Thrive in Catastrophe Chapter 92

" Request approved."

Amid the chaos, General Xia looks at the holographic screen from his office at the torture force.

"This day has finally arrived."

A middle aged man in a gray trench coat walked into the hall of the torture force, Behind him were several killers in combat uniforms. The man's lips are stretched into a gentle smile and a fully armed solider held a condensation gun in front of him.

The man moved to the side and the a.s.sa.s.sin behind him rushed forward. The killer did not hesitate to take the full blast of the condensation gun. The next a.s.sa.s.sin did not allow another shot before he took the soldier down. The soldier fell back into a pool of blood and looked up at the man who stood over him with the stance of a G.o.d. His smile was innocuous and sentimental.

"You...who...who?"

"Valentin Sheehan."

Valentin lifted his legs and stomped over his body to continue forward toward a holding cell.

The woman held in the cell looked up at the man in shock.

"Dear...don't look at me like that. You used to be my most beloved daughter, Clair. As long as you tell me where Jane is, I will take you out of here."

Fear spread through Claire's eyes, emotion clouded her gaze, but ultimately she shook her head.

"Like you, I don't know what Jane is thinking." Claire squeezed out a tight smile as her shoulders shook in fear.

"Ah. It seems my children have all grown up--Wanting to leave home and pursue their own freedom. But the world is a terrifying place, not nearly as wondrous as you believe." Valentin fingers swept over Claire's cheek.

"You can enter my mind and read my memories. " Clair attempted to lean away from his touch but Valentin grabbed ahold of her head.

"Actually if I could get to Xiao Yan then my plan would be perfect, but Xiao Yan has the help of the entire armed forces. You are different...Jane...that kid... he doesn't look it-he acts as though he doesn't care about anything, but in fact he feels quite deeply. If someone has expectations of him, he will think of them as his responsibility. Because of this he lives a very tired existence, never able to gain true freedom...and you are one of his responisbilites." Valentin grabbed a blade from one of his killers and cleanly severed Claire's legs above the t.i.tanium restraints.

"Ahhh." Claire screamed horribly as her blood poured out, forming a bright blooming pool of red along the ground.

Valentin stilled and then leaned to press a finger against her nose. "This is your punishment. I know that you have been following Jane. Now it is time to visit the famous Major General."

Valentin steely gaze sliced through the hall with laser focus. He reached Xia's office. The orchestra music seeped through the hall, and the scent of coffee saturated the air. The General was sitting serenely at his desk, his head tilted slightly toward Valentin.

"Welcome to the torture force."

"You are the first person in the Shire to extend a welcome to me. I have decided to treat your manners in kind. I hope we can be friends General Xia." Valentin settled in a chair in front of Xia's desk. He looked directly at the torture forces director.

"Are you inviting me to join the Surge?" Xia's smile is calm, no trace of fear twists his expression.

"I admire you but your ability is too great, I am afraid that I have to..."

Valentin suddenly reached up and grabbed Xia's neck. At that moment the man dissolved completely. Valentin blinked, quickly realizing that the man in front of him had merely been a holographic image.

He roughly swept his hand through the image and disturbed the form of Xia. It was clear that General Xia had evacuated his office through a refuge tunnel and left the torture force.

"It is rare for me to be deceived. Ah forget it. I have already achieved my goal." Valentin raised his wrist and revealed an ominous expression. "Dear Xiao Yan. Our last confrontation made me really admire that mind of yours. This is a sincere and final request for you to join me.'

Valentin image appeared on Xiao's terminal. This guy had actually invaded his lab.

Xiao Yan, who was trapped in his research room, raised his lips in a helpless smile. "Perhaps you are a G.o.d. But I will not be one of your angels."

Valentin seemed to expect this answer. 'You refuse too early child. I will remember your answer. Don't die here."

"Don't die here? What is this guy talking about?" Lauren raised his brows in confusion.

Suddenly a deafening explosion rocked the lab and everyone instinctively covered their ears.

Alarms blare endlessly through the air..

"That b.a.s.t.a.r.d! He is going to blow up the academy." Ritz shouted.

"If that is the case, we must leave now!"

Xiao Yan looked over at Heine. They had no idea of the chaos outside. Suddenly Winn's voice rang through Heine's contact.

"Boss! You have to evacuate everyone! Valentin has spread particle bombs all through the Academy, the special missions and the presidential palace."

