University of Console Heroics: Chapter 17

Thompson and Cynthia are sitting in Thompson’s apartment having breakfast for dinner. Pancakes, eggs, toast and orange juice. Cynthia had ended up at his apartment every night in the last week and while their conversations often took them to coffee shops and all night diners they had stayed in most nights and breakfast food was all he had left.

Cynthia smiled at him as she dunked her toast into her over easy egg. “We should go shopping tomorrow.” She said. Biting her eggy toast.

Thompson raised an eyebrow. “We?” He asked.

She nodded finishing her toast. “You fed me, the least I can do is help refill your fridge.” She smiled.

“I think you severely overestimate the everyday functionality of my kitchen.” He said with a mouthful of pancakes.

Cynthia laughed. “Lemmie guess, what were eating now consists of all the actual food that was in there. Currently there is a jar with one pickle left in it, a half a bottle of ketchup and a two beers.” She counted the items off on her fingers.

Thompson scoffed. “Wrong! It’s actually three beers.” He mumbled eating more pancakes.

Cynthia got quiet all of a sudden and picked at her own pancakes. “Dean?” She asked quietly.

Dean set his fork down. “Yeah?”

She looked him in the eye. “What did you tell Foster?” She asked bluntly.

Thompson shrugged. “Just that he didn’t want my help.” He swirled the orange juice in his cup.

Cynthia nervously poked her pancakes with her fork again. “He burns like you do.”

Thompson almost spilled his glass. “Son of a bitch!”

He shot out of his chair. Shocking Cynthia. “I didn’t know how to tell you at first and then things just kept on like you never disappeared and I didn’t want to ruin it.” She admitted sadly. “I’m sorry.”

Thompson turned around and knelt at her feet grabbed her hands and looked her in the eyes. “This isn’t your fault and whatever happens between me and Foster won’t ruin this, I can promise you that.” He said.

She shook her head. “You can’t promise that. Because whatever this is, is the same thing between you and Daigo. You were different then, Foster is different now. He’s completely green but if he wasn’t he’d be scary.” She said as Foster paced the living room. “What’s wrong?” She asked.

Thompson nibbled at his thumb as he paced. “I made a huge mistake.” He said.

Cynthia shook her head. “I don’t think so, he passed his midterm with flying colors. He was the first person to sign up for my end of semester showcase. If he wasn’t such a dick, I’d say whatever you said was totally successful.” She admitted.

Thompson stopped pacing. “Cynthia you really don’t understand.”

Cynthia got up and moved closer to Thompson. “Then explain it to me.” She demanded.

Thompson looked into her eyes and nodded. He sat on the floor and she joined him. “Fine, but promise me you won’t say anything until I tell you the whole story.” He said getting situated.

Shades of Justice: Chapter 21

They worked for hours. For having next to no knowledge about the technology it turned out to be surprisingly easy to find spare parts for the components that were destroyed beyond repair and the parts that were repairable actually had instructions on them to follow. Still the damage in the control room took several hours to even get back to basic functionality.

                

The first thing they did was confirm that the system that regenerated Blinding Light was functioning. The timer showed three days to full repair. And that system was taking the entirety of the functionality they had gotten back. So anything else required more time to work through repairing even more consoles. By sunrise they had enough of the command center systems back online.

It look them several more hours of searching through file systems to figure out what did what and how. By mid-afternoon they had a three dimensional model of the Earth and the Moon projected into the center of the room. Warren looked up at the projection from his console. “From what I can tell I think this is something along the lines of a planet wide radar system.” He said.

Sonya looked at the projection. “Ok so how do we make it, radar, or whatever?” She asked.

Warren turned back to the console and scanned through the menu system. “We need to tell it what to look for, like what to track.” He confirmed.

Gordon shrugged his shoulders. “What are our options?” He asked. “can we just say ‘computer we need to find Technarious or Lumarion. Preferably both?” He asked sarcastically.

“Pinging global sphere for Technarious and Lumarion. A robotic voice filled the command center. Everyone looked around the room in surprise as a neon green sphere appeared at the center of the holographic earth and grew until it faded away past the edges of the moon. They watched as another neon green sphere appeared again and grew outward until it also faded away just past the moon. A third sphere appeared and got bigger and faded away. It was the last one. When it was gone nothing about the holographic display had changed. “Neither Technarious or Lumarion found on earth or the moon.” The voice confirmed without emotion.5555555555511

Kelly shook her head. “That can’t be, they must be somewhere this system can’t sense them.” She said to the open air.

