~ Andrew's breath caught painfully in his throat as Jaden swabbed up the blood oozing from the wound in his abdomen with clean gauze. Andrew opened his eyes and looked around.
"Where'd Takyle go?" he asked. Jaden glanced up from his work and looked down the hall. She was nowhere in sight.
"I don't know." He wasn't sure that he cared at this point. "Takyle! Get your ass back here!" he shouted over his shoulder. He pulled out a packet of antibacterial powder and sprinkled it over Andrew's wound, placing a thick gauze pad over that and bandaging it in place. A second later Takyle came running back into the hall from around a corner.
"Hey guys, I found another unlocked d-" She skidding to a stop several yards away when she processed what Jaden was doing. "What's happened to him?" she asked. She stepped over the other team's leader, who now lay tied on the floor, and approached slowly.
"What do you think happened to him? He got stabbed while he was fighting," Jaden answered, scathingly.
"You're bleeding too," Andrew murmured softly. Jaden remembered his arm.
"Oh it's nothing impressive. You know me, just another scar to show off with no good story for it. Not like what you got here. Now this'll make a great story for the ladies. Will you lay down and rest for a few minutes?"
"Sure. I love resting." Jaden rolled up Andrew's jacket and placed it under his head as a pillow. Andrew's mouth twitched and he opened one eye.
"Quit doting, Jaden, and go patch up your arm."
“Sure thing.” Jaden straightened up and turned to Takyle, drawing her away from Andrew. She was staring at him with a shocked and rather stupid look on her face.
“Is he going to be alright?” she asked. Jaden blinked at her.
“I don't know. He was bleeding pretty bad.” He looked her over coldly. “You were an idiot. Standing there arguing with him when he was seriously wounded. What the hell were you thinking?”
“I didn't realize he was hurt. I feel like an idiot.”
“And you look like one too,” Andrew sang from the floor. “Have you guys thought that maybe we should all stop fighting amongst ourselves and try to actually win this friggin' race?” Takyle walked back and knelt beside Andrew on the floor. She laid one hand on his shoulder gently.
"I'm so sorry, Andy. I didn't know...I didn't mean..." He raised a hand to lay on top of hers.
"It's ok, Takyle. I'm going to be fine." Takyle looked up at Jaden then back at Andrew.
"I don't know what came over me."
"Do you feel jumpy and moody?" asked Jaden.
"Yeah. Ever since we got in here," Takyle agreed. Andrew groaned quietly as he raised his head.
"So um, maybe we shouldn't be lounging around in here if it's messing with our heads, huh guys?"
"Yeah, but what about our archnemeses here?" Jaden threw a thumb in the direction of the silent Cal and Vin. Andrew rolled his eyes.
"Good question..."
Showing posts with label Chapters: 41-50. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chapters: 41-50. Show all posts
Monday, April 7, 2008
Friday, April 4, 2008
Chapter 49: Consequences
~ Takyle lightly slapped Andrew on the arm again.
"Seriously." Her lips almost looked pouty. Jaden thought that she'd never seemed so girly. Well, that is, she would have if she hadn't been holding a bloody dagger in one hand. Andrew looked lost and a little peeved. That was obviously not the reaction he'd expected, or perhaps been hoping for.
"What?"
"I was fine! I had him. Then you came rushing in and finished him off!"
"Well you didn't look like you had him! You looked like you were just holding your own and thinking that you were doing well. And besides, I'm not going to put your ego in the way of winning this race."
"My ego?" Takyle demanded. "I was fine! And I'm a better fighter than you'll ever hope to be! At least I could afford real lessons!"
"You were fine? So you never make mistakes do you, Takyle? If you'd slipped he could have killed you while we were all standing back letting you prove your worth to yourself because your daddy never loved you enough!"
Jaden didn't turn around from his watch over Cal and Vin, both sitting propped against the wall now, but he did flinch. Partly because of Andrew's angry tone, mostly because he was imaging the look on Takyle's face right now. It entered Jaden's mind that he hoped they had the sense to be keeping an eye on John whilst they fought it out. Then he decided that he probably shouldn't count on that.
Jaden backed up to where his pack lay on the ground and dug a small bundle of cable ties out of it. Andrew's idea, bless his soul, so prepared. He trussed Cal and Vin's hands behind them, then, as an afterthought, had them sit back to back and secured them to each other as well. As a kindness he checked Vin's wound and found it to be superficial, the bleeding already slowing. And then he set Cal's nose straight again with a quick wrench.
"Sorry," he told the man quietly when he yelped in pain. The he turned to take a look at the real fight scene. John still lay on the floor. Takyle still gripped her knife, but her arm had tensed and her knuckles were white. Jaden had never seen Andrew looking quite that mad. The fact that he was actually shouting said it all.
"We're supposed to be a freaking team here! What is it exactly that you think teams do, Takyle?"
"Apparently they cut each other down and utilize backstabbing as often as possible! At least the teams that you're on do!"
"I didn't do anything wrong! I was trying to help because I didn't want you to get hurt because I frigging love you!" Andrew stood there in front of Takyle, breathing hard. She stared at him in silence.
"I didn't need help," she muttered.
"I don't care. That's not something I can chance," said Andrew, in a much more reasonable tone of voice. "You're the one that kept friggin' telling us to always go with our gut instincts anyway!" Takyle looked down at John, then at her knife, apparently for the first time noticing the blood splattered on her hand.
"I'm...sorry." She turned and stepped over John to walk a short distance down the hall, away from Andrew. Andrew finally looked at Jaden.
"Are you ok?" he asked weakly.
"Yes, I'm fine." Jaden looked hard at Andrew's face. He looked pale. Then Jaden noticed that he was also bleeding profusely through fingers pressed to his stomach.
"Andrew, you're-"
"Yeah, I know. Hurts like hell. I'm just gonna sit down now." Andrew half lowered himself, half slid down the wall to rest on the floor. He looked over as Jaden grabbed his med kit. "I've never been much one for fainting, but I see now that it could have its advantages."
"You'll be ok," assured Jaden, sounding as if he knew what he was talking about. He carefully pulled Andrew's hand away and grabbed his knife to cut off Andrew's shirt.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Andrew demanded. "I only have two sets of clothes you know. Just help me take it off like a normal person." So he was not in enough pain to override his conservatory instincts; Jaden took that as a good sign and helped him take off his jacket and pull the shirt over his head.
Jaden used the sullied shirt to wipe some of the blood off of Andrew's stomach, as carefully as possible. Andrew bit his lip, and barely stifled a groan.
