#corvic mordacci

[nebulousfrog]

A plushie slowly emerges...! 

[nebulousfrog]

Compared to a lot of my plush...the base plush of Corvic dun have that many pieces! But many more pieces will come later, when I build the armor on top on the base plush. 

[felroki]

Another Tarot commission fro @breir-loose-leaf of their character, Corvic Mordacci. Thank you so much! He is an amazing character and I had so much fun with this concept!

The idea was to portray the unglorious, nevertheless demanding sacrifices a doctor has to make day by day. As I was telling Breir also, this topic really hit home with me, because we have such a doctor in the family so I get to see it with my own eyes... especially since in the country I come from, all medical jobs are outrageously underpaid. 

I feel proud of how the texture effects came out on this and still love the tarot theme. You know what guys, I feel like I could take a few more of these on the long run. Make a series out of it. Wink wink, nudge nudge.

Texture one, two, three - you can tell that I really went an extra mile for this one, huh? LOL. Cause Breir is a totally neat person who hands out so much positivity to everyone all the time, that’s why. 

[cypersong]

[REDSTAR CARTEL] Redstar Supernova Hypnotic Funky Fresh (Part 1 of 4)

In which Wylion and Nika are both in serious danger, and Team Justice goes to destroy the Redstar Cartel once and for all.

Note: This event takes place in a maze so the chatlog is very confusing. 

