The Cardinal Directive: Mission Log #7

Deeper they go, into the ARNEN base...

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Urged on at gunpoint by Alison and (to a lesser extent) Solena, the harriers quickly grabbed their climbing gear and gathered once again around the gaping chasm leading deeper into the building.

The ominous orange glow of the many hovercores lit their faces from below like a distant fire.

Solena was all too aware of the way it highlighted sweat dripping down Alison’s face beside her. The radiating gleam that reached Alison’s cheeks cast nearly the rest of her face in shadow, but nowhere was darker than the bags under her eyes. It was as if she’d gained several years in only a few minutes.

Alison demanded that the others go down first. There wasn’t much time to argue or debate with her.

One by one, they did.

For a few brief moments, it was just the two of them in earshot.

“You’ll go down next,” Alison said softly, staring directly across from them at the symbol of the Ebonhand on the wall. Her eyes reflected nothing but the orange corelight. “I’ll be right behind you, but you might have to wave that gun around if they try anything. Whatever happens, don’t let them breach your suit, okay?”

“Alison…”

“I’m not letting them leave you behind, sunshine. I don’t care what it takes.”

Solena’s eyes lingered on Alison for several seconds, trying to catch her gaze. Trying to find the right words.

Her efforts were ultimately futile, unable to think of the right thing to say or do before it was her turn to repel down.

Solena grabbed onto the rope and began lowering herself down into the structure. The hole was large — more than big enough for a person to fit through, and had torn through several floors of the underground base as well. She estimated the pile of hovercores at the bottom to be at least sixty feet below them. Her stomach sank into a sickly pit, though whether to attribute that to the hovercores or Alison was anyone’s guess.