Now They Are Three

The two women grappled. They appeared quite well-matched. Terra was only a month into her latest pregnancy, and had kept herself quite fit.

As already mentioned, on one side of the staircase was a metal wall. On the other side was a railing about three feet high, and beyond it a sheer drop. In the dim light it was impossible to see whether the drop went all the way to the bottom, hundreds of feet below, or whether it was broken by a landing at some point.

Before Astra could intervene, Jane had forced Terra back against the railing. No maintenance had been done on the staircase for a very long time, probably for decades. It had always been assumed that in an emergency the elevators would be used, and besides maintenance workers were unwilling to enter the stairwell, claiming that unseen dangers lurked there.

There was a snapping sound as a section of railing broke free of its moorings under Jane and Terra's combined weight, and then it and the two women toppled over the edge. Their despairing cries gradually faded into silence. It must have been a long way down, as there was no sound from the final impact.

Astra and Lesba stood in shocked silence for a moment, while the hysterical Elipsis screamed with even greater force. Astra's gaze swept over the other two naked women, visible in the dim emergency lighting. Lesba was her particular friend. To that friendship was now added admiration. Lesba was eight months pregnant with triplets, and Astra wondered how the petite woman had even managed to remain on her feet, never mind uncomplainingly keep on descending the stairs. Elipsis was a tall girl with long blonde hair. She was five months along with triplets, and her belly was about the same size as Astra's (who the reader will recall is six months pregnant with twins).

"Come on," Astra said after a moment. "There's no time now to grieve. We have to keep moving. Where's the lance cannon?"

1. "There it is," Lesba said, pointing.
2. "I heard it rattling down the steps after Jane dropped it," Lesba said. "I hope it wasn't damaged."
3. "Jane accidentally kicked it over the edge when they were fighting," Lesba said. "Then I'll have to make do with the vibroblade," Astra said. "I wish I had a way of strapping it on, so that I could keep both hands free."

Add New Option

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree