[Game start. No, really. Honest.] You each gradually wake up in what appears to be a jail cell of some sort. But lemme finish setting the scene before you actually talk about how you're waking up. ( Why? :P ) (Because I said so. :P) Each of you finds yourself lying on a cot (except for Rina, who apparently fell off while asleep/unconscious/whatever), and surrounded by black. The walls around you are all made of smoothly hewn rock with no seems, and the one wall facing what seems to be a hallway is blocked by bars made of black metal. The only other thing in your cells seems to be a single chamber pot, also black. (we're alone in our cells?) Despite the dreary coloring of the surroundings, everything seems to be well-lit be a light source you cannot see, as if someone wanted you to be aware of just how black the cells were. You each have a cell to yourself. The bars are very thick, but spaced far enough apart that you can probably fit your head through them without much trouble. (Aaaand action.) *** Atom has quit IRC (Read error: Connection reset by peer ) * Marguerite snaps off her cot. "Fuck." * Robert rolls over, falls out of bed, and _then_ wakes up. * Yoji slowly opens his eyes and blinks at the ceiling. * Togo looks around, and scowls. * Shiori opens her eyes and silently sits up. ...ow. * Rina opens her eyes and sees ground. "Huh?" She rolls onto her back, and sees a ceiling the same color as the ground. Eh...where...? Oh yeah... Stupid... shoulda shot her when I had the chance... * Sayuri wakes up, and looks around. If you could see her, she'd look terribly frazzled. She sits on the cot and curls her knees up. "Fuck... fuck fuck..." * Marguerite picks up the cot and leans it against the wall, examining its construction. "Hmm." * Shiori wastes no time in inspecting the surroundings. * Rina sighs and gets to her feet. "You know," she comments to no one in particular, "This sucks." (I assume we are deprived of all posessions?) * Togo sits cross-legged in front of the bars, staring at them and pondering a way out... You can all hear each other clearly. You are all in the same clothes you were wearing before. * Yoji swings his legs over the side of the cot and sits up. * Marguerite next sticks her head out the bars and calls out. "Roll call. Who's up?" Yo. Ah... I'm awake... I'm in one piece. I'm here! * Robert picks his coat up off the floor and reaches into it. I'm up! * Sayuri comments, "Fucked up, but alive." She then returns to her comfortably curled state. * Yoji gets up off the bed and peers out of the cell. * Rina glances around and makes a face, then walks over to the bars. She pauses, then touches one of them. Hey, where's Theo? * Shiori checks her equipment (if she has any) ( Yu? Do we have our stuff or not?" ) I dunno. Maybe he's still asleep? (You have none of your weapons. Nearly everything else is still on your person.) *** Atom has joined #ChibiRPG [Atom] Gnome! Sylph! Efreet! Undine! Rem! By your powers combined, I am Captain Craymel * Yoji blinks in confusion. "Somethings REALLY wrong..." Fuck. * Togo pauses, pats his coat... Shit. My guns are gone! What about the rest of you? You sure they aren't under your cot? I can hear all of you...but I can't sense ANYTHING. Nothing... She even took my claw. * Togo checks. "Positive. Dammit..." Didn't bring anything with me. This is...freaky. * Marguerite opens her satchel, and notes that Bubba's gone. You can't, Yoji? Ooohhh, hell. Bubba's vanished. And whoever has him had BETTER not have scuffed his polish.... * Togo scowls. "Backup weapon's gone to." * Sayuri numbly stands, and searches her backpack idly. * Yoji shakes his head, not like anyone can see it. "Nothing. It's...silent. Can't remember the last time I felt like this." Same here. Reason is gone, so is everything else. Oookay. Rina, can you do anything with those bars? To sum up. In cells, weapons gone, Yoji's been mind blanked or whatever. Gone. What's that ,Sayuri? Gonna find out, Togo. * Rina tugs on the bars, testing their strength. * Sayuri drops onto the soft comfortable floor, tapping her bookbag nervously. "No tazer." Rina tugs at the bars, and while they groan and complain, they do not yeild. Hm. Hold on, I might have something. * Shiori pokes her head through the bars and checks the walls outside her cell for a locking mechanism. * Yoji pulls a coin out of his pocket and attempts to levitate it. * Marguerite searches through her satchel madly. * Robert waits calmly. ( Does it work? ) Yoji> you fail. * Rina glares at the bars in annoyance and tugs as hard as she can. * Marguerite comes up with a ring saw. Aha. Let's see. Whatcha got Mad Dog? * Yoji gasps in horror. "I'm...I'm completely cut off! I can't use my power at all!" The bars refuse to yield, and faint humming is added to their chorus. After a bit of this, Rina's arms begin to hurt. * Marguerite wraps a few loops around one of the bars, and starts pulling the rings back and forth. Ring saw, Togo. ... * Rina lets goes and rubs her arms. She glares at the bars. ... you carry a rin- nevermind. Gift horses and all. You never know what you'll need on a mission. * Sayuri lays back on the floor, and starts singing softly, "Plug me in, I'm alive tonight, out on the streets again... o/~" * Yoji sits down/collapses to the floor. Yoji! You're not getting anything? I...I... "It didn't work." A hint of desperation is heard in her voice. "What good's being extra strong if you can't break out of prison?" Margie> The bars glow a faint blue where the ring saw rubs against them. It's good for when you break out. 'cause the rest of us are stuck with normal fists. Well.... shit. * Yoji sounds somewhat panicked. "Nu...nothing! I've got nothing!" Something magic, psi.... It's the bars, Yoji. Maybe the whole prison. Don't panic. That's the most important part. * Marguerite packs the ring saw away, noting the scoring on the flechettes with some anger. What Robert said. Keep yourself together, and we'll get our asses outta this. * Sayuri continues singing softly, "o/~ Turn me on, I'm too hot to stop, something you'll never forget...o/~" Listen, Yoji. If you panic, you're lost. Be calm and an opportunity will present itself. * Rina sits on the floor and stares at the bars. "This isn't funny," she says quietly. O...okay. * Togo calls out to Theo. "Where's our magic expert when we need him?" Unconscious, dead, elsewhere, who knows. Um... I think I see the switchs... You get no response. Not available to us, that's for sure. * Yoji takes a few deep breaths and attempts to gather himself. Hmm? * Rina looks in the direction of Shiori's voice. "You see something?" Can you do anything with 'em? No... They're halfway between each cell... Too far apart. (Oh, and since I forgot to mention it, the cells line both sides of the hallway. Rina is across from Margie, Robert is across from Shiori, Yoji is across from Togo, and Sayuri is across from nobody.) * Sayuri sits up, and digs through her bookbag, still singing. "o/~ take my fist, break down walls, I'm on top tonight o/~" Sayuri? You got anything?