Chapter 97: Holding Out (2/2)

"They will be men and women worthy of respect that died for their city Heroes that sacrificed their lives for a greater good I will honor them in my memory as best as I can But they will still be sacrifices," said Aldrich flatly

"Understood," said Volantis

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Southside Haven, near Panopticon Bunker C88

Over two hundred round confines of Southside's single functioning Panopticon Bunker As a C-class bunker, it was an earlier version that had limited whose construction had been phased out over fifty years ago, but it was all that Southside could get

On dusty white tiled floor, this et Blankets, soether at the last es of clothes - the barest of necessities

Despite howwith its hovering cars and ss, when it came down to it, when desperation hit its peak, what people reached for to keep thes they had reached out to for thousands of years

And that was another thing that huhout its history: desperation

Minuteman could practically smell the desperation in the air as he saw the civilians wide eyed, clutching at what little they had, straining out drenched clothes, shi+vering and huddling together, and he tried to stay strong for the voice resonating through the underground bunker's sterile white floor and walls "You're all doing great! Re and keep quiet! As a C class bunker, we only have liet help!"

"Help!? When!?" said a mother as her child clutched at her hand She shouted with a voice made hoarse in terror "It's been hours! Where's the help!?"

"We've been abandoned, I' you!" shouted a man

"All the rich fucks took off on their private hovercrafts and copters and jets! All we are is fish food! A distraction!"

"You heroes!" A teenager with a broken, twisted arood arm at the row of heroes behind Minute e, his faced caked in dirt and tears strea down his face "You're all here to just watch us die, aren't you!? You led us down here, down into our own graves! All because we're Duds, isn't that right!? I bet you're enjoying watching us suffer!"

"Shut the fuck up!" roared Rockshaper, one of Haven's C-class heroes that had followed Minuteer hero to ensure their survival "You're lucky we even wasted our damn time to make sure you useless fucks are safe!"

"See!? At the end of the day, of you heroes care!" shouted the teenager, and tension built in the roo point that would descend into mass chaos

Rockshaper's jaw set under hisa fist into the air A jagged, spiked rock forly

Minutehtly, and Rockshaper winced in pain The jagged rock fell to the floor, breaking apart as Rockshaper lost his concentration

"The fuck was that for?" said Rockshaper as he whirled around to face Minuteressively close to Rockshaper, towering over the s productive to say, then don't talk Do you understand me?"

Minuteman was a solid B rank hero who in terth was Rockshaper's senior by far There was nothing Rockshaper could do here, especially considering he was a Blaster category Alter versus Minuterimaced and nodded