03/23/01

"De calcaria in carbonarium."-- Quintus Septimius Tertullianus
["Leap out of the frying pan into the fire." ]

130-1121.

Freed from the evil tropical villa with servants, the merry band now finds themselves in a much better position - in SolSec's dank concrete chamber.

Colonel: "Prep them." Several bio-sculpted, fit young men take charge of the group - all except for Dr. Neil (of course) - handling them like meat. Malcolm starts to struggle but is jabbed in his wound. Mitchell: "Prisoners??" Each member of the group is escorted by two men, into a large, mostly bare concrete room. Very clean, lots of stainless steel. Looks like a cross between an abatoire and a surgical room. Another tech comes in and uses a penflash to neatly slice everyone's clothing off without a scratch. They are then shoved into a large shower room. There's a bright, actinic flash and everyone feels tingly. The tech waves a wand over Mitchell and then nods. He moves on to the next person as Mitchell is moved face to the wall.

A different tech comes in and attaches little electrode patches to various parts of each person. Then Gabrielle is taken out of the room. Mitchell asks one of his guards for a paper suit. Guard: "Face the wall. No talking." Malcolm turns around and is told to "face the wall". When Malcolm doesn't comply a guard takes a small sparkly (electrical?) baton out of his pocket and tells Malcolm again to face the wall. Malcolm doesn't comply, so the guard advances towards him. Mitchell then turns around, joining the Imperial's act of defiance in a touching gesture of solidarity. Mitchell: "I've had just about as much of this crap as I'm going to take. So far we've done everything you've wanted us to do..."

In the other room, the figure in the shadows addresses Gabrielle. "Please, sit down. We just want to have a little chat." She (sounds like a female) gestures towards the uncomfy chair, which does have a little wrap thing on it (sticking to the vinyl is evidently not part of the interrogation). Gabrielle does as she's told, and is efficiently restrained (wrists, ankles, waist, etc.). Tech: "Just relax and cooperate, and everything will be fine." He looks friendly and sympathetic, in a bio-scupted sort of way. Tech: "This won't hurt at all, I promise. There's nothing to be worried about if you're not guilty of anything." He waves a finger and suddenly everything becomes distant and dream-like. Gabrielle thinks she hears herself talking...

Mitchell: "All I want is a flipping paper suit." He doesn't make a move on his guard, but he also doesn't turn back around. The guard gets to within 6 inches and the charged baton arcs. Mitchell is not physically injured, but he falls to the ground in gelatinous, drooling heap on the floor. He's helped up and given a glass of water. Guard: "Face the wall." Mitchell faces the wall. The guard looks at Malcolm. Guard: "Face the wall." He hefts his baton. Mitchell is pasty white and shaking. Malcolm still doesn't turn around, so the guard goes behind Megan and touches the tip of the baton to a cluster of electrode leads over her back, shocking her. Oh-oh, now he's done it. Trevor, who was at the far end of the line, charges down along the wall in front of the group, towards the guard. Malcolm steps out away from the wall towards the guard, to at least distract him. Trevor launches himself at the guard, planning on hitting the guard while he's airbourne even if he's stunned. Momentum and all that. Mitchell throws his water at the guard. (Okay, so he's not an electrical engineer.) The guard pulls back the baton as Trevor slams into him. Trevor is hit with the baton, but he manages to stay conscious and is able to hit the guard he's laying on. Trevor takes exception to the hideous pain in his arms and grinds his knee into the guard's groin. Ah, now they both appear to be in the interlocking fetal position. Several of the other guards are rushing in, and the guard'sbaton rolls off to the side.

Malcolm pulls the wire leads off his electrode patches, giving him an unweighted Manriki-gusari. He tries to block for Mitchell, who's going for the baton. They're only outnumbered two to one, why not? Although Trevor is very occupied, and Megan is incapacitated on the floor. The other three guards run over to Trevor, one of the guards tries to pull him off the other guard, and the two other ones are going to put the boot to Trevor. Trevor gets kicked in the ribs, while Malcolm manages to snatch up the baton, with his hand wrapped in the insulated wire leads. Good thing, since it's tingling (the guards are wearing gloves and now it's obvious why). Trevor continues to grind his knee into the personal bits of the supine guard, but the pain gets to the point that Trevor starts to black out. Malcolm goes after the guard who kicked Trevor, using the baton as a stick rather than a shock baton. The guard uniforms appear to be insulated, but that doesn't prevent damage by sturdy metal blunt object.

