Hi,

So sorry to everyone who tried to read this yesterday and got a bunch of random code. Thank you to the people who reviewed and told me about this. And to Jaden Silver, for pointing out that it is not Ada but Eta. "This is an AI talking." This is a person thinking.

Carolina the voices whispered gently; a rare thing. She was so use to them screaming in her head.

"Think, what you are doing?"

"Be stronger."

"You are the leader take back your place."

But in this dark space they were quiet in a way they had never been before. Not silent but less than a buzz. Carolina felt fully in control of her head for the first time in a long time.

"Eta Iota?" The soft voices were gone and they were back to the mind numbing buzz broken by the occasional screech when one didn't agree with the other. Carolina tried to hold on to the control she had felt before but it slipped just out of her reach. "Iota where am I?"

"Under a wall and buried under ten feet of ruble."

"How long have I been under here?"

"Three days your armor is almost completely drained. The recovery beacon and radio were damaged by the explosion." Eta responded.

The humming was getting worse. Carolina tried to shut it out but that old trick no longer worked. Panic rose in her as she lay immobile, unable to breathe normally, and with almost no chance of rescue. The squad wouldn't have been able to stay for long. Thinking about the squad reminded her of York.

"Ada what happened to York?"

"He is on top of you. The explosion knocked him over. He was likely the reason you survived."

Was the reason? her heart raced, he couldn't be gone. It was all her fault

"Hey you make it sound like I am dead."

A voice said just above her shoulder sounded both amused and indignant.

York, Carolina tried to twist to see him.

"Easy Carolina don't want to cave in the whole space even more."

York's comment froze Carolina reminding her of their situation. The buzzing and panic rose up.

"How are we going to get out of here York."

"Try to roll to the side I think we can crawl through the gaps made by the walls."

With great effort Carolina managed to crawl out from under York. He dropped into the place she had been with a shower of dust. Being able to see York was soothing; giving her a focus point to help shut out the AIs. Looking around the tiny space Carolina could see what could still be their tomb. They barely had space to lie side by side. But there was a gap to Carolina's right that she estimated was just big enough for them to crawl through on all fours. She was ready to get out of this hell hole.

York was relieved when Delta told him that Carolina was relatively alright. Because nobody could be completely fine after what they had just been through. As Carolina started through the maze of ruble York realized just how much he loved the healing unit which had gotten him back to almost full health and had nourish him for the three days they had been buried. As they crawled through the labyrinth of ruble York was kept busy trying not to look at Carolina's ass which was not the easiest thing. In fact he was so busy not looking that he crashed into it.

"York touch me again and I will break your other eye." she growled.

Carolina crawled forward and stood up almost shakily. York followed and stood looking at the cave system stretching out in front of them.

"Great now we are lost under ground." Carolina had only sounded this frustrated when Texas beat her at something.

"We will find a way out." York said optimistically. "We came through a door so this has to be a exit of some kind otherwise they would have just sealed it off." Carolina nodded and they set off. They waked along for half an hour walking into dead ends and going in circles but eventually they found a narrow gap in the rocks and were out into the daylight. they stood enjoying the sun for a minute. "what's our next move Carolina?" York asked looking out into the woods they had emerged. There was only a footpath that looked like it had not been used in years.

"find a radio, get in contact with the project, go back to our lives." She said with as much confidence as she ever had and he would have believed her if it weren't for the fact that she had only three very vague steps as to how to get back. Oh and the fact that she collapsed the moment she took a step forward. York sighed and knelt down beside her and started to undo the clips of her armor. This greatly distressed Delta.

"York what are you doing? That is hardly appropriate."

"She collapsed Delta. I need to make sure she is okay. Besides I can't carry her and the armor. Tag the coordinates and I'll come back for them later." When Carolina's armor was safely stashed in one of the off shoots of the cave system, York picked up Carolina and started down the overgrown footpath.

Sorry it's short but I recently got hit with the boom while sailing. Thanks to those who reviewed/followed/favorited. Please review.

Olivecat