NationStates Jolt Archive

Irving heard the gunshot. So there must other people down there. Armed people had taken over the ship. He wondered how he always got into this type of situations. Taking out his knife he knew that it would be impossible to kill that man with his knife. Irving cursed himself for not brining a gun. He got to the ground and crawled to the railing. As he looked down he saw a few more people. One of them was holding another woman hostage.

"Bridge, weather officer speaking."
*whispering into phone*
we have a situation in reception... one armed unknown, crew member down, status unknown. passenger under threat. suspect transport that was brought alongside is filled with pirates. may be more running loose. Radio Coast Guard for Assistance.

*whispering into phone*
we have a situation in reception... one armed unknown, crew member down, status unknown. passenger under threat. suspect transport that was brought alongside is filled with pirates. may be more running loose. Radio Coast Guard for Assistance.

"Clear. Help will be there soon. I'm sending a few more people your way in the meantime."

Santigo grinned bemusedly and turned to Slade.

"Seems Faith is haveeng trouble.. Sergei is d'ere but 'e will need help."

Slade nodded and called down to the cargo hold, ordering 5 more men to make their way to the lobby area post haste. The man seemed incapable of raising his voice or losing that calm edge. He resumed conversation with Santigo as if they were discussing something no more eventful than morning tea.

"Santigo, we're starting to loose our tactical edge. It's time we finished up here."

"What about de girl?"

"Unfortunately she has seen my face. We can't allow for those contingencies, now can we?"

Santigo nodded to the guard who withdrew a pistol and began screwing a silencer onto the end. No one in the bridge would be given the opportunity to become a liability.

Irving got up slowly and made his way down the pair of stairs. He looked at the armed man and the woman holding the hostage. Irving was a tad bit confused, but made sense of the situation. He looked at the armed man knowing that he was more of a threat, then the woman holding a hostage.

"What the hell are you doing?"

Clear. Help will be there soon. I'm sending a few more people your way in the meantime. :confused:

ok... sending more people here with less information? why not mention sending people to check out the transport...

lessee... if pirates are on board... they want something... something to steal... or hostages... but either way, the passengers should be safe.

HE DIDN'T SAY HE WAS GOING TO ALERT THE CAPTAIN or the Coast Guard.... :eek:

Bridge is compromised... or is it?

waiting here isn't going to do any good.

*Quietly, Austin sneaks back into the hall way and makes is way towards the bridge.*

I hope I remeber where it is...

Fennel padded along silently, slightly unnerved by the fact that he had sensed one of the crew yet not this female following him

eyes of cat...likes cats...follows...knows something like i know something

There had been strange noises that he'd never heard before.
Seeing the familiar figure of the medicine man in the distance, Fennel broke out into a run.

hunt as pack better. Yes

Ali moved as the cat moved, jogging, feeling relieved to see the medic.
She had vague sense of being part of a team.

After hearing what sounded like muffled gunfire Ali was alert and wary. Putting her hand on the medics shoulder to steady herself she spoke quickly and softly near his ear

"what's going on? Where is everyone...i know it's early but...?"

She noticed the tenseness of the doctor's facial muscles and wondered what she was letting herself in for this time

*Austin crept back into the passageway, and nearly had the blood freeze in his veins. a young femal passenger placed her hand on his shoulders as she wispered "what's going on? Where is everyone...i know it's early but...?" Reaching down, he quickly scooped up the cat and pushed the young woman into the passageway. motioning her to keep quiet.*

Oh... just a... little altercation... the crew is handling it.. I hope

*Holding the cat in one arm and grabbing the woman's arm with his other, he steered them away from the reception area and towards one of his smaller offices. Keeping his voice light, and a smile on his face, he lead her away from danger.*

Is this your cat? I've seen her prowling the ship and I hate to see such a beautiful cat get lost or hurt.

*a couple of minutes later, he could feel the thud of several booted feet running on deck. *

Ahh... the HELP...

*taking his master passcard out of his pocket, (something he's glad he convinced the captain to give him since minutes might make the difference in getting to the patient.) Austin turned to a random door and opened it.
pleasepleasepleasepleasebeempty. and lead the young lady and cat inside the empty room... closing the door behind him. YES! He places the cat on the ground and let him explore the room*

Have a seat Ms... *Austin indicated one of the two beds.* is there a problem?

*Austin spoke a little softer than normal, keeping a pleasent smile on his face as he heard a group of men hurridily run past him towards the Reception area. Opening his bag on the desk, he began pulling out and examining various bottles. chloroform... rubber tubing... towel... he places these items on the table along with the tie-off rope from the curtain...*

Karyn's limbs had long since lost all feeling as the circulation was all but stopped by the tight binding, and the buzzing in her head seemed to be repeated by a person some way from her, or were they standing above her?
She couldn't make out at all what was happening, she seemed to be losing touch with any sort of reality.

I wish I would wake up.
I must hurry and get Bernice her medication, if I'm late with it I'll never forgive myself.

Irving got up slowly and made his way down the pair of stairs. He looked at the armed man and the woman holding the hostage. Irving was a tad bit confused, but made sense of the situation. He looked at the armed man knowing that he was more of a threat, then the woman holding a hostage.

"What the hell are you doing?"
Sergei did not flinch or jump at the unexpected voice challenging him from nearby. He kept his weapon trained on the woman with the deposit bag. And he seemed to be losing his patience. Faith, however whirled to face him, blade still held out defiantly.

"That might be a better question to be asking yourself. Don't be a hero. It's not worth it. Turn around and walk away. As soon as the bitch hands over my bag, everyone leaves in one piece."

Agitation was creeping into her voice as well, manifesting itself as a hard undertone to a harder expression.

Irving looked toward Sergei. He saw a shine from a knife. His knife was hidden away in his jacket. This man was a fool. He directed all of his attention to this woman, when that still left three people not guarded. Irving wondered if he should take his chances. 'Well you only live once...' he thought. Quickly he pulled out his knife and threw it straight at Sergei. Then he started to dive behind a desk.

"Sergei!"

Faith called out his name as the stranger threw his knife. He ducked and twisted, but not knowing where exactly the weapon was coming from, he nonetheless recieved a long but shallow cut for his efforts across his deltoid and the back of his shoulder. At that moment, five of his comrades burst into the lobby, one unloading several three-round bursts to track the assailant's motion. The final set smacked into the face of the desk before he finally subsided.

Sergei was furious. There was no time left.

"Faith! Nicolai, the captain."

One of the gunman ran back down the hallway.

Faith hardly had time to react. She reversed the blade in her hand, securing a better grip on the handle, and rushed forward the step or two to the girl. Swiftly and fiercely, she shot out an arm, encircling the woman's neck and locking the choke with her other hand, simultaneously holding the blade to the woman's throat. She pulled the girl close, not wanting her to gain any elbow room, and began fighting her back to her own comrades. Two of the gunman had already rushed to help her. The other two rushed to Sergei, training their weapons on the knife-thrower and the Surfer respectively.

"Just had to do this the hard way, didn't you?" Faith's words were whispered and dripping with venom.

Stupid girl. Stupid guy. Why are there so many stupid people on this boat?

The scene took place while i sat back and watched. On of the new gunman ran down the stairs with his gun trained on me. I released my grip on the knife around my back and henativly head my hands open and raised slightly, then backed back into the room and let the door swing shut.

Even if doc got the message there's no way he can get to us now. Shit.

*Austin crept back into the passageway, and nearly had the blood freeze in his veins. a young femal passenger placed her hand on his shoulders as she wispered "what's going on? Where is everyone...i know it's early but...?" Reaching down, he quickly scooped up the cat and pushed the young woman into the passageway. motioning her to keep quiet.*

Oh... just a... little altercation... the crew is handling it.. I hope

*Holding the cat in one arm and grabbing the woman's arm with his other, he steered them away from the reception area and towards one of his smaller offices. Keeping his voice light, and a smile on his face, he lead her away from danger.*

Is this your cat? I've seen her prowling the ship and I hate to see such a beautiful cat get lost or hurt.

*a couple of minutes later, he could feel the thud of several booted feet running on deck. *

Ahh... the HELP...

*taking his master passcard out of his pocket, (something he's glad he convinced the captain to give him since minutes might make the difference in getting to the patient.) Austin turned to a random door and opened it.
pleasepleasepleasepleasebeempty. and lead the young lady and cat inside the empty room... closing the door behind him. YES! He places the cat on the ground and let him explore the room*

Have a seat Ms... *Austin indicated one of the two beds.* is there a problem?

*Austin spoke a little softer than normal, keeping a pleasent smile on his face as he heard a group of men hurridily run past him towards the Reception area. Opening his bag on the desk, he began pulling out and examining various bottles. chloroform... rubber tubing... towel... he places these items on the table along with the tie-off rope from the curtain...*

Ali ignored the bed...she felt safer on her feet.
His tension and alertness as to what was going on outside the room was palpable. Vaguely annoyed for no apparent reason yet faintly relieved that they were removed from the corridor where something very un-cruise-like seemed to be happenning, Ali swiftly looked round the room - a cool and appraising glance - which took in the ruffled cat, the doctor and the contents of his bag.

The chloroform caused her to pause briefly and her sense of humour came to her aide

wonder if he's done a risk assessment for carrying that stuff around?
then
if this were a novel or one of those rps i'm so fond of, i'd think i was about to be taken advantage of

she chuckled softly to herself and her green eyes, now crinkled at the corners, swept back to the doctor's face

"Trent. You can call me Ali"

she paused, noting the glib words about the 'little altercation' and the cat. This man seemed to be thinking hard underneath his calm, professional veneer...

"Little altercation" she mused, her eyes gleaming with mixture of amusement and disbelief
"i don't have a problem...yet. Seems there is some sort of problem on board. I don't want to make assumptions but i noticed there was an unlit boat moored alongside us...and passengers were requested to stay put in their cabins...not to mention the recent cry for help and someone in a mighty hurry...and possible gunfire earlier"

all this in a cool, quiet tone. As she finished speaking her eyebrows raised very slightly

"and i'd say that you have as much idea as i do about what's going on. So...what are we going to do?"

this said as to an equal, an acceptance of a problem and a competence to deal with it, whatever 'it' was.
Ali reached out to stroke the cat who had jumped up on the bed and was looking at the doctor in much the same way as Ali

Irving held his breath behind the desk. He heard the shots and saw that some came threw the desk. These man were novices. That man was lucky that the knife didn't kill him. Irving could hear the movement of their feet. Quickly looking threw his jacket he found two more knifes. They both looked exactly like the knife he threw. He wanted back the other knife he just threw. Starting to polish them, they both shined from the lights above.

"It now or never..."

Irving quickly got up threw his knifes at one of the men, then jumped over the stair railing. He ran as fast as he legs could carry him. Running up the stairs he turned a left and never looked back.

"Trent. You can call me Ali"*nods* Ali...

"altercation" she mused, her eyes gleaming with mixture of amusement and disbelief
"i don't have a problem...yet. Seems there is some sort of problem on board. I don't want to make assumptions but i noticed there was an unlit boat moored alongside us...and passengers were requested to stay put in their cabins...not to mention the recent cry for help and someone in a mighty hurry...and possible gunfire earlier"*smiles*
I suspect either a hijacking or simple piracy. however, without much more information, action is dangerous.

*Gunfire from the reception area* and it looks like our 'uninvited guests' just upped the ante.

*Pulling out his phone, Austin dials the captain's number. After a few moments*

Sir, It's Dr James, looks like we have some pirates on board.
I have a couple of em down in reception, I suspect the bridge might be compromised and I've seen some down in the hold. weapons have been discharged.

It might be a hijacking or theift, can't be sure.

Yes sir, I did contact the bridge and the Officer on watch, but if the bridge is compromised, seeing that you were not informed...

yes sir, I agree, a warning to stay in your cabins... yep... I'll leave it to you sir. John and Jill are trapped in Reception, I'm seeing to the safety of one of the passengers right now, yes sir, I'll see what I can do.

Thank you sir.

*puts phone down.*
"and i'd say that you have as much idea as i do about what's going on. So...what are we going to do?"We... I have a duty to the passengers and this ship. YOU have to stay safe. ;)

*reaching into the closet, Austin pulled out the emergency fire exstinguisher.*

I have a hurt collegue and possibly a passenger in trouble.
we also need answers...

*The Loudspeakers cackle to life.*
"This is the captain speaking, to All passengers, please remain in your cabin. The storm has created some problems with our electrical system, and to minimize any injuries, I ask that you remain in your cabins and keep your doors locked. DO NOT wander the passageways, there are reports of exposed wires and that poses a risk of electrical shocks. so Please remain in your cabin.
TO all Crew, we have a condition Violet. I expect the problems to be resolved in a safe and timely manner. that is all."

Condition Violet... Armed attack. Captain would most likely head up towards the bridge to negotiate with whomever... Good luck sir...

*Turnin to Ali, *

well, you heard the captain... *places all the items back into his case, and lightly feels his back pocket.* Keep the door locked and closed, I have a patient out there... *a frown* maybe more than one.

*opening the door just a crack, Austin checked the hallway, then grabbing his bag and the Fire extinguisher, he slipped out into the passageway... accidently leaving his passkey on the table*

*nods* Ali...
*Turnin to Ali, *

well, you heard the captain... *places all the items back into his case, and lightly feels his back pocket.* Keep the door locked and closed, I have a patient out there... *a frown* maybe more than one.

*opening the door just a crack, Austin checked the hallway, then grabbing his bag and the Fire extinguisher, he slipped out into the passageway... accidently leaving his passkey on the table*

To his back Ali, again vaguely annoyed, said in a clipped fashion

"i'm familiar with martial arts. I also have first aid ..."

the doc disappeared with the cat following him.

"...experience and i guess you don't think i can help. Don't you believe it!"

She took a step forward then paused...looked back, smirked and pocketed the doc's passkey and chuckled

"Ali the passkey bearer...yeah, i can do that :D"

She followed the doc and cat unobtrusively down the corridor, alert and ready for action.

His brew finished, Ricky waited impatiently for the PA system to crackle again, issuing more instructions.
He never had to wait for long, but when it came it was a call for the doc to go to reception.
Then there were hurried footsteps heading towards the crew only stairs, and voices talking in almost stage whispers.

That can't be the doc going to reception, wrong way entirely, what the dickens is going on?

He opened the staffroom door a crack and stood with his ear to the opening.
The PA crackled once more, this time it was the Captain.

Condition violet, my god, an attack by armed assailents.

In all his years he had never had to put into practice the thing they all had to practice before each and every sailing, though he knew his duty well.
All the passengers in his area had to be checked and reassured, so he started with Mrs Myers.

Rapping quietly on her door, he waited untill she spoke.

"Yes, who is it?"

"Only me Mrs Myers, Ricky.
Just making certain that you are safely in your room. Please stay there untill you are otherwise informed by myself, or one of the other stewards.
Goodnight and try to get a little sleep."

"Thank you Ricky, and I won't set a foot outside the door."

He closed her door again, then repeated the process down the whole length of the corridor.
Where he got no reply from inside he opened the door anyway, to reassure himself his passengers were all tucked into their beds.
He found none missing at all untill he came to Miss. Peterson's room.
She was nowhere to be seen.

God, I hope she's fine in a bar or something, and just been overlooked by other crew members.

After ensuring that every one else was present and correct, he returned to the staffroom and picked up the reciever of the Captains direct-line phone.

Now old man, do we phone or not?
Is the Captain alone or not?

One of the gunman ran back down the hallway.*A couple of steps from the room and booted footsteps could be heard running towards him. suddenly one of the armed crewmen came barrelling into him.*

SHIT...

*moving quickly, Austin grabed the nerve cluster located in his upper arm and the gun dropped from his now limp fingers. Clamping his hand over the intruder's mouth, Austin snapped the mans head up and back while driving his forhead into the strangers chest. causing him to lose the air in his lungs. before he could recover, AJ swung his free hand up to the base of his neck, shocking the nerve cluster located at the base of the brain... within 5 seconds of the collision, a limp, unconcious pirate lay on the ground.*

*He heard the door open behind him and spiining around he saw Ali looking at Him, the room door open.*

Perfect timing.

*Dragging the body, AJ heads back towards the room.*

Irving held his breath behind the desk. He heard the shots and saw that some came threw the desk. These man were novices. That man was lucky that the knife didn't kill him. Irving could hear the movement of their feet. Quickly looking threw his jacket he found two more knifes. They both looked exactly like the knife he threw. He wanted back the other knife he just threw. Starting to polish them, they both shined from the lights above.

