SSSD - Defend?

“Um,” Ro says hesitantly. She’s not sure what to do. “****.”

“What?” Alison looks at her like she’s insane.

“****! And **** and stuff,” Ro says, pointing at the bottle on the table. “Marit and I were messed up when we hooked up. Maybe she doesn’t remember! I don’t know how much of the details I could give you!”

“I have a feeling that Marit can hold her liquor,” Alison says grimly.

A high-pitched alarm makes everyone jump. It’s loud enough to hurt Ro’s ears. She and Alison look up in confusion.

Signe hurries to an old-timey box on the wall that has a row of lights.

<Where is it?> Linda demands without taking her eyes off the flamethrower.

<Your lab,> Signe reports.

Ro realizes that this is a fire alarm, and that box must show which room the fire is in. She looks to Alison in panic. Alison looks pissed, but they can’t ignore a fire.

“You got it?” she asks Signe.

Signe doesn’t even reply; she’s grabbing the closest fire extinguisher.

“Wait!” Ro calls out. Another light has come on. She points, and Julie takes Signe’s place at the box.

<Your lab,> she calls to Signe, who is by the door.

<Can you get it?>

<Yes.>

There are two fires.

“This is a trick,” Alison calls to Julie and Signe.

“We cannot let the fires go,” Signe replies.

“I know! Just be careful! I’ll watch these two. Ro, back them up.”

Back them up? They’re going to two different places.

Signe’s already gone. Julie leaves the rec room at a run, no doubt to find another extinguisher.

The lights flicker. The generator is the source of power, but conduits have to move it around. These fires are more than a threat to the research. Without power, everyone freezes. The Norwegians are right to respond quickly.

One fire by accident? Maybe. Not two. Someone’s doing this, and it has to be to get them to split up. Signe and Julie shouldn’t be alone.

Ro backs toward the door. Alison stands in front of Marit and Linda, covering them with the flamethrower.

“Sit,” Alison orders them, gesturing toward the sofa.

Marit and Linda comply.

Ro bumps into the doorframe. Right. She needs to do her part. Beside her is a stack of cardboard boxes, filled with bottles of vodka. Hand shaking, Ro grabs one. It’s not much, but it’s flammable. She’s glad not to have the flamethrower anymore.

Should she back up Julie or Signe?