In the depths of the earth,
Blade found a living hell.

TRAPPED

   Death Master glanced at Havoc, then Athena.  "How strange."
   "What is?"  Blade asked.
   "Both of your associates are wearing new fatigues.   California government issue fatigues, if I'm not mistaken."  Death Master looked at Blade again and his mouth curled in a sinister smile.  "If I didn't know better, I'd swear they must belong to a California Army unit."
   Blade grinned.  "You're very perceptive.  Yeah, they're wearing Army uniforms.  As well they should be."
   "How so?"
   "We ambushed an Army patrol a week ago and took all their gear and clothing."
   "Interesting," Death Master said, and he scrutinized the officer and the journalist.  "Tell me.  Should I have all three of you killed now or later?"

At the end of time, nothing is for sure--but death.

SHOCKED!

   Eight feet away, a pronounced pout creasing her cherry-red mouth, was the girl.  She vented a short hiss of annoyance and turned to the fence once more.
   "You'll be killed,"  Havoc cried, on his hands and knees, and made a helpless gesture toward her.
   An instinctive reaction prompted Blade to rise in an attempt to prevent the child from touching the lethal enclosure.
   Glaring at them both, the girl sneered and pressed her flat palms against the links.  A sharp crackling ensued and brilliant sparks of electricity danced about her fingers.  She arched her back, her lips drawing back to reveal her neat, white teeth.  For five seconds her entire body trembled.
   Blade had to grab Havoc to stop the man from lunging at her.  He watched in amazement as the trembling subsided and the girl suddenly threw back her head and cackled.  A ripple coursed up and down his spine at what she did next.
   The child started climbing the fence!