How Heroes are created 14

Cordelia knew that the relief would be short-lived as the three pilots freed her and Laila except for the handcuffs and the gags. However, for the moment, it felt good to no longer have a chain rub over her private parts and in addition, she could grant her aching legs a break from having to stand tied to the spreader bar.

Beside her, Laila seemed to think similar. Both women looked at the door, but there, Pearce was leaning, the gun in his right. From outside, they now had heard three explosions and the mixture of fear and hope tore on the damsels` nerves.

»I just hope David isn`t putting himself into danger!«

Cordelia was quite sure that she loved the shy scholar, but she could not imagine him single-handedly fighting a group of armed men. And yet, the idea of him storming the room, gunning down these thugs and then approaching her was not unpleasant.

»It would be the first time he`d see me naked!«

The thought was a bit ridiculous, since no less than four criminals were just seeing her in the nude. Now, she got distracted as one of the men, a gaunt guy that looked almost too tall to be a pilot, ordered:

»What do you think, Pete? Since we will have to share a room aboard the ship anyway, we could take care our girls get further acquainted!«

Cordelia gulped reflexively, though she regretted doing so, giving the fact her mouth was stuffed with two pairs of used panties. Since the men had looked at them, it had turned out that the one called Pete and the gaunt one were best buddies and so, they had chosen her and Laila for themselves. The third one had now, that Harun and Pearce had withdrawn, turned his attention to Samantha.

Both Cordelia and Laila had to get down on their knees as Pete cut several lengths of some thin, but strong-looking cord. Then, the gaunt one removed Cordelia`s handcuffs and made her put her arms behind her back, palm to palm.

He tied her wrists expertly, cinching the bonds and pulling each knot as tight as he could. Cordelia already felt quite helpless, though she knew the drill. Opposite to her, there was a great mirror and she could not help blushing as she watched how her breast got thrust out as the man now tied her elbows. He made her joints not only meet, but crushed them together. He used two lengths of cord on her elbows, one above and one below the joint, cinching both and making Cordelia gasp from the strain in her arms and shoulders.

Surprisingly gentle, his fingers now caressed her neck before he put a fourth piece of rope, longer than the others, around her nape. He knotted it at her throat, taking care that the noose was snug, but not too tight and that it would stay that way. Then, deliberately touching her breasts on the way, he put the ropes under her boobs and between her back and her upper arms. He pulled and the ropes pushed against the base of Cordelia`s breasts, lifting them slightly. The rope felt rough and uncomfortable, but the man was far from being finished.

He slung the right rope around her left upper arm and vice versa, crossed the ropes and then, he pulled in earnest. Cordelia reared up and groaned through her gag as her upper arms were pulled together, putting additional strain to her shoulders. At the same time, the ropes under her boobs cut into her ribs and her arms were painfully pressed against her back as the man now brought the rope ends to her front and knotted them off above her solar plexus. The corset she was still wearing made things even more uncomfortable.

Again, the ropes were wound around her body and then pushed through the gap between her lower arms that the cinches had formed. It allowed her tormentor to pull her arms so close to her upper body that her hands were embedded between her buttocks and as he knotted the ends off below her belly button, Cordelia nervously looked at the two dangling ends. The ropes hung directly over her pubic area and she expected the man to reach between her legs and then apply the crotch rope on her.

However, he led her over to the table and made her sit next to Samantha who looked down on her with a mixture of fear and compassion. The way she was gagged, with the transparent tape and the veil, made it look as if she wasn`t gagged at all, though Cordelia knew the girl was chewing on Manu`s discarded panties.

The man now meticulously tied Cordelia`s long legs, using five lengths of rope. He started at her thighs and then tied her knees above and below the joint. Two more went around her booted calves and her ankles and again, each rope was cinched and pulled excruciatingly tight. Finally, the man cut a sixth length and tied her feet and heels, too, effectively immobilizing her.

