The Final Push (Part 4)

Posted on Sun Sep 2nd, 2018 @ 12:20pm by Captain Taiga Aisaka & Commander Alora Knight & Lieutenant Soren Dillinger 'Speedy'
Edited on on Sun Sep 2nd, 2018 @ 12:22pm

1,671 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Caught in the Cracks
Location: Various Locations

The group headed out from there current location and make their way to a nearby turbolift. As Alora stepped forward, she bumped into the door. Alora pushed on it, but it refuse to open.

Before any of them could attempt to find a way to work around the problem, Jazz was suddenly heard screaming. Once Alex and Alora turned around, they would see Soren, standing there holding Jazz up. The woman's feet was slightly lifted off the floor.

"Going my way?" Soren said in a soft tone before tossing Jazz to the side.

Jazz would hit the wall and cringe in pain. Being manhandled pushed her buttons, and before she had a chance to react, she found herself being grabbed by one of Soren's dolls. She felt the tubes from the drones hand penetrate her neck, causing her to pause quickly.

Alex quickly reacted, removing his phaser from his holster. He quickly raised it until it was knocked away. Soren lunged forward, grabbing Alex by the neck, until he felt a sharp pain coming from her side. Alex had pulled his knife from his belt and dug it into the Mirror Officers side. He was slightly surprised, and bothered, by the small reaction from Soren.

The Terran Officer brought Alex close and narrowed his eyes. "Your death... will take centuries." He whispered before looking up at Alora. He saw she had her phaser out and shoved Alex against the wall. "Stop!" Soren shouted in a firm voice as he raised Alex slightly off the ground, forcing him to stand on the tip of his toes. "Hold on, Commander Alora Tau'RI. First Officer of the U.S.S. Tokyo. Her last assignment was the U.S.S. Niagara." He smirked a bit and added. "Yes, Commander. I know who you are now. You'll be surprised what you learn when taking the time to stroll through a Federation Database. Shall we talk?"

"Why would I be surprised?" she asked. "Do your people generally not read?" She hoped to get his attention away from Alex. "Talk about what?" she asked.

"First, a choice." Soren replied, an evil grin on his face, just before he reached down and grabbed the handle of the knife in his side. "It's a simple choice, really. I must emphasize." He said before removing the knife and raising it slightly in his hand, the blade pointed down. "Refusing to answer will not end well for either parties."

Soren turned his head slightly, his eyes shifting to the doll behind him, the one that held Jazz. The drone immediately gripped onto Jazz's arm, pulling her closer, while simultaneously easing her fist closer to the side of her neck.

His gaze soon shifted back to Alora. "You've heard of the Hero's Dilemma, yes? A hero, or heroine, is given the choice. The choice between two foreseeable outcomes. Both choice has a consequence." Soren flipped the knife in his hand and eased the tip closer to Alex. "Here's yours." He said with an evil smile. "Choose who dies and who comes with us one our little journey." He eased the knifes blade closer to Alex. "You may not believe me, Alora, but I am a fair person. I give you my word you, and the one remaining, will make it to the bridge in one piece. However, you must decide, or else, it will just be you and me." Soren smiled evilly, tilting his head slowly. "Decide." He stood there and suddenly added. "You have 10 seconds by the way, so by all means, weigh your options."

"You know I don't work that way," she said. "You want my cooperation? They both live."

Soren's look remained cold. "8 seconds."

Alora still had the phaser in her hand. As it was already on stun, all she had to do was set it to wide range and shot. "I said, both live."

Soren placed the tip of the blade inches from Alex's neck. "I assure you. In the time you had to think of hitting that button, this one will die and so will her. We have faster reflexes." He placed the tip of the blade against Alex's neck, drawing some small blood. "5 seconds."

There was really no choice. She couldn't let him kill Alex, but she also couldn't be the one to kill Jazz. Alora's Vulcan hearing picked up the sound of footsteps coming towards them. "Think about it. Do you really think I'll do anything to help you if you kill one of them? Do you think you'll get anything at all this way?"

