Red Rain
By Thalia Drogna
AN: Mea culpa, mea culpa. It's been a long time since I updated this story. I hope this chapter makes up for the wait. Thanks to everyone who emailed and reviewed.
Trip walked into Engineering, wishing that he was back under better circumstances. He hit the emergency evacuation alarm and immediately Engineering became full of activity. Trip waded in shouting orders for people to leave as quickly as possible. No one gave Trip a second glance, he guessed that most people hadn't been given any details about his return to Enterprise. It wasn't unusual for a drill evacuation to be called so it wouldn't have surprised anyone that there was no obvious reason for them to be leaving.
He chased out the last stragglers, Rostov and Giardelli, telling them that he was right behind them. When Engineering was clear he signalled to the MACOs to join him and then sealed the doors behind them. He made sure that all the emergency bulkheads were in place sealing the jeffries tubes and air ducts. Not even a mouse was getting into Main Engineering, unless that mouse brought a blow torch.
"We've got about three hours before they cut through that door. The only reason we can even do this is because Enterprise is set up to route bridge controls to Engineering in an emergency. We don't have all the fancy read-outs that the bridge has, it's all a bit more rough and ready down here, but it should be enough," said Trip. "Where to Colonel?"
Darwin handed Trip a padd with some co-ordinates on it. "Algol II, M class, out of the way, perfect for what we need."
Trip nodded in acknowledgement and went to input the co-ordinates into the helm control. "This department's meant to be run by fifteen full time engineers, I'm going to need everyone's help if we're going to pull this off. Rush, Carter, I need you on the injectors. Major, keep an eye on that panel over there and let me know if it goes above ten point five."
Rush, Carter and Hathaway went to their positions and waited for Trip to give them further instructions.
"I'll take the helm controls," said Fenner.
"Good idea," replied Trip, "Anna, I need you on the sensors. Colonel, there's a diagnostic display to the right of the warp core, if anything goes red let me know."
"Where do you want me?" asked a voice, crawling out of a Jeffries tube. Six MACOs and Trip immediately turned their phase pistols on the new arrival.
"Ensign, you need to leave," said Trip.
"Sir, with respect, I'm not leaving. I guess you don't recognise me."
"You're one of T'Pol's science team," replied Trip.
"My name is Keisha Lauritsen. I was born on New Copenhagen," said Lauritsen. She had been working on a slight glitch in the engine control software when she'd heard the evacuation alarm. She had seen Trip and guessed what was happening so hid herself in the jeffries tube until it was safe to emerge.
"Keisha?" asked Trip, his mouth dropped open, his phaser falling to his side.
Kanatova moved to Trip's side, concern showing on her face. She knew Trip had been dreaming about New Copenhagen, and perhaps this explained why. If he'd seen her around the ship, it could have triggered his memories, even if he hadn't realised who she was at the time. Keisha Lauritsen had grown up but Kanatova could easily see the ten year old that Trip had rescued all those years ago.
"I hoped you'd be happy to see me," said Lauritsen.
"Sorry, it's just a bit of a shock. I never expected to see you here. I guess I never really thought of you as anything other than ten years old," said Trip.
"I suppose I have some explaining to do," said Lauritsen.
"Yeah, I'd say. How'd you know who I was and how did you end up on Enterprise for starters?" asked Trip.
"We don't have time for this," said Darwin.
"Yeah, right. Ensign, you're a computer expert, right?" said Trip. He could talk to Lauritsen later about what she was doing on Enterprise.
"Yes, sir."
"Okay, make sure that T'Pol doesn't find a way to re-route the control systems," said Trip, already on his way up the ladder to the upper level. "I think I blocked out most of the pathways, but knowing T'Pol and Hoshi, given enough time they'll find a way around it, so make sure they don't." The other MACOs moved to their positions around Engineering as directed by Trip.
"How long do you need?" asked Lauritsen.
"Couple of hours should do it, by then we'll be at Algol," shouted Trip from the upper level of Engineering.
"Yes, sir," replied Lauritsen and went to work.
Archer and Reed stood outside the main entrance to Engineering.
"What are our options, Lieutenant?" asked Archer.
