o_

forward in his chair, tense and determined. What was he doing now?
Feeling chagrin at not having expected this, Jessica sat up alertly. She had no idea what he was going to do. But clearly, he had a plan.
* * *
She heard her name being called. "CJ, CJ," the voice repeated insistently. Eventually she recognized the voice. It was Morgan, of course.
"Morgan," she whispered between short breaths, "looks like we made it. Sorry I'll miss the party."
"No!" Morgan barked. His voice once again commanded her. "Pull yourself to the door. Get out of there."
CJ shook her head. "Morgan—"
"Now!"
She pulled herself to the door.
"Keep going."
The shock of her injuries was wearing off. Through the haze of pain-subduing chemicals in her bloodstream, she could tell that someone was in terrible agony. The person was far away, but she understood that it was probably herself.
"Go!"
She rolled out of the Gate, onto the chute, and slid down to the floor she had just