Servo Nos

[Shadow 0]

Servo Nos

A Joint Log by Bryan Socom and Shadow

 

Socom entered the tunnel, making his way slowly towards the people who were trapped in a cave that had been made by debris falling over a drainage ditch.

 

Shadow followed Socom but kept his distance. He knew the biologicals' superstitions, especially their lack of understanding concerning the unseen universe, and he did not want to frighten them. Their lifesigns told him they had endured enough in the past few days and a sudden shock could result in what the Healers called "a heart attack."

 

Socom had reached the area where the group was trapped. "Can you hear me?" he asked.

 

He got a reply. "Yes. Who are you?"

 

"Bryan Socom. I am from the USS Agincourt. How many people are hurt?"

 

"Most of us. How did you find us?"

 

Socom looked around for Shadow, making sure he was behind him. "We found your biosigns and saw a large number of them. Enough chit-chat, we need to get you some help." By this time Socom had entered their area of the ditch.

 

Shadow followed closely and assumed as solid a figure as possible but remained away from the biologicals for fear of damaging them. To his left he sensed a considerable pile of material, probably the supplies beamed from Agincourt into the small area he indicated several hours before. Labels of MRE, Drugs, and Potable Water poked out from the pile. With some containers intact and others torn open, it was evident that those trapped had made good use of it.

 

Using his best voice, the one he reserved for the Odile, the Socom, and others who were used to more intricate vocalized language, Shadow asked, "How may we assist you?" He hoped his voice or his presence did not frighten anyone, and from their reaction he judged that it did not.

 

A burly man to Shadow's left grunted. "You're kidding, right? Just get us outa here, ok?” He paused, as though regretting his comment. “Hey," the man continued as though in apology, "don't get me wrong. Before you came along we thought this would be our grave. So, whatever you can do to get us out." He seemed to be struggling to stand, and not making much progress.

 

Socom rushed to the man's side, helping him up. "Give us a minute or two and we will begin getting you all out of here."

 

As much as he wanted to assist, Shadow hung back. Touching any of them could result in an energy discharge, and that he would not risk. Instead of reaching for the man, he braced himself in a partial force field against some debris that had not been removed. He had noticed it shift, probably imperceptible to the humans, but evident to his heightened senses. As he pushed against the wall he said to Socom, "Perhaps we should ask for force field generators to shore up the walls so they do not crumble."

 

Socom turned his head toward Shadow; the man leaned against the wall. "Could you make the call for them?"

 

In the space of a nanosecond Shadow had placed an APB for force field generators. Several ships responded, all with the same answer: resources depleted.

 

Shadow did his best to shore up the areas that seemed most likely to collapse while he still maintained his humanoid form. The effort drained him, but not as much as he had supposed it would. As he watched Socom work on some of the injured, pulling supplies from the pile sent from Agincourt, Shadow held the field intact. Those who could began to work their way down the cleared tunnel under their own power. Others waited for help that, Shadow hoped, would soon be on the way.

 

Ten minutes later and only 18 people had made it out. There wasn't much Socom could do without another person to help, and he wasn't sure Shadow would do. He was busy tending to a woman, trying to think of ways to get them out. The people outside were too battered to help.

 

Shadow's energy waned, yet he struggled to keep his form and the force field intact. He soon realized, however, that one or the other would have to go. As one by one the survivors filed past him, he waited for an opportune moment to shift forms, but his wait was long in coming. Finally, when what appeared to him to be a young girl slipped and had to be helped by those around her, Shadow shifted into an invisible force field, hoping no one would notice that he had left.

 

With the change in form, renewed energy came to him, yet he realized he would have to find a power source soon. If this situation continued much longer he wouldn’t have the energy to hold back the wall of debris. With power turned off throughout San Francisco, he sensed no supply close enough for his own use. He was at a loss, fighting panic. Should he call the vessel with which the Odile was now working? Should he call the ships for more assistance? If he did, he was sure he would receive the same reply: resources depleted.

 

Finally he remembered.

 

Mustering all the energy he could, hoping someone - anyone - would pick up the message, he sent out a telepathic call. {{Tag those who remain. The wall is falling. It will not hold much longer.}}

 

Socom had just finished patching a lady's leg. He stood up, about to check on the next person, but he seemed to hear something. He looked around and asked the lady, "Did you say something?"

 

"No," was her answer. He looked toward the place Shadow last was, but he wasn't there. He began walking over that way and in a low mumble he asked, "Shadow, where are you?"

 

{{I hold back the wall. I am weak. Us the transport tags. Quickly.}} Shadow hoped he was using the correct terms. The transport tags were the tags he used to transport casualties from the debris. He hoped the Socom would remember them and tag the remaining survivors before the wall caved in.

 

Not being a full telepath, Socom was unsure what Shadow was trying to say, although what parts he did get did not sound good. He started back toward the remaining group, now numbering around 25. He had started helping an old man when it hit him. Socom pulled what remaining tags he had began tagging the remaining people. He had only 22 tags; he had given the rest to Shadow. He was trying to see who was hurt the most and tagging them. In no time he ran out. He was left with three people and they had only minutes to get out.

 

Shadow hoped the Socom would find the bag of tags he brought with him and dropped nearby. He could see that the Socom had no more left, nor did Shadow have strength to keep the force field in place. With the last of his strength he called out, {{On the floor beside you. Tag them. You beam now also. GO!}} He strained to keep the force field intact.

 

Socom looked to his side almost unconsciously. He bent over and picked up the bag, trying frantically to get it open. It took a few seconds and the remaining three had been tagged and disappeared. Socom was the only one left. He turned and ran for the exit in a full sprint…

 

All his energy depleted, as soon as he believed Socom was clear of the wall Shadow dissipated into the ether, completely drained.

 

The wall gave a groan and began to collapse.

 

Socom had almost made it out. He knew Shadow couldn't hold on much longer. He was only 15 feet away. In the blink of an eye the wall had collapsed, he was on the ground, and his left leg was trapped underneath the drainage ditch wall. The bag of tags had flown out of his reach, and no matter how hard Socom tried, he could never quite make it to one of tags on the ground.

 

Now he was trapped.