DONT GO overboard [ddi]

Joe Hardy threatened the rent-a-smuggler with an anchor. Jerk right, left. The anchor clattered down on the man's toes, mostly by accident. The sandy-haired hero caught his breath and wiped the iron dust off on his torn jeans. While rent-a-smuggler was still yelping, Joe hand-cuffed him and took off after the guy pounding Frank with an inflatable bat. Within a minute, the antagonist was bound and left next to the other. The inflatable bat fluttered down to the waters beneath the big cargo ship and bobbed across the waves.

Nancy Drew, meanwhile, was wiggling around in a low-lit room of dank pelts. Her eyes watered from the stinging scent of salt and mold. Where oh where was the exit? Would she make it out before the bomb went off in the cargo?
So many questions. And the knots were still tight.
Dang it, why didn't I really study that website about ropes...
She closed her eyes for a fleeting moment when the deep metal sound vibrated the room. But it was there again, and again. She stared at the door as the lock turned an inch.

Joe Hardy threatened the rent-a-smuggler with an anchor. Jerk right, left. The anchor clattered down on the man's toes, mostly by accident. The sandy-haired hero caught his breath and wiped the iron dust off on his torn jeans. While rent-a-smuggler was still yelping, Joe hand-cuffed him and took off after the guy pounding Frank with an inflatable bat. Within a minute, the antagonist was bound and left next to the other. The inflatable bat fluttered down to the waters beneath the big cargo ship and bobbed across the waves.

Nancy Drew, meanwhile, was wiggling around in a low-lit room of dank pelts. Her eyes watered from the stinging scent of salt and mold. Where oh where was the exit? Would she make it out before the bomb went off in the cargo?
So many questions. And the knots were still tight.
Dang it, why didn't I really study that website about ropes...
She closed her eyes for a fleeting moment when the deep metal sound vibrated the room. But it was there again, and again. She stared at the door as the lock turned an inch.

slowmotion

With an amazing groan, the locked door was unlocked. There, there stood her captor. The eyes were dark and hysterical. "Stand up!" The person demanded, grabbing her by her arm. The surprising strength of the culprit hoisted Nancy over their shoulder, taking ten steps towards the door.
BOOM.

chapter 2 ; crate-r

If the conditions of weather and life got any worse, the Hardy's would be knocked over by the winds before they opened the door into the boat. The boat was rattling like an earthquake at sea. Frank pushed Joe forward, in the door, and out of the bluster.

"Frank! Wasn't Nancy supposed to meet us somewhere in the stern?" Joe whispered, glancing around the hallways of the tossing ship. "She could have at least checked the forecast before we came all the way out--"
"Shhh!" Frank peeked around a corner. And took a step back.
"Ahhhhh, it's a couple 'a stowaways!" A smuggler chuckled, grabbing Frank.
"We're--we're not-- we were just looking for that Burger King that is on a boat--" Joe laughed cautiously, looking around at the circle of sailors and bad-looking-characters that surrounded them.

"Hey! I need help here!" Nancy's captor yelled from a distant room. If only Frank and Joe knew what trouble she was in, they might have tried to escape the distracted bad guys. But they were distracted, too.
A burst of bright static rang through a walkie-talkie on some one's hip. "--going down! I repeat, this baby is going down! Begin planed escape immediately."

"Let's go!" The head-honcho/sailor screamed, his boots pounding in a march as he turned down the hall. "Leave those two in the other crates."
And that's when the Hardy's freaked out.



----


Thanks a lot, Mel. :-D Nope, I'm the only one writing this.

chapter 3 ; crowbars

It was way past starting to get cold. The ship was screaming it's last few moans before the last two levels fell to the water. Ice crystals were forming and falling around the sinking vessel in a shockingly peaceful way.
Our heroes (Nancy Drew, Joe & Frank Hardy) were locked tightly in the depths of a crate in the corners of the top level. But they were far from panicked.
"Frank! I know this might be the end, but could you get your elbow out of my leg?"
"Only if you stop sitting on me, Joe." Frank snapped back, jabbing him in the shoulder.
"Just... STOP, okay guys? I have a plan." Nancy lightly inched Frank's shoe sole off of her ankle. Her wrists had escaped the tight ropes when her captor shoved her in this crate. But her ankles were still pinched together by A) the binds and B) Frank+Joe.
"Ow!" Joe pouted, feeling around the dark-as-pitch crate. "Frank, chill, I'm just looking for a pocket knife or frying pan....."
Nancy sighed impatiently, praying silently. "Guys? Okay, here's all we need to do--"
"Helllooooo? Nancy Drew? Anyone?" One of the most frightening voices squawked from distant places. "Speak up, now!"
"HEEEEEEEEEEEEEERRRRRRREE!" Nancy screamed. "HELP HELP HEEEELLLP!"
"What? Speak up!" The voice replied, a little farther away. Joe flinched and covered his ears.
"Okay, on three." Nancy took a deep breath. "One two--"
CRACK.
The crate came splitting open, light spilling in the dark. "Well, hello there! No time to chat, Missy, the ship is almost sunk!"
"Thank you!" Nancy screamed with joy, taking the old man's hand that was offered. Frank shoved Joe over the side of the box, scrambling and slipping across the splashy floor.
"Uh, time to rocket!" Frank carefully stood up.
"I can't! My legs are a little tied up!" Nancy whined, a tight hand on the old man's shoulder. And then something totally unexpected happened. Joe threw Nancy over his arm and made for the slimy rusted steps.