== THE FACILITY - EXTERIOR == //Nika has been suspiciously missing pretty much ever since she talked with Jules. Where she went or why is anyone's guess. Woman's mercurial as hell and doesn't abide by no man, woman, or child. Wylion has been infiltrating one of Ferrymoore's sites for a few weeks now and everything has been going smooth as silk. Until tonight. //A frantic voice message is sent to the reamining members of Team Justice from Wylion herself. CUE IC MODE: "Please tell me you have some elaborate plan involving using Nika as zombie bait. Please say this is a thing because boy oh boy do I hate surprises." Arthur Kinlay frowned down at his datachron. ".....why? What did you learn?" The Datachron Breeps merrily: "LEARN IS KIND OF A STRONG WORD IN THIS CASE, ARTHUR! Yeugh, she looks awful. No, stop looking at me like that. It's not /my/ fault you're in there." Adessa Cypersong is positively alarmed by all the  datachrons going in mad stereo. "ZOMbie bait?" Arthur Kinlay pulled the chron away from him at Wyl's yelling. "Details, please." Quinn Bayhill reaches up and facep/e facepalms hard and mutters to herself. "And here Ah though this was gon' be nice an' easy. Started as such a good day too." Wylion Glittergale's voice lowers into a whisper, the sound of some shuffling and bleep-bleeping heard distantly in the background. "Okay, look. I'm just minding my business and what not and I came down here to drop a package off and Nika's in a /tube/. WeaVE WHERE'D YOUR EYE GO? No, ahh--shit! Okay. Okay-okay. Heeeeeeeeeeeey, buddy! Yeah, no. Just-uh. Calling Mom. You know how moms are, hah. Hah." Adessa Cypersong's eyes get HUGE. "WHAT." Ravil Raindance: "Take heart, dearest Quinn. If 'tis somnolent simplicity we seek, mayhap we would be better served scouring the Wilderness for a /smaller/ slaver citadel." Arthur Kinlay blinked at his chron. "She's WHAT" Quinn Bayhill casts Ravil a -look- before just smiling wide. "Nope. Ah ain't lettin nothin' ruin mah mood. This is gon' be ok. There's a kink, sure, but its ok. We ain't fucked up too bad yet and we aint bout ta start now." Adessa Cypersong pulls her ears down and makes a strangled sort of noise, tail lashing. "NNNGGHGGHGHOKAY." She takes a deep breath. "Okay. So. Now what we is doing. How we is getting them out." Wylion Glittergale's voice comes across as a muffled smattering of some conversation. After a bout five minutes she comes back on, breathing over the reciever like an animal. "I can't stay on the line. Look, just get down here with a drop shuttle. I'm gonna try and get her out. And, uh -- Bring some vitalus," she adds after an after thought before the line goes dead. //Deep within the Wilderrun jungle lies a bordered facility. Shielded by towering walls and defense turrets, the compound itself towers high above - nearly blending with its dark stone and gleaming Osun carvings. It is undoubtedly repurposed - Like those that are unfortunate enough to be caught within. Arthur Kinlay drags his hand slowly across his face. "Shiiiiiit.... okay." Arthur Kinlay: Alright.. fuck.. so we need to get Nika and Wyl out of there. Adessa Cypersong stares up at the deathtrap. "This is not to be my fault." Ravil Raindance: "A more brooding edifice this bard has seldom seen. 'Tis perversely poetic, perhaps - that walls stained black with the blood of slaves serving a fallen empire now cradle further depravities." //Two guards are positioned over what must be the front doors. Down the right corridor is another door haloed in a flood light, with not a single guard in sight. Arthur Kinlay blinks at Adessa. "What? No, this is noone'S fault right now, we just need to do this... right." Arthur Kinlay peers at the two entrances. "Well... looks like we got a choice." Quinn Bayhill pops her lips together a few times. Pop...pop pop...pop pop pop. "OK! Plan formin or we gonna wing it like we seem ta end up doin? Cause Ah'm good with either at this point." Adessa Cypersong looks between the front door and the back one. "Mmmaybe not going by the big light, it is a better idea." Ravil Raindance: "How would a plan prevail, without knowing what lies within? This bard prefers to leap forth and take wing - and let the winds of fortune steer him where they will." Adessa Cypersong wraps her arms around herself. "Winds, this is not good enough tonight." Arthur Kinlay nods slowly. "I doubt that unguarded door is like that for no reason... maybe, just maybe, if we take those two guards out fast enough we can get in before they set off an alarm." Ravil Raindance: "But though 'tis in Ravil's nature to bask in the limelight, such is slaver treachery that even he can see the error inherent in illuminating himself thus. This bard stands with Arthur on this." Adessa Cypersong nods. "Three votes. There is to be five of us, and two at the door, yes? We can be doing this thing." Quinn Bayhill begins to rock and and forth on her feet and nods. "Ah'm backin Arthu...Red's idea as well. Ya lead, Ah'ma follow." Arthur Kinlay nods resolutly. "Alright. Once inside we'll have to go fast, no lazing around untill we're secure. So... you all reayd?" Ravil Raindance: "Then let us not tarry any further - they who dwell o'erlong in the mire of indecision are apt to sink!" Corvic Mordacci has come with a field medic's pack strapped across his back. In addition to all his regular pockets, of course. Quinn Bayhill unholsters her pistols and nods. "Ah've had a great coupla days...Ah'm ready ta get this over with." Corvic Mordacci is both tense and terse. He simply gives a nod. Adessa Cypersong stalks down the walkway and wanders over to the wall, ears rotating around like radar. Ravil Raindance secures his theatrical mask in place with the usual fanfare and conjures his psabres. Lodged halfway into the soft dirt, Ravil kicks one up and sweeps the other with his tail, catching them as they descend. Corvic Mordacci unclips his resonators and holds them in tight knuckles. He leans in to murmur between Arthur and Quinn "Surely they are expecting us by now. And know what -to- expect." // The Guards stand resolute, making idle chit-chat with one another. They don't seem to notice the party yet. // Quinn Bayhill glances back at Corvic and nods. "They would be stupid ta not see this comin. Trap a'plenty...tha's whats in there." Adessa Cypersong turns and looks back at Corvic. "This is why we is needing to be careful, yes?" Corvic Mordacci still