"It now or never..."

Irving quickly got up threw his knifes at one of the men, then jumped over the stair railing. He ran as fast as he legs could carry him. Running up the stairs he turned a left and never looked back.

The supporting members of Slade's crew had not been firing with the intent to kill, but if they succeeded, so much the better. The intent was to suppress. Besides, they had the superior firepower. When the stranger popped up again to throw a second knife, the gunman covering him fired. However the knife caught him just above the knee. One of the men beside Sergei opened up on the knife wielding stranger, this time with intent, tracking his movement all the way up the stairs. The weapon chattered in bursts, three rounds at a time in quick succession.

----

Slade scowled up at the PA system as it came to life and issued a message he had not initiated. Somehow their position had been compromised. Somehow he was still calm, however, and picked up the internal comm handset to establish a direct line of communication with the cargo hold. Their business was concluded, and the boys should begin their final preparations. He pressed the call button for the elevator, and the doors slid open immediately. Apparantly no one had attempted to check on things in the bridge. That was a good sign at least, if a small one.

"Time to go."

Santigo nodded to the guard as Slade stepped into the elevator. There wasn't enough time to execute each hostage individually. Any moment they could expect company of some sort. The female and crewmen were already in more or less of a pile. The guard had to satisfy himself by spraying a hail of bullets into the group, hoping he had fired enough to kill them all. There were muffled screams and groans and the stink of human waste, but there was no time for confirmations. The remaining theives loaded into the elevator.

Well at least the captain knows now.

There was another spurt of gunfire from the now closed door.

Not that it helps any.

I sighed and decided to give in to the situation. I went over to the vault, which I was rather suprised that she didn't try to get into, and slid my key-card. I made a b-line for my locker and swiped again. I took out one of my spare lighters and an already-rolled joint. I placed it between my lips and took a drag as i exited the vault. I didn't bother closing it, just leaned against a wall and sank to the floor.

Shouts and groans broke into her thoughts, bringing her back to reality.
The crewman beside her gasped, then fell onto her upperbody.
Just at that moment she felt a hot stinging sensation in her thigh and screamed.
Someone else tumbled onto her legs, the weight of the two bodies on top of her was suffocating.
That's it...I'm going to die and I never even lived. I never met that someone who is waiting out there for me, I never even got to see another country yet....thank you, whoever you are.

*the silence in the now empty bridge was only broken by a few groans and sobs of pain. Along the same wall but opposite the elevator door, the hatch that lead to the stairwell opened and the Captain and a couple of crewmen entered. the Crew ran to the pile of corpses and began searching for any survivors. the Captain pulled out his wireless and punched in a number.*

Dr James, your presence is needed on the bridge... NOW!

those bastards shot the bridge crew... All of em.

secure that one and I'll send someone down to guard him. where are you?

someone's on their way.

*The captain pocked his wireless then turned to one of the crewmen.*

Go down to Rm 1245, it seems our earstwhile Doctor managed to bag a baddie. keep a watch over him and becareful.
*the indicated crewmen ran out as the captain addressed the others.*

Docs on his way, so seperate the dead from the not dead and assess damage to the equiptment.

*with a grim look on his face, the Captain began helping to triage his crew... and the one passenger they found among the bodies.*

*Austin tightned the ropes on his unconcious passenger when his phone chirruped.*

Damn, should put the thing on vibrate.

Austin...

Sir....

Yes sir... but...

Shit... sorry sir...I managed to disable one of them. I have him secured...

Room 1245 sir.

Yes sir... on my way.

*Austin hung up and looked at his prisoner, then at Ali and the cat.*

swell...

well it can't be helped. com'on Ms Trent... I need your help on the bridge. I hope you remember your first aid training...

*together the three of them locked the room and proceeded up towards the bridge.*

The weight was shifted from her, and when she opened her eyes, she was looking up into the kindly eyes of an older man, wearing uniform.
He carefully removed the tape from her mouth, then pulled her away from the pile of men.

I think I have been shot....they bound me up so tightly...... no circulation in my legs...probably a good thing....stopping the bleeding....

She gave a weak smile at the man, then passed out once again.

*Austin and Ali Trent entered the bridge. looking around he noticed the captain carrying a familiar person.*

Over here captain.. the chart table will do.

*doing a spot check on her vitals, Austin was relieved that she mearly fainted. working quickly, while she's unconcious, Austin removed the two bullets from her leg and patched up her grazed arm. All the while answering the Captains questions.*

Ms trent, could you stay with her and let us know if.. when she wakes up?

*Austin begins moving around, patching up the crew who were still alive... sadly, a very small amount.*

Irving kept on running and turned sharply around a corner. This boat had armed and dangerous men. He needed to tell someone outside of this boat of what had happened. Making his way up a pair of stairs Irving thought about checking the bridge out. Slowly he made his way up to the bridge. He knocked open the door to see the dead bodies. Irving looked at them. This was a common site for him. Irving made his over to the man who appeared to be the captain. As he moved over he noticed that he had a wound from a bullet. 'I will take care of that later.'

"Sir I just ran away from armed men. Call for help now! These men are serious. Also tell me where the guns are on this ship."

"Sir I just ran away from armed men. Call for help now! These men are serious. Also tell me where the guns are on this ship."Guns? On a Luxury Passenger Liner? I'm afraid we don't have weapons here son.

Perhaps some of the crew has something but I won't allow a running gun battle on board this ship. The passengers could get hurt from gunfire.

I need you to go around the ship, collect as many crewmembers you can, make sure that none of those Bastards remain on board. REPORT their whereabouts but for goodness sakes man, don't provoke any violence from them. Looks like they got what they wanted, all we can do is collect the security tapes and have the Navy hunt them down.

but I suggest getting that wound looked at first.

"Sorry Captain, but I can't do that. Your going to have to do that by yourself. I'm going to give this petty criminals some trouble even if costs me my own life."

While saying this Irving made a bandage and gave a quick nod. The first thing he had to do was get a gun. Making his way along he quickly went back to his room. Irving washed his wound and changed into some more everyday clothes. He tied a new bandage and put it on. As he left his room he started to try to find one of those petty criminals.

Teppo got up once again following the second PA announcement.
{What are you doing? He said to stay in the room because of the electrical problems.}
He turned back to face Katri.
{I'm going to find out what's really going on. I heard a gunshot a few minutes ago and there's no way a storm could. . .}
His reply was cut off by several distant bursts of gunfire.
{See what I mean? I don't know what condition violet means, but it's not electrical problems. You stay here, I'll be back in a little while.}
He pulled on some pants and a shirt and slipped into a pair of sneakers.
{Teppo!}
He looked over his shoulder, hand on the doorknob.
{Be careful.}
{I will.}

Teppo walked cautiously out into the hallway, and proceeded quietly toward the nearest stairwell, planning to head down toward the central area of the ship and the lobby, where he expected a crew member could explain what was really going on.

Slade rode the crew lift all the way to the deck they had entered on. He walked with a purpose down the narrow cooridor and into the cargo hold. As he stepped into the bay, he heard many weapons clicking off safety. The sound always made him smile.

"Santigo.. finish up here."

Santigo nodded, gesturing to a few special crewmen idling near the open hatch. Slade grabbed items from the pile of goodies waiting to be transferred to his ship and carried them with him down the rope ladder. He would ensure his bridge crew was ready to move when everyone was aboard. The three specialists grabbed backpacks and scattered. One remained in the hold, moving towards the fore end of the ship. The other two disappeared down maintanence shafts where it would be impossible to find them even in the unlikely event someone was looking. Most crew members were blissfully unaware of these crawlspaces. Conveniently for the theives, they could access key stress points in the ship's hull and be back in less than two minutes. Now everthing hinged on the crewmen finishing up work in the lobby.

After a little while Jill woke up. She flinched and opened her eyes, looked straight at me, and mouthed 'thank you.' I guess she hadn't found her voice yet. She was shaking all over. I sighed , took off my coat and slung it over her shoulders, then re-took a seat next to her and offered her the joint.

"It'll help calm your nerves."

She hesitated a moment, then took it and took a drag, again mouthing a thanks.

*Finishing bandaging the last of the surviving crewmen, Austin enlisted some help to get the seriously injured ones to sickbay.*

*he turns back to the woman who was shot.*

Miss... are you ok?

For a few moments after she came round, Karyn was too scared to open her eyes, afraid of what she might see.
She could hear the murmur of voices and ventured to ease one eye open to see the doctor standing over her, enquiring as to how she was.
Her leg was throbbing now, but at least those horrid bindings had been removed and she could breath properly once more.She carefully moved her arms and wiggled her feet.

"I'm very happy that I'm alive, and almost kicking."

With a half-smile she sat up.
The room began to spin a little, so she closed her eyes and lowered her head for a few moments to steady herself, before easing her legs around to try and stand.

"Have those men gone now?
What did they want?"

"I'm very happy that I'm alive, and almost kicking."well, don't kick too hard. fortunately, the bullets didn't do too much damage. you'll have a limp for a while *grins as he helps her up.*
"Have those men gone now?
What did they want?"...
to answer your questions... I hope so, and I don't know. did they say anything to you?

*motions the captain over.*

She tentively puts her foot to the floor, then the second one follows. As her whole weight goes onto her leg she winces a little with the pain, but it feels good to be able to move once more.

"I'm afraid they never said much at all.
They brought me here under false pretences...I was looking for you....then they bound me up. After that it all becomes confused untill now."

She glances around at the blood, wounded men and worse....

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

She tentively puts her foot to the floor, then the second one follows. As her whole weight goes onto her leg she winces a little with the pain, but it feels good to be able to move once more.

"I'm afraid they never said much at all.
They brought me here under false pretences...I was looking for you....then they bound me up. After that it all becomes confused untill now."

She glances around at the blood, wounded men and worse....

"Is there anything I can do to help?"Why don't you go with those people to sickbay. help make them comfortable untill I can get there.

*indicates Ali Trent* follow her, Ali, Ms Peterson can help you untill I get there.

*turns to the captain and whispers.*
I told you a couple of nurses would be useful... but nooo... :rolleyes: :p

I'm heading to reception... John and Jill will need help.

*grabs his bag and races to reception. At the entrence to the reception area, Austin scans around... Satified that none of the aggressors are there, he walks towards the desk, noting all the bullet damage, and knocks on the door leading to the back office.*

ANYONE INSIDE? Medic's here.

*he cracks open the door... expecting the worse...*

A voice rang through the slightly smokey room. Sounded like doc. He poked his head in the door, confirming that it was. I grinned widely and made a big wave.

"Hey Doc. What took ya?"

Jill gave a little cough and waved too.

"Hey Doc. What took ya?"
*Austin noticed the smoke.*
*Sniff*

*sigh*

well, I assume you know about the armed men running around... Seeing that's why you called me to come when the bullets were flying.

*looks and sees the blood smears on Jill's neck. Kneels down and examines her.... while she is overcome by the fit of the Giggles.*
flying bullets... man! they must have tiny wings...
yeah, yeah... well, it's nothing serious... the cut I mean. Report to the captain... after you two dry out that is...

*finishes bandaging Jill's cut then Austin looks at John* the count so far... we lost 4 of the night bridge crew... two passengers were hurt... three are serious. so all hands on deck.
*stands up.*
We've got a long day ahead of us.

*leaves the reception area and heads towards Sickbay.*

"Yeah, i figured as much."

I propped myself up and stood, then looked back at Jill.

"Think you can find your way to your bunk?"

She nodded and I headed after the Doc to help with the wounded.

"Yeah, i figured as much."

I propped myself up and stood, then looked back at Jill.

"Think you can find your way to your bunk?"

She nodded and I headed after the Doc to help with the wounded.

we got 2 seriously hurt crewmen... two of the passengers are assisting me. do you have any idea what they were after?

"Earlier a girl cracked my head against the window in the fore-observatory and swiped my key-card. I didn't think much of it at the time, but went down and deactivated it just to be safe. Anyways, the girl somehow got into the back room and held Jill hostage until she opened the safe and emptied the contents. Obviously they wanted to rob the boat, but i dont know. I get the feeling that something else is going on."

I suprised myself at how sober I was, given the amount of beer I had had earlier, plus the joint back in the room. Oh well. The situation had a sobering effect.

"Earlier a girl cracked my head against the window in the fore-observatory and swiped my key-card. I didn't think much of it at the time, but went down and deactivated it just to be safe. Anyways, the girl somehow got into the back room and held Jill hostage until she opened the safe and emptied the contents. Obviously they wanted to rob the boat, but i dont know. I get the feeling that something else is going on."

I suprised myself at how sober I was, given the amount of beer I had had earlier, plus the joint back in the room. Oh well. The situation had a sobering effect.
Adrenaline... best thing for getting sober. the booze and *cough* probably kept you calm enough to be level headed...

Simple theives... the company won't like this.

*stops*

They didn't bother the passengers... all that jewerly and cash... and they didn't bother with the passengers...

Wouldn't it be easy to round up the passengers, and get them to toss all their belongings into several large sacks? with this storm, they would have hours... and with the numbers I've seen...

somethings not right...

"Thats what i figured. You seen anything? Other than the wounded I mean."

I had to respect the doc. What had taken me 5 bottles of beer to do he seemed to be doing just on his own. I guess not everyone on this ship is a complete drone.

"Thats what i figured. You seen anything? Other than the wounded I mean."
I blundered into the cargo hold. I assumed they were cleaning it out. it sounds like they have a ship tied up next to us.

Then there was the fact that the Captain would've alerted me if we were taking on a vessel in trouble...

I think it was a ploy to reel us in, but with all these passengers... the haul, without the passengers personal effects, would be iffy... unless they were after something specific...

and they are armed... we're not.

it doesn't make sense.

*Grin* wanna ask them? I got one tied up in an unused room.

"There wasn't much in the cargo holds to begin with. Just the stuff for the silent auctions."

I shook my head.

"I think we do need to talk to that guy. Where is he?"

"There wasn't much in the cargo holds to begin with. Just the stuff for the silent auctions."

I shook my head.

"I think we do need to talk to that guy. Where is he?"

Rm 1245. The captain sent someone to watch em. you got... here, take mi...
*searches pockes for his passkey...*

damn... :confused: I just had...

I waved him off.

"No worries, I made another one. Go tend to the casualties."

With that i headed towards the set of stairs and headed towards the room.

Room 1245. Finn was coming around but he was groggy and he was in pain. He also had no idea where he was or what was going on. Weakly, he tried to move, tried to right himself but found his limbs incapable of movement. Briefly he wondered if he was paralyzed, until realization slowly sunk in that he was merely bound. Wherever he was, it was dark. He set about struggling against his bonds in an attempt to gradually loosen them.

1241, 1243, ah here we go.

I slid the key card in the reader and opened the door. The lights where off, but there where sounds of someone struggling. i flicked on the lights, and there he was, bound on the floor.

"Well, hello there."

Finn froze at the sound of the electronic lock disengaging. Not a moment later, someone stepped into the room. He was at an akward angle to view the person at the door, but that didn't keep him from trying. His neck felt stiff and sore, his head felt heavy. This only aided to the scowl of nearly pure hatred etched onto his face.

I shut the door and walked over in front of the man on the ground. He was a fairly fit looking guy. I had to give doc some more credit. He managed to take this guy out. I squatted down in front of him and met his hatred with a not-too nice look of my own.

"Why are you on my boat?"

Irving wandered the ship for a while. He actually got lost and couldn't find anything at all. As he walked the halls the silence started to make him worried. It had been a long times since he heard nothing at all. If he stood still he could only hear the electric hum of the lights. Then he finally caught the sight of someone going into a room. He quietly moved along. The man shut the door and closed it behind him. He remember seeing this guy before, but Irving didn't know where from. Looking at the number on the door it was 1245.

"Hey you open up in there. There are armed people inside the boat and I'm trying to find someone you can help me get to the bridge. I need to tell the captain something."

I shut the door and walked over in front of the man on the ground. He was a fairly fit looking guy. I had to give doc some more credit. He managed to take this guy out. I squatted down in front of him and met his hatred with a not-too nice look of my own.

"Why are you on my boat?"

Finn was nothing if not resolutely loyal. He'd been with Captain Slade for the better part of his life, as had most of the crew to varying degrees. As the foreigner began questioning him, he simply clammed up and averted his gaze, focusing on some spot on the far wall. Silently, he continued working at his bonds.

