Boy With Stars In His Eye, outtake
by dossier
Author's notes: This was a scene from the movie; I was finished with Boy With Stars In His Eye and decided that I had no place for it to go in that story. Rather than let it languish on my hard drive, I thought I'd go ahead & post it. not beta'd in any way shape or form.
Rated: E for everyone
Pairing: Baines and Company in NEXXUS.
Disclaimer: As always, not mine. no money made. New Line Cinema, Inc. and North American Pictures.
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The ladder was the only way to get off of the same level as the creature, and that was the only thing Baines could think of-- get away right now. He'd never been this scared in his whole life, and it galvanized him into action. Baines knew that hatch wasn't going to hold it back for very long.
Casserly was in the lead as she started down the ladder. Baines helped Zunoski out of the hatch and on his way. He hoped Zunoski was cognizant enough to hang on and make it down, because there was no other way out. Baines whispered at him as Zunoski grabbed the first rung "You can do it, buddy, just take it one rung at a time."
He looked down the ventilation shaft to make sure Casserly and Zunoski were moving, as Shepard hauled ass after Zunoski. Mancini went next, Baines rounded out the complement as he hauled ass down the ladder. He heard noise above him that indicated the creature was still following them.
He kept track of the progress of the people underneath him. Mancini was slowing down, and the creature was getting closer; the noise was getting louder. The irony was the ladder that gave them any hope of escape had reduced the retreat to a crawl. "Come on Mancini, move it!" Baines had no intention of waiting patiently or politely while Mancini had whatever attack he was having at the moment.
"I just need some time, man."
Dammit, Mancini, this is not time for you to pull this shit. Baines gave Mancini some advice on the necessary course of action. "One hand over the other, man!"
Mancini had come to a complete halt and was clinging to the ladder, head tucked down into his arm. Baines could see he was absolutely paralyzed by his fear.
How the fuck had this guy jumped out of an airplane? He felt sorry for Mancini, but now was not the time to do serious therapy for acrophobia.
"Last chance, Mancini!" Baines yelled. He looked up at the hatch and just *knew* the thing was right there. He gave up, there was no way he was stopping for Mancini, and carefully climbed down over and around his stricken teammate.
"What the fuck are you doing man?" Mancini held still as Baines slid over him. The smell of fear on Mancini was rank. Baines understood, but there was nothing he could for him but spur him on by example.
Baines made it a few feet farther down, still keeping an eye on both the hatch and Mancini. The creature stuck its head out the hole in the wall and watched their progress down the ladder.
Baines saw it, and warned Mancini. "Above you!" Mancini didn't budge. He was glued to the wall, and all his being was focused on his first long look at the creature. Baines tried to rip him out of his panic, screamed at Mancini. "Come on!"
The thing started to climb down the ladder headfirst, sticking to the wall like a lizard. All eyes were on the appalling scene as it played out above them.
Zunoski yelled, "CLEAR!" Shepard and Baines sucked themselves as close to the ladder as possible to get out of the line of fire. Zunoski let go a few shots, but to no avail. It had reached Mancini, and impaled him with one of the scythe-like claws at the end of its grasping limbs.
Oh God, Oh God, Oh God, it didn't kill him! Horrified, Baines watched Mancini writhe for a split second as his back arched against the pain. "Mancini!" Baines pulled the pin, and tossed the grenade to him. He fucking caught it, Mancini's last act of grace, and courage. Baines didn't need to warn the rest about the coming blast; the four survivors were concentrating on the awful spectacle.
The blast from the grenade blew heat and fragments of Mancini past Baines. They all watched the flaming carcass of the creature fall down, down, down into the slowly twirling fan blades.
The tears coursed across his face, mingling with the sweat as he finished the climb to the next open airshaft access hatch. Baines cried for McShane, but at least he'd gone out to face the thing. The pain for Mancini had turned to cold rage by the time he made it to the control room to confront Summerfield.
~~~~~~~oo(O)oo~~~~~~~
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