murmurs quietly of course. "At least it appears they are unaware of Wylion's alias. One element on our side..." Adessa Cypersong moves along the wall to listen over the railing. Ravil Raindance: "If thou art ready, this bard can provide ample distraction." Corvic Mordacci stays in the back, as usual. Adessa Cypersong peeks up over the wall. "Probably, this is being a good idea." Ravil Raindance hurls one of his psabres overarm in the general direction of the guards. It melts into the shape of a vulcarrion and swoops dramatically over the heads of the guards, intended to make sufficient nuisance of itself to cause a distraction. // The guards notice something alright. They stare at the psaber and then slowly tuuurn in unison to stare from whence it came. Well, the jig is up. They shout at one another and make to dash after the party. "Stop! Who goes there!" Adessa Cypersong can't duck behind the wall fast enough and she seems to know it. Her eyes go wide and she pulls out a pistol to shoot at the biggun. Arthur Kinlay curses when the jig is up. So much for surprise. Not wanting to waste time on pointless explanations he simply pulls out his pistols and let out a salvo at the big mean looking one. Corvic Mordacci wants to get some distance from Quinn and Arthur so they aren't all clumped up. He runs to the side, raising resonators. He tries to project a field of harmful energy onto the largest guard. "If the door is open, try to keep it that way." Quinn Bayhill curses under her breath the moment the guards turn on them. "Whelp...." She raises her pistols and aims for the larger of the two. Ravil Raindance vaults onto the raised support section of the wall and blazes across it with a brisk pitter-patter of his tiny aurin feets. With every intention of seizing the guards' attention away from the rest of the group, he bounds from the edge, driving both psabres in a downwards thrust upon the nearest - and largest - of the pair. // The Guards are caught off guard when they are suddenly caught in the stream of firepower. The largest of the two, being the unfortunate one he is, gets the brunt of the blows - his fleshy hide searing over Q's bullet holes. He growls in the face of defiance, reaching up to try and grab Ravil from the air -- but he's a little slow and losing a little too much blood and goes a long mile. His smaller companion, meanwhile, seems to have caught a case of the shakes. "No one Adessa Cypersong takes a few surprised steps back before her wide eyes catch the smaller one. If you can't fell a mountain... she shoots in the direction of the itty one. Arthur Kinlay mutters as his shots go off course, then turns his attention to the smaller guard, not wanting to give one of them the opportunity to freely go for an alarm. He levels his pistols and shoots. Quinn Bayhill keeps her pistols up and shuts one eye as she keeps her sights on the larger one still. She lets off a single shot aiming to hit the bastard right between the eyes. Corvic Mordacci just -has- to get persnickety about terms. "We do not recognize your organization as a lawful authority, therefore we do not identify as insurgents." he punctuates this dictionary lesson with sweep of harmful freqencies in the smaller guard's direction. The vibrations are set at a frequency intended to weaken bone tissue.   Ravil Raindance glides elegantly away from the brute's meaty grasping fingers. "Alas!" Ravil exclaims tauntingly, "However irresistable be his luxuriant locks, 'tis rather forward of you seize them without invitation! We haven't even been properly introduced." Ravil lands behind the krogg after a deft bout of somersaulting, evidently preparing for a good stabbing. But then Quinn takes the presented opportunity to shoot him dead. "And now we never shall!" He scales the toppling giant and Ravil Raindance uses the extra height to make a dive for the smaller foe, with every intention of spearing him through the chest. Quinn Bayhill reaches up to wipe at her brow, pistols still in hand. "See? Easy." // The poor fellows don't even stand a chance. The smaller one makes only so much as a single 'WHA--" before he is rudely cut off. First by a bullet, second by a stab through the chest. The big guy goes down without a single word. A smoldering pile of dead krogg. Adessa Cypersong puts her pistols back at her hips. "They is not doing the alarm thing." Quinn Bayhill: Doesn't mean it wasn't heard. Corvic Mordacci: There is still a prolonged, perilous path ahead. Ravil, is the door open? Ravil Raindance: "So end all slavers." Ravil hisses a whisper to the dying guard, pulling his psabre free with the aid of a boot to the chest. With a flourish, he proceeds to the door. Arthur Kinlay frowns at the two dead men before heading over to the entrance, pistols still in hands. "Right, here's hope the rest goes as smoothly, heh?" // It is not. The blaring red shield is in place, but there does seem to be a handy console. Judging from the circular sensor at human height, it's an ocular scan entry. Ravil Raindance: "Alas, a wall of light bars our passage beyond." Corvic Mordacci does a quick scan to make sure each guard is truly dead. Or so on the way that they will be shortly. // They are extra dead. Good job, te am. Arthur Kinlay steps over to the scanner, peering at it, then walks back towards the corpses with a mutter. "Help me bring one of those over here." Adessa Cypersong walks right up to the sensor thing and kind of hops. It's too high for her to get a good look at. Corvic Mordacci hasn't seen the scanner himself but moves to help Arthur Corvic Mordacci goes for the smaller guard, of course. Arthur Kinlay does so as well. He hefts him up with Corvic's help and drags the body towards the door. "Looks like a retinal scanner, can probably use him." Ravil Raindance: "Even though his eyes gaze upon this world no longer?" Adessa Cypersong scoots out of the way. "Maybe, they is still helping though." Corvic Mordacci doesn't need telling. He helps hold up the shorter-person's corpse, forefinger peeling back an eyelid from behind. // The ocular scan beeps to life, a brief WHIRR scanning across the dead eyeball. After a moment of processing the shield fades from view. Corvic Mordacci lays the man's body down carefully. He even takes a second to brush fingertips over the eyes again to close them. Adessa Cypersong peeks her head into the door and looks up. Quinn Bayhill: Who's going first?