Two of the guards have left the room, probably to get reinforcements. Or bigger weapons. Trevor is being pulled off the guard, and the two guards left free in the room take out their batons. Mitchell dives onto the guard trying to move Trevor. Mitchell lands on the guard, the guard lands on Trevor, Trevor falls onto the other injured guard still below him. The guard Mitchell hit was partially standing when he was hit, falls over face first, into the concrete, and is still. Trevor is vaguely aware that something's happening, and he's still in pain, but it's getting a bit better. Now the door opens to show the two guards with gauss rifles. As Malcolm thinks "Okay, now they're serious", he's shot in the leg. Thump. Now that guns have been used, and more guards in riot gear have appeared, the fight is over. Malcolm is dragged off, trailing blood. The guard Trevor damaged is also removed. Mitchell helps Megan up.

Gabrielle is released from the chair, feeling like she's come out of a dream. She's wrapped in a blanket and given a warm drink. Colonel: "You have been most cooperative." Gabrielle is looking down the hall as the technician is removing the electrodes, and sees Malcolm being dragged down the hall and leaving a trail of blood. He's taken into a room. A man in a grey jumpsuit shows up to clean the blood. As Gabrielle is being escorted, she feels a sting in her arm.

Malcolm wakes up enough to hear "I want him fit enough to stand up to a thorough interrogation. He's no good to me now." Looks like he's going to be medicked. Yay!

Gabrielle is walked back into the room with the others, in a blanket, with a warm drink, and she's being told she did "a good job". She's even given a jumpsuit to wear. Good thing looks can't kill, given Mitchell's steely glare. Trevor: <to a guard> "Listen, I don't have any quarrel with you unless you shock the girl for no reason." Guard: "Good. Behave, and we won't have to shock the girl." Trevor: "I wasn't misbehaving to begin with." He's taken off to the big room with the chair, and is given the same soft high-tech interrogation treatment.

When Trevor is brought back into the room he sees Gabrielle in a perfectly fitted jumpsuit, with a blanket and warm drink, sitting on a chair one of the guards brought for her. One by one, all of the group gets the same fuzzy interrogation, but only Gabrielle gets clothing and the other perks.

Guard: "Take them to a holding cell." All of the group is taken to a large cell with a sink, toilet, and enough couch-like chairs along one wall for each of them. Once the cell door closes, Gabrielle gives the blanket to Megan. Trevor drinks water out of the tap - not drugged, and tastes filtered. Then he goes over and takes a nap. Malcolm is returned to the cell once he's been medicked. He hasn't been interrogated yet, but he's feeling better and lies down for a nap of his own. Megan is curled up in a corner with the blanket. Mitchell stays on the opposite side of the room from Gabrielle, and tries to stay awake while the others sleep. A little while later, a tray with NutriLoaf bars is pushed into the slot. Mitchell takes charge of the food, giving one to Megan, and keeping the others for himself, Malcolm and Mitchell. If one of the desired results is to engender ill will within the group, it's been at least partially successful. People sleep.

131-1121.

Gabrielle is taken out, fed real food, and blood is drawn. There's some tongue-clucking and looking at the analyser. After about an hour, she's returned to the room. The pockets on the jumpsuit are sewn shut so Gabrielle can't smuggle food back, as she'd like to. Once more during the day Gabrielle is removed from the cell for about an hour.

132 to 137-1121.

Right after Gabrielle is taken out of the room in the morning, sprinklers come on. Water with a slightly medicinal tint is sprayed into the room and everyone washes. Gabrielle is allowed to use a private fresher. Food bars are delivered once a day to the cell. After the first day, Trevor makes sure Gabrielle gets a ration bar too.

