Io hoisted everyone one by one up into the vents and explained her plan to the rest of the group while they were crawling through the vents.

“That's...pretty good, Io. Might actually work.” Evelyn said

“Thanks.” Io said with a smile.

“So let me review. We are going to alert the soldiers that we are safe and then signal them to rush in after the generator is off?” Samantha asked.

“Yup! And after the soldiers come in and secure the area we go home as heroes.” Io said.

“What about Dr. Parker?” Samantha asked.

“She’s a smart kid. We can find her after this mess.” Evelyn said as she followed Nyssia.

“So we are going to abandon her?”

Io’s jerked at the thought and she hit her head on the vent ceiling.

“Ow. No. Not gonna leave her behind.” Io said.

“Io. We don’t know where she is. If we delay, the whole place will go up like a firecracker.” Evelyn said. “Look I know you want her to be safe. I know you want her fine. But right now, we got bigger fish to fry. And when it’s over, we’ll all sit down at the diner and have some scrambled eggs.”

Io stopped for a brief moment and let out a sigh.

“Fine. But if we find her, we’re saving her.”

“Of course.” Evelyn commented.

“Shh…” Nyssia said as she waved her hand back towards the group. She was looking through a grate. Outside of the vent was a few armed guards passing by. When they left Nyssia continued to move forward.

“Nyssia” Evelyn said. “Pass me the radio.”

“Promise to give it back?” Nyssia said as she pulled out the walkie from her pocket.

“Swear on my mother’s grave.”

“Pinky promise?”

Evelyn let out a sigh. “Yes, pinky promise.”

“With a cherry on top?”

“Yes with a cherry on top.” Evelyn said in a tiresome tone. Nyssia cracked a smile. She was clearly entertained by this antic.

Nyssia nodded and handed Evelyn the walkie. It took a few moments to get the right frequency and to verify their identities over the radio. The poor guy on the other end sounded confused but he said he would pass the message off to his superior and told her to wait. A few minutes later a gruff voice came over the radio.

“Dr Aue is it?”

“Roger dodger.” Evelyn commented as she spoke into walkie. There was a brief silence and a heavy sigh. A smile crept on Evelyn’s face.

“I’ve discussed the information with the team and glad to know you and your friends are alright. If you are in a safe area, there is no need for you to do anymore. We will handle the situation ourselves. Stay in the safe area. We will find you. Over and out.”

The walkie talkie made a static noise and then was silent.

“Looks like the party is going to start whether we want it to or not.” Io said.

“Yeah. Which means we gotta move fast.” Evelyn said. “Nyssia how much farther?”

Nyssia looked ahead and tilted her head. She then drew invisible lines in front of her.

“We’re just about there. Few more feets.” She said as she continued to crawl forward.

As they reached the grate to the generator room, Nyssia witnessed more blue lights spark out and shoot across the air. As they were about to open the grate they all heard a loud commotion coming from above them.

Sounds of gunfire and battle could be heard. The ground above them gave a slight quiver and then the walkie in Nyssia’s pocket burst to life with the sound of action.

“Alert! All remaining officers in the basement level, the second level and third level are to report to the first level immediately. The National Guard is mobilizing and penetrating our defensives.” Mr. Rick shouted over the walkie talkie.

“Lucky us. With all the guards gone, we can just walk on up and turn the thing off. Easy.” Io said.

Nyssia pulled out her screwdriver and opened the grate. The group crawled out of the vents. The room was empty, only with a few scattered tools and the generator. The generator looked to be in worse condition then the last time Nyssia saw it. It was more cracked and several pipes burst with steam. The meter’s glass has shattered and the dials glow a low shade of red. The smell of molten metal was in the air.

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“Oh crap.” Io said. “I’m not an engineer but I don’t need a degree to know that ain't right.”

Evelyn gave a small chuckle as the group moved forward towards the generator.

“Fascinating.” Samantha said as she observed the machine with curiosity and a childlike wonder in her eyes. She then looked towards the ground and noticed all the tools scattered about. She fastened a tool belt to her waist and started to collect them quickly.

