Yup, hit the snooze button one too many times. But slow starts are better than no starts, so let’s get started. Timers at the ready and off we go…
I think this could be interesting to figure out. I also think I fell asleep watching old Star Trek episodes. Which might have played a role…
Friday, August 11th: Can you stand on your own?
“Can you stand on your own?” Carl asked as his eyes scanned the corridors ahead, looking for the next attack. His voice was low but it felt dangerously loud in this space. He tried not to frown, to push all emotions away and focus on the now. He was used to working alone, used to looking out for himself. To survive this he would need to work with the others. He had no time for emotions.
‘I…I think so,” the man crumpled at his feet said softly.
Carl extended his left hand to provide support, eyes and the weapon in his right hand still trained on the end of the corridor. It was the only way out of this space, and he didn’t like being caught here. The sooner they could leave this dead end the better.
His hand was gripped, the other man clasping his wrist and Carl’s hand automatically clasping the wrist of the other man. He braced himself to provide support as the other man pulled himself to his feet. He was soon standing, but each second felt like an eternity.
“I can walk,” the man said softly. “It’s my ribs that took the beating. I don’t think anything is broken though. When I hit the wall, it knocked me out and they must have thought I was dead.” Carl could feel him moving experimentally and taking a few deep breaths. From the way he moved and assessed his body, Carl suspected he had some sort of medical training.
‘At least if I had to get tangled with another person, it’s a doctor.’
“No rupture to the lungs, no blurry vision,” The man completed his self-examination. “I’m sore as hell but not broken.”
“Good,” Carl said. “We need to get out. With only one exit it is too much of a trap.”
“If we can get down to the loading docks there are some cargo ships. I think there might be other smaller vessels as well.”
Carl nodded. If he had to lumber out of here in a cargo ship, he would. If there was something sleeker and faster, he could work with that too. There was nothing he couldn’t sail or fly at this point in his life. “You know the way?”
“Yes,”
Again Carl nodded. Without another word he stepped forward. After all, what else needed to be said. Carl could think of many things that could be said, none of them would help him with a speedy exit. There was escape and then there were complications. The man with him was all the complications Carl wanted to face. He didn’t want to know if the man wanted to be a hero and take down the invaders. He didn’t know if the man wanted to rescue anyone else or even claim a treasured memento from his quarters.
‘Although I suspect if he is a family man, he would have said something by now about his family.’ Carl suspected that sort of thing would be automatic. ‘But these places don’t usually hire family men.’ He didn’t know if the rule held for medical personnel, but he suspected it would. The Company didn’t care for divided loyalties.
Ten til Midnight 