»Almost done, Sweetie!«

He removed the stick tied between her teeth, but before Cordelia could even think of trying to expel the panties from her mouth, the man put one hand at the back of her head and used the fingers of the other to cram the sodden silk even deeper into her oral cavity. Cordelia felt she would choke and chortled helplessly, but the man only stopped when he could not get the dense packing any further. Then, he took an ace bandage and wound it between her teeth, pulling it tight so it cut into the corners of her mouth. When he knotted it off at her nape, Cordelia`s lips were still visible and he brushed over them, causing her to shudder. He then produced a small strap with a buckle, but seemed to think twice and put it into his breast pocket.

»We will need that later!«, he announced with a wink and then left to help his comrade to tie up Laila whilst the third one came over, but seemed more interested in Samantha. He pushed his hand between the redhead`s legs and obviously found it funny to slightly lift her up, only to let her sink down on her butt hook, enjoying her mews and wriggles as he did so repeatedly.

Unable to help the poor girl, Cordelia watched as Laila now was tied identically to her. Pete even repeatedly came over to inspect Cordelia`s bondage to create an exact copy. There were a few minor differences, though: the ropes chaffed Laila`s arms even more, as she didn`t wear opera gloves as Cordelia did, and her bootees only protected her ankles, but not her calves. Finally, as the man had removed her gag stick and was forcing the gag deeper into Laila`s throat, he found that Cordelia`s panties were more substantial than any of those crammed into Cordelia`s mouth, but smaller than the two Cordelia had to chew on. So, he took a cloth and tied three knots in it. This knot, he forced into her mouth, too, and knotted it at her nape before tightly winding the ace bandage above. Then, Laila and Cordelia were made to stand side by side. Both were surprised on how the slight strain of their muscles made the leg ties cut even deeper into their flesh and so, two pairs of heaving breasts took the men`s attention as they now placed the biggest of the Persian carpets in the middle of the room.

»Your prison may be cozy, but at least, you won`t have to travel in rags!«, the gaunt man commented. Then, he and Pete grabbed Cordelia by her ankles and shoulders and placed her on one edge of the carpet, making her lie on her left side. She then watched as they grabbed Laila and she knew that they now both would be wrapped inside the carpet, pressed against each other.

»Mhhm? Nnngg!«

Laila suddenly struggled and when Cordelia noticed the reason, she also squirmed on the rough carpet. The men were not placing them face to face, but face to crotch!

»Hhrrrrmmm! Uuuhhmmph!«

»Uuhhmmph! Nnnggg!«

However, the two stringently bound girls were no match for the two men. The gaunt one took the ropes dangling from Cordelia`s navel and pushed them between her legs, not caring for her modesty as he touched her labia in the progress. The rope was left loose, though, but only to add another perfidy.

Despite Laila`s struggles, Pete threaded the small belt through Cordelia`s crotch rope before tying it tightly between Laila`s lips. As the girl vigorously shook her head, he just shrugged and pulled the belt one notch tighter.

»Now, Slim, pull for your life!«

Laughing, Slim obeyed and Cordelia felt the crotch rope tighten. Then, there was the hot blow of air and she knew it was Laila`s breath. She tried to squirm, but Slim sat down on her side and used both arms to pull on the ropes. The rough hemp tried to find a way inside her and at the same time, she knew that it was Laila`s mouth that was pressed against her pubic area. The girl fought, but that only made things worse for both of them.

Slim knotted the ropes off and then, Cordelia saw Pete work the ropes between Laila`s legs, only inches in front of her eyes. Slim`s hand grabbed her scalp and once the belt was threaded through Laila`s crotch rope, the belt was buckled at the back of her head. Slim did not wait for her to struggle: after a few seconds, he tightened the belt anyway.

Then, Pete pulled and despite her resistance, Laila`s crotch came closer and closer. The other`s pubic hair tickled her nose and then, she felt how her lips touched it. Cordelia screamed and bucked, but Pete was stronger and so, her mouth was pressed against her companion`s pubic mound and her nose was so deep between her legs that Cordelia feared she could choke.

