Guybrush finally managed to speak. "Wh- who are you?" he said.
Elaine gestured impatiently with her blaster. "I'm Elaine Marley, and don't pretend you don't know it. Now get a move on."
She jammed the end of the blaster at the back of his head. Guybrush started walking, pushed on by Elaine. "Where are we going?" he said. In space, the penalties for stealing could be quite high, but maybe they had different rules here...
"I'm taking you to Security," said Elaine grimly. "When the attack force sees you've been captured, they might have second thoughts."
"Attack force?" blurted Guybrush, confused. He'd thought he was being arrested for shoplifting, but this Elaine Marley seemed to have a different idea. "Pael's under attack?"
He couldn't see it, but he could feel Elaine's stare on the back of his head. "Nice try, but don't think you can bluff your way out of this one, Glen - not that that's your real name, of course. I know you're acting as an agent of Upchuck's. I know what you're here for. You're not getting it!"
Guybrush's throat had gone dry. "Upchuck?" he said. "This attack fleet you're talking about is being commanded by Upchuck?"
Elaine rolled her eyes. "Spare us the innocence shtick. Who else is it going to be, Father Christmas?"
"And... you're going to take me to Security? To show my face to Upchuck?"
"That's the plan," said Elaine. "And it'll be your job to convince him to call off the attack. Fail and you'll die."
Guybrush drew in a breath. "Lady-"
Elaine knocked his head with the blaster. "Ms. Marley," she snapped.
Guybrush wanted to rub his head, but didn't dare. "All right, Ms. Marley... what you're about to do is a very bad idea. If Upchuck sees me, it's not going to have the effect you want. In fact, he'll probably try twice as hard to destroy this starbase."
"Shut up," said Elaine. But she was troubled. Glen - or whoever he was - was not at all acting like a captured secret agent. His surprise at hearing about the attack had seemed genuine. Maybe he was just a good actor. But what about his reaction to the name Upchuck? She'd seen him start at the name. Why would he pretend Upchuck was his enemy? It couldn't help him.
"Stop," said Elaine suddenly. She came forward and studied Guybrush's face closely. Guybrush, a little embarrassed by the close attention, tried to look elsewhere.
Elaine gasped. "Guybrush Threepwood!"
Guybrush said, hastily, "It's not what you-"
Elaine looked at him with barely suppressed rage. "Oh, you're a good actor, Guybrush. Nearly had me taken in!"
"Look, a few things have happened since-"
"Upchuck's right hand man. And you've got the cheek to try and pretend he's got nothing to do with you!"
"I never said that he-"
"Move." Elaine jammed the blaster back against his head, harder than before. She shoved at his back, pushing him into a half run.
"Will you listen to me? Upchuck doesn't-"
But Guybrush's words were drowned out. A loud noise filled the corridor behind them, quickly growing louder.
They turned.