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Post by Jordanna on Jun 20, 2008 22:59:55 GMT -5
"Pick up the pace!" Vance ordered sharply.
The run through the darkened shaft, with only a few flashlights to scan the way ahead of them, seemed endless. However, it was only two minutes later when they reached the end of the tunnel--and a blast door like the one they had faced at the other end.
Proteus moved forward to lay his hands on it, and a moment later, a large portion of the steel lay crumbled to metallic dust at his feet. Fresh night air poured in through the new opening, bringing with it the serene sound of chirping crickets.
From the depths of the tunnel came another sound: a low rumble that was like nothing else they had heard that night. It started almost inaudibly, but everyone could feel it--and it quickly began to grow.
"Everybody out!" Vance shouted.
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Post by skybright on Jun 20, 2008 23:08:45 GMT -5
The group wasted no time in complying, filing through the ruined door as quickly as the width of the opening would permit. The rumbling from within continued to grow in volume and intensity as they did so.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 22, 2008 22:18:47 GMT -5
Vance was the last man out. He was halfway through the opening when the rumbling ceased for a split second--and then transformed into a distant, massive detonation that sounded as if it came from the depths of the earth.
A blast of compressed air from within the tunnel hit Vance, pitching him several feet beyond the opening in a cloud of dust. He rolled as he landed--badly jarring his shoulder--and turned to stare at the hillside they had just emerged from.
The hills that stretched out behind them were collapsing in on themselves, and on everything that had been beneath them.
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Post by skybright on Jun 22, 2008 22:27:53 GMT -5
Daws coughed and fanned at the cloud of dust that had spewed forth, vainly trying to strain for a glimpse of what was happening. The dark night made her damaged vision even more useless -- but from the dust in the air and the sound and vibration surrounding them, she still had a fairly good idea of what was going on.
"Is it as bad as it sounds?" She asked.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 22, 2008 22:40:58 GMT -5
Nate pulled himself closer to Daws across the grass, and gripped her arm gently. "Yeah," he answered, in a quiet voice.
Vance simply drew his knees up and rested his head on his arms, silent and defeated.
The night silence settled once more, as the surviving fighters stood, or sat, or sprawled wherever they had ended up, dazed and exhausted and coughing dust out of their lungs. It was Nate who finally looked around to take stock of their condition. "Is everybody okay?"
There were halfhearted murmurs and nods--but there was also one figure laying limply on the grass who did not move. Sid's eyes widened, and he swore anxiously as he moved over to her.
"Doc?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 22, 2008 22:48:00 GMT -5
Daws' head instantly snapped towards the sound of Sid's voice. "Oh, no . . . Miriam?" She started to clamber to her feet. "Sid -- is she . . ."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 22, 2008 23:03:02 GMT -5
Sid felt Miriam's pulse, and shook his head. "Nah, she's out cold, but... I think she's in some kinda shock or somethin'."
Vance raised his head. "Ashley's death..."
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Post by skybright on Jun 22, 2008 23:11:33 GMT -5
Daws nodded. "That could've done it. Especially on top of the others tonight, ours and theirs . . ."
She took a half-step towards Sid and Miriam, then stopped abruptly as she realized how little help she would be in the dark. "If she's in shock, we've got to keep her warm." She said, with a frustrated shake of her head.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2008 21:33:55 GMT -5
Nate took off his jacket, and knelt to wrap it around Miriam's shoulders as Sid lifted her.
Vance almost reluctantly pushed himself to his feet. "We've all got to get out of here... back to the farmhouse. Scythe, carry the Doc."
Without waiting for anyone to speak, Vance started walking, headed in the direction of the lot where they had hidden the cars a mile away.
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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2008 22:15:15 GMT -5
Daws frowned worriedly after him, shooting a concerned glance in Nate's direction as the others began to slowly pick themselves up and move to follow their leader.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2008 22:28:54 GMT -5
It took a long and arduous hike for the fighters to get back to their vehicles. Most of them were wounded to at least some degree, although no injuries appeared to be immediately serious. Nate helped Daws, with Sid going back and forth anxiously between Daws and the unconscious Miriam.
When they reached the cars at last, they exhaustedly piled in and made the short drive back to the farmhouse. The entire time, Major Vance said not a single word.
The dazed and dispirited group reached the crumbling house safely, and Nate helped Daws out of the car.
"I wonder where the Mayor's gotten off to," he considered wearily.
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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2008 22:34:56 GMT -5
Daws shrugged one shoulder diffidently. "He was going to curl up in one of the cars we weren't using to try and sleep off his migraine, I think." She replied.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2008 22:40:15 GMT -5
Nate shrugged. "Might as well let him sleep, I guess."
As the bedraggled group wandered up toward the porch steps, Henry Casselton emerged from inside the house, looking desperately anxious.
"I thought I felt an earthquake an hour ago. What happened? Is everyone alright?"
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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2008 22:46:50 GMT -5
Daws sighed wearily. "Not really, Henry, no." She said quietly.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 23, 2008 23:01:10 GMT -5
Sid stepped forward and gripped Henry's arm. "It was a mess, Henry. Bad enough just with the guys that was there, but Tiernan's creeps showed up too. We lost three a' the Major's people. We got Ashley, alright--but we couldn't bring him out. An' the Doc... Miriam..."
He sighed and looked over his shoulder, as Scythe came up beside him with the small woman in his arms. "She's in some kinda shock. All that death was too much fer her."
A devastated expression came over Henry's face, and he guided Scythe into the house with his burden.
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Post by skybright on Jun 23, 2008 23:10:06 GMT -5
Daws sighed and started to run her hand through her hair -- only to realize that she was still wearing her ski mask. She tugged it off and rubbed wearily at the disheveled, dust-streaked fur on her face. "Lousy night." She murmured to no one in particular.
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2008 22:20:50 GMT -5
Vance finally emerged from the dark and approached the porch steps, looking much older than he had a few hours before. Nate started to speak, but the Major shook his head and turned to Roger, who like some of the others was lingering dolefully outside.
"Rog, can that helicopter carry four people?" Vance asked quietly.
The pilot shrugged his eyebrows and put his hands on his hips, thinking briefly. "Might be kind of cramped, but she'd fly alright."
"Okay. I want you to get Cole back to the City--and take Regina and Doctor Van Linden to Doc Ollivard."
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2008 22:26:46 GMT -5
Daws made a faint noise of protest. "I'm hardly in bad enough shape to need an airlift."
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Post by Jordanna on Jun 24, 2008 22:34:10 GMT -5
Vance gave Daws a hard look. "You know you won't be any help here right now, Regina. You can look after the Doc and have your eyes taken care of at the same time." He folded his arms. "The rest of us will follow in the cars as soon as we've packed up here."
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Post by skybright on Jun 24, 2008 22:38:07 GMT -5
Daws seemed to consider protesting -- but then she sighed and spread her hands slightly, too worn out to argue the point. "Okay. I guess when you're right, you're right."
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