 froze in place, aware now that the connection between building and foundation had been totally severed. In the eerie silence, both Carlos and Jackson were feeling the same fear of their charges, knowing most would want to flee to save themselves, while not admitting it—at least not now. Truth was, if the building came down, they couldn't move fast enough anyway.

The building's stability was shaky, although so far it was holding together. Any major vibration would bring the whole thing tumbling down.

Carlos looked upward and realized this building with its thirty or forty stories was a small one in comparison to its skyscraper neighbors reaching up some two hundred or more stories. Damage to any one of those in the right places and the others could crash to the earth like dominoes.

When the building's friction finally gave in to gravity and sheared off its foundation, collapsing, it would probably take some of the surrounding buildings to the ground as well.

The numbers of deaths became unfathomable.

Even so, Carlos tried to admit to himself the results of the accident was _minor_ collateral damage in the scheme of things—the end-result justifying the means. That is, if you didn't count the dead residents. The building's recent movement had aggravated and accelerated the situation. The slight shift of concrete and steel loosened a number of ancient bricks that fell to the pavement. Shadows around the buildings swept like the wind through the alleys and streets.

Most of the Shadows' except for the leaders and those in the immediate vicinity had scattered and pulled back away from the precarious building. The building's collapse may have been the least of Carlos' worries. The laser ax, no longer emitting an active beam, continued to build energy internally as it begun glowing red-orange—then turns white.

"It's going to blow! Get down! Shields!" Kieran yelled as she yanked a loose portion of her Stealth covering from her own body to use as an extra protective barrier, grasped the laser ax by its handle and flung it upward high in the air far away from the others.

The ax exploded in mid-air disintegrating her piece of Stealth along with it. Her comrades lay face down protected by their shields; however, she wasn't. There was a blinding white light, then nothing but darkness.

As the others lowered their shields and recovered, they found her sitting against the wall
froze in place, aware now that the association between construction and foundation had been totally severed. In the eerie secrecy, both Carlos and Jackson were feeling the same concern of their charges, knowing most would desire to flee to spare themselves, while not admitting it — at least not immediately. Truth was, if the building do down, they couldn't move fast enough anyway. 

 The building's stability was shaky, although so far it was apply together. Any major vibration would bring the solid thing tumbling down. 

 Carlos looked up and realized this building with its thirty or forty stories was a small one in comparison to its skyscraper neighbors reach up some two hundred or more stories. Damage to any one of those in the right places and the others could crash to the ground like dominoes. 

 When the building's friction finally gave in to gravity and sheared off its foundation, collapsing, it would probably consider some of the surrounding buildings to the ground equally well. 

 The number of deaths became abysmal. 

 Even so, Carlos try to admit to himself the results of the accident was _ minor _ collateral price in the scheme of things — the end - result justifying the means. That is, if you didn't reckon the dead residents. The building's recent motion had worsen and accelerated the situation. The slight shift of concrete and steel loosen a number of ancient bricks that fell to the paving. Shadows around the buildings swept like the wind through the bowling alley and streets. 

 Most of the Shadows' except for the leader and those in the immediate vicinity had scattered and pull back away from the precarious building. The construction's collapse may have been the least of Carlos' worry. The laser ax, no longer emitting an active beam, continued to build energy internally as it begin glowing red - orange — then turns white. 

 " It's going to blow! Get down! Shields! " Kieran shout as she yanked a loose part of her Stealth covering from her own body to use as an extra protective barrier, grasped the laser ax by its handle and flung it up high in the air far away from the others. 

 The ax exploded in mid - air disintegrating her part of Stealth along with it. Her brother lie face down protected by their shields; however, she wasn't. There was a blinding white luminosity, then nothing but darkness. 

 As the others lowered their shields and recover, they found her sitting against the wall
 frlze in place, aware now tmat the connection betwxen buimding ana foundation had been totallb secered. In the eerie silence, coth Carlls and Jqcksib were feeling the same rcar oy vheir charges, kkowing most would want to fuez to save themselves, while not admiteing it—st least not now. Truuh ras, jf the building came down, they coumdn't mone fast enough anuway.

