END GAME: THE COUNTDOWN STARTS

[sailmods]

[the prisoners wake up on cold, hard floors.

the lights are bright, glaring, a sterile cell with sterile bars facing a sterile hall. the prisoners with you, across from you, and no one else. no rocking of a ship in waves, nothing. just the prisoner and their prison.

time passes, one assumes. the rhythmic click of Friday’s heels down the hall. it’s almost like the ticking of a clock.]

Comments

[pointofhonoria]

"Usually after bein' knocked out by some strapping big bloke or broad who's got a problem with me or what I do. Happens more than you'd think when you start messin' around interferin' with government corruption." She nods her head to the side a bit. "Or maybe that's about as often as you'd think, playing that game."

[not_the_last]

More than she'd think is closer, if only because she wouldn't expect a corrupt government to let someone so persistent survive falling into their hands more than twice.

"I don't suppose you've had any luck escaping from cells like this, in all of those goings-on?" It's only half serious; if Crabb had any useful experience to apply, she'd be doing it by now.

[pointofhonoria]

"Used to mostly wait it out and take potshots at Peoria every time she came by, if I'm bein' totally honest." Ferrier would usually come and get her when they inevitably didn't have anything solid to hold her on; they'd made themselves enough of a public presence that Gall's options for dealing with them were limited. "And the last time we got pulled out by a couple friends who snuck in and pulled the old 'steal the guard's clothes' gambit. Mind you, don't get me wrong, I know how t'pick a lock or two, and I've got myself outta a bind that way a few times, but there ain't no locks in here."

[not_the_last]

Cassandra sighs. "I'm afraid all my experience breaking people out of prison cells also depends on locks. I don't know how to begin here."

She can feel the beginnings of panic and despair seeping up around her, and tries to think how to keep pressing them down.

[pointofhonoria]

"Which makes this the kinda time we rely on those friends t'come up with some plan we ain't even got a breeze of. Or, well. At least on folks who want outta the same situation." Depending on the person, 'friend' might prove to be a big strong. "There's always a flaw in these things, Cass. One way or another. Even if we ain't the ones that can see it yet."

[gnighteverybody]

"FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!"

Yakko has started circling around Crabb Specifically.

[not_the_last]

Cassandra nods, and absently shifts her head to one side to maintain eye contact as Yakko passes between them. "You're right. There'll be someone here who can think of a way. Who'll spot whatever she's overlooked."

[pointofhonoria]

There's a flash of 'oh for God's sake' on Crabb's face, but otherwise she barely blinks, looking past Yakko as if she's already used to this. After rooming with him for a while, she might just be. "'xactly. There's always something, always someone. Wouldn'ta got anywhere near so far as I have in life if there weren't, really. And if there's anythin' we've all been through on this Goddamned ship that's gotta bring at least mosta us together, it's gotta be this."

Please. For the love of God, it better be this.