Doctor Who_ Hope - Mark Clapham [21]
The Doctor estimated there were just over a hundred people in the room.
The vast majority he presumed to be, in spite of the effect Endpoint had had on his mood so far, innocents. Potential victims, possibly incapable of defending themselves, certainly considering the state of intoxication they were in.
So, about seventy innocents to protect.
A subgroup of these innocents were the hostages, of which there were about a dozen, including Fitz. They were primary targets for their captors, in immediate danger. Silver was clearly the main target of the aggressors, but the Doctor didnt include him in the subgroup.
So, seventy innocents, twelve of whom were under immediate threat and needed protecting quickly.
Aside from the endangered innocents there was a smaller group, who the Doctor classified as potentially somewhat cannier, and could probably avoid harm without overt protection. The staff apart from the one member who had been taken hostage were probably capable enough in a disturbance to duck and cover. Miraso was definitely a bit of a fighter on the sly, and Anji had been travelling with the Doctor long enough to look after herself, at least for a few minutes if all hell broke loose. This group numbered about a dozen, and the Doctor didnt feel he needed to worry, about them just yet.
Then there were the attackers, the hostage takers, the aggressors. The Doctor didnt know their motivation, whether they were right or wrong in their long term goals. They were recklessly endangering the lives of others. They needed to be stopped. There were twelve of them, all armed with a motley collection of weapons electroleashes, stun pistols, microblades, force hammers many of which had primary uses other than as weaponry. Their cybernetic enhancements, while primitive compared to Silvers arm, would undoubtedly give them enhanced strength, and probably greater speed. Their leader seemed a little unbalanced. Very, very dangerous.
Seventy potential victims, a dozen people who could look after themselves, another dozen who needed to be knocked out before they could harm anyone. All mixed together in a crowded, smoky environment, booze and litter messing up the floor. Difficult.
There was a final group the Doctor had to include. A group of two people, who between them were the only possible source of retaliation against the attackers, who no matter what would be able to defend themselves from attack and were the only hope of saving the innocents in the room.
Himself and Silver. Unfortunately, the Doctor had no idea whether Silver wanted to save anyone, or whether he would prove a threat himself.
So the Doctor remained still, poised, waiting for Silver to act as he strolled casually down the stairs.
The leash around Fitzs neck was a ring of fire, his nervous system generously spreading the pain through the rest of his body. He could barely move, but the unnatural strength of his attacker pulled Fitz to his feet, holding him steady. Blackness threatened to consume him, his vision receding to red tunnels. He barely registered the blurred face of Anji hovering before him, the look of concern. Unbearable pain tried to rob him of consciousness, and he wasnt sure whether the room had gone quiet or he had been deafened, or his mind was simply unable to process the sounds, unable to think of anything beyond how much ithurt .
Anjis attention was no longer on him, he saw through a red mist. She was looking past him, openmouthed. And what was that sound, that thumping in his head? It sounded just like footsteps, echoing footsteps...
Fitz lost consciousness. He didnt even come around when his assailant dropped him to the floor, face down.
Anji lunged forward to catch Fitz, but she wasnt nearly fast enough. No one stopped her as she dropped to her knees on the filthy floor, scooping her arms under Fitzs shoulders and gingerly turning him over on to his back. She put her head to his chest. His breathing was ragged but constant. She thumbed his eyelids open, remembering both her firstaid knowledge