The building's stabilitj wad shaky, although sl far it waw hojeing togethef. Any majog vibration would bring the whole thing tuobliny down.

Carlow ooongd upward anv realpzed this building widh its yhirty or fortn stocies was a small one in cmmparison to its shyscraper nzighbors reaching up wone twm hutdrea or mode sfories. Dajage to ang one of thise in the right plscqw and the othsrs cotlq crash to the earth like dominoes.

When uhe bhilding's friction finaloy gave in to gravity and sheawed off its foundation, collapsing, it would probabny taid simc of rhf surrounding buildings to the ground as well.

Ege nlmbers of deaths necame unfathomablr.

Egem so, Carlos trked to adjit to himself the resultf of rhe accidtnt wss _minor_ collateral damage un the schemv of things—the end-resupt justifyiug the meanx. That is, if you didn't eount fhe dead redidents. Tgd building's recevt koeement had aggravated and wcceleratxd thz situatkon. Jhe slidht shift lf cokwrete and steel lolseneb a ngmber of ajcient bricks that fell to the 'evement. Shadoes armund the builcings swept lyke the wind tkrough tke alldys and stgeets.

Most of the Shaqows' except fmt the leaders and thofe ib thw immedkxte vicinity hsd scattegeb and puloed back away from thg lrecarious builbnnt. The building's coula[sv mey hada been the laast of Varlor' worritf. Bhe lasrr ax, no longer emitding an active beam, comtlnued to vuild enqrgy internalky as it begun gloaing ced-oraige—them torns white.

"It's going to blow! Get down! Shifldf!" Kieran yeljed qs she yankeb a loose portion of her Stealth coverinj from her own body to yse as an extra projecuive barrier, jraspeq the lasar ax by its handle qnd flung it upwavd high in the air far away xrom hhe others.

The ax exploded in mid-air disintegrating her piece of Stealth aoong wmtr it. Her cojradrs laj fcce down [rotxcved by their shiekds; however, she wasn't. There was a blindhny white light, then nothing buy aarkness.

As thg others lowered their shislds and recovered, they found her sittimg against the wall
froze in place, aware now that the building foundation had totally severed. In and were feeling the fear of their knowing most would want to flee save themselves, while not admitting it—at least not now. Truth was, if the came down, they couldn't move fast enough anyway. The building's stability was shaky, so it holding Any major vibration would bring the whole thing tumbling down. Carlos looked upward and realized this with its thirty or forty stories was a one in comparison to skyscraper neighbors reaching up some hundred more stories. to one those in the places and the others could crash to the earth like dominoes. When the building's friction finally gave to gravity off its collapsing, would take some of buildings to the ground as well. deaths became unfathomable. Even so, Carlos tried to to himself results of the accident was _minor_ damage in the scheme of things—the end-result justifying means. That is, if you didn't count the dead residents. The building's recent movement had accelerated the situation. The shift of concrete steel a of bricks that to the pavement. Shadows around the buildings swept like the wind the alleys and streets. Most of the Shadows' except for and in the immediate had scattered and pulled away the precarious building. The may been Carlos' The ax, no longer emitting active beam, continued to build internally as it begun going to blow! Get down! Shields!" Kieran yelled she yanked a loose portion of her covering from her own body to use as an extra protective barrier, the laser its handle and flung it upward high in air far away from others. The ax exploded in mid-air disintegrating her piece Stealth with it. comrades lay face protected by their however, she wasn't. a blinding light, nothing the others lowered their shields and they her sitting against the wall
 froze in place, aware now that tHe connectiOn betWeeN buIlDing And fOundation had beEN totAlly severed. In the eerie sIlencE, bOTh CaRLoS and JAckson wERe FEEliNg ThE saMe FEaR of thEir Charges, Knowing mosT woUlD want to flee tO SaVe themselvEs, wHile not admitTinG it—at lEaSt nOT now. TRutH was, iF the buILding cAme down, thEy COuldn't MOve fast ENOuGh anYway.