“There is no substance on Earth or the moon capable of hiding or obscuring the capabilities of this system. Lumarion and Technarious are gone.”

The Shades all tried to hide their fear and worry from each other. Gordon kicked one of the still dead consoles. 

Blood and Profit: Chapter 44

Mew sat at the edge of the clearing until late in the evening. Rootan, the Starseed with the discolored growth on his midsection, joined her as she stared at the stars through the gap in the forest canopy. “So if you’re species shares a singular consciousness, how come you used “”I” and have a name?” She asked.

Rootan sat next to her. “The simplest explanation is that it makes races like yours more comfortable. We have seen races become very untrustworthy of us once they understood the differences between individual consciousness and shared consciousness.” Rootan explained.

Mew nodded listening to his explanation while looking at the newly growing tree that would eventually be a ship. “So when you said that you came here to save us, did you intend for us to join you on this tree ship thing? Because I honestly don’t know if our colony has enough ships to get everyone off planet.” She admitted.

Rootan looked at the stars in silence for a moment. Then back at Mew. “We would need a MUCH larger tree.”

After a while Rootan left Mew alone next to the clearing. She listened to the wind blow through the canopy above her. Birds had already begun to make the forest their home and could be heard going about their evening activities.

The light from Eamon’s communicator lit the ground in front of Eamon as he walked up beside his sister. He sat down next to her before he shut the light off. “The official representatives from the colony will be here in the morning. I was planning on sleeping in the ship. Where have you been sleeping?” He asked her.

She didn’t take her eyes off the seedling in the center of the clearing. “They, it, shaped a tree out for me to sleep in.” she replied while deep in thought.

Eamon noticed how far away she was mentally. “Mew, are you ok?” He asked.

She shook her head. “I feel like we’re going to find out that we don’t have the resources to get everyone off planet before the wave reaches us.” She replied.

Eamon looked up at the night sky. “You’re assuming everyone will want to leave.” He said sighing heavily.

Mew looked at him in shock. “You really think people are going to choose to stay here and be unmade?” She asked.

He nodded. “I think that a portion of the population will assume we are lying to them, that this wave, if it even reaches the colony can be survived. Like a natural disaster. They will be wrong, but we cannot save those who do not wish to be saved.”

Mew shook her head. “We’ll need to get as much actual data on the wave as possible. Show them that this thing is coming, and that out running it is their only option for survival. Prove it to them.” She stated with determination.

Eamon put his arm around his sister. “Mew, you know I love you, but there’s no proof you can give someone that’s going to overpower the protective shell of ignorance their ego has erected around them.” He said dryly.

Mew shook her head. “I refuse to believe that people will willingly choose their own deaths just because the other option is trusting someone who understands the intricate details of something they don’t.” Mew declared.

Eamon patted her back. “That’s why I love you sis.” He stood up. “Now come on, I can make a second bunk in my shuttle, you can sleep on a real bed tonight.” He held out his hand and she used it to get to her feet.

Lidarion: Chapter 16

Even though Brooke could have easily dispatched the guards herself Trent gave them no issues. He and his friends allowed themselves to be escorted to the castle after breakfast. Trent had not been in Lidarion in thirteen years and other than feeling a little smaller and a little less grand the castle had not changed much, and Trent reminding himself that the size and feel of the building had more to do with the changes in him rather than the building.

The guards led them by the rooms the ruling council used for their daily meetings. Which were closed and dark. “That’s strange. They’re is usually hammering out the kingdom and city budget this time of year.” Brooke commented.

They turned a corner and came to large double doors covered with red velvet and inlaid with gold. The lamps on either side of the hall were shiny with fresh polish and the doors appeared to have been intensely cleaned and polished recently. “Anyone else feeling like this is a bigger deal than we thought?” Squints asked.

The guard to their right reached up and slammed the knocker into its base. They could hears the sound echo through the throne room on the other side. There was a delay and then the doors opened from the inside, pulled by servants on command. The throne room was no longer as Brooke had described it. There were lit torches, band new tapestries, and a thick red carpet that led up to the dais where King Alfred sat on a newly polished throne.