The men inspected their work and Slim scratched his chin.

»Their legs are protruding on both sides!«

The solution was quite simple: both knelt at the backs of their respective girl and bent her legs so the heels touched the wrists. Then, the crotch ropes were loosened, only to allow the two to adjust the position a bit, for Cordelia was three inches taller than Laila. Finally, the ends of the ropes were secured around the ankles and now, they could roll the two captives into the carpet. Once it was secured by a long belt, Pete and Slim tested the weight of the bundle.

»Well, it`s just for a few yards!«

Aching, they maneuvered the carpet to the corridor. Once the door had fallen shut, Pearce said:

»Now, for your little redhead! As Harun said, I will get her elder sister! So, if I will help you, all stays in the family, so to say!«

Samantha panted and the bells clamped to her nipples and labia jingled as the two men now prepared some ropes. She was released from the ceiling hook and her wrists were untied. She sighed with relief as the neck collar was removed, too, but it was only a temporary ease of her plight.

Pearce and the man crossed her wrists at the back of her neck and tied them, using the thin cord again and pulling the knots tight. Then, the man grabbed the chain and pulled it upwards until the anal hook was feeling not yet painful, but uncomfortable. Then, the chain was wound around her wrists a few times before the collar was fixed around her neck again. Now, Samantha could hardly move her arms and the hook would remain firmly in place and make her regret any sudden moves.

With two more ropes, they tied her ankles to the opposite knee, forcing her into a lotus position. A final rope was tied around the girl`s neck and then, she had to bend forward as they tied the ends around her lower legs. Samantha groaned as bowing her back put additional strain to her rear.

Parcelled as she was, Samantha was then carried down the spiral staircase and to the boats. The girl mewed as she saw that in the closest of them, one of her initial captors was sitting, obviously busy with groping something that looked like a pair of breasts. She immediately recognized them as Isabelle`s and then, she noticed that her sister was forced into a cruel hogtie and that a rope was bisecting her crotch, so tight it almost disappeared from view. Her head was hooded, but Samantha nevertheless moaned as she was placed close to Isabelle.

Pearce told the rather unwilling Ali to go for Harun. Then, he grinned down on Isabelle.

»I hope you haven`t enjoyed this guy`s caresses too much – for now, you have to get used to mine!«

***

All the time, Aida still had the hope that this was just a cruel joke by Harun. So, when she had undressed at gunpoint, she had tried to talk to him, pleaded and also made attempts to seduce him. However, he just watched silently until she had stepped out of her panties.

Reflexively, Aida straightened her position. Being a petite 32B and just 5`1``, she usually tried to present her breasts in a way that made men notice them. Harun let his eyes wander over her slender body, her shaved pubic mound and she once again hoped that he was just joking.

»Get on your knees!«

Aida obeyed, trying to sway her hips graciously as she did so. Harun stepped behind her and grabbed her wrists. She gasped when he twisted her arms and crossed them at her neck.

»Wha-what are you doing, Your Highness?«

»Well, tying you up, of course! As I said, I have changed my plans for you!«

Using a leather thong, he tied her wrists tightly. Then, he brought the ends over her shoulders, crossed them between her breasts and pushed them through her bent arms. Aida groaned as he then pulled and her arms were welded to her upper body and the ropes bit into her flesh.

»My Prince, you are hurting me!«

»Shut up!«

It was rather the lack of passion than the rudeness in Harun`s words that made fall her silent. He gave the thongs another sharp pull and then knotted them together. Then, he let Aida get up and brought the dangling ends between her legs before he stepped in front of her and threaded them above the crossing point of the ropes between her breasts. Again, he pulled whilst his other hand was between her legs, taking care that the two thongs framed her labia majora. Grabbing the ends in one hand, he then suddenly caressed Aida`s chin.

