Echoes (Redux)

by txtmstrjoe

This is the DEFINITIVE version of "Echoes," a retelling of events from "V:The Final Battle." Set right after L.A. resistance leader Juliet Parrish is captured, "Echoes (Redux)" follows her story and how it is interwoven with those of Mike Donovan and Diana. Each character's struggles finds echoes in the others' lives.

15. Chapter 14 - Terminus

CHAPTER 14

Brian flinched when a series of explosions from deep within the rebel headquarters filled his ears. Though the sounds of the detonations were muffled, they were still loud enough to surprise not just him, but almost everyone waiting outside as well.

Tremors in the ground accompanied the explosions, and as he and everyone else watched, some of the walls of the building caved into the middle of the structure. The noise of crumbling concrete, snapping wood, shattering glass, and metal twisting and bending out of shape took over from the muffled explosions. And as the cacophony continued, the top of the structure crashed into the building as well.

Clouds of dust and smoke started to rise from the collapsed building, and as Brian continued to watch in mute horror as what remained of the two squads assigned to him staggered out from inside it. Two or three Shock Troopers made it out of the structure before dropping face-first into the dirt, while a few more were being assisted out by their peers who were fortunate to not have been inside the building when it imploded. The lucky few who managed to get out of the structure were all covered in dust and grime; some had portions of their red-orange uniforms torn and singed, and several had sections of their synth-skin torn off, revealing their reptilian scales.

Brian watched the scene unfolding in front of him, when he realized that a squad of LAPD officers and the SWAT unit called in to assist were also there to see everything he was looking at.

With a snarl he spun around. He saw Dan Pascal being held by one of his Security underlings.

"Let him go," he said to the guard.

The Security guard released his hold on Pascal's bicep, and as soon as he stepped away from the counterfeiter, Brian drew his sidearm.

And even before Pascal could utter a word in protest, Brian aimed and pulled the trigger.

A bright blue flash hit Pascal flush in the chest, making the counterfeiter's flesh erupt in flames and smoke, scorching parts of his lungs and heart , turning them into char.

The weapon's pulsing whine drowned out whatever Pascal's last words were.

But Brian didn't care at all as he stormed away.