The group approached the dais slowly, the members of the ruling council were imprisoned in large cages that lined the walls on the back half of the throne room. The men and women had clearly been detained for a while, and not treated at all well. The knots in Trent’s stomach cursed him for making such a stupid tactical error.

“Welcome, do not be shy, this is a day of celebration and generosity! Come be quick and kneel at my feet, let us get formality out of the way so that we may speak as friends. Like we used to.” The king waved his hand at the empty space at the foot of the Dais. His smile did not match the tone of his voice but they had no other choice and so sped up to kneel and swear fealty. “You may rise, loyal and true citizens of Lidarion.” The king commanded having accepted their display. “Now let us ‘catch up’ as they say. It has been an age has it not? Regale your king and his court,” He waved to the council in their cages. “With the tales of your lives since last we met.” He leaned on his elbow to await their reply.

Trent stepped forward first and knelt again. “Before we go any further I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to his royal highness and to the court for breaking my banishment. I have no excuse other than making a promise that I could never have kept. I meant no disrespect.” He waited for a moment until the king spoke.

“Rise my friend. This court takes no offense at your appearance in this time of need. It may even been what the scribes of old would call ‘fate’, am I right Squints?” The king looked to the gnome.

Squints shrugged his shoulders. “I apologize your majesty but I don’t think I know of the need you are referring to.” He answered.

The king snapped his fingers. “Of course not! How could you? If everyone knew then it wouldn’t be very fateful now would it?” He said mostly to himself. “You may rise Trent, and consider carefully the task I lay before you.” The king commanded.

Trent rose to his feet and stepped back in line. “How may I be of service to your majesty?” Trent asked.

The king smiled. “I propose a trade.” He offered without further explanation.

Trent waited an appropriate amount of time and then asked. “A Trade, your highness?”

The king nodded. “Of course. I cannot kill you. I am not a stupid man you see and I know that my sister is more loyal to you than she is to me, so if you were to die by my order it is obvious that I would die by her hand. This would plunge the kingdom into even worse chaos than it already exists in. I cannot have that. So in exchange for the lives of the council, a ravening band of opportunistic scavengers if there ever was one, I require something that will cement my legacy as the greatest king in the history of Lidarion.” His smile was genuine now.

Trent nodded. “And what could I hope to trade to you for their lives that had the power to grant you such a legacy?” Trent asked.

The king snapped again. “So glad you asked. You will bring me the Sigils of the Paragon’s.”

Squints took half a step back but the reference sailed right over Trent’s head. “The Sigils of the Paragons your highness?” He asked.

The king nodded. “I do like this echo you’ve developed but it does slow things down and it makes me wonder about your mental capabilities. The paragons are the representatives of the elemental gods on this planet, they have the power to bestow the favor of the gods they represent onto mortal men and women. I am burdened with ruling this great kingdom but you have the freedom to collect these favors in my name. Bring them to me in one year’s time and I will spare the lives of these betrayers and usurpers. Do you agree?”

Trent looked around the throne room and realized there were more guards than he could count on a quick glance. “And If I say no?” He asked.

The king sighed heavily. “The standard punishment for breaking a banishment is death and while it would pain me greatly, A king with a dead sister is still a king.”

Trent looked to Squints who was very slightly shaking his head as if to say don’t do this. Trent took one last look at the council member’s and then nodded. “I accept, on one condition.”

The kings smile got bigger and then instantly faded. “I do not believe I offered terms for bargaining.” The king replied.

Trenton nodded. “And You may deny me if you wish, but it is a small favor at best. Easy for a man of power such as yourself.” Trent explained.

The king waved his hand. “I am feeling generous today, what is this ‘condition’ of yours?” The king asked.

“keep the Council on the castle grounds, armed guard all day every day. But if they are to be dead in a year’s time, take them out of these cages. Be magnanimous and allow them a shred of joy before they are to die for my failures.” Trent requested.

The king looked at Trent like he was trying to figure out the puzzle of his intent. “So sure you will fail that you cannot even lie to them about their chances? You must have more faith my friend. The god’s have brought you here. You are going to bring me my prize and you are going to save their pathetic lives. But I would like to be known as a just and generous king, so I will do as you ask. Release them.” The king commanded, causing the nearest guards to move to the cages with their keys and set the council free. “They are to be kept to the eastern castle barracks. If they leave the barracks or the yard that surrounds it, they will die. You have one year, their lives depend on you now. The king waved his hand and the guards ushered the freed Council out the eastern doors while another set of guards escorted Trent and the others back out the doors they came through.

