Chapter 164 - Standing By Haven (2/2)
"Understood," said Seismic as he hopped down into the containment room Aldrich followed Not a moment passed after the two touched down than did the vault doors above close with a heavy, groaning thud
A green light shone throughout the roo that Seismic and Aldrich were cleared to move on A heavily armored door on the other side of the rooh a hallway, they stepped into the surprisingly spacious innards of the shelter's athered together, those that could stand standing at attention in respect for Aldrich and Seismic
"Is it over?" said the older for the city The rest of the people there, approximately half children and half injured and elderly, peered at Aldrich and Seis with a et picked apart by variants
"It's over," said Aldrich, and a visible wave of relief washed over everyone
"Thank God," said the ex-police with a sigh "World's going to hell, I tell you Variants baring their fangs at us and heroes goingcould be worse"
"A situation can always get worse," said Aldrich, and the crowdthehters,a crowd of civilians "But the situation outside is stable Hat Tricks been taken care of, and the fighting's over"
Aldrich spoke over the murmurs, and the crowd settled back into order
"You are right, though," said the foret worse I don't knohat no, whatafter this Haven - the place we've called ho, the pretty little port city that I'd served for thirty years - it's gone now
da's left, and I for sure know I don't have any credits lying around tomove"
"What about variant disaster relief, sir? asked an injured, younger policees wrapped around a clawed-out eye
"Disaster relief? Son, you've got a nice sense of humor," chuckled the older policeman "You'll see more rat shi+t on the streets than credits in a tier 3 city's relief fund And those sli em' to launder their dirty money
hell, with how badly those funds have been getting run over roughshod, I doubt even you young ones could start a new life somewhere else"
"So then, ill you all do? said Aldrich
A silence hung in the room for a few seconds The forrandkids down south Guess I'll have to leech off of them and watch thes are now, I guess I'll have to move I don't have the creditsbut what's left here except for rubble and bodies?" said the younger policeman
"Why are all of you so sad? Dad said that once the fighting's over, the heroes will build everything back again!" said a young boy around the age of nine Old enough to try to think for hih to kno the world truly
WaS
The boy turned hopefully to Seisht, Seisot all those giant ht? He can fix everything, right?"
" Seisn of emotion - but remained silent for the ansas obvious, albeit bleak: Ha Haven if there was no profit to be had in it
"Kid, don't pressure hiet back here and tell you where I last saw your dad," said an injured hero as she limped forward, took the boys hand, and led him away
As Aldrich saw the child's back fade away into the crowd, he spoke out again "This city's been abandoned enough It's about time someone stood by it"
"What do youto stay here," said Aldrich "And I' to rebuild this city