"I'm sorry," apologized Jaden. "I'm trying to be gentle." Andrew let his head fall back and closed his eyes.
"I hope you're at least planning to make me breakfast tomorrow morning, sailor."
"Seriously." Her lips almost looked pouty. Jaden thought that she'd never seemed so girly. Well, that is, she would have if she hadn't been holding a bloody dagger in one hand. Andrew looked lost and a little peeved. That was obviously not the reaction he'd expected, or perhaps been hoping for.
"What?"
"I was fine! I had him. Then you came rushing in and finished him off!"
"Well you didn't look like you had him! You looked like you were just holding your own and thinking that you were doing well. And besides, I'm not going to put your ego in the way of winning this race."
"My ego?" Takyle demanded. "I was fine! And I'm a better fighter than you'll ever hope to be! At least I could afford real lessons!"
"You were fine? So you never make mistakes do you, Takyle? If you'd slipped he could have killed you while we were all standing back letting you prove your worth to yourself because your daddy never loved you enough!"
Jaden didn't turn around from his watch over Cal and Vin, both sitting propped against the wall now, but he did flinch. Partly because of Andrew's angry tone, mostly because he was imaging the look on Takyle's face right now. It entered Jaden's mind that he hoped they had the sense to be keeping an eye on John whilst they fought it out. Then he decided that he probably shouldn't count on that.
Jaden backed up to where his pack lay on the ground and dug a small bundle of cable ties out of it. Andrew's idea, bless his soul, so prepared. He trussed Cal and Vin's hands behind them, then, as an afterthought, had them sit back to back and secured them to each other as well. As a kindness he checked Vin's wound and found it to be superficial, the bleeding already slowing. And then he set Cal's nose straight again with a quick wrench.
"Sorry," he told the man quietly when he yelped in pain. The he turned to take a look at the real fight scene. John still lay on the floor. Takyle still gripped her knife, but her arm had tensed and her knuckles were white. Jaden had never seen Andrew looking quite that mad. The fact that he was actually shouting said it all.
"We're supposed to be a freaking team here! What is it exactly that you think teams do, Takyle?"
"Apparently they cut each other down and utilize backstabbing as often as possible! At least the teams that you're on do!"
"I didn't do anything wrong! I was trying to help because I didn't want you to get hurt because I frigging love you!" Andrew stood there in front of Takyle, breathing hard. She stared at him in silence.
"I didn't need help," she muttered.
"I don't care. That's not something I can chance," said Andrew, in a much more reasonable tone of voice. "You're the one that kept friggin' telling us to always go with our gut instincts anyway!" Takyle looked down at John, then at her knife, apparently for the first time noticing the blood splattered on her hand.
"I'm...sorry." She turned and stepped over John to walk a short distance down the hall, away from Andrew. Andrew finally looked at Jaden.
"Are you ok?" he asked weakly.
"Yes, I'm fine." Jaden looked hard at Andrew's face. He looked pale. Then Jaden noticed that he was also bleeding profusely through fingers pressed to his stomach.
"Andrew, you're-"
"Yeah, I know. Hurts like hell. I'm just gonna sit down now." Andrew half lowered himself, half slid down the wall to rest on the floor. He looked over as Jaden grabbed his med kit. "I've never been much one for fainting, but I see now that it could have its advantages."
"You'll be ok," assured Jaden, sounding as if he knew what he was talking about. He carefully pulled Andrew's hand away and grabbed his knife to cut off Andrew's shirt.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Andrew demanded. "I only have two sets of clothes you know. Just help me take it off like a normal person." So he was not in enough pain to override his conservatory instincts; Jaden took that as a good sign and helped him take off his jacket and pull the shirt over his head.
Jaden used the sullied shirt to wipe some of the blood off of Andrew's stomach, as carefully as possible. Andrew bit his lip, and barely stifled a groan.
"I'm sorry," apologized Jaden. "I'm trying to be gentle." Andrew let his head fall back and closed his eyes.
"I hope you're at least planning to make me breakfast tomorrow morning, sailor."
Monday, March 31, 2008
Chapter 48: Head to Head
~ "Oh for cryin' out loud!" Andrew muttered.
The apparent leader of the other group snapped at the man on his right.
"Vin you're an idiot. Why would we do that?"
"Because if this is a sim, that might be the challenge, and if it's real, we'd at least but cutting down on the competition!" John tilted his head.
"My gosh, he's actually considering it," murmured Jaden in disbelief.
"You have got to be kidding me," said Takyle, in an exasperated tone that suggested she didn't believe that they were. Jaden felt the familiar thrill of fear and adrenalin from the prospect of a fight. He slipped the straps of his pack off his shoulders and let it fall to the ground behind him. He felt his pulse begin to thump in his neck.
"Let's talk about this guys," Takyle addressed the other team calmly. "You're not in a sim. Look at your clothes; they're spotless. And why would you be put up against another team in a sim? We're as real as you are." John nodded thoughtfully.
"You make a good case. This is probably real." He turned to his companions. "We don't need to kill them." Jaden felt Takyle relax just the tiniest bit. "All we need to do is injure one of them enough for their team to be crippled. I'd say the girl is the best candidate for that." He smirked. Takyle sighed and unsheathed her own knife.
"Ok, if that's the way you're going to be...Bring it, bitch," she spat at him. John smiled grimly.
"Oh you are going to be eating those words."
The three men charged forward and Team 6 acted as one. Just as their attackers reached them Jaden jumped forward, keeping close to the wall. Due to the tight formation their rivals had adopted, he slipped through easily, shielding his own body with his knife hand and planting an elbow hard into Cal's kidney on his way past. He spun around, now behind the other team. Meanwhile Takyle had fallen back three steps, luring John after her, while Andrew had ducked back into the door they'd left, allowing Vin to just miss him.
Before his guy could turn around, Jaden hit him as hard as he could in the back of the head with the hilt of his knife, causing him to stumble before coming around. Jaden ducked as the man swung and came up in time to hit him while his stomach was vulnerable. Jaden was momentarily surprised at how invulnerable that stomach was. He was reminded that he wasn't fighting a skinny teenager. The man had abs.
Over Cal's shoulder, Jaden saw the one called Vin stumble backwards across the hallway and crash into the wall. He'd made the mistake of trying to follow Andrew into the other room. Farther down the hallway Takyle parried and danced back from John's hatchet. She was a precise and delicate fighter, something that John seemed to be having a hard time getting used to.
