"Get up, Lynx!"
Awake, Jessica gaped up at Raptor, who was staring from beneath the shelter of a blank sky. Looking down, she noticed a clay-like substance plastered over her hip wound. Whatever it was, it stopped the bleeding. He had administered first-aid while she dreamt, which brought back a reality of debts she would not soon forget. "Thanks?" she mumbled, half lucid.
Raptor brushed off her response. "Now's the worst time to be sleeping!"
Jessica awkwardly turned her neck and laid eyes on Beelz, who was crouched beside David. The redhead held his hand, fingers on his pulse. She then stood tall and somber with her bloodied face and sundered gear, turning eyes of solemn acquiescence on Jessica. Dissent's leader looked as war-torn as their surroundings, yet alive.
"You ready?"
"Why you looking at me?" Jessica said, regaining her vitality.
"Your boots." Beelz pointed. "You're our ticket off this place, which is set to blow in about a minute. Midnight."
Offering his hand, Raptor helped Jessica to her feet. "Right," she exhaled, walking to the ledge. She leaned forward and looked down at the dark street. "Are you guys ready?" she gulped. When she turned, Raptor was holding a backpack to her face. "What is this, more intel?"
"A gift," he assured.
"The explosion will give us a window to avoid Asgard," said Beelz, stepping close. "Now's the time."
Jessica strapped the backpack on, then offered her hand. "Come with me if you want to live, I guess." Beelz grabbed hold of Jessica, Raptor grabbed hold of Beelz, and each of them blew anxiety with a step on the ledge. "On my count," she started. "One.
"Two.
"Now!"
They jumped.
Strained from her leg to her shoulder muscles, Jessica gnashed her teeth together as she flexed to facilitate a controlled fall. The boots' propulsion delayed, however, and the three of them got stuck in freefall for a second—a horrific and weightless second. Jessica held on, and Beelz had an easier time gripping Raptor's arm than Jessica did hers. Their efforts intensified whenever the boots spurted upward then suddenly dropped, testing the limits of their grip. Still, against the wind and gravity, they managed. They managed to descend over the mob of armed Azareans and vehicles waiting just outside the Goliath's main entrance. But before they landed, the shockwave came.
A bountiful series of explosions rocked the uppermost levels of Goliath Headquarters, impacting those below. In no time, the levels collapsed through a domino effect. Floors fell in sequence, a fact utterly apparent by the loud, rancorous sound of smashing steel on steel. Thus, every Azarean in the vicinity raced from ground zero. The vast majority were too late, however.
Raptor then Beelz and then Jessica landed on a hard rooftop nearby, rolling. They fell and quickly recovered, to stand on the fringe of the forming dust cloud, treated to an up-close and personal view of the toppling superstructure: Goliath's destruction.
Just as Jessica predicted, it came straight down. Her prediction did not suppress the awe she felt in witnessing the vertical cascade and resulting cloud of smoke that billowed in all directions. It devoured the building on which they stood, and so she lifted her elbows to brace for the whirlwind.
"Goliath is finally gone! It's happened," Beelz exhaled, laboring to catch her breath. "I can hardly believe it."
"It had to happen!" Jessica said, head falling. "I wish I could say it was over."
"Don't underestimate this," said Raptor. "We did what we had to. We started something irreversible. Goliath will try to recover from this. Try. Public opinion, however, is a beast they can't conquer."
Riveted in thought, Jessica tried to peer past the dust storm. Darkness had indeed come, but not to claim her. It environed and made a shell that would carry her to uncertainty. A low hum followed the ball of dust, the volume of which increased before a bright spotlight beamed on the three of them. Apparently, the three of them had finally been cornered. "Another second would have been nice," Jessica moaned.
"Hey, nerd!"
Looking back, she saw the airship with Valerie and Shannon in the cabin.
"We found you!"
An epic musical began playing in her ears, a crescendo of phantom bells. Friends that answered imaginary beckons made for the best friends. By now, she swore they shared a psychic call-and-response. She answered the call and ran to the airship, alongside Raptor and Beelz.
"Come on! Come on!" Valerie waved.
The crew eagerly helped Jess, Beelz, and Raptor rush into the cabin, and as soon as they were safely situated inside, Valerie signaled the pilot. "Go!"
The ship roared into the night sky, leaving smoke and rubble to burden several blocks of the city. Jessica and Valerie embraced then let go long enough for Shannon to pop forward and forcefully pull Jessica into a hug. "Jackson!" she invoked. "You're too insane for your own damn good!"
I know why I'm still alive.
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Over the buildings, past the outskirts—away from the destruction, the lights, and the revelations—Jessica, her friends and her companions of hardship made their getaway, unsure if they'd see the city of New Sumer ever again.
ns 15.158.61.48da2