»You have failed, Aida. Of course, I could forgive you, as I forgave Ali who also could not prevent Manu`s escape. However, I need a total of five girls – and you have to admit that Ali can`t help me with that. But you can!«

»Wha-what a-are you t-t-talking about?«, Aida stammered with widened eyes, though she was sure that she had understood him right. Harun pulled on the ropes and Aida mewed as the leather thongs bit into her soft flesh. At the same time, her elbows were pulled downwards and together and the ropes around her chest tightened, too. Ignoring her whimpers, Harun tied the dangling ends together and brought them back between her legs. Now, the knot was above Aida`s belly and he held the ends together at her butt. Forcing the girl to stagger with him, he picked something from the ground. Then, he gave the thongs another yank.

»Aaauhhmmmphh!«

As Aida wanted to yell, he stuffed something into her mouth. It was damp and tasted vile and she realized it was the pantyhose she had used to wrap Samantha`s panties in before gagging Manu with the two garments. Aida retched at the vile taste and in her desperate struggles, she even tried to kick Harun, something she never would have dared a minute ago.

»That must be punished!«

He crammed the wad deeper into her mouth and then tied a thin scarf between her lips. Rummaging through the bag that contained the things Aida usually used on her captives, he produced a harness gag, but before he used that on her, he took her discarded panties and pulled them over her head, placing the crotch part over her nose and mouth. Then, he pressed the rubber ball above the gag already filling her oral cavity and pulled the straps tight. Aida retched as the gag touched the back of her throat and she panted as now, not only her lips were pressed against her used panties, but she also had to take every breath through them. Harun forced her to bite down hard on her gag as he closed the strap under her chin; then, he secured the other two with a small padlock.

»Mhhmmph! Ghhhmmmm!«

»So! Now, you will no longer interrupt your punishment!«

He stepped behind her and grabbed the ends of the ropes whilst his other hand grabbed Aida`s hair. He forced her to stand on the tips of her toes and then, he once again pulled.

»Hhrrrrrrrmmm! Uuhhhmmmmm! Mhhhrrrmmmmmmm!«

The girl wailed and tried to flail, but Harun just lifted her one inch higher. Now, her feet could no longer touch the ground and the crotch rope sank deep between her labia. The knot that had been in front of her navel was now pressing against her clit and below that, the thongs had just disappeared inside her. Harun let her down and tied the ends off to the knot that held her elbows together. Aida staggered as he let her go. She quite unceremoniously landed on her butt, mewing and rearing up immediately after as the sitting position made the crotch rope even more agonizing.

»Mmhhmmmph! Uuuhhmmm!«

With watering eyes, she looked up to Harun who had just picked up a roll of white vet wrap he wound over the lower half of her face, further silencing her. Then he tied another thong around Aida`s neck, forming a noose that would tighten if she would not follow him.

»Don`t worry, the Captain will remove the crotch rope as soon as you are alone with him! After all, you are part of his payment!«

»Hhmmm! Mmhhmmph!«

He made Aida stand up, not an easy task with her immobilized arms and sure a challenge with the tight ropes between her legs. He looked down on her heaving chest and saw the tears run down her cheeks. He showed her a friendly smile.

»I have, however, not completely forgotten your work, Aida. Do you remember how you once said that I am worth 20 men?«

Aida blinked, whimpering through her gag. Harun playfully poked her panty-covered nose.

»Well, if the Captain is a true pirate, he will have to share his loot with his crew! And I am sure that he has more than 20 men under his command!«

***

The plan David had found dated from 1941 and so, some of the rooms would have been used otherwise or not at all by Harun and his men. However, they now at least knew that the bunker consisted of three floors of which they were in the highest. Mike was sure that their opponents had withdrawn from it completely.

»They are practicing a tactical retreat. They want to access their boats and leave, but they want to make sure that they don`t get surprised on the last yards!«

They were now in the staircase that led to the middle floor. One room that for sure had the same purpose as during WW2 was the shower room and Manu was sure that close to it was the room where she and what she thought had been Samantha had been held captive.

