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Continuation from Captive

"Tara," Nat asks, "Anything on Nadia's whereabouts?"
"Spaceport in NK says she disappeared from lidar* within 2 klicks of their location."
"What direction, relative?"
"They don't know." I tell the Captain.
"They don't know?" she asks, incredulous. "That shouldn't be possible."
"Which tells us that she is there." She meaning the Empyrean One. "How do you want to handle this?"
"I don't like this but we have to find Nadia fast," I say, grimacing. "I hate the idea of splitting us up, but since we don't have coordinates, we'll need to each take a compass point and try to find her."
"Threadmancing?"
"If I use that now, I may not have it for the upcoming battle. I think it's realistic to assume there will be a battle. Also, you're the XO now."
"Copy that," I say. "You want the others?"
"Absolutely," she answers. "We need to save Nadia."

* * *

"Everyone check in," I order over the comms. My role as XO.
Starting at 12 o'clock relative (North), Nat checks in, followed by Nyssa at 2, Meg at 4, me at 6, Dru at 8 (I blow her a kiss), and Monica at 10. Yes, we're using comms but tight-beam and less susceptible to detection than mindspeaking. Doubtful we could hide that from the Empyrean One.
I still don't like this op. Seems like it's an obvious ploy to separate us but the Captain wanted to know if there were better alternatives. We have to play the cards we're dealt, she had said, even if it's a 7 high. Anyway, there were no alternate suggestions. So we agreed with the card shark** though no one was happy about it. But I'm about to confirm, as XO, that everyone has checked in. When a blast of static sounds through our comms. Around 120 decibels. Like our brains are fried and we can't hear. Mindspeak? That's the Captain's call and -
I can't hear it - or anything - but I feel the explosion.. or is it an implosion and I'm sucked into...a pit. A bottomless pit. Like I was pulled in by a vacuum cleaner. Keisha's doing, undoubtedly. And not just any pit, but a fiery pit. Tumbling end over end. I can't stabilize or do anything about the temperature. Which is rapidly rising. 68 degrees***. Five minutes of this.
Descent into Hell.
Still psiblocked so I'm helpless and I'm dehydrated and dizzy and I'm trying to stay conscious and -

*24th century radar technology using both sound and EM wavelength radiation
** Natalie is a skilled casino class card counter and player.
*** Celsius. Of course.

Any and all proceeds (after DeviantArt takes its cut) will go to the National Women's Law Center.
The National Women's Law Center fights for gender justice—in the courts, in public policy, and in our society—working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls. They use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us—especially women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families. For 50 years, they have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women.
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Description
Continuation from Captive

"Tara," Nat asks, "Anything on Nadia's whereabouts?"
"Spaceport in NK says she disappeared from lidar* within 2 klicks of their location."
"What direction, relative?"
"They don't know." I tell the Captain.
"They don't know?" she asks, incredulous. "That shouldn't be possible."
"Which tells us that she is there." She meaning the Empyrean One. "How do you want to handle this?"
"I don't like this but we have to find Nadia fast," I say, grimacing. "I hate the idea of splitting us up, but since we don't have coordinates, we'll need to each take a compass point and try to find her."
"Threadmancing?"
"If I use that now, I may not have it for the upcoming battle. I think it's realistic to assume there will be a battle. Also, you're the XO now."
"Copy that," I say. "You want the others?"
"Absolutely," she answers. "We need to save Nadia."

* * *

"Everyone check in," I order over the comms. My role as XO.
Starting at 12 o'clock relative (North), Nat checks in, followed by Nyssa at 2, Meg at 4, me at 6, Dru at 8 (I blow her a kiss), and Monica at 10. Yes, we're using comms but tight-beam and less susceptible to detection than mindspeaking. Doubtful we could hide that from the Empyrean One.
I still don't like this op. Seems like it's an obvious ploy to separate us but the Captain wanted to know if there were better alternatives. We have to play the cards we're dealt, she had said, even if it's a 7 high. Anyway, there were no alternate suggestions. So we agreed with the card shark** though no one was happy about it. But I'm about to confirm, as XO, that everyone has checked in. When a blast of static sounds through our comms. Around 120 decibels. Like our brains are fried and we can't hear. Mindspeak? That's the Captain's call and -
I can't hear it - or anything - but I feel the explosion.. or is it an implosion and I'm sucked into...a pit. A bottomless pit. Like I was pulled in by a vacuum cleaner. Keisha's doing, undoubtedly. And not just any pit, but a fiery pit. Tumbling end over end. I can't stabilize or do anything about the temperature. Which is rapidly rising. 68 degrees***. Five minutes of this.
Descent into Hell.
Still psiblocked so I'm helpless and I'm dehydrated and dizzy and I'm trying to stay conscious and -

*24th century radar technology using both sound and EM wavelength radiation
** Natalie is a skilled casino class card counter and player.
*** Celsius. Of course.

Any and all proceeds (after DeviantArt takes its cut) will go to the National Women's Law Center.
The National Women's Law Center fights for gender justice—in the courts, in public policy, and in our society—working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls. They use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us—especially women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families. For 50 years, they have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women.
You may Resell this Adoptable
Purchase gives full size image
1024 x 1024 without DA watermark