Spots: Rapport

A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth

31. Evolving Tactics.	33. Close Calls.

32. Rapport

Bug parts and ichor everywhere. A piece of a crab claw flexes, then collapses. Silence/stillness.

...then the thud of boots as Claws runs over.

Claws. "Spots! Fang!"

Fang, sitting up slowly. The explosion pushed both of them back two meters. "****..."

Claws. "Spots!!" Bending over her. "Spots?"

Spots. "—ine, I'm fine."

Claws. "****, you're limp!"

Spots. "I'm fine, the suit is just down."

Claws. "What??"

Spots. "I linked shields with Fang when you tossed that grenade. Figured we'd need it."

Fang. "****, she's right, I'm almost completely down too. What the **** do we put in our grenades?"

Claws. "It worked."

Fang. "Yeah, I guess it did." Eyes him. "Thanks."

Claws. "****. Control, this is Team Kitty.

[ Base ] Control : Team Kitty, this is Control, go ahead.

Claws. "We got two spent suits and one man in Sickbay. We need relief."

[ Base ] Control : Copy that, Kitty. We'll see who we can send.

Claws. "Can the two of you walk?"

Fang. "I've got power for it."

Spots tries to rise and grimaces. "I need a charge."

Claws. "All right, hold still." After messing with the inter-suit hook-ups: "Try now. You good?"

Spots flexes her hand. "Yeah."

Claws. "Right, we'll just sit tight until they get here."

Fang. "They who? We're stretched too ****ing thin as it is."

Claws. "Dunno. Their problem."

Fang, staring at the gruesome corridor. "****ing mess."

Claws. "Beautiful, ain't it?"

Fang, grinning. "Most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

Claws. "You're welcome."

Fang snorts, but she's still smiling.

Spots. "Claws...?"

"Yeah?"

Spots. "Tell me... that's not what I think it is."

Claws twists around to face the opposite end of the corridor, then leaps to his feet, gun out. "****! ****!"

Fang. "CONTROL THIS IS KITTY GET US THAT RELIEF NOW!"

31. Evolving Tactics.	33. Close Calls.