07-29-2016, 12:23 AM
Abner shook his head. Colonel had managed to talk to whoever it was he’d traveled here with originally, but that hellish sounding being on the other end wasn’t exactly a comforting voice. Yet, it was supposedly the only other back-up they were going to get out of this insanity. As quietly troubling as it was, he didn’t have any real reason to distrust Colonel. That, and there were much larger issues to deal with.
They had to stop, just for a second. No one argued with it this time, not even Colonel. Trent collapsed to his knees panting, and Abner leaned against the wall of some building. Colonel appeared to have difficulty standing, too, but it wasn’t broadcast as widely as the others’ difficulties. The soldier navi merely placed his hand against another wall, and Abner could see the steam rising from him.
Fatigue had built into dizziness, and Abner was feeling disoriented. He was used to fighting through pain and exhaustion, at least. It didn’t get any easier or better, but at least he recognized the phases his body would go through, and how he would be affected. It could help him try to keep a handle on his situation. The immediate concern for him was, again, Trent. The younger boy looked like he’d never experienced such hardship, and for what Abner knew about Karl Jak’s secondaries, he very likely hadn’t.
The other concern was, of course, escaping the living wall of death that pursued them. They’d barely caught their breath, or whatever Colonel’s equivalent was, but it was already time to keep moving. Abner looked to a dumpster, and realized they could make it back to the rooftops from there. They’d only dropped to street level earlier because they had run out of directions to run. In this section of town, the buildings appeared to be connected, or at least held miniscule distances between them. It appeared they could cover a lot of ground up above it all.
“Colonel, Trent,” Abner said as he gestured towards the large container. Even speaking was a chore with his energy consumption. “We can get back on the roof off of that thing.”
“That would be a lot less corners for us to clear,” Colonel noted, thinking as tactically as possible. “It would accelerate our safe moving speed considerably.”
“Yea, but we’re right out there in the open,” Trent protested as he stood back up. “Everything can see us, unlike at street level where we can try to hide!”
Abner shook his head. “It would put a level between us and them. It’s not like those damn things are flying around.”
There was a beat as the trio considered that statement.
“They might be able to fly,” Colonel offered his updated situational analysis.
“Looking for a better idea, then,” Abner was quick to snap back, and Colonel shook his head.
“There isn’t one. We simply have to stay vigilant,” Colonel concluded, though it was obvious he was speaking to Trent more than Abner.
Sensing the direction of that statement, and also reserving his energy for the climb, Abner ignored the urge to say something unproductive. Instead he walked over and scaled the dumpster, and with a short hop caught the ladder of a fire escape. It took far more strength than he expected to pull himself up. Once he was on the metal balcony, though, he turned around and pulled Trent up, with the aid of a boost with Colonel. Thankfully, Colonel climbed up the same way Abner had, which was good since Abner had no idea how he would lift a being of pure steel.
They climbed the short staircase and found themselves on the roof of the second story, where they had a decent view of the immediate area. The roofs appeared connected most of the way to the docks, but there was some sort of awful racket coming from that direction, as well.
Abner paused. The echoes sounded so bad that he instinctively grabbed his rifle while he tilted his head. He glanced over to Colonel to see him curiously gazing towards the docks, as well.
“That shit doesn’t sound much better,” Abner admitted.
“No, it doesn’t,” Colonel responded, but shook his head.
“Christa should be setting off a signal, at any point,” Abner reminded his robotic friend, while they were on the topic of what the hell to do, now.
“Perhaps we should begin to make progress towards Okor,” Colonel suggested in response, trusting in who and what he knew.
“Didn’t you say the mines are just about the most dangerous place on the island, right about now?” Abner incredulously asked.
“Okor is one who would change that,” Colonel remarked, looking out into the dark fog. Trent looked over in confused awe at such a statement.
Abner was less impressed. “Adorable. Forgive me if I’m not convinced.”
“Guys…” Trent suddenly said, from outside both of their eyesight.
“It is prudent that we seek a destination that actually exists,” Colonel sternly reminded his fellow prime. “We do not know what this signal is, and we are already debilitated. We cannot keep this up.”
“Guys!” Trent was loud and assertive this time, which in itself immediately drew Abner and Colonel’s attention.
They could hear it now. The ghouls were below them, trying to climb up the building. In figuring their plan of action, they’d lost the lead on the abominations. Fortunately, the high ground was working in their favor, as the beasts couldn’t quite get to them. It left Abner and Colonel in agreement. Regardless of whether they would seek Christa or Okor first, the priority was to get moving.
