Audacious

Myriad Reality

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*My arms tremble while I try to get control of my breathing*
Thanks, Vi... Don't know what—do without you.

@Legend

I...
*Directs my gaze vaguely in the other direction*
You're welcome. We really should move quickly now. We're still in danger.

Myriad Reality

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*With all my willpower, prevents my hand from pulling away, but screams louder than before*

@Legend

*After a couple of seconds, I let go and grab your other hand, gripping it tightly to help you fight through the rest of the pain*
It's over. It's over.

Myriad Reality

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*Shuts my eyes tight with the slightest nod*
Just—do it.

@Legend

*Slowly takes your hand and cups it between both of mine, and after a moment's hesitation, you feel an intense burn where the rest of your hand once was as the exposed flesh is cauterized*

Myriad Reality

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You're right. It'll know how to fix this. It has to know.
*Gulps*
Hey, you have fire, right?

@Legend

*Looks at your hand and my face contorts slightly*
I know what you're asking, I think...

Myriad Reality

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*Cuts my eyes down to my hand without moving my head*
I... can walk.
*Pushes up from my knees to my feet and takes a few steps back from the break; now all remaining scientists visible through the suspended corridors are frantically making their way to the sides of the ravine*

@Legend

We need to hurry to this Panda thing... Assuming it's not been swept away by this destruction already.

Myriad Reality

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*Stares at you, wide-eyed and shell-shocked*
Did—did you save her?

@Legend

I think so, but we probably won't be seeing her for a while.
*Looks up*
We need to get to safety. Are you good to walk?

Myriad Reality

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*You sense a body splashing into the formless lake, which moves in an irregular pattern toward a nearby cave in the ravine walls, and ducks away*

@Host

*Sighs as the lake evaporates, then turns back to Isis, grimacing as I attempt to assess the damage*

Myriad Reality

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*Instinctually pulls back what remains of my hand, now a severed tear just below the thumb with ripped tendons and ligaments dangling from the surprisingly complete dismemberment*
...
*After a brief moment of shocked silence, screams, and doesn't stop screaming*

@Legend

*Runs over and slides to the ledge, almost as if tunnel visioned, looking past the debris as it instantly melts after falling low enough*
Artemis!
*Closes my eyes again and focuses, and the ravine can be seen from where we are rapidly converting into frigid liquid oxygen that also does not transfer heat either to or from itself, in hopes of catching Artemis's fall into the pit*

Myriad Reality

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*With a snap and a boom, the ceiling and corridor above and behind me plunge into the abyss, crushing your hand and leaving the zone exposed to the frigid ravine*

@Host

*Looks up as the ceiling comes crashing down, clenching my eyes shut as it falls. The collapsing rubble turns to molten stone and metal, in almost an instant, washing over all it lands on as a liquid without transferring any of its extreme heat to any person in the area*

Myriad Reality

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*As soon as you do, a booming rumble bellows through this wing of the facility, and the floor completely gives way beneath me*
WHA—
*Catches myself on the lip of the newly-formed hole, barely hanging on above a seemingly bottomless chasm*

@Host

*Gasps and grips the console tightly, looking around in a panic*
Wh-
*My eyes lock onto you*
Hang on!