 of a building. The energy of the blast had catapulted her against the building's outer shell, the wind knocked out of her. Her Stealth gone, her dark undergarments shredded and net face guard pitted with dust by the blast.

Carlos was up quickly and glanced toward the building that could still come down in any second. Amazingly, there was no movement. As he turned back toward the others, he saw her.

"Kieran!" Carlos rushed to her side. She turned to him, her eyes glazed, empty of life. "Are you all right?"

She was frozen—catatonic. He grabbed hold of her so she knew he was there. Finally, she shook her head as if something had snapped inside it.

"No time for shield...no time for shield..." she murmured.

Carlos acknowledged, "Everyone's okay. How are you?"

"Why are you shouting?"

A silent pause, then, "Sorry, I guess, I am. Hearing is okay, then."

But he sensed something else was wrong.

He lifted the Stealth net that covered her face and neck. Gray dust from the blast pasted and slightly larger debris pitted her reddened and blistered skin. Dark rivulets of blood from the corners of her eyes streaked down her gray face. She had tried covering her eyes but not soon enough.

"Can't see. I'm blind."

While her words were direct, emotionless, her tears flowed, trying to cool the once beautiful blue-gray eyes. The once penetrating, intelligent eyes could no longer see. She felt no pain now; the excruciating pain would come later. She tried to embrace the darkness as a Shadow for comfort, but she knew this shadow was false; the darkness was of her own doing. With Kieran's eyes covered in a gray haze behind fused lids, the blast had rendered them useless.

"Don't worry, Kieran," he said as he added another Stealth garment to cover her. "We can fix those eyes, can't we, Jackson?"

Jackson nodded to himself, knowing that she couldn't see him standing three feet from her.

"Beyond that," Carlos continued, "are you okay?"

She felt his hand on her shoulder and his tender touch.

"Yeah...sure. Just let me
of a building. The energy of the blast had catapulted her against the construction's out shell, the fart knock out of her. Her Stealth gone, her dark undergarment shredded and net face precaution pitted with dust by the fire. 

 Carlos was up quickly and glanced toward the construction that could however come down in any second. Amazingly, there was no movement. As he turned back toward the others, he attend her. 

 " Kieran! " Carlos rushed to her side. She turn to him, her eyes glazed, empty of life. " Are you all correct? " 

 She was frozen — catatonic. He grabbed hold of her so she knew he was there. ultimately, she shook her head as if something had snapped inside it. 

 " No time for shield... no time for shield... " she murmured. 

 Carlos acknowledged, " Everyone's okay. How are you? " 

 " Why are you shouting? " 

 A silent pause, then, " Sorry, I guess, I am. Hearing is okay, then. " 

 But he sensed something else was wrong. 

 He pilfer the Stealth net that covered her face and neck. grey dust from the blast pasted and slenderly larger debris pit her reddened and blistered skin. blue rivulets of blood from the corners of her eyes streaked down her gray grimace. She had tried covering her eyes but not soon enough. 

 " Can't see. I'm blind. " 

 While her words were direct, emotionless, her tear flowed, trying to cool the once beautiful blue - gray eyes. The once permeate, intelligent eyes could no longer see. She feel no pain now; the excruciating pain would fall later. She try to embrace the darkness as a Shadow for consolation, but she knew this darkness was false; the dark was of her own doing. With Kieran's eyes covered in a grey haze behind fuse lids, the blast had rendered them useless. 

 " Don't worry, Kieran, " he said as he added another Stealth garment to cover her. " We can fix those eyes, can't we, Jackson? " 

 Jackson nod to himself, knowing that she couldn't see him stand three feet from her. 

 " Beyond that, " Carlos continued, " are you okay? " 

 She felt his hand on her shoulder and his tender contact. 

 " Yeah... sure. Just let me
 of a building. The energy on the blast had eqtapulved her against the building's outer shell, tie wund kbocked out of her. Her Rtealth glne, her eark yndergarmeifs shredded ahf nec hace guard pittgd with dust by the blast.

Cdruod was up quickly and glanced toward the buolfing that coulq stplj cojv bown in any second. Amazingly, thsre was no movement. Ss he turned back toward tje ohhers, he saw her.

"Kifran!" Carlos rusrwd to her siae. She turned to him, hgr eyes glazed, empty of life. "Are you cll right?"

Shg sad frozen—catavonic. Re grabbed hold of har so sne knew he was thxre. Dinally, she shook her head as if somethyng had sta'ped inside it.

"No time fir shheld...to tkne wor siiemd..." she mucmured.

Carloa acknowledted, "Everyone's okay. Nor are you?"

"Why ade you srouting?"

A silent pause, then, "Sorry, I guesv, I am. Hearing is okay, theb."

But he sensed somethlng else ras wrong.

He lifted the Stealth net that covered har fare anb neck. Trwy dust from the blast pasted and slightly lawfet cebris pitted mer reddened and bkidtrted skin. Dark tivulets or blood from the clrners jf hee eyes stweakrd down her gray face. She hqd tried covvrint her eyes but not soon enougk.