Once more the three took off across the rooftops, fleeing the horde below.
They had to stop, just for a second. No one argued with it this time, not even Colonel. Trent collapsed to his knees panting, and Abner leaned against the wall of some building. Colonel appeared to have difficulty standing, too, but it wasn’t broadcast as widely as the others’ difficulties. The soldier navi merely placed his hand against another wall, and Abner could see the steam rising from him.
Fatigue had built into dizziness, and Abner was feeling disoriented. He was used to fighting through pain and exhaustion, at least. It didn’t get any easier or better, but at least he recognized the phases his body would go through, and how he would be affected. It could help him try to keep a handle on his situation. The immediate concern for him was, again, Trent. The younger boy looked like he’d never experienced such hardship, and for what Abner knew about Karl Jak’s secondaries, he very likely hadn’t.
The other concern was, of course, escaping the living wall of death that pursued them. They’d barely caught their breath, or whatever Colonel’s equivalent was, but it was already time to keep moving. Abner looked to a dumpster, and realized they could make it back to the rooftops from there. They’d only dropped to street level earlier because they had run out of directions to run. In this section of town, the buildings appeared to be connected, or at least held miniscule distances between them. It appeared they could cover a lot of ground up above it all.
“Colonel, Trent,” Abner said as he gestured towards the large container. Even speaking was a chore with his energy consumption. “We can get back on the roof off of that thing.”
“That would be a lot less corners for us to clear,” Colonel noted, thinking as tactically as possible. “It would accelerate our safe moving speed considerably.”
“Yea, but we’re right out there in the open,” Trent protested as he stood back up. “Everything can see us, unlike at street level where we can try to hide!”
Abner shook his head. “It would put a level between us and them. It’s not like those damn things are flying around.”
There was a beat as the trio considered that statement.
“They might be able to fly,” Colonel offered his updated situational analysis.
“Looking for a better idea, then,” Abner was quick to snap back, and Colonel shook his head.
“There isn’t one. We simply have to stay vigilant,” Colonel concluded, though it was obvious he was speaking to Trent more than Abner.
Sensing the direction of that statement, and also reserving his energy for the climb, Abner ignored the urge to say something unproductive. Instead he walked over and scaled the dumpster, and with a short hop caught the ladder of a fire escape. It took far more strength than he expected to pull himself up. Once he was on the metal balcony, though, he turned around and pulled Trent up, with the aid of a boost with Colonel. Thankfully, Colonel climbed up the same way Abner had, which was good since Abner had no idea how he would lift a being of pure steel.
They climbed the short staircase and found themselves on the roof of the second story, where they had a decent view of the immediate area. The roofs appeared connected most of the way to the docks, but there was some sort of awful racket coming from that direction, as well.
Abner paused. The echoes sounded so bad that he instinctively grabbed his rifle while he tilted his head. He glanced over to Colonel to see him curiously gazing towards the docks, as well.
“That shit doesn’t sound much better,” Abner admitted.
“No, it doesn’t,” Colonel responded, but shook his head.
“Christa should be setting off a signal, at any point,” Abner reminded his robotic friend, while they were on the topic of what the hell to do, now.
“Perhaps we should begin to make progress towards Okor,” Colonel suggested in response, trusting in who and what he knew.
“Didn’t you say the mines are just about the most dangerous place on the island, right about now?” Abner incredulously asked.
“Okor is one who would change that,” Colonel remarked, looking out into the dark fog. Trent looked over in confused awe at such a statement.
Abner was less impressed. “Adorable. Forgive me if I’m not convinced.”
“Guys…” Trent suddenly said, from outside both of their eyesight.
“It is prudent that we seek a destination that actually exists,” Colonel sternly reminded his fellow prime. “We do not know what this signal is, and we are already debilitated. We cannot keep this up.”
“Guys!” Trent was loud and assertive this time, which in itself immediately drew Abner and Colonel’s attention.
They could hear it now. The ghouls were below them, trying to climb up the building. In figuring their plan of action, they’d lost the lead on the abominations. Fortunately, the high ground was working in their favor, as the beasts couldn’t quite get to them. It left Abner and Colonel in agreement. Regardless of whether they would seek Christa or Okor first, the priority was to get moving.
Once more the three took off across the rooftops, fleeing the horde below.