Hawaii:Sessions:19910216:The Disastrous Wait
THE DISASTROUS WAIT
At 6:00 Rathbone checked with Whitetop. Rathbone stuck his head out of the Hole and determined that it was still hectic outside, with guards all over the place. At the 8:00 am check it was about the same. At 10:00 am Rathbone's alley was quiet. Jake had awakened now and he unlocked the door so Whitetop could look out. They were in a dead-end alley with two goblin guards standing with their backs to the alley. By 10:25 am each of the seven remaining team members were awake. Jake's Black Hole contained Jake, Whitetop, Jessica, and Kathy. Jason's Black Hole contained Jason, Cartwright, and Two-Leaf.
Since Two-Leaf insisted on going after her stuff but was not in any shape to move, Jason asked Cartwright if he could carry Two-Leaf. He said yes, so they modified a backpack to carry her. Jason then lent her his stunner (24 remaining charges) since her weapon had been lost. Jake and Jason got into a discussion concerning Black Hole security. They wondered how the security system worked when the anteroom was dumped. Whitetop went out, covered the goblins, and waited. Jake dumped the anteroom and had security systems on. The outside of the Hole did not change, and Whitetop stepped in with no problem. So they verified that only with the anteroom on did the security work.
At 11:00 am Cartwright stuck his head out at the bottom of the Hole. Unfortunately a dog chose that moment to relieve itself into the Black Hole all over him. After cleaning himself off, and with Two-Leaf firmly on his back, he stepped out. The alley was empty. He went and checked each end of the alley. There still seemed to be searches going on. At the end of the alley, only five yards from the Hole, he heard Diralli yelling at the guards. Then he saw her only fifty-five feet away. Seizing the opportunity, he unslung his Winchester and took aim at her. He then squeezed off two shots at her head, scoring a hit with each round. As guards' eyes started turning toward him, he sprinted for the Hole and hurried in. He informed Jason who informed the other Black Hole about what had happened. They all decided to hunker down a little longer. Jason told Cartwright to be ready in case they were ejected from the Black Hole. It was now about 11:05 am.
Just after Cartwright got to the kitchen table and took Two-Leaf off his back and put her on the table, they both popped out. Hearing the noise, Rathbone turned just in time to see three people pop in. He had drawn his blaster. He saw Trey, a new guy, and a collapsing Thomas Black. Rathbone holstered his blaster and yelled at the new guy to help him carry Black to the autodoc.
When the new guy started to panic, Rathbone called to Trey and they carried Black to the autodoc and placed him in it. Then while Trey was checking the readouts, Rathbone went back up to the front door, where he picked up the headset with the outside antenna and reported what had happened to the others. They told him that Cartwright had popped into their hole. This now made the split: Rathbone, Trey, Black, newbie; Jake, Jessica, Kathy, Cartwright, and Whitetop. The newbie during all this time was trying desperately to get out the front door. Rathbone tried to reason with him to no avail. Rathbone told him it was dangerous outside. The guy still insisted on getting out. Via the net, Whitetop suggested putting him in the simulator with an outdoor scene. When he still could not calm the guy down, Rathbone decided that was a good idea. He got the guy away from the door, then spoke the voice open commands. As he opened the door he heard a growl. He slammed the door shut. He then asked the guy what weapons he could use. The guy said M-16 and 9mm. Jason drew his 9mm and was about to give it to the guy when Jessica asked him if giving a gun to a panicked person was a good idea. Jason then retracted the gun even as the guy was reaching for it. Jason then began a sprint to the back of his Hole and his computer control console. As he took off he shouted the door close and lock command. As he passed Trey he briefly told her that the new guy was panicked.
The new guy grabbed up one of the living room chairs and began to beat on the door in an effort to open it. Jason reached his console and polled security to determine what was in his anteroom. It turned out to be just three dogs. Rathbone started back up toward his kitchen. Trey had left the autodoc to go to the front door to see if she could calm the new guy down. He paid her no attention. Rathbone ordered three steaks from the autochef, and while he was doing that he looked to see if Two-Leaf had put down his stunner before she popped out. Rathbone got the steaks and headed up front.
As soon as those in Jake's Hole heard that there were intruders in Jason's anteroom, they began mobilizing to come to his aid. Jake went for his big bike and Cartwright got the trail bike. Kathy, who was only half-dressed, hopped onto the bike with Cartwright while Jessica rode with Jake. They cleared the Hole and Whitetop pulled it down. As they cleared the Hole they heard Jason say "OH SHIT".
Jason reached the front door but the new guy was blocking it while beating on it with a chair and would not respond to Jason. Trey was standing there also, trying to calm him down with no success. Rathbone dropped the steaks, drew his knife, and with its butt tried to knock the new guy out. Unfortunately he misjudged the chair's back swing and was hit with it. He was able to keep hold of the knife, but the bruise and hurt got him angry. In order to get the guy to stop swinging the chair, Rathbone drew his blaster and put a bolt through the chair. He hit it, but unfortunately the bolt continued through the chair, hit the wall, and punched a hole through it also. Immediately the PA system announced 'null field breach, explosion imminent'. Rathbone said "OH SHIT", opened the external door, slapped the 9mm into the subdued new guy, and motioned for Trey to come help him get Black. The autodoc was willing to disgorge Black but said it would take several minutes. Rathbone found the emergency release switch and popped the 'doc open immediately. Trey and Rathbone carried the still-unconscious Black out of a shrinking Black Hole. As they exited the Hole it was only five and a half feet in diameter. The new guy had killed one of the dogs, scaring the other two away. He was now standing outside in the alley, waiting. Once outside the Hole they put Black down, and Rathbone tried to pull the Black Hole off the wall. It did not work. Trey went toward the north end of the alley and saw some movement. A quick run toward the other end revealed all clear. Rathbone asked her which way to go. When she indicated south toward the river, Jason motioned for the new guy to help, and carrying Black they left the rapidly-heating Black Hole and wall behind them. As they approached the river bridges between the leader and human quarter of the city, they heard the approach of two motorcycles. These crossed the bridge and met Rathbone's party.
Jessica, who had grabbed Jake's Hole, put it up, but when she stuck her head in, she heard a voice saying 'null space is unstable' so she popped out to tell the rest. They decided to take it down. About then the group noticed a huge green dragon flying overhead calling out for Saus (the priest they had earlier killed). Whitetop, who had turned into an eagle and clasped two live grenades in his claws, was circling, looking for a chance to help. He managed to keep out of the dragon's way. People were panicking, but in the crowds none -- or the dragon -- noticed them. Just moments after the dragon gave up and disappeared to the west, there was a explosion from where Rathbone's Black Hole had been. It was quite a large explosion/implosion, creating a crater twenty yards in radius. It knocked several of the party to the ground. Whitetop came in for a landing. He approached Jake and stalled right in front of him, which allowed Jake to grab the two grenades. Jake re-pinned them while Whitetop landed and changed. Jessica ducked around the corner to another alley and tried Jake's Black Hole again. This time it was okay. She came back around and quickly told the others. While the main group was waiting, they noticed a growing group of beings beginning to gather around about. Rathbone stepped forward and as convincingly as he could he suggested that because of what was coming down they needed to leave town as quickly as they could. Rathbone and Whitetop hustled into the Hole. Rathbone searched Black's clothes, which he had hurriedly grabbed, and found the common Black Hole. They put this up inside Jake's Hole and put him in the infirmary's autodoc. Readouts said it would be 1.5 hours before he was clear. Jessica and Jake set up guard at one side of the alley. Cartwright and the new guy (Joshua Silverhair) nailed down the other end, with Trey getting the position right in front of the Hole.