| From: | "Lobotomies, UnLtd." <GungaDon@***.COM> |
|---|---|
| Subject: | From w/i the Walls of Anna, pt 3 |
| Date: | Fri, 13 Jan 1995 06:49:48 -0500 |
Only a few moments have passed, since THE Nexus spoke with the
Indians. He's wandered off, into the darkness, to be alone. The toll
his duel with Abrams has taken on him has much more to do with
his emotional state, than with his physical one.
He, and his loved ones, had suffered _much_, at the cruel hands of
the Humanis leader. Now, it all seemed to be coming to an end.
After _four years_ of being hunted and tortured, this chapter of his
miserable life seems to be drawing to a close.
But, he seems LESS than jubilant. This victory, regardless of how
well-deserved it might be, won't bring back Mia Lincoln, or the
people of Silver Lake...it won't make up for all he and his have lost.
It can only come to a blessed--and belated--END.
He heaves a deep sigh of fatigue. For DAYS, he's been going on
next to no sleep. And, a caffeine buzz can only carry one so far.
With HIS metabolism, it's not been NEARLY far enough!
Absently, Nex passes into ever-deepening shadows. Your poor
sensors are _barely_ enough to penetrate them. You can JUST
make out his movements, by following the slightly-lighter shade of
his army-brown T-shirt, scarsely in contrast to his dark, coppery
skin. It's useless to try and follow sounds he doesn't make.
HE has nothing to worry about...his low-light vision will serve him, til
the light fails. Then, he has thermographics, and his finely-honed
_arcane_ senses.
He glides on silently thru the shadows, without fear, just another
namelss spectre in these haunted halls.
Suddenly, at an intersection--a riot of pipes and valves--he stops.
His head, hung in silent contemplation, slowly rises. And, he turns,
without a word, as if drawn, to face the corridor to his right.
Almost as silently as he, a being, just a bit shorter than he, and
cloaked all in a veil of gray and grayer shadows, virtually materializes
before him, near enough to touch with his long, slender fingers.
Near enough, you can hear the hiss of its breath, as their eyes meet.
And they stand, for the longest, most _agonizing_ of moments,
seemingly locked in a wordless battle of wills. And, NEITHER is
giving the other quarter.
Thirty seconds pass...45...a minute...and another half--and, STILL,
neither one will give! All that betrays the tension of the moment, is
the way their body's seem to quiver, almost in synch, with their
nameless exhertions.
Your struggling sensors _finally_ pick up movement, to the very left
of your field of vision. A figure...a BLUR of black and white, too
obscurred by the gloom for you to make much, if _anything_, out.
It rockets into the Elf, and seemingly _coils_ itself around him,
rocking him with the suddenness of the impact, but not breaking the
connection he's forged with the other being.
Again, there is no movement. Nearly _another_ minute passes,
before the new-comer shrieks, in rage or fear, it's impossible to say.
THE Nexus and "companion" raise a simultanious cry of shock and
frustration.
And, the two stumble. Roughly, with unexpected strength, the
new-comer flings the Elf aside, and the halls ring with a resounding
"clank", as his head inpacts a pipe, and he collapses to the floor
in a boneless heap. The new arrival catches the Elf's opponent, as
he/she stumbles, and they quickly pass you.
But, you've not gone un-noticed. Wrenching a pipe loose from the
wall, he swings it in a strong, wide arc toward you, his anger not
yet sated. There is a deafening roar, and you _know_ you're falling.
You land hard, jarring connections loose, cracking lenses not
_already_ shattered. Your vision jumps wildly, and threatens to fail
you completely. The whining is loud, in your ears. Your little motor
struggles, but it refuses to lift you. You rock back and forth, rolling
a bit, in the dirt. Your vision is scewed wildly, and begins to fade.
Your sensors pick up one last collection of sounds. A low moan of
pain...lugged soles, scuffing in the dirt...equipment clanking quietly,
in a pack...
The Elf! He's still alive! He's regaining consciousness! You HAVE
to get up! Have to see if he's all right...have to get to his friends...
tell them what happened...where he is...have...to...get...help...your
vision goes dark.
There is only silence...
+++++ LINK TERMINATED
