Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-27324808-20160708020658/@comment-27324808-20160809151713 - Revision history

FleetCaptainT: Created page with "
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2016-08-09T15:17:13Z

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none">'''<span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN">Chapter Seventeen</span>'''</p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN">Â </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>''Don't dwell on the past, Intrepid'', the black haired, black trench coat wearing man reminded himself.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Even if the past was only ten minutes ago.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>It wasn't easy, ''but'', he resolved, running a hand through his hair to scratch an itch, there was nothing he could do about it anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He shoved his empty soda away, wiped his stubble, thanked the vendor, and stood up.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid left the cafe on Vendor Street and headed back to Leek Works.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He used to go to this place with Grand Masterly Shadow and Elite Distant Tofu all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>But that was dwelling on the past.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Now, at least Red was back safely, Ben had made sure of that, while he had gone to mope here after talking to her.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>As he headed down the sidewalk he wondered if Mara had caught up to the fugitives.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He thumbed the little dial on his earpiece back to subspace mode, and signalled her.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"We're back to normal communication." he said.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"The president was harsh."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"No wonder I couldn't bring you up on subdimensional channels.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>So it's done." Mara's reply was staticky.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"As for the mission, I did attempt to reason with them, but they said they were coming back to base anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>What's that supposed to mean?"</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid shook his head at the ground ahead of his walking feet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Kids these days." he muttered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"I haven't a clue.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Well, take your rocket, remember how to fly that? - and head back.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>I'll see what's going on."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Love you!" she responded, and ended the call.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He phoned Leek Works next, but the line didn't even crackle with any interference, because there wasn't a line.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>There was nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid quickened his pace, and for a second he considered activating his Bat Lord helmet and speeding away... except that was back in his office, in storage, with the rest of his gear where he last left it years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He imagined the contents of his trench coat's pockets instead.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He had a snapsickle.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>That would work instead.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He pulled it out of his pocket and out of its wrapper... it was old and half-melted and sticky.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Grimacing, he let it touch his face.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Suddenly he felt like his body was being pulled forwards, just his nerves and stomach and skin, leaving his skeleton behind.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then all of him was mashed back together in the middle of Leek Work's computer room.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Ben?" he called, almost falling down from the inertia that stayed with him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>With one hand he reached for a table, at least to balance himself, and with the other he rubbed his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>As soon as Intrepid's head stopped spinning, he opened them and spun around to survey the room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>His jaw dropped.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>What.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Brick.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Had happened to this place.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>This place was DESTROYED.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Every table except that which he leaned on was overturned or nonexistant.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The computers... ugh.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Blast points adorned the ceiling, walls, and floor.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Leek Works looked like it'd been transformed into a warzone, and its people...</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"BEN!" he shouted, but as with before, he received no response.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Who else was here?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Red?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Allison?<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Tiberius?" <span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Everyone had to be elsewhere.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He ran for the connecting hallway and slid that door open, to see it looking no better, and the doorway on the other end looked pretty door-less.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>All sorts of mechanical parts littered the hallway, like someone overturned a metal recycling bin in there.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Someone would need to clean that up.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>That reminded Intrepid of one more person to call.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Too bad he couldn't remember his name.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He was never good with complex names.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Number One Janitor?" he shouted into the spiral hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He held his breath.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Yes!" a voice responded.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid exhaled in relief, and ran through the hallway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"What the brick is going on?" he shouted.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>As soon as he got through the doorway, he was nearly hit by a stray blast of laser fire, but he saw it out of the corner of his eye and ducked.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid swung his head to see the blast strike the wall behind him, and proceed to infect it.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>''Maelstrom''.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>They were all over the hallway, battling it out with some minifigures who looked like they came out of a Nexus Force themed costume party.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Again, Intrepid thought about activating a Shield Slam and sending the closest bunch of Stromlings to heaven.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>But again, he didn't have the corresponding gear.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He had other stuff though.