[voice]

[synthedick]

[Can robots get tired? Because Nick sure sounds tired as he comes onto the network this evening. He's got work to do, though -- and only a limited amount of time to do it, if Fear's proposition still holds.]

All right, let's get a status report on what areas are clear.

[Which isn't as easy as expected, given several of the main landmarks of the city have been obliterated in the long assault. Better to make an attempt at it than not at all, though.]

Whether you're on the Guard or not, chime in. We've lost a lot of people in this madness, and we need to know every last one of them is gone... and if they're not gone, we need to know where they might be hiding.

That's all. [Click.]

Comments

text;

[hasitsthorns]

[ All the pep talks and rallying cries hadn't been something Rose felt she could reasonably respond to. While she understood the intent behind them was good, there was just- Too many people have died, too much has been lost. The fight hasn't left her entirely yet but actions in her case have spoken far louder than her words could.

This though? This she can reply to. ]

Orchard's clear.
What's left of it, anyway.

[text]

[synthedick]

[Nick can feel for Rose on this one.]

Thanks. We'll have to see what we can do to keep the place going without Sorrow.

Voice

[utulien_aure]

The area around the firehouse is quiet. I'll circle around in an hour or so to check it again.

[voice]

[synthedick]

Good. Send word if you come across anything still hanging around out there.

voice.

[puzzlingly]

「Hello, another exhausted voice here.」

I can go look into the caves if it's needed.

[voice]

[synthedick]

Better safe than sorry. Just be careful. No telling what else is out there these days.

[glacius]

It is almost time for me to rest... but I will use the information contained in the responses to this post to focus the last vestiges of my strength. At... at least I can still heal through this, in spirit if not body. [Someone feels bad about those obliterated landmarks in addition to all the suffering and loss of life; if he wasn't able to protect everything his friends worked to build, the least he can do is remove those that wrought the destruction in the first place. Maybe then his efforts will feel more impactful.]

[voice]

[synthedick]

[Nick hears Glacius' exhaustion, and has seen how hard he's been fighting through all this. The good people like him are the ones who make this city worth protecting in Valentine's eyes.]

All right. If you need help, call for it. We can't afford to lose anyone else, not when we're so close to getting through this.

[Voice]

[lifetothefullest]

The immediate area around spire two seems pretty clear.

[As far as he can tell, anyway, and he's been doing his best to pick off any that wander into the vicinity while he's there.]

[voice]

[synthedick]

Thanks, Doc. There were still a couple hanging around Spire One when I was out there earlier. I know I'll rest easier when our homes are in the clear.

voice

[so_dark_a_road]

I haven't seen any Null around Delight's Housing today or yesterday, nor on the north shore of the lake where the Firehouse is. Killed a few near Spire Two today, but haven't seen any others there since then. Caught a small group of them in the city center near the houses and shops, this morning.

They're definitely getting more scarce -- due to the good efforts of all who are resisting. And I think these straggler Null are less focused now than they were even a few days ago. I suspect they know they're beaten.

Also, Atem's right. We should go and check out the caves, in case they've found a place to hide.

[voice]

[synthedick]

[There's some scratching on his end that Curufin's sensitive ears can likely pick up even through the communicator -- that'd be him marking various places on a map that have been cleared.]

Agreed. I'll see if we can't get a few folks together to trawl the caves, just to make sure we got every last one. We can't get comfy yet, not when we've come this close to beating them.

voice;

[survivorsguilt]

Anywhere in particular you need eyes? I wanna help.

[voice]

[synthedick]

I need someone to check the park. Lots of places that even one Null could be hiding, and with machines like them, all it takes is one knowing where we are to bring this whole plan down on our heads. Think you can handle that?

[Voice]

[paragonbrosca]

I took out plenty around the second spiral housing, and haven't seen any there in a while. I'm working on thinning out the area around the armory, too. The moped lot's next, unless someone already got to that.

[voice]

[synthedick]

Haven't heard much from that area, so you're good to clear the moped lot. If any of them were looking to scavenge parts there, they'll find they're out of luck.

[Just a lot of mopeds filled with junk: that's what you get when you have gods making machines that run on magic.]

voice;

[braveoff]

[ Everybody's tired, but they can't quit. Drake's voice is steady when he responds to Nick, at least. He can keep going awhile longer. Has to. ]

We'll need to organize a sweep of all the buildings in the city. Split it up into sections and sync the search as much as we can. Make sure they're not dodging us... just in case they're waiting to send reinforcements.

[voice]

[synthedick]

Agreed. With they way they were acting, there's no doubt what one of them knows, they all do. If we leave even one out there, chances are they'll be able to find us again in a heartbeat.

I'll see if we can't get a few people to search inside of buildings. We need to check those that've been destroyed too, just in case there's one hiding under the rubble.

[voice]

[circumitus]

Clearing them out of the streets.

[Just going to conveniently leave out how close to dying she came a few days ago, though. Sorry, dad.]

Saw what happened to the HQ. [Rey would be lying if she said that she didn't assume the worst when she did.]

[voice]

[synthedick]

We'll rebuild it. Going to have to rebuild a lot of places as it is.

[He'll also leave out how worried he's been about her, as well as his own problems. Ignore that quiet, muffled beep from his end of the line, Rey.]

[farmboyjedi]

It looks clear around the colosseum. I've been taking care of more of the reptilian creatures than Null now. I'm still keeping in contact with Curufin and the fire station, too, helping there as much as possible.

[voice]

[synthedick]

Good. Let's hope most of the new arrivals never even see the Null.

[They have enough to deal with as it is.]

[resistancemedic]

I still see one once in a while around the makeshift clinic, but it's a lot better than it was. I'm not sure it's entirely clear yet, though.

[voice]

[synthedick]

Keep your eyes open and call if you folks need any help down there.

[voice]

[hot_mes]

They're considerably more thinned-out than they were just two days ago.

If I can get twenty-four hours to rest, I can bring up a Room big enough to transport whatever's left into the caves before Fear moves the city. If they're herded or drawn into one spot, all the more easy it will be.

[voice]

[synthedick]

[He has no idea what the heck Law is talking about with a Room, but given the host of fantastic creatures and people he's met in Hadriel, Nick isn't about to question it. The most important part of that isn't how it's done so much as the results, and Law has yet to give Nick a real reason to distrust him.]

Well, the clock's ticking, so get what rest you can while I try to figure out how many there might still be out there.

audio

[unitas]

Most of my area is cleaned up. It won't take much longer. [ Not between her, the Otherworld, and her big bad. ]

[voice]

[synthedick]

[Nick doesn't doubt Sharon can take care of herself, given how dangerous her particular abilities are.]

What you do works on them?

voice;

[ritualized]

[It's strange, and unfortunately, to be talking to Nick like this, especially since it just underscores how everyone in the Guard she'd normally talk to is - well.

Like the rest of them, she sounds tired, her voice hoarse. She's been casting probably constantly.]

I've been working to erect a boundary field around Fear... So he can move us. I should be able to tell if it's crossed.

I can relocate, if you think--that would do something?

Love was at the hot springs; should we check them? [So much for the happy memories of that place, too.]

[voice]

[synthedick]

I'll make sure someone checks on Love and does a sweep of the Springs. Stay where you are and keep an eye on Fear. We need him safe.

[Things Nick, at one point, was sure he'd never say. Fear is their ticket away from the rest of the Null, though -- if he goes down, then it's all over. He's not nearly so concerned about Love -- far and away his least favorite of the gods -- but he knows that's not the case for everyone.]