I chuckle lightly.

"Somehow i'm not suprised. Probably dont even speak english, do you bozo."

I flicked him on the forhead and stood back up. The doc had done a good job of bandaging him up, but i wasn't going to take any chances. I moved around to the other side of the bed and felt around till i found what i was looking for. Emergency kit. Inside was medical stuff, a flashlight, radio, and electrical tape.

That'l do nicely.

I took out the electrical tape and went back around to the prisoner. about this time someone came knocking on the door. I shook my head, bent over ang took a good firm hold of the man's chest and dragged him to the bed, where i propped him up and started running the electrical tape around his chest and arms.

*Austin entered the Sickbay and proceeded to stabelize the surviving crewmen. With grim determination, he began by anesthesizing the patients and digging out the bullets.*

Damn, should've asked John if he had extra joints...

How are you holding up Ms Peterson, Ms Trent?

Karyn nodded to the doctor and smiled shyly at the woman he had named as Ali Trent, then followed the men who were taking the wounded to the sickbay.

It looks as though nursing Bernice for the last thirteen years is going to come in usefull.

They arrived at the sickbay and she started to make up beds, and soon as the two crew men who looked as though they weren't going to make it had been made comfortable, she started to clean the wounds of the third crewman with an antiseptic wash.

He looks pretty bad, but not like those two poor souls over there.

She searched round and found sterile wound pads and did a makeshift bandaging on the guy.

At least those wounds are clean, and the bleeding is stemmed.

Just then the doc came in.

"I think I might have found my vocation in life."

The group of gunman were all alone now. More importantly, the woman with the deposit bag no longer had any help. Surfer had retreated into that back room, and the lone gunman had wandered off. Sergei helped his injured comrade while Faith and the others wrestled the woman out of the main lobby area.

One of the gunman finally slammed the butt of his weapon against the side of the woman's head and snatched up the deposit bag. She would be unconscious at the least, and lucky if the blow didn't herald a bloody gash. Deciding against taking her as a hostage, the group simply took off together, Sergei and Faith assisting their wounded comrade as they ran. In no time, they had reached a narrow stairwell behind a door reading "Crew Only." Reaching into the bodice of her dress, Faith withdrew Surfer's key card.

Teppo emerged into the lobby from the direction of the main staircase. Much to his surprise, it appeared deserted. However, it was obivous that this was the source of the noises. The smell of gunpowder was thick in the air, and closer examination of the walls showed several bullet holes. Teppo walked slowly toward the middle of the room.
"Hello? Is anyone in here?"
He peered back over the reception desk, and saw a few drops of blood on the floor, but no people, living or dead. He turned and noticed another place on the floor, closer to a door roughly opposite where he'd entered, that blood had dripped on the floor. The blood continued over to the door, and then stopped. Confused, Teppo walked out the door and down the hallway, calling out every few moments.

There was a voice down the hallway, coming from the general direction of the lobby. Whomever it was, he hadn't found the unconscious woman yet. But the mere fact that the sound was getting closer agitated Faith. She tried the key card in the lock for the second time, and again it failed to work.

Son of a bitch.

Surfer must have deactivated it somehow. Taking the wounded man's arm and draping it over her shoulders, she supported his weight so that Sergei could kick in the door. He was a big man, and big men were capable of these sorts of things. The other two gunmen were the only ones of the group not injured in some way. Their hands tightened around the grips of their weapons, and they glanced tensely between the door and the other end of the hallway.

Rae had started her morning with an OJ from the minibar fridge in her cabin, and had originally planned to eat breakfast after a morning run. The caution to stay in her cabin the previous night was heeded, but was an unnecessary caution in her case, as that was where she’d spent the majority of her time since the cruise started. She knew she needed to actually get out of her room, and had vowed that last evening that she would actually do that today, at least to get some exercise which she sorely needed. However, once again, the passengers had been admonished to stay in their cabins, which worried her. Something odd was happening, and she didn’t think it was just weather related, or an electrical problem. She’d heard people running by her door, and was all too afraid that she’d heard something sounding like…gunshots.

“Okay” she muttered to herself as she limbered up, “the run is on hold for now, but I swear I will get myself some exercise today at some point!”

Little did she know how it would occur…

"I think I might have found my vocation in life."Glad it came at the right time.

*Austin inspected the bandages on the crewmen.*

Nice work.

*hooks him up to the portable monitor.*

Keep an eye on these readings, if they go to this point or these numbers hit go past this range, shout out... ok?

*turns back to his patient... removing the last bullet and patching up his wound.*

the bullet grazed his lung... he'll be lucky if we can get to port in time.
*Austin hooks the man up to a portable resparator. and turns to the man Ali is monitoring.*

Ali, switch... please keep an eye on that one, while I take care of your patient.

"I think I can manage to do that."

She found a straight-backed chair to sit on ( her leg was throbbing quite badly now) then proceded to watch the monitor, with an occasional glance at Ali.
She looked to be about the same ag as herself...maybe a yoear or two older, with a very ise and worldly look about her.
Karyn thought that in other circumstances, she would have like to make friends with her.

Sergei grunted as he solidly kicked the door. The force of the blow ached in his shoulder, where the knife had sliced superficially through his skin. Adrenaline was beginning to wear off, and despite his best efforts, the pain was slowly setting in. It was just a dull throb punctuated by a sharp sting for now, but the kick had been hell. With a solid sound, the door gave way. Luck for them, it had been a simple lock and nothing with any fancy security devices installed. He waited in the doorway until the entire team was inside and descending the stairwell. He then shut the door, and kicked it again from the inside, hoping to jam it shut.

----
I chuckle lightly.

"Somehow i'm not suprised. Probably dont even speak english, do you bozo."

I flicked him on the forhead and stood back up. The doc had done a good job of bandaging him up, but i wasn't going to take any chances. I moved around to the other side of the bed and felt around till i found what i was looking for. Emergency kit. Inside was medical stuff, a flashlight, radio, and electrical tape.

That'l do nicely.

I took out the electrical tape and went back around to the prisoner. about this time someone came knocking on the door. I shook my head, bent over ang took a good firm hold of the man's chest and dragged him to the bed, where i propped him up and started running the electrical tape around his chest and arms.

Finn scowled for a moment, but could not offer any real resistance. Instead, he began laughing to himself. It was a quiet, throaty sound, well suited to the look of arrogance he had adopted. He leaned back against the wall, albiet somewhat painfully, and glanced out the porthole.

*Austin paused and quickly pressed the mute button on the vitals monitor on the patient he was working on just before the indicator flatlined. he then stared quiely at the body as he realized that the bullet, the one he thought missed the crewman's heart must have just grazed it enough to peirce one of the chambers. the crewman, who was alive up on the bridge had just quietly passed away after being brought down here. Austin sighed and quietly covered the body... noting the time on the blank chart, he closed the isolation curtain and left the body to sit in state.

Taking a deep breath, he removed any emotion from his face and entered the main sickbay.*

How's the leg Ms Peterson?

After a good quarter of the roll was gone, I tossed the tape aside and again squated down in front of the man.

"You're friends have what they came for, you know. I'll bet they're getting ready leave in that little boat ya'll have out there. You think they'll try to find you or will they just cut their losses and run?"

I flicked his forhead in the same spot as I had earlier and contenued to do so, about once a second. He had the look of someone who had lived a hard life. I didn't expect to find anything out doing things this way, but I would rather not have needed to resort to less subtle means of questioning unless i have no other options.

After a good quarter of the roll was gone, I tossed the tape aside and again squated down in front of the man.

"You're friends have what they came for, you know. I'll bet they're getting ready leave in that little boat ya'll have out there. You think they'll try to find you or will they just cut their losses and run?"

I flicked his forhead in the same spot as I had earlier and contenued to do so, about once a second. He had the look of someone who had lived a hard life. I didn't expect to find anything out doing things this way, but I would rather not have needed to resort to less subtle means of questioning unless i have no other options.
Scowling, Finn refused to return the man's stare. The flicking was somewhat irritating however, and after enduring a few, pulled his head to the side to alleviate the annoyance.

"It dozeen't mat-ter. T'ay weel prob'ly leave."

The doctor emerged from a smaller side room where he had been for a while.
She forced a cheery smile.

"Oh the leg is fine thanks....I thought I should just give it a little rest...
I think he is holding his own ok."

She nodded towards the monitor she was watching, and gave a quick look at the patients dough-white face.

"I think Ali's one is ok too....."

The doctor emerged from a smaller side room where he had been for a while.
She forced a cheery smile.

"Oh the leg is fine thanks....I thought I should just give it a little rest...
I think he is holding his own ok."

She nodded towards the monitor she was watching, and gave a quick look at the patients dough-white face.

"I think Ali's one is ok too....."Fine, why don't you streach out on that bed. let me check your bandages, and you get some rest.

She nodded in affirmation.

"OK...I do feel a little tired.
But I shall only lie down for a few minutes...I feel I need to stay alert."

She lay down on the indicated bed, and while the doc was gently unwinding the bandage, she closed her eyes...all the time keeping one ear open for any new sounds.

Good, the wound stopped bleeding.

*Austin re-wrapped the bandage then proceded to restock his bag...*

I wonder how the Captain and the others are doing in making sure the passengers are safe?

Faith smiled despite the weight of her comrade relying on her for safe navigation of the stairs. She suspected he was going into shock. He wasn't functioning quite at one hundred percent. As they reached the final landing she tried not to notice how much noise they were making in the white-washed steel stairwell. She regripped around his waist with one hand, and took hold of the wrist over her shoulders with the other. It seemed to even out the weight somewhat, and poor Sergei was having trouble with his shoulder. They were at the home stretch now.

They exited into a hallway which was stark by guest standards, but lavish for the crew. The door to the cargo hold lay down this hallway. She could see it. She could practically taste it. Despite the difficulties, this was not the worst job they'd done. Certainly not the smoothest, but not too bad. She spoke to the four remaining gunmen in Gaelic.

"Come on boys.. almost there."

"Smart boy. They're going to leave you here. With me and a rather pissed off crew. What does that say about the people you are loyal to?"

The smirk returned to my face as he pulled away from the flicking. I stopped and cocked my head to the side.

"Smart boy. They're going to leave you here. With me and a rather pissed off crew. What does that say about the people you are loyal to?"

The smirk returned to my face as he pulled away from the flicking. I stopped and cocked my head to the side.
"We leeve by a code. Besides.. I weel see t'em again. Soon e'nuff."

He grinned knowingly, already formulating the plan in his head. The thought never occured to him that he might fail. Swiveling his head around snakelike to look at Surfer, he spoke again.

"You are all good as dead."

"Big threat from the man tied to the bed."

He was either desperate or didn't care if he lived. Either way, it wasn't good for my cause. Then something even worse came to mind.

Cargo hold... oh shit.

Of course, I kept on a good poker face. I stood and gave the man a few pats on the head. Then I went over to the room's phone and dialed the extention for sickbay.

"Big threat from the man tied to the bed."

He was either desperate or didn't care if he lived. Either way, it wasn't good for my cause. Then something even worse came to mind.

Cargo hold... oh shit.

Of course, I kept on a good poker face. I stood and gave the man a few pats on the head. Then I went over to the room's phone and dialed the extention for sickbay.

He laughed that quiet, throaty laugh again. His eyes glittered in a decidedly cold serpintine manner as he watched the man cross to the phone. His words, when they came, were delivered in a taunting, almost sing-song way.

"I keel you.. keel you myself."

"I'll be scared when you can scratch your own nose."

Come on doc. Pick up.

Finn simply laughed again and closed his eyes, resting his head against the wall as if he didn't have a care in the world.

----

Santigo watched carefully as his three specialists returned from their various locations. They trickled back into the hold one by one, some having evidently travelled farther than others. They were no longer wearing the packs. Two scooped up what was left of the loot pile, and descended the rope ladder. The third approached Santigo and handed him something. Santigo slipped the object into his pocket with a nod, dismissing the specialist. Faith and the others shouldn't be much longer, but if the situation got any more out of control, they would have to leave without. Faith and Sergei knew what to do in case of a contingency situation, but it was considerably more hazardous. The chances of meeting up again, especially over stormy seas were slim to none. He checked his watch, mentally ticking off the five additional minutes they could afford to wait.

It was at that moment he heard sounds in the stairwell. The accoustics were horrible in that particular area, reverberating anything more than a few footsteps down the entire length of the shaft and several dozen feet down uncarpeted hallways. Cautiously, he poked his head out the door. Faith, Sergei and the others were hastily moving down the hallway, despite injuries. He scowled noting that one was missing. There wouldn't be time to look for him. If Sergei hadn't brough a body with, he was simply unaccounted for.

"I'll be scared when you can scratch your own nose."

Come on doc. Pick up.
Just as he was binding Ms Peterson's bandages, the phone rang...

Damn...

*finishing securing the bandage, he picks up the phone.*

hello Dr James here.

Just as i was considering giving the captive a good smack on the head to knock him out and stop the laughing, the doc's voice chimed in.

Thank God.

"Doc. IT's Jon. Where's the captain?"

Just as i was considering giving the captive a good smack on the head to knock him out and stop the laughing, the doc's voice chimed in.

Thank God.

"Doc. IT's Jon. Where's the captain?"

I left him on the Bridge. they left it a real mess up there, not many survivors...

Irving knocked on the door that Jon had just gone in. He started to knock on it so he could somehow find the captain.

"Hey open up in there. I need to find the captain and I'm lost on this ship. Please open up..."

Oh for god's sake.

"Try to get ahold of him. There may be a bomb."

I hung up the phone and went to the door. i shut off the light, then opened it and stepped out, closing the door behind me. I tried to keep a calm face with a slight smile.

"Sorry about that. Passenger needed some help. What can i do for you?"

"Try to get ahold of him. There may be a bomb."

*Austin felt his blood run cold. he hung up and moved to the far end of the sickbay, away from Karyn and Ali and immediately dialed the bridge.*

Captain, it's Dr James. John is... we think that the prirates may have left us a surprise or two somehwere on the ship.

yes sir... a ship lost during a storm? no one would expect foul play... I really don't know, did you send anyone to check cargo hold 3 to see if their transport is still there?

it's your call sir.

Faith was never so happy to see Santigo. One of his posted guards rushed forward to take the injured man from her, and the others ushered the rest of her group into the hold. Santigo smiled at her, noting the deposit bag one of her men was carrying.

"Ready to go?"

She nodded yes. Santigo held out a hand for her and guided her into the room, shutting the door again behind them. He kissed her cheek and gestured to his men. All hands rushed to the rope ladder. Santigo guided Faith onto the ladder, waiting to climb down until all the others were out of the hold. Finally clear, he climbed down himself onto An Buile. Slade had the engines running and pulled away the moment Santigo's feet touched the deck. He fought the storm, noting their GPS position on the Nav map and waited for Santigo to join him in the bridge.

As the distance widened between the two ships, Santigo withdrew the device from his pocket. At three nautical miles distance, he detonated the three satchel charges placed at key stress points in the cruise liner. The explosion would tear through the hull and several key bulkheads, effectively scuttling the ship. She could not be saved. And she would wait at the bottom of the sea until calmer weather when the crew of An Buile could dive on her and recover the goods left behind.

The doc was changing the dressing on her leg.
He was so gentle that she was on the point of falling asleep till the shrill ringing of the phone brought her back.
Her eyes still closed, she listened as the doc spoke.
She heard him curse under his breath then hang up.
Opening one eye a crack, she saw him move across the room and make another phone call.
He spoke too softly for her to hear him, but by his expression she gathered that the fun and games were not over yet.
She closed her eye once more, still straining to listen.

*the three explosions occured almost simultaniously, rocking the vessel violently.*

Shit!... so much for keeping the passengers calm... FUCK!

*looking at the two remaing injured crewmen... Austin closed his eyes as he faced one of the toughest decisions of his life...*

DAMNIT!

*reaching into a closet, Austin pulled out a couple of life vests... he tossed one to Ali and the other to Karyn.* Put these on, stay close...

Rae felt and heard the explosions, and her mind raced into action. Thank god she'd been dressed for an early morning run, and had on running pants, and a lightweight fleece. She glanced breifly at her laptop, and thanked god she had emailed her latest work on her thesis to her desktop at the university. No time, Rae, no time!

She'd studied the ships layout in planning her run, and knew exactly where to go to get to the lifeboats. How long it would take was another matter, given the condition of the liner and her passengers. She hurriedly put on her lifejacket and headed out into the corridor.

