Marko and Simon were speeding through the main Pael passages, desperately searching for Guybrush's ship.
It had all gone terribly wrong. Marko *knew* he'd been handling things badly, knew the one minute time limit had been a mistake. He'd been about to blow them up when the metal bulkhead cut them off. He'd made the mistake of underestimating Guybrush. And Elaine Marley.
Simon was not in the cockpit with him. When the bulkhead had swished up, Marko had immediately hit reverse. A few seconds later another bulkhead, behind the first, had also shut. They'd nearly been cut in half, making it out with only a few metres to spare. From this point on, Marko had been flying flat out through these twisting passages, trying to get as far away from Elaine as possible. If she could control bulkhead remotely - and who else would have done that? - then it would not pay to hang around. Next time she might get them. All the breakneck turns and sharp acceleration had bumped Simon around a bit, and maybe he'd left because he'd had enough bruises. But Marko thought otherwise. He guessed Simon had gotten a good, close look at his face, at the anger which Marko knew must be clouding his features. It wouldn't take a rocket scientist to realise that if they didn't get Elaine's portal stone, their relationship would need a very rapid reappraisal...
As he flew, however, and as Simon continued not to appear, Marko grew more nervous. Finally he pulled the ship to a halt, and stood up from the pilot's seat. He took his blaster and primed it, setting the power setting to lethal. Should have shot him as soon as they'd taken off... more mistakes from Marko.
He paused at the doorway. The main passage stretched out in front of him, short and narrow. Well lit. No space for an ambush. Marko edged forward, blaster held high, slowing as he approached doorways. At each doorway he whipped the blaster around, ducked, and rolled in. In each room, the end result was the same - no Simon.
He came to a hatchway in the floor. The two portal stones were here - it led down to the hold. Marko, rather than bending down for the latches, kicked it up. He jumped back and waited for the blaster fire.
None. Marko edged forward, sighting down his blaster. The ladder ran down to the floor in front of him, and he couldn't see Simon. But most of the room was hidden from view, and how could he get down there? Just walking down would present his legs as perfect targets. Going down head first was even more ludicrous.
Time for bold measures. Marko jumped down, hitting the metal floor with a loud clatter. He sprang up, and darted behind a cupboard. Then, ever so slowly, he turned to look at the room.
The portal stones took up most of the hold. Standing between them was Simon, his head visible. One hand was held up, and in it was a blaster.
Marko fired. As he ducked back into cover, he heard the 'spang!' as his blast hit a metal wall. Simon must have ducked in time.
Before Marko could take any more action, Simon spoke up. "I think you should listen very carefully, Marko," he called out. Sounded like he was sprawled on the floor. "I thought you might try to kill me. So I may as well warn you that this blaster I'm holding is pressed against one of the portal stones. If you try that again, I'll fire."
"That's all?" said Marko. The threat didn't worry him much... with Upchuck apparently set to destroy Pael, teleportation might be their only way out. It shouldn't be too hard to reverse the process. "Even if you do it, I'll just kill you afterward."
"Ah, but then how will you get back? You might find, Marko, that you're stranded on the other side of the galaxy. How are you going to make the portal stones transport you back to the Solar System? Know any ways?"
"And you do?" countered Marko. He edged out from behind the cupboard. The portal stones hid Simon from sight. Marko edged forward, using them as cover.
"I know a few techniques," said Simon.
Moving with a quickness and agility that surprised even himself, Marko rounded the portal stone, and fired into the gap between the stones.
Simon wasn't there. Even before the sound of his shot had faded, Marko felt the air move behind him. Blaster in hand, Simon had come around from behind the other portal stone.
"Oh dear," said Simon. "Seems I can't trust you, Marko." His finger tightened on the trigger.
Marko had no time to move, and his blaster was pointed wholly in the wrong direction. He shot it anyway.
The blast hit one of the portal stones. Together, they suddenly fired with a red glow. Simon looked around, his jaw dropping. "You-"
Marko charged at him.