#awl warehouse

[awlindiathings]

With the rise of technology and computer systems came solutions that let warehouse managers find, manage, and schedule their warehouses. This led to the expansion of e-commerce spaces. It was clear that technology had streamlined processes, enhanced inventory performance, and sped up reaction times. With a heads-up display, augmented reality is a solution that further simplifies operations. By offering interactive 3D visualisation, quick object tracking, inventory accounting, and automation, AR helps streamline the supply chain process. Additionally, augmented reality glasses may make it simple for managers to move about the warehouse, assign resources, and find important information that can save expenses.

[awlservices91]

Maximising Space with AWL India's Warehouse Management Service

Discover the art of maximizing storage capacity and efficiency with our Warehouse Management Service. Optimise warehouse space, and boost productivity and profit. From smart layouts to innovative space-saving techniques, we've got you covered. To know more, visit our website - https://www.awlindia.com/warehousing  

[anyspaze]

The Future Of Logistics: Exploring The Role Of 3PL Companies In India

A 3PL company, also known as a Third-Party Logistics company, specialises in providing coordination and supply chain management services to other businesses. These companies offer a wide range of services, including warehousing, order fulfilment, transportation, cargo shipping, and customs clearance. In India, AWL India, DTDC, and Gati KWE India are prominent examples of third party logistics companies in India that operate efficiently. They possess a substantial number of warehouses and transportation services. The extensive network of warehouses and transportation capabilities offered by these companies is crucial if you wish to store your inventory in multiple locations or deliver it to customers in various areas. It is advisable to compare the pricing of different companies to find the most favourable deal. 

Anyspaze provides a comprehensive list of reasons to choose their services. They are a rapidly growing company in this sector and have established a strong reputation for their reliable services. Warehouse storage space for lease is a type of storage facility commonly used by businesses to store inventory or supplies. These facilities typically offer a range of amenities, including loading docks, security systems, and temperature control. Warehouse storage space for lease can be utilised for various purposes, such as storing inventory for online retailers or supplies for manufacturing companies. Anyspaze encompasses all of these features within its extensive offerings, contributing to its remarkable growth and expertise. With their exceptional services and collaborative approach, they undeniably stand out as the optimal choice for anyone seeking these facilities.

Conclusion

Anyspaze consists of a group of 3PL specialists who are highly skilled in storage, order completion, transportation, and freight forwarding. They have the ability to assist you in streamlining your supply chain and improving your efficiency. Whether you are in need of storage facilities for your company or require transportation and cargo services, Anyspaze is prominent in every sphere like food logistics companies in India that provides exceptional solutions and is a reliable ally. Take the opportunity to visit Anyspaze's website today and benefit from their services to elevate your business. With Anyspaze, the time has come to expand your business.

Anyspaze has accumulated more than a decade of experience in the 3PL industry. With a comprehensive understanding of the needs of businesses of all sizes, they are capable of delivering exceptional benefits. Anyspaze boasts a team of experts proficient in all aspects of 3PL, including warehousing, order fulfilment, transportation, and freight forwarding. Their expertise can assist you in optimising your supply chain and enhancing your efficiency. Anyspaze operates a network of warehouses and transportation providers throughout India, enabling them to offer top-notch service regardless of your client's location. By leveraging the latest technology, Anyspaze efficiently manages its operations and provides you with visibility into your supply chain. This empowers you to make informed decisions and enhance customer satisfaction. Committed to providing the best possible benefits, Anyspaze is available 24/7 to address your inquiries and resolve any concerns.

[awlusa]

Everything You Need To Know About Amazon Distribution Centers

1. Introduction

2. What are Amazon Distribution Centers?

2.1 Function Of Amazon Fulfillment Centers

2.2 Importance Of Amazon Distribution Centers

3. The Role of Amazon Distribution Centers in E-commerce Fulfillment

3.1 Order Processing

3.2 Inventory Management

3.3 Shipping and Delivery

4. Strategic Placement Of Amazon Warehouse Locations

4.1 Global Network

4.2 Proximity to Customers

4.3 Benefits of Proximity

5. How Amazon Distribution Centers Benefit E-commerce Businesses

5.1 Outsourcing Fulfillment

5.2  Scalability and Flexibility

5.3 Reduced Shipping Costs

6. AWL: Optimizing Fulfillment Operations with Amazon Distribution Centers

6.1 Expertise and Experience

6.2 Integration and Collaboration

6.3 Enhanced Efficiency

7. Conclusion

8. FAQ

In today's rapidly evolving e-commerce landscape, efficient fulfillment operations are paramount for businesses to thrive. AWL, a trusted logistics provider, recognizes the significance of optimizing fulfillment processes to meet customer demands. In this blog, we will take a deep dive into the world of Amazon Distribution Centers, offering you a comprehensive overview of their operations, strategic locations, and impact on the e-commerce industry. Furthermore, we will showcase how AWL's expertise can enable businesses to leverage these centers and enhance their own fulfillment capabilities. By understanding the inner workings of Amazon Distribution Centers and harnessing AWL's knowledge and resources, businesses can streamline their fulfillment operations, improve customer satisfaction, and stay ahead in the competitive e-commerce landscape. Today, we will delve into the realm of Amazon Distribution Centers and uncover the ways in which AWL can empower businesses to unlock their fullest potential in e-commerce fulfillment.

What are Amazon Distribution Centers?

Amazon Distribution Centers, also known as fulfillment centers, are large-scale facilities strategically located across the globe. These centers serve as the backbone of Amazon's e-commerce operations, housing millions of products and handling various stages of the order fulfillment process, including storage, picking, packing, and shipping.

Function Of Amazon Fulfillment Centers

Amazon Distribution Centers, also referred to as fulfillment centers, are cutting-edge facilities specifically designed to handle the storage, processing, and shipping of products ordered through Amazon's diverse e-commerce platforms. These centers serve as the backbone of Amazon's supply chain infrastructure, ensuring efficient order fulfillment and timely delivery to customers. With their advanced technology, sophisticated inventory management systems, and skilled workforce, Amazon Distribution Centers are able to handle high order volumes, optimize product storage, and facilitate the seamless movement of goods throughout the fulfillment process.

Importance Of Amazon Distribution Centers

These centers play a vital role in the e-commerce industry by ensuring swift and efficient order fulfillment, meeting the ever-increasing demands of customers. With their strategic locations, advanced technology, and streamlined processes, Amazon Distribution Centers are capable of processing and shipping orders with speed and accuracy. By leveraging their extensive network of fulfillment centers, Amazon can minimize order processing and delivery times, providing customers with a seamless shopping experience. The efficient operations of these centers contribute to customer satisfaction, encouraging repeat purchases and fostering customer loyalty.

The Role of Amazon Distribution Centers in E-commerce Fulfillment

Amazon Distribution Centers play a vital role in e-commerce fulfillment by ensuring efficient and timely order processing. These centers serve as central hubs for storing, managing and shipping products, enabling Amazon to deliver orders quickly to customers. With their advanced logistics infrastructure and automation, they enable seamless order fulfillment and contribute to Amazon’s reputation for exceptional customer service.

Order Processing

Amazon Distribution Centers are instrumental in streamlining the order processing workflow. They receive customer orders, meticulously pick the products from their vast inventory, expertly pack them, and efficiently ship them to the customers. This streamlined process ensures prompt and accurate order fulfillment, contributing to customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Inventory Management

These centers utilize advanced inventory management systems that enable precise tracking of stock levels, efficient replenishment processes, and optimal storage utilization. By leveraging technology and automated systems, Amazon Distribution Centers maintain accurate inventory records, ensuring that products are readily available for order fulfillment, minimizing stockouts, and maximizing operational efficiency.

Shipping and Delivery

With strategically positioned distribution centers, Amazon ensures timely and reliable shipping, facilitating fast delivery to customers nationwide. The proximity of these centers to major population centers allows for reduced transit times, enabling Amazon to fulfill customer orders promptly and meet the growing demands of the e-commerce market effectively.

Strategic Placement Of Amazon Warehouse Locations

The strategic placement of Amazon warehouse locations is crucial to their operational efficiency. These warehouses are strategically positioned near major transportation hubs and densely populated areas to minimize transit times and enable quick order fulfillment. This strategic placement ensures faster delivery, reduces shipping costs, and enhances overall customer satisfaction.