"Not much, sir," replied Reed. "All controls have been re-routed to Main Engineering. My men are bringing down the cutting gear but it will take several hours to get through the door. It was designed to withstand a warp-core explosion, so it's one of the toughest pieces of metal on the whole ship. Also the emergency bulkheads have been closed across all of the jeffries tubes, and they've switched Engineering onto its emergency life support, which means we can't even use the air vents to get to them. Nor can we gas them out. We can't use the transporter because we're locked out of the controls. Unless T'Pol and Hoshi can come up with the codes, we're going to have to use brute force on the door."
Archer slammed his open hand against the wall. "I want my ship back, Lieutenant. Can we even talk to them?"
"We can open a com channel, but there's no guarantee that they'll answer," replied Reed.
"What about the rest of the infrastructure. Can't we cut some cables or something?" asked Archer.
"We might be able to disconnect the warp nacelles from the engine but then we'd be dead in space," said Reed. "I'm not sure that we'd want to do that given how long it might take to repair any damage that we caused."
"Trip knows exactly how long it will take to burn through the door, that's why they picked Engineering and not the bridge. He knew how to re-route the controls and he knows the standard tactics for this type of situation. How can we fight someone who knows Enterprise as well as we do?" said Archer.
"Bridge to Archer," said the voice of Ensign Mayweather.
"Go ahead Ensign, I hope you have good news," said Archer.
"Sorry, sir. We're changing heading. If I'm reading this right then we're on course for the Algol system."
"What's in the Algol system?" asked Archer.
"That's just it, sir. There's nothing. I can't think of a good reason why they'd want to go there," replied Mayweather.
"How long before we get there?"
"About two hours. We just went to warp five," said Mayweather.
"I hope the Commander knows what he's doing," said Reed, quietly.
"There's got to be something that we're missing here," said Archer. "Get me all the information that we have on Algol."
"Yes, sir. Mayweather out."
Two Security officers had set up the cutting gear and were beginning to slowly burn their way through the door into Engineering. Archer moved back to the com.
"Archer to Engineering. Colonel Darwin, we have things to discuss."
"This is Darwin. You and I have nothing to discuss, Captain."
"I want my ship back, Colonel, and I will use any method at my disposal to get it."
"How many of your people got hurt when we took over Engineering? I want you to give me the numbers."
"There were no casualties and you already know that. It doesn't put you in the right, just because you performed a bloodless coup," replied Archer. "You're stealing Starfleet property; my Starfleet property. Why are you taking us to Algol? What's there?"
"Nothing is there, Captain. That's why we're going. Now if you'll excuse me, we're kind of busy in here."
"Trip, if you're listening to this, then you know that this is your last chance to set things right. You can't let Darwin do this," said Archer, desperately.
"Sorry, Captain, but you didn't give me a choice," said Trip. "You'll get Enterprise back once we get to Algol, I can promise you that."
"That isn't good enough, Trip. You've dug yourself a big enough hole, isn't it time that you climbed out of it. I know that you think you're doing this to protect us, but this isn't the way."
"I've got some more digging to do yet," replied Trip and cut the connection.
Archer closed his fist in exasperation and anger. From Trip's final comment Archer could expect the situation to get worse before it got better. He didn't understand why Trip was doing this to him. One thing was certain, his and Trip's relationship had changed for the worst, permanently.
"T'Pol to Archer."
"Go ahead, T'Pol," said Archer.
"Captain, one of my Science team is missing. Ensign Lauritsen is unaccounted for," said T'Pol. "She hasn't been seen since Engineering was evacuated."
"Understood, T'Pol. I think I know where she is," replied Archer. It didn't come as much of a shock to find that Lauritsen was missing. Given their earlier conversation it would make sense that she wanted to help Trip. Even so, he had to check, in case something had actually happened to the Ensign.
"Did you get the Special Projects Unit records unlocked?" asked Archer.
"Some of them," said T'Pol. "I hope to have the rest in the next few days."
"I want everything that you've got in my ready room by the time I get to the bridge," said Archer.
"Yes, sir," said T'Pol.
Archer thumbed the intercom again.
"Archer to Tucker, Ensign Lauritsen is missing. Is she in Engineering?" asked Archer.
"Yes, sir," replied Trip. "She's our hostage."
"Even if I did believe that you were capable of taking a hostage, Trip, I know Ensign Lauritsen's history."
"Sir, with all due respect, you don't know what I'm capable of. And for the purposes of Ensign Lauritsen's permanent record, she's being held at gun point," said Trip.