Jaden jumped to the side as Cal dived forward, knife leveled at his belly. He just managed to catch Jaden's lower arm, tearing his sleeve and nicking flesh. The line of pain was like a cue to Jaden's body. Anger surged through him. He threw his fist, clasped around the metal hilt of his knife, into the man's face. He felt Cal's nose crunch beneath it and blood gushed out.
"I don't need another frigging scar!" Jaden shouted at him, punching him again in the face. Cal took a step back, looking somewhat surprised Jaden thought, and Jaden drove a powerful kick into his solar plexus. Cal looked faint for a moment, and then dropped. Jaden spun to check Andrew and Takyle. John was erratically swinging his hatchet at face level, apparently growing tired of being outmaneuvered. The only member of the other team that seemed to be winning was Vin, who had somehow gotten the upperhand and lured Andrew back out into the hallway. He now had him up against the wall. Both Andrew's and Vin's knives were gone and Vin had one hand pressed to a bleeding wound in his side, the other clenched on Andrew's throat.
Jaden reached them in two strides, wrapped one arm around Vin to hold him and pressed his knife to Vin's throat. A thin line of blood sprang up and three droplets slipped across the face of the blade.
"Let him go before you're a dead man," he hissed into Vin's ear. To Jaden's immense relief, Vin did what he was told. Andrew grabbed his knife off the floor and ran over to Takyle, who had just slipped in and delivered a quick slash to John's chest. She looked like she was almost enjoying herself. Andrew put his years of kickboxing to use, ridding the tired man of his weapon and landing him on the floor with three well placed blows. Takyle looked down on her conquered opponent and slapped Andrew on the arm.
"Dude! What the hell?" ~
The apparent leader of the other group snapped at the man on his right.
"Vin you're an idiot. Why would we do that?"
"Because if this is a sim, that might be the challenge, and if it's real, we'd at least but cutting down on the competition!" John tilted his head.
"My gosh, he's actually considering it," murmured Jaden in disbelief.
"You have got to be kidding me," said Takyle, in an exasperated tone that suggested she didn't believe that they were. Jaden felt the familiar thrill of fear and adrenalin from the prospect of a fight. He slipped the straps of his pack off his shoulders and let it fall to the ground behind him. He felt his pulse begin to thump in his neck.
"Let's talk about this guys," Takyle addressed the other team calmly. "You're not in a sim. Look at your clothes; they're spotless. And why would you be put up against another team in a sim? We're as real as you are." John nodded thoughtfully.
"You make a good case. This is probably real." He turned to his companions. "We don't need to kill them." Jaden felt Takyle relax just the tiniest bit. "All we need to do is injure one of them enough for their team to be crippled. I'd say the girl is the best candidate for that." He smirked. Takyle sighed and unsheathed her own knife.
"Ok, if that's the way you're going to be...Bring it, bitch," she spat at him. John smiled grimly.
"Oh you are going to be eating those words."
The three men charged forward and Team 6 acted as one. Just as their attackers reached them Jaden jumped forward, keeping close to the wall. Due to the tight formation their rivals had adopted, he slipped through easily, shielding his own body with his knife hand and planting an elbow hard into Cal's kidney on his way past. He spun around, now behind the other team. Meanwhile Takyle had fallen back three steps, luring John after her, while Andrew had ducked back into the door they'd left, allowing Vin to just miss him.
Before his guy could turn around, Jaden hit him as hard as he could in the back of the head with the hilt of his knife, causing him to stumble before coming around. Jaden ducked as the man swung and came up in time to hit him while his stomach was vulnerable. Jaden was momentarily surprised at how invulnerable that stomach was. He was reminded that he wasn't fighting a skinny teenager. The man had abs.
Over Cal's shoulder, Jaden saw the one called Vin stumble backwards across the hallway and crash into the wall. He'd made the mistake of trying to follow Andrew into the other room. Farther down the hallway Takyle parried and danced back from John's hatchet. She was a precise and delicate fighter, something that John seemed to be having a hard time getting used to.
Jaden jumped to the side as Cal dived forward, knife leveled at his belly. He just managed to catch Jaden's lower arm, tearing his sleeve and nicking flesh. The line of pain was like a cue to Jaden's body. Anger surged through him. He threw his fist, clasped around the metal hilt of his knife, into the man's face. He felt Cal's nose crunch beneath it and blood gushed out.
"I don't need another frigging scar!" Jaden shouted at him, punching him again in the face. Cal took a step back, looking somewhat surprised Jaden thought, and Jaden drove a powerful kick into his solar plexus. Cal looked faint for a moment, and then dropped. Jaden spun to check Andrew and Takyle. John was erratically swinging his hatchet at face level, apparently growing tired of being outmaneuvered. The only member of the other team that seemed to be winning was Vin, who had somehow gotten the upperhand and lured Andrew back out into the hallway. He now had him up against the wall. Both Andrew's and Vin's knives were gone and Vin had one hand pressed to a bleeding wound in his side, the other clenched on Andrew's throat.
Jaden reached them in two strides, wrapped one arm around Vin to hold him and pressed his knife to Vin's throat. A thin line of blood sprang up and three droplets slipped across the face of the blade.
"Let him go before you're a dead man," he hissed into Vin's ear. To Jaden's immense relief, Vin did what he was told. Andrew grabbed his knife off the floor and ran over to Takyle, who had just slipped in and delivered a quick slash to John's chest. She looked like she was almost enjoying herself. Andrew put his years of kickboxing to use, ridding the tired man of his weapon and landing him on the floor with three well placed blows. Takyle looked down on her conquered opponent and slapped Andrew on the arm.
"Dude! What the hell?" ~
Friday, March 28, 2008
Chapter 47: Surprise Party
~ Takyle proceeded down the hall, cursing under her breath at each door that her key failed to open. Andrew cleared his throat.
"Maybe we're missing something here. We don't know if this key works in any of these doors. I mean, the thing just said the items were for the next level." Takyle turned to Andrew and raised her hands.
"Well what do you propose we do, Andrew? We've already been through this once and we know that the unlocked doors just lead back here!"
"Maybe since then some others have been unlocked, I don't know."
"Hey, shut up, you two!" Jaden hissed at them. "Listen." Without the cover of Andrew and Takyle's conversation, what Jaden had heard was obvious. Unfamiliar voices, not terribly far off, and sounding as if they were coming closer. Andrew touched Jaden's arm and along with Takyle they withdrew and ducked through the only unlocked door, the first one Andrew had marked on their previous time around. Takyle, leaving the door a quarter of an inch ajar to observe the hallway, gestured to Andrew to watch their backs. Meanwhile she pulled a tiny mirror out of a pocket on her backpack and set it in the opening so that she could watch the end of the hallway where the voices had seemed to be coming from, in the opposite direction of the live-sim door,.
