Sam

The new metallic threaded overalls provided additional benefits beyond protection, especially if one wanted to keep an eye on their crew. A dormant micro camera could be placed between the metallic weaving. He and Claire had fashioned such a device, and in secret hid it inside the threads of Blue’s overall. As the camera would not emit any signals unless he remotely tapped into it, there was no way to distinguish it from the uniform’s threads. There had been some disturbance when Blue had started to throw lightning bolts, but the feed had been clear enough. Like a goddamn science fiction movie. Commander Meyer had transformed into this other person, Saif something. Mind control? Beth, somebody, had hammered Cane Marshal into pieces. And then Cane had transformed into an old Commander Meyer! Outrages. Why could life not be simple?

Blue and the woman, Beth, had been captured by this mind controlling bastard. Crew had to be protected, but how would he manage mind control? Sam had one plan, the usual plan when he didn’t know what else to do. Grab the biggest, meanest weapon within reach and shove it down his enemy’s throat, and hope for the best. All in.

Captain Samuels Adam watched from the darkness as the convoy of people walked closer. His combat suit, his rig, felt warm against his body today or could that be something else? With his rig’s right gauntlet he held the nuclear warhead tight and steady. This bomb would go off. He had installed four triggers. A timer, which already was ticking down. A pressure trigger, if his gauntlet left that particular grip the warhead would blow. A remote trigger, Claire sat back at the Final Sight and listened via his combat suit. She was prepared to trigger if all else went sideways. The fourth trigger sat in his left gauntlet, a little squeeze and this city would be turned into radioactive slag. Time for some shoving and hoping. Sam stepped out from his hiding place with the nuke in his gauntlet.

“Eh. Fancy pants, stop where you are or I will incinerate the whole city,” Sam said loud, but in a calm tone. He put down the nuclear warhead in front of him with a good thud. Show dominance.

The smug, mind controlling bastard stepped forward. Try to control your way out of this one.

“Captain Samuels Adam,” Saif started. “What are you doing?”

“Give me my friend back or this warhead blows,” Sam said, in a controlled tone. Good, the violence was held back for the moment. “Either I win, or everyone loses.”

He stared coldly back at Saif.

Saif sighed. “Please stand aside.”

Why would the bastard play with him? Was he afraid? Saif must have poked inside his head already and figured out the four triggers. Was he under his control? But he felt no different than before. Was this the luck he needed? Down the throat, then.

“Shut up! I will blow this city into radioactive slag unless you hand over my friend. Now,” Sam said. “Now!”

There was hesitation in Saif’s face and a strained wrinkled across his forehead. Saif could not control him. Sam knew not the reason, but he knew how to take advantage of his enemy’s weakness.

“Stop th…,” Saif started.

“MY FRIEND. NOW!” Sam yelled atop his lungs. His left hand almost squeezed too hard and triggered the detonation. Saif’s face sorely needed a good beating.

There was a tingle of sorts behind his forehead and between his temples. But nothing changed. Sweat prickled in Saif’s face. Maybe instead of a beating, the man needed to have the warhead shoved down his throat? His rig was strong enough.

Sam stepped forward, extending the warhead in front of him.

A man behind Saif changed, a flow of molten rock waved across his body. Sam recognised the anger in his face, his enemies usually had just that face before he obliterated them. Rookies.

Saif turned. “No. Stop. I cannot stop him. He is a simpleton. Carl, the hibernation pod. Hand him over.”

Carl pushed lightly on the hovering hibernation pod, which glided to him. Sam stopped the pod by placing his leg in front of it. Ice crystals were formed on the inside of the lid, but the face underneath was unmistakably Blue. Great. There was written “Emergency opening” on a big red button on the pod’s side. Sam pushed it.

Smoke billowed out from the lid’s seam. The seam grew distinct, then the lid popped and slid aside. Blue’s eyes were blinking, he was confused. Emergency opening did that to you.

“Lets go,” Sam said.

Blue sat up, looking dazed. “I am tired. My head hurts.”

What if Saif was messing with Blue’s mind? Goddamn.

“Leave his mind alone!” Sam yelled, brandishing the warhead before setting it down again.

Blue raised from the pod, his hands reaching for purchase. Sam overlooked the matter of Blue’s hand placements, since his attention was directed towards Saif and his goons. The light indicating the triggers’ being armed went dark and Sam looked at the warhead. Blue’s hand was on the bomb. Oh shit.