*the ship rocked as the explosions echoed though the ship.*

Damn... *picking up the radio, he called for a status from all crewmen. then he picked up the intercom mike.*

I can feel her pain, she's going down... and there's nothing we can do to stop it.

This is the captain speaking... to all passengers, please put on your life vests and calmly proceede to the nearest lifeboat. the crew will assist you in boarding the lifeboats. there is enough room for everyone so please remain calm and please listen to the crewmen.

again, please remain calm and proceed to the nearest lifeboat, do not take any luggage or personal belongings with you.

*the captain turned the mic off as one of the replacement bridge crew turned around.*

Mark says the engine room is scuttled, there's a large breach letting in gallons of water. they're abandoning station and trying to seal the hatches.

William reports the number 3 cargo hold is breached... while they are sealing the hatches, the vents are jammed open, the can slow the water, but that's it.

and one of the cooks reports an explosion in the forward hull...

*The Captain sighed... he knew that this was it for this fine lady... but the passengers can still be saved... and that's the important thing right now.

Taking a deep breath, he uttered the words that all navel captains fear to say*

All hands... Abandon ship. pass the word to all crew to assist in evacuating the passengers as well as sealing every empty hold they can find. if we leave enough air pockets, we might be able to slow her decent. You there... the radio is still down? then send up the flares.

*the replacement bridge officers stood by... looking stunned...*

HURRY! THERE'S NOT MUCH TIME!

She needn't have strained her ears quite so hard.
There was an unmistakable sound...an explosion, rapidly followed by two more.
The movement of the ship was so bad she almost fell off the bed.

As she stood up she caught the life jacket that the doc threw, and trying to remember how they had been shown how to put them on, fumbled into it somehow.
She grabbed Ali's arm.

"What do you think it was...the engines...or...bombs."

She tried to swallow the lump that suddenly seemed to blocking her throat, and kept close to the doc....at least he must know his way around....

Then came the Captains voice telling them to abandon the ship.

This was turning from a dream cruise to a nightmare.

"What do you think it was...the engines...or...bombs."
*Austin grimly stood by and looked at both patients...*

Dammit. stay here...

*Opening the door, Austin grabbed two workers who worked in one of the dining areas. the other four running with them stopped to see what was happening.*

two things... one, don't run, that causes panic. two. I need you people right here, right now. *Motioning to the two crewmen on the beds.*

They need to be transported to the lifeboats... now...

com'on...

*with Ali and Karyn's assistance, he begins strapping them into stretchers and he tells the two women.*

Stay with your patients. they need you now... do either of you need any medication or anything special?

Austin grabs two large backpacks, filled with something and gives them to the other two waiters. "these stay with the sick people and these two..."

Rae realized half the passengers were unfamiliar still with the layout of the ship. She couldn’t leave them helpless. Steeling herself against her own fears, she began yelling to the passengers milling on the deck, “This way, this way, down these stairs to the next deck! Hurry please, to the lifeboats!”

Suddenly, Rae realized she'd left her picture of Thad in her cabin. Pushing back through the throng, she struggled to get to her room. If she was going to die, she wanted it with her. Once in her cabin, she looked at the small 3x5 photo in it's frame, missing him desperately. But the frame was a luxury. She quickly removed the picture from it's frame, kissing it briefly before heading back out toward what she hoped was salvation. She tucked the photo in her pocket and zipped it as she ran.

"I'm fine, I may just need a painkiller or something if this leg starts to play up, but other than that....
Of course I shall stay with these two and Ali, I hope I can remember the drill...I only half listened when we had the practice...you don't think you will ever need it do you?"

She was hurrying through the door behind the staff as she was talking.

"Will you be following doctor?"

She paused for a moment to look at his face, but could read nothing there then turned and followed the others through corridors and up stairs, not knowing if she was heading to the lifeboats or not.

"I'm fine, I may just need a painkiller or something if this leg starts to play up, but other than that....
Of course I shall stay with these two and Ali, I hope I can remember the drill...I only half listened when we had the practice...you don't think you will ever need it do you?"*Austin goes to one of the cabinets and pulls out a bottle of asprin and fills a sizeable thermos bottle with water from the sink. he hands both to Karyn.*
here you go. I don't expect to be out there for a while.... but just in case, there is a small island north-north west of our posistion...

*Looks at her blank stare* I saw the charts you were lying on while I was pulling the bullets out of your leg. ;)

*he turns to the waiters.*
These two are assissting me, they are to be considered part of the crew in every way except what needs to be done in assisting with the evacuation. they are to be put on the lifeboats with these two whom they are caring for.

"Will you be following doctor?"
as soon as I can... Duty first you know.

*He gives her what he hopes is a reassuring grin then watches as the eight of them make their way to the lifeboats.*

Running feet, shouts, gunshots, and now explosions.
Ricky was already alerting his passengers, and helping them with their life-vests, when the PA crackled to life once more with the announcement to take to the life boats.
He and the other stewards on this deck, calmly but hurriedly, chivvied the passengers along to the assembly point, where a senior steward would take names and lead the passengers to the lifeboats, trying to make them smile with the odd crack.
There were at least four of his people missing, and he went back to search the cabins once more.
He could see no signs of them and with a sinking heart headed back to join the group, hoping to see them there.

Clutching the aspirins and water to her chest as though they were life savers,
Karyn and the others arrived at the life boats.

It looked like organised chaos...people milling around waiting to be told what to do...others pushing and being pushed...crew members calling names...and trying to organise the frightened passengers into some kind of order.

The waiter the doc had given the backpacks to spoke to one of the men who were doing the organising, pointing to their little group.
The man came over and asked her and Ali their names.
He wrote something on the paper on his clip board barked out a number and pointed.

The waiter took the patient and called to the rest of them to follow.

Malia gasped for air as she sat up. She felt like her head was about to explode. She couldn't remember anything that had happened. The last thing she could remember was talking the the surfer at the bar.

Did I get drunk....she thought. But when she touched her head and felt her blood matted hair, the pain became real. She clumsily found her feet and with the grace of drunkard stumbled down the hallway.

She heard ringing and alarms, crashes and gunshots. She felt as if she were in a warzone. She saw people rushing around, but they seemed to ignore her. She stumbled down a flight of stairs, making her way to the main deck. People are rushing onto lifeboats. The chaos is unbearable. Malia can't remember how to speak. She yells out in a hodgepodge of English, Gaelic, and Spanish, her three native languages.

"Duine éigin, Socorrome! Please!" (Somebody, Help me! Please!)moaned Malia to anyone that would hear.

Originally posted by Freed Civilians

"Duine éigin, Socorrome! Please!" (Somebody, Help me! Please!)moaned Malia to anyone that would hear.


Rae caught the words, startled slightly to hear Gaelic. She turned and saw the young woman clutching her head, and could see the blood trickling through her fingers.

"Miss!", she shouted, "Miss! Are you alright?"

Rae wedged her way to the young woman's side. "Here, let me help you. We need to hurry, but let me know if you get dizzy or anything. What happened to you? Did you fall?"

Half pulling, half pushing, Rae led the young woman towards the lifeboats...

*Austin made the rounds, making sure that anyone injured got patched up quickly. so far the crew kept the passenger's panic down to a minimum... *

*looking at the empty bridge, the captain sighed. he took off his jacket and draped it over his chair. With one last glance at his bridge, he stepped into the elevator and went down to the holds to do what he can to slow the water down.*

*at the lowest passenger level, he made his way down towards the hold. marvelling at the errie silence as the freezing water lapped it's way higher. a quiet sob caught his attention, turing to one of the passenger doors, he slid his passkey into the lock. inside, clutching a pillow, a little girl sat on the drenched bed, sobbing.*

Why hello there... what are you doing down here?

"*Sniff* Mommy and Daddy grabbed me and ran out... but I forgot Patty... I came back to get her but it's all wet down here... I can't find her."

Patty... and who is Patty?
*the captain kept an eye on the rising water...*

"Patty is my bestest friend."

Hmm, lets see if we can find Patty...

*a brief search revealed a doll (Patty) floating under one of the wicker chairs. after a happy reunion, the captain carried the little girl and made his way through the now thigh high water.*

"Why is it wet down here?"

*the captain looked at the little girl and smiled.*

Well, someone pulled the plug out at the bottom of the ship... so the ship is filling up with water... when I find out who did that, he is going to get a very hard spanking from me.

*The little girl giggled.* yes that was a bad thing to do...

*up two levels, the captain found a crewman who was making sure no one was in the cabins.*

I found her down below. take her and get her to her parents.

*Turning to head back down, his phone rang.*

Captain, there are three of us trapped in generator room three. no water got in, and the generators are running, but we can't get out.

I'm on my way down...

Oh for god's sake.

"Try to get ahold of him. There may be a bomb."

I hung up the phone and went to the door. i shut off the light, then opened it and stepped out, closing the door behind me. I tried to keep a calm face with a slight smile.

"Sorry about that. Passenger needed some help. What can i do for you?"

Irving looked at the man and paused for a moment. He saw that it was pitch dark.

"Cut the crap...I know that someone is inside there. Probably one of those hijackers. I want to see him right now."

The ship rocked. Hard. Too big for a wave.

Guess that answers that question.

I sized the man up and sighed.

"Just get to a life raft. This duck's going down, and his ass is going with it."

With that I started heading back towards the main area of the deck to help direct passengers down to the life boats.

Teppo and Katri emerged onto the deck of the ship to a scene of absolute chaos. He hadn't been able to find anyone in the hallways of the ship, when the massive liner had shook, nearly knocking him off balance. The tremor was accompanied by a deep rumbling from below. His first thought had been for Katri, and he'd sprinted back to his room, taking the stairs three at a time. After getting hurriedly getting dressed, they had gone down the stairs, and out onto the deck, now choked with panicked passengers.

Movement was almost impossible with all the people on deck, but they were able to gradually make their way towards the nearest lifeboat launching station.

The young woman was still holding her head and moaning slightly, but had not answered her. Rachel stole another glance at the young woman's face and thought, she's out of it, probably in shock. They were almost to the boat launch now, just a little bit farther.

Rae snatched up a blanket someone had dropped, and draped it around the young woman's shoulders. It was a bit damp, but it would have to do. Keeping her arm around the young woman, and leading her forward, she tried to keep her voice calm.

"I'm Rachel, and I'll stay with you, but you've got to tell me if you can't keep up. We don't have much time. What's your name, hon?"

Looking up ahead, Rae could see that they were almost to a boarding spot. The crewman loading the boat glanced at her, and motioned them forward, saying, "Room for two more here".

The ship rocked. Hard. Too big for a wave.

Guess that answers that question.

I sized the man up and sighed.

"Just get to a life raft. This duck's going down, and his ass is going with it."

With that I started heading back towards the main area of the deck to help direct passengers down to the life boats.

"No let me see him. Also did he have any weapons. I'm going to fight back even if it costs my own life. This petty criminals will die. I know this might be my last act, but atleast I went down trying to save others. Now will you get out of my way and let me in or will I have to force my way in?"

Irving had a another knife under his jacket. He was serious and was ready to fight back.

*outside the Generator room, the captain reaches for the PA switch near the console*

"To all passengers, the power will be cut in two minutes, please do not, I repeat, Please do not use the elevators and do not go back into the rooms. the locks are electrical and without the master key, you will be trapped in the room.

again, the power will be cut in Two minutes. do not reenter your rooms, exit all elevators and passenger cabins.

To all staff, lock down and secure all elevators you encounter."

*leaning against the door, he shouted to the men inside.*
I'm opening the doors in three minutes. shut down the generator in two... got it!

[muffled] yes sir.

*The captain leaned against the hatch... and watched as the water slowly but surely crept up to his chest.*

-Two Minutes later-

*the ship is plunged in darkness the emergency lights flicker on, bathing the hallways in a ghostly light. he could imagine the screaming as the lights went out and hopes that his crew remember what they were supposed to do. Taking a deep breath, the captain opened the hatch and pulled against the now chest deep water... inside, the men pushed against the door. as the water flooded in, The captain reached in and started to pull his crew out of the room. sparks flew as the water hit the generator, still charged with static electricity. but since it was no longer generating a field, what would've been a deady shock was now a painful Tingle... a very painful tingle.

as the last man was pulled out, the captain ordered them to get to the liferaft and to assist with the passenger evacuation... his breath heavy and the tingling sensation in his left arm was now stabbing pain... stumbling forward in the dark, his chest suddenly exlpoded in pain.*

Heart attack?... how... fitting...

Leaning against the passageway, he watched as the back of the crewman before him dissappeared into the darkness.

Darkness? damn... what happened to those emergency lights? those things arn't worth a sh...

+++

*Eric reached the stairwell to the upper floors. He turned around and noticed that he was now the last person. telling the others to go ahead, he ran back to check on the Captain... and found him floating in the water, face down. Rushing to his side, Eric checked for a pulse... finding none, he reluctantly turned away and waded throught he water back towards the ladder and ultimatly, the liferafts.*

He pulled me to a stop. Now I was irritated.

"Look man. They already blew the bombs. Which means they left already. Which mean that he is the last one on board, and trust me, drowning is about the worst way to die. Leave him be and get to a raft. Or go die by your own accord. I don't actually care. Just stop wasting my time. The passengers need help."

"Fine then just give me the key to the door and that ends this whole thing. Then you can leave and not worry about this. I want to talk to this guy. I won't let him escape. At all."

Irving wasn't going to let him get by.

Faith stood out in the rain as Santigo disappeared into the bridge. She wanted to watch the big liner go down. When the explosions went off, she involuntarily sheilded herself from the blast, despite the fact that she was too far away for bodily harm. The motion aggravated the wounds she had recieved from the girl behind the desk. Her and that damned guitar.

As another swell threatened to roll their ship, she grabbed at the cabling to steady herself. This was far from over. The storm would finish what they had left off, and threatened to finish them as well. Any boat hoping to have even the slightest chance in these conditions would need a skilled sailor. The waves were almost too big to worry about hitting them at the proper angle, but it would still take a lot of work to keep from burying the prow in the face of the next. That, coupled with the wind and rain made for a desperate situation for all parties involved. Behind her, Santigo was shouting for lines. It was an old fisherman's trick, stolen from the age of sail. Tie a line to yourself and the other end to a sturdy feature of the ship, typically a rail or the mast, and you might survive if you were washed overboard. Hence the term, lifeline. Turning away from the chaos and the few small lifeboats already finding their way to the water from the liner, she searched for her line.

Finn wasn't laughing anymore. The triple explosions had sent a violent shudder through the ship's structure so severe that it nearly threw him from the bed. And with no way to catch himself, life would have been unpleasant at that moment. His captor had left the room. Finn muscled his way into a seated position, scanning for anything sharp enough to cut through his bonds. Once his legs were free he could manage. The ship was too unsteady to try it otherwise.

Outside, there seemed to be a heated discussion between his captor and a man who seemed to care more about revenge than survival. Not a good sign for him. While searching with his eyes for anything even remotely useful, he struggled at all the knots, hoping at least to loosen them.

*As events occured, Austin ended up down in the cargo hold that John uses for his scuba classes as well as the storage area for many of the ship's entertainment equiptment. as he turned to head back up, the ship suddenly lurched... there was a loud cracking sound and a large wall of water rushed towards the hatch were Austin stood.

Within seconds Austin had the hatch sealed as he felt the water filling the only passageway out.*

OK... let's see...

*Looking around Austin spied several items that made him smile. then he winced as his ears started to pop.*

not good... this section is sinking... fast!

*Grabbing some cannisters of air, some rope, several rolls of tape and looking at the floatation devices as well as other water sport equiptment, Austin got to work.*

And to think I once wondered why build a ship to keep people out of the water then put in a water slide, pools and other nautical sports stuff on her.

*spying some creates in the corner, austin cracked them open and grinned even more.*

*ahem* John... if you don't want me using your new toys... please speak up now?

*after a second of silence.* thanks... :D

Calara fell hard against the deck. She could feel her shoulder pop out of place as she tried to get up, and shifted her weight to the other arm as she pushed away from the deck. Once she was standing, she smacked the shoulder back into its correct alignment, and counted on her cyberchemical enhancements to heal it quickly as she started running for the emergency life rafts. Judging by that jolt, the ship wasn't going to be getting them where they were supposed to be going.