The XP: Chapter 16

Volnado and Shizaboom were sitting in private box in the audience area of the tournament grounds watching two teams fight each other in order to advance to the next round. Wainright teleported into the box and took his empty seat. “The End of the World club is on their way to the Planes of judgement and Torcano’s new toon is being griefed over in Spirit Flats.” He explained to Volnado.

Volnado watched with a smile on his face as the two teams fought bitterly against each other. “Set the Planes of Judgement to run Judgement of the Soul. I want them out of this competition.” He instructed.

Wainright nodded and then teleported away.

Torcano crawled on the ground, his legs below the knees were bloody stumps. His pistols no more than half a body length away. He scrambled as fast as he could before a shot rang out, the bullet knocking his pistols further away from him. He droped his face almost into the dirt.

“Man that’s gotta be getting frustrating huh?” Vrage asked sarcastically. You’re all super determined and your weapons are so close.” He crouched down by the pistols in the dirt. “Come on buddy, just a little bit further.” Vrage stood up as Torcano pulled himself forward a few more inches. He pulled his pistol and shot Torcano twice in the back. “But then disaster! You’re getting slower and slower, you haven’t gained any skill points in almost an hour Torcano, all that precious time, gone. And this is your second life this hour, if you die again you loose a half hour just waiting to re-spawn.” He crouched down, his shadow looming over Torcano. He stuck his gun in the gaping hole in Torcano’s back. “Aren’t you worried that you friends will think you’ve abandoned them?” Vrage asked.

Torcano looked bored. “Grief all you want Vrage, this is nothing more than a silly game.” Torcano admitted.

Vrage smiled. “Ahhh, the justification of the natural born looser. Destined to beg at the feet of winners for the remaining shreds of their pathetic little lives.” Vrange kicked dirt in Torcano’s face.

Torcano wiped the dirt out of his eyes. “You have serious issues dude.” He replied, pulling himself forward a few more inches. Vrage put his boot on the back of Torcano’s neck and does a little jump hop to kill him off.

Fifteen minutes later Torcano faded back to life. Vrage was leaning against the railing of the old man’s porch. “You’ve been able to re-spawn for five minutes now. D’j’ou make a sandwich or something?” Vrage asked casually.

Torcano nodded. “I had the time so I figured what the hell right?” He dropped his hand onto the handle of his pistol.

Vrage looked at him with a smile on his face. “What are you doing Torcano?”

Torcano tightened his grip. “Finishing this quest.” He replied with determination.

Vrage laughed. “Oh sure, but not till the Guild Wars are over.”

Torcano rolled his eyes. “Is that what this is about?” He asked.

Vrage nodded. “Come on man! You had to know I was being paid to babysit you like this.” He confirmed. Both of them drew their weapons Torcano’s pistols were shot out of is hands cleanly. He made a dash for them and Vrage caught him with a third shot in the shoulder, which knocked him on his back. Vrage sauntered over and looked down at Torcano. “All that time as  Game Master sure didn’t improve your play Style. Not going to be much help to your friends if you can’t keep hold of your guns Torcano.” Vrage leveled the barrel of his gun right between Torcano’s eyes. “Should remember something my daddy always used to say.” Vrage’s statement was interrupted when a bullet tore through his chest. Catching him completely by surprise and stunning him completely.

Sezario Stepped out of the heat waves in the distance and slung his rifle over his back with one hand and pulled a pistol from his side with the other. “A place for everything.” Sezario said now standing over Vrage stunned on the ground. “And everything in its place.” He finished while leveling his pistol at Vrage’s face.

“You’re dead meat noob!” Vrage yelled, still unable to move.

Sezario smiled. “That’s going to be a lot more threatening when I hear it again in ten minutes.” He pulled the trigger and Vrage disappeared. He then turned his attention to Torcano a held out his hand to help Torcano get to his feet.

Torcano took his hand and stood up. “Thanks, I owe you one.” He said.

Sezario smiled and shook his head. “No problem, I’m allergic to douche bags and he was messing with my sinuses something fierce. You need to be long gone by the time he gets back.” Sezario said nodding to the old man. Torcano nodded, picked up his guns, turned in the quest and headed off into the afternoon heat waves in the distance.

