincers here and tear your--"

Calvo didn't get to hear the rest of the threat, as at that moment there was a flash of light and a thin, gurgling shriek, followed by the sickening smell of burning flesh.

He climbed shakily to his feet, and the first sight that met his eyes was the Amazonian form of Eighteen, her hair hanging in her face and ample chest heaving as she looked contemptuously down at the old man's remains, still casually holding Calvo's gun. She was, in a word, stunning, and despite the short time frame they were on he found himself rooted to the spot, unable to tear his eyes away from her or even form a sentence.

"Thanks for distracting him," Eighteen said, blowing the smoke off the tip of the barrel.

"..."

She peered at him, recognition suddenly dawning. "You're that escaped prisoner, aren't you?"

Before he could answer in the affirmative, or indeed peel his jaw off the floor, the computer announces, "ONE MINUTE TO HYPERSPACE ACTIVATION."

They exchanged startled looks, and Eighteen quickly moved to open the holding cage. The lieutenant stepped out, surveying her sleeping guardswomen strapped down all over the room, a worried expression flashing across her exotic face.

"Well done, both of you," she said curtly. "But we still seem to be in a bit of a dilemma."

Eighteen bit down on her full, red lip, nodding unhappily.

"About that," Calvo said, finally finding his tongue. "I didn't just attack that old bastard on a whim. I had a plan, you see."

This gets their attention, Eighteen glancing up at him with renewed hope, though the lieutenant's expression remained doubtful.

"When I came aboard I saw an old fighter parked in the landing bay. Now, I used to serve as an escort on a ship of this class, and part of my job was knowing how to pilot and do upkeep on those things." He shrugged. "They're not really designed to hold three people, but it shouldn't be a problem. Ten minutes is plenty of time for the three of us to get to the bay, and when we launch, even if we're detected, it won't matter. These mercs are probably all strapped into their bunks already, and in no time at all they'll be in hyperspace and too far away to do a damn thing to stop us."

Eighteen grinned at him. "That's perfect! But we're taking Twelve!" She made her way quickly to the table where the slender girl was restrained.

"Now wait a minute," the lieutenant said, halting her. "We're not going to just abandon the rest of our comrades to these...these -swine-." She turned back to Calvo, "I want you to deactivate the hyperdrive."

Calvo snorted. "Not going to happen," he said. Anger flashed in the woman's dark eyes, and he hurried to explain. "The hyperdrive is the most protected system on the ship. Without clearance I doubt I could override it if I had ten -hours-, and a computer for a brain to boot." He shook his head. "And then what? Fight off a ship full of mercenaries, just the three of us? If you're hoping to get these other woman to help, that's not going to happen either. Hyperspace gas takes hours to wear off, and people are generally disoriented and even delusional for a little while after. You know that."

She swallowed hard. "But to just -abandon- them..."

"Look," Calvo said, as gently as he could, "A few minutes ago you were saying that Eighteen should just abandon you. You've got to be reasonable about this. We need to save whoever we can, and right now that's the three of us."

"And Twelve!" Eighteen added.

The lieutenant decided to be difficult again. "No," she said. "Eighteen, I know how close you two are, but if we can take anyone at all out of here it's our duty to save the Captain."

"Absolutely -not-." The blonde said, crossing her arms and lifting her chin defiantly. "If Twelve stays, I stay."

Inwardly Calvo groaned. There was no way they could take -both- of them, and in the back of his head he could hear a worrisome little voice counting down the minutes. He looked from one woman to the other, and both glared at each other, seeming equally determined. Obviously he was going to have to make up his own mind about who to support, then do what he could to convince the other.