As she ran, she noticed some of the passengers starting to run from their cabins, milling around in confusion despite the fact that they had been shown the emergency routines. Figures. Calara started getting a life raft ready as soon as she reached them, making sure to keep out of sight. She didn't feel particularly obligated to help those who couldn't help themselves.

My name.....thought Malia. She could barely understand the words.

Mi nombre....mo ainm.....Then it clicked and it all came back. The haze became clearer and she could think a little better.

"My name is Malia. I am fine. I was hit on the head with a gun."

Origfinally posted by Freed Civilians

"My name is Malia. I am fine. I was hit on the head with a gun."

I knew it sounded like gunshots!

Rae sent a quick prayer up as she glanced at the young woman again. "Ah, the non-adventurous type, eh?" She winked at the younger woman to reassure her. Just then, a slightly older, slightly hysterical couple barrelled into her and Malia. It was all Rae could do to keep them on their feet, and the older couple was oblivious, the husband yelling almost incoherently to the crewman, "Help, get us on this boat! You've got to help us now!"

Rachel felt a wave of disgust wash over her as she realized the..."guest"... in front of her was waving a $50 dollar bill at the crewman, as if he could buy priority seating...

Adventurous, Malia thought in her head.

The women, her guitar, the man with the gun. She couldn't think clear enough to put all the details together. She went over it in her head. She couldn't peice the puzzle together.

As she was puzzling the events in her head, a rude man quite a bit older than her rammed into her and the woman named Rachel.

"Rachel, what is going on?"

"Fine. Tell him to burn in hell."

I tossed him the key card, then hurried down one level to my cabin. Water had already filled up nearly to deck 5.

Those must have been hellova big bombs.

I shook it off and made to to my cabin, retreaved a med kit, a life vest, and the 3 surf boards i kept in there. It was rather difficult to navigate my way back out to the main area, and my the time i had, another deck was almost entirely underwater.

Oh bad, oh bad, oh bad.

I ran as fast as i could back up to the life boat deck. Most of the passengers where in the water by now, so the crew was begining to file in. I ran past them towards the bow section of the evacuation area and started lowering my jet ski that was kept there. The passenger ones where kept down in the cargo hold, and, i presumed, where now in the possetion of the pirates. It was mildly irritating, since I had been bugging the captain for months about getting them. Oh well. I had to hand-winch the vehicle down, since the bloody power had crapped out shortly after the explosions.

Irving grabbed the card and looked away from the running man. He put the card in and opened the door. Irving looked at the man. His knife appeared. Irving cut the bonds that were on Finn and looked at him straight in the eyes. Then the power caught off.

"Your coming with me to the life boats."

Irving had the knife right at Finn's neck. He and Finn made there way up to the deck. Irving moved to one of the life boats in the rear and put Finn in it. Then he used the hand-winch to move them down to the ocean. He threw the card into the ocean and coughed for a moment. Putting the away knife he looked at Finn.

"Your surprised aren't you? Well for now let's get the hell out of here and try to find your so called leader."

*looking at the packages he prepared, Austin zipped up his wetsuit and moved to the panel that connected to the hull doors. he pressed the button, but as he expected, the doors didn't move due to the power outage.*

Right... well I had to try...

*Opening the panel, Austin pulled out his diving knife and cut the hydraulic line... the fluid spilled on the deck and Austin pushed against the hull door.

as expected, the hull doors stayed up.*

ok... time to do this the hard way.

*doublechecking the seal on the gas drums and the various floatation devices attached to it, he also checked the reinforced packing that sealed the jet ski the pirates didn't take... Austin assumed the pirates left it because it was an older model, but if it still works... and the surfboards duct taped together. However, before he continued, a Pitiful meowing was heard from one of the shelves... looking up, he saw the cat.*

Hello there.... you should be on one of the life rafts you know... Commere little one...

*taking the cat, Austin slit open the plastic wrapping around the jet ski and placed the cat on the seat.*

it's not luxury accomidations but it will have to do.

*Securing another oxygen tank, Austin reseals the plastic slice and after double checking it, turns the knob, releasing a small trickle of oxygen into the bag, slowly inflating it and proving air for the new passenger inside. Securing the DPV (Diver Propulsion Vehicle) to himself, he secured his mask and scuba tanks. bracing himself, he opened the hatch leading to the flooded floors and held on while the water rushed in. after long minutes, the pressure within the hold was equalized and with a mighty heave, the hull door slowly opened. pushing the packages out, Austin floated up towards the small... Very small cluster of lifeboats. being tossed on the surface.*

Irving grabbed the card and looked away from the running man. He put the card in and opened the door. Irving looked at the man. His knife appeared. Irving cut the bonds that were on Finn and looked at him straight in the eyes. Then the power caught off.

"Your coming with me to the life boats."

Irving had the knife right at Finn's neck. He and Finn made there way up to the deck. Irving moved to one of the life boats in the rear and put Finn in it. Then he used the hand-winch to move them down to the ocean. He threw the card into the ocean and coughed for a moment. Putting the away knife he looked at Finn.

"Your surprised aren't you? Well for now let's get the hell out of here and try to find your so called leader."

Finn's heart stopped when the door opened and a different man entered the room. With the appearance of the knife, his blood felt like ice. If he survived the next few minutes he would never admit it, but Finn was scared. Fear of death is something all men try valiently to breed and coerce out of their thought processes, but when that bleak moment hits, not a one of them stands unafraid, regardless of the reason. Finn was spared the humilition of being killed while tied, and was quite surprized to find himself drug along the hallways. Right now, survival was what mattered, so he quietly obeyed until they were both in the water.

"Surprized ees a bit of an undur-sta'emant."

Disregarding all else for the moment, he pulled out two oars laid along the inside of the boat along the keel. He grabbed the rail as a wave broadsided them, praying to stay upright. Oars were nearly hopeless in this storm, but they were better than floundering. He tossed one to Irving and dipped his own into the water.

"We mus' stay at angle to th'a waves!"

Originally posted by Freed Civilians

"Rachel, what is going on?"

"Human nature at it's worst, apparently", Rachel said to Malia.

A look of satisfaction crossed Rae's face as the crewman stiff armed the older passenger out of the way, $50 dollar bill still in hand. The crewman failry roared at him as he did so.

"You'll have to take the next boat, sir! These ladies were here first, and one of them is hurt."

He motioned for Rachel and Malia, and hurriedly assisted them into the boat. Within moments, they were in the water. Absently, she fingered the picture of Thad, in her left pocket, wishing he was there with her.

Rae pulled the blanket around Malia and helped her get settled, keeping an arm around her all the while. The younger woman still didn't look too steady and the water was rough.

"What's next?" she said to no one in particular. "Where do we go now?"

The family was slowly drifting off to sleep untill the loud explosions knocked them all to the floor. Alarms were sounding off, evac alarms. "Come on." Jerome said they all put on their rain gear and walked out. People were flooding the halls, some ill dressed for the bad weather.

"Where do we go?"

"Were supposed to go to our lifeboat station. Thoes explosion and this storm, this ship isn't going to stay afloat very long.

Maggie picked Molly up. "Hold on tight babe."

They went out on the deck in the pouring rain and high seas.

Irving started to paddle. He wonder if he would regret. Of in the distant he saw that the boat was slowly. As Irving tried to get his oar to come down at the same time as Finn's oar. He looked at him and back toward the ship.

"So do you have and idea how we will find your boss? Also forget to introduce myself. I'm Irving Morrel. Remember once we find your boss to tell him that I saved your skin from sinking with that ship."

As he said the last sentence, he pointed toward the sinking ship.

Irving started to paddle. He wonder if he would regret. Of in the distant he saw that the boat was slowly. As Irving tried to get his oar to come down at the same time as Finn's oar. He looked at him and back toward the ship.

"So do you have and idea how we will find your boss? Also forget to introduce myself. I'm Irving Morrel. Remember once we find your boss to tell him that I saved your skin from sinking with that ship."

As he said the last sentence, he pointed toward the sinking ship.

Finn nodded with a grunt. Most of his attention was fixed securely on navigating the high swells. Already he was soaked from the heavy rain, and the spray blowing off the tops of the waves.

"We worry abou' ge'ting t'ru dis storm firs'. T'at be prioritee."

His head was down, sheidling his face as much as possible from the tempest. The part of his mind not worried about the immediate situation was running through a dozen different scenarios. If they found Slade, while he was still a prisoner to Irving, he was a dead man for certain.

The jet Skit hit the water, perhaps a little harder than i would have liked, but it didn't really matter. I dropped the surf boards one at at time onto the storage truck attached to the back of the ski. Then i dove into the water and started attaching the boards to the truck with the ankle lines, effectivly turning each one into another truck. When I was done I mounted the bike and looked back up at the deck. There where only a few people left, but they where madly trying to get into the last few boats. A distressed looking family stood looking around. I stood up on the bike and whistled loudly, motioning for them to come over.

"This is all my fault....If I could have stopped that bruja."

Malia couldn't help but think of the women, and how all this must have been because of her. Malia had seen her at the bar earlier that night, and then was unsuccessful of the interception of the bag and it's contents.

So much for "finding myself", she thought.

"Rachel, this can't be how everything was supposed to turn out. Not at all."

Lirano Erebus awoke to the unexpected sensation of a disturbing amount of water soaking into his clothing and skin. He struggled to sit up from his place on the bed, and once his brain started working again he noticed that water was rapidly rising around him. What the hell? He resolved not to ever get drunk again. Either this was a disaster or he was hallucinating, and neither of those possibilities appealed to him.

He moved rather unsteadily off the bed, which was floating a little now, and made his way out of his cabin. There were very few people on the currently quickly sinking ship. Most were in the water at this point, he figured. He crawled and dragged himself along until he found a table sliding along the deck. He examined the table with bleary eyes heavy from the alcohol, and shrugged. This will have to do. He pushed the table to where the water was rushing onto the deck, and held on tight. As the water rose, he would become part of the sea. But preferably not so much a part of the sea that he died in it.

Finn nodded with a grunt. Most of his attention was fixed securely on navigating the high swells. Already he was soaked from the heavy rain, and the spray blowing off the tops of the waves.

"We worry abou' ge'ting t'ru dis storm firs'. T'at be prioritee."

His head was down, sheidling his face as much as possible from the tempest. The part of his mind not worried about the immediate situation was running through a dozen different scenarios. If they found Slade, while he was still a prisoner to Irving, he was a dead man for certain.

As Irving started to brace himself for a wave he looked out toward the open ocean. He wondered what lay ahead. The wave splashed and he became wet. Irving saw some off in the distance, but took no note of it.

"So do you have any idea how we can signal your friends? I really don't see this boat lasting threw this storm... I know that they are probably on a more stable boat, then this one."

As Irving started to brace himself for a wave he looked out toward the open ocean. He wondered what lay ahead. The wave splashed and he became wet. Irving saw some off in the distance, but took no note of it.

"So do you have any idea how we can signal your friends? I really don't see this boat lasting threw this storm... I know that they are probably on a more stable boat, then this one."

Finn threw his back into his work, fighting the small boat's natural tendancy to turn broadside to the waves.

"She gonna have to last. T'ey too far to see. T'e plan was for dis'tance. T'ree miles 'tween da boats."

He wanted to ration his strength, but that would do no good. The storm was supposed to be small. Supposed to be short lived. But out on the open water, "supposed to" meant next to nothing. Only time would tell.

Rachel fingered the picture of Thad once again in her pocket. She was sad, she was scared, but most of all, she was getting angry. She had come on this trip to "learn how to live again", on the advice of a dear friend. She wasn't about to give up on that now.

"Dammit, Malia!", Rae yelled, startling the younger woman. "Do you want to live?"

Malia looked at Rae as if she'd gone temporarily mad.

Rae continued on, sounding strangely sane. "Well, Malia, I want to live, so we are going to bust our asses so that we do, you got me?"

Rae just looked at Malia, waiting for an answer.

Finn threw his back into his work, fighting the small boat's natural tendency to turn broadside to the waves.

"She gonna have to last. T'ey too far to see. T'e plan was for dis'tance. T'ree miles 'tween da boats."

He wanted to ration his strength, but that would do no good. The storm was supposed to be small. Supposed to be short lived. But out on the open water, "supposed to" meant next to nothing. Only time would tell.

"Okay..."

Irving started to make a good pace that would not exhaust all of his enegry. He wondered when the storm was going to end, but saw the boat slowly sink into the ocean. He saw one last piece, then it disappeared into the dark mass.

"Well there goes the ship..."

*Keeping next to the Jet Ski and the drum of gass, Austin slowly rose to the surface using the PDV. as the three of them broke the surface, he grabbed his diving knife and slit open the plastic and duct tape wrapping surrounding the jet ski. the winds and waves almost drowned out the yeowling of the cat as it was now stuck in the rain. *

Sorry kitty, we're all wet now!

*Grabbing the can of fuel, Austin climbed aboard and secured it and the cat on the jet ski. The engine sputtered to life and Dr James started to search for the liferaft with his three patients onboard.*

*A quick glance backed up what he determined when he dove out of the hold. the ship has completely sunk, she was gone.*

They were directed to one of the lifeboats.
The two patients, two of the waiters with the backpacks, Ali and herself.
The boat was lowered slowly into the sea, Karyn trembling from head to foot, the phobia she had of water now taking over all of her thoughts, until the groans from one of the men put all thoughts of herself to one side.

I promised to help with these two men, I will help with these two men.
I just wish I'd never seen all those film of the Titanic...

Ali and herself were helping the waiters row, trying to get as much distance between themselves and the ship which was now going down fast.

"Brace yourselves ladies, when she finally goes, she will send waves that'll rock this boat like a piece of driftwood."

As the ship took it's final lurch, it creaked and groaned as though it was in it's death throes, then slid down under the water and all was suddenly deathly quiet.

The wave when it hit the small boat seemed to come from nowhere and for several moments Karyn thought it would capsize, but the two men worked hard and managed to keep it upright.

Finally, all they had to contend with was the storm....and even that seemed to be losing a lot of it's power.

*piloting the jet ski around, Austin managed to tow some of the passengers to some flotsam and jetsam around. including some surfboards, and other floatation devices he chucked out of the hold. he managed to locate the raft with his three passengers.*

MS PETERSON... HOW'S THE LEG DOING?!

*Austin had to shout to be heard above the sound of the storm.*

One of the objects floating nearby, turned out to be the doc on a jet-ski.
He was shouting over the noise of the storm, asking about her leg...she had all but forgotten about the gunshot wounds.

"Fine thanks....will you come on board....I think this guy here is in need of some doctoring."
She cupped her hands over her mouth to call an answer.

She pointed towards the man who was groaning....his pulse was very slow and weak by now.

"Fine thanks....will you come on board....I think this guy here is in need of some doctoring."
She cupped her hands over her mouth to call an answer.

*Shakes his head*
not right now... keep him warm! If I try to get on now, I might tip you all over, but here is someone that needs a dryer spot...

*Pulling up next to the lifeboat, the Doc transferres a very wet, very unhappy cat over to the lifeboat.*

I'll swing by later, but right now, I'm trying to keep those in the water in one piece!

She put the rather wet and unhappy looking cat in the bottom of the boat...

"Oh you poor puss...Sorry it's not dry, but if we survive this, I promise I'll make it up to you....Oh before you go doc...which way is that island you mentioned....?"

Before she heard his reply, another large wave rocked the boat and took the doc jet-ski and all, out of sight.

"Oh before you go doc...which way is that island you mentioned....?"
Nor---est

*The doc reply was interrupted by a crash of thunder, and a wave came up and seperated the jet ski and the Life raft.*

*looking around Austin noticed another boat being overtuned by a wave, most of the people had their life vests on, but... Damnit! some didn't. Throttling the engine, Austin sped over towards the floundering people and started to pull them to the still floating lifeboat.*

"Hold on to the sides, keep a firm hold on the ropes. people with vests on, give priorty to those who don't have their vests!"

*panicing, the people started to grab on and try to pull themselves onto the Jet Ski.*

One at a time! this thing cannot hold more than two people... one at a time!

*but no one was listening.*

"Ali, did you catch what he said? Was it North West? Does anyone have a compass?"

Ali shook her head.
"I never caught a word of it, that crash of thunder took his words away."

One of the waiters produced a small package from a pocket in the side of the boat.

"A compass Miss, if it'll do any good.
There is also a whistle and a few flares...standard stuff for these life rafts I believe."

Karyn looked at the compass he was holding out toward her.

"I wouldn't know how to use it...does anyone?"

"I understand perfectly. I will do anything that will keep me alive."