> Anyone got a stick or something they can use to reach? Voltmeter, ammeter, big hammer? Maybe something to toss at the switch? * Rina curls legs to her chest and hugs them. * Sayuri huhms, and stops her song, pulling out some cable and a book. "15 foot of cat's all I got. Was that worth interrupting my song?" Of course, she had to take Reason. And what kind of switch? Lever? Button? ( fifteen feet of cat5?! ) I'm... not sure. It j-just looks like something gold. (It's always good to have some cat5. I'm surprised she doesn't have twisted pair.) Crud... well, we can try throwing something at it, hope it's a pressure switch... (Who's right next to Sayuri?) (I also note that it's probably higher grade than 5, nowadays.) Margie>Togo. Togo! (Well, sure. Cat 11.3?) Yeah. (Irrelevant.) See if you can catch the cable Sayuri has. If you both hold an end, you might be albe to trigger the switch. Got it. Slide it this way along the wall Sayuri. (Roll a sensory check ~ sound, everyone. Bonuses for hearing and heightened awareness apply.) * Sayuri puts her book on the ground, says, "I suppose." and picks up her song again as she starts trying to slide the cable over sideways."You better turn me loose, you better set me free...o/~" 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Robert (2d6) and gets 11. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rina (2d6-4) and gets 0. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Shiori (2d6-4) and gets 2. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Yoji (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Sayuri (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Marguerite (2d6) and gets 5. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Togo (2d6-4) and gets 0. (Now, lemme know if you passed. :P) ( Passed ) (No.) ( Passed easily :P ) (*raises her hand*) (Made it) ( What stat is that a roll against, BTW? ) ( Mind. ) ( coo' ) ( Made it. ) Ah, fuggeddit. Those of you who succeeded hear the faint creaking of a door opening. * Togo hisses. "Crap, someone coming..." * Rina blinks and scrambles to her feet. * Shiori backs away from the cell's bars a bit. *whisper* Pull back the cable Sayuri! Quick! * Marguerite hides to the side of the bars, out of sight. Those who care to look outside their cell note that there's only one door to the hallway. It is heavy, and, predictably, black. * Robert stands at attention at the front of his cell. * Togo stands and looks down the hallway. * Rina goes to the front of her cell and pokes her head through the bars, trying to get a better look. * Sayuri starts to pull the cable back, since Togo said so. "'Cause I'm hot, young, running free, little bit better than I used to be... o/~" The door at the end is opened just a crack. There is a small hand holding it towards the bottom. * Yoji peers in the direction of the door. * Rina gazes at the hand. "That's... not whoever brought us here," she says quietly. * Togo taps his glasses... One person there. Looks small, like a little kid. * Rina bites her lip. * Shiori stands against the wall. A head pops out from behing the door. It is the head of a small child, a girl, between seven and ten years of age. She has wavy, dark red hair and great big brown eyes that dart nervously about. ( What the hell? Is it Mia come to give us castor oil? ) (No. :P) (Mmm. Oil.) * Marguerite sticks her head out of the cell. "Hey!" ( Let's hope not for your sake :P ) (I don't see any Kirby plushie. Yet.) * Yoji blinks at the girl. * Rina closes her eyes, forcing tension from her face, then opens them. "Hello?" she calls out. * Sayuri trails off and sighs, after putting the cord back the bag. "Chorus would just be pointless." The girl slowly steps out from behind the door. She is wearing loose black robes, and what look like black bunny slippers. She looks around at you uncertainly, and says something you can't understand. Oh, hell. Just what we need. Why does this feel like some sort of corny game? ( Who's closest to the door? ) Rina and Margie are closest. * Yoji just continues to watch the little girl. ( It's Mia?! ) (No, it's not Mia. :P) * Rina grins at Margie. "My life feels like a corny game. Or a bad spy movie." Yeah, I know the feeling, Rina. With that in mind, take my list of who's across from who as a general indication of where you all are. Yeah, but I'm living not one, but _two_ nineteen eighties television shows. * Sayuri just stands by her bag, idly. (;_;) * Marguerite turns to the girl, and tries saying "Hello! Who are you and where are we?" in English, Japanese, and Gaelic. Guys... less banter, more escape. * Yoji gives one last try, and attempts to project the concept of greeting to the little girl. The girl blinks at Margie, and then frowns in concentration. She waves her index finger in a small pattern, and then says "Sowwy. I said, 'H'lo, are you hooman?'" Yes! Yes. Human. I think. Sometimes It's up for grabs. * Rina crouches down so her eyes are about even to the girl's. She smiles. "Yeah, we are." Some of us only technically. Um, yes. * Marguerite hisses "Shut the fuck up, Robert." I was talking about you. The girl's eyes go big, and she generally seems excited. "Rilly? I am, too!" Yeah, I know. I'll kick you in the balls for it later. * Togo sticks his head out. "Less banter, more escape." She says that as if it were the most stupendous thing in the world. *** Yu-Mei is now known as Lil *** Lil is now known as Lil`_Girl Hmm. Where are we,honey? * Rina giggles. "I guess we have something in common, then." You're in Lady's home. Where yoo from? You don't look like your from th' Eest. Right, we're getting somewhere. Who is "lady"? * Lil`_Girl looks slightly embarrassed and poker her index fingers together. "I can't say'r name good, so I jus' call 'er 'Lady'. Wif a big 'L'." *** Atom has quit IRC (Quit: ) Now, where're you from? Aheh. Well. Um, we're