"Cadet, I need to talk to you."
Hemenez pushed forward, arms extended in a friendly gesture. The knife blade was still concealed by the back of her arm. Horrified, Justin wondered if she was simply going to spring forward and slice Wendells throat. Somehow when he had dreamed up this plan he had envisioned it as being bloodless. They'd take a guard, break into the weapons locker and arm the other prisoners, then confront the Captain who would be led away in chains while everyone cheered. Now he realized that the mutiny of fantasy was vastly different than reality 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, 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."
"He'll space all of you," came the reply and the cadet backed into the cell. "Count me out, I'll take my chances with the court-martial."
Two more cadets followed the first one back into the cell. Justin looked around at his group while strapping on the helmet and pulling on the heavy battle jacket. He had six now, counting Leonov, and just one damned gun. It wasn't looking good. He knew he couldn't hesitate or he might lose more.
"Someone gag Colson," he snapped, "and throw him in the cell."
He hoisted the pistol and grabbed hold of Madison. "You first, Madison, I'll have the gun right at your back. Keep your hands behind your back. Leonov, bring up the rest of the group. Stay out of sight, but move quick if I holler for you."
"Right, General."
He looked back and saw her smile and motion for him to get going.
Livollen, finished with gagging Colson and tying his hands using the collar torn off his uniform, shoved him into the open cell.
"We're not asking you to help," she announced to the three who had backed out, "but at least don't let this scum start screaming for five minutes."
"If we do that, we're part of the mutiny," came the reply.
"I'll cut his throat if you don't," Tanya interjected. "You're protecting him from this terrible band of buccaneers."
Tanya closed the door and slipped the padlock back into place.
Moving quickly down the corridor, Justin stopped at the next bulkhead door leading upstairs and listened, then opened it up. No one was there.
He went up the stairs and came out on the small landing that branched off to the flight control center and the corridor that led to the officers quarters. Looking up into the flight area, he saw Lewis sitting in the pilot's chair staring straight ahead.
A plan instantly formed. He pointed towards Lewis and whispered into Madison 's ear, the thought of barging into the lounge with a single weapon forgotten. She nodded and slipped up die steps. Justin looked down the corridor and then back up. Madison had the blade to the side of Lewis' throat and was already sliding into the copilot's chair.
"Tanya," he hissed softly. She poked her head around the side of the landing and he motioned for her to come up. He leaned over and whispered into her ear. Surprised, she nodded and went back down to the waiting group.
Justin then drifted down the corridor, stopping just at the edge of the turnoff to the doorway leading into the lounge. He could sense the guard standing by the door. Taking a deep breath he stepped forward, turned and jammed the barrel of the pistol between her eyes.
"I'm sorry, but move, make a sound, and you're history."
The guard looked at him, her eyes wide with astonishment. It was the same guard he had talked to earlier when he had gone to visit Matt.
"Cadet, are you nuts?" she whispered. "This really is a mutiny."