10-19-2015, 08:59 AM
As they made their way inside, the smell of the tunnels brought back a flood of memories from what seemed a lifetime ago. Thankfully, despite the fact that it was warmer down here, it was still cold enough that the smell of rot was minimal.
He smiled at Vega's quip. "Nah. Dark doesn't bother me."
Even as he said it, though, he started to feel uncomfortable.
Still the feel of the immense surface above them seemed to look the moment they had made it only a short distance. He felt that queezy feeling again in his stomach. He wasn't sure where it came from but he could almost feel the weight of the world above him pressing down. Just a crack would be all that was necessary to trap them down here.
He stifled the feeling of panic that wanted to rise even as he felt the familiar warmth of the power over his shoulder. As he had so many times, he seized that power and forced it under his control. The act seemed to drive away the panic that had been forming.
It was strange to feel that you were sledding down an impossible steep mountain at the very same time as you were walking casually down, well tunnels in this case. At the thought of sleds he felt a phantom twinge in his leg.
Phantom was the right word for that twinge. Whatever the preacher had done, all his injuries had been healed, including that nasty gash he had received the last time he was down here. Not for the first time, he ground his teeth in frustration at the stupidity of the situation. He couldn't seize the power unless he was panicky or afraid. But that only helped when you were on the defense and meant that his reaction time would always be slower. There had to be a way. He still felt some resentment and disappointment at the preacher. He hadn't even tried. Maybe he couldn't have taught him, but he could have tried.
And now they were tracking Volodin down, Ivan no better prepared or trained for a second round.
Vega's question seemed to track with his own mind. He thought about it for a moment. At least he had the power with him. And Vega and his gun. He'd watched the recordings over and over again and it had been clear the guy had been injured as he got away. He still didn't quite understand why or where that water had come from. In any case, his only hope was that the guy was still hurt and weaker for it.
Dorain's question forced him to think though. "You ever get into a fight with three guys? Having to respond and defend against multiple hands and feet? That's how it was. I could see him, could see what he was doing. But his power....it was like it was a second pair of fists. Except that where they struck there was fire or cuts or explosions. People died."
He ground his teeth to dispel the momentary sense of failure and loss that threatened to overwhelm him. That had been his fault. Determination and anger was like a rock hard ball of fire in his stomach and burned away any remaining sense of fear and hesitance. "I'm not gonna let him get away this time."
He smiled at Vega's quip. "Nah. Dark doesn't bother me."
Even as he said it, though, he started to feel uncomfortable.
Still the feel of the immense surface above them seemed to look the moment they had made it only a short distance. He felt that queezy feeling again in his stomach. He wasn't sure where it came from but he could almost feel the weight of the world above him pressing down. Just a crack would be all that was necessary to trap them down here.
He stifled the feeling of panic that wanted to rise even as he felt the familiar warmth of the power over his shoulder. As he had so many times, he seized that power and forced it under his control. The act seemed to drive away the panic that had been forming.
It was strange to feel that you were sledding down an impossible steep mountain at the very same time as you were walking casually down, well tunnels in this case. At the thought of sleds he felt a phantom twinge in his leg.
Phantom was the right word for that twinge. Whatever the preacher had done, all his injuries had been healed, including that nasty gash he had received the last time he was down here. Not for the first time, he ground his teeth in frustration at the stupidity of the situation. He couldn't seize the power unless he was panicky or afraid. But that only helped when you were on the defense and meant that his reaction time would always be slower. There had to be a way. He still felt some resentment and disappointment at the preacher. He hadn't even tried. Maybe he couldn't have taught him, but he could have tried.
And now they were tracking Volodin down, Ivan no better prepared or trained for a second round.
Vega's question seemed to track with his own mind. He thought about it for a moment. At least he had the power with him. And Vega and his gun. He'd watched the recordings over and over again and it had been clear the guy had been injured as he got away. He still didn't quite understand why or where that water had come from. In any case, his only hope was that the guy was still hurt and weaker for it.
Dorain's question forced him to think though. "You ever get into a fight with three guys? Having to respond and defend against multiple hands and feet? That's how it was. I could see him, could see what he was doing. But his power....it was like it was a second pair of fists. Except that where they struck there was fire or cuts or explosions. People died."
He ground his teeth to dispel the momentary sense of failure and loss that threatened to overwhelm him. That had been his fault. Determination and anger was like a rock hard ball of fire in his stomach and burned away any remaining sense of fear and hesitance. "I'm not gonna let him get away this time."