Mayday Mayday (L 1.10)

Jackdaw hops to it, busting through another door and making noises about the dead bodies inside as he busts out a window and throws out his line. Rappeling is the way to go, but it is going to be Acting Under Fire, with the fire being the clock of the plane wreckage falling on the other side of the building. Do you take down someone with you, Litch?

I don't argue with Merlin when he orders me to go third. Arguing would waste time and I trust his knowledge. Busting in and out of trouble is his specialty. With Shrike taking the girl, I reach my arms out to her mother. I have a feeling Janelle wouldn't budge until her charges are both safe. And...arguing is a waste of time. "Hold on tight, miss. We're going to get you out of here and back to safety in no time." I reassure.

Moving with purpose, your Talons hop to Merlin's orders. Three Talons start making their way down the ropes with Paisley and Parker clinging to them. Janelle insists on waiting up top and letting others go. There's an explosion from the plane and the entire building shakes, which lights a fire under Jackdaw and he ends up dropping the last few floors into the water and swimming to his ski.

Plover brings around one of the Reaver boats, which is filthy, but much bigger, and the plane folks don't look like they could handle much more. You head down next with Kestrel and Janelle racing down on either side of you. Merlin, Javan, and the rest come down after you, not even waiting for you to finish rappelling because the building continues to undulate and shake with the plane crashing down two more floors. The fuel spreads the fire and you swear you hear inhuman screams coming from the building as the plants inside burn.

Finally, you're all down and escaping the firey inferno of The Ren as it shudders and burns, sending glass and detritus into the watery depths around it.

Where do you head?

The water near the base of the tower shivers, as the tower itself sloughs away from the support frames. I use my body to shelter Paisley from the raining glass and light debris. The heavier stuff with begin to fall soon. "Plover!" I shout over the rumble of the boat's engine and the commotion of the rappelling Talons. "Take us home!" I trust the others who are still descending to salvage as many of our skis as they can. "Don't be stupid." I tell them before we depart. "We can search for them after or purchase replacements. You all are irreplaceable. Meet us back at the Roost!"

I'm not taking these women home to the tower battered and bruised. I have a doctor at the Roost who can see to their injuries, as well as our own. For all I know, based on the little that Edmund revealed to us, Princy is in trouble and sent his wife and daughter away to safety. I'm not taking them back until I know it's safe for them to return...and until I can guarantee we are compensated for the rescue. Plus, I think Edmund would want to see them.

End Scene