"And even if you don't believe that Trip's capable of holding a hostage, then you know that I am," added Darwin.
"Have it your own way, I'll add that to your list of offences," said Archer.
"Thank you, sir," said Trip.
Archer shook his head, he couldn't believe that Trip was thanking his commanding officer for charging him with taking a hostage, but then that was Trip all over. This whole situation was wrong on so many levels that he didn't even want to begin to think about it. Why was it that Trip insisted on being a martyr?
Archer heard a Russian accent in the background over the still open com channel. "Colonel, I have Hunters on long range sensors. ETA one hour."
"Trip, you have to give us back control of the weapons," said Archer, glancing at Reed who was already looking anxious.
"You've got them," said Trip, with only a moment's hesitation. "I'm unlocking them now. Tell Malcolm to get to the Armoury, he can access them from there. I can't unlock the bridge controls without giving you everything else as well."
Reed gave Archer a nod to show that he'd understood, and then left for the Armoury at a run.
All Archer could do at the moment was wait and hope that his officers came through. He left the corridor outside Engineering and made his way back towards the bridge. At least he could see the enemy approaching from there, here he could do nothing. He was also well aware that he didn't have long to read the pile of padds that should be waiting on his desk and work out what was going on here.
"It's going to be close," said Trip. "The Hunters are going to reach us about twenty minutes before we reach the planet."
"When will we be in transporter range?" asked Darwin.
"About ten minutes after the Hunters arrive," said Trip. "We're not going to be able to get to the transporter room so I'm going to have to rig a site to site transport. That increases our odds of failure by a fair bit. Site to site transports are still on the risky side and we'd be at the very limit of the transporter's range."
"If it can be done, that's all I need to know," said Darwin.
"It can be done, but I'll have to beam you down one by one or we could overload it. Even then it's taking a big risk," said Trip.
"It's no bigger risk than we're taking anyway," said Darwin.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" asked Trip.
"No, but what other options do we have?" replied Darwin.
Trip nodded miserably and turned back to his readouts.
"There are five planets in the Algol system. Only Algol II is an M class planet. It has an Earth type atmosphere, rocky terrain and fifty percent of it's surface is covered by water. There are no signs of intelligent life in the system," said T'Pol.
Archer sat at the desk in his ready room while T'Pol briefed him on what she had found. Hoshi was still working on cracking Trip's codes and didn't think she'd be finished for at least another couple of hours.
"Let's assume that they're going to Algol II. There has to be something unusual about this planet," said Archer.
"Algol II does have some unusual aspects. It has a particularly high magnetic field surrounding it which is thought to be caused by a high density of iron in it's core and crust."
"What would that mean?"
"It will make it very difficult to track the MACOs if they reach the surface of the planet. The magnetic field will interfere with our sensors and perhaps those of the Hunters also."
"So it's a planet with a built in tactical advantage," said Archer. This sounded exactly like the kind of place that Darwin would want to hide out on.
"That would be one interpretation," said T'Pol.
"I bet that's exactly how Darwin is looking at it," said Archer. "I have a feeling that this was always plan C. It's well within range for the NX-Theta from Water's Edge."
"Indeed," said T'Pol. "Special Projects have been here before."
"You found something in the files?" asked Archer.
"Colonel Darwin used Algol II's magnetic field to hide the Thak Tikh whilst running from a Klingon bird of prey. The Klingon sensors were unable to penetrate the field and failed to find the Thak Tikh."
"Which is exactly what they're planning this time," said Archer.
"There are many other missions listed in the files," said T'Pol. "They make for interesting reading. I have left the most pertinent files open for you."
Archer looked up at T'Pol. Her face was completely calm but Archer recognised the look. There was something that Archer needed to see.
T'Pol didn't say anything else, she turned and left.
Archer opened the first file. "Kellaris" was the title. He read the file and then he read the medical report at the end, detailing the injuries of one Lieutenant Tucker. It made for uncomfortable reading. Trip had been tortured. Colonel Darwin had rescued him just before he could be executed and then destroyed the prison camp where Trip had been held. Trip had recovered from his injuries but Kanatova had made a note that she wasn't qualified to pronounce on his mental state after such an ordeal. However, one thing was clear, Trip owed Darwin his life.
