Fantasy Whatever Gets You through the Night by TMaskedWriter

[Ramesh_Rocky]

Generalissimo Hernando Ramirez and Detective Inspector Luc Allaine entered the mobile command post that La Policia had set up in the parking lot outside the San Finzione Caverns. Pompiere were getting the blaze from the explosion under control. A medical station had also been set up to treat Policia Prefect LeGrasse and the SWAT team he'd been leading down below when the bomb went off. They were also preparing for survivors in need of attention once they broke through the obstruction.

The Prefect's hip had been shattered by flying debris in the explosion. He'd need a replacement before he'd be able to stand and walk on his own again. Other members of the team were wounded by flying rubble, but the shockwave knocking them to the ground had saved them from the worst of the fireball. Only the men up front like him had been burned through their armor.

Because the bomb had not been placed by a professional for optimal effect, but rather, stuck behind a drinking fountain to keep anyone from noticing it for a few minutes before being unable to ignore it; the damage hadn't been as bad as it could have been. Engineers from the Ministry of Science had been rushed to the scene and concluded that there couldn't be more than five meters of fallen rocks between La Contessa and themselves. Drilling equipment was being brought in and set up to go in after them when Ramirez's phone rang. He looked at the name on the phone.

Luc noticed the relief on his face and inquired.

"Something good?"

Ramirez nodded and answered.

"Buenos Dias, Senorita Bailey." He said with relief as he walked out of the command post for privacy. When he was alone, he continued. "I'm guessing you've been in contact with La Contessa."

"Hi, Generalissimo." Susan Bailey replied on the other end. "Yeah, I had to call Maria first, naturally, then you. Helen's ok, she and Mander spotted them before they were ready to hit the set. She's got injured down there, but everyone's safe. Well, safe-ish. Helen's got an idea. It's a bit nuts, but, you know, it's her."

Though Susan wasn't present, Ramirez nodded. He also knew about her connection with La Contessa and how Susan could get information from her on the other side of the obstruction.

"What is she planning." He asked after a moment.

Susan had to take a deep breath before responding.

"Ok, before I tell you, you know how it's impossible to get her to change her mind about a really important decision? She says that it's more important to not lose time on the hunt for Dietz than keep reassuring everyone that you'll break through that thing any minute. She has..." Susan searched for the right phrase. "A WAY to take action, so that's what she's going to do."

"Mm-hmm." Ramirez mm-hmmed his agreement.

"Well, it looks like the Nazis had some C-4 left over down there; four sticks. And you know how she regards a man who spent his life working in demolitions as her real father, so she listened to all his stories about work? Well, I'm supposed to tell you to get everyone clear, then Suzy-Q's supposed to get back to her, and once she knows everyone's safe on your side..."

Ramirez figured out the rest. He stepped back into the command post.

"Tell the Pompiere to pull back! Everyone needs to clear the building!" He ordered them. "The Nazis had a second bomb. La Contessa plans to use it to blast free!"

People ran to carry out his instructions. The Acting Prefect who was now in charge of La Policia on the scene turned to him with a look of shock.

"How are you getting this..."

The Acting Prefect hadn't worked with La Contessa often. Ramirez and others who had done so answered in unison.

"Classified State Secret of San Finzione." All of them said before going back to their tasks.

Luc thought on this a moment.

"I spoke to the engineers working on the problem. Their consensus would seem to agree: if they could warn those on the other side, blasting would be the easiest way. It would seem that the problem of making sure it's clear is now on our end."

Ramirez agreed and spoke into the phone.

"We're doing it." He told Susan. "Give us ten minutes to get everyone out and pull the vehicles back."

Susan told him that she'd send word and ended the call. Ramirez looked in his pocket for a cigarette. Not finding one, he borrowed one from Luc.

"This is fucking insane!" The Deputy Prefect tried to tell them. "She'll just make it worse!"

"You don't know La Contessa personally, do you, Prefect?" Ramirez asked him.

When he shook his head no, Hernando lit the cigarette and continued.

"Coming up with insane solutions is a thing that she does. The problem is," He took another drag. "They tend to work."