Malia was startng to realize the reality of their situation, and was prepared to save her and Rachel's lives, at any cost.

*Pulled off of the Jet Ski by a mob of swimmers, Austin dived deep below. he fixed his diving mask and put the scuba mouthpeice back into his mouth and took in a deep breath...*

*Pulling out his diving knife, he swam up, underneith the jet ski and cut loose the 2 PDVs that he had attached there as well as the gas can. unable to keep the can boyant, he let it sink towads the ship at the bottom. turning on one of the PDVs, he watch from underneath as the swimmers in the water swam to the nearest liferaft and began to climb into it... against the protests of the passengers already on board. as is inevitable, the raft broke apart, overloaded with people. breaking the surface, he saw as the people in the water fan out, spashing their way to other nearby rafts... looking in horror, he realized the boat with the injured people on were directly in their path.*

*using the PDV, Austin came up and under the liferaft and cutting the holding rope along the side, he fastened them to the PDV and turned it on. hoping to tug one lifeboat away from the frantic mob who, in their blind fright, would capsize it and plunge others into their fate. He just hoped that the small engine in the PDV was enough.*

Jerome, Maggie, and Molly struggled onto a boat, barely making it. The in shock, and they saw unfolding violence. Jerome recalled seeing a flair gun, but that was probably long gone

Apparently the family didn't see me. Oh well. Plenty of others needed help that where already int he water. I started powering away from the ship as it went under. The shear mass of the ship displaced enough water that once it went under, the water began to pull back to fill the gap the ship used to occupy. It started dragging some of the boats back towards it, capsising a few of them. I started hit the gas and headed towards one of them. Yelling various things along the lines of 'Grab hold of the boat' or 'Stop panicing.' Not many listened. So i just started tossing out life vests near the boat and hoped those that didn't already have them would find their way to one. Hopefully. It was still dark and the only real light came from the frequent lightnigh burts in the clouds.

God help them.

I pulled out the GPS handheld and started it up.

Please let there be land, please let there be land.

The satalight image showed that the storm they had plowed into was way bigger than when it started. Looked like what a typhoon my grow out of. Not friendly. A second later the lard mass indicator cam online.

Well, at least i know God doesn't hate me too much.

There was a little strip of land about 5 nautical miles north-west of here. I powered over a big wave and looked around, trying to see if there where any crew boat nearby. Suprisingly enough, there was one of my old jet skis., but it was being swarmed with people.

Son of a bitch. That was probably a crewman. Never again will i work on a cruiser.

I headed over to it and started pulling people off, yelling at them to get on the surfboards I was towing instead.

Faith had grown so accustomed to the rolling waves that there was a gradual feeling of "wrongness" when they stopped. She had fallen asleep in the bridge with her head and arms resting atop the depth gauge.

"Good morning."

Santigo was watching her. He smiled as she woke and smoothed her hair.

"The storm has stopped?"

Slade looked at her with that usual brooding expression. His voice was its usual soft tone. Almost unnervingly so.

"Yes. But we're off course and listing."

She nodded and slowly sat upright. Listing was a potential problem, but nothing serious yet.

*The Battery of the PDV gave out several hours ago, and Austin had switched to another PDV. however, after a couple of hours, that too died. and now, his tank depleted, Austin shucked it and bobbed in the ocean, marvelling at it's calmness. ahead, he could make out the island... a good distance away, but at least it was in sight. he grabbed the side of the boat and, after some warning, climbed aboard. the boat was filled with the two injured crewmen, and some crew and alot of passengers. Scanning the horizon, he made out a few other liferafts, all headed in his direction... and what looks like another jet ski.*

*checking on the two shot crewmen, Austin immediately noticed that the one with the pierced lung had passed on during the storm... Closing the dead crewman's eyes, he quitely turned to the other injured man.*

Still with us? Good.

First order of business... *with a short prayer, the dead crewman was given a burial at sea. his body bobbing away as the life raft was rowed toward the island.*

"Well, seeing that we are all together on this ship, the S.S. (glances over the side) 14-F I think it's time we introduce ourselves."

My name is Dr Austin James, I'm the Doctor of what was the luxury liner that we were on.

A few people i managed to save off the other jet ski and the sinking rafter near by. but when they started trying to get on mine, i had to haul out of there.
Hours had passed. The people who where fortunate enough to get out of that hell where begining to show signs of sleep deprivation and where starting to loos thier grip on the surfboards. There was nothing i could do about that. I jsut prayed that we'd get to the island soon. I couldn't speed up at all or i'd just knock them off faster. There had been other life rafts along the way and i had pointed them in the right direction, but my own lack of sleep was starting to eat away my patience. I checked the GPS again.

Not far now. Maybe another hour.

Ricky was now in charge of a small girl and her 'dolly'.
Just at a time when he need no responsibility whatsoever, he had been handed a child by the captain.

Find her parents, easier said than done in this melee.

He picked her up to get along faster, he knew the ship was about to go down, and he didn't intend to go down with her.

"Alright sweetheart, I guess you and dolly don't want to go swimming do you?
So, what we are going to do, is get into one of the small boats over there with some other people, and then try to find your Mommy and Daddy, does that sound fine to you?"

"Yes, I 'spect so.
Mommy says I mustn't talk to strange men though."

"Well I think that just this once it's ok.
So what is your name?"

"Susie, and this is Patty."

She waved her doll in front of his face, almost making him trip over a box someone had brought from their cabin, but discarded as they were about to board a life raft.

That had been some time ago, and now they were sitting in the middle of a life raft.
The ship had gone down and the storm seemingly had passed. The sea had now calmed somewhat from how it had been, and Ricky could now chat with Susie.

"How would you like me to be your pretend Grandpa, just until we find Mommy and Daddy?"

She ran her hand playfully through his beard.

"My real Grandpa has whiskers, but biggerer ones than yours. Will we find Mommy soon, I'm hungry."

"I guess you are sweetheart, I have got some chocolate here if you want a small piece of that."

She shook her head and lay down with a big yawn, resting her head on his chest, and was soon asleep.

Poor wee thing, it must have been an awful long night for her, God knows it has been a long one for me.

He took his jacket off, and wrapped it around the small sleeping form.

As the sun started to show above the horizon, Ricky could see various floating objects and rafts, some with people clinging on to them, others just bobbing about with the motion of the water.

In the distance was another life raft, it looked as full as the one he was in.

A flock of gulls screamed overhead, telling him that there was land somewhere nearby, and when he looked in the direction the rafts were heading, he could see the dark shape of land.

His heart lightened a little at the sight.

Remarkably, the boat Rae and Malia were in had stayed intact, and those manning the oars had followed the lead of the others. She could see an island in front of them, now, and they were aimed in that direction.

She nudged the younger woman slightly, "You still with me Malia?" A tired grin crossed Rachel's face. "Don't give up now, we've made it this far!"

Grimly, Rae wondered what awaited them on the island.

Pleasure cruise, indeed.

Malia was startled awake by the sound of Rae's voice.

"Yeah, I'm here." She sat up straight and yawned.

"I thought it was all a dream, so much for wishful thinking."

Then Malia noticed what Rae was staring at, a small strip of land, possibly an island or even maybe a key, breaking the blue water into a blinding mass of green trees and white sand.

The island, which Malia decided it was, was covered in green foilage. It was flat around the coast on the side they were heading toward, yet inclined into a large knoll, and eventually a mountain, most likely of volcanic origin. Malia saw no superficial signs of life, but dreaded to find out what things awaited them.

Simply put, Finn was exhausted. His arms were sore and shaking for fighting so long against the might of the storm. He was grateful for the lull in activity and the calmer waters. They had steered away from the other lifeboats, which were now tiny white dots all in a line and headed for some godforsaken, moss-covered rock in the middle of the ocean. He let go of the oar in its mooring, allowing the paddle to rest in the water. With a trained eye, he scanned the horizon. In the age of sail, another ship would have been much easier to pick out than the streamlined and largely flat profile of the fishing rig An Buile. As it was he spotted nothing but sea and sky. The temperature was starting to pick up with the storm's death and the rising sun. Remaining exposed on the water with no provisions was a terrible idea.

"Lee'son. We can' stay out here. No wadder, we dehydra'e."

Picking up the oar, he coaxed a bit more strength out of his fatigued muscles and forced the craft on a heading which would take them to the island.

"We mus' go t'ere." He indicated the island with an inclination of his head. "After rest, supplies, t'en we can try again. If we keep going righ' now, we die ou' here."

Only three men on the ship knew his affliation, and one was sitting in the boat with him. If the other two had survived, Finn delighted at the prospect of retribution. He considered it an added bonus to survival.

"Be'sides. We 'ave t'is boat. Mebbe we can give 'er a sail. Make th' work easier."

As the storm died down Irving looked toward the bright sun. The light went threw the dark clouds. It looked beautiful. He would have to remind himself of this moment when he got back home. Once he saw Finn put down his oar, Irving did the same. During that time he polished his knife. It gleamed from the sun. He wondered how they hell they were going to get out of this situation when Finn started to talk.

"Okay, then let's get to the island. I haven't seen any of the other boats from the cruise ship. It seems like no one, but us got away from it. I know there are other survivors, but where are they? It seems like they disappeared."

Irving picked up his oar and started to row again. Every time he looked toward the island it seemed to get closer. He looked toward Finn and coughed.

"Hey, you never told me what your name is. What is it?"

As i was the only one with a motor, i made it to the island first. The people holding on to the surf boards i was towing gratfully let go and collapsed in the sand. I dragged the jet ski up onto the beach a little ways, then dropped down into the sand myself. Other boats would start arriving soon. I pulled the flare gun out of the jet-ski survival pack, loaded it and sent up a flare. Hopefully the people on the boats would head for where it came from and wind up on the same beach as me. All there was to do now was wait. I lay back in the sand and rested. The morning sun did wonders for the stress. I looked back down towards the water. A few people managed to crawl their way out of the slop, but a few just passed out in it. I sighed, got up and went to drag them out of the reach of the waves.

The doctor had climbed onto the life boat, and after the funeral of the dead crewman, everyone had wearily introduced themselves.

Karyn fell asleep, to dream of herself sinking under with the ship.

She was woken by Ali shaking her.

"Sorry hun, but you were shouting and you almost kicked the cat, besides, I thought you might be interested to know that we getting very close to that island."

"Thank goodness the storm stopped." Maggie said

Molly put her hood down, same with her parents. "You all right sweetie?"

"Yes ma'ma."

"Is that an island?"

"Where?"

"There."

"Maggie that...That is an island."

"Does anyone know were lost?"

"Yeah probably. I'm sure a Mayday call went out."

"We have no clothes though. Just our coats." Maggie said. Jerome was dressed but she was still half naked. Molly was in her P.J.'s but they were all soaked to the bone.

"Ah, we're farmers not sailors. There is no way we can survive."

"Jerome!"

"Sorry Maggie."

The boat roughly jerked as it tossled in the surf. Malia and Rae were on the sandy beach in seconds. Malua fell to her knees and felt the sand.

Safety, for now, she thought.

She looked around at the beach about a mile the the left she saw people sloshing onto the beach.

"I don't know if this is a good idea, but it sure won't make us any worse-off." Malia said to Rae. She grabbed her hand and began to trapse down the beach, amidst complaints from Rae.

"Do you know what you're doing?" asked Rae. "Maybe that head injury made you insane, or maybe you were insane before, how the heck should I know."

"Those people were probably on the ship with us. We might recognize them, better yet, maybe they'll be able to tell us what is going on. They might know something we don't."

The two women walked along the beach toward the other survivors. As they walked closer, Malia began to recognize one man. She began to run.

"Surfer! Hey! Surfer!" Malia yelled. It was the only perosn she knew on the entire crew.

Rae thought Malia might just actually be crazy, but was actually relieved when the younger woman recognized someone.

While she was less than enthused with the idea of someone known as "Surfer", it was still better than knowing no one.

She hurried after Malia up the beach.

Someone up the beach started yelling. Must be another landing group. I looked over my shoulder and running up the beach was the other girl from earlier tonight.

Oh god, what was her name? Mary? Merissa? May...lyn? Malia. Thats it. Malia.

I waved. There was another girl with her. She was vaguely familiar but not someone I had met. Another passenger propably. At this rate i was going to be outnumbered in no time.

Meianna and her best freind Ayla (Kanami's character) were wondering the jungles of the island. Both were young teenage girls born and raised on the island. Meianna was 5'5 about the same height as Ayla. She had tan skin and long brown hair, that extended nearly to her waiste. Ayla was a little diffrent, she had lighter skin and raven black hair that was tied back a little more neatly than Meianna's free brown hair.

"Mighty storm blew through here last night wouldn't you say?"

She asked to Ayla

Meianna had on more traditional clothes, while Ayla had on a denim style sundress. Many of the islanders had clothes you could only find in modern countries, due to the often ship wrecks or otherwise cargo lost during storms.

"Yes it was. I'm glad we weren't out on the sea when it struck. I do hope the poor fishers from the other isles made it back all right."

They came to the beach.

"What on earth? Oh dear, Meianna, thoes must be shipwrecked sailors! We need to help them!"

Both girls ran down to the shore.

"Maybe I should fetch Lady Quanzitta or the other fishers. We don't have a boat."

"No time. We have to catch them, if they drift over to far...I don't want to think about."

The island right next to their was a canabalist island. They ate anyone that came w/o hestiation.

They waded into the water together.

The ship with the injured passengers made slow progress to the island. in the distance, they saw another island, however, opted to make for the nearer one. Going though the packs, Austin made sure his spplies were mostly intact.

Well, Meds won't be a problem, food and water will be.

Ok, I don't know how many others will have survived, but we all need to work together to survive until help arrives.


Hehehe... Think of it as ultimate Survivor... without the fun and games that is...

"Hello!" Ayla called out. She was handed a long vine.

"I hope they can understand me. Hello! If you can understand me, grab this vine!"

She waded deeper into the water untill she was in a swim. She managed to toss the vine.

*From the beach, one of the natives came out and was shouting something... but it was in a language unknown to them. She swam out and tossed a rope? towards them, and Austin caught it. Realizing it was a vine, he started pulling them towards shore (with alot of assistance from the waves.) and soon the liferaft was beached.*


Err... THANK YOU. NICE OF YOU TO HELP.

Two girls came running towards then, and one of them spoke.
She couldn't understand a word that what said, but the girls smiled and the one who spoke threw a rope of sorts to them, so Karyn supposed they were friendly.
The doc caught the rope, and heaved the life raft onto the beach.

The cat lifted his head and sniffed the air once or twice, then delicately jumped onto the sand, lifted his tail and stalked away, without as much as a backwards glance at the one who had saved him.

Those on board struggled off, leaving Ali and herself to help the doc get the remaining patient ashore.

Her leg was stiff from being inactive for so long, and almost gave way as she first stood, but they eventually were all on the shore facing the two native girls.
Karyn smiled and nodded.

"Thank you"

She helped pull them into the shore. She could understand a lot of what they said actually.

"goodness to heaven's." She said havily accented. "Are you peoples all right?"

Yes... quite...


*their accents were thick and rather hard to understand, but not a different language after all...*

Is there water around here?

She made out water in a question form. "Oh water?" She was baffled of course there was water, what do you call the ocean? But she came to her senses "Oh fresh water. Yes. Meianna mediopapa." A native word for water

Meianna took off her cantine of water. It was water tight pouch.

"Water?"

Ayla nodded to her.

"Water. Rest is in a fresh oasis, cental of the island. Are you fishers?"

Meianna took off her cantine of water. It was water tight pouch.

"Water?"

Ayla nodded to her.

"Water. Rest is in a fresh oasis, cental of the island. Are you fishers?"

*taking the water with a word of thanks, he bent down to the injured crewman and made sure he wasn't dihydrated.*

I've fished... but I'm not very good at it. there are more boats as well, so there will be others.

*He turned to Karyn.* Here, let me take a look at your leg.

Sitting on an old tree trunk, she lifted her nightdress to let the doc look at her wound, feeling rather foolish in front of the two native girls for being caught out in her nightclothes.

She pointed to the water canteen.
"Mediopapa?"

She walked over and knelt down handing her the cantine.

"Drink."

Wincing as the doctor changed the dressing on her leg, she gratefully sipped on the water, handing the canteen back to the girl.

She placed her hand on her chest saying "Karyn", and repeated the action, then pointed to the girl.
"You are....."

