S1E01 : Phoenix Under Fire
Table of Contents
: ! : 01 : Imagination 02 : Appetite 03 : No Doubt 04 : Forgiveness 05 : Red Alert 06 : Eminent Threat 07 : Downward 08 : Gravity 09 : Perched 10 : Woman’s Prerogative 11 : Hold Out 12 : Close Quarters 13 : Trigger Warning 14 : Negotiations 15 : Deeno Was Here 16 : Captives 17 : Nooks & Crannies 18 : Within Earshot 19 : Uncovered 20 : Motive 21 : Variables Removed 22 : Acquiesce 23 : Weapon of Choice 24 : Sussing Out the Enemy 25 : Signals !NEW!25 : Signals !NEW!
Belisa's calm facade was eroding from a rising temper. Her two henchmen seemed uneasy as well.
"You better have good news." She responded to a voice on her comm. She listened and Black Dog took the moment to quickly evaluate the room and their situation. If any of his other crew had been present there might have been a chance that these unwelcome guests could be overpowered. Peter was not up to the task of any sort of combat, nor was Red. Hoodie had seen some skirmishes but none nearly as serious as Belisa would have him believe she was. No, all Black Dog could hope to do here was to delay and temper the situation as best he could while his more veteran crew could do as much as he hoped they would do. Boreas continued to look for some advantage he might grasp in lieu of the crew's success.
The captain spied something that gave him an idea.
"I'd be remiss if I didn't offer my guests a beverage." Boreas took a half step towards the dispenser unit to his left.
"No. Captain. Not necessary. " Belisa stated.
"Alcohol, coffee or tea?" The woman waved a dismissal at him before listening to more reports over her com. She eyed him still and he held her gaze. However, as he had hoped, at the mention of tea both Peter and Hoodie twitched. They knew that the dispenser was malfunctioning and could not turn out a palatable tea. He hoped the boys could grasp the idea of him searching for a distraction of sorts. He did not shift his eyes over to them, instead nodded towards Belisa graciously. With his peripheral vision he could tell the two boys were more alert now.
Good, he thought. We may be able to wing it!
Boreas faced and wordlessly gestured to the two armed men in turn accompanying her. They swivelled their weapons towards him while he stepped towards the beverage dispenser. Belisa snapped her full attention back to the captain and motioned with her weapon for him to back track. He raised his hands apologetically and shifted back. Their eyes met for a long moment before she imputed three taps on her wrist console.
Black Dog exhaled slowly. He was almost within arm's reach of a stowed away weapon hidden from sight. His slight of step got him closer. Now, all he needed was an opportune moment.
The boys were side by each near the mess table with their hands tied behind their backs. Peter was nervously looking about the mess hall with sweat upon his brow and his upper lip. Red was still probably experiencing some mild shock from being held at knife point. Hoodie was tense but he was looking at a fixed point across and the captain noticed his fingers were twitching behind his back it took a few moments for Boreas to piece it together. The navigator was staring at display above the main entrance and his gestures seem to indicate a count down.
7 minutes.
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Note from the author : I am aware that new chapters have been targeted by commentors, especially those from new accounts, and that subsequent interaction with such accounts invariably leads to being asked to connect and discuss “ideas” on other platforms. I welcome all comments, HOWEVER, if you do so from an account with absolutely nothing to offer back to the community—even if it isn’t brand new—I will not engage.
Thank you for reading!
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