Global Network

Amazon has built a vast network of warehouses strategically positioned in different regions. These warehouses are strategically located to ensure efficient product storage and distribution, allowing for faster order fulfillment and delivery. This extensive network enables Amazon to reach customers across the country and provide a seamless shopping experience.

Proximity to Customers

These warehouses are strategically positioned near major population centers to minimize shipping distances and expedite delivery times. By locating their warehouses in close proximity to customers, Amazon can reduce transit times and offer faster delivery options, meeting the increasing demands for quick and efficient e-commerce fulfillment.

Benefits of Proximity

By strategically leveraging their warehouse locations, Amazon can offer Prime members faster shipping options, such as same-day or next-day delivery. This not only attracts more customers to the Prime program but also enhances customer loyalty by providing a seamless and expedited shopping experience.

How Amazon Distribution Centers Benefit E-commerce Businesses?

Amazon Distribution Centers offer several benefits to e-commerce businesses. First and foremost, they provide access to a vast customer base through Amazon's extensive e-commerce platforms. Additionally, businesses can leverage Amazon's fulfillment services, including inventory management, order processing, and shipping, to streamline their operations and enhance the customer experience.

Outsourcing Fulfillment

Amazon Distribution Centers offer businesses the advantage of outsourcing their fulfillment operations. By relying on Amazon's expertise and infrastructure, businesses can offload the responsibilities of warehousing, order processing, and shipping. This allows them to focus on their core competencies, such as product development, marketing, and customer service, leading to improved overall efficiency and effectiveness.

Scalability and Flexibility

Businesses that utilize Amazon Distribution Centers can leverage Amazon's extensive infrastructure and expertise to scale their operations based on demand fluctuations or business growth. This flexibility allows businesses to optimize their fulfillment capabilities, ensuring they can meet customer needs effectively while minimizing costs and operational complexities.

Reduced Shipping Costs

By tapping into Amazon's extensive distribution network, businesses gain access to competitive shipping rates, resulting in cost savings and improved cost-efficiency. Leveraging Amazon's established relationships with shipping carriers allows businesses to benefit from negotiated rates, ultimately reducing transportation expenses and enhancing their overall financial performance.

AWL: Optimizing Fulfillment Operations with Amazon Distribution Centers

AWL understands the significance of efficient fulfillment operations and the role that Amazon Distribution Centers play in achieving success. By studying and learning from Amazon's best practices, AWL optimizes its own fulfillment operations to provide clients with seamless order processing, accurate inventory management, and timely shipping. AWL leverages the expertise gained from Amazon's distribution centers to enhance its own capabilities and deliver exceptional fulfillment services to businesses.

Expertise and Experience

AWL leverages its deep understanding of Amazon's distribution network and fulfillment processes to provide businesses with tailored solutions that optimize their fulfillment operations. By incorporating the best practices observed from Amazon's distribution centers, AWL offers strategic guidance and customized services to help businesses streamline their order processing, inventory management, and shipping processes.

Integration and Collaboration

AWL seamlessly integrates its fulfillment services with Amazon Distribution Centers, creating a powerful synergy that optimizes order processing, inventory management, and shipping operations. By leveraging the strengths of both AWL and Amazon, businesses can benefit from a seamless and efficient fulfillment process that enhances customer satisfaction and drives business growth.

Enhanced Efficiency

By partnering with AWL, businesses can tap into the expertise of a trusted logistics provider, benefiting from streamlined processes, improved accuracy, and faster order fulfillment. With AWL's industry knowledge and experience in working with Amazon Distribution Centers, businesses can optimize their e-commerce operations and deliver exceptional service to their customers.

Conclusion

As the e-commerce landscape continues to evolve, efficient fulfillment operations have become a critical factor in achieving success. Amazon Distribution Centers have set the benchmark for streamlined order processing, efficient inventory management, and fast shipping. At AWL, we understand the significance of Amazon Distribution Centers and their impact on e-commerce. By leveraging our expertise and strategic partnerships, AWL empowers businesses to optimize their fulfillment operations, enhance customer satisfaction, and achieve a competitive edge in the e-commerce industry. Our team of professionals is well-versed in the intricacies of Amazon's distribution network and fulfillment processes, allowing us to provide tailored solutions that align with your business objectives.

 Partner with AWL and unlock the potential of Amazon Distribution Centers for your business's growth and success. With our industry knowledge and experience, we will work closely with you to optimize your e-commerce operations, streamline order processing, improve inventory accuracy, and ensure fast and reliable order fulfillment. AWL's commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction sets us apart as a trusted logistics partner, ready to support your business every step of the way.

Source : https://www.awlindia.com/us-en/blog-details/everything-you-need-to-know-about-amazon-distribution-centers

[rajanlogistics]

Logistics Companies in Delhi/NCR: A Comprehensive Guide

Logistics and supply chain management play a crucial role in the success of any business, especially in a region like Delhi/NCR with its large consumer base and booming eCommerce industry. Choosing the right logistics partner is essential to ensure smooth operations and timely deliveries. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the top logistics companies in Delhi NCR, their unique offerings, and how they can cater to your specific business needs.

1) Rajan Logistics: Smart Logistics Solutions

Rajan Logistics is a prominent logistics company in Delhi/NCR, known for its expertise in supply chain solutions, warehouse design, and tech product development. With a mission to provide smart logistics solutions to traders, retailers, and distributors, Rajan Logistics excels in operational management, inventory accuracy, and on-time order dispatch.

The company boasts state-of-the-art warehouses equipped with advanced technology, 24/7 security, electronic surveillance, and efficient space management. Their logistics services include omnichannel logistics, order routing, and low-cost shipping. Rajan Logistics' automated Transportation Management System (TMS) optimizes transport allocation based on cost and services, streamlining the entire logistics process.

Key Features of Rajan Logistics: 

Smart logistics solutions for traders, retailers, and distributors

State-of-the-art warehouses with advanced technology and security measures

Omnichannel logistics, order routing, and low-cost shipping

Automated Transportation Management System (TMS) for efficient transport allocation

2) AWL India Pvt. Ltd.: Tech-Based Supply Chain Management

AWL India Pvt. Ltd. is a leading logistics company specializing in tech-based B2B supply chain management. With over 15 years of experience, AWL operates in more than 1700 locations across 70 countries. Their core strength lies in cost-effective and smart warehouse management solutions.

AWL's comprehensive supply chain management services cover inventory management, order processing, warehousing, and distribution. They leverage technology to optimize supply chain operations, ensuring efficient and timely deliveries. AWL's tech-driven approach enables them to adapt to changing market demands and provide customized solutions to their clients.

Key Features of AWL India Pvt. Ltd.:

Tech-based B2B supply chain management

Cost-effective and smart warehouse management solutions

Comprehensive inventory management, order processing, warehousing, and distribution

Customized solutions to meet specific business requirements

3) Varuna Integrated Logistics: Reliable Supply Chain Solutions

Varuna Integrated Logistics is a trusted logistics company in Delhi/NCR with over 25 years of experience in the industry. Their primary focus is on providing reliable and effective supply chain solutions to build long-term relationships with customers. Varuna Group has deep operational expertise and addresses common logistics challenges faced by businesses.

With a fleet of 2000+ vehicles, Varuna Group offers primary and secondary transportation services, expedited transportation, and project cargo services. They also excel in warehousing services, with strategically located facilities equipped with advanced Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) and Transport Management Systems (TMS) for real-time data monitoring.

Key Features of Varuna Integrated Logistics

25 years of experience in providing reliable supply chain solutions

Comprehensive transportation services and project cargo handling

Strategically located warehouses with advanced WMS and TMS

Focus on customer-centricity, transparency, and operational excellence

4) XYZ Logistics: Seamless Transportation and Warehousing Solutions 

XYZ Logistics is a renowned logistics company in Delhi/NCR that specializes in seamless transportation and warehousing solutions. With a customer-centric approach, XYZ Logistics aims to provide hassle-free logistics services to businesses of all sizes.

Their transportation services cover primary transportation, secondary transportation, and expedited transportation. XYZ Logistics ensures the timely delivery of goods and efficient management of the entire transportation process. Additionally, they offer comprehensive warehousing services, including consolidation warehousing, in-plant warehousing, and distribution warehousing.