"I see them," she murmured. "They...It looks like another race team. What are they doing here? It must be a mistake..."
"Well we heard them, so they probably heard you guys. Even if they didn't they'll see the marked door and try it," Jaden whispered to her. "Maybe we should just go ahead and beat them to finding us, or get the hell out of here while we can." Takyle shot Andrew a glance. He shrugged.
"I've never heard of a race in which the teams met up. Maybe it is a mistake somehow?" Takyle nodded and took one more look in her mirror before pocketing it and waving them forward. They stepped out into the hallway facing their competitors, who looked just as shocked and bewildered as the members of Team 6 felt. They immediately stopped in their tracks and compressed into a tight knot, obviously assuming the worst.
Jaden eyed the competition. They were all male, all looked to be older than anyone in his team, but still in their twenties, if barely. They looked a good deal swarthier than the average citizen as well.
Takyle took one step forward, slightly closing the gap of several yards.
"We're Team 6. I don't know what happened here, or why we're in the same level, but we-"
"Quiet, lady!" one of the other team interrupted rudely. He turned his face slightly to his teammates, keeping his eyes on Takyle. "What is this, Cal? Is this supposed to happen?" Cal answered in a strained sounding tenor that seriously mismatched his appearance.
"I don't know. Maybe? This might just all be another challenge in another sim."
"I don't think so-" Takyle started to say. The first speaker jerked a hatchet from his belt and strode forward three steps in a show of bravado.
"I said shut up!"
Andrew and Jaden stepped up to either side of Takyle, knives unsheathed.
"I think you need to simmer down and take a few deep breaths," Andrew counseled in his usual quiet, strong voice, but it was laced with threat that always at once scared and reassured Jaden. The man did take a step back, but didn't look as if he calmed down all that much.
"As I was saying," Takyle stated in an icy voice."I don't think that this is a sim. We believe that this is real. Possibly the first real obstacle. Why we're in it together, I don't know. Have you been in a sim where you had to find three objects yet?" All three men on the other team glared at Takyle.
"Don't tell them anything, John! It's probably a trap, real or not," said the last of the trio, finally getting to throw in his three cents worth, and looking satisfied for having done it. Then he excitedly added another thought. "Maybe we're supposed to kill them!" ~
"Maybe we're missing something here. We don't know if this key works in any of these doors. I mean, the thing just said the items were for the next level." Takyle turned to Andrew and raised her hands.
"Well what do you propose we do, Andrew? We've already been through this once and we know that the unlocked doors just lead back here!"
"Maybe since then some others have been unlocked, I don't know."
"Hey, shut up, you two!" Jaden hissed at them. "Listen." Without the cover of Andrew and Takyle's conversation, what Jaden had heard was obvious. Unfamiliar voices, not terribly far off, and sounding as if they were coming closer. Andrew touched Jaden's arm and along with Takyle they withdrew and ducked through the only unlocked door, the first one Andrew had marked on their previous time around. Takyle, leaving the door a quarter of an inch ajar to observe the hallway, gestured to Andrew to watch their backs. Meanwhile she pulled a tiny mirror out of a pocket on her backpack and set it in the opening so that she could watch the end of the hallway where the voices had seemed to be coming from, in the opposite direction of the live-sim door,.
"I see them," she murmured. "They...It looks like another race team. What are they doing here? It must be a mistake..."
"Well we heard them, so they probably heard you guys. Even if they didn't they'll see the marked door and try it," Jaden whispered to her. "Maybe we should just go ahead and beat them to finding us, or get the hell out of here while we can." Takyle shot Andrew a glance. He shrugged.
"I've never heard of a race in which the teams met up. Maybe it is a mistake somehow?" Takyle nodded and took one more look in her mirror before pocketing it and waving them forward. They stepped out into the hallway facing their competitors, who looked just as shocked and bewildered as the members of Team 6 felt. They immediately stopped in their tracks and compressed into a tight knot, obviously assuming the worst.
Jaden eyed the competition. They were all male, all looked to be older than anyone in his team, but still in their twenties, if barely. They looked a good deal swarthier than the average citizen as well.
Takyle took one step forward, slightly closing the gap of several yards.
"We're Team 6. I don't know what happened here, or why we're in the same level, but we-"
"Quiet, lady!" one of the other team interrupted rudely. He turned his face slightly to his teammates, keeping his eyes on Takyle. "What is this, Cal? Is this supposed to happen?" Cal answered in a strained sounding tenor that seriously mismatched his appearance.
"I don't know. Maybe? This might just all be another challenge in another sim."
"I don't think so-" Takyle started to say. The first speaker jerked a hatchet from his belt and strode forward three steps in a show of bravado.
"I said shut up!"
Andrew and Jaden stepped up to either side of Takyle, knives unsheathed.
"I think you need to simmer down and take a few deep breaths," Andrew counseled in his usual quiet, strong voice, but it was laced with threat that always at once scared and reassured Jaden. The man did take a step back, but didn't look as if he calmed down all that much.
"As I was saying," Takyle stated in an icy voice."I don't think that this is a sim. We believe that this is real. Possibly the first real obstacle. Why we're in it together, I don't know. Have you been in a sim where you had to find three objects yet?" All three men on the other team glared at Takyle.
"Don't tell them anything, John! It's probably a trap, real or not," said the last of the trio, finally getting to throw in his three cents worth, and looking satisfied for having done it. Then he excitedly added another thought. "Maybe we're supposed to kill them!" ~
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Chapter 46: Glass Half Full - Bonus chapter
~ Andrew immediately handed the two items off to Takyle and moved to the door, cracking it open and peering out.
"It seems to be a doored hallway much like the one we just left," he noted. Jaden looked around the room.
"Is this...real?" he asked. He studied his clothes. "I feel much cleaner than I did a minute ago." Takyle nodded.
"Yeah, me too. Of course, it would be possible to make us just think that while still in a live-sim."
"I suppose so," Jaden said absently. "So are we going out into the hallway?" Takyle unzipped a flap of Andrew's backpack and pushed the scepter into it. She pocketed the key and turned to Jaden.
"Don't seem to be any other doors, so yes." Halfway down the hall Jaden stopped.
"I think this is the same hallway. Here's the door Andrew marked. I think this is real. We left a live-sim by exiting the wizard's cabin into this real hallway maze. We wandered around in a circle, came back here and entered another live-sim. After completing that, it essentially kicked us out by shutting off when the time was up. If we hadn't found the items by then, we wouldn't get them."
