She hurried past me then and I made my way back through the rooms to the stairs and the crowd below. Nonchalantly I made my way back down the spiral staircase the subject of intense scrutiny by all.
"Everything all right?" Matt asked worriedly.
"Yes, couldn't be better actually."
I glanced around at our interested spectators and asked, "Anyone here an authority on the ancient ruins in the forest?"
No one volunteered anything so I decided to sweeten the deal.
"Who'd like to go visit the surface and see the sky, as well as the latest fashions?"
I'd said that last part for the women, who instantly joined into a muttering mob pushing their men forward toward us. I had neglected to tell the southern bells decked out in lacy petticoats and brocaded dresses that the current fashion on the surface pretty much consisted of a slutty T-shirt and a pair of jeans that looked like they'd been pressed molded onto them. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them though.
Apparently a lot of them liked the idea of going topside. I might even share that desire with them some day, but the reality was that none of us were going topside, unless God willed it so.
Captain Rogers had made it back, but he'd used the Orlanis Star device. I didn't have the device for one and for two I wouldn't use it even if I did have it. I owed my allegiance elsewhere so we were figuratively stuck down here. Not that we had much time left for us to worry about our exile from the surface.
I didn't give us much of a chance in surviving the odds against us down here. Hopefully we could accomplish something notable with what little time we may have left to us though. That was my prayer anyway.