from ... lots of places, really. All over. * Lil`_Girl beams. "Are you oddventurers?" I'm from the US, we have a couple Japanese... Er, of a sort, sure. Ooo! You must have lotsa' shtories t'tell! * Rina grins and sits on the floor. "I don't have many, but I could try. What's your name?" * Marguerite slides down the door, and sits crosslegged. * Lil`_Girl turns and looks at Rina. "Name's Ada." *** Lil`_Girl is now known as Ada (*LMWAO*) ( AAAAAAAAAAGH!!!! ) (*cracks up*) ( ... ) ( ...no comment. ) ( Heh heh... ) (.... ? ) ( Cross-continuity! ) (If they blackmail my character for this, I'll have your head, Robin! :P) So, Ada. Don't suppose you could help us get out of here, would you? (.... I don't remember ) ( Dem, if we tell you, you'll get all depressed. ) * Ada nods. "Sure, I s'pose. But first, ya' gotsta' tell mer yer names, 'cause I told you mine." Her voice is full of determination as she says this. ( ... so you're just going to leave me here, wondeirng? ) * Marguerite blinks. "Um, kay. I'm Marguerite." ( ...yes. ) ( ..... ) Just... just call me Maggie. ( Better than angsting. ) * Marguerite grimaces. ( *sigh* ) * Rina nods. "Sure. My name's Rina." (.... ) * Robert snickers. * Rina grins madly at Margie. * Togo sticks his head out. "I'm Togo. Some people call me Dead Eyes." ( Someone tell me.... >_< ) * Yoji waves his hand. "I'm Yoji." 'm Robert Clark. * Sayuri stays conspicuously silent. Well, if you knew she was there. * Robert mock salutes Ada. * Ada nodnods. "Okie. Nicetameetcha, Maggy. An' Riina. An' Togo..." she gives a polite courtesy as she goes down the line, getting everyone's name. She salutes Robert back, as well. ( Call me QUEEN! OHHOHOHOHOHO! ) ( Aww. I'd think it was so cute, if I wasn't scared to death of older Ada. :P ) * Ada comes to a halt in front of Sayuri's cell, where she waits expectantly. (Bah. Ada better be able to back up that black, is Nebbie can say.) (Wanna try sometime? ^_~) * Sayuri looks up. "Call me Livewire." * Ada nods. "'Kay." * Yoji tries to keep calm as he waits, but just ends up sitting in the cell and sweating nervously. * Marguerite taps on the bars with a rock. * Rina drums her fingers on the floor. * Ada scampers back up the the end of the room near the door. She begins to reach for somehing on the wall, then turns back around, and does a fairly good impression of an adult giving a lecture. "Now, yoo pwomise not to do anythin' mean if I letcha' out?" Not a chance! Um, of course. No backsies, or whatnot. * Rina smiles at the girl. "Cross my heart and hope to die." ( Stick a needle... ) * Sayuri says, deadpan. "What are we supposed to be able to do, anyway." I'd never do anything mean. Yes ma'am. * Robert mock salutes again. * Ada mulls that over briefly. "'Kay." She fiddles with something on the wall near the door and the bars of your cell alter their form, becoming tall archways easily large enough for you to wlk through. * Robert steps out of his cell. * Yoji walks out of the cell, and tries to sense again. * Togo steps out. "I suggest we get our stuff and get the hell outta here. I'm not eager for round two." * Marguerite rolls out, and closes the door to the cell rooms. Thank you, Ada! Don't get ahead of yourself, Togo. Let's make sure we're all in travelling shape, first. * Ada opens the door verry cautiously, but it squeaks anyway. She steps into the hallway and looks both ways. * Rina gets to her feet and out of the cell. She turns to Ada and smiles. "Thank you so much." * Togo nods, and leans against the wall. * Sayuri picks up her bag. "I'm going to talk to that bitch." * Ada turns back around. "'Welcome." Sayuri, Yoji.... Okay, Sayuri's ready. Yoji? 'm fine. * Ada looks out the door again. "Looksh cleer." * Rina blances around. "Shiori?" (blances -> glances) I'm as okay as I can be. Great. Let's try to get the hell out. * Marguerite sneaks out the door. * Rina peeks in the cells, looking for Shiori. * Ada blinks at Margie. "Get the hell outta what?" * Marguerite whispers to Ada. "We had a hell of a lot of shiny things with us when we came. Did you see where the Lady put them? * Togo walks over to Rina. "You're the only one of us currently at full capabilities, so be ready." * Ada blinks and nods. "Yeah, I saw where they went. Dunno what they got ta' do wif hells, tho." * Rina nods distractedly, still looking. "I coulda sworn Shiori was here." * Sayuri frowns, but says nothing more. * Yoji follows Marguerite to the door and waits. Ooh, they have quite a bit to do with hells. Would you be a dear and show us where they went? (::drops an anvil on Brett::) * Ada swinkles her nose. "Sure, 'guess. This way." (wrinkles, sven.) (I shall assume she follows along, I guess. :P) (Sure.) You are wonderful. Thank you. *follows* * Rina sighs and turns, walking after the group, muttering, "She's too quiet for her own good." * Togo nods, and walks over to Yoji. "Any luck with the powers?" Hm. Not yet. *frowns sadly* * Sayuri looks about for any reasonable direction for the Lady to be. * Ada leads you along as quietly as she can manage, peeking around corners with exaggerated caution. Like Mad Dog said, probably the whole place... keep it together a bit longer. You're doing pretty well so far. * Yoji walks through the door. * Yoji suddenly sighs happily, and grins madly. ... back? * Yoji nodnods. The corridors you are in are completely unmarked, and all the same, uniform black. Even the candles are black. Good. That's one more combat ready person... go tell Mad Dog and Rina. * Rina wrinkles her nose. "How boring." ... * Robert experimentally reaches inside his coat. (Okay, hold on. Where is everyone?) * Yoji heads to the front of the group to resume his point position, and turns to Marguerite. "They came back." ^_^ * Sayuri sideglances at Yoji, and returns to her sullen, frowning, silent following. (Walking along. :P Probably close to the front.) Grrrr... she cleaned me out. (Hello? Question was asked....) ( Er, at the rear, as usual. ) ( Somewhere in the middle ) * Ada eventually leads you to a door that looks the same as any of the others. She wiggles her fingers and floats up to look through the windor, and then back down, after which she opens the door carefully and scampers inside. (Hopefully, everyone's together. This isn't the sort of place you'd want to get lost in.) (That's what I was wondering.) (I think we're all here. ^^) ( Walking with Mad Dog and Rina, as I just said. ) ( Brett has a 1 second ping, so