"But we still have them; they're real objects..." began Takyle.
"Yes, but there's nothing stopping real objects being planted in a live-sim. We can really eat in live-sims," added Andrew. Takyle nodded.
"So either they're very consistent with the sims, maintaining the marks that Andrew left, or this is our first obstacle that's actually real life."
"Either way it doesn't really matter," Jaden added. "I think the first thing that we should do, given our history here, is try turning right around and going back in." Takyle nodded her agreement and jogged back up the hall. She tried the door at the end and turned to yell back at them.
"It locked behind us. I'll try the key I found." When she came running back it was obvious that that didn't work. "No dice, I think we're cursed to wandering some more."
"Maybe that key would work in one of these other doors..." Jaden wondered aloud. Takyle sighed noisily.
"Well that's shit. Do you remember just how many doors we passed when we were here before?" Andrew grinned.
"Maybe it will work in the first one you try, Ta," he offered. Takyle rolled her eyes at him, but her frown melted a little. In fact, there was actually a tiny bit of a smile there.
"Thanks Andy. Always so freaking optimistic aren't you?"
"Well I do what I can. Right Jaden?"
"Right Andrew, you certainly get an A for effort." Takyle shook her head and placed her key in the lock nearest her. It didn't turn. ~
"It seems to be a doored hallway much like the one we just left," he noted. Jaden looked around the room.
"Is this...real?" he asked. He studied his clothes. "I feel much cleaner than I did a minute ago." Takyle nodded.
"Yeah, me too. Of course, it would be possible to make us just think that while still in a live-sim."
"I suppose so," Jaden said absently. "So are we going out into the hallway?" Takyle unzipped a flap of Andrew's backpack and pushed the scepter into it. She pocketed the key and turned to Jaden.
"Don't seem to be any other doors, so yes." Halfway down the hall Jaden stopped.
"I think this is the same hallway. Here's the door Andrew marked. I think this is real. We left a live-sim by exiting the wizard's cabin into this real hallway maze. We wandered around in a circle, came back here and entered another live-sim. After completing that, it essentially kicked us out by shutting off when the time was up. If we hadn't found the items by then, we wouldn't get them."
"But we still have them; they're real objects..." began Takyle.
"Yes, but there's nothing stopping real objects being planted in a live-sim. We can really eat in live-sims," added Andrew. Takyle nodded.
"So either they're very consistent with the sims, maintaining the marks that Andrew left, or this is our first obstacle that's actually real life."
"Either way it doesn't really matter," Jaden added. "I think the first thing that we should do, given our history here, is try turning right around and going back in." Takyle nodded her agreement and jogged back up the hall. She tried the door at the end and turned to yell back at them.
"It locked behind us. I'll try the key I found." When she came running back it was obvious that that didn't work. "No dice, I think we're cursed to wandering some more."
"Maybe that key would work in one of these other doors..." Jaden wondered aloud. Takyle sighed noisily.
"Well that's shit. Do you remember just how many doors we passed when we were here before?" Andrew grinned.
"Maybe it will work in the first one you try, Ta," he offered. Takyle rolled her eyes at him, but her frown melted a little. In fact, there was actually a tiny bit of a smile there.
"Thanks Andy. Always so freaking optimistic aren't you?"
"Well I do what I can. Right Jaden?"
"Right Andrew, you certainly get an A for effort." Takyle shook her head and placed her key in the lock nearest her. It didn't turn. ~
Monday, March 24, 2008
Chapter 45: The Gamble
~ Jaden crested the sandy hill and stopped to look down on where the media station stood. Takyle was already there and pacing nervously up and down. Jaden was suddenly very worried that he had misjudged the time and that he was late. He slid down the dune at the run and skidded to a halt in front of Takyle, panting. She raised an eyebrow.
"Did you find your item?" she asked. Jaden held up the scepter and glanced over at the com screen. 6.33 minutes left and counting. "I found the key," Takyle continued, and gestured at the top of the com screen. Sure enough, there sat an unassuming, silver colored key. "No word from Andrew yet." Jaden nodded and leaned back against the station, laying the scepter next to the key. After another three minutes had passed he began to open his mouth to ask if they should possibly try radioing Andrew, but he was saved that by Andrew jogging back over the dune that Jaden had watched him disappear behind at the beginning. He held up his empty hands.
"So um, yeah, did you guys find the key and code?" Takyle and Jaden nodded silently. "Ok, I'm fairly certain that the so called "sphere" mentioned is actually referring to the sun, because I couldn't find one other friggin' thing. Kinda makes sense when you look at the clue too," said Andrew.
"What was the clue?" Takyle asked and Andrew pulled the paper out of his pocket and, unfolding it, read aloud.
"Look to the East for life. High treasure, giver of all."
"And you went East?" she pressed.
"Yup, nothing there. Nothing but sand to the horizon. I mean, it could be somewhere else in here, but I don't see any other clues in this as to where you'd look. Sounds like the sun to me...At least I sincerely hope it is because, as I said before, I couldn't find any other explanation." Takyle bit her lower lip. She looked as if she almost wanted to run off and have a look-round for herself, just to make sure. Finally she spoke.
"Alright Andy. If you think that's it, I trust you." Andrew nodded.
"I do think that's it." He picked up the key in one hand and the scepter in the other. "I wonder what we do with these?"
"I don't know," said Jaden. "But what's going to happen when the clock hits zero?" He didn't actually have too long to wait to find that out. The trio all held their breath as the last minute counted down. Painfully white, but familiar light swelled around them and washed out Jaden's vision for a moment. A second later when his eyes adjusted, he saw that he was in an empty, square, white room. Takyle and Andrew stood beside him, Andrew still clutching the key and scepter. They seemed to be in a live-sim lab. ~
"Did you find your item?" she asked. Jaden held up the scepter and glanced over at the com screen. 6.33 minutes left and counting. "I found the key," Takyle continued, and gestured at the top of the com screen. Sure enough, there sat an unassuming, silver colored key. "No word from Andrew yet." Jaden nodded and leaned back against the station, laying the scepter next to the key. After another three minutes had passed he began to open his mouth to ask if they should possibly try radioing Andrew, but he was saved that by Andrew jogging back over the dune that Jaden had watched him disappear behind at the beginning. He held up his empty hands.
"So um, yeah, did you guys find the key and code?" Takyle and Jaden nodded silently. "Ok, I'm fairly certain that the so called "sphere" mentioned is actually referring to the sun, because I couldn't find one other friggin' thing. Kinda makes sense when you look at the clue too," said Andrew.