Archer opened the next file that T'Pol had left for him and read about another mission in which Trip had been pinned down, under fire, and Lieutenant Dempsey had risked his own life to reach Trip. The next file told how Lieutenant Fenner had risked his life to pilot the shuttle in dangerous conditions in order to rescue Trip and Corporal Rush from the surface of a disintegrating asteroid. He found the file on New Copenhagen next, he already knew that story but this gave him another angle on Trip's heroism. He read six files and in every one Trip either rescued one of the MACOs or they got him out of a tight situation. There were often medical reports attached showing that their victories hadn't been easy. Kanatova, the MACO medic, had treated all the MACOs at one point or another, sometimes under fire, often saving their lives.
Archer knew what T'Pol was trying to tell him. Humans didn't go through everything that Special Projects had been through and not come away changed. They had worked together for three years, some of them for longer than that. They had all depended on each other, trusted one another unconditionally. That bond was not easily forgotten. It was a bond forged by war and death. It scared him a little that this was part of his friend's life, a part that he'd never even guessed at until Colonel Darwin had come on board Enterprise a few months ago.
If war and death had brought Trip closer to the MACOs, then the Delphic Expanse had only driven a wedge between Archer and Trip. As Captain he had tried to distance himself, fearing the pain that came with loss, knowing how he would feel if Trip was one of the casualties of his crusade against the Xindi. Archer hadn't been there to comfort Trip in his grief or even to notice how exhausted his Chief Engineer had become. When he'd been forced to create Sim to save Trip he'd told himself that it was for the good of the mission, not because Trip was his friend. He'd really believed that at the time. Once they were back home he'd promised himself that he'd try to be a better friend. Then Darwin had come aboard and everything that he thought he knew about Trip had gone out of the window. It had taken Trip lying critically ill, wounded by a Klingon knife, to remind him just how important this friendship was to him.
This time Trip hadn't just kept things from Archer, he'd actively disobeyed an order from his Captain. Trip had known what that would mean when he did it, and Archer had no doubt that Trip thought he was doing the right thing. Archer had often told Trip that his impulsiveness would get him into trouble and it had on several occasions, but over the years he'd watched his friend mature and he'd thought Trip had learnt his lesson. It was as if every time Colonel Darwin stepped aboard Trip's common sense went out the airlock. Archer knew that there had to be some way out of this that wouldn't mean he'd have to court martial his friend of twelve years, but he couldn't see what it was and he was running out of time.
"Captain to the Bridge," the com sounded. Archer stepped out of his ready room onto the bridge and saw a small fleet of black ships on the screen. A shudder ran through Enterprise as one of the Hunters opened fire on the Starfleet vessel. Mayweather sat at the helm controls, unable to do anything other than watch as Enterprise began a pattern of evasive manoeuvres.
"Archer to Reed, whenever you're ready, Lieutenant."
"Acknowledged," replied the Armoury Officer from the bowels of Enterprise.
The Hunters fired but failed to get a lock on Enterprise, their shots harmlessly passing down the starboard side of their target. Enterprise's phase cannon's opened fire in return, Tactical alert automatically coming into effect. A game of chase me ensued, the Hunters were swift but whoever was piloting Enterprise kept them out of harms way. Mayweather was silently respectful of the MACO pilot's skills, understanding the difficulties of the evasive pattern that they had chosen. It was several minutes before another hit landed on Enterprise.
"Captain, I'm detecting transporter signals in Engineering. We're being boarded," said T'Pol.
"Hoshi, any luck with those codes?" asked Archer.
Hoshi's eyes said it all as she looked at her Captain with desperation and annoyance at her own inability to solve the puzzle. "Sorry, sir. Every time I find a way around them another block appears. They keep moving the goal posts."
"Keep at it. There has to be a way through," said Archer. "It looks like Trip and the MACOs are on their own. Let's hope that they can handle it. T'Pol you're with me, we're going to Engineering."
T'Pol merely nodded and followed her commanding officer into the turbo lift.
The air shimmered in Engineering.
"Twenty five minutes to the planet," called Fenner.
"Damn it, they're early," replied Trip, as the Hunters appeared.
"Stations!" shouted Darwin, grabbing one of the weapons that the MACOs had brought with them and throwing it to Carter, before pulling a second fearsome looking gun from the black bag that he was carrying. Kanatova had reached one of the other weapon stashes, but Fenner and Rush were making do with the phase rifles that they had been carrying. Hathaway was doing her best to get to one of the other black weaponry bags but had come under fire, she was now edging towards he goal slowly and stubbornly.