he's still connected ) (Okay.) * Marguerite nods to Yoji. "Good." * Rina grins at Yoji. "That's great!" * Rina blinks at the open door, then peeks in and follows Ada inside. * Marguerite sticks her head in. Inside is a large room with numerous tables, many of them holding equipment you couldn't guess at. There are three more doors at the far right. On one of the tables, your assorted weapons are stashed. Hah! * Yoji nods happily, then stops when Marguerite does. Oh thank the lords. All of them. * Marguerite dives and snatches up Bubba. * Rina steps away from all the people getting their weapons and turns to the little girl. "Ada, I think you're my hero." * Ada turns around. "This's the lab. I think Lady was gonna try'n figger out how your stuff worked wifout magic." * Marguerite then slowly collects the rest of her weapons, and turns to Ada. * Sayuri grabs anything that looks like hers. She then turns to Ada as well. ( Sorry everyone. I'm not in the mood to continue tonight. ) Huh. All magic, no tech, huh. That's weird. * Yoji watches everyone collect their stuff. (Okay, Shiori.) (Blargh.) * Togo grabs his guns, and checks the ammo. (Okay. I'll cover for you.) * Ada grins. "Thanks, Riina!" * Robert begins stashing all his stuff back in his coat, except for Reason which he begins caressing lovingly. Poor darling, did they hurt you? They'd better not have changed anything. You're such a delicate baby... * Ada looks at Robert like he's crazy. * Rina eyes Robert and decides it's best to edge away. So she does. * Sayuri glances at Robert, and grins nastily. "Get laid much?" Guns are better. * Marguerite eyes Robert, and shakes her head. "When was the last time you had a date with something that wasn't rated in caliber, Mr. Marine?" * Sayuri snorts. * Rina blinks at Sayuri, then cracks up. Um... can't remember. Long time ago... during the war? * Sayuri turns back to Ada. "Ada. Where is 'The Lady'." Although I've know a few women that were rated at high calibers... * Marguerite spins around to Sayuri. "The FUCK? Sayuri, you're not..." And you can take that however you want. * Ada blinks. "Dunno. Lemme see." She closers her eyes and her face bunches up a bit in concentration. * Rina stares at Sayuri. "Are you out of your mind?" Yes. Oh. Well, then. Oooh, no. Sayuri, you are not fucking doing this now. But that's OK. You all leave, I go talk to this Lady. Christ, she fucking made us all pass out! At once! No, I don't think so. * Yoji boggles at Sayuri. No, girlie. Ain't nobody going to see her again. No fucking way. * Ada opens her eyes again. "She's in the lib'ary. I can take ya' there, if ya', want, but I don't think she'd be happy wif it." You'll see her over your dead body. * Sayuri turns to Rina. "I know more about my past, merely from seeing her, than I knew before. I'm going to see her." She nods at Ada. "One way or the other. Do it, Ada." * Sayuri shivers, and mutters something under her breath. Your...past? * Rina shakes her head. "Sayuri, if you're going, I'm going with you." You don't know about your past? ... No, no, nononono. * Marguerite grimaces. "Your mouth, as usual, needs lubing, Robert." She turns to Sayuri. "Look. There is no way I'm deserting a team member here. She's going to magick you away, I know it." * Marguerite sighs. "OKAY>. Ada, hold on." This is *not* the time for personal business. A marine never leaves a comrade behind. If you go, I go with you. * Ada looks around from one person to the enxt, clearly confused. You go, she knows we're out, and we all end up dead. Okay. Look. Sayuri is flipping out. * Rina watches Sayuri with concern. But it's definitely not safe for all of us to go. * Sayuri looks at Togo like he was more of an idiot than before. "I told you. You leave now. I go. C'mon, Ada." I dunno... maybe she knows we're all out already? Like hell. We're not having a repeat of Asa. No, Ada. Wait. I'm not your team member, I'm not even your guyses friend. Just leave me and go. We go as a team or not at all. Here, it's not at all. And how are you proposing to stop magic, Togo? SHe's goign whether we want her to or not. And I'm going with. I suggest you escort the rest of the people out. * Togo eyes Sayuri. "Not if we take her with us." ... ... right. Kidnap Ada, that'd be smart. * Sayuri growls angrily. "C'mon, Ada, these people are mean. Let's go to the Lady, right?" * Rina sighs and steps over to Sayuri, murmuring quietly to her. Not Ada, dumbass. Sayuri Last time I checked, Sayuri was a hacker. Ada was the one levitating. Please don't do this, Sayuri... * Sayuri doesn't bother looking back at Rina. "Yes I do." What I'm saying... * Yoji looks at Sayuri with big pleading puppydog eyes. * Ada looks wary. "But, I'll prolly gettn' twouble if I takeya' there." Is we take Sayuri and get the hell outta here. I'll take all the trouble for you, Ada. Just take me. Please. And the mageling transports her right out of our grasp. Before I lose my goddamn nerve. * Togo sighs, and kneels in front of Ada. "Ada? I need you to listen to me..." Okay, Sayuri. I'm going with you. You went through my crap, and I'm going to help you through yours. * Ada frowns. "...'kay. She'd prolly find out 'ventually anyway." If you take Sayuri to see the Lady, bad things will happen to her. You know the lady better than us; you know that. We need you to let us take Sayuri out of here, for her own good. Christ, this is getting far too complicated. Look, Sayuri. I'm coming with. * Ada walks out the door, looking around a bit more nerbously this time. Dammit people! I have no problem with suicide missions, but this is ridiculous. Eh, whatever. She likely knows we're out by now anyways. * Marguerite follows Ada. We have no clue what we're up against, other than she can take the lot of us out with a wink and a nod. * Sayuri follows Ada. "Do what you will, people." ... Yeah. And she probably knows we're out and about already. Why fight it? * Marguerite peeks back in "Togo, would you help those not wanting to go out of the castle? Thanks." She leaves again. * Sayuri sideglances at Maggie. "Please. Just leave me." * Rina sighs at Togo. "Sayuri *has* to do this." Fuck no. I'm not going to leave if some of you are staying. I'm coming too. Yes. * Togo curses. "Goddamn unprofessional sons of bitches..." No. ... Enough, Togo. No. This is exactly what happened with Asa. * Ada looks back in, a worried expression on her face. Letting emotions get in the way of common sense. I wish