Breaching Ground Level

Grabbed the taut brake cable with both wrapped fists and didn't waste a heartbeat hesitating over the drop. Stepped right off the tin roof's folded lip, letting the steel line slide through my grip with a fierce sizzle. Wind slapped my jawplate, then my boots slammed dead center onto an upturned heavy red plastic drink crate in the alley below. Solid plastic thud, zero rebound. The cable whipped free overhead, dangling from the clip. I unhooked my gear, stomped my armored heel into the alley dirt, and shook the drop out of my legs. Back on solid ground, and the whole street's wide open.

1 Nauk