William Forstchen - Article 23

"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."

"You're damn right," Justin replied.

Tanya came up behind Justin. Reaching around, she pulled the guard's gun from her holster.

"Away from the door," Justin announced.

There was a flicker of a smile.

"It's OK, kid, just don't get jumpy."

"I won't if you don't."

"There are five enlisted personnel in there with MacKenzie, all of them armed," she continued. "Barge in and you'll get fried."

"Thanks, but that's not the plan."

He motioned her up against the bulkhead away from the door. Looking back down the corridor he saw the others come up and brace themselves against the wall to the lounge.

Taking a deep breath, Justin put his hand on the door and slowly unlatched it. He cracked the door open and looked out into the lounge. All backs were to him, except for MacKenzie who was standing by the airlock door. Behind him were the enlisted men, all of them armed with weapons drawn, like MacKenzie. He could see O'Brian, armed as well and standing to one side. He wished he could somehow signal him, but knew he couldn't. Justin knew that just barging in would result in a slaughter. And in that instant, he heard MacKenzie speak.

"Open the airlock, and may the Lord have mercy on his soul."

There was a stirring among the cadets lined up to witness punishment. Some were crying, most stood with heads lowered.

Through the airlock window, Justin saw his friend standing with his arms bound behind his back, head held high.

" Madison, do it now!" Justin screamed and in the same instant he slammed the lounge door shut.

Several long seconds passed and a mad panic seized Justin. Had Lewis overpowered her? If so, now what?

And then the main engines kicked on with over three million pounds of thrust. Acceleration alarms sounded in the corridors, a massive shudder running through the ship. In an instant zero gravity was gone as Somers leapt forward. Apparent gravity was now directly astern, and the floor of the lounge was a wall.