[Elspode]

I wasn't sure exactly how I felt about what I found myself doing, down on the floor, groping about blindly. Mostly, it felt kind of silly, and a bit sticky and dirty. It was difficult to concentrate with all the machinery noise and people yelling at each other.

What I really couldn't understand was how the damn machines could still be running, but all the lights were out. Shouldn't there be emergency lights or something?

Suddenly, I felt my hand brush up against something moist and slightly warm to the touch. Then, right next to it, another something, and still another. I closed my hand around them, and stood up.

From a distance, I heard someone calling my name.

"Ed! Ed!! Where are you?!"

"I'm over here! By the table saw, I think!"

I waved the contents of my hand above my head and shouted for someone to shine a flashlight in the direction of my voice. The aftermath of the electrical malfunction was beginning to calm down. Most of the injured had already been taken out to waiting ambulances. Poor bastards. Who the hell expects a dangerous machine to do jumping jacks while you're using it, anyway? And as long as we're asking stupid rhetorical quesitons, why do I always draw the nasty duty?

"Ed! Did you find them all?

"No, Chief...that's why I only held up three fingers."

(edited to fix bad writing)