== THE FACILITY - INTERIOR == Ravil Raindance: "If we are met with need for someone to take the lead, this surefooted bard shall step first through the threshold." He steps forward to the stairs. Corvic Mordacci: Remember, this is a trap. Adessa Cypersong pins her ears back and actually takes the stairs a few at a time to catch up to and surpass Ravil. "She is to be MY teacher." // AND SUDDENLY -- nothing happens. It's just a stairwell and a hallway. Corvic Mordacci: I brought gas masks... by the way. Adessa Cypersong looks down at the floor  and takes a comically large step over the glass to the safety of the middle bit. Juust in case. Break your mother's back and all that. Ravil Raindance: "'Tis not a race, dearest Adessa. But Ravil dares not impede a pace quickened so with worry." Corvic Mordacci mumbles to himself. "Probably should have distributed them beforehand..." Arthur Kinlay turns to look at Corvic. "That.. might be a good idea, just in case." Corvic Mordacci nods and pauses to unshoulder his pack. He unzips a pocket to pull out the masks "Collapeable. One-time use." He hands em out. Ravil Raindance: "Many thanks and more - but will this contrivance fit neat 'neath /this/ mask?" Adessa Cypersong takes one of the masks with a weird look. "This. Probably is to be a good thing to be having." She doesn't look pleased. Maybe it's not in her color. Arthur Kinlay takes the mask and nods. "Thanks, hopefully won't need it." Quinn Bayhill eyes the door a moment then glances back to Corvic. "Thank ya man." She reaches out to accept hers then looks back to the door narrowing her eyes as she tries to find anything out of place for a 'door'. // There is nothing suspicious with the door. Carry on. Corvic Mordacci looks to Ravil. "Put it on or in a pocket. If the time comes you will surely find out." Arthur Kinlay: Alright let's keep moving folks. Corvic Mordacci hasn't put his on yet. He just tucks it in an easy-to-reach pocket. Adessa Cypersong takes a few steps forward on the SUSPICIOUSLY DIFFERENT COLORED FLOOR... It's the floor, isn't it. // It is most certainly the floor. The metallic panel underneath their feet slides suddenly open with an oiled and soundless motion. Corvic Mordacci takes in a breath of surprise that comes as a hiss through bared teeth.