I knew what happened with Asa. And only bad things happen... * Rina walks after Sayuri, then stops in the middle and looks around at everyone in the group. "Can you guys- oh, hell." * Togo pauses... * Yoji frowns. "I'll take my emotions over common sense, any day." * Togo takes off his glasses, reveals empty, burned, scarred sockets. "This is what happens when you let your emotions control you." * Sayuri throws up her hands. "I don't have TIME for this shit!" * Sayuri walks off in whatever the hell direction Ada looked to be going. * Rina stares at Togo. * Yoji STARES at Togo. Sayuri! Look at me! * Ada is still in the doorway. She looks at Togo and here eyes grow wider. * Robert facepalms. * Sayuri does not turn back. * Marguerite eyes Togo. "All of us carry scars, Togo. Not all of us can show them." She hurries after Sayuri. *This* is what happens! *This* is why you can't let your emotions override your logic, dammit! Meanwhile, out in the dark hallway... (*Shivers* This is creepy shit.) (Indeed.) (^_^_v) * Sayuri continues walking like a bat out of hell. (Bats from hell don't walk, but I'll let that slide.) * Marguerite stumbles to keep up. "JEsus, Sayuri. Hold up. If you have to fight something, you can't do it alone." * Sayuri continues walking, and stops, closing her eyes. "Who says I plan on fighting? I plan on going in and praying I don't fall over from sheer fear." What fear? What could possibly spur you like this? * Sayuri is staying silent, standing, panting somewhat. Jesus. Diving into a pool of sharks is one way to cure fear of water, but it's not the only way. * Marguerite runs her fingers through her hair. * Sayuri opens her eyes, and starts jogging another direction. "Christ, what's with you people. All about 'fight fight fight'. Jesus." * Marguerite picks up Bubba and trots after. "What else is there to do with fear? You fight it or become a slave to it." There's no other options. I mean, FUCK/. How many people have you KILLED, Livewire? * Sayuri snorts. "I'd say that coo operation is an option, but I'd rather you leave. That would be hypocracy... Killed? None." Yeah, I figured as much. You want real fear, real terror, look in the eyes of a man, a WOMAN, a CHILD, who know their time has come, that today's the day they taste the kiss of lead. Kill a six year old, Sayuri. Live with THAT. * Sayuri shivers quite noticably as she walks, and she chuckles weakly. "No thanks, I'll have to pass." * Marguerite is panting, diapraghm spasming in miniature sobs. Just... other people have pasts, inner selves, secrets - fears. (The hall reaches a crossroads up ahead.) I'm here, and I'm .. I'm going to help you with this. I assume you .. have a direction in mind? * Sayuri picks a direction and keeps going. "But what if I don't WANT your help? What can you do?" * Marguerite follows. "I've known enough mercs to know some people need to fix themselves. But by all that I used to hold holy, I am going to be here if you need me. I've seen too many comrades, FRIENDS, too many friends die because I had to finish the mission, had to save my ass, had to fix the world." And for ONCE I am going to GROW A PAIR and STAND for someone else besides my own craven ass. * Marguerite falls silent. * Sayuri continues walking. "But I don't need you! I don't want her killed, I don't need her killed, I don't even need her threatened! I just need to stand there and not quiver into a ball of nightmarish terror. You should all just GO!" NO. I am NOT leaving. You DON'T know what you're diving into, no matter HOW good your intentions are. You DON'T know her intentions. OR her motivations. She could kill you out of SPITE. And I am NOT going to let ANOTHER PERSON DIE. NOT as long as I have Bubba in my hands and blood in my veins. * Sayuri sighs. "Why do you make it so hard. I don't want you all to die. I don't want to die." But you could. There's a concept called teamwork. Generally it prevents silly things like needless deaths,. What teamwork? I'm going to go up there and ask her, politely, if she can pick at my mind without destroying it, or maybe just bonk me over the head. (Are you both still moving? Having a hard time keeping track of everything. >.> <.< The "without destroying it" has me SLIGHTLY worried, really. You needed backup. And you need someone to help if you collapse or go catatonic. You can't be alone all the time, Sayuri. (I think so.) (STill moving. I've got somewhere to go before my fear guage hits infinity.) * Sayuri continues walking. "Why do you come along? There's no Team in I! This is all about me, me, ME! Leave me go, and tell everyone else to go too." I can't. Not in all my conscience, what little shreds I have left. Maybe, just maybe.... this is about someone besides you, too. More hallway passes. Another intersection is reached. * Sayuri sobs slightly, but starts running now, in a direction. "Why. Why did you people have to choose now not to be assholes. Just leave me be. Just leave me go." * Marguerite kicks up the speed. I can't. I just can't. I've... I've killed ... I've killed THOUSANDS. THOUSANDS of people. People with lives, futures, homes, families. People who I didn't even know. I've ... I've killed women, children, elderly. Men, crippled, retarded, geniuses. Black, white, asian, arabic. Margie keeps up with Sayrui. She might be able to close on her, if she tries. * Marguerite has tears running down her face. "LEt me have a PART, even a small part, in saving one." She hangs her head, staying even with Sayuri's speed, and mutters "Oh, god," to herself. * Sayuri sighs. "All you'll do is die with me, Margie, if things get bad. I don't want that." I don't even know what this dying is all about. I'm not a soldier. I'm not even supposed to be out here. There's nothing for me to do. * Marguerite sighs. "I might die. And hell knows I deserve it. " She retches, and pukes against the wall. She pauses, then wipes her mouth, and runs to catch up. * Sayuri sighs. "Will you promise to leave if... no, you don't care about my secrets." * Marguerite pants. "If it comes to something you don't think I should hear, I'm The wall is greatly offended. I'm sure that this Lady has something to plug my ears. But I'm not leaving the room. And besides, you now know a little more about my dark past. * Sayuri snorts. "I doubt SHE cares about my damn secrets. I was going to promise to tell you if you'd just let me go... but that doesn't seem to be an option." I can't. Maybe, if you're