This pattern is repeated for a week, with Gabrielle being taken from the room twice a day. The techs draw blood, and she's given an injection. After about three days, Gabrielle starts feeling odd - intermittent hot flashes, and feelings of irritation or anger.

138-1121.

While Gabrielle is out of the cell, everyone is taken out of the room, checked by doctors, then returned to the cell to find clothing and real food. Mitchell makes sure Megan eats first, and they get to dress. Then the door opens and another prisoner is thrown in - it looks exactly like Dr. Neil except for the metal shield or band that appears to have been attached to his skull. He looks like he hasn't slept in the last week. His lips are cracked and dry, and he shuffles over towards the benches. The others help him get safely onto a bench, and gets food and water. When Gabrielle is brought back in, Trevor asks her to watch for a chance to get her hands on a weapon or med, or anything the next time she's taken out of the cell, but the opportunity doesn't arise, as the group is brought clothing and real food shortly thereafter.

Then the guards show up, and bundle the lot of them into a darkened vehicle. Some unknown amount of time passes, and the party nods off. Next thing they know they're being poked and prodded, then there's a sensation of falling a great distance. Red tailights fading in the distance. It's dark, and no one has any ID, but the whole group is together again including Dr. Neil. Mitchell looks at the stars and figures they're still on Polyphemus. Trevor takes the metal band off Dr. Neil, who reacts with much relief. Just holding it Trevor feels nauseous and sick. It's a "bad feeling" band. It's broken and tossed away. Dr. Neil still has his little blue glasses (although they're a bit askew and bent), his gold cufflinks, a pen that when twisted shoots out an eight inch blade (of course), a cigar cutter, a lighter, and a couple of mashed cigars. There's a glow in the distance, and Dr. Neil is helped along in that direction. Dr. Neil: "How did you get me out of there? Thank God you did." Trevor: "We didn't. They just let us go." Mitchell: "We don't know who got us out." They arrive at the glowing area to find a military installation (apparently a reserve unit with lots of vehicles) and a very high tech fence. There's a guard off to one side sneaking a cigarette.

Mitchell: "Does this place look familiar to you?" Dr. Neil: "No, but that's a militia uniform." Malcolm: "We seem to still be on Polyphemus at least." Trevor: "But it's not going to help if we steal a vehicle and don't know where to go." Dr. Neil: "Perhaps we can ask that young man, since he'll no doubt know." Trevor: <to Mitchell> "So Snake, you want to work off some of that aggression you've been building up for the last week?" Mitchell: "No, not yet." Trevor: "Heaven forbid you do something constructive with it. <to Dr. Neil> Do you know anything about bribing people?" Dr. Neil: "Good heavens whatever do you mean?" Yeah, right. Dr. Neil: "I'm thinking how we should approach this. Perhaps one of our young ladies could entice that nice-looking young man outside." Trevor: "Hey Megan, you know one of the usual working girl lines?" Dr. Neil: "I wasn't thinking of the usual working girl line. Maybe the helpless damsel." Mitchell: "I don't think so." Megan: "It's okay sir, I can handle it." Mitchell: "I have no doubt. That's not the point." Megan gets in close to Mitchell and whispers "Besides sir, do we really want her <Gabrielle> talking to the guard when we can't hear what she's saying?" When she puts it that way, Mitchell agrees. Megan gets mussed up a bit, runs up to the fence calling "Help, help", then collapses. Ah - high school drama! The guard rushes out to help, propping his rifle up against the outside fence. Guard: "Ma'am, ma'am. Are you all right?" Mitchell picks up the rifle, Trevor does a leg sweep and takes out the guard, then Megan snatches up a fist-sized shape and bashes the guard on the side of the head. Really hard. No one tells Megan that although still alive, the guard has a very soft spot on his skull now.

