Desperation
Amy swallowed as the creature pressed against her, turning her head aside. She could feel its clawed hands on her hips, scratching her but not breaking the skin. Just when she thought there was no hope left, she remembered that she still had one weapon left, one that might avail her in these tight quarters. She pressed the concealed button inside her boot with her toe, and she heard the metal blade go shink. The mutant took a step back and started to force her legs apart. With every remaining ounce of her strength, she raised her leg, striking it hard in the crotch. The aquatic mutant howled in pain, paddling out of her reach.
"I said no!" snarled Amy, looking it fiercely in the eye.
"You...me...hurt," it burbled.
"Damn straight I did, and I'll do it again if you try anything else. So back off!"
The mutant slid under the surface and backed out of the room, the door closing behind it. Amy leaned back and shut her eyes, exhaling with relief. But at the back of her mind, she realized that she was still in a terrible situation. She was still a captive here, and the same trick would not work twice. What could she do next time?
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"Jack, wake up," said Eldon, shaking Jack by the shoulders.
"Huh?" muttered Jack, rolling over and rubbing his eyes. Instead of seeing Amy's pretty face as he had hoped, he was met with the sight of Eldon's ugly mug. "Is it time for our shift already?" he mumbled sleepily.
"No, but Amy and Stark went out to try to follow Rachel's tracks. They've been gone a long time and haven't come back."
"WHAT?!" Jack was now fully awake. He sprang out of bed. "Everyone up! We've got to find Amy and Sergeant Stark!"
Ben and Angus were awake within seconds. The Knights were light sleepers, it seemed. Angus snatched up the Hammer that Amy had left behind. "I'm with you," he said.
"Let's not be so hasty," said Ben. "We can't endanger the mission."
Jack faced him squarely. "Your mission is to bring both the Hammer and Amy Velasco back to the NCR, remember. I don't think your superiors will be too happy if you show up without her."
"Well, you do raise a good point."
Spike and Myron were a bit slower waking up, but they were awake now. "Amy's the tracker," said Spike. "How are we supposed to find her trail?"
"Because she's the tracker," said Eldon, "and she's bound to have marked it. She left instructions with me in case she didn't come back in a set amount of time, so I'm sure she was prepared for that."
"I sure hope you're right," said Jack, gathering up his things. "Come on, there's not a moment to lose!"