"Can't xee. I'k blind."

While her words cere djrect, emotilnless, hed tears flowed, trhinn tm cool the once beautiful flue-gray xyes. Che once pengtratind, intelligfnt enas could no longer see. Dha felt no oain now; the excruciating pain xpuld come lajer. Shv tried tj embvace the darknefs as a Shadow for coifort, but she khew thiv shadow waf false; the ddtkness was of her own doibg. Wuth Kiefxn's eyes coverrd in a ggav haze beyind fused lids, thc blarf had rendered cken useless.

"Don't wprrh, Kyegan," hq said as he dddea avpther Stealth gavmevt tp cover her. "We can fhx tgose eyes, can't we, Kagkson?"

Jackwon noddqd to himself, knowing that she fouldi't see him xtagding three feet from her.

"Beyons that," Caglof continued, "wre nou jkay?"

She fekt his hand on her shoulder and his tenver touch.

"Yeah...sure. Just oet me
of a building. The energy of the catapulted against the outer shell, the Her gone, her dark shredded and net guard pitted with dust by the Carlos was up quickly and glanced toward the building that could still come in any second. Amazingly, there was no movement. As he turned back toward others, saw "Kieran!" rushed to her side. She turned to him, her eyes glazed, empty of life. "Are you right?" She was frozen—catatonic. He grabbed hold of so she knew he there. Finally, she shook her as something had inside "No for shield...no time shield..." she murmured. Carlos acknowledged, "Everyone's okay. How are you?" "Why are you shouting?" A silent pause, "Sorry, I am. Hearing okay, But sensed something else He lifted the Stealth net that and neck. Gray dust from the blast pasted slightly larger pitted her reddened and blistered skin. rivulets of blood from the corners of her streaked down her gray face. She had tried covering her eyes but not soon enough. I'm blind." While her were direct, emotionless, tears trying cool once beautiful eyes. The once penetrating, intelligent eyes could no longer see. She no pain now; the excruciating pain would come later. She embrace darkness as a for comfort, but she this was false; the darkness her doing. covered a haze behind fused lids, blast had rendered them useless. worry, Kieran," he said garment to cover her. "We can fix those can't we, Jackson?" Jackson nodded to himself, that she couldn't see him standing three feet from her. "Beyond that," continued, "are She felt his hand on her shoulder and tender touch. "Yeah...sure. Just me
 of a building. The energy of the Blast had caTapulTed Her AgAinsT the Building's outer SHell, The wind knocked out of her. her StEaLTh goNE, hEr darK undergARmENTs sHrEdDed AnD NeT face GuaRd pitteD with dust bY thE bLast.

Carlos waS Up Quickly and GlaNced toward thE buIlding ThAt cOUld stIll Come dOwn in aNY seconD. AmazinglY, tHEre was NO movemeNT. as He tuRned back toward the OThERs, he saw her.

"KierAn!" CarlOs RUsHED to Her Side. She turNeD to hiM, Her eyes GLaZED, EmpTY of life. "Are you All right?"

She WAs fRozen—cAtAtoNIc. He grAbbed HoLD of Her so she kneW he wAs there. FiNally, sHE shook hER head as If someThiNg hAd snAPpEd InsIdE It.

"NO TiMe fOR shIeld...no tiMe FoR shieLd..." shE MURMureD.

CaRlos AcknoWledged, "EveryoNe's Okay. hOw aRe you?"

"why arE you ShOutinG?"

A sileNt pauSe, Then, "Sorry, I guess, i am. HEaring is oKay, ThEn."

BUt He senSEd someThiNg eLse was wRong.

He lIFteD tHE sTeAlth net that covered HeR FAcE and neck. gray duST fRoM The blast PaSteD and SLIghtlY larGEr Debris piTted heR ReDdEned and BlIstereD sKin. darK rivuLEts oF blood From the cOrnerS Of her eyes streaKEd down her gray FAcE. sHe HAd trIed Covering her Eyes BUt noT sooN EnOugH.

"can't sEe. I'm bLiND."

WHIle her words were direCt, EmotioNless, Her tears floweD, trying to cOOL The once bEautIFuL Blue-gray eyes. ThE once PenetratinG, IntelligEnt eyEs could nO longer seE. sHe felt no PaiN noW; thE exCRUcIating pain wouLD Come LaTer. She tRieD to embrAce The DarKneSs As a Shadow For comfoRt, BuT sHe KneW this SHadow was FaLse; ThE daRknesS Was of hEr own DoinG. WItH kieRan's eyeS CoVERed iN a GrAy haZe bEhInd fuSed lIDs, tHe blast Had renderEd tHEm usElEsS.

"Don't woRry, Kieran," he saId As he added aNoTheR StealTH Garment tO cover her. "We can fix those eYEs, can't wE, JaCkson?"

jackSon nodded To hImself, KnoWIng thaT she coUldn't SeE hiM STandiNG ThRee FeEt from her.

"BEYOnd That," CArLos cOntinueD, "are you okay?"

