Most of the building was in pieces, leaving only the support beams sticking out of the water. Pieces of the facility rode the waves as the remaining members of Vanguard grabbed onto planks of wood or floating rubber tires.
A shattered team clinging to the pieces of a shattered complex to survive.
Brianna felt a cramp in her wing. It was time to rest her tired wings. She landed on top of one of the support beams and perched herself in a position to view the waves.
She looked to her left and to her right. Mxy, true to his nature, was lying in a palm tree float sipping on a pina colada. 'Underneath the Mango Tree' could be hear in the distance. Leslie had given up looking for any floating debris and instead was clinging to the edge of the tree float. She looked annoyed at having to depend on Mxy for anything. Brute Force was alternating between a rubber tire from a semi and a splintered door -- both were failing to keep him afloat. He would dip down into the water for a few seconds and resurface sputtering. Tiberius, like Brianna, had found a stump from one of the support beams. Phil, for now, was simply treading water. All of them were making their way towards Brianna, who, being on the highest perch, was the only thing everyone could see.
"Beep."
Brianna turned around. "If you're wondering if I'm mad at you -- well, I am mad at you."
"Robot Squrriel did try. Beeoooop."
Phil could see the pained look on her face. "Grissom's been in worse messes. And Danny's tough."
Brianna didn't want to think of Montag as dead. Not yet. I'll go crazy if I think of this now. Just...think about the mission. "Robo Squrriel says he knows where the last robot is."
"Wonderful," said Tiberius. He looked at Robo Squrriel, hovering near Brianna's shoulder. It was true she wasn't quite fond of him, but she was the only one he felt safe with for the moment. "And I trust he can lead us to it?"
The Banshee turned to the robot. "Well? Can you?"
"Beep-beep. If you follow, I can show you."
"Great," said Leslie. "Let's follow the robotic rodent. Because, it's not like he could lead us to trouble or anything." Clearing the explosion and the dip into the waters had made Leslie a little more sarcastic than usual.
Brianna nodded. "Well? Where's this robot?"
"Beep. Robo Squrriel will show --"
"Not show, robot. Tell." She leaned closer to Robo Squrriel's audio receptors. "One C-sharpe note could rattle your insides apart."
"Beep," Robo Squrriel said in a downcast tone. "Melbourne. Beeoooop. The plan was always to go there."
Brianna nodded. She blocked Robo Squrriel's view of the rest of the team with her wing. "Mxy, I trust you can take us there?"
Are we still doing this? Man, this battle seems to be taking weeks. You guys need to move on. But of course, I'll take you to Melbourne.
Leslie scowled. "And that's Melbourne, Austrailia. Not Melbourne, Washington State, or Melbourne, New Mexico, or Melbourne, Georgia." Her fingers slipped and she fell back into the water. "Oooomp!" She struggled to get back on the boat. "I've had enough of your tricks to last me a lifetime."
Don't worry. The prank I pull on you three months from now will make you feel worse.
"Beep! Robo Squrriel will help to!"
"Help?" asked Brianna. "Help? I've had enough of your charity, Robo Squrriel. I don't want you near the team."
"Brianna --" began Brute Force.
"I mean it." She looked back at Brute Force. "Don't you see? He's been nothing but trouble from the beginning." She turned her attention back to Robo Squrriel. "What have you done for us? Sold us to some UN spys, and ki -- lost a teammate and Danny? No. I've had enough of your 'help'. Stay here, Robo Squrriel. I don't care if you live or die -- just stay away from this team."
Mxy's float became big enough for everyone to ride on. The float made it's way towards the city. Leslie scooted towards Brianna. "I knew you'd grow up someday, Brianna. I just didn't know you'd grow up so cold."