"What was the clue?" Takyle asked and Andrew pulled the paper out of his pocket and, unfolding it, read aloud.
"Look to the East for life. High treasure, giver of all."
"And you went East?" she pressed.
"Yup, nothing there. Nothing but sand to the horizon. I mean, it could be somewhere else in here, but I don't see any other clues in this as to where you'd look. Sounds like the sun to me...At least I sincerely hope it is because, as I said before, I couldn't find any other explanation." Takyle bit her lower lip. She looked as if she almost wanted to run off and have a look-round for herself, just to make sure. Finally she spoke.
"Alright Andy. If you think that's it, I trust you." Andrew nodded.
"I do think that's it." He picked up the key in one hand and the scepter in the other. "I wonder what we do with these?"
"I don't know," said Jaden. "But what's going to happen when the clock hits zero?" He didn't actually have too long to wait to find that out. The trio all held their breath as the last minute counted down. Painfully white, but familiar light swelled around them and washed out Jaden's vision for a moment. A second later when his eyes adjusted, he saw that he was in an empty, square, white room. Takyle and Andrew stood beside him, Andrew still clutching the key and scepter. They seemed to be in a live-sim lab. ~
Friday, March 21, 2008
Chapter 44: Topical Analysis
~ Jaden attained the top of the hill and paused to catch his breath, looking back. He could barely see Takyle, moving steadily towards a stand of brush and palms and Andrew was out of sight. Jaden shielded his eyes from below and scanned the dessert all around him. At first he didn't see anything, but then he noticed a strange swirl in the blowing sand not far off. The wind was catching on the corner of what Jaden dearly hoped was a rock of some sort. He slid down the far side of the dune and set off again. He checked his watch and then cursed himself for not marking time when the clock had started ticking on the media station. Oh well, that couldn't have been more than five minutes ago.
Jaden waded through the loose sand, attempting to keep his face at least partially shielded from the hot grit. The wind was picking up, whistling over the dunes with a low and eerie wail. Jaden reached the stone he'd spotted on the upper edge of the dune and, to his surprise, found it to be one of the top corner stones of a doorway, set in the side of the hill facing away from his vantage point. It looked like the entrance to an ancient tomb from some low budget archaeological adventure movie.
"Oh great," he thought. "Let's get all Indiana Jones-y shall we?" He rolled his eyes, and pulled out his flashlight. He shone it around just inside, inspecting the walls and ceiling.
"What are you looking for? Booby traps?"
"Yes!" he told himself sternly. "Better safe than sorry!" He cautiously took a step into the tomb. Nothing bad happened so he took another.
The chamber Jaden had entered wasn't very deep and wasn't very impressive. The walls were made of stone exactly the same color as the sand, and they were devoid of any interesting markings. Just across from Jaden though, was another doorway, and this one had a carved and painted lentil and posts. The figures looked Egyptian. Big surprise. Shining his torch through the door Jaden could just barely see something glinting out of the darkness. Jaden moved forward into the second room, his time constraints causing him to be bold. This room was also mostly empty, except for a backless Egyptian chair, and on the chair sat a scepter topped with the golden head of a little vulture.
Jaden peered around himself looking for...crocodiles or a boulder or something. He cautiously approached the chair, and searched around it.
"I'm looking for a key, code, or sphere," he reminded himself. He reached out and laid a gentle hand on the scepter. He looked around. Nothing happened. He slowly picked it up and turned it over in his hand. Three strings of eight numbers were scratched into the shaft. Arabic root numbers.
"How very authentic," he muttered and, gripping the scepter, stepped away from the chair, still expecting something to happen to him. He waited stock still for a moment, watching, listening, and then bolted for the door. There was a crash from behind, and he felt a whoosh of air rush past him. He stumbled out into the daylight and kept going. After about thirty yards he stopped and turned to look back. The tomb entrance shook and trembled, dust spilling out of the opening as the stone sank back into the sand, the dune swallowing it whole, filling and hiding it.
Jaden watched until it had disappeared from sight altogether, then he looked down at the rod in his hand. The golden eye of the vulture glinted up at him. He realized that he was still holding his flashlight in his other hand. He switched it off, returning it to its pouch on his belt, and started back towards the media station.
"That was easy," he thought. ~
Jaden waded through the loose sand, attempting to keep his face at least partially shielded from the hot grit. The wind was picking up, whistling over the dunes with a low and eerie wail. Jaden reached the stone he'd spotted on the upper edge of the dune and, to his surprise, found it to be one of the top corner stones of a doorway, set in the side of the hill facing away from his vantage point. It looked like the entrance to an ancient tomb from some low budget archaeological adventure movie.
"Oh great," he thought. "Let's get all Indiana Jones-y shall we?" He rolled his eyes, and pulled out his flashlight. He shone it around just inside, inspecting the walls and ceiling.
"What are you looking for? Booby traps?"
"Yes!" he told himself sternly. "Better safe than sorry!" He cautiously took a step into the tomb. Nothing bad happened so he took another.
The chamber Jaden had entered wasn't very deep and wasn't very impressive. The walls were made of stone exactly the same color as the sand, and they were devoid of any interesting markings. Just across from Jaden though, was another doorway, and this one had a carved and painted lentil and posts. The figures looked Egyptian. Big surprise. Shining his torch through the door Jaden could just barely see something glinting out of the darkness. Jaden moved forward into the second room, his time constraints causing him to be bold. This room was also mostly empty, except for a backless Egyptian chair, and on the chair sat a scepter topped with the golden head of a little vulture.
Jaden peered around himself looking for...crocodiles or a boulder or something. He cautiously approached the chair, and searched around it.
"I'm looking for a key, code, or sphere," he reminded himself. He reached out and laid a gentle hand on the scepter. He looked around. Nothing happened. He slowly picked it up and turned it over in his hand. Three strings of eight numbers were scratched into the shaft. Arabic root numbers.
"How very authentic," he muttered and, gripping the scepter, stepped away from the chair, still expecting something to happen to him. He waited stock still for a moment, watching, listening, and then bolted for the door. There was a crash from behind, and he felt a whoosh of air rush past him. He stumbled out into the daylight and kept going. After about thirty yards he stopped and turned to look back. The tomb entrance shook and trembled, dust spilling out of the opening as the stone sank back into the sand, the dune swallowing it whole, filling and hiding it.
Jaden watched until it had disappeared from sight altogether, then he looked down at the rod in his hand. The golden eye of the vulture glinted up at him. He realized that he was still holding his flashlight in his other hand. He switched it off, returning it to its pouch on his belt, and started back towards the media station.
