Out of This World Gaming [~ read description]

Chapter 35: Vintondale at Sunset

The corridor's silence was pierced by throat shredding screaming and hyperventilation that indicated the presence of a large group of people. Nearly everyone's wailing faded into silence when they ran into a portion of the underground facility that was still untouched in comparison to where they were. When they got into the room, Sotoro used his bolas and wrapped the door handles and closed them. By closing them, the fire that pursued them collided with the barriers. 

Even if the tall, narrow panes of glass embedded on these black, metal doors were blown out as a result of the heat, at least the destruction can be kept at bay for a few moments. "That was close, too close." Zerrin spoke as she attempted to catch her breath. "Well, we have a tube transport room not too far from here, I'm sure we can-" "Landon!" a female's distress cut off Sotoro's attempt to inform the rest of the group. 

Pippi was once again at Landon's side, but instead of bawling her heart out, she raised her weapon and attempted to swing downwards, but her movement suddenly stopped. "It's not worth it!" another female spoke. "Cassie, this is our only chance to salvage Landon and-" "He's gone, Pippi." "His memory card is still intact." "Don't you get it? The brain's decaying all around it, so his memory card's data is probably gone." "Don't say things like that!" Pippi shoved Cassie away roughly. 

"I'm taking his card no matter what." Pippi raised her weapon threateningly, and despite being knowing her friend all too well to be the shy one of the duo, Cassie never thought she could be so impulsive. Cassie silently stood there and tried to decide between rejoining everyone else or try to stop Pippi, but before she could make a choice, her best friend grabbed Landon's detached head with one hand and stuffed her other hand into his neck. Cassie's retching form turned away and ran back to the group. 

Before she could make out what they were saying, the fire doors keeping the danger at bay were exploded off of the hinges before the ceiling lights shattered and fell towards the floor. "We've gotta move!" Zander screeched as they all ran towards another corridor, including Pippi whom was covered in splotches of blood and held a chip in her palms as if she had just received something she always wanted. They all sprinted towards another room as explosions followed them and the ceiling was caving in around them. 

Within this room a single large, clear tube was embedded in the wall "Hurry!" Sotoro beckoned as he pressed a button causing the panel to open. Even as they were standing a fair distance away from the tube, the air around it could be felt being sucked into the tube while loose wiring surrounding it could be seen being pulled. Larkspur protectively held Iris as she entered, followed by Zerrin doing the same with her brother, Ziazan. Zander rushed in, but not before grabbing his sister's wrist and scurrying; they were sucked into the transport before she could question what was going on. 

Sotoro gave the three memory cards of Satara's former underlings to Ken and pushed her out, to which Stephanie ran after her. "Woo!" Cassie excitedly jumped. Pippi was grabbed by Sotoro and thrown in, and just as the ceiling crumbled, he joined them. "Wait for me!" Zucchini spoke as he grasped Sotoro, narrowly escaping death. 

Everyone managed to stay in the same tube and were able to watch all around them as the ceiling crumbled and plummeted into the rest of the facility. "How did this all happen with just a P-Fear Sneeze?" Stephanie questioned. "The self destruct sequence must've been activated, but who knows?" Sotoro sheepishly admitted. "What's with lairs and self destructing?!" Zerrin shouted. "Ask Satara! Oh, wait. We can't, and you wanna know why? 'Cus she's dead!" Sotoro snarled. "I only wanted to imprison her in ice, not kill her. If any blame was to be assigned it would be herself since she was hoist by her own petard." Zerrin deflected. 

"This still doesn't even make sense. Normally, Iris's sneezing doesn't destroy anything other than our peace of mind. None of this should've happened!" Clover frantically questioned as she held onto her brother's leg. "It wasn't her sneezing, it was Ziazan's." Sotoro informed. "That's right, he had 75% of the data since the rest of it was in Iris." Zerrin reflected as her retracted pupils watched the lair crumble around them.