*
"Natalie."
There was a soft touch to her cheek. Natalie smiled and slowly opened her eyes. "Hello," she murmured.
Vincent lowered his hand, and Natalie noticed an odd glint in his eyes.
"We are about to test it," he told her. "I thought you would want to see."
She nodded and yawned, brushing the fog back from her eyes with the backs of her hands. She sat up, still holding the blankets around her. Vincent helped her to her feet. "Thank you," she said sleepily. When Natalie wobbled, Vincent steadied her with an arm to her waist. Ooo. I like that. It lowered. Drat.
Natalie focused her attention to the soon-to-be power generator. "I doubt it will work the first time, but we will at least know where to go from here." She and Vincent came to stop a few feet away from the metal box. Yuffie and Red gathered expectantly on the other side. Natalie released a slow breath. "Well, you might as well turn it on."
Yuffie held up a small box with wires snaking to the generator. "We rigged up a long-distance turn-on switch so we wouldn't get blasted apart." She motioned back. "You might want to step back a bit."
The trio did as suggested.
Yuffie took in a deep breath, looked down at the 'on' switch in her hand, and then pushed it. Nothing happened. Yuffie glowered. "Damn it to hell!"
She threw the 'on' switch at the machine. It crashed, whirred to life, and then stopped with a tremendous groan and growl followed very closely by smoke billowing out the side.
"Disconnect it from the wheel!" Natalie shouted while hurrying forward. "Quick! Before all the circuits melt!"
Everyone rushed for the box.
A Rose By Any Other Name Page 12