Trip kept working for as long as he could, but it didn't take long for the Hunters to notice him and target his position. He drew his phaser and crouched down so that he could draw an angle on the Hunter that had materialised just by the warp core. He just prayed that a stray phaser blast or bullet didn't hit anything important on the warp core and send them all up in smoke. This was a dangerous place to have a fire fight and the sooner he could get everyone out of here the better. The MACOs had now all taken cover and were firing on the Hunters, for all the good it was doing. The Hunters were slowing down but so far not stopping.
"Keisha!" shouted Trip. The young Ensign was ducked down behind a console but she didn't have a weapon. Kanatova had spotted the problem as well and was doing her best to cover Ensign Lauritsen while Colonel Darwin tried to reach her. Trip saw Darwin make a dive behind the console where Keisha was hidden and knew that the Colonel would protect her. Meanwhile Major Hathaway had reached their weapon stash and was pulling out a particularly nasty looking piece of equipment. Trip recognised it instantly.
"Ellen!" Trip shouted, he had to stop her from firing. If she fired the weapon she was holding in the confines of Engineering then it would do a hell of a lot of damage and not necessarily in the right places. He got her attention and then used hand signals to explain to her not to fire until he gave her the word. He left his hiding place on the walkway, slid down the ladder, praying that none of the Hunters would notice his movements. He landed beside Darwin, twisting his ankle as he did so, but he ignored the sharp pain that ran up his leg as dropped to the ground.
"Colonel, I've got everything rigged for the transport," said Trip, "but I need to get to that console."
Darwin's eyes located the console that Trip was pointing to. It was in a corner that would mean having to cross the line of fire of two Hunters. "Not a problem," said Darwin. "We'll draw their fire while you do your stuff. Beam Kanatova and Rush out first, leave Hathaway and I until last."
"I have to go last, Colonel. I'm the only one who knows how to work the controls," said Trip.
"Okay, if that's the only way it can be done," said Darwin. "What are we going to do about Ensign Lauritsen?"
"I think if Hathaway can fire her rocket launcher just before she beams out, that should be enough of a distraction to let me and Keisha make a clean get away. Keisha can climb into a Jeffries tube and then when we're gone she can let everyone back into Engineering. The Hunters which aren't taken out by Hathaway should leave Enterprise once we're all gone."
"Fingers crossed, we're right about that," said Darwin.
"If we're wrong then this has all been for nothing," replied Trip.
Ensign?" asked Darwin. "You happy you know what to do?"
"Yes, sir," replied Lauritsen. "I wish I could be more help."
"You've done more than enough for us, now go. Get yourself as far down that Jeffries tube as you can," said Trip. Lauritsen nodded and obeyed the order, pulling the cover shut behind her. "We'll be in range of the planet in five minutes, I need to get to that console."
Darwin signalled the plan to the other MACOs who acknowledged the commands and got ready.
"We're in your hands, Trip," said Darwin. "As soon as I start firing, make a run for it."
Trip nodded and got ready. Darwin opened fire and Trip sprinted for the console that he needed ignoring his protesting ankle and the weapons fire that flew past him. He reached the console without any additional holes in him and began the final adjustments that he needed in order to beam everyone down to the surface. He checked the time and found that he had less than thirty seconds before the planet was in range for transport. He flinched as a shot hit the panel beside him, but he didn't have time to duck or get to cover. He watched the countdown and locked on to Kanatova's biosign. He signalled to the MACO medic to be ready for transport as the counter hit zero and pressed the keys that would beam Kanatova to safety.
He checked that she had indeed made it down to the planet andsignalled Rush that he was next. He beamed each MACO down to the surface in turn. Each time he beamed someone out he knew that he was evening the odds in favour of the Hunters. He signalled Darwin that it was his turn, Hathaway would remain to set off the fireworks that they had planned before Trip himself beamed out. Darwin nodded once to Trip before the Colonel shimmered out of existence in a glow of sparkling lights.
Hathaway took her cue and fired the rocket launcher at the approaching Hunters as they regrouped to attack the two remaining fighters. As soon as Hathaway pressed the trigger, Trip activated the beaming controls and she was gone, just a millisecond before the rocket hit the Hunters. The ensuing explosion knocked Trip off his feet. He was dazed for a second before he was able to scramble back to his feet and he began to set the console to beam himself down to the surface. He hated to think what firing a rocket launcher in Engineering had done to the sensitive equipment that resided there, but they'd had no choice. He coughed from the smoke, his eyes watering as they became irritated by the dust in the air.
