SPECTRUM: The Duel

As pilot Cash Wayne regained consciousness he noticed something moving back and forth above his head. Wayne blinked furiously and saw that it was a crescent blade attached to pendulum. At the end of each swing he could hear a distinct click as it ratcheted down toward his neck. Wayne tried to roll away but found himself bound to a flat surface.

A rough voice chortled. “Perhaps you will tell me where the Nebula Gem is now, scum!”

Wayne cocked his head in the direction of the voice and saw the orange dog-like head of a Carrotan.

“The Gem? We don't have the gem!” Wayne shook with fear.

“Your time is limited, Cash Wayne. If you don't talk soon, you won't talk ever again.” The Carrotan slammed his fist hard on the table and the pendulum ratcheted downward more quickly.

“Oh gods!” Wayne screamed.

Just then the door flew open and Captain James Rakker bounded into the room with a red laser sword blazing in his right hand.

“Release him, Carrotan scum!”

The Carrotan unsheathed the yellow laser sword at his side and cried back, “Never!”

Rakker leaped at the Carrotan but the Carrotan threw him back easily.

The pendulum clicked downward toward Cash Wayne.

Sword crashed against sword.

The pendulum clicked further downward. Cash Wayne was drenched in sweat as he watched both the pendulum and the intense fight playing out around him.

It was clear Rakker was no match for the strength of the Carrotan but just as the tide of the battle was turning against him Rakker smiled slyly.

“Don't you realize when you have been bested?! Why do you smile like that?” the Carrotan barked.

“Because I know something you don't!” Rakker replied.

The Carrotan sniffed as he hit Rakker's laser blade even harder.

“Ha! What's that?”

“I have a blaster.” With his left hand Rakker pulled a blaster concealed in his jacket and a blast of blue light shot the Carrotan through the heart. The beast fell to the floor like a rag doll. With a second shot, Rakker disabled the pendulum mechanism and the sharp blade came to rest millimeters above Wayne's neck.

Rakker walked lazily to the table where his pilot lay. “Just in the nick of time, eh?”

Wayne spoke slowly, “You.. had.. a.. blaster.. the.. ENTIRE.. time?”

“Pretty clever, huh?” the Captain responded.

“Clever? Why didn't you just shoot him when you kicked in the door!? I was almost killed!” Wayne's face had gone from white to red.

“Do you want to argue about this, or do you want me to untie you?”

Wayne rolled his eyes. “You know, I'm not sure. I'm just not sure.”