She felt HIs hAnd on her shoulDer And hIS TeNdeR ToUCh.

"YEaH...SurE. jUst let me
 of a building. The energy  of the bl ast h adcat ap ulte d he r against theb uild ing's outer shell, the  wind  k n ocke d  o ut of  her. H e rS t eal th  g one ,h er  dark  un dergarm ents shred ded  a nd net faceg ua rd pittedwit h dust by th e b last.
C arl o s was  up  quic kly an d  glanc ed toward  t h e buil d ing tha t co uldstill come down i n  a n y second. Amaz ingly,  t h er e was  no  movement.  A s het urned b a ck t o war d  the others,he saw her. 
"K ieran! "Car l os rus hed t oh erside. She t urne d to him,  her e y es glaz e d, empt y of l ife . " Arey ou  a llri g ht? " 
She was  frozen— ca ta tonic . He g r a bbed  ho ld o f her  so she knewhewast her e. Fi nally , sh eshook  her h ead a sif something ha d sn apped ins ide  i t.
" No ti m e forshi eld ...no t ime for shi el d . . ."  she murmured.

Ca rl o s  a cknowled ged, " E ve ry o ne's oka y.  Ho w ar e you?" 

"W h yare youshouti n g? "
A sile nt  pause ,the n,"Sorr y , Iguess,  I am. H earin g  is okay, then . "

But he sen s ed s om e thin g e lse was wro ng.He l ifte d  t heS tealt h net  t h at covered her face an dneck.Graydust from the  blast pas t e d  and sli ghtl y  l a rger debris pi ttedher redden e d and bl ister ed skin.  Dark riv u l ets of b loo d f rom  th e co rners of here y es s tr eaked d own  her gr ayfac e.She  h ad triedcovering  h er  e ye s b ut no t  soon en ou gh. 
"Ca n't s e e. I'm  blin d."
W hi l e h er word s  w e r e di re ct , em oti on less,  her tea rs flow ed, tryin g t o  coo lth e oncebeautiful blu e- gray eyes.  T heonce p e n etrating , intelligent eyes coul d  no lon ger  see.  She  felt nopai n now;  th e  excru ciatin g pai nwou l d  come l at er.  S he tried t o emb raceth e da rknessas a Shadow for co m for t, but she kn ewthis s ha dow wa s  fa ls e ; t h e  darkness was o f her owndo i ng . With Kie r an' seyes co vered i n a g r ay haze  behind f used lids ,theb l ast  had rende red them  useless. 
"Don ' tworry , K ieran, "hesaidas hea dde d ano ther S te alth g armen tto cover  her. "We can fix those  eyes,  can' t w e, Jackso n?" 
Ja ckson nod dedto himself , k now ing t hat she c ould n 't  se e  himstan d ing three fe etf r om  her.

"Bey o n d  th at,"Car l os con tinu ed, "are you okay ? "

She felt hi s ha n d  on  he r  sho ul der and his te nde rt o uch.

"Y ea h...sure. J ust letme 
 of_a building._The energy of the_blast had_catapulted_her against_the_building's outer shell,_the wind knocked_out of her. Her_Stealth gone, her_dark_undergarments shredded and net face guard pitted with dust by the blast.

Carlos was up_quickly_and glanced_toward_the_building that could still come_down in any second. Amazingly,_there was_no movement. As he turned back toward the_others,_he saw her.

"Kieran!"_Carlos rushed to her side. She turned to him,_her eyes glazed, empty of life._"Are you all_right?"

She_was_frozen—catatonic. He grabbed hold_of her so she knew he_was there. Finally, she shook her_head as if something had snapped inside_it.

"No time for shield...no time for_shield..." she murmured.

Carlos acknowledged, "Everyone's_okay. How_are you?"

"Why are you shouting?"

A_silent pause, then,_"Sorry, I_guess, I am._Hearing is okay, then."

But he sensed_something else was_wrong.

He lifted the Stealth net that_covered_her face and_neck._Gray_dust from_the blast pasted_and_slightly larger_debris_pitted her reddened and blistered skin._Dark_rivulets of blood from the corners of_her eyes streaked down_her_gray face. She had_tried covering her eyes but_not soon enough.

"Can't see. I'm blind."

While_her words_were direct,_emotionless, her tears flowed, trying to cool the once beautiful blue-gray_eyes. The once penetrating, intelligent eyes_could no longer see._She felt_no_pain now; the_excruciating_pain would_come later. She tried to embrace the_darkness as_a Shadow for comfort, but she_knew this shadow was_false;_the darkness was of her own_doing. With Kieran's eyes covered in_a gray haze behind fused_lids,_the_blast had rendered them useless.

"Don't_worry, Kieran," he said as he_added another Stealth_garment to cover her. "We can fix_those_eyes, can't we, Jackson?"

Jackson nodded to_himself,_knowing that she couldn't see him_standing_three_feet from her.

"Beyond that," Carlos_continued, "are you okay?"

She felt his_hand on her shoulder and his tender touch.

"Yeah...sure. Just_let me