"what--"

The news shocked everyone.

Particle bombs were roughly the same size as gravel. They adhere to metallic surfaces and react with the metal resulting in an explosive energy release. The particle bomb is the one weakness of high density t.i.tanium. So far, the stability of the particle bomb was an issue faced by the Central Academy of Sciences. Today, Valentin has shown that he has achieved a stable final product.

"If it is a particle bomb, then the building won't last long, we have to get out of here." Loch's normally lazy expression was replaced with extreme vigilance.

"Let's go." Heine looked at Xiao Yan.

"If it was diffficult to get in here...how hard will it be to get out?"

The head researchers nervously discussed their options.

Everyone glanced over at the door with naked fear. A mutant zombie was hungrily pressing its face against the gla.s.s, attempting to slide the door open. Its bloodshot eyes and gnashing teeth spread across the gla.s.s leaving a noxious trail of saliva.

"Oh... G.o.d..." Ritz pressed his hands to his head. "I'm not sure I can go through another..."
Xiao Yan was silent. He moved to one of the storage cabinets and pulled out vials of medicine. Then he dragged the injection gun out and calmly looked at his colleagues.

"This is Sharon-3. My current data shows that the new formula has long term to permanent effects. However the virus is constantly mutating and its effect will depend on how your body adapts to it."

His main purpose in making it back to his lab had been to grab the Sharon samples.

He had barely finished speaking with Ritz grabbed the injection gun from his hand. "The consequences be d.a.m.ned."

Xiao had been worried that everyone would be reluctant to take the serum during such an urgent moment. Ritz had quelled the other's concerns with his actions. Xiao looked over at him gratefully and Ritz just shrugged his shoulders in indifference.

Suddenly the door slid open and everyone held their breath as the zombies rushed inside. Several of the researchers tightly squeezed their eyes closed only opening them as the zombies pushed past them. The dead numbly swayed haltingly, looking around aimlessly. One of the zombies stood directly in front of Lauren, its face mere inches from his. It screamed horrifically and his breath fanned over Lauren's skin. Lauren shook in nervousness, looking over its shoulder at Xiao Yan.

Xiao Yan was worried that the Sharon virus was not effective in Lauren.

But his worry was needless. Another explosion rocked the building from overhead and the zombies moved past Lauren.

"What are we still doing here. Let's move!' Ritz shouted.

Heine led the group out of the room and the remaining special forces cleared the way for the researchers. Xiao followed closely behind.

Being ignored by the zombies was a completely new experience for the researchers, and the blasts rocking the building added to the odd bleakness ad sense of urgency.

The explosions moved closer and they lost their balance. A large support beam fell and Xiao looked back at Ritz as the entire wall collapsed along the pa.s.sage. A series of short bursts rang loudly through the hall and the remaining walls and ceiling began to crumble around them.

"Don't stop!" Heine's voice was pitched low but the command penetrated through the noise and fear, stretching through the air and piercing through the panicked group.

Another support beam fell. The large piece of metal tipped over so fast that Xiao couldn't avoid it. He could only push Ritz to the side with one and hand and attempt to hold the metal up. The weight was far too heavy and the structure threatened to completely crush him. Xiao closed his eyes expecting the pain to sear through him as his strength was tapped. Suddenly the air moved quickly around him. He looked over to see that Heine was kneeling down and supporting the beam with both hands.

"Move fast!" Heine's muscles were tight and trembling, he was clearly injuring himself to hold the metal up.

Xiao grew silent and signaled for Ritz to move ahead.

They pushed forward through the building and the pa.s.sage behind them collapsed completely. There was only one direction they could move toward.

Ritz almost fell, and Loch grabbed him from behind .
"You are slow. You really should exercise!"

Ritz had no time to argue with him, he just focused on moving forward.

The pa.s.sage was warping and sloping downward. If they don't reach the exit ahead of the next blast, they will slide down under the rubble of the collapsed building.

Mark and Liv piloted the craft that met them at the exit. The hatch opened up and Win stretched his body out of the plane to pull them out one by one.

Heine was the first to arrive at the end of the pa.s.sage. Xiao was on his shoulder. Winn grabbed Xiao and threw him into the cabin.

"My orders are to make sure that you live. Anyone else is just a bonus."

Loch helped Ritz and pushed him up. Ritz stretched toward Loch, trying to reach him. Compared to his desperate flailing, Xiao was calm. He clasped Loch's hand and spoke sternly to Ritz. "Let go."