"That was easy," he thought. ~
Monday, March 17, 2008
Chapter 43: The Other End of the Spectrum
~ Takyle stalked back to the marked door and glared at it malevolently.
"Just what are we supposed to do now?" she demanded. "We went through the only unlocked doors there were! What exactly are we supposed to do?"
"How the hell should I know?" Andrew snapped back. "You're the one that decided we should go that way!"
"It was the only way!" Takyle shouted. Jaden took that moment to physically step between his team mates.
"Hey guys, have either of you noticed that you seem a bit moody here lately?" Takyle glared at him.
"Just what are you trying to say, Jaden McAllister?"
"I'm trying to say that you both seem a bit moody here lately," Jaden reiterated calmly. "Now why don't we just go back the way we came in and try redoing this from the beginning?" He gestured to the door at the end of the hall where they had exited the last live-sim. Takyle breathed deeply for a moment.
"Ok. I personally don't think I'm moody...But Andrew definitely is, so let's go," she said. Andrew's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond to her jab, just headed for the door. The three stepped back through and, instead of re-entering the wizard's white building, they were seamlessly standing on the edge of a vast expanse of rolling dunes, sun relentlessly beating down on them, blinding them. A hot breeze picked up the sparkling, tawny sand from the tops of the hills and threw it into the air like morbidly brilliant confetti.
"Oh hello," Andrew said mildly. Just in front of them was a media station, just like the first one they had encountered back on the plain. Text scrolled onto the com screen.
"Team 6: Your task here is to locate three things required for the next level before your allocated time expires. The three items are: A key, a code, and a sphere. You will find three clues to their locations printing out below. Good luck." The text disappeared and was replaced by a ticking clock already counting down from 20 minutes. Takyle jumped forward and grabbed up the three sheets of paper that the media station had spit out. Each held a line or two of print. She thrust one each at Andrew and Jaden.
"Let's go. We've all got our radios, yes? Meet back here when you've found your item. And be careful!" Takyle took one glance at her sheet of paper then set off at a jog towards what appeared to be an oasis in the distance. Andrew looked over at Jaden, then at his own clue. He shrugged, checked the compass on his watch, then headed towards the East without a word. Jaden silently watched his companions leave, then looked down at his own paper.
"Essence of Earth, steady, true, hard as iron, fall to wind and water, shelter of the pursued," Jaden read aloud. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He looked back up but Andrew and Takyle were already far away. And the clock was ticking.
Fall to wind and water...Stone. Water and wind both wear rock away. Shelter of the pursued. He needed to find a cave or stone structure of some sort. Jaden looked around, located the tallest dune in sight and headed for it at a run. Perhaps from that vantage he would be able to see something other than just miles of sand. Hopefully. ~
"Just what are we supposed to do now?" she demanded. "We went through the only unlocked doors there were! What exactly are we supposed to do?"
"How the hell should I know?" Andrew snapped back. "You're the one that decided we should go that way!"
"It was the only way!" Takyle shouted. Jaden took that moment to physically step between his team mates.
"Hey guys, have either of you noticed that you seem a bit moody here lately?" Takyle glared at him.
"Just what are you trying to say, Jaden McAllister?"
"I'm trying to say that you both seem a bit moody here lately," Jaden reiterated calmly. "Now why don't we just go back the way we came in and try redoing this from the beginning?" He gestured to the door at the end of the hall where they had exited the last live-sim. Takyle breathed deeply for a moment.
"Ok. I personally don't think I'm moody...But Andrew definitely is, so let's go," she said. Andrew's jaw tightened, but he didn't respond to her jab, just headed for the door. The three stepped back through and, instead of re-entering the wizard's white building, they were seamlessly standing on the edge of a vast expanse of rolling dunes, sun relentlessly beating down on them, blinding them. A hot breeze picked up the sparkling, tawny sand from the tops of the hills and threw it into the air like morbidly brilliant confetti.
"Oh hello," Andrew said mildly. Just in front of them was a media station, just like the first one they had encountered back on the plain. Text scrolled onto the com screen.
"Team 6: Your task here is to locate three things required for the next level before your allocated time expires. The three items are: A key, a code, and a sphere. You will find three clues to their locations printing out below. Good luck." The text disappeared and was replaced by a ticking clock already counting down from 20 minutes. Takyle jumped forward and grabbed up the three sheets of paper that the media station had spit out. Each held a line or two of print. She thrust one each at Andrew and Jaden.
"Let's go. We've all got our radios, yes? Meet back here when you've found your item. And be careful!" Takyle took one glance at her sheet of paper then set off at a jog towards what appeared to be an oasis in the distance. Andrew looked over at Jaden, then at his own clue. He shrugged, checked the compass on his watch, then headed towards the East without a word. Jaden silently watched his companions leave, then looked down at his own paper.
"Essence of Earth, steady, true, hard as iron, fall to wind and water, shelter of the pursued," Jaden read aloud. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He looked back up but Andrew and Takyle were already far away. And the clock was ticking.
Fall to wind and water...Stone. Water and wind both wear rock away. Shelter of the pursued. He needed to find a cave or stone structure of some sort. Jaden looked around, located the tallest dune in sight and headed for it at a run. Perhaps from that vantage he would be able to see something other than just miles of sand. Hopefully. ~
Friday, March 14, 2008
Chapter 42: Individuality Pays Off
~ The Team 6 trio walked cautiously down the hall, trying every door they passed. In vain as it would happen.
"Seriously?" said Takyle in exasperation. "Every one of these is locked?" At just that moment, quite naturally, Andrew tried a knob on the left that actually turned.
"No. Not every one." He pushed it open and peered in. "Another hallway. Shall we go down it?" Takyle tried a couple more doors.
"I suppose so. Can we mark our path somehow in case we have to come back this way? This looks suspiciously like a maze to me." Andrew nodded.
"Sure, we can mark it. How do you feel about destruction of property?" Takyle shrugged.
"I'm ok with it. I think it's a given for the race," she said. "I mean, there was no rule against it or anything."
"Sweet." Andrew pulled out his pocket knife and took long strip of paint off of the door just above the doorknob on both sides. "How about that? Unmistakable."
"Brilliant. Let's go." Takyle slipped through the door with Jaden trailing and Andrew let it swing closed behind them. Another long hallway, one unlocked door leading to an empty room with four more doors, one leading to another hallway, leading to another room, and then another one. At each door they passed through Andrew stopped to carve his notch in it, leaving a trail. After another half dozen or so he paused.