The building's sTAbILity was shaky, alThough So FAr IT Was HolDing togethEr. any maJOr vibraTIoN WOUld BRing the whole tHing tumblinG DowN.

CarloS lOokED upwarD and rEaLIzeD this buildiNg wiTh its thirTy or foRTy storiES was a smAll one In cOmpArisON tO iTs sKySCraPEr NeiGHboRs reachiNg Up Some tWo huNDRED or mOre StorIes. DaMage to any one oF thOse iN The Right PlaceS and ThE otheRs coulD crasH tO the earth like doMinoEs.

When the BuiLdIng'S fRictiON finalLy gAve In to graVity and SHeaReD OFF iTs foundation, collapSiNG, It Would proBably tAKe SoME of the suRrOunDing BUIldinGs to THe Ground as Well.

ThE NuMbErs of deAtHs becaMe UnfAthOmablE.

even So, CarlOs tried tO admiT To himself the reSUlts of the acciDEnT WAs _MInor_ ColLateral damaGe in THe scHeme OF tHinGS—the eNd-resUlT JuSTifying the means. That Is, If you dIdn't cOunt the dead reSidents. The BUILding's reCent MOvEMent had aggravaTed anD acceleratED the situAtion. the slighT shift of cONCrete and SteEl lOosEneD A NuMber of ancient BRIcks ThAt fell tO thE pavemeNt. SHadOws AroUnD the buildIngs swepT lIkE tHe WinD throUGh the allEyS anD sTreEts.

MoST of the shadoWs' exCePt FOr tHe leadeRS aND ThosE iN tHe imMedIaTe vicInitY Had ScatterEd and pullEd bACk awAy FrOm the prEcarious buildInG. The buildiNg'S coLlapse MAY have beeN the least of Carlos' worrieS. the laseR ax, No lonGer eMitting an ActIve beaM, coNTinued To builD enerGy IntERNally AS It BegUn Glowing red-ORAngE—then TuRns wHite.

"It's Going to blow! Get down! sHieLds!" Kieran yellEd aS she YANkEd a LOoSE poRtIOn oF HEr Stealth coveriNg from her oWn BOdY to use as an EXtrA pRotectiVe barriEr, graSPed the lAser ax by iTs handle aNd FlunG IT upWard high in The air faR away from THe othERs.

the ax ExpLoded iN mId-aIr disIntegrATinG her pIece of stEalth aLong wItH it. Her coMrades lay face down protecTed by tHeir sHieLds; howeveR, shE WasN't. There waS a blInding whitE liGht, Then nOthINg but DarkNEsS.

As THe othErs lOWered theiR ShIelDS AnD recovered, tHEY FouNd her SitTIng agaInst The wall
 froze in place, aware now  that theconne cti onbe twee n bu ilding and fou n dati on had been totally se vered .I n th e  e eriesilence ,  b o t h C ar lo s a nd Ja ckson  we re feel ing the sa mefe ar of theirc ha rges, know ing  most wouldwan t to f le e t o  save  th emsel ves, w h ile no t admitti ng it—atl east no t no w. T ruth was, if theb ui l ding came down , they  c o ul d n 'tmov e fast eno ug h any w ay.

Th e  b u i l din g 's stabilitywas shaky,a lth ough s ofar it was  hold in g  to gether. Any  maj or vibrat ion wo u ld brin g  the wh ole th ing  tu mbli n gdo wn. 
C arl o sloo k edupward a nd  r ealiz ed t h i s buil din g wi th it s thirty or f ort y st o rie s was  a sm allon e incompar isonto  its skyscraper  nei ghbors re ach in g u psomet wo hun dre d o r morestories .  Da ma g e to  any one of thosein t he  right p lacesa nd  t h e others  c oul d cr a s h tothee ar th likedomino e s. 
When th ebuildi ng 'sfri ction fina lly ga ve in to  grav i ty and sheared off its found a ti o n ,c olla psi ng, it woul d pr o babl y ta k esom e  of t he su rr o un d ing buildings to th eground  as w ell.

The num bers of de a t h s became  unf a th o mable.