He was just about to press the button to escape from the nightmare that they'd created, when a black clad hand reached out from the smoke and closed itself around his throat.
Trip was thrown against a wall like a rag doll. He crumpled to the ground in heap, feeling every bruise. He suspected that he'd broken a rib. Something had snapped in his chest and he hoped that it was only a rib. He began to push himself up off the floor in an attempt to get away from his attacker. He spat blood from his mouth and tried to breathe.
Once again he found himself lifted off the ground this time by his right arm. His attacker didn't seem worried in the slightest that Trip's arm was being wrenched from its socket by the force he was expending upon it.
"Where did you send them?" asked a voice in completely unaccented English.
Trip looked into unemotional, dead eyes that belonged to one of the Hunters. "Somewhere away from you," said Trip, defiantly.
The Hunter raised his other hand and hit Trip across the mouth. Trip sucked in breath sharply at the unexpected blow.
"I've been tortured… by some of the best, you're going… to have to do better than… that if you want me to talk," Trip said flippantly. He suspected it would have sounded better if he'd had more breath with which to say it. "I guess you robots… don't really understand… the concept. Not… being able to feel pain an' all."
The Hunter twisted Trip's arm back and Trip couldn't help but cry out in pain. "We understand pain." The Hunter dropped Trip to the floor and planted a kick in his side, which elicited another moan. "We understand pain well, and how to use it when we need to. You destroyed many of my brothers with your weapons. There are only a few of us left, but we will complete our mission and you will not stand in our way."
The Hunter knelt beside Trip, took hold of his hand and squeezed. Trip gritted his teeth as he felt the bones in his hand under pressure and then being broken. He wondered if he'd ever be able to use that hand again, and then he wondered if he'd even survive this. He was determined that these Hunters weren't going to win after everything that they'd been through.
"I know that this hurts you. Tell me where you sent them. I want the co-ordinates," said the Hunter. "I have another ship looking for them as I speak with you. They will be found. You're only prolonging your agony by refusing to tell me."
"Go to hell," Trip grated out through his teeth and a red fog of pain. Suddenly he heard the sound of metal hitting metal and the pressure on his hand was released. He was able to focus enough to see Keisha standing behind the Hunter with a large wrench in her hand. She had taken the wrench to the head of the Hunter with all her might. "Keisha, no," whispered Trip. She hadn't even succeeded in denting the Hunter and now she looked very worried indeed.
Keisha swung again with the wrench but the Hunter caught her arm before the blow could land.
"If you won't talk then perhaps this one will," said the Hunter.
Keisha squirmed in the Hunter's grip, trying to free herself.
Trip pushed himself up against the wall knowing that he had to do something. The pain from moving was almost enough to send him into unconsciousness, but he couldn't let the blackness claim him just yet. He looked around him at the damage caused by the rocket that Hathaway had fired and an idea began to form at the back of his mind.
"Let her go," rasped Trip as loudly as he could manage. "I'll tell you where I sent them." He reached to his left with his good hand and his fist closed around what he'd been looking for.
The Hunter dropped Keisha. She was obviously no longer of interest to him. Trip had suspected that these robots weren't smart and he'd just been proved right. Trip would never have been able to do what he was about to if the Hunter had held on to Keisha. Being intelligent wasn't the same as being smart, and smart was something that you only got from millennia of evolution and being the descendant of tree dwelling primates.
The Hunter approached and picked up Trip by his dislocated arm once again. "Where?" it asked.
"Somewhere you'll never find them," said Trip and shoved the live high voltage cable into his attacker's midsection. The Hunter dropped Trip at the first jolt of electricity, which was lucky for Trip since he doubted the Hunter's skin would have been enough insulation to prevent him from being electrocuted if the Hunter had held on. Unfortunately being dropped jarred his injuries again. He could see the jerking body of the Hunter and smell the aroma of singed circuits and plastic, but everything was fading fast. He just hoped that high voltage electricity would be enough to permanently disable the Hunter. There were reassuring sparks being created but that could mean anything.
The black collected around the edge of his vision and the last thing he heard was Keisha calling his name before the blackness drenched his sight and he passed out.