"You know guys, in hindsight, perhaps it would have been better to mark these doors with an arrow or something. You know, to indicate which direction we were going at the time...I'm gonna start doing that," he pronounced decisively. Before proceeding into the next room he turned to Jaden.
"You've been awfully quiet there. Anything on your mind?" Jaden shook his head.
"No, nothing in particular. This place just seems a little strange is all."
"How do you mean?" asked Andrew, stepping out into yet another gray hallway lined with doors.
"Well, it has a different feel than the rest of the places we've been in. I don't know." He paused for a moment. "What I do know is that we have definitely already been this way." Jaden pointed at a door that they were just passing. Over the doorknob a distinctive strip of paint was conspicuously missing.
"Aw, hell," muttered Andrew under his breath. "Wouldn't ya just freaking know it." He raised his voice to call Takyle back. "Hey boss, you're going to love this. We've been going in a circle all this time." Up ahead Takyle stopped and before she turned around Jaden heard her utter a few choice expletives to the labyrinth. ~
"Seriously?" said Takyle in exasperation. "Every one of these is locked?" At just that moment, quite naturally, Andrew tried a knob on the left that actually turned.
"No. Not every one." He pushed it open and peered in. "Another hallway. Shall we go down it?" Takyle tried a couple more doors.
"I suppose so. Can we mark our path somehow in case we have to come back this way? This looks suspiciously like a maze to me." Andrew nodded.
"Sure, we can mark it. How do you feel about destruction of property?" Takyle shrugged.
"I'm ok with it. I think it's a given for the race," she said. "I mean, there was no rule against it or anything."
"Sweet." Andrew pulled out his pocket knife and took long strip of paint off of the door just above the doorknob on both sides. "How about that? Unmistakable."
"Brilliant. Let's go." Takyle slipped through the door with Jaden trailing and Andrew let it swing closed behind them. Another long hallway, one unlocked door leading to an empty room with four more doors, one leading to another hallway, leading to another room, and then another one. At each door they passed through Andrew stopped to carve his notch in it, leaving a trail. After another half dozen or so he paused.
"You know guys, in hindsight, perhaps it would have been better to mark these doors with an arrow or something. You know, to indicate which direction we were going at the time...I'm gonna start doing that," he pronounced decisively. Before proceeding into the next room he turned to Jaden.
"You've been awfully quiet there. Anything on your mind?" Jaden shook his head.
"No, nothing in particular. This place just seems a little strange is all."
"How do you mean?" asked Andrew, stepping out into yet another gray hallway lined with doors.
"Well, it has a different feel than the rest of the places we've been in. I don't know." He paused for a moment. "What I do know is that we have definitely already been this way." Jaden pointed at a door that they were just passing. Over the doorknob a distinctive strip of paint was conspicuously missing.
"Aw, hell," muttered Andrew under his breath. "Wouldn't ya just freaking know it." He raised his voice to call Takyle back. "Hey boss, you're going to love this. We've been going in a circle all this time." Up ahead Takyle stopped and before she turned around Jaden heard her utter a few choice expletives to the labyrinth. ~
Monday, March 10, 2008
Chapter 41: Off And On Again
~ Jaden patted Takyle's arm awkwardly.
"Um, you ok now?" he asked. She nodded.
“Yeah, better.”
Andrew looked up from repacking his sleeping bag.
“If you want to wait for a while more Ta, we can you know,” he said. She shook her head.
“No, I'm fine. We really need to get back on track.”
“Ok, just...Be careful.” A smile touched Takyle's lips.
“Yes sir.” He looked over his shoulder at her for a moment.
“Alright, I'll be quiet about it.” Andrew slammed back the last of his coffee and stood, pulling his backpack on. “If you think you're ok, let's get the lead out then.”
Jaden pulled open the white door and stood gazing outward, not in shock so much as amusement. The clearing and wood line were gone. In their place was now a long gray hallway. Along either side were closed, unlabeled gray doors.
“Well ok, that's interesting,” commented Andrew. Takyle hoisted her pack and came to the door.
“Alright everybody, you know the drill by now, heads up, expect anything.” She sighed. “Here we go again.” As they started down the hallway Jaden shot a look at Takyle.
“If I didn't know better I'd think that you were tired of this race, Takyle,” he noted, casually. Andrew elbowed him painfully in the left kidney and he clamped his mouth shut against a groan. Takyle looked back over her shoulder.
“No, I'm not tired of it Jaden. Tired, yes, but don't you worry, I'm still just as full of fanatical zeal as I ever was.”
“Oh I wasn't worried. I wasn't worried at all. I was just...Well, I was just making idle talk. But I wasn't worried. Not in the slightest...”
“You can shut up now I think,” counseled Andrew.
“Oh, but he was on such a roll,” said Takyle, turning back around to face the open hallway before them. Jaden heard a laugh in her voice, and he realized what a very welcomed sound it was indeed. ~
"Um, you ok now?" he asked. She nodded.
“Yeah, better.”
Andrew looked up from repacking his sleeping bag.
“If you want to wait for a while more Ta, we can you know,” he said. She shook her head.
“No, I'm fine. We really need to get back on track.”
“Ok, just...Be careful.” A smile touched Takyle's lips.
“Yes sir.” He looked over his shoulder at her for a moment.
“Alright, I'll be quiet about it.” Andrew slammed back the last of his coffee and stood, pulling his backpack on. “If you think you're ok, let's get the lead out then.”
Jaden pulled open the white door and stood gazing outward, not in shock so much as amusement. The clearing and wood line were gone. In their place was now a long gray hallway. Along either side were closed, unlabeled gray doors.
“Well ok, that's interesting,” commented Andrew. Takyle hoisted her pack and came to the door.
“Alright everybody, you know the drill by now, heads up, expect anything.” She sighed. “Here we go again.” As they started down the hallway Jaden shot a look at Takyle.
“If I didn't know better I'd think that you were tired of this race, Takyle,” he noted, casually. Andrew elbowed him painfully in the left kidney and he clamped his mouth shut against a groan. Takyle looked back over her shoulder.
“No, I'm not tired of it Jaden. Tired, yes, but don't you worry, I'm still just as full of fanatical zeal as I ever was.”
“Oh I wasn't worried. I wasn't worried at all. I was just...Well, I was just making idle talk. But I wasn't worried. Not in the slightest...”
“You can shut up now I think,” counseled Andrew.
“Oh, but he was on such a roll,” said Takyle, turning back around to face the open hallway before them. Jaden heard a laugh in her voice, and he realized what a very welcomed sound it was indeed. ~
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