A Web Serial by M.C.A. Hogarth
| 32. Rapport. | 34. Slow Repairs. |
|---|
33. Close Calls
A new wall of crabs is advancing on them from behind. The three start shooting.
Claws. "Get behind us, Spots."
Fang. "****, she can still shoot!"
Claws. "Not for long. And neither can you."
Spots. "You can put up your shield."
Claws. "And end up like the two of you? Hell-no."
[ Base ] Control : Team Kitty, this is Control. Relief inbound from Sector C. Coyote requests direct.
Claws. "SECTOR ****IN' C! You want them to collect our BODIES?" Switching to command circuit. "Control-this-is-Team-Kitty-put-them-through."
[ Company ] Coyote : Kitty, this is Coyote. Location?
Claws. "Patching HUD, no time to talk."
[ Company ] Coyote : ...right, I see you, we'll flank them in... 7 minutes."
Fang. "****! We don't have 7 minutes!"
Spots. "We have to run."
Claws. "Can you?"
Spots. "We're going to find out."
Claws. "Right. On three—"
One.
Two.
Three—
They flee, the crabs rushing after. Spots's suit runs out of power; it's too heavy to be operated without it. She hits the grid, skidding.
Claws. "SPOTS!" Turns and lunges for her.
Fang turns and starts shooting. "****! I can't keep this up!"
Claws. "Fang, help!"
Fang. "I can't shoot them and carry her with you!"
Spots. "SHOOT THEM, CLAWS."
Claws. "I won't leave you!"
Spots. "I have a plan, damn it, shoot them!"
Claws. "What the **** plan can you possibly have?" But he joins Fang in shooting the onrushing crabs.
Spots. "Always wondered about this emergency eject—"
Claws. "What?? NO!"
Spots, wearing only her skinsuit, flees up the corridor.
Fang. "****, follow her!"
Claws keys his shield, scoops Spots up under his arm. They run.
Claws. "Coyote, now would be ****in' good...!"
[ Company ] Coyote : Two minutes!
Fang. "Grenade!"
Claws. "We'd have to block them or they'll run past it!"
Fang, sliding to a stop. "**** **** ****!"
Claws. "****!!!!"
The corridor is blocked with new dirt.
Claws. "****! This isn't supposed to be here!"
They turn. Spots points at the crabs and shouts something.
Claws. "You must be ****in' kidding!"
Spots hits his faceplate and points again.
Fang grabs Claws's arm and pulls him after her. "She's got a point, GO!"
Claws. "****!" And then they run straight at the oncoming crabs...
...into them...
...through them.
Fang. "I'm almost out of juice!"
Claws throws the grenade, pushes Fang in front of him. As they flee, the grenade goes off. A few moments later, Coyote's team flashes past and starts shooting the survivors. There aren't that many left.
Fang. "And... out!" Her suit goes dark. Claws stops, sets Spots down. He slumps against the wall, hands to his faceplate.
When all the crabs are dead, Coyote comes over. "That was some quick thinking there, breaking through and then blowing them. Risky, but quick."
Claws, low. "****."
| 32. Rapport. | 34. Slow Repairs. |
|---|
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