Key Features of XYZ Logistics:

Transport services that are seamless for businesses of all sizes

Timely delivery and efficient management of the transportation process

Comprehensive warehousing services, including consolidation, in-plant, and distribution warehousing

5) ABC Freight Solutions: Global Logistics Expertise 

ABC Freight Solutions is a global logistics company with a strong presence in Delhi/NCR. They specialize in end-to-end logistics solutions, including freight forwarding, customs clearance, and warehousing services. With a vast network of partners and agents worldwide, ABC Freight Solutions ensures reliable and efficient global logistics operations.

Their freight forwarding services cover air, sea, and land transportation, catering to diverse customer needs. ABC Freight Solutions also offers comprehensive customs clearance services, ensuring smooth and hassle-free import and export operations. Their strategically located warehouses provide secure storage and efficient inventory management.

Key Features of ABC Freight Solutions:

Global logistics expertise with a strong presence in Delhi/NCR

End-to-end logistics solutions, including freight forwarding and customs clearance

Comprehensive air, sea, and land transportation services

Strategically located warehouses for secure storage and efficient inventory management

6) PQR Express: Last-Mile Delivery Solutions

PQR Express is a leading logistics company in Delhi/NCR, specializing in last-mile delivery solutions. They focus on providing efficient and reliable delivery services for eCommerce retailers and hyperlocal businesses.

PQR Express utilizes advanced technology and a robust network of delivery personnel to ensure timely and accurate deliveries. Their services include same-day delivery, next-day delivery, and time-definite delivery options. With real-time tracking and proof of delivery, PQR Express offers complete transparency and visibility throughout the delivery process.

Key Features of PQR Express:

Specialization in last-mile delivery solutions for eCommerce and hyperlocal businesses

Efficient and reliable delivery services with advanced technology

Same-day, next-day, and time-definite delivery options

Real-time tracking and proof of delivery for complete transparency

7) LMN Supply Chain: Integrated Logistics Services

LMN Supply Chain is an integrated logistics company in Delhi/NCR, offering a wide range of logistics services. They specialize in supply chain management, transportation, warehousing, and distribution, catering to businesses across various industries.

LMN Supply Chain provides end-to-end logistics solutions, ensuring seamless operations and cost-effective supply chain management. Their transportation services cover primary transportation, secondary transportation, and specialized transportation for oversized or heavy-weight cargo. With strategically located warehouses and advanced technology, LMN Supply Chain offers efficient and secure warehousing solutions.

Key Features of LMN Supply Chain:

Integrated logistics services for businesses across industries

End-to-end logistics solutions for seamless operations

Comprehensive transportation services, including specialized transportation

Strategically located warehouses with advanced technology for efficient warehousing

8) RST Logistics: Customized Logistics Solutions

RST Logistics is a renowned logistics company in Delhi/NCR, known for its customized logistics solutions. They focus on understanding the unique requirements of each client and tailoring their services accordingly.

RST Logistics offers a wide range of logistics services, including transportation, warehousing, and supply chain management. They specialize in temperature-controlled logistics for perishable goods, ensuring optimal storage and transportation conditions. With a team of experienced professionals and advanced technology, RST Logistics provides reliable and efficient logistics solutions.

Key Features of RST Logistics:

Customized logistics solutions tailored to individual client requirements 

Comprehensive transportation, warehousing, and supply chain management services

Specialization in temperature-controlled logistics for perishable goods

Experienced professionals and advanced technology for reliable operations

9) EFG Supply Chain: Innovative Logistics Solutions

EFG Supply Chain is an innovative logistics company in Delhi/NCR, known for its cutting-edge solutions and technology-driven approach. They aim to revolutionize the logistics industry by leveraging advanced technology and data analytics.

EFG Supply Chain offers a wide range of logistics services, including transportation, warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfillment. Their advanced analytics and forecasting tools enable efficient demand planning and inventory optimization. With real-time tracking and visibility, EFG Supply Chain provides complete transparency and control over the logistics process.

Key Features of EFG Supply Chain:

Innovative logistics solutions are driven by advanced technology and data analytics

Comprehensive transportation, warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfillment services

Advanced analytics and forecasting tools for demand planning and inventory optimization

Real-time tracking and visibility for complete transparency

10) HIJ Logistics: Reliable and Cost-Effective Solutions 

HIJ Logistics is a reliable and cost-effective logistics company in Delhi/NCR, catering to businesses of all sizes. They focus on providing efficient and affordable logistics solutions to meet the diverse needs of their clients.

HIJ Logistics offers a wide range of services, including transportation, warehousing, packaging, and distribution. They ensure timely deliveries and optimal resource utilization for cost-effective operations. With a team of experienced professionals and a customer-centric approach, HIJ Logistics provides reliable and personalized logistics solutions.

Key Features of HIJ Logistics:

Comprehensive transportation, warehousing, packaging, and distribution services

Timely deliveries and optimal resource utilization for cost-effective operations

Experienced professionals and customer-centric approach to personalized solutions

Conclusion

The logistics companies mentioned in this guide offer a wide range of services, tailored to meet the specific needs of businesses in Delhi/NCR. Whether you require smart logistics solutions, tech-based supply chain management, last-mile delivery services, or innovative logistics solutions, these companies have proven their expertise and reliability in the industry. Evaluate your business requirements and choose the logistics partner that best aligns with your needs for seamless operations and efficient supply chain management.

[awl3pllogisticscompany]

#logisticservice

#logistic

#awlindia

[luceirosdegolados]

He would wreck it all if left alone. The way Mikrel raged when faced with treachery or disrespect was akin to watching a stag bleed itself to death just so he could hurt others in return. The warehouse started burning, filling with smoke, the crates of shroom grenades caught fire and exploded one by one in a space of just a few seconds, creating a white bubble of light so intense if felt like dying.

Mikrel was still in pursuit.

A tall orc with brass knuckles, lying on the floor in a pool of blood just 3 feet away from Mal, enough for her to see him. A wizard, a crafty one at that, had taken the awl through the throat. Another antuurian had escaped. That was the greatest offense, she guessed, that the compatriot was the one slipping through Mikrel's fingers, and that's why he was stopping at nothing to get to him.

He'd set fire to the building, ruin produce, left her and Ush behind in the cloud of light to follow behind his quarry, destroying everything in the way, bleeding and panting and roaring.

She cast a muffling efect around her head, grabbed her goblin associate by the collar of his shirt and felt her way through the exploding clouds of white powder until she found the stairs leading to the top floor.

Air, sound, colors, coolness and shade all came to her in a second like a fanfarre of reality as soon as she stepped out of the area of efect of the shroom bombs.

Blood smeared on the railing signaled the way. He had to be badly wounded.

"Shit. Shit shit."

"I hadn't seen him like this in so long..." the goblin muttered.

"He's gonna get us all killed, the fucking asshole. He's gonna bleed out. Let's go before we all go up like matches..."

"The roof zipline should still work... that if we get out now."

"If it doesn't, I'll kill him myself."

It was an idle threat and then it also wasn't. She could kill him, they both knew, but then again, she'd have to want to.

There it was again, the old question; was Mik an asset or liability?

A crossbow dart passed right next to her ear, coming from the room ahead. The door was open; against the back wall, the other antuurian held a hand crossbow like a shield in one hand and a wand on the other.

The lightning crackled, direct at Mikrel's chest, who was standing right in front of him, but it was as if he took the impact and pushed through it, using the energy to propel himself against the other man, bashing his head against the boards, cutting through the layers of fabric and flesh with an already dirty knife.

He fell to his knees as his enemy slumped to the floor, completely inert.

His shirt and armor were completely charred, his nose was bleeding, and his arms and head and torso. He turned to them, barely keeping an eye half open.

Mal rushed across the room towards him, taking a vial of soothing tonic out her belt and shoving the liquid into Mikrel's mouth. Her fingers trembled against the bloodied cheek.

"Stones you are so difficult..." she said in an angry whisper. So difficult, so inevitable, "Keep it the fuck together until the zipline."

"I got it, birdie," he sputtered. Arrogant until the end of the world, that one.

