Reaching Salvation: Post-Acer Part 11

"So please...please wake up..." Joey whispered. "I don't care how long it takes...I'm not leaving your side...until you do."

Erika made no movements.

"...The baby is doing alright, from what we've seen on sonogram." Alice spoke up. "...It's a girl."

Joey was silent for a moment. "I see...we're having a girl..."

"...Joey?" Al spoke up quietly, looking at the man.

Eric placed his shot gun down. "The factory is running out of power. In a few days we won't be able to monitor her anymore."

"...Then we have to do something." Joey said, standing up.

"After I shot the warden, one of the workes went beserk and ran into the reactor that we powered, sent it haywire." Eric stated in a dead voice. "I can build something, but only if I have a new power source..."

"...Like a river?" Al spoke up.

For the first time, the teen looked at his brother. "Yeah. It's a bit medival but with constant flow..."

OOC: dinner soon.

"Then we need to get to work then..." Joey said, a determined look in his eyes. "I refuse to let her die."

"Rivers are unfortunately scarce in the Badlands, however." Eric muttered.

"There's a river by the village, isn't there?" Josh spoke up. "Is there any way of getting Cestie back to the village fast enough so that you'll have more time?"

"There is that little project of yours, Eric..." Alice voiced.

"Is it safe?" Joey asked.

"It's never been tested outside of simulations!" Eric shot back.

"This would be a great time for testing, though." Al spoke up.

"Test it then, so we know it's safe to take her on it." Joey said.

Eric groaned. "Fine. Nobody blew it up, right Alice?"

The white haired girl nodded. "As far as I know, it's still in the shop."

"Should we go get Ven and the crazy girl?" Josh asked Joey.

Joey nodded. "Yeah, Ven should be getting impatient now, and I'm concerned about that Lucy girl."

"I'll go down to the garage and see if it works." Eric replied, exiting the room and taking the shot gun with him, just in case.

"Right." The twins replied.

Joey sighed, before collapsing in the seat next to Erika, staring at the young woman. "Don't worry...everything's going to be ok...just know that I'm here, beside you..."

Erika's face remained calm.

---

"Joey..." Erika sobbed in her room. "I love you, Joey..."

"I love you...Erika." Joey said, wiping a tear from his eyes.

The twins ran down the corridors back to the front.

---

Lucy was sitting down on the ground, crying.

Al, Josh, what do I do?! I'm not good with crying women!! Ven said, freaking out a little.

"Pat her on the head?" Josh suggested.

"Or nuzzle. Your soft. So..." Al continued awkwardly.

Ven tried to nuzzle the girl, careful to be gentle.

Lucy hiccuped a little as tears ran down her face, but the crying stopped. After a few more moment the girl hesitantly leaned into the nuzzling, her fingers wrapped in Ven's fur/feathers.

Um..ok... Ven said. ...Where's Joey?

"Sitting with Cestie. She's sleeping." Josh answered.

"Eric is going to test his invetion to see if it'll get us back to the village." Al added.

...Will it work on me as well? Ven asked.