== THE FACILITY - GLASS MAZE == Adessa Cypersong scrambles to grab at the floor as it disappears from beneath her. It doesn't work, and she slams into the ground. Quinn Bayhill curses as she drops, landing on her side with a hiss. "Fuck..that....that sucked." She pulled herself up to her feet slowly and looked around. Corvic Mordacci lands heavily in a graceless heap. He gets painfully to his feet, checking his equipment. "Downfall and decimation..." // HAHAH // WELCOME TO THE GLASS MAZE. Ravil Raindance's reflexes are sharp enough to right himself, landing on the floor in an artful, splay-limbed crouch. "What dire fate has befallen us?" he exclaims. Arthur Kinlay curses loudly as the floor opens beneath them, though he manages to catch himself 'not' too badly. "FUCK" And then he stood and looks around. ".....fuck." Corvic Mordacci: The trap, just as expected. Corvic Mordacci gets out his mask and -does- put it on. "They have us where they want us." // The Glass Cage: The panels of glass are thin, but can’t possibly be as flimsy as your AVERAGE, everyday glass panel. There are dozens of sectioned off rooms and hallways and no obvious way out. In the far corner of the room appears to be a lab of some sort equipped with a partially dismantled turret amongst a generator and a wall lined with canisters.  No one seems to be manning the lab at present. Arthur Kinlay takes a deep breath, scanning the room through the glass walls. His attention lingers on the far left corner of the room. "Hrm... there's some sort of lever all the way back there." Ravil Raindance: "What manner of beast, does this bard dare wonder, dwelleth within this glazed labyrinth?" Quinn Bayhill: Figures..Can't we just shoot tha damn glass? *she grumbles and pinches at the bridge of her nose before slipping her mask on* Course not. Too simple. Arthur Kinlay: ..there doesn't seem to be any beast in it, Ravil. I'm... pretty sure we'd see it. Adessa Cypersong makes sure her mask is fully secured before helping others. Corvic Mordacci: There is no doubt a beast here, in some metaphorical sense or other. Quinn Bayhill laces her fingers together to crack them. "Screw it. Let's get this over with." Corvic Mordacci narrows his eyes at the maze. "Why would they toy with us..." Arthur Kinlay: Not sure what's over there but I don't trust that cannister... seems to be a forcefield. Adessa Cypersong follows Q through the first area, grabbing onto the back of her shirt. // Quinn, Ravil, Adessa: HIT. Something sickly green and foul is spilling out of the punctured canister on the ground. The second the gas hits the gas filter it starts to /corrode/ away at its delicate mesh and plastic filters. So much for that. Ravil Raindance coughs and splutters, backing away from the ominous gas. Adessa Cypersong takes a few steps back as her gas mask starts to hiss. It's clearly done, so she pulls it off. Quinn Bayhill gags behind her mask a bit and QUICKLY backs away, pulling her mask off and tosses it to the side in a hurry. "FUCK FUCK!" She cough a bit Arthur Kinlay: What happened? Ravil Raindance: "Poison! The very air betrays us!" Quinn Bayhill: Gas....stars bless the masks. Corvic Mordacci: That is likely not the last of it. Arthur Kinlay wrinkles his nose and puts his own mask on. "Shit... is the gas lingering?" Ravil Raindance: "Quinn, this bard has a humble request." Quinn Bayhill shakes her head and spits to the side before looking to Ravil. "What?" Ravil Raindance: "If 'tis his fate to meet an ignominous end mired in this meandering maze, might he spend his final moments clasped to the sweetness of thy bosom?" Arthur Kinlay facepalms. "Ravil for fuck's sake." Corvic Mordacci: This looks likely but there is another cannister. Quinn Bayhill blinks and manages something of a chuckle. "Ah'd rather we didn't die at all." Adessa Cypersong: Mmaybe not dying is the good idea. Arthur Kinlay secures his mask in place. "Lemme check" Arthur Kinlay: Well doesn't seem like we got any choice. Adessa Cypersong makes a high pitched whining noise. Corvic Mordacci: I wonder what triggers them... Adessa Cypersong: Movement, maybe. Quinn Bayhill: Motion sensors? Arthur Kinlay: It's that way, or back there, and there's another cannister. Corvic Mordacci: Ravil, if you would, extricate yourself and send an espernetic construct down this hallway, please. Quinn Bayhill frowns. "Fucked either way..." Arthur Kinlay: Good call. Ravil Raindance: "In this matter do we agree - most heartily! Thy breasts are surely better savoured slowly, without the looming spectre of death cutting quality time short! But 'twas but a jest, intended to lift ailing spirits." Ravil Raindance: "This bard was about to do that very thing, dear doctor!" Ravil Raindance's eyes momentarily burn blue with espernetic energies as he concentrates. A duplicates bounds forth from his body, pirouetting its way down the corridor. // The canister at the end of the hallway HISSES to life - more of the green liquid leaking out and permeating the air. Arthur Kinlay: Right, so motion sensor. Quinn Bayhill shuts her eyes as she watches the liquid spews out. "Yes...screwed no matter the way we go." Corvic Mordacci: I suppose it was inevitable that we be surrounded.... Ravil Raindance attempts to use the construct to close the cannister - perhaps there's some sort of valve? Unfortunately, he can't /see/ through his duplicate's eyes, so he's directing the apparition largely through blind fumbling. Arthur Kinlay: Well. // Alas, there is no way to close the canister. It's rather dummy-proof. Arthur Kinlay: I got a feeling we got to reach that lever over there so... Corvic Mordacci: At least we don't have to trigger them in person. Ravil Raindance is struck by ANOTHER idea! Arthur Kinlay: ..although. I 'imagine' the lever may have something to do with that forcefield over there... Adessa Cypersong puts her hands on her hips. "If we is to be having robots or something like this, we is to be doing this easy." Ravil Raindance bids the duplicate return. He fishes around in his pockets and finds a large, frilly handkerchief, handing it over. The ghost obliges by returning and stuffing it into any visible emitters in the cannister. // Whatever the liquid is, it is highly corrosive to the touch. Least of all in physical form. The handkerchief saturated in the liquid quickly begins to shrivel and char at the edges. Arthur Kinlay: Well... going to take a deep breath and rush through.. Quinn Bayhill shakes her head and begins speaking, letting her hill billy-ish accent drop in place of proper speech. "We need to figure this out. We are getting hurt no matter the direction. It is the point of it all." Ravil Raindance: "Fie! Dearest doctor, though it pains this bard to rely so upon science to see this day through - mayhap thy resonators might discern the truth behind this misted mystery?" Adessa Cypersong nods. "So which direction, it is the right way?" She jabs a thumb behind her. "The maze, it is looking to be very complicated, so it must be right." Arthur Kinlay: Well my theory so far is that maybe the level turns off the force field... and I imagine the lab over there might control the sensors, or some sort of air purification routine. So we probably need to reach both of those. Corvic Mordacci: If it is made of organic compounds perhaps my resonators can be of use... Corvic Mordacci does try to scan for the gas with his resonators. Quinn Bayhill nods and brings her covered wrist to her nose. "I have already started down that way. I shall keep going." Arthur Kinlay: Now I'm pretty sure only one person needs to get that level, yeah? And I don't know much about lab systems. I'll try to reach that. Corvic, go for the lab? Adessa Cypersong puts her hands up against the glass to peek in. // The Resonator brings back a reading immediately. This isn't just your average poison. Oh no, it's far worse. It's the Osun-Crafted Soulrot. According to the readings - this stuff will not try to kill you. Rather, it tries to turn your brain to pudding. Charming! Corvic Mordacci hisses through his teeth. He's seen this before, and scanned this before. In a patient. Perhaps why his equipment recognized it  so quickly. "Soulrot. This is soulrot in gaseous form." Corvic Mordacci: It is breathable slavery. Quinn Bayhill takes a deep breath then RUNS back towards that first canister and rounds the corner. Ravil Raindance: "This bard has heard tales of soulrot - a more insidious substance dwelleth not in Nexus." Arthur Kinlay: Corvic? Corvic Mordacci: Quinn no! Arthur Kinlay sigh. "We don't exactly have a choice here, Corvic. It's that or wait here for someone else to come save us, which isn't happening. Can you try and head for that lab over there?" Quinn Bayhill calls back towards them. "I'm ok...I am ok. See if there is another around this wall if you can?" Corvic Mordacci: At least- let me scan for the concentration before you run through it. Adessa Cypersong looks like she's also going to run through it but she stops when requested. Corvic Mordacci scans the other hallway, hoping the cannisters have some kind of limit to how long the gas lasts. Arthur Kinlay: I somehow doubt we have the luxury to wait until the entire place clears itself... Corvic Mordacci mutters, frustrated at the situation. "At least hold your breath..." Quinn Bayhill: No kidding! Arthur Kinlay: Planning to. // There is no limit. Judging by the readings there seems to be some sort of timer set, as well. Perhaps a failsafe? Arthur Kinlay does just that, he holds his breath and rushes through the room, though his mask is still on, just in case. Adessa Cypersong takes off one of her gloves and looks at it. She mumbles something under her breath and then puts it in front of her mouth and nose. Head high, she just waltzes right past the cannister. Ravil Raindance attempts, through dint of effort, to weave a shell around himself and others in close proximity, trapping the oxygen in and keeping the bad stuff out. He holds his breath and moves quickly past, hoping it'll work. Arthur Kinlay frowns and throws his mask away. Corvic Mordacci: Well, you're right. We must move. *yet he lingers, taking up his gas mask and folding it up to protect the filters. He tucks it away deep in a pocket. Saving it for later* He takes a deep breath to hold and charges through. Arthur Kinlay: Careful. Arthur Kinlay: Straight ahead is another trap. Adessa Cypersong makes it through the room but she starts coughing on the other end, shaking her head. She starts clenching and unclenching her fists. Quinn Bayhill: Yes...careful. I considered that. Corvic Mordacci comes through the gas, nostrils flared. He blinks at the room in front of him. It takes him a moment to figure out that he needs to go around the other way. Arthur Kinlay squints, peering through the glass. "..hah, hah! Oh no you're not getting me that easy. This is a dead end." Quinn Bayhill: Damnit... Adessa Cypersong stalks through with her tail lashing, still clenching and unclenching her fingers. "My hands, they is feeling funny." Arthur Kinlay raises his voice. "To your right, Corvic." Ravil Raindance immediately conjures another bubble and tries to haul Quinn back around the corner. Corvic Mordacci slips on his gas mask again, shaking his head. He turns toward Arthur's voice and follows. Arthur Kinlay taps on the glass. "This way." Corvic Mordacci: One moment... Adessa Cypersong puts her hands on the glass to peer through it and watch Arthur and Corvic. Arthur Kinlay: Don't head over toward the lever from there, it's a trap. Adessa Cypersong: Corvic, come. Quinn Bayhill stumbles back as Ravil pulls her and begins to cough roughly. She lowers herself to her knees and clutches at her chest, gritting her teeth. "Ok...I, officially don't like this." Corvic Mordacci lets a out a wet, rattling cough through his gas mask. It's the dust storm all over