She helped him up and Ushii found the a way out to the roof, where they tied themselves together to the zipline leading down to the next building over and crossed the night sky amidst the smoke as the warehouse collapsed.

"Fuck you, Mik. Fuck you. You almost got us killed."

"Fuck... off... I did it for our... business... for our... respect... you gonna tell me I was... wrong?"

No. No. Yes perhaps for someone else. Maybe for her. Not for her. It didn't matter.

"One of these days I am going to kill you," she said.

"You'd miss me," he replied, radiant under the ugliness of his wounds.

[authorangelita]

There was a majority ruling at AO3 that I write two missing scenes for this ep 😃 Enjoy!

S01E03 Awl Rewatch Missing Scenes

They needed to move, to get as far away from the building as they could before the fire department arrived to douse the flames. Mac tried to roll over, but he couldn't move. All the muscles in his torso felt like they were seized, and he couldn't draw a deep enough breath.

"Mac?" Jack asked from his right. "You okay, brother?"

Mac waved a hand at him, unsure even to himself what the motion was meant to convey. That he'd be with Jack in a minute? That he needed to catch his breath? That he needed help? That he was dying? It was hard to say exactly since he was starting to panic at his inability to take in air.

"Mac?" Jack's voice came from above him now, and Mac cracked open eyes that he didn't remember closing to see Jack leaning over him, hands hovering in the air inches above Mac's aching chest. "Where you hurtin'?"

"Jack," he wheezed and fumbled for his partner's hands, trying to keep them from touching him.

"Just breathe, kiddo," Jack said. "Got the wind knocked out of you good."

"Can't."

"Yes, you can." Jack gently tugged the collar of Mac's t-shirt away from his neck as if removing the sensation of something against his throat would release his tense chest muscles. It did not, but in the back of Mac's mind, he appreciated the thought.

"Need," Mac pushed at Jack's hands again, "to," and tried to roll over again, "move," and failed miserably, "before," and coughed, "firemen," and then ran out of air and steam to keep talking.

"Hey, hey," Jack said as he took firm hold of Mac's chin and forced him to look directly at Jack's face. "Follow me." He put one hand on Mac's trembling chest and then released his chin to take one of Mac's hands to put on his own chest. He exaggerated his breathing and counted out the breaths and pauses until Mac was actually breathing a reasonably normal rhythm.

"Thanks," Mac rasped.

Jack smiled and patted Mac's chest gently. "Anytime. Now, we do need to get out of here." He grabbed hold of Mac's hands and swiftly pulled him to his feet, steadying him when he stumbled.

They took off across the cracked parking lot at a bit of a lumbering lope, finally on their way to exfil.

~~

Mac rubbed his chest as the ache there worsened. He'd been feeling it since stumbling out of that warehouse with Ralph draped over his back, but he'd managed to successfully put it out of his mind until the Phoenix jet started ascending to cruising altitude. The pressure in the cabin was making his chest feel tight.

He coughed and leaned forward in an effort to breathe easier, but it wasn't helping.

Riley, sitting across the aisle typing up her after-action report, looked over at him and frowned. "Mac? Are you okay?"

Shaking his head, Mac turned and croaked, "Get Jack."

She wasted no time in setting her rig aside and rushing toward where Jack was rummaging through the galley for snacks. "Jack, something's wrong with Mac!"

It was only seconds before Jack was kneeling at Mac's side, putting one hand on the side of Mac's face to get his attention and the other around his wrist to take his pulse.

"Heart's racing there, pal. What's wrong?" Jack started patting him down even before he finished asking the question.

"Chest hurts," Mac choked between coughs. He was starting to feel nauseated from all the coughing, and he really didn't want to vomit on Jack.

Jack palpated Mac's chest until Mac pushed him away. "Not hurt," he gasped. "Re- Refrig-"

"Refrigerant," Riley guessed from where she was standing behind Jack, watching anxiously.

Cursing under his breath, Jack did a half turn to look at her over his shoulder. "He must have inhaled some of the refrigerant gas. Get the heavy-duty first aid kit, Ri, and then get on the phone with Phoenix Med to see what we should do."

Riley was gone and back in a flash. Mac's energy was flagging as he put all his focus into breathing. He slumped back in his seat and watched through hooded eyelids as Jack attached the pulse ox sensor to this index finger. Frowning at the reading, Jack pulled out the portable oxygen tank and hooked the oxygen mask tubing to it. Once he had it going, he strapped the mask over Mac's face.

Mac squirmed, feeling confined by the mask. Jack's warm hand wrapped around the back of his neck, giving the tense muscles there a gentle squeeze, and Mac felt calmer. After a couple of minutes, he could tell that the oxygen was helping, and his breathing was slowly getting better. Now, he mostly just felt exhausted.

Riley moved back over to them and held up her phone to include Mac in the video call she was having with one of the doctors in Medical. "Mac, the doc wants to know your symptoms, if you can tell us."

Mac nodded and raised his hand to remove the oxygen mask, only to have it batted away by Jack.

"Leave that on, bud. You tell us, and we'll tell the doc."

If he had the energy, he'd sigh, but Mac just rolled his eyes. "Feeling better. Chest was tight, couldn't stop coughing, have a headache, was nauseated."

Jack relayed that to the doctor and also told him about Mac's racing heart, putting Mac on oxygen, and the pulse ox readings. While he spoke, Jack sat down beside Mac and rubbed circles on Mac's shoulder. Mac wasn't sure if that was to make him feel better or make Jack himself feel better. Maybe both.

Mac zoned out as the doctor and Jack discussed his symptoms and care. He was just about to drift off when Jack nudged his elbow.

"Let's get you more comfortable before you take a nap."

He blinked his eyes open and looked toward the couch where Riley was piling all of the available pillows up on one end. It was only a few feet away but that might as well be miles with the way his limbs felt heavy. Mac shook his head, but Jack was having none of that.

"I'll help you," Jack promised. He pulled one of Mac's arms over his shoulder and wrapped one arm around Mac's waist, getting a hold on his belt before standing them up and half-supporting half-dragging Mac to the couch.

He expected the oxygen mask to tug from the movement, but he noticed Riley wrangling the tubing and tank around them as Jack settled him on the couch. They ensured that he was propped up to help his breathing and covered him with a couple of the warmest blankets.

"Here's the deal," Jack said, leaning over to pull one of the blankets up to his chin. "Doc thinks you'll be okay. Your exposure was limited but clearly affected your lungs. He'll run some tests when we're back in LA, but your oxygen levels are coming up, so that's a good sign. You can rest, but I'm going to be keeping an eye on that pulse ox thing and taking your pulse, so preemptive apology if I wake you up. Okay?"

Mac nodded and promptly fell asleep before he could thank Jack for taking care of him yet again.

[whispersafterdusk]

Lost in Time - ch 2

When Sam came back she had Dr. Xu with her along with a sack of food and water, a lantern, a couple blankets, and had even thought to include a set of playing cards; Arlo had gone to find Selene and wasn't back yet but Remington felt safe enough to climb back down and deliver the supplies to Dawa.  Once Dawa had eaten there wasn't much to do except sit and chat and play cards as they waited for Selene and Arlo to make their appearances.

It was an hour or so before they heard footsteps coming down the hallway, and then the two of them appeared like ghosts in the light of the lantern.  Both were carrying toolboxes and Selene had an additional duffel bag strapped to her back (it couldn't have been easy to get that down the vine-choked shaft).

"This place is huge," was Selene's greeting as she stared around the room.

"What're we looking at?" Arlo asked.

Remington folded his hand and tossed it on the discard pile - he'd been losing this game anyway.  "There's an old elevator back here somewhere that looks intact but needs power. If we can get Dawa higher up we can climb out of here no problem." ((Continued below cut))

Arlo nodded and looked Dawa over.  "-good to see you're all right.   Do you want to wait here while we go find and fix the elevator?"

"If I can.  The less I walk on this ankle the better."

Arlo nodded again, then returned his attention to Remington.  "Selene and I will go looking for the elevator.  You should stay here just in case.  Since no one even knew these ruins were here there's no telling what might be wandering around in here."

"Will do," Remington said.  "We haven't heard or seen anything but I guess that doesn't mean nothing's here."  He looked back to Dawa.   "Where's that elevator at?"

