Irene could feel the warmth of someone else, and the situation felt far less hopeless.
In the pitch blackness of the cave that had just collapsed, she managed to utter, "It's me."
There was a sigh of relief and a clanking as an armored man crouched down, realizing Irene was on the ground.
"I'm so relieved," he practically whispered. His voice was much closer than before when he let out the sigh.
In the darkness, the Commander's hand found her shoulder plate; she could feel the weight of it but not the anxious squeeze he gave her.
There was silence as they both seemed uncertain of what to do now. They were certainly trapped. It hadn't quite set in fully.
"The others," the Commander realized.
There was another shift of boots against the rocky ground and it was clear the Commander was standing up, trying to search the massive rock pile for a way out or a sign that the others hadn't been crushed.
"Bren! Sven!"
