I'm trapped.
Buried in rubble, no means of escape… so hungry… so thirsty… can barely stay awake… just a sliver of light… my hearing is playing tricks on me… I can hear people… someone's moving into the light… can't tell who it is… just a cream blur… some orange too… talking, other noises… can't… stay…
Rob wakes with a start; it takes him a few moments to realise he's in a hospital bed. Sitting up, he spies the jug of water on the bedside unit; without even a moment's hesitation, he takes the jug and drinks directly from it, downing half its contents in one extended swig. Panting, he returns the jug to the bedside table. May only be water, but no drink has tasted better. Now, who rescued me?
As if to answer Rob's question, Milla pops up at the end of the bed with a loud "rrrrrrrRUP"; Rob nearly jumps right out the bed.
"Milla?" Rob asks as he recovers his composure. "What are you doing here?"
"I found you!" Milla replies.
"So it was you I saw," Rob murmurs, reaching for the jug again; this time, he drinks from it normally. "Thanks for saving me. How long was I buried?"
"Don't know," Milla frowns. "You'll have to ask the General."
"There you are Milla!" Lilac interrupts, entering the room. "Come on, it's time to go home."
"Lilac? Why are you here?" Rob asks.
"We came to help repel the Jade Alliance," Lilac explains.
"Did we win?"
"Yes, but…" Lilac tails off, unwilling to continue.
"But what?" Rob asks, his tone one of concern.
"Milla, can you wait for me outside?" Lilac asks.
"OK," Milla sighs as she leaves the room.
"That bad, huh?" Rob continues once the door is closed.
"I… General Gong will be along to debrief you soon," Lilac answers, a tear rolling down her cheek.
Rob drains the last of the water from the jug and sets it on the bedside table. "You can tell me."
Lilac takes a deep breath. "Carol and Milla don't know what I'm about to tell you; I feel it best they don't know."
"Please, don't beat about the bush," Rob requests. "I don't care how bad it is, just tell me straight."
Lilac sighs, steeling herself to deliver the news. "Maria was found unconscious, bound to a chair, and run through with her own ninjato," she explains softly. "She's suffered extreme blood loss; her chances of recovery are… minimal."
Rob hangs his head as the enormity of the news sinks in; the tears that come are allowed to flow freely. "Thank you for being straight with me," he whispers. "Do you know who did it?"
"No," Lilac answers. "Carol and Milla told me they were fighting Ryoichi while Maria battled Tsubaki, but they didn't see the impaling, thank the Ancients."
"It was Tsubaki," Rob states with venomous certainty. "Ryoichi's not sadistic enough to do that to someone."
"I am truly sorry for what happened to Maria," Lilac consoles.
"I know; thank you."
"I'd better go; the General will be here any moment."
"I'll be OK."
"That's a lie, isn't it?" Lilac replies softly.
"Yeah, it is…"
"If you ever need someone to talk to, you know where we are," Lilac offers.
"Thank you."
"I'd better go; I guess you'll want a few moments alone before Gong appears."
"I'd like that."
With a nod, Lilac leaves.
Rob sits for a few moments as the room returns to silence. First Hanna… now Maria… one by one, the Elemental Protectors are falling.