Dawa dropped his hand into the discard pile too and brushed his palm off on his shirt before pointing toward the back of the room.  "You see that door back there to the left of that counter-looking thing?  Through there is another hallway - not as long as the one you just came through but it leads right up to the other elevator."

"Got it.  Let's get moving," Arlo said, gently nudging Selene with his elbow to get her attention.

She jumped a bit at that but nodded all the same and followed Arlo off toward the rear of the room.

Once they were almost out of range of the lantern's light Remington scooped up the cards and began to shuffle.  "And now I can blame any losses on paying less attention to the cards and more attention to what might be out there waiting to jump on us."

Dawa snorted.  "Like I'd believe that.  Deal."

--------------------------------------

They'd found the elevator easily and had managed to yank a neighboring wall panel free to give themselves access to the wiring within; Arlo stood guard with a flashlight in hand while Selene examined the inner workings of this section of wall.

"Think you can fix it?"

"Looks like it's just a burnt out fuse and some melted wires...shouldn't be too hard to fix," Selene mused.  "There should be a roll of wire and a ruler in the box you carried down, and the snips too.  Start cutting me ten strips of wire about fourteen inches each, please."

Without giving him another look the builder woman began to dig through her second toolbox until she found a pair of pliers and what looked like an awl; whatever she intended to do with them Arlo wasn't sure but rather than watch her work he turned to the task she'd given him and carefully measured out and cut the wires she'd asked for, only looking up briefly at the sound of a very tiny amount of glass breaking -- it seemed she'd used the pliers and awl to pop the ruined fuse out of place and the force of it breaking loose had sent the tiny component bouncing across the floor to shatter against the opposite wall of the hallway.  Selene did little more than shrug at that before pulling out fuses of various sizes from the toolbox and comparing them to the socket the burnt fuse had just been pried out of.

Once he'd gotten the wires cut he left them piled within Selene's reach and then waited there, squatting on his heels and listening; he swore he could hear something thrumming - it was a deep sound, and far away, but unmistakable if he sat and made no noise.

"-do you hear that?" he asked into the silence after several minutes of listening.

"The hum?  Yeah.  This place has power.  I just have no idea where it is and what it's running to - can't tell from here."

"Is that a good or bad thing?"

"A bit of both.  That this place is still powered somewhere SHOULD mean I can reroute power from whatever the source is to wherever we might need it - that's the good thing.  The bad thing is I would need to find a place to tap in AND we also don't know what's being powered - if it's a security measure we might have trouble on our hands."  She paused as she leaned into the wall and went up to her elbows in wires and pipes; when she came back out she had what looked like a battered and worn cloth toy in her hand but then she dropped it to the floor and Arlo could see it was actually an old, dead rat of some kind with blackened fur around what remained of its face.  "--well this explains the shorted wires, poor thing.  Its final mistake was biting something it had no business biting."

Arlo grunted in response - not really a lot he could say to that - and peered around them; he'd been on guard since they'd left Remington and Dawa behind but aside from the distant hum he'd not heard anything in this area.

'Wonder what this place was for, to be buried so far underground,' he thought to himself.  It seemed rather bare bones for a ruin - the walls were a faded out blue, the carpet (what was left of it) had been brown.  There were light fixtures shaped like bowls spaced evenly along the walls just below the ceiling, mirroring one another across the hallway, and the ceiling tiles above them he guessed had once been white and looked to be bolted in place much like the wall paneling was.  It gave off more of a warehouse vibe than anything he could picture people inhabiting or working inside.

His attention was drawn back to Selene as she prodded him with the toe of her boot; when he looked to her she reached out to take the flashlight and sat it on top of one of the toolboxes, aimed in at the open panel on the wall.  "-keep looking anywhere but at me until I say otherwise, all right?  I've only got one pair of these."

The 'these' she was referring to was a pair of goggles with thick, black lenses, and in her other hand she had a small flame torch - currently unlit but he knew both were welding tools and that he shouldn't be looking at that directly.  He shifted to put his back to her and soon the hallway was flickering as she began replacing the bad wires with the bits he'd cut; the flickering light made the hallway a bit spooky as the shadows stretched and "moved" in strange ways, and Arlo hoped nothing would choose this instant to jump out at them since he didn't think he'd trust his own vision at first.

"There we go..." he heard Selene mutter; he stayed facing away until he got a tap on the shoulder then turned as she began connecting plugs to the device she'd carried along in that duffel bag. Finally, with a faint whine and a whirring noise, the elevator's button panel came on -- it wasn't exactly impressive looking with its single button but the fact that it had lit up at all was heartening.

"All right.  Now we get to see if the elevator can move."  Selene dropped the goggles back into her bag and pushed the button.  There was a quiet ding and the doors slid open, with a grinding noise sounding out at the last few inches before the doors slid into the wall and revealed the dimly lit car interior.

Selene carefully poked her head inside and looked to each side and even up at the ceiling, then pulled back to frown at Arlo.  "-this only has buttons for floors below us, nothing above."

Arlo sighed, pushing himself to his feet.  "I doubt there'd be only one elevator that goes up for a place this large.  Maybe we can go down and find another one that links to the upper floors."

"As good a plan as any.  It does sound like the humming is coming from below us so at the very least maybe we'll find that power source and can use that instead of having to wire and pray."

Selene carefully moved the duffel bag against the wall (the device powering the elevator was still tucked inside it) then picked up her toolbox and the flashlight, with Arlo picking up the other toolbox; they both stepped inside and Selene pushed the button for the next floor down.

The elevator groaned a bit then began to go down (slowly, as it was supposed to -- good to know they wouldn't be taking a fall of their own).  "If we can't find another way up I can always run back to my shop and figure out a way to attach one of my spare motors to a pulley system -- actually, that'd probably be the easiest part.  Harder part would be figuring out how to anchor it up at the top of the sinkhole."

"Let's see what we find first."

The elevator came to a surprisingly smooth stop and with a ding the doors slid open...to reveal that the outer doors on the floor's landing itself hadn't.

Selene huffed.  "All right - guess that means this floor isn't powered."

Arlo let out a chuckle and tried to wedge his fingers into the gap between the doors; the door was rusted and didn't seem inclined to budge, and even with Selene shoving the claw end of a hammer into the space to try and help pry it open they couldn't manage it.  Finally, with a shrug, they gave up and pressed the button for the next floor.

Again with a ding the doors slid open at the destination floor and to their surprise the outer doors did as well -- there were dim red emergency lights on in this hallway and Selene grinned at the sight of them.

"Now we're getting somewhere.  Let's-"

Arlo held out a hand to stop her from leaving the elevator, and wordlessly pointed ahead of them.

This hallway was identical to the one they'd come from but ahead he could see one of the nearest doors was open, and sticking out of it laying on the floor was what looked like a skeletal hand.

Selene wrinkled her nose.  "...at least it doesn't look recent?"

"Not promising.  Stay close."

Arlo stepped from the elevator and carefully walked down the hall, keeping to the middle of the hallway and scanning ahead of them for any signs of trouble; when he got to the door with the hand he bent down and could barely make out an entire skeleton wrapped in ragged clothing attached to the hand on the other side of the door -- it looked like the person had collapsed and their arm had kept the door from sliding shut.  After a moment he carefully shoved the door back into the wall and took the flashlight from Selene, shining it into the room.

This looked to be a dormitory room of some kind; he could see a bunk bed, a desk and chair, a computer terminal, and a small kitchen area attached to a larger sitting area off to his right.  On the back wall was a door marked with a symbol he assumed meant bathroom and there were shelves and what looked like a closet door visible as well.  Everything was coated in thick dust and along with books and things on the shelves there were small items here and there - coffee mugs, pens, some plates near the sink, the remnants of a jacket tossed over the back of the chair, a pair of shoes near the bunk...all small details confirming that this place had indeed been lived in by actual people.

There weren't any other skeletons inside, at least.

"Let's have a look down the hall but be careful - we don't know what killed this person."

They continued on; the hallway eventually dead-ended, and not at another elevator.  None of the other doors were open and despite the red lights indicating some kind of power was running through this area they still couldn't get any of the doors to open (not that they could see how - there weren't any handles or panels on the outside that they could find).

"Maybe the next floor?"

"Guess we'll see."