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>A Long Sword appeared in his hand.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Months of research and development had created this ultimate weapon, based on a copy of his Uncle Killian's own legendary sword.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Yelling out a battle cry, Intrepid swung the sword and a wave of fire expanded out from its path, passing through everything and everyone in the hall and smashing the weakest ones.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Stromlings and Mechs smashed on contact.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid then launched himself forwards, vaulting over a fallen cabinet to thrust the sword towards the next closest enemy, a Spiderling, which fired a web.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The sword gleamed electrically and the web turned to dust, doing nothing to protect the Spiderling from its attacker or his weapon.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>It was felled as well.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"YOU ALL WANT TO FIGHT?!" Intrepid roared.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He gave his sword several aimless spins, and spurts of fire spun out in all directions.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The Maelstrom horde, now consisting only of Spiderlings, an Ape, and some Chainsaw and Hammer Stromlings proceeded to turn tale and run down the other way of the hallway.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Ha." Intrepid let his sword fall and planted his feet triumphantly.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>That felt good.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He could chase them, but the base defenses should smash them anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Come to think of it, the base defenses should have smashed them already.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He listened, but except for the hiss of imagination leakage from busted pipes and the small crackling of aflame remains... there was nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The generators were silent.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid turned around to face the other fighters for the first time.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>There was the janitor he recognized, in his Space Ranger pants and a No Pirates shirt, holding his Energy Spork.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>There was a guy dressed up as a Rank 3 Assembly Engineer.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Strange and odd, considering every engineer he knew from the war had upgraded to Rank 7 during the last Maelstrom attack.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then there was a Sentinel Samurai girl, who-</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid did a double take.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>No.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>It couldn't be.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The hairs on the back of his neck tingled and he aimed his sword behind him to incinerate the Chainsawling that dared sneak up on him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then he turned around for real, not to make sure there was nothing left, but because he couldn't face these people.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>''Red'', he thought with gloomy realization.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>''Why would you do this to me?''</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Thinking of her, Intrepid asked, without looking back, "Where's the others?"</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The voice who answered "Yes!" to his number one janitor question answered, "They went downstairs, to follow the Craterises.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>But then we got jumped by these Maelstrom."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>A door, to the archive room, suddenly opened to Intrepid's side but he didn't aim his sword at the intruder.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Out of the sleeves of her sweatshirt extended a frying pan each, and behind her he recognized his son.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Just Allison and Ben.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"What'd we miss?" she asked.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Stay in there!" Intrepid ordered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"What did Cailan and Crimson do?"</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"They attacked us." the Samurai reported.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid didn't need to turn around to know it was her, or to know it was her who spoke.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Intrepid and Red followed them."</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid closed his eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Stay here." he reiterated.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The taste of snapsickle was still on his tongue, and he teleported himself to Leek Work's basement.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>All it took was one swing of his sword to send a wave of rooting over everyone in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid opened his eyes, and by luck, it was Grand Masterly Shadow's son who stood right in front of him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He stared at Intrepid with his eyes and jaw wide open in shock.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Good to see you too, Cailan." Intrepid muttered.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He turned around, looked around a tower of milkcrates, and stepped over the unfinished concrete flooring to reach the next person, Red, and undo the imagination trap that had grabbed her feet.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Are you alright?" he asked, and she nodded.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The basement lighting had switched to auxiliary, which consisted of ages old yellow incandescent bulbs.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>They hadn't been seen working since the base's construction, so they weren't changed with everything else.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>They provided a dim glow across the level's expanse, casting several shadows around each cylindrical support.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Intrepid sauntered past Crimson and gave her a friendly punch on the shoulder, before proceeding along the wall past the stairs to the upper levels, to the doorway into the generator room.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>He heard raised voices from inside, and he stopped.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"You know what?" Intrepid said, spinning around.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>All three young persons stared at him.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>"Red, put these two in containment.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then get these generators back online.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>I'll be in my office."<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>The snapsickle was entirely gone and he decided he didn't like the spine-compressing feeling of its travel anyway, so he returned to the steps, leaving Red to figure out how to transport these two into cryogenic pods.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>To make it easier, he unholstered a stun gun and incapacitated both of his wife's cousin's kids.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:10.0pt;line-height:115%;mso-pagination: none;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:none"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri;mso-ansi-language:EN"><span style="mso-spacerun:yes">Â </span>Then the man disappeared up the dark stairs.</span></p>