“Okay.” Samantha started as she took her hat off and wrapped her back and tied it with her green bandana. “We need to turn this off. The heat from the generator has caused most of the buttons and dials to melt away. Should still be possible to turn it off safely if I can locate the emergency shutdown function.”

“Blondie you’re from the 1800s. How the hell do you know any of this?” Io asked. Samantha looked up at Io with a gentle smile.

“My previous occupation was repairing large machines in a steel factory.” Samantha said as she started to go through her tools. “Hopefully, not much has changed.”

The group's efforts were halted by the echoing sound of metal clicking against one another. They turned around only to see a tattered Mr. Rick standing in the doorway of the room with a revolver.

“I should have known something was amidst as soon as the National Guard started moving in.” He said as he walked into the room.

Evelyn leaned her head towards Io and said, “Do you know the definition of ‘irony’?” Io shook her head. Her eyes laser focused on Mr. Rick and the gun.

“I brought up more guards from all over the facility to help but it wont hold them long. That's when I doubted back looking for you three only to discover your escape. Back away from the generator.” Mr. Rick said with a snarl. The group carefully edged away from the generator and to the wall.

“That’s nice. That’s good. But at this point, I don’t think we need hostages.” Mr. Rick said with a grin.

Samantha’s heart began to race and her hands trembled with fear. She took a deep breath and made a plan. She quietly slipped her hand into her tool belt and grabbed hold of a small hammer. She turned her belt towards the wall, hiding what she was doing.

“Hey! Come about you.” Mr. Rick said. He spotted Samantha trying to hide something. He let out a small laugh to himself as he walked over to her.

“Puta.” Nyssia spat out as he passed her. Mr. Rick looked at her and gave her an intimidating look, baring his teeth like a wild dog. Nyssia was shaken but didn’t show it. Evelyn and Io remained still and silent as Mr. Rick came upon Samantha.

“Small scared little child. Lost in a whole new world. Come on. Face me.” he said.

In a flash Samantha wiped out the hammer and swung at Mr. Rick. The hammer initially missed the man’s head but collided with his wrist that was holding the gun. He let out a hollar of pain as he let go of the gun and watched it skidded across the floor, sliding under the generator. Io leaped into action. Her fist collided with Mr. Rick’s head and he spun around and staggered towards the generator.

Mr. Rick reached into his coat pocket as he recovered himself. Io was on his tail as Evelyn followed. Mr. Rick turned around revealing a hunting knife. He swung at Io but only slightly cut her arm. Evelyn did not see the knife and as she came in to help Io, Mr Rick took advantage of her hesitation. He plunged the knife into Evelyn.

Evelyn let out an inhuman nightmarish scream as she stumbled back, holding the knife in. Io looked at Evelyn with horror as blood dripped onto the floor and shouted in rage. Io charged in Mr. Rick, not holding back. She let out all of her rage and frustration with every swing.

Evelyn wobbled her way away from the action and collapsed on the ground. Her breathing was rapid and sweat poured from her head. White hot pain flashed up and down her body. Her vision became cloudy and she laid on her back. Samantha and Nyssia moved over to her aide. Nyssia looked at the scene with a sickly pale look upon her face. As Samantha attempted to help Evelyn, Io was still throwing punches at Mr Rick. The man attempted to block her punches but couldn’t succeed. In a final show of force, Io grabbed Mr. Rick by the collar and gave him one last good clean punch. Sprinkles of blood along with bits of teeth littered the floor as Mr. Rick flew back and collided with the generator.

Mr. Rick let out a scream as he crashed into the generator. There was a brief moment of shock and wonder as the generator electrocuted Mr Rick. Sparks of blue and green light shot into the air. The lights above dimmed and flickered on and off. Smoke rose up to the ceiling and the remaining dials and meters blew with little popping sounds. Then the lights went out and it was eerily quiet.

Evelyn’s moan broke the silence in the darkness. Then the lights flickered back on. Mr. Rick laid dead on the floor near the broken generator. His skin was severely burned and scared. A hazel of gray smoke hovered above his corpse. The smell of burnt meat filled the room. Io turned away in disgust and hurried over to Evelyn whose head was resting on Samantha’s lap. She tried to talk but her words came out broken.

“I...I….We...I…” Evelyn tried to say. Her face was strikingly white and her lips were quivering.