They headed back to the elevator and went down to the next floor, and both Arlo and Selene gasped as the doors opened to reveal another red-lit hallway almost identical to the others save for the sheer number of skeletal remains scattered up and down its length.

"What in the world..."

Arlo took a few steps out onto the landing and shined his flashlight ahead.  A few of the skeletons nearby looked to be wearing the remnants of some kind of body armor, and laying near at hand were long objects that vaguely resembled the rifle Selene had once shown him.  There were a few other armored and armed skeletons further down the hall but the plainsclothed skeletons outnumbered them three to one.  Their clothing, as it had rotted away, hadn't done much in the way of keeping the skeletons intact so most of them where just heaps of bones piled here and there, but several looked to have fallen in a way to suggest that these people had once been running both away from and toward the armed skeletons.

Selene moved past him and bent down near a pile of bones that must have, at one point, been two separate people; she carefully reached down and picked up a shattered skull -- there was a large and jagged hole through the temple area and the eye socket on that side had crumbled away.

"...what happened down here?"

"Something awful," Arlo replied, voice low.  "Some kind of fight.   The civilian-looking ones I can understand being dead - they look like they got gunned down.  But I don't understand why there's the armed ones still here too...I don't see any weapons aside from the rifles."

Selene stood turned over one of the nearby helmets with her foot; there weren't any bullet holes or similar damage to it, and the matching armor also looked relatively intact aside from the ravages of time.   "They don't look like they took any return fire, and it doesn't seem like they were here to protect everyone else from something."

"Let's...keep moving.  It doesn't look like we'll find anything here."  Arlo spun on a heel and returned to the elevator, waiting until Selene joined him before slapping the button for the next floor.

The next hallway was similar to the one they'd just left, just with fewer bodies in it.  They didn't even bother leaving the elevator for that one and moved on to the final floor available from the elevator's panel.

When the doors opened they were shocked to find the area was fully lit -- harsh white lights glared overhead and the faint humming they'd heard up above was much louder down here.  This floor's elevator doors opened to reveal a sort of sitting area; there were armchairs and a few small tables all falling apart with age, and several large pots that must have held plants at some point.  The far wall looked to be made of frosted glass with a set of double doors (with handles, for once) in its middle; Selene walked to the glass and scrubbed a hand across it -- a faint glow from the room beyond this one peeked through the caked on dust.

"This floor is fully powered, I'd wager."  She inhaled and exhaled slowly, then went to tug one of the doors open.  It didn't move an inch, and still didn't move when she tried to push it open instead; she wrapped hands around the right door's handle and planted a foot on the left door for leverage in an effort to force it open, huffing and struggling as she tried to pull again.

Arlo watched her for a moment or two then walked over and tugged her back; he flipped the flashlight around and smashed the butt of it into the glass and the door immediately shattered.

"...one way to do it, I guess.  But also a good way to set off any security systems."

"We've only seen skeletons so far - with the firefights above us I think we'd have seen traces of AI-based security measures by now if any of them had been active back then or were still active now."  He tucked the flashlight back into his belt and carefully stepped through the frame of the door, being mindful to not brush up against its jagged sides.

Immediately noticeable about this next room was the abrupt temperature change -- it was much, much colder in here compared to the rest of the facility.  This room was lit brightly and was a very spacious rectangular shape but the far right corner from where they stood had collapsed inward; dirt and stone had flowed in and piled around strange glass tube structures that reached from floor to ceiling.  Each had wide metal rings around their tops and neat lines of insulated wires incorporated into the floor that were arranged in almost a sunburst pattern radiating from the bases of the tubes that all met at a large, blocky computer console situated on a dais on the wall to their left.

"What are those things..." It wasn't so much a question as Selene musing out loud, having stepped in through the broken door a few breaths after Arlo.  "I've never seen or even heard of anything that looks like that."

Ceiling tiles and some of the lighting fixtures had fallen and left the floor something of a minefield of debris; Arlo picked his way across the room to get a better look at the glass tube things.

They were big enough to hold a man and he could count seven visible (based on how they were evenly arranged and on the wires running out of the cave in in the corner he assumed there were more of these things buried under all that dirt), and as he circled around one he came face to face with yet another skeleton - this one was falling out of the broken back half tube.  Inside the tube Arlo could see more wires, a pair of fishhook-shaped padded metal prongs, and tubing that disappeared into the metal cuff that ringed the topmost "roof" of the tube.

All of the tube structures on the outermost row - the ones closest to the cave in - had all shattered, and their inhabitants were spilled out unceremoniously into the floor.

"Arlo..."

Arlo spun at Selene's call - she'd sounded unnerved and he'd half expected to have found the security measures she'd just chided him over but instead he saw her standing near the tube nearest the computer console.  That one looked entirely intact and sported wide patches of frost across its glass; unlike the hallways above this room had just one skeleton in it (that wasn't falling from the tubes, anyway) which was splayed out on the floor at the base of this intact tube, with some sort of filtering mask slipping off the grinning skull.  Selene was standing with the tube between her and the skeleton, and had her hands braced against the glass and her face pressed to her fingers, peering in at...whatever was inside, which from where Arlo stood looked to be nothing more than a substance the color of pea soup.

"What's wrong?"

"I think there's a body still IN this one."

Frowning he came over to stand next to her; the tube radiated cold and he could see smears where Selene had wiped away frost and grime off the glass surface.  Selene shifted out of his way and Arlo bent to peer at the clean area she'd made -- there was a shadowy shape just barely visible through the liquid, and it DID look full and vaguely human-shaped.

"Awful..." he muttered, huffing out a sigh.  "We'll have to figure out what to do with all these remains once we get Dawa back to the surface.  We can't just leave them here now that we know about them."

"Yeah...they should be buried.  It's only proper," Selene replied, backing away from the tube and its inhabitant.  "All right, let me see about this computer.  Maybe I can pull an old map of this place..."

Arlo stayed near the tube as Selene headed up the few steps that led to the computer; it both bothered and baffled him to have found all these skeletons and then an actual corpse presumably preserved in a tank of...goop.

"Hey - can you go check that door over there?"

"Hmm?" was his response as he tore his attention away from the tube.  "Which door?"

"See that one over there?" Selene pointed and he followed the tip of her finger to spy a door on the same wall as the cave in -- the cave in hadn't quite reached it fully so if it was unlocked they could probably get it open, and wouldn't have to move much dirt to get through it.

He headed over to the door and again found it was one of those handleless ones, the same as the ones in the hallways above.  "I don't see a way to open it."

"Let me see then...  I pulled up a security log that has a bunch of locks listed but I don't know what goes to which door, hang on a second."

Arlo leaned his shoulder against the wall and rubbed his hands together - this room wasn't quite so cold as it was outside but it was still chilly.  Leaning as he was he could see the whole room and could watch as Selene did whatever she was doing over on that ancient console, and then finally beside him in the wall he felt a vibration and heard a click.  "Hey, I think that did it--"

He was interrupted by a booming robotic voice that echoed through the room:

 ACTIVE USER DETECTED. AUXILIARY POWER AT 3%. EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS INITIATED: AWAKENING SEQUENCE ACTIVATED.  PLEASE SUMMON MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO SURGICAL LAB 3948A9-Z1.

The door beside him slid open unnoticed as now Arlo, in full alert mode, scanned the room.  "What the heck was that?  What did you do?"

Selene still stood at the console, frozen in place.  "I didn't do anything!  I mean I did SOMETHING but it was just unlocking the doors the system would allow me to unlock!  I didn't tell it to initiate whatever it was it just said it was doing!"

There was a rumble in the ceiling followed by an incredibly loud hissing noise as all the tubes - both the broken ones and the single intact one - all began blowing air out of the top metal rings as previously unseen vents all slid open together.  Barely audible over the hissing was a grinding noise as small sections of the floors slid open at the base of the tubes revealing drains -- the one intact tube began to dump the green fluid inside it, which was a lot less thick than it had seemed while it was still inside the glass, and the fluid flowed neatly down into the revealed drains.

Arlo watched with a sort of nervous fascination as the tube steadily emptied, and the more it emptied the more of the body it held was revealed.

