Re: Excalibur: status reports
"Didn't bring them, great, just--" Just then Jamie's radio crackled and no sooner had it than Logan grumbled something and was off. Jamie was momentarily frazzled, he really could have used Logan's claws just then he knew all too well how much damage those things could do. "Wait--I... Frick." He sighed and rubbed his face, trying to collect himself. A mental count to ten and he reached for his radio. "I've found Ruth, going to try and get her free. She's... she's in pretty bad shape. Dupes and I will get her out of here, but need help to get her back to base." He could accomplish a lot with a few extra sets of his own hands, but hauling an exhausted, half delusional, rambling woman back to the Haven was not one he wanted to attempt.
He waited for any answer from Wisdom as he hurried back to the door of the van. "Hey!" he shouted at his dupes. "Get in here!" He then turned back and attempted to locate the jack handle. "It's ok, Ruth, you're going to be fine. We're gonna get you home and it's all going to be ok. Don't worry--Oh God!" Jamie blurted suddenly as the smell of urine assaulted his nose. He pinched his nostrils closed and glared at the dupe who had wet his pants at the sight of Logan. "Someone get him out of here. Re-absorb him before he makes me gag."
"I'm not re-absorbing him." "Me neither!" "You're going to be standing here smelling it until one of you does." "Don't talk about me like I'm not here." "You do it!" "I'm working on this." "I'm still here, you know..." "Well then--" "Just do it! and hurry up and get back here!"
The words spat out of Jamie with fire and impatience, it was enough to surprise the dupes. This was all a lot for Jamie to take in, he was being pushed pretty hard on this mission and he was nearing a breaking point. At last one of the dupes grabbed the cowardly one and absorbed him. Soon enough, the remaining three were working together, prying the rig loose and getting the clearly exhausted Ruth out of the van and, hopefully, towards help.
"You go ahead," one of the Dupes announced with a devilish grin. "I've got a few plans for this van." The tone of his voice suggested the van would be lucky if it came out being anything more than scrap metal. No one was about to argue with that, so Jamie and the remaining dupe examined Ruth, trying to decide if she should be carried or if her stubbornness would result in her leaning her weight on their shoulders as they slowly worked their way towards a Haven vehicle.