-Marcus Stevens & Jonn Birkey
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
August 2, 2003
“Twelve minutes, huh? That’s enough time to do some serious damage,” Rich said as he looked into the now open doorway. “Proton and Rumble? Cool. I guess you can call me Tank. I… well, I guess you could say I hit things,” Rich added, a slight smile on his face.
“You think she was up to something? I hope not, man. That means we just let her get away. Then again, saving anyone trapped in there’s more important. Let’s go in.”
-Watching Cloud Rice
Madison, Wisconsin
August 2, 2003
“Miss Cloud. It is nice to meet you,” Mr. Hansen said, shaking her hand with a smile. When asked about what he did specifically, the smile wavered slightly. He glanced briefly at her father, before saying, “I’ve been hired to find any… security leaks that may exist within your father’s company.”
They made small talk for a few minutes more, as Mrs. Rice put the finishing touches on dinner. No matter what Cloud asked, though, neither Mr. Hansen nor her father would elaborate about the goings on at the company. During the conversation, Cloud watched Mr. Hansen’s movements and listened to his words very carefully. By the time they were sitting down to dinner, she had come to a decision about him. Though he tried to come across as a friendly individual, he seemed rather nervous. Furthermore, there was something about him that made her believe that he was an untrustworthy person.
Conversation over dinner was dominated by Mr. Rice telling some work related anecdote, with Mrs. Rice and Mr. Hansen trying to pay attention, despite the fact that the story was a rather boring one. At last, her father finished his story, and Mrs. Rice spoke up. “Cloud, why don’t you tell your father about your day,” she prompted, trying to bring her daughter into the conversation.
-James Dunbar
New York, New York
August 2, 2003
“Hey!”
“Watch it!”
“Look out, you son of a-“
James rushed after Amelia, flying past other pedestrians in his pursuit. He never actually ran into any of them, but came close, prompting protests and curses from others as they tried to get away. Despite the commotion, Amelia never paused. She continued glide slowly down the street, looking around, intent on whatever it was that she was searching for. It did not take long for James to catch up with her. He could hear her mumbling quietly to herself, “-leave me alone, why won’t they just leave me alone?”
-Mai Hoshiko
Aug. 2, 2003
Tokyo, Japan
The police officer eyed her warily as she spoke, his eyes and gun never once wavering. Finally, he made a decision, and lowered his gun. “I hope I am right about you. Come, there are some wounded this way,” he said at last. He motioned for her to follow, and began making his way away from the train, across an embankment to where a makeshift hospital had been set up. “The ambulance are having difficulty getting here, because of the traffic caused by this disaster,” the officer explained wearily. “We are doing our best for these people, but we do not have the equipment to do much.”
There were three people lying on mats in a small area that had been sectioned off, and while two officered tended to the people, a few others tried to keep the crowds, including the reporters, away. One of the injured was a man in a business suit, holding a piece of cloth to a cut on his forehead. Another was a male police officer, with severe burns on his hands and left leg. The third was a young woman, unconscious and also severely burned.
-Maxwell Helmdig
Aynor, South Carolina
August 2, 2003
“Yes, I suppose so,” Rinea said, watching the images on the television curiously. “Lock the door, don’t leave the room, and if anyone comes to the door, call you in your room. That sounds okay.”
She yawned, and sat down upon the bed. “So tell me of yourself, Maxwell Helmdig. And tell me of this school you are meeting with. What is it like?”
