Into The Rift

Search & Destroy (55)

Taking a step back, I note the slight curl of her fingers just as she breaks into a frown. I pick up a flash of movement before a sharp clank resounds from the side of my helmet, sending me reeling from the impact, though only barely. It barely registers as a dull sting and I quickly regain my bearings, recentering my gaze on the perpetrator. 

That, won't go unanswered.

Collins immediately jumps in, grabbing both the woman's arms to keep her in check. "Woah, shit," she exclaims, supporting herself on her one good leg.

"Totally saw that coming," she remarks, forcing her back to the bed under a firm grip.

I push aside the revelation, shaking my head at the absurdity of being slapped by the last person I expected to see in this hell hole. It seems nothing was off the table when it comes to surprises these days.

"Make sure she gets medical attention. Once the alert blows over, we'll need answers," I say, directing the rest of my team out with me out the triage.

"Will do. Best you boys head out to Ops, we'll take care of her," Collins replies, flanked by her two assistants. She takes over and begins to administer further treatment, rolling out a piece of gauze from a standard trauma kit.

"Greg, tilt her head to the right, gently," Collins says, directing the man over to the bed's opposite side as I watch. Satisfied, I turn away, leaving her to perform under her own discretion.

"Ops room, now," I intone, directing the team away from the triage. James leads us ahead towards the Operations' wing, occasionally glancing back as though he meant to say something. He likely did considering what happened just prior.

Finally, after the third time, I relent. "Alright, what is it?"

"Glad I wasn't seeing things. I thought she looked familiar," he explains.

"It's the girl from that palace right? Ponytail, green dress, actually not an annoyance?" Robert probes as the Operations' Wing into view.

I sigh, "Yeah, pretty much."

"Barely see the resemblance though, hair's all messed up," he slows down to pace by my side before continuing, "still... quite a shocker to see you rough a girl up."

I nod, feeling the residue guilt still coursing through me. No use crying over spilled milk though. "Well I can't take it back."

Just as we cross the threshold into the Ops  Room, the channel crackles to life with an urgent tone.

"Desert team, we're still waiting on you."

"We'll be there in a minute, stand by," I promptly return, urging the rest to speed up. We reach the stairs, pacing up two steps at a time before the door comes into view.

I push it aside and enter. Davis and a few others already stood around the central table. A rough map depicting the topography of the immediate area surrounding Tartarus lies on its surface. Immediately noting the marked circle, I stride right up to the table, planting a finger at it and getting right to the point.

"Is that where the flight landed?" I glance at the circle, eliciting a nod from Davis. Turner steps up, holding an interface, its screen depicting the corresponding area from a drone's point of view.

"Maybe, "he shrugs, "we're only able to approximate their last known location. By the time we've got eyes up in the air, it was gone. But, considering we didn't pick up another signal, we can presume they're in hiding. There's a lot of vegetation around here, but this marked area in particular." 

He pauses, lifting a finger over to the spot, "This is the only place sparse enough where they could reasonably land. I'm betting that's where they are."