Trevor starts for the fence but Dr. Neil stops him and points out the sensors on the gate. Trevor: "So?" Dr. Neil points out the little clip on the guard's pocket. Trevor takes it and goes to take out the other guard (who's apparently watching grav-ball on a small tri-dee), turning down Dr. Neil's proffered pen-knife, and taking the rifle from Mitchell; this way the sillhouette is normal for the guard. Trevor gets up into the back of the Duece and a half, on the way to the guard. Trevor steps on the vehicle, gets up on the top, then falls throw the hole that's open for the mortar tube. "Whaa!!!" He slides down the tube, crashing into metal pieces in the bottom, the rifle ending up several feet away. The guard leaps up, spins, flips on his flashlight and shines it down onto Trevor, on his back in the bed of the truck. Trevor: "What's the score?" Guard: "Come out of there nice and slow." Trevor: "Do you think I could come out any other way? Not with my feet tangled up like this." Guard: "Don't try anything funny." Trevor: "Take it easy. Don't point that thing at me." Guard: "Get moving and don't try anything funny." Trevor: "Now you're repeating yourself. What's the score?" He takes a look at the tri-dee as they pass, and the game is in double overtime. Trevor: "Wait! Can't we watch the end of this, it's tied up." They stop to watch the last couple of minutes, and the guard is momentarily distracted by the winning goal. Trevor pivots to hit him and falls back down into the same hole. Ow. Okay, this is really embarassing. The guard comes around to open the back of the vehicle as Trevor gets the rifle off the floor and hides behind some equipment on the floor. Guard: "All right, come out of there." Trevor tries to fire on the guard with the rifle but he gets the "NO AMMO" message in the scope. The gun wasn't loaded. Trevor: <thinking> "Hey, if this gun wasn't loaded, then his gun isn't loaded!" He charges the guard, going out of the back, down a lot further than he expected, and hits the guard in the shin. The guard uses his bayonet skill - and bayonet - to stab Trevor in the shoulder as his momentum helps drive the bayonet further in. Very nasty. The rest of group can only see shadows, so they don't really know what's happening. The guard is in the bayonet-fighting pose, and Trevor kicks him hard in the knee. The guard misses Trevor with the next bayonet lunge. Trevor tries to grab the rifle during the next thrust, but is slashed across the cheek. Guard: "Come on!!!" His blood is up now. The fight goes on in this vein until Trevor wrests the bayonet away and hits the guard in the ear. He goes down, stunned. Trevor goes over and kicks the guard in the head a couple of times, weakly. He manages to do barely enough damage to cause the guard to lose consciousness.

Trevor takes the badge off the guard, and staggers to the gate, looking like hell. Malcolm: "You look worse than after the b'ar." Trevor: "No, I didn't look better after the b'ar!" He sits down and hands over the badges. Mitchell and Dr. Neil go through to turn off the alarms and check for a med kit. Dr. Neil detours to check on the guard Trevor took out, bending over him briefly. Then he walks over and punches in the keypad code on the door. Dr. Neil: "Apparently this is some sort of militia armory and car park." Mitchell: "Then we can arm ourselves with a truck, and other things." Dr. Neil: "The truck is a possibility, but that <indicating a vault door> is the weapons locker. Thumbprint lock." Oh. They may be able to find some ammo in the guard shack.

A medkit is screwed to the wall, but the contents are dumped into a satchel so it can be taken out to Malcolm, who medics Trevor. Mitchell: "As far as the vehicle, I'd suggest nothing really big, or they'll be able to track us." Trevor: "At this tech level they can track everything. The faster the better, no matter the size." There's a big map on the wall indicating the militia camp and training ground is just outside of a town. There are duece and a halfs, and Hummers, and an extended Hummer command car. They take the command car. Malcolm will be driving. There's a GPS and mapbox in the vehicle, so the map on the wall inside is left where it is.

Mitchell plays with the radio and can get commercial channels only. Mitchell: "So, Dr. Neil?" He doesn't know anything about commo, and besides, he still feels like crap. He and Trevor just huddle in the vehicle. Malcolm turns the heater up so they don't get cold. Malcolm: "We need to find a way off this rock." Dr. Neil: "Off Polyphemus? Yes. The sooner the better. The map didn't indicate the town nearby had a port." Trevor: "Where are the ports?" Dr. Neil: "Sparta, Thermopeli, a couple of others. But, we may be able to get some capitol in town, which we will need." The town is only about 10 clicks away, and is used to seeing military vehicles, just not military vehicles full of civilians.