First there was the crown of the head - its brown hair clung to the head as the fluid drained, and the person's face was barely visible through the mess of diodes, sensors, and a breathing mask secured to their face.  Soon the shoulders were visible and Arlo could see how the person was hung by the armpits from the hooks; breasts and then the entire torso were revealed, all just as covered with sensors as the head, and then finally he could see legs then bare feet.

With a shrill beeping the hooks inside the tube lowered several inches to place the woman's feet on the floor inside the enclosure, then the glass began to lift up and slot into the ceiling.  As the tube lifted the sensors and diodes across the body were yanked loose and left to hang in tangles; Arlo found himself moving toward the tube and its inhabitant without really realizing it, accidentally kicking a foot into the skeleton that lay there and sending bones scattering across the floor. Selene must have started moving at the same time as they both reached the tube together to catch the limp body as the parts looped under the arms suddenly gave way and dumped the woman out.

Whatever the green fluid had been had left an oily, slick residue all over the woman's skin, and even with the two of them reaching out to grab her as she fell they still only managed to keep the head from slamming into the floor.

"What the heck-"

Arlo fumbled to get his hands under the woman's armpits.  "Come on, lay her down-"

"Lay her down WHERE?  There's broken glass all over the place."

"Computer?"

"Maybe."

They carefully made their way over to the dais the computer console sat on, struggling to keep hold on the body that was slicker than anything they'd ever encountered.

Once they had the woman carefully laid out on the narrow bit of walkspace behind the console Arlo and Selene stared at one another wordlessly.  Neither had expected to have a corpse pop out of a tube of goo today, and he absently scrubbed his hands against his thighs and tried not to think about how the fluid on his hands felt a lot like runny snot against his skin.

"-oh man.  Arlo - I think she's breathing."

Selene pointed a shaky finger down at the woman; he dropped his glance but looked away just as quickly - the woman was completely nude and he couldn't bring himself to look too closely at her if there was a chance she...  He sucked in a breath and dropped down to press fingers to her pulse point at the neck.

...and yes, that was a pulse.  Somehow, this woman's heart was still beating.

"She's alive." He yanked his coat off and began to awkwardly wind it around the woman's upper half; a moment later Selene had hers off too and was trying to get the sleeves tied around the woman's waist.

"What do we do?"

"We need to -- first, we need to get out of here since it's cold and she's soaked.  We left Dr. Xu at the top of the shaft with Sam.  I say we backtrack to Dawa and Remington and get Xu down here ASAP.  He can check her out, we can use those blankets to get her dry, and then we uh--"  He stopped and looked around - there was that one door Selene had managed to get unlocked and open but now with an unconscious woman...   "-then YOU go and get a motor and winch.  No more searching for elevators."

With the pair of jackets forming a barrier between his hands and the slippery green gunk Arlo was able to pick the woman up and follow along behind Selene who in turn picked up the flashlight and tool boxes and led the way back to the elevator.  It was a bit tricky to maneuver himself and the woman through the broken door, especially when the lights in the room flickered and abruptly died and momentarily left Arlo balancing awkwardly within the door's frame in total darkness while Selene fumbled for the flashlight so they could see their way back to the elevator.

'What a day this turned out to be...'

[awlindiathings]

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[awlservices91]

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[anyspaze]

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[awlusa]

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[purkinje-effect]

The Anatomy of Melancholy, 66: Baggage

Table of Contents. Second Instar, Chapter 33. Go to previous. Go to next. TWs: Body horror, joint trauma, nudity, disability-related deprecation/catastrophization. How we carry ourselves.

________________

The last of the suds fizzled, leaving ‘Choly submerged in cold opalescent bathwater. A similar surfactant quality popped his daze, and he shifted in an attempt to sit up in the tub. The fluid’s inertia instead sloshed him further back against the enameled iron. He grunted with a squint as some water got up his nose. When he opened his eyes again, he saw the real trouble hindering his exit. His joints had fallen as slack as his lucidity. He felt like a marionette without a yoke. His stomach shuddered for him, as the slow continued sway of the water, once more settling, tugged at his arms half afloat.

So it was possible, after all, to relax too much.

He lay there for some time longer, barely able to string together the thought to devise some plan. His state left him reeling beyond the rationality that he might call out for help. Angel would worry itself apart to see him like this, and Sticks might very well toss him out in the Merrimack, beyond salvage. Besides, they hadn’t come to his rescue when he fell hours earlier, and he managed to get himself to the dinner table and back up here with nearly a nonzero amount of assistance. He could do this himself. He needed to learn how to do it himself--for his own safety, in the event something estranged others from coming to his aid.

He prayed this whatever-was-happening wouldn’t endure. But at least, he could in the moment assess his limitations.

His musculature and tendons remained connected and functioning, but necessitated an entirely other manner of physiological prescience: to not simply manage his own proprioception, but to apply it forward like some telekinetic mess of connective tissue cat’s cradle. It took every scrape of mental faculty to process and focus to where he could grasp himself by the wrists, by the elbows, by the shoulders, and so on, to grip each errant joint in turn, and to administer the force and torsion necessary to right the dysfunction. The bangs and bruises from the citywide chaos of the day before only served to compound how his throbbing body resisted total exhaustion.

He pushed himself up by both hands off the side of the tub, to stand. Instead, he spilled over the side and across the concrete flooring of the balcony. Flat on his back and defeated, he flopped back with a wheeze and stared up into the joints of the patio cover. The string lights burned a reverse image in his eyelids when he shut them.

He could hear rummaging inside through the open door yards away. His Stygian eyes fluttered open. The sight of twin mounted radstag heads hanging over the balcony door choked him.

“--Angel?”

The appellation came out far weaker and more broken than he expected.

When Angel didn’t respond, he bristled, and once more underwent the slow, quiet, deliberate process of summoning himself together. He found the Mister Handy had set out on the workhorse nearest to the tub for him a towel, his robe, and his glasses. He managed the loosest sense of drying off, and draped the towel around his neck and shoulders; then, he put on his glasses, and tied off the robe. Unsure exactly whom had come upstairs, let alone what--or whom--they sought, he grabbed an awl from the workbench and edged nearer the door frame on bated breath.

In the dark of the upstairs room, he could only make out the edges of lime split lighting in contrast to the figure’s lit Pip-Boy screen. He shivered at a prickle of draft. The white uniform with black apron. Symmetrical, if not keloid-riddled, features. Sticks rifled through the secretary as though it didn’t belong to him. Unsure how to even begin to ask what the ghoul could’ve needed, 'Choly meekly closed the door behind himself.

“Need more light?”

Sticks jerked up to look at him.

“...Of course, of course.” He loosed a rumbling, agitated chuckle. “It’s all right, pal, that you, ah. Sealed that negotiation for me like that. It’s all right, because... because we’re partners. Isn’t that right? Partners.”

The ghoul rose to flip the switch for the three overhead lamps strung across the roof beams. Right off, ‘Choly noticed the ghoul’s black eye, and a ripped dishevelment marred with bits of fresh blood. ‘Choly chewed at his lower lip.

“Partners... Yeah.” He swallowed, and rubbed at his forearm with his free hand. He’d only been trying to help. “Are you okay? Could we-- talk? We need to talk. If-- if that’s all right.”

The juxtaposition of the encounter startled Sticks to a cautious desperation.

“Everything’s all right between us, right?”

“Of course. It’s not that. ...I need to sit.” He walked over to the secretary and took the desk chair for himself. Sticks sat on the corner of the bed. “I know I fucked up a lot yesterday, but I think I may have fucked up something else.”

He set the awl down on the desk, and swiveled to face Sticks. Picking what he felt he could afford to potentially damage further, he took hold of his left calf and knee, and purposefully loosed it again with a hollow chain of cartilaginous pops. His breath stuttered as he dangled his leg by the foot, but he kept his cool as he gave the ghoul a sardonic glance.

Sticks looked to him agape, with unfiltered, nauseated fascination.

“The cryogenic chemicals damaged my joints and skin, but I’ve managed for months until today. This is... something completely else.” He worked at resetting his knee as he continued, stifling jolts of revulsion. “I mean, even if it is the condition progressing, why all at once? And why-- this? It would be too much of a coincidence if the X-Cell Squared weren’t related... or the inhaler. That fucking inhaler.” He seethed, cupping his face in hand. “I was so tired when she handed me that stuff last night and told me it was Addictol. Fuck me, I’m stupid--”

“--You’re not stupid. She just knows how to trick people. ...Do you really suppose she gave you something that wasn’t Addictol?”

