Chapter 13

Smithson turned toward the stairwell.

"Why aren't they coming up?"

Blake considered the situation. "They don't know how much ammo we have. For all they know, we could have a Repeatogun up here waiting for them. Can you get Squad Leader Jonesfoot on the Talkwave?"

As Smithson fiddled with the controls of his Talkwave, Blake looked around the room, frantic for escape. He noticed a water stain in the ceiling in the corner of the room.

"Blake - we're got a Hoverliftandcarrier coming in two minutes!"

"Let's go, Smithson."

As they headed to the corner with the ruined ceiling, a Poisonogas canister landed in the room!

Quick like a jackrabbit, Blake drew and fired into the ceiling - parts of it rained all over the room. As the Poisonogas spread, he lifted Smithson, who used his Combatosharptorch to cut through the floor above them. He reached down, desperate to grab Blake's arm. Energy fading, Blake leaped and grabbed onto Smithson's hand. Smithson heaved him up through the gap.

It took a few seconds to clear the cobwebs, but with Smithson's urging, Blake was soon on his feet and heading to the roof stairwell. They emerged into the evening air, hot with a bite of cool. Looking around, Blake saw the rest of his squad on the roof next door. The Hoverliftandcarrier was preparing for touchdown under heavy fire.

Blake and Smithson wasted no time in sprinting across the rooftop and leaping the small gap to the roof of the Vitapaste-Mart.

"Good to see you guys!" Smithson called, over the roar of the Hoverengine.

As they clambered into the Hoverliftandcarrier, Squad Leader Jonesfoot lost his cap. It was a fluke gust of wind that had powered through the Hoverengine.

"My cap!"

The soldiers watched it blow away, off the roof of the Vitapaste-Mart.

"My lucky cap! Go get it, Blakesly!"

"Sir! That's insane! There must be fifty Enemy troops down there!"

"Get my cap!"

"No, sir!"

"Blakesly, are you disobeying a direct order?"

"Sir, I don't want to get shot for your cap!"

Squad Leader Jonesfoot stared at him. "One last chance, soldier."

"Sorry, sir."

Jonesfoot shook his head. "Get us out of here, pilot."

As the Hoverliftandcarrier took off, the other soldiers made a point not to look at Blake Blakesly. Smithson, still not looking at him, leaned closer. "You're in big trouble, man."