towerofanimus | Something Unexpected

Entry tags:

Something Unexpected

Characters: characters selected to go into the elevator
Setting: the admin levels
Format: any
Summary: The admin elevator has been left open, its destination preprogrammed. Where is it going to take you?
Warnings: general horror warnings for now

The elevator doesn't announce itself when its doors slide open. There's no alarm, no message to be found about it. It sits open and waits for anyone curious enough to enter. There's a barrier on it that locks out anyone without a collar, and it isn't going to stay long, but aside from that there appears to be no security. There's nothing stopping someone--or multiple someones--from climbing into the elevator and going down.

Where's it going? Who knows.

Hub Area
A lounge area with sofas and chairs. It's large enough to hold the entire group, constructed similarly to the dorm rooms, and is connected to five doors.

Door One
???

Door Two
???

Door Three
???

Door Four
???

Door Five
???

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Yeah, being the one of the two guys in this team that have been here for the longest, the moment he catches sight of Jason was the moment he ducked down with Zelda. Also the same instant that he felt his entire core freeze over.

Jason was right here. Just on the other side and working on one of their own. ...What was that about a meeting? Was that why they were busy and free from running into them as they have so far in their trip down?

Thank you, fight or flight, for keeping him from doing something stupid.]

[After a few minutes, the worker unit returns with Sheba's body. A new version, free from injury and unclothed, which is placed on the operating table. He dismisses the worker unit with new instructions:] Get me her items, will you? She'll need a new set of clothes.

[Then, retrieval units joining him, he gets out his operating tools.]

[If there was any doubt in Arturia or John's mind that they've found themselves in a very sticky situation, the look on Zelda and Yu's faces should do it. The Princess feels like her heart is going to beat out of her chest, and she does not dare speak above a whisper.]

He has not noticed us...

[Sure, it's a statement of the obvious, but the enormity of the situation kind of demands it.]

[At that point, John pulls the camera out of sight entirely, pulling it close to his chest. He's not sure how much he's getting at this point but if a naked girl is involved, he doesn't want to be filming any of it, no matter how important it may potentially be.]

[Like Zelda, John doesn't dare speak above the most quiet of whispers. Their faces have only confirmed his worries.]

What should we do?

[On the one hand, he's curious to see this through till the end. Yet on the other...]

Go.

[It's said quietly--so very quietly--Arturia can't believe she's saying it.]

I'll stay here and slow him down if he notices you. Unless you think what we may find out at this point is worth it.

[Because the look on Yu's and Zelda's faces tell her one thing: that the person in there is dangerous and if the people here can manipulate souls in such a way then they are on the level of Caster in her Fourth War. If they have no reason to stay here, they should not linger.]

[It's even more telling in how Yu nods. Maxed out Courage stats he may have, but it would be suicide to stay until Jason notices.]

We shouldn't linger here. [he whispers] While I wouldn't mind learning more, I'm not putting any of us in unnecessary danger.

[He has had enough of people messing with his soul and ego without consent, okay. One year as a representative of humanity in Izanami's social experiment was enough for him, thank you very much.]

[Right before Jason is about to properly get down to work, he's drawn away to the other door by some of the others making a great amount of noise. For the moment, he's facing away from the door completely.]

Then go. As I said, I'll hold him off if he notices anyone.

There is no "holding off" the administrators. He will simply kill you before sending red-collar units after us.

[Still whispering, but honestly Arturia?]

Going to bed and posting this here so everyone can get it. Seeing how fast this is progressing, godmod rights for Arturia go to Jamie. Mods have the right to kill her off if necessary. Just make sure it's awesome.

[At this point, John stops the tape, saves the recording and flips his Pokegear closed, slipping it back in his fanny pack. He's pretty sure at this point that continuing to record is kind of pointless. Jason's not talking anymore and he's not about to get into a position where he can get a better shot. And in case things go sour, he might actually stand a chance of getting out with the footage this way.]

[Like the others, he continues to whisper.]

I agree with Yu, but where should we even go from here?

[Wanting to get out is one thing...but how are they going to actually accomplish that?]

[...Arturia. Arturia please.]

Zelda's ri- [Wait, Jason isn't speaking anymore and he doesn't hear much activity on the other side. Curious, he takes another look real quick before noticing something.] His back is turned. We go now while we can, and maybe we can find something else out.

[To be honest, he's still curious about the meeting Jason mentioned... but making sure they get out of immediate danger is his top priority.]

[She nods at Yu's suggestion.]

This place is huge. If he is not searching for us, and we stay low and quiet, we should be able to avoid him amidst all the machinery. Perhaps we can find another exit, or even that worker with the damaged collar again.

[Admittedly, she's curious too, but they're not going to find out anything about that by sticking around here. Better to move on and see what else they can find.]

[By now Jason has left his room--he's busy yelling at another group of intruders.

He's being quite loud, though--as are the intruders. It would be difficult not to hear.]

I almost think we have to find another exit. I mean what are the chances of us being able to get back out the way we c-- [He trails off as he becomes acutely aware of loud, angry voices coming from the processing room. He can't quite make out exactly what is being said, but he's fairly certain he recognizes two of the voices. He glances back over he shoulder in the direction of the yelling]

Does anybody else hear that or am I losing it?