lucky..... * Marguerite grabs at her stomach again. "Maybe... you'll get to hear mine." She shudders. "If we live." * Sayuri looks as if she was going to do something, and then decides against it. I hope those idiots stay back, since you seem to be sticking around, and I'm too much of a wimp to try to stop you. Fucked if I know. Asses with overlarge mechanical cocks, all of them. (Wow. This'll be a great addition to the log. o/~) (_) (It's going in there, mind, unless you guys lobby like made to keep it out. :P) (This is too good for the others to miss out on.) (does lobbying include killing you, your firstborn, AND your secondborn? And your cats?) (And your dogs? And your toes? And the rest of you?) * Sayuri sobs. "Alright... alright you can come along. I can't stop you." (No, but it does include asking nicely after the game and trying to give me a good reason not to that doesn't involve violence, because that wouldn't work anyway.) But no shooting. And if she looks like she's not going to kill me, could you just go back outside and wait? * Marguerite almost sobs in relief. "We'll see. We'll... see." * Sayuri sighs, and slows to a walk... and it's really obvious she's been crying a bit and is winded as hell. "I guess that's all I can ask for. Not that I can ask for much." Although it would be nice if you could keep the asses in line? If I'm out there, I will. Soldier's honor. What little of that I have left, too. Up ahead is a juntion. On the right side are a set of very large double-doors, and off to the left extends a very wide hallway. * Sayuri stops before the double doors. Shivering slightly as she looks at it. This is it, I assume. Yeah. It's it. * Sayuri shivers. "I can do it. I can. I can... argh." Let us cross the portal into the Hell where we begin. You have to open the door. You hear the faint sound of numerous approaching footsteps behind you. They still sound a good way off. * Sayuri smiles softly, and sobs again. "And I used to think you were just a gun-hungry loon--crap." Yeah, I used to, as wel -Shit. * Sayuri goes through the doors. "No time." *nod* * Marguerite follows. Meanwhile, back in the lab... * Togo puts his glasses back on. * Rina tears her eyes away from Togo. "Marguerite's right, you know," she says quietly. She looks down at Ada. "Are you okay?" And frankly, I'd rather not see it happen to anyone else. Let your logic override your emotions and you become a robot. There is a time and a place for emotion. * Rina giggles at that. On a mission is not that place. Let your emotions override your logic and you end up dead. Exactly. Besides, being a robot isn't so bad. I should introduce you to KITT. * Yoji shrugs. "I'll die a human, then." I _know_ he'd take exception to that saying. I'd really rather not become all robot, Robert. * Ada looks at Rina. "Do they always yell an' stuff? And how come that guy doesn't have any eyes?" Really? * Togo looks at Yoji. "You probably will, at this rate." You're pretty cute, I think KITT would like you. * Yoji shrugs at Togo. "Maybe." We could turn you into a nice little sports car, and he'd _really_ go for you then. And you don't have to be a robot to have some goddamn common sense. * Rina pats Ada on the head. "No, not always. Just sometimes. We're worried about things, and it makes people upset." When a person takes you out without breaking a sweat, you don't go prancing back without a plan or a clue. * Ada thinks about that and nods. Well, all I know is that I'm not gonna abandon them. * Togo kneels down. "And I have no eyes because a bad man took them away." * Robert rolls his eyes. God, when did you stop giving people common sense? * Rina glares a lovely glare of death at Robert. She opens her mouth to say something, then thinks better of it and turns back to Ada. "Anyway, do what you think is best." People... listen. Please. Maybe that makes me naive and stupid, but to me, that's the best way to live. So, I'll go with Marguerite and Sayuri. (Okay, I'm a little confused. :P Ada's still in the doorway to the lab. Where's Margie and Sayuri?) (I'm the fuck gone.) (Ditto.) (You mean lost? Okie.) We can't do this. We gotta... dammit... (Yeah, same thing.) Okay. Enough discussion. * Togo turns to Robert. "Whole world's gone crazy. Wanna go insane with me?" Margie and Sayuri just ran off, and no matter what you think, we have to find them. Sorry, Togo. I don't do insane. (Margie and Sayuri wanderd off. Ada's in the doorway, looking concerned.) * Rina kneels next to Ada. "Do you know where our friends went? They're probably lost without you." How 'bout a reasonable facsimile? 'cause as fucking stupid as I think this is, if I can't stop them... I ain't goin, Togo. If nothing else, you and me have to make it out to tell what's here. I'm damn well gonna try to make sure they live long enough to bitch them out ROYALLY. And if it's just me that makes it out, so be it. ... semper fi. * Yoji looks sadly at Robert. I know. This sucks. It's idiotic, it's suicide... but we got a better chance with you than without you. And frankly, I want to get out of here and see Dejiko tear Sayrui and Mad Dog a new fucking asshole for this. ... * Yoji looks at Rina questioningly. * Ada looks at Rina. "Well, Livewire said she was gonna go see Lady. Dunno how she'll get here, tho." * Rina stands up and looks up at Robert. "I haven't been at this long. But... I don't think you staying here, by yourself, is a good idea. You don't even know your way out!" * Rina nods at Ada. "Yeah, that's what I'm worried about." Or... * Togo shrugs. ... (Phone, gonna be distracted.) ...suicide. Yup Why do people always have to run straight toward danger? Because they're inexperienced, or they're morons. * Yoji looks pleadingly at Togo and Robert. "Please...if nothing else, help get them out of here. But please don't just walk away." We know better. s'our role in life to pull their asses out of the fire ... I'm gonna get killed. Well, you can stay here and get killed. s'what marines do, right? Pull stupid army grunts out of danger when they screw up, right? * Rina looks over at Ada. "Do you want to help us look for them?" I just wish KITT was here. I promised him he could see me die. Fine. Let's go. * Yoji grins. "Alright!" Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more... Don't you dare quote that at me. * Rina grins. "Been spending too much time in that breach." Would you prefer "Charge of the Light Brigade"? ...no. How about Dare to be Stupid? Can we go, before they get further away? Thought not. Ada, can you help us find Maggie and Livewire? Not familiar with that one, but it sounds about right. Transformers the movie. Now _that's_ a classic. I guess. Lemme see. * Rina smiles at Ada. "Thanks." * Ada concentrates a bit. "They're movin 'long the hallway. They're headin for the libary. Dunno how they know where t'go." I might be able to catch sight of them, if we can get close enough. Reason has a short range sensor suite. Can you take us to them? * Rina nods. "We have to get there." and fast. * Ada nods. "Sure." Okay. Time to be stupid, people. o/~ The future's up to you, so what you gonna do? Dare to be stupid! o/~ Sounds good to me! ^_- * Rina snickers. "Let's just go already." (Okay, Cadets. LEt's go get ourselves killed!) (Whoo!) ... I really gotta go back to working solo. ( Death is, at best, a temporary condition. ) Aww, and you'd leave me behind, Togo? * Rina gives him her best pouty look. Which is scarily good. * Yoji laughs. You're damn right. * Togo grins. "In a heartbeat." Jerk. * Rina lightly punches Togo in the arm. For her, anyway. Aw, we'd only do it because we love you! ^_~ Lead the way, Ada. Sorry, but guilt trips work better on people with eyes. * Rina waits for Ada to lead the way o/~ * Ada scampers into the hallway, moving along as her little bunny- slipper-clad feet can carry her. "This way. c'mon!" * Rina follows. * Yoji follows Ada. Rina! Pick Ada up and run with her, if she doesn't mind! We'll move faster that way! * Togo runs with them. * Ada blinks. "Wha?" * Rina nods and peers at Ada. "Want a piggyback ride?" * Ada blinks. "A what?" Here, I'll show ya. * Robert runs along, thumbing on Reason's stealth mode as he goes. * Rina kneels down and helps Ada onto her back. "Hang onto my shoulders." * Ada hangs on. "'Kay." * Rina stands up and starts running in the direction she was going before. * Ada giggles in delight. * Togo takes off. Lemme know where to turn, Ada. * Yoji runs after them. When we get there, if things get ugly... which they will... no holding back or hesitating. Use the freaking kitchen sink if need be. Only way we're getting outta this. * Ada tells Rina where to turn occasionally. I don't have much of a kitchen sink. * Rina obeys directions! Kitchen mini gun. Whatever. (Whoo! Go, Rina!) (See Rina run. Run, Rina, run.) After a few minutes of breakneck running, you see someone up ahead. * Rina slows down and peers at said someone. (It's Shiori. It's a miracle you noticed her.) * Rina blinks. "Shiori! What are you doing out here?" She runs up to her. Shiori? ...how'd she get here? She's really, *really* sneaky. * Shiori turns around for just a sec. "Ah... Hi... I was following the others, and..." She points, blinks, and starts running again. "They're moving quicker." I gathered that. * Robert checks his sensors to see if Shiori registers. * Rina nods and chases. "I can move faster, but if I do..." * Yoji runs after Rina. Robert> Shiori registers only sporadically. ...have to fix that. After a time, you pass an area that smells like bile. You see a pile of something standing out against the wall to your right. * Togo continues running, and looks at Shiori. "Get ready. We're heading into deep, deep shit." +() ( Maybe literally. =P ) * Shiori nods. "I... thought as much..." I don't want to think about it. * Rina looks at the pile. * Yoji keeps looking at the pile, not really watching where he's going. Wading through sewers is not my idea of a good time. Methane will ruin your whole day, week, year, and life. ( I could make a guess here, but... I don't think I will, lest I be wrong but the GM decide to use it anyhow. ) * Rina does keep running, though. :P (Actually, MArgie puked there.) (Don't worry about it.) ( Good thing I didn't guess, then... ^_^ ) ( How many of Margie's internal organs are in the puke? ) (none. Some beanie weenies, tho.) ( Ah. beanie weenies... ) (.... damn. I forgot what those were. >_< ) ( Calvin and Hobbes. ) ( Still dont' recall ) ( Irrelevant... o/" ) ( ;_; ) The hallway keep passing, y'all heep running, Ada keeps pointing. o/~ (Yay!) * Togo runruns. "And lo, as I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, 'cause I am the baddest motherfucker in the whole goddamn valley..." Thankfully, you don't encounter any more puke. ( BUt the puke was the best part! Every game should have more puke! ) How fast are they *going*? ( Quiet, Dem. ) ( ...Walter Slovotski, to Carl Cullinane. ) They were jogging... They just started running about when, um, when you showed up... Geez... Oh. Great. * Rina frowns. "I can chase them down, really." But you'll leave us behind. Better for us to arrive as one. Yeah. Which is why I'm not. I could do it... But... I d-don't think they'd like that. Right now we don't give a crap what they'd like. "We're almost there..." * Rina nods. "Okay, thanks Ada." They're dragging us along on this. We're trying to save them from their own idiocy. If we survive, they damn well better fall at our feet in thanks for rescuing their worthless asses. And then buy us dinner. Um... But they asked us to escape... Like we were gonna leave them behind? Right. (Alright. time to shift.) We should, but we can't. (Margie, Sayuri. At the doors to the library.) * Shiori nods. Yeah. * Marguerite nods to Sayuri. "Your move." (I'll tell the rest of you when you catch up.) ('Course.) * Sayuri sobs once, and opens the doors n'goes thorugh. Her teeth clenched, her body tensed. "I gotta." I know. * Marguerite follows, closing the door behind her. The doors creak melodramatically as you open them. (OR not.) * Marguerite follows through, anyways. Inside is a massive room, easily rivaling a convention center, as well as some smaller stadiums, in size. It has many floors, many shelves, and every flat surface is stuffed full of books. Holy SHIT. I .. haven't seen a library this big EVER. Not even at IU. This is crazy. Psi/Mag would love this place. Fuck, I'll bet. * Marguerite wipes her cheeks, still slightly wet. In the center of the room, flanked by rows of study desks on either side, is a circle of comfortable-looking chairs. A tall woman with golden hair is sitting in one, reading out of a thick, jewel- encrusted tome. She looks up. *** Ada is now known as Xivilai "Good morning." * Marguerite tenses, staring at the woman. * Sayuri looks at the woman, and tenses tighter. "Hello. I'm Sayuri, and you're in my nightmares." My name's Maggie. You're