University of Console Heroics: Chapter 16

It wasn’t quite time for students to be panicking over their finals so the library is lightly attended by its usual full semester residents. Most at their own tables where they have been all semester, claiming their space in preparation for the rest of the student body to realize the campus library is a genuinely useful resource. Clay and faith were sitting together at a large table. Their books and study materials had long since intertwined and become quite the mess. Clay had spent most of his evening reading from the last chapter of his psychology text, taking notes and highlighting important passages. Faith had her book open but was flipping through flash cards, testing herself on the contents of the previous chapter. Clay finished highlighting a sentence and looked over at Faith as she flipped through card after card. Reading them silently to herself, then flipping each to check her answer and moving the card to the back of the pile. Almost without thinking he reached over and drew a neon yellow line on her arm. Causing her to glance at him over her the top of her cards. He is trying not to smile and failing miserably and before he registers her movement she has her own pink highlighter out and they are locked in a silly game of highlighter tag.

Clay got a hold of both her wrists and tried to give her a stern look. “We should be studying young lady.” He said in his deepest ‘adult’ voice. She twisted her wrist and drew a long pink line on his hand. Their battle began again.

Their table wasn’t far from the fiction section of the library, Where Tanya had been wandering the stacks looking for the library intern from her analysis paralysis class. She found them instead. Her mind immediately started counting broken rules she was witnessing and she felt herself getting angry until she saw the Rho Sigma Gamma patch on his backpack and her field of vision went red.

Faith and Clay were still playing with each other, and the fight had gotten ridiculous as attempted tickling had gotten involved. The temperature at the table dropped five degrees when Tanya approached. “Faith?” She asked with mock surprise.

Faith looked at her and dropped the game as if she had touched a hot burner. “Tanya, Um, Hi, What’s up?” She asked feigning ignorance.

Tanya’s facial expression fit like a cheap Halloween mask. Her smile was painted on and didn’t match the rage in her eyes. She shot Faith a look that landed somewhere between psycho murderer and Stepford Wife. “I’m not, interrupting anything, am I?” She asked with all the intensity of a grease fire that’s just hit a second burner.

Faith put her highlighter down on the table and shook her head. “No, no of course not, not at all Tanya.” She said, moving her chair away from Clay.

Faith repainted her smile which only made her look crazier and looked at Clay. “Can I steal her for just a second then?” It was structured like a question but sounded like a rattle snake warning him off. “Just need to chat with you for a moment dear.” She said looking back at Faith.

Faith quickly grabbed her purse and stood up. “I’ll be right back.” She said without breaking the gaze Tanya had her locked into.

Tanya held the glare and piggybacked on Faith’s comment. “Won’t steal her for more than a minute or two.”

The girls quickly and quietly disappeared into the fiction section. Clay was left, sitting awkwardly by himself. In front of studying he no longer had any interest in.

The second the girls were out of ear shot Tanya spun on Faith. “What the Hell was that Faith?” She spat.

Faith was no longer hiding her annoyance. “None of your business Tanya.” She fired back.

The shred of composure that Tanya had was beginning to fade. “When it comes to the sisterhood everything is my business.” She hissed.

Fury was boiling behind Faith’s eyes now. “You never wanted anything to do with me before we came to college, what makes you think that being in the same sorority would create a stronger bond than the biological one you’ve turned your nose up at.” She spat.

The judgement slid off Tanya like she was coated in Teflon. “As a member of Nu Tau Delta every sister, including you, has the responsibility of maintaining our image on this campus. I don’t know why mom thought the sorority would somehow make you care about how the world sees you when you have never, not once cared about your personal image. Faith that person is not a part of the Nu Tau Delta lifestyle. You may not care in the least about that lifestyle but as long as I am president of the sorority you will abide by the guidelines of the sisterhood. You aren’t just damaging your own reputation here.”

Faith was barely keeping her rage in check during Tanya’s speech. “Really Tanya?” She replied. “I’m the one putting our precious reputation in danger?” She continued. “Then please tell me why I keep hearing that Nu Tau Delta means Never Turn Down a guy, because it sounds more like I’m pulling us out of the mud.” The slap was like lightening. Faith knew it was coming and was still shocked when it hit her cheek. By the time she registered the pain her face was turned to the side.

