#81

Of course, the elevator has to stall. Either it's been shut down remotely by someone watching You (the bad possibility) or it's just broken from the extensive damage (the neutral possibility). To make matters worse, it's not stalled on a floor, and the controls aren't responding. You and Your party might be stuck here.

Before anyone can say anything, Klaus reaches out and slams a giant fist into the wall. It's weakened so the metal panel just breaks apart. It leads out into a decently sized vent that you can all fit into. You turns back and grins at the man, but he doesn't reciprocate. Things are still normal.

You goes first into the vent. It doesn't lead far, but it's broken and drops down into a hallway. You chances it and goes down. A quick spin-around reveals the coast is clear. It's a pretty empty hallway; the same ridiculously bright walls and floor, with the only outlet being a staircase off to the side. Once everyone's down, You points and, again moving silently, you all climb up.

You's the first to see the Ultramarine Guard—fortunately, he's dead. It looks like part of the room fell in, breaking the lights on the ceiling, and crushing him. There's a fallen sign near his corpse: “ESCAPE PODS”.

How convenient. You once more has a feeling that Klaus is responsible for leading You to all this, but how could he? He's never been to this building before. That You knows of.

There's a computer hooked up to these huge circular bay hatches. Susie is the first to go up to it, and she starts reading. Her dad is right behind her, looking everything over.

“It looks like there's still one of these pods left,” she says. Her dad nods at this. “If these doors are anything to go by, you could fit a couple, maybe three people into one of these.”

She presses something, and the bay door opens. Indeed, there's enough space in there for about three people.

“Get in, You,” Your mom says, but You just turns back to face her. Nothing needs to be said, and she gives a face conveying her response.

“Oh, alright,” she replies. She then looks up at Susie's dad.

“Earl? Are you...coming with me? Susie?”

“I'm staying here,” Susie says with a frown. Klaus looks at Your mom and says nothing—but he doesn't head for the pod either.

“I'll go with you,” Earl says. Then he glances over at Susie. “Look...take care of yourself out there. Alright?” And then, with a voice he thinks You can't hear. “And take care of You, too.”

“I will.”

She knows You can hear the both of them, and she looks over at You and winks. She knows You can take care of Yourself; but the wink also confirms that You won't exactly have to baby her, either.

Your mom won't stop looking worried as she climbs in. You catches on this and leans in to her. “Smile, okay?”

She looks back at You and does so. Earl follows her into the pod; and once he's in, he looks around. “You know, I think I was in one of these pods once. You can set locations from the computer. It might have enough fuel to get us back within the distance of home.”

You considers telling them about asking for Madame Levingt, or Lord Kletus, if they have to land in New Cenabum or the old prison; but You doesn't know how good of an idea that is. You trusts they'll make it okay.

“Good luck, kids,” Your mom says. It seems hollow to You, but You'll accept it. You thinks about hugging her but now that seems too painful. Susie presses some keys, and the door closes. Shortly after, You hears a sound of a rocket lifting off. You can only hope for the best now. Or else prepare for the worst. Of course, You's gotten pretty good at that.

You looks around. There's another door leading out of this chamber, and You figures the three of you might as well go ahead and take it. As far as You can see, there's nothing stopping You.