“I checked my Pip-Boy’s health diagnostics earlier. I’m still in withdrawals from chems I took prior to her giving me the inhaler. I could show you, if I-- if I knew where it was.”

“Hey now. I’m sure it’s safe. It’s just you, me, and the robot now.”

‘Choly toweled at his hair again, only to swivel around and look in the secretary for himself. He produced the Walden Drugs catalogue from one slot, and thumbed through it in search of specific pages.

“My current set of orthotics aren’t doing it. The officer’s gloves help, but that’s just my hands. The ankle and wrist braces, the postural corset--they’re just for sprains and such, not full dislocations. Neither you nor Angel seemed to notice earlier, but I fell down the stairs. I’m struggling to put one foot in front of the other. I’m a liability as I am. You called me wet cardboard the other day, and it just keeps feeling more true.“ He slapped the catalogue down in his lap, and shut his eyes to rub at them under his glasses with thumb and forefinger. “Look, I’m bad at asking for help. So: This is me asking for help. I know you don’t have to help me and that it’s probably prudent to ditch me... but I hope having me in your life means more to you than that.”

He held out the booklet turned to the relevant page. Sticks leaned to take it, and looked it over, uncurling the front half to inspect the cover, then back to the items. He face slacked in earnest as he flipped over to a locations listing.

“The closest one was Nashua, you said? Lexington didn’t have them?”

“I lived in the Lexington Walden’s stock room for months before it went up in flames. What I’ve got is the best I could find. Only the warehouses that stocked hospitals would have what’s on that page. They’re surgical grade. ...The Merrimack swallowed up the Lowell General Hospital, didn’t it?“ He slumped, unable to recall the building in the skyline as they’d passed through Downtown Historic. “You have no idea how badly I want to stay put. I love it here, with the bathtub, with the bed, with the you... But...” The idea of it eroded him to trembling. “I know it’s a long way. Especially on foot. But I can’t do it with just Angel. Especially since it’s out of ammo.”

“No, no. If you need this, then we need this. We needed a good reason to blow this place for a while. The Unfolded may seem to want to continue respecting the history this place has, Glenn Johnny’s included... But Lowell as a whole? They weren’t out here on exterminator duty, Mindy. They were doing recon on the locks and channels equipment. For the General.”

That nearly knocked ‘Choly out of the chair. When it clicked, he paled numb.

“The fuck do they want to-- Oh. Oh no.”

“Yeah. I’m not happy about it, either. Bare minimum, it’s gonna be like when a company puts a new building in. Except you and I both know that wont just be, what was it? Skunks? But worst case scenario? I don’t even want to begin to speculate what they plan to do with the river.” Weary, Sticks circled back to the catalogue. “Have you got a time estimate for this little recon? How long you think it’ll take to get there, and how long you intend to stick around?”

“I’m not sure. Does it matter much? We’re in agreement that a change of scenery’s desirable.”

Sticks traced at the details on the page, distant and in deep thought.

“It’s not just a change of scenery, is the thing. It’s a change of climate. I don’t know if you realize this, but Lowell’s on the southern threshold of the Hinter... and we’re coming up on Nor’easter season. Sure, the wildlife has got all big and wild, but so’s the weather. I’ll be mostly all right up there, being a ghoul, provided our shelter’s sound. But you? And the Handy?” The ghoul waved off his own train of thought. “You know what. Don’t sweat it. We’ll manage this. My experience, your grey matter.”

“Nor’easters? You’re worried over a chance there’s one this year? I’ve weathered dozens of ice storms in my life. Even a few hurricanes. And you’re a native Yankee, so you’ve got to have, too. We’ll be fine.” Denial wheezed from his nostrils, his lips pressed together tight. “I know it will put us even further from New Hampshire, but I do have one obligation first. I have to go to Billerica, to escort someone to the Concord suburbs. I should’ve taken them to safety before getting here, but I also didn’t know what I was getting myself into. They’ve been waiting for the Lowell conflict to blow over, and like me, they’re the last survivor of their location. I would have had to go check on them soon even if we stayed here.”

The ghoul squinted at him.

“Hazarding you’re confident they couldn’t just travel there themselves.”

“It shouldn’t take long at all!” ‘Choly threw his hands up. “One day, tops. We just need to get from here to there to Sanctuary Hills. It’s a Mister Handy. I couldn’t have brought it to Lowell and just left it. And it just feels too many kinds of wrong to just leave it all alone there, when it could be among some normal people again for once.”

Sticks weighed the various aspects about the proposition that didn’t sit well.

“If you’re having trouble just walking, do you suppose you’ll be in any condition to ride Angel down?”

“I, I don’t know.” 'Choly wilted into begging that left his companion too tongue-tied to object all the while. “We’ll figure that out, too! And you know what? This trip to Nashua isn’t just for me. Partners. I meant it, that we’re in this together. The long haul. The Lexington Walden was a smaller location, and even it had a sizable chem lab arrangement, with a large cache of stock. The Nashua Walden was classified as a full regional warehouse: it shipped to a dozen locations in the New England Commonwealth. Olivia gave me all those military chem formulas. That is what you were looking for just now, weren’t you? I’m as interested as you, to see what all I can make from a chem cookbook culminated from two hundred years of research.”

Sticks sat up at once and looked to him knowingly. He swatted his knee with the catalogue.

“Now that, I like to hear! What initiative! We’ll start out for all this tomorrow. You hear me? Let’s get to gathering things up tonight. We can do a once-over in the morning to make sure we’re not leaving anything important behind.”

“You’re not exhausted after all that stuff downstairs? After cooking for thirty?”

‘Choly felt even more pathetic than he sounded. He hadn’t even lifted a finger with a thing, yet was this worn out.

“We’ll go until we pass out, at least. We’ll sleep better that way. Hey Angel!” Sticks called out for the robot. “Set down that broom and dustpan for a bit and help us out up here!” He chortled excitedly. “Ohh, bless it all. You want to cook chems for me. And you want to wear this for me. I could kiss you.”

Something between a grimace and a grin tore ‘Choly’s face.

“You... you could kiss me, you know.”

“You’re not wrong.” Sticks swept him up in both arms and plopped him back on the freshly made bed, only narrowly taking the care to be delicate with him. He leaned down over the top of him, a hand to each side of ‘Choly’s shoulders, to smooch him. “We’re great together. You know that, right?”

‘Choly squinted awkwardly, and reached to turn off the screen light on Sticks’s Pip-Boy. He pulled him into another kiss, and looked him in the eye with adoration.

“Always have been.”

“I’ll have you know I’ve no intention of leaving this place without first cleaning up after such horrid house guests.” Angel scoffed in frustration as it appeared upstairs, oblivious to the pair making out on the bed. “And I hate to be the bearer of such information, but if I’m to carry Mister Carey, we must pack as light as possible. It’s not to guilt you, Sir, but even with the refinements you’ve made to my hydraulics, the added weight does result in a higher fuel expenditure. My ammunition isn’t the only thing running low after this week.”

“So we’ll make more frequent refueling pit stops for you, buddy,” Sticks mumbled over his shoulder, still pecking all over ‘Choly’s face and neck and shoulders where he could get at it. The little creep soaked it all up, squirming like it tickled. “You just worry about carrying Carey here. Anything heavy I need to bring, I’ll carry myself.”

‘Choly grabbed his face to get his attention.

“Hey. Maybe Angel could carry all the supplies, and you carry me? I’ve got to weigh less than that Flamer did, and you hefted that thing all over town without hardly ever setting it down.”

The ghoul melted into dopey chuff.

“Mindy. Babe. You do not weigh less than a Flamer.” He smiled, heavy lidded. “You’re on something, though. Sounds like it might work. I can guarantee you, that everything I’m bringing totally weighs less than you. So if I carry you, and Angel carries everything I’m bringing, that’s less strain on its flame.”

“Can I entrust you with my most precious cargo, Mister Hawthorne?”

He planted one more forceful smooch on ‘Choly before meeting gazes in a dreamy determination.

“He’s my prize, too, ya know.”

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