Free The Foundling Saga: Revelation by S D Bowring Page B

played this back several times, whilst the scanner now remained on these two heat sources, recording further sounds for playback. “So, one of them is discussing a light of some sort and is cautioning the other to be careful with it – It sounds like they are planning to move into the ruin,” The taller of the group eventually said.
    “The signal is getting weaker and weaker,” another said. The four were back as a group now and getting ready to move off. The scanner outlined the larger ruins. “They are definitely moving into this structure. The scanner hasn’t picked up any other sources, so let’s move closer.” With that the four set off at a brisk pace towards the centre of the town but still observing the safe rules of approach which they employed in these circumstances. This included ‘pause and observe’ techniques and maintaining a gradually-changing designated exit route should they need to act swiftly. In truth, this was rarely required for defence and tended to be for the sole the purposes of remaining hidden from a target.
    The Scouts waited in an observation position in some heavy concrete ruins on a third level. Other levels had collapsed, causing the near destruction of the rear of the ruin but leaving part of what they assumed was the front still intact. They had climbed up this part hurriedly lest they lose the pair whilst they themselves were inside a ruin.
    The ruin they were in had a wide ramp that wound around the side of the building originally. There were shorter ramps between floors. It was the building that Cormic had remarked as probably being a vehicle storage area originally.
    Two of the Scouts set up the scanner on the parapet overlooking the great ruin on the other side. The other two scouted the area they were occupying to ascertain alternative routes into and out of their new temporary base.
    The scanner didn’t detect any other heat sources in the area, so it was assumed the two Outsiders were still in the ruin opposite. The Scouts settled patiently and waited.
    Eventually the pair were detected again, their heat source alerting the scanner and the sound feedback started to pick up their voices again. They were making their way toward the exit point, it being the same point they entered the ruin by.
    The Scouts covertly observed them as they left the ruins. They were a little alarmed however, to see the two were carrying lethal weapons. They watched the pair move back along the highway and could see that they were taking precautions not to be seen. The scanner, however, was not going to have trouble keeping their position visible to the Scouts as long as they continued to move in the open.
    Whether the Outsiders knew how to use the weapons, or if they had the relevant ammunition wasn’t clear to the Scouts. These weapons were either a very lucky find or they were hidden in readiness for some form of action. Whether it was for defence or attack wasn’t clear.
    This would change the approach that the Scouts would now be obliged to take if they decided to apprehend the tall youth.
    The four watchers primed their own weapons on maximum stun. This was intended to bring down a human target with such pain that they wouldn’t get up for five minutes and in some cases, would render them unconscious for a while. The lower settings allowed for less extreme measures, starting with a painful jolt. A sufficient enough warning to want to avoid a repeat; however, the victim would still be able to have some movement in limbs. Since these two Outsiders had the possibility of pressing a trigger with fatal consequences, the stun level would need to be high enough to impede any movement.
    The Scouts had a plan that they hoped would not even require a confrontation with either of the men.
    The pursuers had now stopped near a taller ruin and observed quietly. The Outsiders had gone inside the ruin and had initially appeared at the openings on two of the sides, but had not stayed long. They were