[Oh my god, I killed him is what Hiro thinks at first. He's not moving, he's only barely breathing, and maybe that's just a trick of the eye - and he has half an impulse to go full crime drama here and check Callaghan's pulse, actually lifts a hand to maybe snatch at his wrist and see when the faint rustle of movement (snake's scales on dry leaves) catches his attention and makes the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.
Seconds later, the sound grows abruptly louder and microbots start pouring in through the tunnel opposite. Hiro's heart jackhammers into his throat and sends nervous laughter tumbling out of him.]
Okay! Good one, now we know the way out, that's really - really great - sooooo you can stop now -
[Except Callaghan still looks like death and isn't responding to anything. A space this small isn't big enough for the full sum of microbots kept in reserve; already they're seething around his ankles and climbing the walls in precision-calculated geometric paths. And Hiro, for all he's trying to hold his composure, can feel his faint apprehension ratcheting up to about an eleven on the panic scale. He's on his feet, flattening himself against the wall like maybe he can make himself smaller that way. Or maybe just sink into it and vanish.
Don't freak. Don't freak don't freak don't -]
Seriously, that's enough! There's too many -
[He almost grabs at Callaghan, to get his attention, but hesitates just a second because the last time, when he shoved him, this didn't go so well - only a track of the bots peels itself off the wall and travels across his wrist, and that's the breaking point, he lets out a high-pitched yelp and grabs Callaghan's shoulder, shaking him trying to get his attention.]
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Seconds later, the sound grows abruptly louder and microbots start pouring in through the tunnel opposite. Hiro's heart jackhammers into his throat and sends nervous laughter tumbling out of him.]
Okay! Good one, now we know the way out, that's really - really great - sooooo you can stop now -
[Except Callaghan still looks like death and isn't responding to anything. A space this small isn't big enough for the full sum of microbots kept in reserve; already they're seething around his ankles and climbing the walls in precision-calculated geometric paths. And Hiro, for all he's trying to hold his composure, can feel his faint apprehension ratcheting up to about an eleven on the panic scale. He's on his feet, flattening himself against the wall like maybe he can make himself smaller that way. Or maybe just sink into it and vanish.
Don't freak. Don't freak don't freak don't -]
Seriously, that's enough! There's too many -
[He almost grabs at Callaghan, to get his attention, but hesitates just a second because the last time, when he shoved him, this didn't go so well - only a track of the bots peels itself off the wall and travels across his wrist, and that's the breaking point, he lets out a high-pitched yelp and grabs Callaghan's shoulder, shaking him trying to get his attention.]
Callaghan!