Mitchell: "We have no funds, no ID, a stolen military vehicle, two stolen military weapons, and the contents of this vehicle." Dr. Neil: "But we're on a planet with a very oppressive government, where very few people have any political rights." That means an underground, at least the economy. It's decided to park the vehicle outside of town and walk in, but not all together. After playing a little with the radio Mitchell is able to find a local, somewhat subversive (just enough to draw the young rebels, but not enough to bring down any visits from the Kypteia) radio station. The gauss sights are used to check out the town before entering, and nothing unusual is seen. There are a couple of potential rendezvous spots - a church, a tall office building. A point is picked. A discussion over how to split up the party follows, but since it's dark it's decided to stay together for at least now. Dr. Neil: "I suggest we go into town and find some sort of disreputable drinking establishment on the edge of town, and it's been my experience that this would be a good place to start. Or at least a good place for Trevor to get beaten up." Malcolm: "He's pre-beaten this time." Dr. Neil: "We do have the Snake." Mitchell: "Where are you guys getting this 'Snake' thing?!" Dr. Neil: "It's all over Sequoyah." Mitchell: "What is?" Malcolm: "You took out that guy with one kick." Mitchell: "What? I didn't touch him!" Malcolm: "He went down with one kick." Mitchell: "I had a snake in my pantleg!" Malcolm: "Ah. That would explain the fang marks." The rifles are packed up and the party heads into the nearest tavern.

Dr. Neil strides over to the bar and bangs on it. Dr. Neil: "You my man, service now! I've had a bitch of a day and I'm in no mood to be trifled with." He uses the dog-command voice and everyone just falls into place. Dr. Neil: "Is there anything worth while to eat in this dump?"

Mitchell and Megan have taken a seat at a small table, and a very large guy gets up from another table and comes over. Big man: <to Mitchell> "Hey, you're sitting in my seat. She <indicating Megan> can stay." He starts to loom, but sits back down where he was originally and stares at the table when two men in suits come in and look around. Mitchell and Megan examine the menu. One of the men walks over to the big guy. Man: "You. Citizen! Your papers." He runs the card. They check a couple of other people's ID. Dr. Neil walks over and chats the men up, inviting them to join him for a drink - they decline, politely, being on duty. Suit: "It's amazing, but you resemble the Ephor." Dr. Neil: "He's my half-brother, actually." This is said quietly, so the whole bar doesn't hear, but the men in suits get quiet and very polite before they leave. Trevor goes back to his beer. Dr. Neil: "Don't take too long." He discreetly shows a Krypteia ID badge. Dr. Neil inquires with the bartendear about transportation. Bartender: "A ride to Sparta? You could take the bus." Trevor: "We could do that. Then again it could be we only like to travel by night because it's cooler then." Bartender: "Pretty much all of Polyphemus is except this area is cool, so I can understand that. Maybe I can arrange something. I assume you'll want to avoid Krypteia entanglements?" Trevor: "That would be a good thing." Bartender: "I'll have to make a call." Trevor: "Okay, but don't take too long. And if you were thinking about doing something bad, don't." Bartender: "Hey, I don't want to know who you are or what you're doing. What I don't know they can't get out of me." He goes to the back room for a few minutes, then returns to the front. Bartender: "I talked to a buddy who's hauling luxury goods and he has room for a bit more cargo. Not comfortable, but it'll get you there." They'll need to meet up with their ride about three blocks up the street, in an hour. Trevor: "How will we know him?" Bartender: "You'll recognize the vehicle - there's not a lot of traffic this time of night."

They move to the appropriate location and in about an hour a huge, triple-trailer pulls in. The group is taken into the second trailer and put in a secret compartment with a bunch of other people. It's a bit tight, but there's less slamming around that way and there is just enough room to partially lay down to sleep. Everyone makes a little side stop before boarding.

