The galley was a mess of overturned carts, supplies and flames shot out of everything. Chefs cooked food using a propane mixture and with the gas shutoff valves not working, the highly fammable gas would build until it spontaneously combusted. The stairs were blocked, leaving the group with no choice but to head for the elevator shaft. Pamela leaned out and looked down. Ugly spikes marked the bottom, sticking up like razor sharp butchers knifes. They'd skewer anyone who fell into them. Looking up she saw the elevator itself, outlined against the glow of a fire. It was hanging only by its flimsy wires which were being burnt through. That thing was coming down sooner or later and she prayed it would be later. They had enough to worry about as it was. "Let's see if we can find anything in here that we can use as a walkway." She mused, digging around until she found a long metal cross-board. It was normally used as part of a trolley system to serve food but it would do. She stuck it out into the shaft, twisting it around until it sat evenly against the ledge on the other side. Dylan went across, trying to pry open the doors on the other side to no avail. But the doors a floor above were partially open. "What's up there?" He asked. "Uh, the entertainment system." Pamela replied. "I think I can reach it, hang on." Pamela held the board in place while he jumped up, trying to reach the next floor. Eventually, he managed it and crawled his way up inside.
The cross-board was flimsy at best and now they wanted to put people on it to climb up a floor. On top of that, the kitchen's gas valve shut offs were not working. If Pamela wasn't concerned before, she certainly was now. It would be a race against time to get up top and close that door before they blew and she could feel the pressure rising.
One by one they filed across, Dylan helping Conner up, then Maggie. Nelson was next and he gestured for Pamela but the kanmusu shook her head. The heightened tension was bringing out her other side and already the floor beneath her was creaking ominously. "Go, I'll be right behind." She told Valentine. "Famous last words." He said and she gave a wry smile. As he stepped across the board shifted, one spoke coming free. Nelson clung to the external wall and Valentine braced himself as best he could. After a few agonizing seconds, Pamela managed to wrestle it back into place. "Thank you gorgeous." Nelson said. "My name's Pamela." She replied. "Pamela, lovely name. Come on, you're running out of room there." Indeed, the flames were rising. The air was noxious with fumes. Time was running out. "Alright, Dylan pull Nelson up, this isn't going to be pretty." She warned. He nodded in understanding and taking a few steps back, Pamela broke into a run. The first step on the board had it bend, the second step tore it clean in two and she jumped, pushing off and just managing to reach the other side before it fell onto the deadly spikes at the bottom of the shaft. She grabbed the edge of the floor, hauling herself up. Nelson had grabbed onto her ankle and Valentine onto his but for a kanmusu, pulling two people up wasn't that difficult. Dylan got her up where she crawled off to the side, leaning back against the wall and struggling to get her other side under control. It would become a liability at some point but it was best to delay that as long as possible. These people deserved a chance to live. She remained where she was but she could hear the sounds of a struggle. The elevator was breaking free and there wasn't time to save both Nelson and Valentine. Cursing, she looked up in time to see the elevator racing by. At that same instant there was a shudder and Pamela's eyes widened. "RUN!" She cried and the kitchen exploded. Flames shot into the shaft like a flamethrower, slamming into the wall on the opposite side just a floor below. Dylan and Ramsey struggled with the door and Pamela shot up to help them, snapping it shut just in time. Only a lick of flame got through. The whole ship shuddered under the fiery onslaught as the flames shot up and down the shaft, putting extra pressure on the overturned hull. Pamela groaned, bracing herself against the wall with one hand while the other wrapped around her chest. She slid down, sinking to her knees. Dylan dropped beside her. "Give me a minute." She rasped, hands trembling. "Valentine, he must've cared a lot for this ship. But as far as I can tell he's the only causality of this latest incident." "I'm sorry." He looked down. "We would've lost two people if you hadn't made that call. It's not one I envy you, but you did the right thing." She accepted his offered hand and rose to her feet.
"You, Ramsey!" She called. "Yes?" He turned to her. "You wanted to go to the dance hall right?" She asked. "Well, its right this way. I'm you're map now so you better listen when I tell you which way to go." "Only if I approve of course." Dylan said with a smirk at her and she rolled her eyes at him good-naturedly.