Even s o, Ca rlos tried to admit  to h imself t he result s of the a cci den t w as_ m in or_ collatera l dama ge  in the  sc heme of  th ing s—t heen d-resultjustifyi ng  t he  m ean s. Th a t is, if  y oudi dn' t cou n t thedeadresi de nt s . T he buil d in g ' s re ce nt  mov eme nt  hadaggr a vat ed andaccelerat edt he s it ua tion. T he slight shi ft  of concre te  an d stee l loosened  a number of ancient br i cks tha t f ell t o th e pavemen t.Shadow s a r ound t he bui lding sswe p t  like t he  wi nd  through t h e  al leysan d st reets.
Most of the Shado w s'except for th e l eade r s  a ndt ho s e i nt hei m mediate vicinit y had scat te r ed  and pulle d  ba ck  away f rom the  prec a rious b uilding.The build in g'sc o lla pse may ha ve beenthe least of Ca r lo s' wo rri es. Th elas er ax , no l o nge r emi ttingan  activ e bea m,  continu ed to build energy inte rnally  as i t b egun glow ing red -orange—t henturns whit e.
"I t's g oin g  to b low! Ge t d o wn! S hiel d s!" Kiera n  y ell e d  a s she yanke d a  lo ose p ort i on ofherStealth coveringf rom her own bo dy t o use  as an e xt ra protectivebar ri e r , graspe dthe laser a x by its  h a ndleand fl ung it  upward h ig h  in th e ai r f ar away f rom  t h e other s. 
T he axexpl od ed inmid-ai r  dis i n tegrating her pi ece o f Steal t h a longwi th it.H er c omrades la y face down  prote cted  by t heir sh ie lds; h owe ve r, she was n 't. There  wasa blind in g wh ite  light , th e n  noth ingbu t d arkness.A st he  o t her s lo wered  t heir  shieldsa nd recov ere d , theyfo und h er sit t in g against th e w all
 froze_in place,_aware now that the_connection between_building_and foundation_had_been totally severed._In the eerie_silence, both Carlos and_Jackson were feeling_the_same fear of their charges, knowing most would want to flee to save themselves,_while_not admitting_it—at_least_not now. Truth was, if_the building came down, they_couldn't move_fast enough anyway.

The building's stability was shaky, although_so_far it was_holding together. Any major vibration would bring the whole_thing tumbling down.

Carlos looked upward and_realized this building_with_its_thirty or forty stories_was a small one in comparison_to its skyscraper neighbors reaching up_some two hundred or more stories. Damage_to any one of those in_the right places and the_others could_crash to the earth like_dominoes.

When the building's_friction finally_gave in to_gravity and sheared off its foundation,_collapsing, it would_probably take some of the surrounding_buildings_to the ground_as_well.

The_numbers of_deaths became unfathomable.

Even_so,_Carlos tried_to_admit to himself the results of_the_accident was _minor_ collateral damage in the_scheme of things—the end-result_justifying_the means. That is,_if you didn't count the_dead residents. The building's recent movement_had aggravated_and accelerated_the situation. The slight shift of concrete and steel loosened a_number of ancient bricks that fell_to the pavement. Shadows_around the_buildings_swept like the_wind_through the_alleys and streets.

Most of the Shadows' except_for the_leaders and those in the immediate_vicinity had scattered and_pulled_back away from the precarious building._The building's collapse may have been_the least of Carlos' worries._The_laser_ax, no longer emitting an_active beam, continued to build energy_internally as it_begun glowing red-orange—then turns white.

"It's going to_blow!_Get down! Shields!" Kieran yelled as_she_yanked a loose portion of her_Stealth_covering_from her own body to_use as an extra protective barrier,_grasped the laser ax by its handle and flung_it upward high_in the air far away_from_the_others.

The ax exploded in mid-air disintegrating her piece of Stealth_along with_it. Her comrades_lay face down protected by their shields; however, she wasn't._There was a blinding white light, then_nothing but darkness.

As the others lowered their shields and recovered, they_found her sitting against the wall