Tanya leaned in to whisper in Faith’s ear. “Unless you want me to call mom and have her yank your spoiled, judgmental ass out of this school I’d watch that mouth of yours. No one speaks negatively about Nu Tau Delta, nobody.” Her voice had the same tone as a revving table saw and it made Faith flinch. She nodded quickly. Having finally made her point Tanya collected herself. “Now, as your big sister I am willing to forget what I just heard, if, you are willing to go before the chapter to apologies and recommit yourself to the sisterhood.”

Faith slowly turned back to face Tanya, she wiped a tear off her cheek and smeared her mascara slightly. Tanya clicked her tongue. “Oh honey, we need to get you cleaned up. Come on, let’s go say goodbye to your friend and we’ll get some ice on that cheek also.

Faith was more intimidated by the now sickeningly sweetness Tanya was exuding than she was by her fury. She followed behind her sister quickly and quietly as they headed back to the table. When they got back to the table she immediately began to pack her bag.

Clay instantly saw the redness on her cheek, as well as the sadness in her eyes. “Are you ok?” He asked softly while moving closer to her. She moved away from him and shook her head at the same time. Clay looked to Tanya who flashed him a poisonously sweet smile. Clay ignored her and turned back to Faith. “Faith what’s going on?” He asked, trying to look in her eyes. She avoided his gaze and zipped up her bag and slid it over her shoulders. Walked over and stood a step behind and step to the right of Tanya, wanting desperately to leave the library.

Tanya didn’t move. “Say it.” She hissed at her sister.

Faith’s shoulders slumped and she reluctantly made eye contact with Clay. “I, I don’t want to see you again Clay. It’s, not working out between us. Please just, leave me alone.” Her voice was barely above a whisper and wavered like she could cry at any second.

Clay nodded dumbly and sat back down for no other reason than the air conditioning pushed him off his feet.

Pleased with the exchange Tanya made her way out of the library and Faith followed one step behind and to the right.

Shades of Justice: Chapter 20

The light from the teleport faded leaving the Shades in a dark command Center. Gordon had his glasses in his hand and was the first to realize something wasn’t right. “ Technarious?” He called out to the empty room.

Kelly took her glasses off and looked around the destroyed room. “What happened here?” She asked.

“Something very bad.” The voice from the teleport message replied from under one of the blinking consoles. The voice belonged to a guy who looked to a decade or two older than the Shades. He crawled out from under the console with a set of silver sunglasses that had light beaming from the lenses in one hand, and a multi tool in his other hand. The shades took a weary step backwards which did not go unnoticed. “Before you kids get physical, my name is Mark, I’m the transition Shade.” He held up the glasses as evidence.

“Transition Shade?” Dante asked.

“The member of the last group that drew the short straw and remains available to handle any issues that might arise before Technarious and Lumarion are able to assemble a new team.” Warren guessed.

Mark Pointed at Warren. “Got it in one.” He confirmed. “My Shade designation is Liquid Silver.. Sorry we had to meet like this.” He waved at the destroyed command center. The light from his glasses ran over Lumarion’s wall which was shattered in several places.

“What happened here?” Sonya asked.

Mark tested a few of the buttons on the console he had been under and got no reaction. “Isn’t it obvious?” He asked. “Someone broke in and ransacked the place. I haven’t been able to bring up anything other than the teleporter and that fried after I brought you guys in. Technarious and Lumarion are gone, although they were able to set off an alarm for me before they left or were taken.

Kelly stepped forward. “How are we supposed to find them? She asked. "Blinding light is destroyed, I’m shocked out glasses were able to safely teleport us honestly.

Mark looked at Lumarion’s shattered wall. “Look, I’m not going to lie, this isn’t the best situation in the world, but the best thing we can do right now is solve one problem at a time. First things first we have to get some sort of functionality in the command center back online. Then we can recompile Blinding Light and start looking for any clues or trails that Tenchnarious or Lumarion may have left.” Mark explained.

Gordon nodded. “We literally have no better option than to trust you, but I swear if you are lying to us I will make it my life’s mission to hunt you down and end you.” Gordon stated with no bravado. “How can I help” He finished.

Mark smiled. “I think we’re going to get a long just fine.” Lets start by assessing the total state of the damage here so we know how much work we have ahead of us.” He decided.

Immediately the others moved into action.