again. Adessa Cypersong walks over and grabs Corvic's hand to pull him forward. Or steady herself, one or the other. Maybe both. Ravil Raindance: "Take heart - we shall see this day through yet!" Quinn Bayhill holds up her hand. "Wait. The one on the other side popped." Adessa Cypersong looks over to the right and stares stupidly for about two seconds too long. "Stairs." Corvic Mordacci closes his eyes for a moment, guided by Adessa's hand. He tries to clear his head. Quinn Bayhill turns her head from Ravil and spits again. Arthur Kinlay: ..what the. Corvic Mordacci: Quinn... what are your symptoms? Arthur Kinlay: ..how- Adessa Cypersong: ... What? Adessa Cypersong lets go of Corvic's hand to go wander onward. Arthur Kinlay: Shit... fuck. Quinn Bayhill looks up at Corvic and forces herself to her feet. "Head is fuzzy....fingers tingling." Arthur Kinlay: I might have been wrong... I'm... going to back track a bit. Corvic Mordacci: Arthur, what is it? Arthur Kinlay: Glass walls are confusing, that's what it is. Adessa Cypersong rounds the corner and just starts coughing again. She covers her mouth up but her arms aren't getting the signals her brain is sending. Arthur Kinlay: See... what's bugging me is it doesn't look like there's a way there... Corvic Mordacci raises his resonators and tries to scan for brain activity in Adessa and Quinn to see which is faring worse. Corvic Mordacci: ...Adessa. Arthur Kinlay: But then how the fuck do you get there... Ravil Raindance: "It toys with us, true, making mockery of sight and sense." Arthur Kinlay sigh. "I'm going to try... stay here." Ravil Raindance conjures another air bubble around them both. Corvic Mordacci had been careless to chase after Adessa and hadn't even noticed the cannister until it was in front of him. He runs to catch up. Arthur Kinlay raises a brow at the bubble around Ravil's head. "...there no point in both of us checking it out if it doesn'T work." Corvic Mordacci: The lab... sickness and scourge... I was going to search it..." Ravil Raindance: "Who between has has ran afoul of the more gas?" Arthur Kinlay: I haven't yet. Ravil Raindance: "Flip a coin - let fickle fortune decide!" Corvic Mordacci: Adessa, take this mask. Adessa Cypersong looks stupidly up at Corvic. Ravil Raindance fishes around for an errant copper. "Heads or tails?" Quinn Bayhill shakes her head. "Too long." She pushes past them both and runs. Arthur Kinlay runs his hands over his face again. "Stars' sake just...  DAMNIT" He staggers. Arthur Kinlay: QUINN! You went the WRONG WAY. Corvic Mordacci fumbles the mask out of his pocket and helps Adessa get it on. Quinn Bayhill: I'll go back...stay put! I'm already over here. Arthur Kinlay: WAIT. Adessa Cypersong just allows the mask to go onto her face. Arthur Kinlay smacks his forehead hard. "What the hell! The point is to see if you can get to the lever from there. And Ravil." He looks at the Aurin. "Seriously now's not the time for damn coin flipping." Adessa Cypersong grabs Corvic's hand and starts pulling him through the maze again, muttering something that sounds suspiciously like "Wylion." Corvic Mordacci: going back costs double... we press on. Ravil Raindance: "'Twas fitting, so this bard felt. For are we not gambling with our lives?" Arthur Kinlay: We're not -gambling-. Arthur Kinlay: I was being logical because I -haven't- been gassed yet. Quinn Bayhill shakes her head and looks back. "I do not think there is a way from here..." // Quinn is correct. The glass has no way past it from here. Adessa Cypersong stops in sight of the stairs at the end of the maze while Arthur, Quinn, and Ravil continue to muddle through the middle of it. She looks up at Corvic and takes about three seconds before mumbling "We is to be telling them that we is seeing it. Be shooting. The. Lights?" Adessa Cypersong puts her hands up in a sad attempt at doing the medic thing. Arthur Kinlay: That wall over there closed? Shit.. how the hell are we supposed to get there. Corvic Mordacci's tongue feels heavy. "Sssshoting lightss?" Adessa Cypersong gives up on Corvic entirely and stumbles to the glass, knocking loudly on it. Quinn Bayhill looks to her right. "I see where I am...past this one before." Corvic Mordacci keeps following closely behind Adessa. Quinn Bayhill runs past the canister again. Ravil Raindance coughs and splutters violently. He attempts to right himself against an adjacent panel, but his hand doesn't want to cooperate. Arthur Kinlay mutters and curses under his breath, then rushes through the gassed room. Adessa Cypersong continues to smash her hand on the glass. She's at least smart enough to not turn around and go back. Corvic Mordacci belatedly decides to scan the area ahead for traces of gas. // It is safe, Corvic. Corvic Mordacci: Ravil, the exit is nigh. Do not give in... Arthur Kinlay lets out a hacking cough as he reaches the end of the room. "Stars, that shit's foul... gah..." He frowns and flexes his hand. "..damnit." Ravil Raindance's speech is slurred and confused, as though at once concussed and intoxicated. "Mayhap this bard might compoooooose a sonnet to commemorate the occasion." Quinn Bayhill runs to catch up to them. Ravil Raindance: ...Watch as we adventurers three scrabble blindly through the maze...wait, there's... Five of us? That's right, isn't it? Five?" Corvic Mordacci: Ssave the ssonnet! Ravil Raindance: "But 'five' doesn't rhyme..." Arthur Kinlay groans. "Ravil just.. just stop." Adessa Cypersong stupidly walks back over to Corvic and grabs his hand again. Quinn Bayhill: Come now...Stairs now! Corvic Mordacci mutters. "Five, dive, hive... jive.." Ravil Raindance: "This bard can scarce... stop now?" Ravil Raindance: "Oh. There's six of us." Quinn Bayhill: Arthur... Arthur Kinlay: ...yes? Quinn Bayhill: We cannot play stealth right now. Not with them acting as such. Arthur Kinlay: No kidding. Quinn Bayhill: They are going to get us caught much sooner now.