»So, will we try to free her first?«

Mike sensed that there had been more between the blonde and Isabelle`s sister than just a shared predicament and so, he put his arm around her before he shook his head.

»First of all, I doubt she still is in there! And second, we have to get there!«

He pointed at a room that was marked »Zentrale Pumpenstation«. It was located two corridors away from where they just were.

»There must be a method of regulating the access to the cave where the boats are. And I doubt that Harun has had it installed by himself. So, I presume that there is some floodgate that has been built by the Germans. And I am quite sure that the control is in the central pump station!«

David nodded slowly.

»So, you want to block the exit.«

Mike nodded whilst still studying the map. David wasn`t sure if this was a good plan. If the criminals got to their ship, they would take the hostages with them, including Cordelia. But what would they do if they were trapped?

Mike seemed to have read his thoughts and pointed on another spot on the map that marked the cave.

»As far as I can see, you can get inside the cave by three ways. There is a staircase one floor below, a manhole in one of the corridors and of course, you can enter by sea. So, once they are all down there, we will block the staircase and the manhole and the other way out will be closed. Then, we can start negotiations!«

»Sounds almost too easy!«, David commented. However, it was a better plan than anything he could think of. Perhaps, they would indeed let the girls go if they got free retreat to their ship in exchange. After all, the main plan had something to do with the fighter jets and not with the captives.

»Good plans are often surprisingly simple«, Mike said. »However, if you are missing a handicap, there is one: the floodgate has been built some 80 years ago. It obviously still works, but there is no remote control. So, the pump station will be manned.«

»And if one of them manages to alarm the others, our whole plan is doomed«, David added. Mike nodded grimly. Then, he looked at Manu who was still naked and shivered slightly, partially from the chilly air and partially from fear.

»I have an idea, but it is a three men job. Or, to be more precisely, a job for two men and one beautiful woman!«

Manu reflexively covered her bareness with her arms as he looked at her. Mike smiled and gently put his hands on her shoulders.

»Belle always scolded me because of my puns, but in my plan, you will be the booby trap!«

***

Down at the cave, Pearce was angry because he could not leave for the ship immediately. This little redhead was indeed what would make the trip to Somaliland more pleasant! He loved how her thrust out boobs filled his hands and though he couldn`t see her face, he had seen her sister and if she resembled her, that would be quite right.

With one hand, he traced the rope that went through her crotch, gently feeling for it where he could no longer see it. Isabelle stiffened, but she had learned the hard way that struggling, yet even moving, wasn`t a good idea. So, she endured the elder man`s caresses, hoping that rescue would come.

When she arched her head, she could see Samantha, sitting in an uncomfortable lotus position, unable to defend herself from the other man that had reached around her from behind and was exploring her nude front. Poor Samantha! All she had done was to visit her sister at the sanatorium and now, she had to suffer a terrible fate.

»If only Manu has made it!«

Shortly before Pearce had arrived, she had seen two men carry a rolled carpet and place it on the adjacent boat. Isabelle had once been left tied and gagged and rolled into a carpet. However, according to how these two grown men had had difficulties in carrying the carpet, she guessed that it contained more than one captive.

To the dismay of both Cordelia and Laila, the two men had placed the carpet in a way that Cordelia was lying on top of Laila. First, they had tried to shift their position, but to no avail. And now, both had to suffer from this latest straw on their aching backs.

In a way, Cordelia was better off, for she had not another woman`s weight resting upon her. But she saw no chance in making things any easier for Laila. If she tried to take some weight from the other`s chest that was wedged against her belly, Cordelia involuntarily had to press her womb more against Laila`s face and she feared that she would choke her by doing so. She could feel the hot blows of air coming from Laila`s nose that breathed over her labia and she shuddered each time she felt some slight movement, knowing it was the other`s mouth.

