[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Page 83
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
chances were that people were going to die in the next few minutes, die
because of his actions.
"You're a traitor, too. I'll shoot!" Colson cried, his voice breaking.
"Come on, cadet, all I want"
Her words were cut short by the crackling burst of a laser pistol. Wordlessly
Hemenez spun around, clutching her shoulder, smoke and the pungent stench of
burnt flesh billowing around
Justin.
Justin vaulted from the floor, diving over Hemenez. Colson, eyes wide, tried
to back up and lost his hold on the floor, feet disconnecting. The gun went
off again, the glare blinding Justin for an instant. He felt a stinging burn
crease his side. Crashing into Colson, the two tumbled over.
Colson tried to knee him in the groin, but the blow simply pushed Justin up
towards the ceiling.
Turning end-over-end he kicked off the ceiling and came down hard, feet first,
slamming back into Colson.
Reaching out with his left hand he grabbed Colson by his helmet strap. He
swung the knife around and brought the blade up to Colson's throat, then
pressed it down far enough so the skin was taut. It was a strange sensation,
the knowledge that with just the slightest flick of the wrist
Colson's life would spill out. He thought of all that Colson had done, the
madness he had helped to create, and the temptation was all but overpowering.
And yet, then what? He eased back slightly.
"Move and I'll kill you," Justin hissed.
Colson looked up at him, goggle-eyed.
"Tanya, get his gun."
Tanya reached past Justin and tore the gun from Colsons hand.
"Mr. Colson?"
It was the Captain on Colson's commlink!
"Mr. Colson, I heard something, what is going on down there?"
"Tell him the prisoners are acting up," Justin whispered. "If you screw up
I'll cut your throat from ear to ear."
Colson reached up to the commlink attached to his jacket and fumblingly
toggled it on.
Justin pressed the knife down harder so that the skin under the blade was taut
once more.
"Sir?'
"What is going on down there?"
"Nothing, sir. The prisoners are yelling, sir."
The terror in his voice was evident and Justin wondered if the Captain would
notice.
"Tell them to shut up, Mr. Colson, or I might change my mind about the number
to be executed."
The commlink snapped off from tie other end.
Justin leaned forward, his mouth brushing against Colson's ear.
"Off the link," he whispered.
Colson removed his hand.
"Bell, he'll kill you for this."
"Maybe so. Just don't screw up or you'll go before me."
Behind him he heard Tanya unlocking the door and whispering for everyone to be
quiet.
"Hemenez?" Justin called.
"I'll make it. You'll have to go on without me."
Marissa and Madison came out first.
"Get him out of that battle gear," Justin demanded, and he passed the knife to
Madison.
Going over to Tanya he motioned for the pistol, and to his surprise she passed
it over without comment. Quickly he went up to the door to the arms room,
Page 84
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
leveled the pistol, and squeezed. A
brilliant glare exploded in the corridor. He pressed the trigger half a dozen
times, then looked down at the padlock.
"Damn, it's not melting."
"Plastitungsten composite," Hemenez groaned, coming up to look at the lock,
which was glowing faintly from the heat of the blast. "The pistol doesn't have
the energy to cut it. I was afraid of this."
Justin looked at the eight cadets he had just released. Part of his plan had
been to seize the weapons locker and arm everyone before going topside in one
quick rush. Now all he had was the one pistol, most of its energy drained, and
the knives carried by Hemenez, Leonov and himself. Things were starting to
unravel. He looked at his wristwatch. Less than five minutes at most.
"Come on," Justin said, and going up to Madison he grabbed the helmet and
heavy protective battle jacket. "Help me get this on."
"Bell, what are you doing?" Livollen asked.
"The Captain accused you of mutiny now let's give him one. We're taking over
this ship and stopping the execution. If you're not with me then you better
get the hell back in that cell right now and stay low."
A grin broke out on Madison's face.
"Now you're talking I can't wait to space that bastard."
"No killing' Justin snapped. "Unless we're forced to, I want no killing."
"You're taking on the Captain and the guards?" one of the cadets asked.
"That's the plan."
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]