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Skip, Jaskead, Ariauna, and Captain Morasea were all at the top of the stairs in front of the large wooden door.
"Are you sure this will work?" Ariauna asked.
Captain Morasea looked up at Ariauna from his kneeling position on the floor. "Don't worry. These charges will blow through a wall five meters thick."
"That's what I'm worried about. I don't want you to bring this entire temple down with your toys," Ariauna said.
Jaskead put his arm around his daughter. "Come, Ariauna. Let us leave the captain to do his work."
Ariauna didn't respond and began to follow her father down the stairs when Captain Morasea's and Skip's communicators beeped. Skip grabbed his first and answered. "What is it?"
"Sir-"
"Lieutenant Ishae, is that you? There's too much static, and why can't I see you on the view screen?"
"Sir ? c ? Gn-"
"Lieutenant ? I can't hear you. Repeat."
There was no response. Skip looked at Captain Morasea, who looked back with the same bewildered look. "Captain, go and see what the problem is," Skip ordered.
Captain Morasea nodded, drew his gun, and made his way down the stairs.
"Jaskead, Ariauna, get back up here," said Skip.
Skip watched as Morasea turned and trotted down the stairs. Just as he turned the corner, He heard a gun blast. The plasma bolt nailed its target as the captain was thrown against the back wall. His lifeless and bleeding body slowly slid down the wall, leaving a bright red streak of blood. Ariauna screamed. She and Jaskead jumped behind Skip for protection.
Skip quickly drew his gun and could feel Ariauna's trembling body on his while he waited patiently. Around the corner came two Gnol soldiers dressed in red battle fatigues and red battle helmets. They had their plasma assault rifles raised.
Skip raised his gun to get a shot off, but one of the Gnols threw an object up the stairs, and the two disappeared around the corner. Skip looked at the circular object and his eyes widened. "Grenade!" he yelled as he turned to cover Ariauna.
Jaskead lunged forward to kick the grenade back down the stairs, but it was too late. The deafening blast sent the three crashing through the door. Rock and wood splattered everywhere. Skip felt a sharp pain in his back and landed on the floor in the next room, his head hitting a piece of the wall.
When the smoke and dust settled, Skip slowly opened his eyes. Everything was blurry, and his body felt as if it had just been stabbed one hundred times. Finally, after his vision cleared, he looked to his right. There, lying right next to him was Ariauna. Her forehead was bleeding, and she was unconscious. He prayed she was still alive. He then turned to find Jaskead.
There he was. About five feet to Skip's left. He lay there; eyes wide open, staring at Skip. Skip called out for him, but no answer. Skip tried to get up, but he couldn't. The only thing he could move was his head. He then looked straight ahead ? and there it was; the answer to the prophecy.
He heard footsteps from behind and felt a fierce blow on the back of his head, causing his forehead to crash to the floor.
Worlds Without End: The Mission (Book 1) Page 60