Cordelia knew exactly how she must feel, for her predicament was the same. Her lips could feel the other`s pubic hair and the warm, soft flesh of her womb and her nose was so close to Laila`s labia that she could feel the soft touch. Everything in her wanted her to withdraw her head, but with her gag fixed to Laila`s crotch rope, struggling would only have made things worse.

There was a slight vibration in her crotch. Laila obviously ached or moaned. Cordelia fought the urge to scream, too, for it would only caused Laila to feel the vibration and would have gotten her nowhere. She focussed on breathing, trying to ignore the scent and hoping that soon, rescue would come.

She and Laila didn`t recognize that the door opened, but Samantha rose her head and the man groping her also stopped and stared at Harun who just entered, carrying a small suitcase. In his other hand, he held a leash and behind him, a naked woman was staggering. For a terrible moment, Samantha feared it was Manu, but that girl was smaller and petite. Her head was covered by a pair of panties and a bandage, but given the alternatives, this had to be Aida.

The former tormentor looked as if she was getting more than just a dose of her own medicine. Samantha saw two tight ropes frame her labia whilst another one just – vanished inside her. Her arms were folded and restrained behind her back and she whimpered and mewed on every step Harun forced her to make.

»Change in plans! I had to offer something to the Captain, since the blonde has escaped, due to her fault!«

Samantha felt a wave of relief. So, Manu hadn`t been caught yet! Since she was still naked, bound and gagged and sitting next to Isabelle who was in an even worse predicament, she was far from frolicking, but the fact that Manu had perhaps escaped whilst Aida now had to suffer was at least a small consolation.

Now, the manhole above their heads was opened and a rope ladder came down. Quickly, five black men climbed down, followed by Jemal. He frowned as he spotted the tightly trussed up and naked Aida, but Harun just shrugged. Then, he handed the leash to one of the Blacks.

»She`s for the Captain – or for the Captain and the rest of you, it`s his property now and therefore his decision!«

Aida screamed through her gag as the man took the leash and pulled her over to his comrades. Jemal meanwhile reported:

»The first two floors are cleared! The Captain and his men will come soon, except for two who are with Chalid! He`s at the pumps!«

Harun nodded approvingly. At least, now things were going their way! He checked his watch and said loud enough that Pearce and his men could hear him, too:

»The flood will reach its peak soon! In 30 minutes, we can leave!«

***

The central pump station was at the end of a corridor that was close to the staircase to the lowest floor. Mike, David and Manu had reached the corner of this corridor, only to hear people talk. It seemed to be an African idiom, none of them had heard before. Somali, Mike guessed.

»Five or six men!«, Mike whispered. One of these could not be missed, for he was obviously bragging around. Also, they were sure that this guy was smoking a cigar.

»The 80ies have called, they want their cliché mercenary back!«, Mike thought and checked his gun. Six men were just too much! However, they were either in the pump station or in the corridor in front of it and so, he could not get around them. The air vents were on the other side and so, he could also not use these to take them by surprise.

Then, it sounded as if the men were coming closer and they quickly withdrew into the next room. Mike waited by the door, but the men just walked by. As he peeked outside, he saw the last of them just enter the staircase.

»So, at least three of them have gone! Now, we – what?«

Behind him, David and Manu were staring at one wall. The room looked like an office, but what had caught their attention was an open safe in the corner. When David checked it, he saw a bunch of 100 Dollar bills.

»Tip for the room service?«

However, it seemed that the safe had just been emptied hastily and only the money had been left behind. Mike looked at the desk. It looked expensive, but quite ordinary – except for the map of Saudi Arabia under a transparent cover.

»Wait a minute!«

The map also showed the Red Sea and parts of the Horn of Africa and when Mike brushed over Somaliland, he felt a slight unevenness. When he looked closer, he could see that there had been a pin near the coast.

»So, we know a bit better where they are going! Manu, a hand, please!«

He ripped the cover away and then, with the help of the girl, he carefully turned the card around. Now, under the bright desk lamp and with only white paper to look at, they could find three more spots where needles had been pinned.

