there's more to Katsuro's death?"
Fuyuko grasped Angie's hands. "I'm sure of it. I wouldn't be here otherwise."
Angie stared into her eyes, perhaps searching to see if she meant what she said. Finally, she nodded. "Ok, I'm in."
7
First Day Jitters
Gwynn awoke from a dreamless sleep. He reached to his chest and felt the amulet Alice gave him. Had it really kept the bad dreams away, or was it just the power of suggestion? Still, given his current roommates—Jason, Caelum and Brandt—would never let him live down crying out in his sleep, he was thankful for the reprieve.
They occupied a number of trailers outside the quarantine zone established by the military and local state troopers.
"Since we have no idea what currency will be used," Njord explained upon their arrival the evening before, "all our supplies and housing arrangements will be handled outside of town on our side of the dimensional fence. So, if you think you'll need snacks, make sure you pack ahead of time. Also, each of your teams is being assigned a vehicle. These have been outfitted with transmitters that should create a small cellular network, so we'll be able to communicate. The transmitters have about a three kilometre range, so with us spread throughout the city, our coverage should be decent. But remember, if anything happens to a vehicle, it will cause a decrease in our coverage net, so treat them with care." Njord eyed Brandt directly.
"What?" Brandt blurted. "I smashed one car, one time, and now I have a reputation? Bullshit."
"In terms of supplies, that goes for gas as well. Make sure you have a full tank each day before heading into town."
Natalie raised her hand. When Njord nodded toward her, she said, "I still don't understand why we're here. Why didn't they send in one of the brainiac teams?"
"Speak for yourself," Caelum said. "I happen to count myself as being intelligent enough to carry out this mission."
It struck Gwynn everyone seemed more at ease without Woten in the room. He doubted any of these conversations would've taken place in Suture.
"Look," Natalie continued, "I'm not saying we're dumb. Well, maybe not all of us…" She looked at Brandt.
"Man, why is everyone shitting on me today?" Brandt said. Caelum gave him a reassuring pat on the back.
"…I'm just saying we're usually the combat team. Why send us in for a pure recon mission?"
Some others nodded their agreement.
"Were you in that cornfield? Because when I was there, I watched some guy who was normal and harmless turn into a Curse in a matter of seconds. While this may not be a combat mission right off the hop, it could become one at any moment. The idea here is to reduce the likelihood of casualties. Hence send in those who can handle a fight right from the start. Anyone else have some doubts they'd like to express?" Njord asked.
"Not doubts, sir," Jason said. "Just wondering, with us split up, what's the procedure if we get into trouble?"
Njord pointed at Jason with a smile. "Now there's an excellent question, and the point I was about to address next." Njord held up his arm, displaying the watch/tether. "On the side of the tether, there are two buttons. If you press them simultaneously they will send a distress to all of our watches, which will vibrate and the face will turn red. The tethers are also tied into a GPS that will triangulate based on our ad-hoc cell network to indicate the location of the member in distress. It won't be precise, but it'll get us close. Best thing to do if you get into trouble, try to make it close to your vehicle. If you're right next to it, the GPS will pinpoint you much easier. That said, under no condition should you attempt to Fold out. Research Department says you'll hit a dimensional wall and probably have your atoms scattered." He surveyed their expressions for understanding. Their grim looks satisfied him. "Anything else?"
No one volunteered anything, so Njord assigned the bunking arrangements and everyone grabbed
Fuyuko grasped Angie's hands. "I'm sure of it. I wouldn't be here otherwise."
Angie stared into her eyes, perhaps searching to see if she meant what she said. Finally, she nodded. "Ok, I'm in."
7
First Day Jitters
Gwynn awoke from a dreamless sleep. He reached to his chest and felt the amulet Alice gave him. Had it really kept the bad dreams away, or was it just the power of suggestion? Still, given his current roommates—Jason, Caelum and Brandt—would never let him live down crying out in his sleep, he was thankful for the reprieve.
They occupied a number of trailers outside the quarantine zone established by the military and local state troopers.
"Since we have no idea what currency will be used," Njord explained upon their arrival the evening before, "all our supplies and housing arrangements will be handled outside of town on our side of the dimensional fence. So, if you think you'll need snacks, make sure you pack ahead of time. Also, each of your teams is being assigned a vehicle. These have been outfitted with transmitters that should create a small cellular network, so we'll be able to communicate. The transmitters have about a three kilometre range, so with us spread throughout the city, our coverage should be decent. But remember, if anything happens to a vehicle, it will cause a decrease in our coverage net, so treat them with care." Njord eyed Brandt directly.
"What?" Brandt blurted. "I smashed one car, one time, and now I have a reputation? Bullshit."
"In terms of supplies, that goes for gas as well. Make sure you have a full tank each day before heading into town."
Natalie raised her hand. When Njord nodded toward her, she said, "I still don't understand why we're here. Why didn't they send in one of the brainiac teams?"
"Speak for yourself," Caelum said. "I happen to count myself as being intelligent enough to carry out this mission."
It struck Gwynn everyone seemed more at ease without Woten in the room. He doubted any of these conversations would've taken place in Suture.
"Look," Natalie continued, "I'm not saying we're dumb. Well, maybe not all of us…" She looked at Brandt.
"Man, why is everyone shitting on me today?" Brandt said. Caelum gave him a reassuring pat on the back.
"…I'm just saying we're usually the combat team. Why send us in for a pure recon mission?"
Some others nodded their agreement.
"Were you in that cornfield? Because when I was there, I watched some guy who was normal and harmless turn into a Curse in a matter of seconds. While this may not be a combat mission right off the hop, it could become one at any moment. The idea here is to reduce the likelihood of casualties. Hence send in those who can handle a fight right from the start. Anyone else have some doubts they'd like to express?" Njord asked.
"Not doubts, sir," Jason said. "Just wondering, with us split up, what's the procedure if we get into trouble?"
Njord pointed at Jason with a smile. "Now there's an excellent question, and the point I was about to address next." Njord held up his arm, displaying the watch/tether. "On the side of the tether, there are two buttons. If you press them simultaneously they will send a distress to all of our watches, which will vibrate and the face will turn red. The tethers are also tied into a GPS that will triangulate based on our ad-hoc cell network to indicate the location of the member in distress. It won't be precise, but it'll get us close. Best thing to do if you get into trouble, try to make it close to your vehicle. If you're right next to it, the GPS will pinpoint you much easier. That said, under no condition should you attempt to Fold out. Research Department says you'll hit a dimensional wall and probably have your atoms scattered." He surveyed their expressions for understanding. Their grim looks satisfied him. "Anything else?"
No one volunteered anything, so Njord assigned the bunking arrangements and everyone grabbed
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