The Scarman Enigma

[|Scarecrow|]

After several minutes, Tyrant Scarman broke free from his cover. He ran across to the Jeffries tube entrance and rammed the tip of the fission blade into the locking mechanism. With a strained groan, the narrow port slid back into its berth, the fused console spitting sparks. He then flicked off the fission blade and returned it to the inside of his suit jacket. Turning around, he then hauled up the lame body of Victoria Wade, pushing her into the gap. He repeated the exchange with the unconscious form of Heather Scarman before following them in himself.

He had forced several Jeffries tube entrances in the past twenty minutes, leaving a false trail for the Freedom Fighter units that were now swarming the ship, looking for him. Several times he had fallen close to being captured, too close for comfort. But even he could not perform at his best when lugging two unconscious bodies around with him. He had secured one of the smaller transporter vessels in hangar bay two, releasing one of the Thunderhawks and setting it on a false trajectory. He had since observed a slack in security, perhaps his guise had worked and Merlow thought he had escaped on the Thunderhawk. Either way, he still reckoned he had little time.

Leaving the two trussed up bodies near the entrance of the Jeffries tube, Scarecrow advanced down the dimly lit tube. The access panel was several meters ahead, if the schematic he had downloaded was accurate. He crawled along the tube, keeping his head from banging on the crossbars above. When he finally arrived at the panel, he eased off the case with his fingers and then produced his palm computer. He plugged the computer into the terminal and then opened the system virus he had prepared. The virus flooded into the Danaans security network like a tidal wave in cyber space.

Moving swiftly, Scarecrow doubled back down the tube and dropped neatly out of the other end. He was just in time to fall face to face with two armored Sadukar Soldiers. Moving fast, the Tyrant dropped down onto his hands and spun like a disc on the floor, knocking the first Soldiers legs from beneath him. He then slid forward across the floor, trapping the second Soldiers shins between his own legs and scissoring him down to the floor. Another swift move and he was pressing the mans neck into the floor with his knee and retrieving his blaster from its holster.

Pay my respects to the afterworld, Scarecrow kissed his blaster before angling it down at the back of the mans head. Before he could pull the trigger however, the first Sadukar Soldier barreled into his back, knocking him from the second Soldier. The first picked up his comrade and retrieved his carbine. Marcus lay on the floor, winded from the blow. His blaster lay almost a meter from his grip. He looked up at the grinning Sadukar Soldier as he lifted the carbine and sighted down it. The Soldiers head exploded with a red fury, spattering the walls with bloody droplets and fine grains of bone and brain matter.

Marcus looked down the hallway just in time to see the massive dark form of Pete Connors, standing with a carbine pressed against his cheek, its barrel smoldering gently. The second Sadukar Soldier rolled over, grabbing for his own carbine. But he was too late. Two more bolts blasted out of Connors angry rifle, blowing apart the second soldiers chest cavity. Connors walked purposefully down the corridor towards Tyrant Scarman, lowering his carbine. A pale young lady followed, wearing a black flight suit. She looked terrified.
My Tyrant, Connors stooped before Marcus, helping him up.
I was just on my way to free you, my faithful Brawler. Scarman said, My security virus seemed to have a more widespread effect than I had initially thought.
The energy field holding me in suddenly began to fluctuate, before cutting out completely. It didnt take me long to subdue my guard.

An excellent effort, Pete, but now we must make our escape. Scarman turned around and made back for the Jeffries tube. Who is that?
This is Regina Delores; shes a rookie who was captured down in the spaceport.
Then she may be of use to us, Scarecrow briefly looked her over, Yes, she will be useful.
With that, he turned into the Jeffries tube, Connors close behind him. Delores stared in terror at the open hatch for a moment before hurriedly following the two men.

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| S C A R E C R O W |

"See you space cowboy..."