Stephen Mertz - The Korean Intercept

Chai regarded her, his arms folded, the posture he favored before meting out punishment. Everyone present was holding their breath, waiting for him to lash out at this impudent female who dared display insolence toward Chai Bin. And yet the woman herself seemed oblivious to this. Infuriating, yes. He replied in a sensible tone. "If you were lucky enough to survive the shuttle's crash landing in these mountains, then there will be equipment aboard that also survived. Let us consider a trade, dear lady. Tell me what I want to know, and I will accommodate your every request during what time you are my guests here."

Kate snorted.

Chai continued. "Your commander will be properly cared for, as we have a staff of excellent medics here. And I will arrange for prompt communication with your government."

This took her aback. She blinked in surprise. "You would do this?"

"Why should I not? The equipment aboard that shuttle is of immeasurable worth to all concerned. I intend to give America the first bid, and if that bid is unsatisfactory, I will approach the North Koreans and the Chinese. I daresay they would outbid each other to pay dearly for the technology I would be offering them."

Kate was about to respond angrily when something happened that surprised everyone.

Scott raised his head. His chin had remained slumped against his chest since he'd been dragged in, and he looked as if the act of raising his line of vision to Chai Bin was painfully difficult. There was, however, keenness to his eyes that suggested that he had been conscious for a while and had heard most of what had been said. He stared defiantly at Chai for a moment before he spoke.

"Piss up a rope, Fu Manchu. You're not getting jack shit from us; do what you goddamn well want."

Chai displayed no anger. Instead he addressed the group of Americans in general. "Who among you is in command?"

In a weak voice Scott replied, "I am, damn it!"

Kate glanced down at her commander. "Sir, are you sure about that?"

"I'm sure." The barely-conscious man maintained eye contact with Chai. "I am in command."

"Very well," replied Chai. He nodded to Han.

Han swung the butt of his rifle, hitting Scott along the side of the head, not forcefully enough to knock him unconscious but hard enough to knock him to the floor. Han then placed a boot on Scott's splinted, broken leg.

Kate was already moving toward Han, calling over her shoulder to Paxton. "Bob! What are you waiting for?!"

The scientist, staring pointedly at the ground, pretended not to hear.

Han began grinding his boot heel into Scott's fracture, leaning all of his weight onto the broken leg to inflict more pain than Scott's system could possibly tolerate. The flight commander cried out once, a short yowl of pain, then lost consciousness again. Han Ling whirled, next aiming his rifle at Kate.

From the dais, Chai nodded at Scott's inert and sprawled form. "This man cannot command."

Kate turned to face Chai. "Then I am the ranking officer of the space shuttle Liberty, you heartless bastard!"

"You are not in command," Chai said flatly. "You are a woman. A woman is good for only one thing." He scrutinized her from head to toe. Lewd fires shone in his eyes. The corners of his mouth quirked. She felt naked before him. She shivered as if at the callused touch of a rapist's hand. Chai said, "Han, seize her. Bring her to me."

What happened next was instinctual reflex melded with training.

Kate brought up her hands defensively and bent her knees. The weariness of her uninterrupted ordeal-since waking up to an alarm clock that morning at Cape Canaveral (how many lifetimes ago?) until this instant-suddenly vanished. Her estranged husband had instructed her in martial arts, and Trev Galt had been a very good teacher. He had trained in Kung Fu at the Shaolin Temple off Victoria Road in Hong Kong, personally taught by the Tung-Chia, the Master of the Temple. The deal struck between Kate and Trev was that, in return, she would teach him gourmet cooking. However, Trev quickly lost interest; he was a hopeless beer-and-ham-sandwich man, not a gourmet. But his instruction in the martial arts continued during their years together.

The sight of a woman preparing to defend herself in such a manner made Han Ling guffaw in shared amusement with his boss's obvious snickering. Han then returned to the business at hand, snapping a command at his three men who moved swiftly toward her, one coming in from behind, another rushing in from the left, and the third approaching from the right.

She drew a deep breath and delivered a direct kick to the solar plexus of the man behind her, exhaling as she struck his body, instantly paralyzing him. He crashed to the ground even as she whirled to face the next man who was almost upon her, his rough hands reaching for her throat. She deflected his attack with her left arm, and with an explosive yell, dealt him a seiken fist blow to the Adam's apple. Choking and fighting for breath, the man collapsed, sagging backward. Kate readjusted her feet and swiveled to smash the third man a killing blow to the forehead. Then she wheeled around to resettle into her original defensive position, facing Han and Chai.

Chai had stopped laughing. "Most impressive, Miss Daniels."

"It's called equality." She spoke calmly and was not out of breath. "Where I come from, sometimes the girls have to beat up bad boys."

Bob Paxton was watching all of this with wide-eyed, slack-jawed amazement. "Kate, what are you-"

She did not have time for him right now. The adrenaline was pumping through her every fiber; yet her exterior countenance appeared relaxed, yet strong and alert. Push your advantage, Trev had taught her. Never let up. Without relaxing her combat stance, she directed her focus to Chai.

"Must the mighty warlord take a puny woman by force?"

Han stiffened and implored something of his leader. Kate couldn't understand their language, but she followed Han's intent. He was asking Chai Bin for permission to blow her brains out on the spot. After hearing Han out, Chai raised a hand in a placating gesture and spoke to her in English.

"You are indeed most impressive."

She released herself from her martial arts stance, absently brushing away a stray wisp of chestnut hair that had fallen across her forehead. "Have you not thought of the obvious, Chai Bin?"

His furry eyebrows creased in a frown. "Share your thoughts with me, woman."

"You were talking about the equipment aboard the shuttle, of selling it to the Chinese or the North Koreans."

"I was."

"Well, why deal with your enemies? You can't be high on the popularity list of either one of those countries."

He sighed. "Sad, so sad, but true." In a mock display of chagrin he gazed toward the ceiling, then abruptly shot his glare back at her. "Your point being…?"

"My point being," she replied with an exaggerated show of patience, "why put yourself at risk? Why not deal with the rightful owners of the shuttle? Why not ransom it and us back to the United States government?"

Chai studied her, stroking his chin, no longer amused, nor lewd. "The Americans have no love of me, either. I hold you as my hostages. Unlike the Chinese or the North Koreans, your government could possess the power to destroy me."

"The power, yes…" she conceded, "but not the will. My government will do anything to get the Liberty back. I can assure you that they do not want it falling into the hands of the Chinese or the Koreans. Anyone who prevents that from happening will be considered America's friend, not their enemy! Okay, maybe 'ransom' was the wrong word… what I mean to say is that you negotiate with the government for the return of the shuttle and for us."

Bob Paxton stepped forward, his face pale. "Kate, are you sure this is what the commander would want?"