“Oh fuck, Blu.” Io said. She frantically looked around for something to cover Evelyn with. Nothing. She unzipped her jacket and took off her shirt. She laid her jacket on the floor and motioned Samantha to move Evelyn onto the jacket. With grunts of pain and anguish and tears in her eyes, Evelyn was now lying on the jack. Io crumpled her shirt up and showed it to Evelyn.

“We need to get the knife out. Okay?” Io said. Evelyn gave a small nod in understanding. She had a rough idea of what Io was trying to do. She blinked a few more times and looked up at Io.

“Not...much...time. Hurry.” Evelyn said. Io nodded and carefully rested her hand on the knife.

“Sorry, Blu.” Io said. And with a quick tug, she pulled the knife out of Evelyn’s stomach. Working quickly and ignoring Evelyn’s cries of pain, Io shoved her crumpled shirt over Evelyn’s stab wound and used the sleeves of her jack to tie it down tight.

“Sorry!” Io said as she backed up. Evelyn placed her hands on the roughly fashioned tourniquet and attempted to steady her breathing. Nyssia backed away from the mess and started to cry. Io moved over to her and comforted the child with an embrace.

“It’s gonna be fine. She’s gonna be alright.” Io said in a calm and gentle tone. Nyssia’s tone was more rapid.

“No no no. She’s hurt. She’s hurt really bad.” Nyssia said in a panic.

“No no no.” Io said in a panic while quickly turning back to look at Evelyn and then back to Nyssia. “She’s fine. It was just a little cut.”

“There’s...blood.”

“Yes, from the cut. She’s going to be fine.”

Nyssia shook her head in frustration and then buried it in Io’s arms and continued to cry.

Samantha was keeping her eyes on Evelyn whoes blinking had slowed down as well as her breathing.

“Evelyn, please stay with us.” Samantha said.

“Getting..stabbed...really sucks.” Evelyn said with a weak smile. Samantha let out a small laugh. It was nice to see her sense of humor was still somewhat intact. Evelyn looked up at the lights and slowly pointed at them.

“That...shouldn’t be a thing.” she said.

“The lights?” Samantha asked. Evelyn gave a tiny nod.

“No generator...no lights...What gives?” Evelyn said as she took a deep breath and attempted to lift herself up. She was quickly brought down by Samantha.

“Evelyn, please. You’re injured, you need to continue to lay down.”

“Blondie, the lights are still on. Which means..” Evelyn said as she took another breath. “The machine is still going.”

“Crap.” Io said.

“Get me up. We need to go turn it off ourselves now.” Evelyn said as she attempted to lift herself up.

“Blu I don’t think that's a good idea?” Io said as her eyes darted to the spots of blood on the floor.

“My options...I stay here with crispy critter over there alone. Go into shock without anyone to help and die. Option two... One of you stays here with me while the other goes off unknowingly into the unknown. Succeed or fail. Option three. We waste time by arguing and we all die. Now help me up.” Evelyn said as she staggered once more to get up. Io rushed over to her and helped her to her feet. Nyssia did not let go and stumbled over, holding onto Io until she finally let go and wrapped her arms around Samantha. Her eyes were red and puffy.

Evelyn let out a grunt as she stedied herself. “Besides…” Evelyn said as she applied pressure to her wound with one hand while staring at the blood dripping from her other hand. “Jane can help. If she is nearby. If she’s…” Evelyn said as she stumbled a bit and caught herself onto Io. Io had a look of horror and confusion.

“It’s not bad. Got me in the lower quadrant of my abdomen. Not fatal. Just gonna hurt like a bitch. Definitely need medical attention when this is over.” Evelyn said as she tightened the tourniquet. “Main issue for me to worry about is the loss of blood. I’ll probably pass out before that.”

Evelyn placed her hand on the wall and attempted to walk out of the room. Io came up beside her and wrapped Evelyn’s arm around her shoulder.

“Easy there, Blu. Okay. we’re off. Just take it easy with those steps.” Io said. Evelyn looked at Io and smiled. Samantha stood up with Nyssia still wrapped around her. Her arms soon slid off till she was holding Samantha’s hand with a firm grip.