139-1121.

The trip lasts 13 hours. Gabrielle has very active dreams, thrashing around. Eventually the truck stops and there's a lot of noise and action outside. Dr. Neil is passingly familiar with Sparta, as he's been there before. Dr. Neil: "The tricky part is we still have no ID." Trevor: "You could always masquerade as your brother." Dr. Neil: "Only to people who are unfamiliar with him. He is six inches taller, and in much better shape." Malcolm: "But it's a spaceport, and in my experience there's always a way to get things in ports." Dr. Neil agrees. Dr. Neil: "Perhaps we'll find some friendly Sequoyahns. Trevor is after all a hero of Sequoyah."

Off the truck with the cargo. Cameras and security people all over the damn place. There's planetary military, police, Krypteia, SolSec, everything. Seems like one security person per citizen. Good thing the party isn't made up of citizens. Most of the attention is directed to where the ships are. The board showing departures and arrivals is enormous. Trevor goes over to chat up some of the baggage handlers for a bit.

As opposed to the Imperium, the starport ("startown" ) isn't separate from Sparta, and doesn't have the zero law level. Trevor: "Do the Krypteia deport people?" Dr. Neil: "Yes, if you have enough political connections to avoid re-conditioning. Why?" Trevor: "I was thinking you could get passage on board one of the ships for the 'prisoners' you're escorting off-planet, as Krypteia." Dr. Neil: "That might work, but I'd need papers for you." Trevor: "I'm sure we could find some one here to make us up something official-looking for the right price." Dr. Neil: "And we would pay them with what?" Mitchell: "Do we have no cash at all?" Dr. Neil: "There is no cash on Polyphemus. We do have the guns and some jewelry. I believe we should get rid of the guns first. I suggest those of us with more experience on the streets pair up with those who don't. I'll take Miss Vanek with me." Mitchell: "Of course." Trevor takes Megan, and Malcolm takes Mitchell. Trevor and Malcolm take the gauss rifles, and Dr. Neil will fence the other items. Malcolm walks into a place and someone tries to sell him a handgun right away. He's obviously in the right spot. Malcolm: "I don't need a handgun." He cautiously shows the gauss rifle. This will get him a generic "John Smith" card (will work with anybody's thumbprint) with $2000 Solars on it. Trevor finds someone who will make deportation papers for five members of the party so Dr. Neil can use his Krypteia card to escort the prisoners. Plus this way no one will have to pay for passage. Trevor buys five sets of very plain handcuffs and keys; he makes sure they all work.

Dr. Neil vends the diamond from a cufflink, after inquiring very quietly, in a demure sort of way, in the right areas. He makes a couple of barter stops along the way, and ends up with a new, dark suit with a dark fedora. And very black wraparound shades. (Probably with his little blue glasses underneath.)

The party meets back up. First step, to pick a destination. Trevor: "Somewhere close by, with a deportation agreement and on friendly terms with Polyphemus." Dr. Neil: <to Gabrielle> "Aquitaine?" Unfortunately, it makes sense. It's decided to daisy chain the prisoners with the females in the middle, and the battered Trevor up front. To the departure area!

The group approaches a guarded entry. Dr. Neil flashes his badge and is greeted by a Krypteia guard: "Oh good, we've been expecting you. Right over there." He points to a group of other people in handcuffs. Dr. Neil: "No, you don't understand -" Krypteia: "I have my orders." Well, at least they'll be on the other side of security. Trevor: "Hey, where are you guys going?" Prisoner: "I don't know. I don't want to know." There's a 500 ton ship nearby. With the group, there's about 50 prisoners. Krypteia: "Excuse me sir, your ID again." Dr. Neil passes it over, and it's scanned and passed back. Krypteia: "Thank you. We'll take it from here." Dr. Neil: "But I - " Krypteia: "That will be all." Dr. Neil fades back.

