As the others spoke, it was apparent that nobody had any clue what was going on or what had happened to them.  Nick was glad when the initial shock that immobilized the group waned enough for them to seek shelter before dark set in.  As desolate as their surroundings seemed to be, there was no guarantee that it was completely devoid of life save for the few of them.  No matter how hostile the environment may be there almost always tended to be some life form that has acclimated to the unforgiving environment and it always seemed to be the most dangerous ones that hunted at night.  If there was something, Nick would much prefer to have something at his back to limit the angles of attack.<br/><br/>He had thought they had been too late in finding shelter when he watched the first few overcome with debilitating agony.  Without any idea of the source or how it managed to do so, Nick swept his gaze in every direction to look for what would be responsible.  Despite his intensions, he had barely begun playing lookout when a virtual atomic bomb ignited in his brain.  So sudden and intense was the pain that it literally caused him to drop to his knees while he clutched uselessly at his skull as if to keep it from splitting open according to how it felt.  Nick couldn't even form words or assemble thoughts; all there was was pain and in vast quantities.