Before Ritz could process the words, Xiao had already pulled Loch inside. Loch fell forward on top of Ritz and the momentum slammed Ritz's head against the seat back, almost knocking him out.

Xiao and Heine worked together to pull people inside.

The pa.s.sage was rapidly deteriorating. Lauren watched as the major in front of him was helped by Heine. Then, as he moved forward, he lost his footing amid the crumbling pa.s.sage and fell.

"Lauren--" Xiao frantically stretched out his hand and almost jumped from the craft. Heine grabbed the door and pushed Xiao back into the cabin.

Lauren's eyes widened as the pa.s.sage broke open beneath him. His desperation soaked his eyes until they were bloodshot.

Suddenly a figure jumped out of the craft, hanging by a rope. Lauren closed his eyes waiting for death. The other figure angrily clenched his teeth and grabbed his arm. The force of his grip was enough to dislocate Lauren's wrist. As Lauren screamed, the pa.s.sage fell away and the craft moved upward. Lauren was rapidly pulled into the air.

"Ah--" The pain in his wrist made Lauren completely forget about his fear of death. His nerves frayed and burned along his injured wrist and arm.

Xiao Yan looked out from the cabin where Heine had pushed him and sighed in relief. "Thank G.o.d that Winn..."

With a cold yell Winn looked down at Lauren. "You aren't dead. What the h.e.l.l are you crying for?"

As Winn returned to the cabin with Lauren, Heine removed his arm that was restraining Xiao Yan. Xiao looked up at the cold expression on Heine's face. He had not noticed that Heine had almost broken his bones to prevent him from going after Lauren. This man would rather by hated by Xiao Yan than allow him to risk his life.

The craft dodged the debris falling from the dome and everyone stared numbly out the window as they exited the Shire.

Residents were fleeing helplessly as the support structures along the domed city fell like comets to the ground. The main commercial street was covered in smoke and ash from the t.i.tanium and the holographic screens lining the square were all destroyed. The luxury building along the shire were reduced to rubble; Xiao estimated that the control tower would be unable to maintain a terminal connection for more than three minutes. The central square was chaos as the people gathered helplessly. The armed forces, dispatched by the emergency refuge tunnels, were unable to accommodate all of the people. The residents desperately clamored along the streets as the Shire collapsed, hoping to escape. However, the military lacked enough craft to evacuate everyone. Even if they did, the residents would face hordes of hungry zombies looking for a delicious meal.

He looked over at the presidential palace. Distant explosions ripple through the air. The flag, representing their hope and freedom, was now buried beneath layers of rubble. The frightened people shouted...

"The president is dead."

Even the armed forces, busy carrying out their respective tasks, turned to look over at the demolished presidential palace.

As the dust settled, several aircraft moved out. Xiao Yan recognized the squadron. He sighed heavily. It was impossible for Ling to leave with the general and the president. As more t.i.tanium fell, Ling piloted the craft deftly to avoid the debris. His trajectory was every changing and each maneuver was frighteningly dangerous.

The sky, which had supported the dome for more than two hundred years, trembled and heaved. Its false blue hue was replaced by the cold grey t.i.tanium as if an illusion had peeled away, revealing the truth...

The residents looked up in fear awaiting the imminent final destruction of their home.

"If all thirty six support points break...then the Shire will completely collapse..." Ritz's voice trembled.

The Shire was a miracle of human architecture. Two hundred years ago the greatest minds had questioned the feasibility of such a huge underground city. Then the breakthrough of high density t.i.tanium made that dream a reality. Its load bearing ability, and resistance to corrosion, made it a suitable building material to establish the Shire. Ultra high density t.i.tanium was used to reinforce the thirty six support points of the Shire. The architects were confident that, unless the entire earth was to explode, the Shire could exist.

But today, that confidence was destroyed by Valentin Sheehan.

The aircraft transporting the president was empty, there were too many people seeking shelter in the town square to land.

The central square monument was the strongest of the 36 support points within the Shire, no one knew if it contained a particle bomb within it.

Heine's contact sounded with a message from the president.

"Colonel Burton, I don't have time for any nonsense during this emergency. As president of the Federal Republic of Shire, I order you to immediately transport the researchers to Shen Bing. The army is to escort you out of the Shire at all costs!"

