In the distance a siren howled, joined by another as they neared the
building. Pounding feet and loud voices drifted down the corridor,
heralding the arrival of both medical teams and the civil authorities. One,
a beefy man in an Army uniform, took no more than three steps into the
chamber before halting aghast at the sheer carnage. "Holy--!"
"Looks like it was one major firefight," a second, shorter man commented, glancing around. "Come on, men, fan out. Find me some survivors."
A half-dozen soldiers, guns drawn, separated, tensely scanning the room for possible ambush. The large man taking the lead was the one who first noticed the silent shadows in the middle of the floor. "I've got three bodies here. Bring up some stretchers, Frank. Looks like two of them are hit." He stooped next to the huddled figures, sparing the synth a second curious glance before touching one on the back. "Colonel?"
White teeth flashed briefly in a relieved smile. "Good to see you, Derriman," Ironhorse greeted the man. "Area secured?"
Derriman unclipped a radio from his belt, raising it briefly to his lips, then listening to the reply. Before he could report, another soldier approached, a tall, attractive female with blonde hair tied up in a cap. She bent to whisper in Derriman's ear after casting Ironhorse and Blackwood a hesitant look; the NonCom frowned then turned to Ironhorse as the woman straightened. "All clear, sir. But...."
Ironhorse lifted his hand. "We know about ... them," he interrupted, glancing at Blackwood, who was staring at them mutely. "Get a detail in here to police the area, and have the ... b-bodies removed."
"Yes, sir." Derriman gestured to the female, who saluted and moved off, though he himself continued kneeling by his commanding officer, sharp eyes gauging the amount of blood staining clothing and floor. "How about a trip to the hospital while we're at it?" he suggested tactfully, jerking his head at the silent physicist.
Ironhorse followed the view, nodded wearily. "Maybe a short one. We've got ... arrangements to make. Harrison...."
The sergeant made a single move toward him, but Blackwood retreated slightly, one hand closing convulsively on his friend's torn sleeve. "No. Can't leave. Suzanne and Norton...."
The blonde Nora Coleman frowned. "He's in shock," she commented analytically over her shoulder. "Better get some restraints in case we need them."
A deep voice belonging to a hulking youthful form in private's uniform acknowledged the order, stopping when Ironhorse uttered a barked, "Belay that." He turned to Harrison, tone gentling. "Easy, man. We'll take care of Suzanne and Norton."
"Take care of...." Cloudy blue eyes cleared a bit, signaling the return of some awareness. For the first time Harrison seemed to recognize the man kneeling beside Ironhorse. "Derriman?"
"Right!" The soldier smiled encouragingly. "You want to come with us now, Dr. Blackwood?"
"I...." Harrison stared at Ironhorse, then down to the death grip he was maintaining on the Colonel's sleeve. "I guess there's no reason to stay."
Ironhorse managed a weak, damp smile, carrying as much support as he was capable. "It's all right, Harrison. You're among friends."
"My friends are dead," Harrison muttered, surrendering to the waiting darkness with a sad sigh.
***
"Looks like it was one major firefight," a second, shorter man commented, glancing around. "Come on, men, fan out. Find me some survivors."
A half-dozen soldiers, guns drawn, separated, tensely scanning the room for possible ambush. The large man taking the lead was the one who first noticed the silent shadows in the middle of the floor. "I've got three bodies here. Bring up some stretchers, Frank. Looks like two of them are hit." He stooped next to the huddled figures, sparing the synth a second curious glance before touching one on the back. "Colonel?"
White teeth flashed briefly in a relieved smile. "Good to see you, Derriman," Ironhorse greeted the man. "Area secured?"
Derriman unclipped a radio from his belt, raising it briefly to his lips, then listening to the reply. Before he could report, another soldier approached, a tall, attractive female with blonde hair tied up in a cap. She bent to whisper in Derriman's ear after casting Ironhorse and Blackwood a hesitant look; the NonCom frowned then turned to Ironhorse as the woman straightened. "All clear, sir. But...."
Ironhorse lifted his hand. "We know about ... them," he interrupted, glancing at Blackwood, who was staring at them mutely. "Get a detail in here to police the area, and have the ... b-bodies removed."
"Yes, sir." Derriman gestured to the female, who saluted and moved off, though he himself continued kneeling by his commanding officer, sharp eyes gauging the amount of blood staining clothing and floor. "How about a trip to the hospital while we're at it?" he suggested tactfully, jerking his head at the silent physicist.
Ironhorse followed the view, nodded wearily. "Maybe a short one. We've got ... arrangements to make. Harrison...."
The sergeant made a single move toward him, but Blackwood retreated slightly, one hand closing convulsively on his friend's torn sleeve. "No. Can't leave. Suzanne and Norton...."
The blonde Nora Coleman frowned. "He's in shock," she commented analytically over her shoulder. "Better get some restraints in case we need them."
A deep voice belonging to a hulking youthful form in private's uniform acknowledged the order, stopping when Ironhorse uttered a barked, "Belay that." He turned to Harrison, tone gentling. "Easy, man. We'll take care of Suzanne and Norton."
"Take care of...." Cloudy blue eyes cleared a bit, signaling the return of some awareness. For the first time Harrison seemed to recognize the man kneeling beside Ironhorse. "Derriman?"
"Right!" The soldier smiled encouragingly. "You want to come with us now, Dr. Blackwood?"
"I...." Harrison stared at Ironhorse, then down to the death grip he was maintaining on the Colonel's sleeve. "I guess there's no reason to stay."
Ironhorse managed a weak, damp smile, carrying as much support as he was capable. "It's all right, Harrison. You're among friends."
"My friends are dead," Harrison muttered, surrendering to the waiting darkness with a sad sigh.
***