Sitting on an old tree trunk, she lifted her nightdress to let the doc look at her wound, feeling rather foolish in front of the two native girls for being caught out in her nightclothes.

She pointed to the water canteen.
"Mediopapa?"

Going native huh? ;)

*reaching into one of the large backpacks, Austin removed a fresh roll of bandages and began re-wrapping Karyn's leg. When he was done, he turned to the two native women...*

My name is Austin.

*He chuckled as Karyn did the same thing.*

Laughing rather nervously, as she and the doc had the same thought at the same time, she shook her head.

"No, not native, but I always think it somewhat rude when in someone elses land, not to try and say a few words of their language, and I never had the chance to try it before."

She walked back to the injured man. He looked a little better for having had some water.

"Do you think doctor, that we should join those others over there."

She nodded towards a spot further along the beach, where there were several others struggling from the sea.

"They might need your services."

Laughing rather nervously, as she and the doc had the same thought at the same time, she shook her head.

"No, not native, but I always think it somewhat rude when in someone elses land, not to try and say a few words of their language, and I never had the chance to try it before."

She walked back to the injured man. He looked a little better for having had some water.

"Do you think doctor, that we should join those others over there."

She nodded towards a spot further along the beach, where there were several others struggling from the sea.

"They might need your services."Good Eyes...

*With a groan, Austin stood up and helped guid the other survivors over to the shaded trees.*

Rae gave up running after Malia. She didn't have a clue who "Surfer" was, and was in no hurry to find out. After all, she didn't even really know who Malia was!

She turned, and noticed that others, presumeably from the downed liner, were on shore back behind her.

With a sigh, she headed back in the direction from where they had first made it ashore.

Wincing as the doctor changed the dressing on her leg, she gratefully sipped on the water, handing the canteen back to the girl.

She placed her hand on her chest saying "Karyn", and repeated the action, then pointed to the girl.
"You are....."



"Ayla. My name is Ayla. This is my freind Meianna."

"Ayla...hello.
Meianna..hello, both very pretty names."

She smiled and held out her hand.

She turned her head as she heard someone coming towards her from the opposite direction.
It was another woman...a little older than herself, and by the looks of her also from the ship.

"Hi...did you come from the ship too?"

The Pers scrambled onto shore, with the young native girls helping the many people. The sun was burning down and they took off their coats. Maggie was a bit embarassed still being in her underwear.

"What a relife there are people here."

"Yes, I'm from the ship also, Rachel Lang here, feel free to call me Rae. Do we have any idea yet how many survived and made it here?"

"Hello Rae...I'm Karyn Peterson.
I don't think we can tell yet how many have made it. The doctor is here though."

She pointed towards where the doc was examining a young girl.

"At least the natives seem friendly enough. Were you travelling with anyone?"

"I was with someone named Malia. Apparently, she was caught up in what happened on board. After we landed here, she ran off up the beach after someone she called "Surfer"..."

Rae shrugged.

"I don't know who he is, but I assume he's from our ship. Malia...may be delusional. She took a blow to the head, apparently from those who took over the liner...."

*Austin lead the little girl and other passengers to the shaded trees.*

"Ok, now, stay together and don't wander far, this Island is a home to several people, we don't want to be rude now."

"They shot me in the leg after tying me up, if you find Malia again, maybe the doc had better take a look at her too."

She sat down under a large tree, suddenly feeling drained of all energy and fighting back the urge to bury her head in her lap and sob, instead she took the child on her lap and hugged her tight.

"Are you ok dear?"

The child squirmed and tried to move, so Karyn let her go and closed her eyes as sleep overtook her.

"Wake me up if anything happens, won't you."

She spoke to no one in particular.

Malia noticed Rae had fell behind her and retreated.

In front of her laid the Surfer, a man she barely knew. A man who was even kind of rude to her when they met.

Behind her was the only woman who helped her when she was in need.

She stood still for a moment, waved at the surfer, and turned around and headed back toward Rae.

So much for him....

Rae was sitting under a tree with a women with a leg injury whom Malia remembered from the cruise, and a young girl.

"Rae. I...I...I don't know."

She collapsed onto the sand and sighed.

"I have a killer headache. And I wish one of my guitars would wash up."

She shut her eyes and began to pray.

Lord, keep me and everyone else safe. Let us somehow survive.

She collapsed onto the sand and sighed.
She shut her eyes
*Austin looked around and saw another woman with a head injury, careful not to disturb her, he examined her wound.*

Shallow cut, nice crack to the head, but no frature, gotta watch for a concussion...

*Carefully he cleaned the wound and wrapped it with a clean bandage.* Standing up, he looked around for any others with injuries.

Malia felt the doctor examine her head, but she didn't care.

After he was finished, she sat up and said, "Thank you, sir."

Malia felt the doctor examine her head, but she didn't care.

After he was finished, she sat up and said, "Thank you, sir."

the woman sat up and Austin put his hand on her shoulder.

Woah... get some rest. that's a nasty bump on your head... so lie down and let your body heal.

The life boat that Ricky and Susie were in bounced along under the blaze of the sun, following one or two others as the strip of land became ever nearer.
Susie must have been hot, hungry and missing her parents but never complained.
She showed signs of an understanding above her years, and accepted her fate without question.
An undercurrent took the boat back out to sea rapidly, and those who were rowing had to use their strength to get it back on track.
They lost sight of the others, but managed to come ashore at the mouth of what looked like a small river.

Ricky helped to drag the boat onto the shore, and it was secured so that the returning tide wouldn't take it back out.

The small group, about twelve in all, followed the river a way, till they came to thicket of trees.
Here, they all agreed was a good place to rest and get their bearings.

Ricky set Susie carefully onto a moss covered tree root.

"Stay there sweetheart, I'm going to find something to fetch you a drink of water in."

He searched around nearby and came across several gourds that had fallen from a tree.
Some had split in half when they landed, and the flesh had either rotted away or been eaten by insects or small animals...either way they made ideal bowls.
He selected two and taking them to the rivers edge carefully washed them and filled them with water.
Susie was sitting exactly as he had left her but as he approached, she smiled and ran towards him.

"Grandpa..you came back."

"Of course I did sweetheart, I said I would bring you water and look, here it is. Sit back down like a good girl and drink it down, not too fast mind, a wee sip at a time."

He joined her on the tree root, and the water was almost as good as the best champagne.

As the storm died down Irving looked toward the bright sun. The light went threw the dark clouds. It looked beautiful. He would have to remind himself of this moment when he got back home. Once he saw Finn put down his oar, Irving did the same. During that time he polished his knife. It gleamed from the sun. He wondered how they hell they were going to get out of this situation when Finn started to talk.

"Okay, then let's get to the island. I haven't seen any of the other boats from the cruise ship. It seems like no one, but us got away from it. I know there are other survivors, but where are they? It seems like they disappeared."

Irving picked up his oar and started to row again. Every time he looked toward the island it seemed to get closer. He looked toward Finn and coughed.

"Hey, you never told me what your name is. What is it?"

"Finn. T'is ees my name."

The small clump of land seperated as they approached, and proved to be a small chain or grouping of sorts. There were two bigger islands, though big might be an exaggeration, and several others that amounted to little more than a clump of rock protruding from the waves. Straining, he spotted several small white boats on the farther of the two main islands.

"I t'ink mebbe th' udder survivors are t'ere.."

He indicated the island with a nod of the head and aiming their craft in that general direction.

Aaliyah stood hidden in the bushes and trees watching as people pulled them selves out of the serf and slowly gathered in a small group on the beach. She watched, noting the two native girls that seemed to be helping. Aly sighed and turned back in to the jungle not ready to make her self known quite yet, for the time being she was content to observe from the outside.

Rae approached the doctor, with a tired smile.

"Hi, Doc", she said, extending her hand. "I'm Rae Lang. Just wanted to thank you for looking after Malia. We weren't traveling together, and all I know is that she took a blow to the head."

Rae looked at him for a moment, considering her next words.

"I don't know where we are Doc, but we're going to need to have shelter for the night. I snagged a blanket for Malia as we were leaving the ship, but I suspect we've got next to no other supplies."

She waved her arm at the two obvious native girls.

"Have you tried communicating with them at all?"

"Hi, Doc", she said, extending her hand. "I'm Rae Lang. Just wanted to thank you for looking after Malia. We weren't traveling together, and all I know is that she took a blow to the head."
No problem, she took a nasty bump but should only have to deal with a major headache...
"I don't know where we are Doc, but we're going to need to have shelter for the night. I snagged a blanket for Malia as we were leaving the ship, but I suspect we've got next to no other supplies."*Austin grinned at what she said, but didn't offer any contradictions.*

well, *indicating to the two natives that were helping them.* they are the experts here. so I think we can manage shelter, and with some rationing, food as well. Of course all that will be temporary... untill we're rescued that is.

"Have you tried communicating with them at all?"oh yes, their english is heavily accented, but understandable.

Finn was more than tempted just to land on the closer island and be done with it. Avoid the survivors altogether, but a nagging thought at the back of his mind urged him to keep going. With Irving's help, he pulled their little boat through the waves on a coarse that went around the closer island to the back, where they could remain out of sight should the survivors take notice. Right now, he'd be jumped and skinned alive, no doubt. If he was to survive, he needed to stay out of sight. And if he wanted to kill those who had captured him.. he needed the element of surprize.

The small boat slipped around a westward point, bringing them to the lee side of the island. There was no breeze here to aid them, but conversely the waves were far calmer. A high rocky ridge seperated this portion of the island from easy access to the other side. He aimed for a small inlet well away from the landing party.

Irving directed the boat away from the survivors. He knew it wouldn't go so well with the others if they find out if he helped Finn out. As he landed the boat he jumped into the water and dragged the boat unto the land. He collapsed on the sand and looked toward the blue sky.

"Hey Finn do you have any weapons? If you do can you give them to me?"

Rae looked out to sea, and could see no other boats in the water, heading for their position.

"Doc, are our patients all in good shape to move? I'd rather see us in a safe haven early, than trying to do it as daylight fails."

And daylight provides better scouting opportunities.

Rae didn't want to voice her thoughts out loud, just yet.

The hum of voices penetrated through the fog of sleep, and Karyn was awake once more.
The survivors seemed to be spread about across the beach, and it seemed there were no more to come ashore.
Rae and the doc were involved in a serious looking discussion and the young girl who she had seen in the bar, was it only last night, was sitting with her head in her hands a few feet away.

I wonder if that's Malia who Rae mentioned.

The native girls were going amongst the other survivors, seemingly making themselves known to all.

A few of the people who had landed with me started migrating up the beach. There must have been another camp up there. I poked the few that where still resting and pointed them in that direction. I couldn't see any other life boats on the water, so i descided i should make my way over with the others.

Ayla saw the small family of three huddled together, cearly badly shaken and frightend. Nobody else seemed to pay much attention to them and she figured while Meiana fetched more water she would give the last of her water. She knelt down to offer the three water, although there wasn't much in the cantine left.

"Water?"

Jerome gave his wife and child the rest of the water. He thanked the young girl. Maggie leaned against Jerome Molly curled up in her mother's armes.

Irving directed the boat away from the survivors. He knew it wouldn't go so well with the others if they find out if he helped Finn out. As he landed the boat he jumped into the water and dragged the boat unto the land. He collapsed on the sand and looked toward the blue sky.

"Hey Finn do you have any weapons? If you do can you give them to me?"
"Are you crazee?"

Finn hopped out as well as they neared the shore to undertake the familiar task of beaching the small boat well away from the high tide mark. They dragged it as close to the trees as possible, using the wide leaves as a sort of natural cover.

"We may 'ave a temp'rary part'nership, but if you t'ink I'd let you 'ave th' onlee weapons.. crazee. Beside. One of t'ose men must 'ave takeen it."

He gestured loosely towards where the ship had been, once. True, he no longer had his automatic.

The Matabele scouts observed each of groups of castaways as they struggled ashore, carefully noting their number and location. The moorage and hiding place of the surviving lifeboats were memorized. A sneer emerged from one of the heavily tatooed faces when the Wassinati (literally- "small-fish people") girls went to the outlanders aid. As darkness fell they slipped back to their canoe and paddled back to Avasnu.

Lanawausu, cheiftain of the Matabele, lazed by the warm embers of his evening fire. Around him his wives and children filled his lanai with noise and laughter. Across the pit his first father-in-law snored in contentment. He was about to retire when a runner bounded up the path and hurriedly spoke in low tones. His family stopped their activity. Standing, he shook the old man 's shoulder.

"Wake Babo..wake. It seems the Wassanati have unexpected guests"


The heavily lidded eyes opened,

"then we should see if their hearts are worth eating"

The cheiftain nodded and turned to the runner,
"ask the shamans to beat the great drum and have the people gather at the Lodge.

Okay, so I have a head wound! I'll survive!, thought Malia as the doctor walked off. The pain from her injury had subsided and she felt perfectly normal, besides they were on a freaking island in the middle of the ocean. Malia didn't think it was anytime to take it easy.

She turned to the woman sitting near her and said, "I remember you from the ship, what's your name?"

Nearly all the Matabele, some two hundred strong, gathered at the Lodge and listened as the cheiftain outlined his plans. Many heads nodded in agreement. Changes and suggestions were made and implemented or rejected.
Well before dawn three canoes were sent back to Paracktok. One canoe transported a new set of scouts to observe the activities on the island. The other two craft was filled with two teams of the strongest swimmers. There mission was to be dropped off well to sea and make their way, unobserved, to the grounded/hidden lifeboats and make off with them. The phrase Lanawausu had used was, "the whale has beached itself on shore, let us keep it there." His oldest daugther was on one of the swimming missions.
As those boats disappeared in the darkness, other, larger war canoes were being prepared. The cheif approached the high shaman,

"At dawn we will beat all the drums louder. Let the Wassinati hear it and soil themselves, knowing that the Matabele are on the water!"

The girl seemed to come to life all at once as the doc left and took Karyn by surprise when she spoke.

"Yes I remember you too, you were in the bar.
I'm Karyn, Hi. You are Malia? Rae mentioned that you'd been involved with the men who did this to us."

She waved her arm vaguely to take in the sea and the island.

"Me too...they shot me...I think I would have been killed but for the fact that a couple of the crew fell on top of me, so I only got it in the leg."

She sighed loudly.

"Do you think we'll be here for long before they send out the search party?"

"Men? A woman caused all my grief. That monster. I hope they send a search party, but everything happened so fast. I don't even know."

Malia fingered the trim of her parka.

"Gosh, it sure is hot!"

She shed the jacket to reveal a turquoise blue short-sleeve henley and a brown beaded necklace. She moved her body over next to Karyn.

"We're probably in this for the long haul."

"A woman? Oh...I thought it was those horrible men.
Yes, it is getting warm now, I am wearing this housecoat over my nightdress...not quite the clothes to be seen in on a tropical island."

She glanced casually at the other survivors, noting most of them were just in their nightwear as well.

" I am sure we shall be here for a while, At least there are natives here which means there must be a source of food.
I don't know about you, but I am starting to feel a bit peckish."

The Matabele swimmers came ashore with the rising tide. The castaways were still widely scattered in their camping area. There were no guards. Low conversations could be heard. Someone walked from one cluster of people to another. Working silently, a rope was secured to the aft of the lifeboat. While one watched the beach, the others hauled the boat toward the surf. when they reached the water all were harness to the boat and they swam out to sea. The watcher waited until the boat cleared the breakers, insuring that no alarm was raised, and then joined the others.

The second group slipped ashore and found the concealed boat. They, too, kept a close watch for the two men who had brought it in. In minutes, the second boat was bobbing in the water and inching its way out into the sea.

The scouting party landed in a favorite secluded spot and split up to reconnoiter the island and be in place when the main party arrived.

Each of the five war canoes held eight warriors and they flew across the water. They could already make out the outline of the landing area when those they had left behind started beating the drums.

Boom, boom,boom....boom,boom,boom....boom,boom,boom....

The closeness of Malia was sort of comforting.
She was not usually comfortable with physical contact, but after the past few hours some human warmth was half welcomed.

At first, she thought the storm was returning, but the distant sound was too constant to be thunder.

She turned to the girl.

"Can you hear something? Listen!"

"Drums. Oh no. Meianna they're back!"

"It can't be. It is, thoes drums. We have to get everyone to the village now!"

Ayla climbed up the highest point.

"Everyone!" She whistled. "Listen, my self and Meianna will guide you back to our village, it is important that you come with us right away and keep up. come with us as quick as you can please. Young ones should be carried okay?"