"Yes, because you're resisting and clearly they mean something. Either one, or both, and if not. Well, their deaths will hurt you and only bring me more satisfaction." Soren replied quickly, his tone soft and dark. "By not making a choice you're only proving to me they mean something. Give one of them a quick death at least. I promise you that much." He narrowed his eyes and smiled evilly. "3 seconds."

"Then I choose me. Let them both live and kill me." She looked at Alex, hoping he would understand that she couldn't kill his friend. "Just don't kill Alex."

The look on Soren's face shifted slightly. He seemed content, almost as if hit with a revelation. He looked over to Alex and tilted his head. "You are valuable." He said softly before letting out a laugh.

"NO!" Jazz screamed, slamming her head back against the drone that held her. She felt the grip come lose, prompting her to lunge forward, ripping the Borg tubes from her neck. Jazz's scream was suddenly cut short with the sound of flesh being pierced.

Alex's eyes widened as he looked over to Alora, before turning his head to Jazz, as much as he could with Soren's grip on his neck. His eyes shifted downward catching a glimpse of the knife no longer at his throat, but inside Jazz's stomach. "No." He whispered softly. "Ja... Jazz?"

Soren's gaze never shifted from Alora, even when his hand quickly reacted to the attack from behind, answering it by turning the blade downward and throwing his arm back. He felt the knife pierce her stomach before feeling the womans body against his arm. He could hear the light sounds of blood hitting the floor until finally the body itself. "Look's like the choice was made for you." He said softly before shifting his gaze to Alex. "And I found myself someone far more valuable to you then I originally thought." He couldn't help but smirk before adding, as if not being able to help rubbing it in. "Next time, Alora. Try not to look directly at him. It gave it all away."

She knew that, but it was better than letting him kill Alex. Alora still had hope that they would get out of this alive, that Jazz could be saved. "Actually, you are the one who gave yourself away." Now she knew how he was likely to react next time, and she would not forget.

The footsteps were at the corner now, and she prepared herself.

Soren held the bloody knife out towards Alora and tilted his head. "Spare me your pointless threats." He said firmly before tossing Alex to Alora. "Now let's go see my beloved Captain. We have words to share and blood to spill." He tilted his head slightly, prompting the turbolift doors to open. "Get in."

"I'm going to kill you." Alex said firmly, looking up from the floor to Soren.

"Inside." Soren said firmly before adding. "And I'll make sure my dolls give her a proper funeral."

"Don't you dare touch her!" Alex screamed, taking a step forward before stopping in place.

"I am sure Alora would advise against your next move, Alexander." He said firmly, taking a step forward, still pointing the bloody knife at Alex. "So, do yourself a favor and step into the turbolift, before I break my promise and kill you as well."

Alora hoped that whoever was coming was part of her crew and could save Jazz. But for now, she had to get Soren away from her. She stepped onto the turbolift and positioned herself where she could try and take out the controls.

Soren stepped forward and onto the turbolift, his eyes focused on Alex and Alora. He gave them both a strange and unsettling smile before leaning against one of the walls and narrowing his eyes. "Had you been any other man, Alex, I would have killed you where you stood." His gaze quickly shifted to Alora before adding. "So take this as a small victory. The only reason you're still alive is because... of... her. And the only reason she is not dead is because I wanted very much to add her to my collection. Because she caught my attention on the bridge the last time we met." He tilted his head, as the turbolift doors shut and the lift began to move. "But I have decided... it will be far more fun... watching her suffer before she turns." He returned his focus back to Alex and concluded. "By watching you live through the torment I have prepared for you."

Alex narrowed his eyes before raising a brow. "We're going down?" He said softly looking to Alora. Alex was now concerned. Ending up on the bridge would have put them in a better position, but now that they weren't going there, it only caused more problems.

"The Princess I seek is in another castle." Soren said softly before smiling. "Yes. We are going down. To Engineering where my true target lies."

That would give Alora a better chance of getting away. And possibly of separating the two ships and getting rid of Soren. Should she tell him that she was the only one who knew how to get the two ships out of Null Space? Not yet. She moved closer to Alex.

To be continued...

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