Shadows of JiangXi

[arvg]

The Phantoms? Weren't the the ones responsible for the mess on JiangXi in the first place? Their nuclear weapons, and whatever random isotope they had introduced along with them to do far more horrible things than merely kill people, no... there was something in the air that was designed to keep them alive, and suffering.

And there, standing before him, was one of the ones responsible for it all?

It was impossible for him to do anything, the gun, the armour, they both ensured this Iscariots' survival. But if they really were as ruthless as the prop-reels said they were, why wasn't Elias dead? These were just some of the thoughts floating around in his mind as he tried to figure out what he was to do. He had to get clear, signal base somehow... if there were Phantoms on JiangXi, they had to be there with malevolent purpose.

He made a snap decision, diving to the right, sprinting a few steps to vault the stairwell railing, crashing to the stars a level below, and rolling painfully down the unrelenting concrete and tile steps. He was hurt, and he knew it, but he didn't fancy his chances left alone in a Phantom's clutches. He burst through a set of doors, and out into what used to be a maternity ward. Weaving this way and that, he found the far stairs and dragged open the doors...

on Iscariot.

"How in the name of blue hell did you do that?" he gasped as he took a step backwards on instinct.

---