[He nods] Y- [Wait... He recognizes one of the voices.] Feferi...

[In other words, yes. Yes he does hear that. Part of him wants to go to them and stop this, but... Jason. He remembers full well what happened the first time he thwarted Jason and the cost. If it was just him, he would definitely have jumped in to stop them, but...

He looks to the others, worry and helplessness not hidden at all in his gaze. He doesn't want to leave this group behind, but if they don't move... they all risk getting whatever treatment their friends will.

He wants to scream, but nothing comes out.]

... They are confronting him...

[Idiots! she wants to cry out, but of course she doesn't. Not only because it would give away their position, but because she can't entirely fault them. If she were a bit younger, a bit less jaded, perhaps, she would have done the same.

... Distantly, as she sees the helplessness in Yu's face, she recalls a time that seems so long ago now, when her guardian and only friend had left her to face the horrors of the Shadow Temple alone. Watch the well, she had instructed, and... she never got the chance to say goodbye. The memory hurts like an old wound, but it reminds her that they've got something bigger than themselves to focus on.]

Come on. [She urges with solemn determination, grabbing Yu's wrist and pulling gently in an attempt to get him moving as she begins inching down the wall they've pressed themselves against.] ... Fighting him is impossible. We need to move now, before he comes back.

[Feferi... wouldn't want them to lose everything they've fought for so far like this.]

[John nods in agreement, shifting his position to follow after Zelda along the wall. A he does so, he takes a better look at their surroundings, searching for a door or an air vent or basically any other way to go aside from back towards the machine or the locked door to Jason's office.]

[Because if they're trying to escape, somehow heading back towards Jason seems a little counter-productive. Unless he happens to go back into his office using the same door he came out of, they'll be sitting ducks if they head back the way they came.]

[Arturia, however, stays behind at the door, watching the group start to leave. If any of them caught the look on her face they'd see she plans on busting into the room as soon as the others are enough distance away to try and help. Hearing the fighting inside, seeing the helplessness on these people's, her comrade's faces, she can't sit here and do nothing. She can't.

Not with people screaming like that behind her and her comrades in front of her.

After all, she has nothing left to lose.]

[Yu meekly nods, every part of him screaming to help them the same as what Arturia wants to, but hearing what he already knows repeated and the wisdom Zelda shares... He can't argue with it, but he slips from her grasp to look back just once more.

To see Arturia not even budging.

This is not good.]

Arturia-san... If all of us don't move now, everyone could be at risk. Believe me, I tried last year to thwart his plans and the facades that make up most of my soul were stripped from me.

[Come with us... Please.]

I don't wish that pain and resulting emptiness on anyone... There's nothing we can do for them but make sure the price they pay isn't in vain.

[Funny how he can say a full and passionate protagonist speech in whispers.]

It doesn't matter what he does to me. I can't sit here and just let him. Go. I'll be well. I've endured much worse than this.

[Which, in her mind, is true. She's faced off whole armies by herself, ripped through man, woman, and child, through her own nation as her own wish was perverted. The possibility of her soul being shredded up, of her very being getting twisted?

It unnerves her, it truly does. Yet she feels as if she deserves it for the things she's done.]

Go now. Please. Before he decides to check the other doors and catches you as well.

Arturia, please. [The emphasis is more pleading than anything. Like Yu, John isn't crazy about the idea of anybody being left behind when it can easily be avoided.]

As much as it sucks, Yu is right. We can't do anything for them. Nothing good will come from you staying behind. I can't speak for everyone in that group, mostly because I don't know who else went with them, but I know for a fact that Feferi wouldn't want you to do this.

[And chances are, she's about to be canned tuna in a minute. Are you really going to go against a dead princess's wishes, Arturia? Really?]

Edited 2013-02-27 02:04 (UTC)

[She doesn't know Feferi, sadly, but their pleading does get to her to some degree. Why do they want to save her? They barely know her. This is her first time meeting any of them. She's done nothing to gain their loyalty, nothing beyond her duty as a knight. So why do they wish to have her go with them?

It would be easier for three to escape than four.]

I can't stand by and let them be hurt without a fight. It's my duty as a knight to defend those who need help and right now they're the ones who need help.

I will not say it again: go. Before he catches you, too.

[~~BECAUSE OHANA~~ Zelda begins to frown the longer they argue, the longer they're stuck here rather than finding somewhere safer.]

Arturia - this is not a fight you can win. Nor is it one that will even hurt Jason. Believe us. There will be nothing noble about your sacrifice, and we will be down our fastest runner.

[Perhaps appealing to practicality will work, if not emotion.]

If you want to help them, we need to find information we can use against the administrators. Please, we do not have time to be arguing this.

[~~NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND~~ Yu's eyes narrow at that stubbornness. Do you seriously want to hinder the group anymore? Because your refusal to leave with them is doing just that.]

You don't think I don't want to help them, too?

[Ugh, they don't have time for this. Arturia? You may be King Arthur in some other world, may be a knight, but right now he doesn't give a damn. Because if he can't drag you on his own (which he is certainly attempting to if his grip on her arm is anything to go by) he will carry you.]

Let's go. Before we're all spotted.

[Draaaaaaaaaaaaag...]

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