Free Other Places 2: Road Blocks by P. S. Power Page B

head.
    "Oh, here I am, the CEO of Me corp. Yes, that does count. Whew, glad we dodged that one. So, tell me, how is everything-"
    There was a crash from behind them, a thing that sounded like and elephant beating the crud out of a tank. He was almost certain it was a fight, but it was coming from the food court, and not in the center where the tables were either. No, he realized, as he closed in on the scene, it was definitely coming from the back of the Chinese food place.
    Which was currently on fire.

Chapter five
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Zack just stood for a minute, or at least it felt that long, freezing in place, even though a lot of others ran, one way or the other. The Alede all headed to the back of their clothing store, and a metal screen that was heavier than normal slammed down, leaving him in the hallway. That was fine, since he was supposed to go and do something, wasn't he? Help people.
    Mirror Him screamed at him, sounding freaked.
    'No! Everyone here is non-human. Running into something like this you don't understand is a death sentence you idiot! You need to help by not getting in the way and calling for help. Do that , which might be something that won't get me killed!' It was clear to Zack that the other part of him didn't expect to be listened to, but he was right. Running into that fire, with its billowing smoke and banging noises was not a wise move.
    Instead he started calling fire and found the red fire alarm on the wall, breaking the glass with a tug on the white handle. Instead of an alarm, it got the property manager to appear, walking quickly. He was wearing the same black suit he had been lately, which was always clean and tidy looking, and he seemed like a middle aged man of Middle Eastern origin. He'd never spoken to Zack, but he was good with fire. He didn't even wave in that direction, the flames just weren't there the instant he looked at the location. The smoke stopped too. There was still some noise, but it was metal clanging on metal.
    Then Zack started toward it, hoping that it really wasn't an attack. He was scared, his heart pounding, but that didn't mean he couldn't at least take a peek.
    The white door that was meant to swing both ways had been burned, but was still up, so he kicked it open, to find what seemed to be a piece of machinery that had exploded, and Merry, the tiny red haired Elth woman, trying to do something with her brother, Conrad. It was strange, and was what made the noise. Her hands were held over him, light pouring from them as she shook, tears running down her face.
    Conrad was lying very still, with metal shards sticking out of his chest.
    "Line Walker..." The words were high pitched and firmer than he was used to hearing from her. "I require a boon. Pull the death metal from his form, so I can heal him, before life leaves complete. I beg-"
    Zack didn't know what to do, but he went to his knees, so fast they smacked into the tiled floor painfully, and winced, but started pulling the bloody bits of metal out. There were four large ones, which all came out easily, and three smaller ones. Two he just couldn't get a grip on.
    "I need tweezers or something..."
    Mirror Him snorted in his head.
    'Death metal is iron , moron. Use your teeth.'
    That didn't sound very pleasant, since Conrad had blood pouring out of him from the other holes, which meant he had to act fast, icky or not. Mirror Him got the urgency and the small distressed noises coming from Merry, and did it himself, taking control of the body without much hesitation.
    It was disgusting. So much so that had Zack been in control, he'd have hurled all over the man. MH used his tongue to find the sharp bits and then did it, clamping on and tearing them out inside half a minute. Then, after spitting them out, he pulled back, leaving a metallic taste on Zack's lips.
    Merry could work then, and the wounds closed. The tiny man was still covered with blood, red and sticky, but nothing new came out. She kept working,