Whereas I practically have to jump.
“Why haven’t you left yet? You okay?”
“Griel!” Niva rasped. “Just… be quiet, huh?”
“I’m growing concerned, that’s all. I would’ve thought you’d have made it out of there by now. You know we’re going to be late to our other engagement if you don’t hurry.”
“I’m pretty sure the humans will be fine without us for half an hour.” Niva looked at the exit, her salvation from the darkness. She tried to each it with her foot… she only barely touched the edge. Part of that came down to tentativeness. If she really committed, it might not be so bad.
But then there was the threat of falling to infinity and that… that’s what gave her pause.
I do not have time for this!
Niva took several deep breaths before throwing herself off the ladder. Her right foot made the ledge. She grabbed the frame but her other foot hit the wall. Slipping, she fell to the floor, clinging to the wall with both hands. Eyes wide, heart pounding hard enough to make her dizzy, she bit her lip until she bled to avoid screaming.
“What was that sound?” Griel asked. “Niva, report.”
Oh, now you want to be all official, huh?
Niva pulled herself onto the ledge, rolling on her back to shove away from the elevator with her feet. After taking a good ten seconds to catch her breath, she got back to her feet. Griel had been speaking to her the whole time but she ignored him.
“I’m fine,” Niva muttered. “How many guards between me and you?”
“Sixteen,” Griel replied. “I’m giving you a path to avoid the majority of them. Head straight then take an immediate left. Go through that door then take a hard right. One guard in that area.”
“Thanks.”
Niva picked up the pace, following his directions to the first door. She drew her weapon as she arrived, glancing in before making the commitment to pass through. The next passage appeared empty. She kept going. Footsteps to her left made her slow down. She aimed at the door…
As it opened, she pulled the trigger. The shot went wide, missing the target by a few inches. Before he could fire back, she dove to the ground, drawing her legs up as she maintained constant aim at the area. Her opponent peeked into the area. She blasted him on the side of the head.
He started screaming as he fell to the floor. Niva scrambled to her feet then moved over to finish him off. Her first shot blasted his ear clean off his head. Part of his face had been melted. She put a final shot in his head before returning to her course.
“One down. Where do I go next?”
“Keep going straight,” Griel said. “When you reach the T intersection, pause there and wait for my signal to take a left.”
Niva complied, pressing herself against the wall at the corridor. She took a moment to draw several deep breaths, her brow with the sleeve of her jacket. It was hot in the base, enough so that all the running made her particularly miserable. The soldiers seemed to like it well enough. Their homeworld happened to be particularly warm so it made sense.
Makes sense why they’re always so escalated, Niva thought. They’re always too hot.
“Okay, the guards are investigating what you did so you’ve got a good… ninety seconds to buy some distance. Get moving again. When you can take a right, do so and head straight down the hall.”
Niva rushed out, finding the first door. It was open before she arrived. Checking the room, she cleared the space before moving on. Another fifty yards led her to another door, this one closed… and it didn’t open as she drew near. She glanced over her shoulder. No one seemed to be on their way but if they happened down, she’d be in a dead end.
“I’m at a door, Griel,” Niva said. “It won’t open for me. Tell me I didn’t take a wrong turn somehow.”
“This is on us. I thought we could get it open before you arrived but it’s being a pain. Restricted area has heightened security.”
“Wait. Why in the name of all the Divines did you attach to a restricted area?”
“Fewer guards, believe it or not. I guess they figure no one would be stupid enough to try to get in there with all the soldiers protecting the outer areas. You know how that is. The Kahls like…”
“Just… stop. Sincerely.” Niva shook her head, aiming the weapon down the hall. “I don’t suppose there’s another path to take?”
“They all lead to more doors like that one. Relax. We’ve almost got it!”
Relax, he says. Niva figured he needed to go on a couple solo missions to find out how calming they are, how easy it is to enjoy the moment while running for one’s life. She couldn’t complain too much given the fact she volunteered but at the same time, he could at least learn to watch his vocabulary. Maybe he’s genuinely stressed.
Griel never showed those kinds of emotions. He played everything close to the chest. She often wondered if his bravado wasn’t a cover for nerves. Most of his quips seemed like compensation but she couldn’t say for sure. His reputation called him out as arrogant but extremely capable.
One fed the other and he didn’t mind letting others know about his many successes when the time and place called for such bragging.
“Um… you might have a problem,” Griel said. “I think the guards have figured out where you are.”
“Not through scans,” Niva
