Through Time, Darkly

[Pryce]

[color=#FFFF00]Main Hangar bay

Nickatelli had just about gotten close enough to swing his helmet when the man caught his approach, and the distance between him and the madman suddenly doubled. He'd missed his chance. He stared viciously at the man, and spoke; "Give me the pistol."


"That's enough!" The voice cut though the hangar, and Ellis walked slowly forward. She lightly dropped her helmet on the deck. "This is not why we are here." Her voice was brittle, and she knew her words came out more of a plea than an order. She could see that Doyle was feeling cornered and outnumbered, and if something wasn't done to address that, someone was going to get hurt. Why was Nickatelli pushing like this?


The two men glared at each other, most of their human civilization seemingly given way to something older, and Denise felt as if there were only seconds away until something terrible happened.

Angela Wight stood next to the fighter, watching the unraveling situation with quiet horror.


Denise spoke softly; "Elias. I want you to leave the room."


A look of mixed confusion and surprise crossed Nickatellis' face and he turned sharply to look at Ellis. "What?"

She spoke again, "You heard me. Everyone needs to calm down. You are making things... not calm."


Nickatelli answered; "You're stupid if you think my leaving makes you safer."

She hesitated, glancing at Doyle. What if I'm wrong?

She spoke again, feeling unsure of her words, but finding them anyway.
"Nathan said everything that happens in this hangar is my call. I want you out of here Elias."

Nickatelli seemed about to protest further, then took a few backward steps, turned, and headed for the door. "Fine. Your funeral."



[color=#FFFF00]The Bridge

Captain Wells tried his best to gauge the situation in the hangar, without an audio feed. He saw Nickatelli suddenly head for the hatch. When that hatch opens... Wells scrambled for the comm. He keyed it, and nothing happened.


[color=#FFFF00]Main Hangar bay


As Nickatelli headed for the hatch, Denise breathed out slowly. She looked at the Lieutenant and spoke;

"Lieutenant, we are going to have to trust each other. I'm not going to hurt you; and I hope, that you don't want to hurt any of us." She shivered involuntarily, both from the tension, and from the chill of the hangar.

She walked closer to him, her gloved hands open and low at her side. She continued;

"Please Lieutenant. We have to find out what's happened to you."


Angela Wight quickly spoke; "Wait! The door!"


At that moment, Nickatelli reached the hatch and opened it. Behind the door were two completely surprised crewmen. Each held a Detroit Munitions civilian particle rifle.

---

Feedback