not in mine, but rest assured I have them anyways. * Xivilai seems to consider that for a moment. "Well, that's hardly surprising." She puts an ivory placemarker in the book she was reading from and sets it aside on a nearby desk. She stands, and gestures expansively to the sofas and chairs. "You are exhausted. Please have a seat." ... I'm not sure how far to trust you, "Lady", but what the hell. I'm really winded. * Sayuri blinks, and sighs heavily, but quickly, as she tenses up again and walks over to sit on one of the chairs. "That is... really damn welcome." * Marguerite sits in a chair, resting Bubba across her knees. * Sayuri looks at the door nervously, then back at Xivilai, shivering as she meets Xiv's eyes. "So... who are you?" * Xivilai resumes her seat. "Would you are for wine?" (+C) Wine. Wine sounds good, unless you have something stronger, like ethanol or isopropyl. * Sayuri chuckles nervously, but continues looking at Xiv in expectation of an answer. "No wine. I haven't started drinking yet." * Xivilai quirks an eyebrow. "I shall send for peach wine, then. It is somewhat stronger." She puses for the briefest moment, and says, "It is on it's way." Good. I appreciate it.... lady whose name I'm still in the dark on. * Sayuri mms, and leans forward, staring into the eyes as if she could find an answer for... something. "Or should we call you Lady like Ada?" * Xivilai turns to Sayuri. "And as to your question, I am many things to many people. I am, to be certain, Xivilai Shardae, Lord of the Shardae Dominion, traitor to the Elnohfec Empire, and Lady of the Black Mountain, in which you find yourselves now." Well that answers THAT. "Some have it that I am the evil enchantress that the hero attempts to slay, or rescue the damsel in distress from, or what have you, and I cannot blame them. Others, strangely enough, say that I am the hero, although they are somewhat fewer in number. I am the oldest member of my race, and I am the most powerful mage on this, or any other world, to the best of my knowledge." * Marguerite blinks. "Fuck, I forgot about the others. I wonder if there's a lock." * Xivilai raises an eyebrow. "The others? Ah, they are loose as well?" (At that mometn, 'the others' reach the door.) * Sayuri shivers, but lacking conversation holes, is still just staring at Xiv. * Shiori enters. In the front of the group, oddly. (The door, you'll recall, is closed.) ( Bah. ) * Marguerite stands. (Was closed, anyway.) * Rina tries opening the door, then * Shiori opens the door, then. (The door opens. ^_^) (Out of my hair, Shiori. ;P) ... * Togo steps in... sees the scene... (You see the same really big library the others saw. * Rina walks in, Ada on her back. * Yoji enters the room and gasps at all the books. ... well this is cozy. Well. Join the party. * Rina looks around with wide eyes, then notices Margie and Sayuri. She smiles with relief. * Xivilai looks thoughtful. "I ought to send for more wine." * Marguerite sits back down. "Yes. Get a gallon or two. Then get some for the people that just walked in." I don't want to know how you ended up sitting down and talking. * Rina grins despite herself. "Oh, you don't want me drunk. Really." * Xivilai gives a token smile for that. I really don't. * Sayuri stares at Xiv, seemingly not noticing everyone else, unable to hold her speech anymore. "So. Could you enlighten me, or are you going to kill me like everyone else feared?" * Yoji sees Marguerite and Sayuri and opens his mouth to say something, but apparently thinks better. She isn't trying to kill you two. Good. Mean we might get outta here alive so I can do it myself. * Togo moves to sit down, putting away his guns. Okay, I happen to be relaxing. If any of you hasa problem with that, you can stand up there. Anyone else who wants one of these ... really incredibly comfortable seats.... can come on down. * Xivilai looks at Sayuri. "If I had wished to kill you," she says, "you would have died." Well, no shit. * Togo turns back to Robert. "Might not being going into the breach after all. Go figure." "Of course not. I wish to keep a tidy abode." ( Ba-dum CHING! ) * Rina walks over to where the group is sitting and looks back at Ada. "You wanna get off now, or not?" Ada seems to be trying to hide behind Rina. * Sayuri snickers. "Amazing. Now, about the nightmares that still almost paralyze me in place..." She finally seems to pick up on the other people. "Aw. hell. Why won't you people go away?" You should try hiding behind me, kid. I'm bigger. * Rina shakes her head and kneels down. "C'mon, off," she says gently. "You can't hide forever." We didn't want to leave you here... We're annoying like that. Ada takes Robert's advice and hops down from Rina's back, scampering to hide behind Robert. Because we're stubborn, Sayuri. And we care about you. Now, you had something worth leading us into possible certain doom over...? * Marguerite stands. "I'm satisfied." She turns to everyone else. "Look. Give her 15 minutes. In here." She pauses. "Alone." * Sayuri is still looking at Xiv. She asked a question, after all. (Sayuri, I mean.) * Rina looks at Marguerite, then Sayuri, then back. * Rina nods. "Okay." What the hell. We've been stupid enough already. Might as well split up while we're at it. * Xivilai shakes her head. "I am afraid that I have not voluntarily given anyone nightmares for..." she thinks a moment, "Two hundered and thirty-one years." We can clear things up after then. Okay... I guess I can wait. ... * Robert walks out of the room. * Togo walks by Robert. o/" Dare to be stupid... o/" * Sayuri turns to Margie, smiling about as much as anyone's ever seen her. "Thanks." If I have to shoot someone with rubber bullets, I will do it. But Livewire is getting 15 minutes alone in here. * Rina looks back at Sayuri with concern. "Be careful, okay?" She waves and walks out. * Marguerite grins faintly at Sayuri. "Sure." It's always the one last stupidity that kills you. * Marguerite walks on up and out. "Pity I never got that wine." * Yoji walks out the door. * Shiori wordlessly walks out. * Robert pulls an MRE out of his coat and offers it to Margie. Let's hope we've got a few more stupidities left, then. * Xivilai thinks a moment, and smiles faintly as something goes 'click' in her mind. Oh, shut up, Robert. Some people never got their personalities ripped out by the Marines. * Marguerite waits till everyone else is out, then closes the door. [End Session.]