SolSec guard: "Come on you scum." The prisoners shuffle forward, the party at the front since they're the only ones not in leg irons. SolSec: "Your government appreciates your volunteering for these valuable experiments." This is going to get ugly. The prisoners are being moved forward towards the cargo bay by four guards, where there are two more SolSec agents guarding, about ten techs beside what looks like high tech coffins, and a couple of (obviously) pilots.

Time to charge in and take over the ship! The other prisoners help out, even though some of the guards are spraying tranq into the crowd (valuable lab animals and all). Fortunately each of the party has a key to their handcuffs and frees themselves prior to the rush. Megan has had a bad couple of days and charges one of the pilots with blood in her eyes; unfortunately, the pilot decks her (glass jaw?). Speaking of blood, Gabrielle's is singing to her. Oh-oh. This is the first time her adrenaline has been up this high since all the blood tests and shots (not that she's thinking that rationally right now). Mitchell hits his target, the other pilot, but he just looks angry. Oops.

There are prisoners between Gabrielle and the bad guys, and she's feeling hot inside (like the time on Vantage when she was drugged), so she starts tossing prisoners out of the way. The other party members are occupied with pilots and SolSec guards and all, and don't notice Gabrielle's odd behavior. Mitchell gets his ears boxed in a rather unpleasant fashion, but he's not down. Malcolm fires at the outside armed guards who have been firing on the crowd, wounding one. Gabrielle reaches the bottom of the ramp and the first person she encounters is the pilot who decked Megan. The pilot leaps down in front of Gabrielle, planning to take out another easy (read: female) target. His luck has run out. Gabrielle instinctively punches the pilot in the center of mass, putting all her strength behind it. She punches him so hard his backbone sticks out of his back. She pulls her hand back, her arm bloody up to the elbow. The techs flee like lemmings out the far hatch. Trevor is still struggling valiantly with his opponent, as is Mitchell with his pilot. Gabrielle sees the guard pummelling Trevor; hang on, she likes Trevor. Malcolm comes up the ramp and sees a cowering tech, who's told to "Run!" After a brief pause he does. Gabrielle bounds over and hits the man with whom Trevor is wrestling in the head - through his nose and sinuses, burying her entire hand in the man's head. As the guard has stopped hitting him, Trevor disengages and the guard starts to fall over, but in an arcing motion. That's because there's a hand still in it, attached to Gabrielle, who's swelling up and has very wild eyes. She gets the pilot off her with a flick of the wrist, and seems unaware of the bone splinters in her hand. Trevor: "Gabrielle, grab the pilot. We need to make him open the door, or we can't leave." She grabs the man but a bit too hard. Dr. Neil has made it on board and Trevor indicates the dying pilot and yells "Dr. Neil! Get the door code!" Dr. Neil: "6...5...4..... He's gone." Trevor enters "3" for the next number. 6-5-4-3? Who the hell set up these people's security? The door opens and a shot is fired from within. The crewman refuses to give up, and is behind his armored chair. Malcolm fires anaesthetic darts into the room, then charges in. Malcolm is hit in the shoulder and goes down, as does Trevor behind him, and then Mitchell follows and grabs the man in the vac suit by the arm and grapples for the gun. The ship is now moving, thanks to the fight among the controls, but no one on board feels the tilt due to the gravs. Dr. Neil is beside Gabrielle, and is apparently doing something that takes a lot of effort. Mitchell sees the man he's struggling with grab his head and start to bleed from the eyes, nose, and mouth. Neither Dr. Neil nor Gabrielle is quite right, but the only witnesses are dead or unconscious. The pilot collapses, the gun is dropped and Mitchell picks it up. He tosses the pilot out of the cockpit and slams and locks the door. Dr. Neil tells Gabrielle to "get rid of him", indicating the pilot's inert form. She picks the man up and throws him at the no longer open hatch. He's surpressed now. Mitchell takes control of the ship, raises the landing gear, and tries to outrun the grav-tanks in pursuit. Mitchell may be a better pilot (he'll probably miss the tower), but the grav-tanks are faster, and the tank pilots are probably better gunners.