Rob nodded gratefully to Luc for the support and kept going down. He was wondering what was happening with Dr Seris and her group, but he didn't give it much thought. He was busy being edgy and nervous.<br/><br/>Step by step, the group moved down to level 20, then 19. Blood and devastation were now the trademark look of the science facility. Ripped off cables sparkled dangerously. Some lights were still on but most were damaged, either flickering or completely dark where the blasts had knocked out the circuit or the light bulbs themselves. Broken glass crunched beneath Rob's boots. A few bodies on every floor reminded him that the virus had spread all across the facility. Objects were lying around, twisted slide doors slammed into one another relentlessly, odd noises echoed down the dark hallways. Nothing was moving.<br/><br/>Whoever was laughing from behind the group hadn't been heard or seen again. Rob kept moving down, level after level, exhausted and scared injured civilians behind, Lucian at the rear. Sarge was on the alert, eyes shifting left and right, pistol locked in front of his chest, pointing down at the dark stairs. Still air, no draft, no noise, no humidity - dry and cold, scratching his throat, drying his eyes. Faint smell of death and chemicals reigned over the place.<br/><br/>His uniform heavy with sweat, his senses tired, he kept moving down. He had a job to do - protect the civilians. And by Earth, he was going to.