His order was clear. The Shire was about to be destroyed and the president looked at the researchers as the last bit of hope remaining.

The entire cabin fell into a tense silence.

"Yes sir, President." Heine's voice was flat and steady as though he had already antic.i.p.ated the order.
"I am the president. Without Shire I would have no place. I must stay with my people. I am sorry, but your father has decided to stay behind as well." The president smiled and asked to speak with Xiao Yan.

Liv and Mark maneuvered the craft around the debris and moved into the only flight path out of the Shire.

"Xiao Yan... I wish you all the best."

Xiao had thought that the president would have hinted at his expectations of what Xiao could do. Today every poignant word from him is far removed from the rumors of the long winded silly president.

"Hey! You should send Ling's troops to the military chemical plant. There is over a ton of condensing agent there. If you spray the support points with the agent, the lowered temperature should reduce the activity of the particle bombs."

"I appreciate the advice. Still, you must leave immediately."

Contact was terminated.

Xiao Yan still wants to say something, Heine held his shoulder.

"He is the president, he will not give up on any possibility to save the people."

The aircraft took off and left Shire.

The president took a look at Admiral Sharif. "Did you Xiao Yan's words?"

"Understood." Admiral Sharif issued instructions to the armed forces.

At this time, Maya was glaring down the pa.s.sage at Major General Gordon, who was trying to

veer in a direction that was completely collapsing. The General moved the desperately moved the debris around and rifled through. He yelled for Ervel until his voice was hoa.r.s.e.

"Sir! You must leave now!"

"No -Ervel is still inside!" Major General Gordon would not give up.

" Major General -" Maya raised his hand and prepared to knock him out.

"If you do that, even if I survive, I will use my gun to blow my brains out." Gordon didn't even turn to speak, back is straight and stern, his posture screams with unshakable determination.

"Sir!" Maya's eyes bloomed red and his pupils shook. When they had attempted to evacuate the pa.s.sage had collapsed, blocking them from General Ervel. Now they do not have the time to sort throughthe debris to find him, not to mention there is no guarantee he is even still alive

"Did you not hear the orders of General Sharif? All armed forces must carry condensing agents to reduce the temperature of the particle bombs. Do you understand the order?"

" You are also a member of the armed forces!"

"My arm is stuck." Major General Gordon replied coldly, but Maya knew that his hand was perfectly fine.

"Sir, your current behavior is dereliction of duty!"
The explosions continued to rock the building. Although they are presently in the strongest portion of the structure, it won't be long before all exits are blocked.

"Listen, Maya, I am not irreplaceable. So do something more meaningful. There are always things that we must do in our lives. Just like at this moment, I can never leave Ervel. You staying here...you cannot die a meaningless death. Major,I order you to leave here and help other troops to transfer the condensing agent."

Maya clenched his fists, eventually he raised his hand and saluted General Gordon, before leaving with his subordinates.

Everything became quiet except for the sound of explosions and falling debris.

"Ervel, are you there? I know you are still there." Major General Gordon stretched his fingers out and reached desperately through the ruins.

He stayed that way until all exits were blocked and the lights went out. Finally he heard a faint voice.

"...why... don't...you... go..."

Ervel's voice was fragile and weak. Gordon lowered his head and peered in the direction of the sound to see blood pouring through the gaps in the fallen metal.

*****Some important news for our little Chinese BL  community. I had originally chosen this author in hopes that seeing such a large fan base would yield sequels and wider distribution. I a.s.sumed by the end of this, we could come together as encourage more work. I forget the reality here is very different from elsewhere. Current news from China indicates that some BL authors are at risk of jail time. One author (Tianyi) was already sentenced. That means that this author may be in danger of falling under p.o.r.nography laws as I am unsure if the author incarcerated was jailed due to the genre or the material (I have not read her work.) Anyway, I guess the takeaway is that until we know more about what is happening...it might not be wise to draw extra attention to the author. I am trying to find the story that Tianyi wrote to get a better idea of what is going on. If anyone has information--the story by Tianyi was called 'Occupy'. So far I can't find it, especially since news of it is clogging up the searches. If anyone has read it, or knows more about the current situation, please let me know what the deal is.

I am sorry that my work is slower and if the quality has gone down. It has been harder to get to a computer lately.

As always thank you for tipping, I really appreciate it (You have no idea....thank you so much...on more levels than you realize I am thankful).

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