Is there a chance?
A fragment of light at the end of the tunnel?
A reason to fight?
Is there a chance you may change your mind?
Or are we ashes and wine?
-Ashes and Wine Ashes and Wine by A Fine Frenzy

"Mr. Aikens," Marco said, walking behind the older man and the police chief, while Leon quietly followed close behind. "I know this factory like the back of my hand… I can get in and find…"

"Damn it, boy!" Mr. Aikens snapped as they came up to the area where Lorna, Betty, Vera, Gladys, and Carol all stood waiting for news. "This is not a moment for heroics. At this very moment, dangerous fumes are spewing all over that place. The air is filled with it. It would take barely a hip cup to practically blow the whole block off the map. This is no time to be playing soldier."

Marco's brow furrowed at the older man's slight.

"We're waiting on the latest readings from the air analysts," the police chief added. "Once we have those readings, we'll have a better idea on how to continue."

"Chief Draper," Leon tried, his deep voice calm and even. "It's getting dark. The temperatures are dropping. And every moment we sit around on our hands considering what might happen, the more time we waste."

"I must agree with these men," Dr. Patel said, walking up beside them. "I've been here for hours now, waiting to treat those trapped and possibly seriously injured. The longer it takes to get them out and to proper medical care, the more pointless my presence here will become."

"Unless any of you know how to turn off the gushing, highly explosive gases leaking into the air, than we're at an impasse," The police chief said with a tone of finality.

"Well sure, all you gotta do is find the main amatol pump and the cyclonite valve and interchangeably lower their output by turning the valve counter-clock wise and the amatol pumps clock-wise to a 45 degree pressure point. Releasing the gases slowly in a safe and non-disruptive way, therefore avoiding pressure issues of the explosive nature," Carol rambled out as if she were giving a lunch order out.

They all turned to look at her with astonishment.

"What?" she asked off their surprised looks. "I listen during the safety meetings…" Still feeling their stares, she added after a beat, "…sometimes…. When there's donuts…"

"Oh good," Mr. Aikens said, throwing his arms up in the air. "We can send in the fearless Italian, the colored custodian, and Carol Demers to save the day. That'll be sure to make the headlines."

"Chief Draper," Another police officer said, walking up and handing the older man an envelope. "The readings are in."

He tore into the package and began eagerly reading. They all held their breaths as the man read silently, his face never revealing what they were all dying to know. Gladys thought she would explode from the wait while Betty grew incredibly still beside her.

"Well, isn't that just the dandiest thing," The man said, shaking his head.

"What?" Lorna asked, her breath caught in her throat. "What does it say?"

"The readings are down significantly than the last time. In fact, they're incredibly low considering the rate it was coming out before."

"So what does that mean?" Vera asked, hopeful.

"It means someone on the inside just may have saved the day themselves," Chief Draper said with a smile.

Gladys let out a shaky laugh while Marco picked Vera up and spun her around, sending the blonde into a fit of happy laughter. Carol looked on with interest, not really knowing what was going on, but knowing it was a moment to smile. Gladys turned to Betty who was still quiet.

"Bets," She said, happily pulling the other girl's hands into her own. "It's Kate. I just know it."

Betty breathed out slowly. Her mouth opened to say something, but only silence followed. Gladys wondered if she was too scared to get her hopes up.

"When can your men go in to get these people out?" Lorna asked.

"My men?" Chief Draper said, shaking his head as he folded up the papers in his hands and placed them inside his breast pocket. "Oh, no, no. It's still too dangerous. Just because the readings are down doesn't mean it's not still highly explosive in there. Why, with one scrape of shovel or spark of blowtorch…. Boom! It's my responsibility to not fail Canada by keeping one of its best ammunition factories in tact as much as possible."

"So …so you'll just leave those people inside to continue and suffer?" Lorna sputtered out angrily. "No, Mr. Draper. Those people inside… they're your responsibility. How can you just minimize their importance? Why they are… They're your daughters, the neighbors down the street, or maybe even a brother… the point is, they are somebody's loved ones. And it's your responsibility to not fail these people because they are what will win this war. Not some damn building. These people are Canada. And they are your responsibility today."

They all stood in awe at the factory matrons' gallant speech. Once again, their mentor had known exactly what to say when it needed to be heard the most.

The older man looked to the woman who stood firmly with her arms crossed, unwilling to back down. He took his fedora off and ran his hands through his greying hair before placing it back on his head. Contemplating his next move, he finally turned towards Marco and Leon.

"So you two know the factory's layout best, eh?"