Loonatics Revamp Rise of the Loonatics Episode 1 (Saved)

Chapter 12

When they entered Acme University's science faculty, the fresh air from the outside immediately changed into a suffocating heat, accompanied by a cloud of thick black smoke that only aggravated this almost unbearable sensation. The five young adults did their best to protect their airways, covering their mouths or beaks with their upper garments or their arms. With Rev leading the way because of his ability to go very quickly, they soon found themselves in the middle of the main hall the flames had not yet reached, but the place was no less dangerous due to the carbon-laden air that would eventually suffocate them if they did not hurry.

"Okay, and now what?" Duck asked as he felt his throat contracting because of the smoke. "How are we supposed to find survivors all over the building when there are only five of us?"
"We split out," Ace decided, his collar in front of his mouth. "We will have a better chance of saving everyone who remains if we cover as much ground as possible. Rev, do you know how far the fire has spread?"

"It–started–in–the–amphitheater–is–in–the–western–part–of–the–building–after–Tech's–teleporter–explosion–where–he–showed–it–to–the–public–because–he–was–the–winner–of–the–science–forum's–grand–prize–and–even–though–I–didn't–go–back–there–since–I–don't–think–there's–much–left–of–it-" the roadrunner was interrupted by a cough; having already made several trips before the others joined him, the carbon was already affecting him. He took a breath and continued to speak, but slowly to spare his lungs: "Right now it's not going very far, and I haven't found anyone else in that part. But there are other machines everywhere in the faculty and if the fire reaches them, it will be worse than a firework display of the Fourth of July!"

"Were you able to rescue people from the upper floors?" Ace replied

"Not yet; there were too many people on the ground floor!"

"Very well; since you are fast, you rush to the second and third floors and you save everybody you find," Ace ordered; he seemed to have taken the role of the leader naturally for this improvised mission. "Duck, you go with him; your teleportation power will help you transport the survivors safely in the blink of an eye."

"Hold on a sec', why are ya the one givin' orders here?" asked the black duck, a frown on his face.

"Now's not the time to debate about that!" the bunny scolded. "Just do as I say!"

Duck sighed loudly but ended up following Rev who was already heading at full speed for the stairs – taking the elevator was too risky in such a situation and a real waste of time. Ace then turned to Slam and Lexi, his yellow eyes particularly focusing on the latter.

"Lexi, since you're obviously able to hear other people's thoughts, can you locate survivors in the area?" the grey rabbit asked.

Lexi closed her eyes, focused, but visibly disturbed too. He did not envy her new gift; it seemed horrible to endure.

"... It's hard to say, but I think the ground floor has been entirely covered. I believe the thoughts I hear are from survivors stuck in the first floor." The cream-colored rabbit replied, her hand grabbing the side of her head when she felt a headache. "But there could be unconscious people I can't hear..."

"All right, so both of you, go up to the first floor. I'll take one last look here just in case."

Slam grunted something in his incomprehensible language. His worried expression indicated to Ace that he was questioning him, but he could not understand what was bothering him.
Lexi however, who was standing right next to him, realized that if the Tasmanian devil couldn't use his mouth properly to share his thoughts, those remained completely understandable. She looked at Slam, then Ace.