Something was seriously not right. It might have been the lack of sleep talking, but i could have sworn i heard drums. As i approched the doctor's group, Two girls, apparently native where begining to fret. They where telling everyone to come to thier village. Now, normally i'm a pretty easy going guy and wuld have gone along without complaint, but after having my head cracked, a friend's life threatened and my ride going down, i wasn't much in the mood. All of the survivors who had tagged along with my jetski had made it over to the group, so i turned back to retrieve it. I pushed it back into the water and started it up. I looked over my shoulder and out to sea.

Life boats? There's no way anyone was that far behind.

Whatever. I'm tired and barely have any give-a-damn left. So i just motor back up the beach towards the doc's group again.

The Matabele sprang from the canoes as they touched the shore. A larger party , including Lanawausu, sprinted thru the jungle and made for a rendevous point with the advance scouts. Their position cut-off the castaways if they made a direct path toward sanctuary at Quanzitta's village. Meanwhile the second group of 15 warriors headed down the beach making as much noise as possible to panic their victims into the waiting arms of their cheiftain. The swimming parties brought their prizes to the landing area and, leaving behind a strong guard, the remainder secured their weapons and joined in flushing the quarry.
All the Matabele remembered the strong injunction they had been given about not harming the Wassinati girls and keeping their eyes open for "the One-Who-Will-Not-Be-Seen", a powerful spirit, whose heart, if proven to be human, would be well worth eating.
Still the sound echoed across the water, Boom, boom, boom....Boom, boom, boom......Boom, boom, boom

Finn's heart might as well have been in his ears for the sound pulsing through the foliage. He froze at the first beat, recognizing the cadence from his younger days, when he'd learned to handle a johnboat with two sets of oars. The drum was far less taxing than a bosun screaming out the rhythm. Of course, shanties did just as well. For a moment he wondered if he'd stepped back in time. No one used drums for timing anymore... now they all had engines. The noise was coming from somewhere ahead, on the other side of that high rocky ridge. They were safe enough for now, but something about the drum was remniscient of a war chant. He felt a great need for caution. Holding a silencing finger to his lips, he looked to Irving, and inclined his head toward the ridge. Silently and as carefully and as covertly as possible, he wanted to scout whatever lay beyond.

Susie very carefully drank the water a small sip at a time as Ricky had told her.
She snuggled up close to him and put Patti safely in between them.

"Grandpa, is someone having a party?"

She looked up enquiringly.

"Whatever do you mean sweetheart?"

"I can hear music and loud voices, just like when Mommy and Daddy have a party."

"Be quiet for a moment then and let me listen."

The trouble with getting older, your hearing goes along with everything else.

He cupped his hand around his ear, sure enough he could here the beating of drums, and what sounded like someone shouting.

One of the others, a young man, from the life-raft had been foraging a little way off from the group and of a sudden came running over to Ricky.

"Quick, pick up the girl. There is another group just around there with a couple of native girls. The girls are calling some kind of warning. I think trouble is coming."

The 'music' began to make sense now, native drums. He recalled from other sailings that they had always stayed clear of these islands, cannibals lived here, some said.

He swept Susie up and onto his shoulders.

"Lets play pick-a-back shall we, and see if we can find those others. Young man, get those others to follow if you can."

He jogged along the river and through the trees, coming upon another group, a little larger than the one he was with, and recognising the doctor breathed a sigh of relief.

There were two young natives, trying to get the group to follow them.

"Come along everyone, I think the young ladies may be trying to do us a favour."

Lanawausu and the main party reached the advance team on the trail leading to the village. Down the path toward Quanzitta's stronghold he sent three warriors to a vantage point where they could observe from a distance any organized Wassinati response. Most of his force he filtered into the jungle on both sides of the road. They readied their blowguns, bows, and javelins. The cheiftain, armed with an obsidian tipped mace and five others, variously armed, stood in a turn of the road as it moved away from the river. By the time anyone saw them they would already be entrapped.

The "beaters" had reached the beach where the castaways had come ashore. They ignored the jet ski --mazitchak (mechanical devil)-- and raised a blood-curddling shout when they picked up the trail of the fleeing group. Several blew on counch shells, signalling Lanawausu to be ready.

He was.

"Malia hun, I don't know what this is all about but I do know one thing.
I just cannot run, my leg is paining too much now.
You and Rae go on ahead and stay with the others."

She swallowed down the aspirins the doc had given her.

"Son of a bitch!"

They came out of nowhere. I hadn't even turned back to the beach yet and poof, there was a big group of screaming natives. Unfriendly looking natives. And they where charging at the surviors, who where quickly begining to flee.

Pirates. Indians. What next? Being abducted my aliens?

I started fumbling around for the flare gun. It would either scare them or piss them off. I was hoping for the first one, but if all else failed I was sure that the jetski coudl outrun them. I locked another cartridge into the barrel, aimed several yards ahead of the pack of natives and fired the flare.

From nowhere it seemed, there were native men with weapons of all kinds coming from out of the trees.
Karyn saw her steward from the ship with a small girl on his shoulders. He was running towards the doc when he spotted the natives and he only just turned around in time, before a spear flew past his ear, missing the child by inches.
The girl screamed.

Oh my God...

She opened the backpack that the doc had given them, hoping for a gun or something.
What she did find was a case containing a hypodermic syringe, needles and several phials of morphine sulphate.

She smiled inwardly...she knew exactly what that could do to a person, and she knew how to administer it too.
Slipping it from the bag and into the pocket of her housecoat, she stayed where she, was praying that there would be no more killings.

Aly froze mid step and slowly turned to face the way that she had just come, the drum beat filling the previously empty air, she had herd it one before when she first came to the island. The Natives who she first met were kind but were happy to let her live on her own, in fact only a select few knew that she was even on the island. She had quickly learned that the islands neighbor were not the friendliest
oh lovely..this again
she started off at a soundless jog following the group, keeping to the jungle she stopped and watched as a man fired off a flair gun
hope that works

Finn's heart might as well have been in his ears for the sound pulsing through the foliage. He froze at the first beat, recognizing the cadence from his younger days, when he'd learned to handle a johnboat with two sets of oars. The drum was far less taxing than a bosun screaming out the rhythm. Of course, shanties did just as well. For a moment he wondered if he'd stepped back in time. No one used drums for timing anymore... now they all had engines. The noise was coming from somewhere ahead, on the other side of that high rocky ridge. They were safe enough for now, but something about the drum was remniscient of a war chant. He felt a great need for caution. Holding a silencing finger to his lips, he looked to Irving, and inclined his head toward the ridge. Silently and as carefully and as covertly as possible, he wanted to scout whatever lay beyond.

"Go on Finn. I know that you want to go. If you need help you know where you can find it."

Irving sat on the beach and started to whittle on a piece of wood.

The Matabele closed in from all directions. There were a few moments of chaos as the castawayes milled about in panic and put up a feeble defense. Having faced firearms before, Nechtal and the other beaters dodged the flare and then herded the people toward the center of the trail. The warriors from the jungles closed the net. Lanawausu gave a stern look at Wasnitche, as the fourteen year old retrieved his spear which he had thrown appearently in panic or overexcitement. That lack of discipline would have to wait until later to be dealt with.
The pandemonium cresendoed until the Wassinati girls where brought to Lanawausu and ordered to yell loudly,

QUIET....SILENCE....QUIET.....NO ONE WILL BE HARMED......Quiet....Be still...

The din slackened somewhat...

"Tell them to shut their mouths or lose their tongues, NOW" barked the cheiftain. Meianna and Ayla repeated his threat in English.

The last of the tumult subsided; other than the uncontrolled shreiks and whimperings of the younger children.

Again Lanawausu turned to the Wassinati girls. He smelled the fear in them and wanted to reassure them. In fact he needed one of them.

"Your lives are protected by treaty. Their's are not. They are plath (salvage). We do not want them all. In fact, we only want one; but which one is the problem. Say to them that if two of their number freely volunteer to return with us to Avasnu the rest will be allowed to go to Lady Quanzilla's village."

nodding to the girls he said in a softer tone,"If one of you return with us to Avasnu for three days you will receive this" . He handed Ayla a leather pouch, inside where five pearls.

"You and they have heiva (a short time- five minutes) to decide who comes and who stays.."

"He want's you all to be quite, and no one will be harmed. And... Wait a moment!"

She ressumed native toung

"You can't possibly do that, these people are castaways, ship wrecked survivors all likley from many places, it will spark outrage. Lady Quanizita will not hear of it."

She begged and pleaded with him to reconsider.

"You can keep the pearls if you leave them to our village. You can take me even."

"He want's you all to be quite, and no one will be harmed. And... Wait a moment!"

She ressumed native toung

"You can't possibly do that, these people are castaways, ship wrecked survivors all likley from many places, it will spark outrage. Lady Quanizita will not hear of it."

She begged and pleaded with him to reconsider.

"You can keep the pearls if you leave them to our village. You can take me even."

"No, two MUST come. The Great God Itzchilla demands it of us. Salvage is salvage and the Lady knows this. We do not take Wassinati; but others, others are plath. The pearls are payment. We do not know their speech and it is not the time to make a mistake. For our sake as well as theirs. Two will not be missed and the gods of the sea have taken many all ready."

(Question- is this Alya?)

The troop of natives had come to a halt, and were in a heated discussion with one of the young native girls.
There was much waving of arms and Ricky could feel Susie's terror as she clung tightly to his neck.
He was unsure about sticking his neck out, certainly didn't want to put Susie in any danger if he could help it, but on the other hand he felt a responsibility towards the survivors.

"What is it they want, young lady?" he asked of the English speaking girl.

Calara Mopar winced slightly, and opened her eyes slightly. This convinced her that she was still alive, something that presented more difficulties than she really felt like dealing with at the moment. Despite this, she sighed and started to move, watching the water drip steadily from her clothing as she did so.

Her muscles seemed to be healing from some sort of strain, so she sat down and leaned her back against the lifeboat, allowing her cyber-chemically enhanced body a chance to heal itself. It also gave her a good view of the... wherever it was that she had landed. There was a pounding in her head that she couldn't get rid of, and she fell back into sleep before she could figure it out.

From nowhere it seemed, there were native men with weapons of all kinds coming from out of the trees.
Karyn saw her steward from the ship with a small girl on his shoulders. He was running towards the doc when he spotted the natives and he only just turned around in time, before a spear flew past his ear, missing the child by inches.
The girl screamed.

Oh my God...

She opened the backpack that the doc had given them, hoping for a gun or something.
What she did find was a case containing a hypodermic syringe, needles and several phials of morphine sulphate.

She smiled inwardly...she knew exactly what that could do to a person, and she knew how to administer it too.
Slipping it from the bag and into the pocket of her housecoat, she stayed where she, was praying that there would be no more killings.
*sidiling up next to Karyn, Austin pressed some thin cylinders into her pocket as well. Feining weariness (which wasn't hard to do.) he let his head drop to her shoulder.*
"preloaded... just pop the cap stab and squeeze."

The doc seemed very weary, and joined Karyn.

"What is going on, do you know? I just feel too tired and stiff to move. "

She caught his whisper and nodded.

The doc seemed very weary, and joined Karyn.

"What is going on, do you know? I just feel too tired and stiff to move. "

She caught his whisper and nodded.

dunno... seems to be an argument between these two... tribes?

"Well I hope they resolve things soon, I am starving."

She opened up the thermos and took a sip of water then offered it to the doc.

"Would you like a drink?"

"Well I hope they resolve things soon, I am starving."

"Would you like a drink?"

*gratefully, Austin takes a sip from the offered thermos*

Glad I'm not the only one... I'm regretting that salad I had for dinner.... last night... man... that seemed ages ago...

Rae noticed that Karyn had a thermos and suddenly found herself very thirsty. Was it only a few hours ago she'd had that orange juice in her cabin?

Slowly and carefully, she inched over to the Doc and Karyn.

"Psst", she whispered. "Do you have enough to share a mouthful? And how are you two doing?"

In Rae's opinion, the Doc and Karyn both looked like hell. But then, they all probably did.

Lanawausu lost his patience with the denim dressed Wassinati girl.
Taking the pearls back from her he said under his breath,

"Shagrut" (closest English translation- culture slut)

Signalling his five immediate companions he stalked through the castaways.

"Him", he intoned, pointing to an uninjured, rather well-muscled, 30 year old biochemist from Ohio. Moving on he came up to a cluster of younger women who were grouped together around an older woman. He nodded his head,

"And her" indicating Mary Franics, head basketball coach of Sacred Heart University.

His warriors secured the two chosen ones and the Matbele melted back into the jungle.

An eerie silence accompanied their departure.

*Austin watched the natives leave with their prisioners.*
Hooookay... what was that about?

Karyn passed the thermos to Rae.

"There isn't very much water left, but you are welcome to what there is."

Just at that moment the native people all went back to their boats, taking two of the survivors with them and disappeared as fast as they had arrived.

Karyn breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was a bit worrying for a moment."

She chased after them into the shallows of the water

"You took the pearls back, thus no payment, thus by your culture laws, means no deal. You can't take these two." Ayla stood firm. "Quanzita will not hear of it, the Lady will not hear of it no sir, no way."

But they wouldn't listen, and they left.


"Everyone, I need you to please go to the village, we are freindly you will be welcomed."

Originally posted by Wild Orchid

Karyn breathed a sigh of relief.

"That was a bit worrying for a moment."


Rae couldn't help it. Between her own fear, and the emotional toll of all that had happened in the last several hours, Karyn's comment seemed a gross understatement, and it just struck her as hilarious.

She chuckled at first, then laughed out loud. She knew her shipmates probably thought she was losing it, which made her laugh even harder.

She chased after them into the shallows of the water

"You took the pearls back, thus no payment, thus by your culture laws, means no deal. You can't take these two." Ayla stood firm. "Quanzita will not hear of it, the Lady will not hear of it no sir, no way."

But they wouldn't listen, and they left.


"Everyone, I need you to please go to the village, we are freindly you will be welcomed."
ma'am, we've had a very rough day... starting late last night. can we get some rest first? :p

"I'm afraid you shouldn't on the beaches, they aren't the only ones out there, seeking people. It's not very far at all to our village, just a short walk, not more than a mile."

*Sigh*

*Helping Rae and Karyn up, the three of them stagger behind the woman as she leads them into the jungle.*

*Whispers to Rae and Karyn*
so... anyone caught that.... the bit about the pouch being tossed back and forth between them...


Looked like some form of payment to me. best be on our toes...

The sight of Rae laughing started Karyn off.
She wasn't at all sure why she was laughing, but it seemed to be infectious, and after the tenseness of the last few hours, it seemed to give her a bit of a spur when the doc helped her to her feet.

yes I noticed that...you don't think it is a trick do you?

They began to trudge along behind all the others

(OOC: Maybe I didn't, I might have just Telegramed Galetech directly)

"Come come, not much further." She led them to a small village many of the villagers were curious by the strange visitors.

Meianna saw Ayla. She ran and huged her best freind "Ayla, ooh I've been worried, what happend?"

She was told how the natives took two survivors of the ship wreck.


"Oh no that's awful. Oh I almost forgot, Quanzita want's to see you right away. I told her everything."

*Austin helped Rae and Karyn down and placed the two backpacks nearby.*

cozy place.

"She wants to see me? Okay, please take care of them."

Meianna protested, Ayla spoke better English than her.

"Please Meianna."

Ayla entered the hut of Quanzita. It was dark with a little candle light.
Quanzita was the Lady of the Village

"Rise Ayla."

"I'm sorry Milady, I tried to stop the Matabele, but they took two of the ship wrecked."

"I'm afraid its too late for me to do anything, by now they have performed their sacraficial cerimoney. You brought the rest here?"

"Yes milady."

"Good, we have several huts open for them. They'll be quite content I'm sure. I can sense a change in the air, another storm is blowing in."

"I can smell the moisture."

"Well I think it's good we got them when we did. They beached up on north shore, the poor people would have been blown to bits."

"How do we get them off?"

"We'll have to construct a vessel, or otherwise they should plan on staying here for their lives."

"People will be looking for them, but we won't be able to get fire up tonight."

"Patienece my child. The weather will turn in favor. Ayla, you are excused. You can tell your father you talked to me."

"Yes Milady."

Meiana gatherd up food for everyone of the survivors.

"Food rations, anyone in need of food? I have food."

She passed various food items around, mostly fish and fruit.