Luckily, these pins were in the drawer and so, they could mark the spots better. Then, they carefully turned the map around, to see what else Harun had marked.

»Okay, that`s strange!«

The spots were all located within Saudi Arabia, and they were not quite in the proverbial middle of nowhere: The marked places were Riad, the capital, Medina – and Mekka.

»Why does he have to mark these? I mean, he`s a member of the Royal House and sure has been there repeatedly!«, David asked.

»I have no idea – but the hints we have allow a few suggestions. And I definitely don`t like the combination of a secret base in Somaliland, fighter jets and targets in Saudi Arabia, including the holiest city of Islam!«

Some things didn`t add up. According to what they knew, Harun was a Muslim, too. Did his plans really include the sacrilege of attacking Mekka? However, the answers would have to wait until they had conquered the pump station!

»All right, time for ›Operation Booby Trap‹!«

»The name is really annoying!«, Manu protested, but she deliberately put her hands behind her back as Mike produced a piece of rope.

***

Three minutes later, Kiano, one of the two Somali soldiers the captain had left with Chalid, looked along the corridor and his jaw dropped. He wiped his eyes, but there was still a woman, a blonde woman, and she was stark naked!

He saw her ample boobs that seemed to point directly at him, the triangle of light brown pubic hair and then, he noticed that the woman had a thin cloth tied between her lips, a cloth that held some stuffing in her mouth.

»Akil!«

It came out more like a croak, but his comrade reacted and stepped onto the corridor. He also stared at the woman that approached them, but then, they saw an explanation for her appearance: A man, a white in a ragged shirt, was pulling the girl by her hair and he was holding a submachine gun in his hand.

»I found that one and-«

At that moment, the blonde suddenly kicked on his foot. The man cursed and let her go and the girl ran around the corner.

»Get her, you morons!«, the man who was obviously wounded shouted and crouched. Kiano and Akil ran after the girl when suddenly many things happened at the same time. The moment Akil passed David, he stretched out his leg, causing the Somali to stagger. Kiano, who had passed the corner, suddenly faced another man and before he could react, a knee hit his balls whilst two hands slammed against his carotid arteries.

Mike pushed the unconscious man forward where he landed in front of Akil who had just come back to his feet. Mike prepared for the fight, but then, the man suddenly twisted his eyes and landed atop his comrade. David looked at the submachine gun he had used like a club in disbelief.

»Not bad, Dave the Brave!«

Mike darted forward. Inside the pump room, the noise from the pipes had prevented Chalid from hearing what had happened and so, the barrel of Mike`s revolver hit his neck before he even knew what had happened.

He took some zip ties from his pocket and quickly tied the three men hand and foot, putting them in hogties. David helped him doing so, still a bit abashed that he had knocked out a man.

»Mph! Mhhmm!«

Manu approached and Mike got up, cutting the ropes tying her wrists and elbows. He had tied her for real so it would look more convincing. The girl ripped the tie from between her lips and ripped the gag from her mouth.

»Eww, these – wait, are these panties?«

Mike had still had the two pairs from Isabelle`s laundry and had used one of those to gag Manu. She glanced at him.

»You had these and let me walk around naked all the time?«

Mike considered to inform her that he hadn`t wanted to offer her used underwear, but he decided to compliment her for how excellent she had played her role. Manu scoffed and, slightly reluctant, stepped into the slightly damp panties. David, who had finished tying up the last man, handed her the white T-Shirt he had taken from Akil before tying his wrists.

»At least, one of you is a gentleman!«, Manu commented, putting the T-Shirt over her head. Mike shrugged.

»Well, the gentleman is temporarily degraded to being a guard. Dave, if one of them regains consciousness, you thread to shoot him. Manu, you may either assist him or help me in figuring out how the floodgate works! Your choice, but we have to hurry a bit!«

***