== THE FACILITY - LASER ROOM == Arthur Kinlay: Oh. Oh great. Yes that's what we needed. Quinn Bayhill: ....Oh what fresh hell is this. // BEHOLD! LASERS. The individual red beams are too close and too high up to be passed /easily/. It'd take some fancy foot work to get past. Corvic Mordacci continues to be led as long as Adessa leads him. Arthur Kinlay: My kingdom for a ventilation shaft... Adessa Cypersong mumbles under her breath, "Your kingdom, it IS a ventallala shaft." Corvic Mordacci mumbles and mutters to himself, slipping into grismaran. He takes off his gloves and lets them plop the floor, checking the levels on his forearm tanks. the word 'vitalus' is clear enough in his rambling. Ravil Raindance: "A more fitting maze by far!" Arthur Kinlay: So... Ravil. Quinn Bayhill slowly turns her head towards Arthur. Adessa Cypersong takes off her offending not-saving-her-from-gas glove and tosses it haphazardly into the lasers. Arthur Kinlay: Guess it's finally time for your fancy footwork to shine... Ravil Raindance conjures both of his psabres in preparation. It takes him more effort than usual, and they appear decidedly fuzzy. Quinn Bayhill: In his state? Do you think it possible? Ravil Raindance: "Thou needn't fret and fuss! Watch as Ravil dances 'twixt these beams. Arthur Kinlay rubs his forehead. "I have no clue.... got a better idea? Ravil Raindance endeavours to weave around and between to the other side. Adessa Cypersong gets down on her haunches and looks through the lazers. "Under." // BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH - Ravil manages to by pass the lasers to the other side. Corvic Mordacci shakes his head, why-.. why is he checking his vitalus levels? He bends and picks up his gloves again, still trying to shake off the confusion from the gas. He looks up to see the lasers lessened. How convenient! Arthur Kinlay: Good job! YOu wouldn't happen to see some sort of... off switch over there, do you? Adessa Cypersong yells something in half drunken-arborian. "Ravil, [arborian] lever or [arborian]?" Corvic Mordacci looks up to see many lasers. How inconvenient. Ravil Raindance lands on the other side in what he intends to be a weight-dispersing crouch. Instead, he hits the floor in a graceless tangle of limbs. "Witness this bard!" he exlaims, picking himself up. Adessa Cypersong stalks from side to side drunkenly like an angry lioness. Quinn Bayhill stares ahead before slowly rubbing at her left wrist. "They are toying with us. There is no way they do not realize we are here..not after all those traps went off." // BEHOLD A CONSOLE. It appears to activate the glass panes down below to make it possible to reach the lever and, thereby, the lab. Ravil Raindance: "Mine eyes do see - a computerial machine!" Ravil Raindance: "...see and machine rhymeth not..." Adessa Cypersong: So [arborian] the thing! Arthur Kinlay shouts out. "We don't need rhymes! We need this damn thing shut down!" Ravil Raindance has a gander at the console, squinting - as if that'll resolve some measure of sense from this infernal contraption. Arthur Kinlay wrinkles his nose at Quinn. "Yeah I agree, this is a fucking game to them." Ravil Raindance just pushes the largest and most likely buttons. What the hell. // The console, while straight-forward, does have something of a code. The lasers power down, a friendly "TEST MODE DEACTIVATES" reading across the screen. The lever should be accessible now. Adessa Cypersong looks tired of pacing. She just turns back and continues flexing her hands. "I am not to be feeling my arms anymore." she announces to the world at large. Quinn Bayhill looks to him. "If He is here....chances are, He is watching us." Ravil Raindance: "Behold! These fingers doth deliver unto us salvation. Would that Cabal were here to behold this techological triumph!" Arthur Kinlay: Yes, yes. Praise be. Thank you. Ravil Raindance returns to the group. Arthur Kinlay: Was there anything else back there? Ravil Raindance: "...What happened to the beams?" Arthur Kinlay: ...you turned them off. Adessa Cypersong turns without warning and makes for the maze again. Corvic Mordacci: Wait, Adessa... Adessa Cypersong stops on the stairs and slowly turns her deer eyes up at Corvic. Ravil Raindance: "Ravil's performance was woefully lacking - mediocre, shorn of poise and grace. He was hoping for a better showing on his triumphant return." Corvic Mordacci scans ahead. The gas could have spread by now??? Ravil Raindance: "Once more into the beach." Ravil Raindance: "UNTO. Unto the beach." Arthur Kinlay groans. "....alright..." He rushes through. Adessa Cypersong doesn't bother running. She doesn't seem to understand that running is a good idea anymore. Arthur Kinlay: Guys just... wait a minute. Alright? Ravil Raindance chaaaaarges through as fast as he can Arthur Kinlay: ....or not. Quinn Bayhill ZOOMS THROUGH CAUSE SHE IS A GODDESS! Arthur Kinlay: Yeah, fine... don't just.. keep on rushing. Adessa Cypersong mumbles something, entirely in Arborian now. She looks like she's falling asleep. Ravil Raindance: "Needeth thou assistance, dearest Adessa?" Arthur Kinlay mutters in frustration. He moves ahead of the rest of the  group, back towards the lever. Corvic Mordacci lets out a few hacking coughs. "Lever will just.. send us to... another place..." Quinn Bayhill: Just stay put... Right here. DO not move. Quinn Bayhill: I am serious Ravil. Adessa Cypersong sways a little and just plops down on the floor. Arthur Kinlay: Good.. okay. Can do this.. Quinn Bayhill: We need to stay here. Arthur Kinlay takes a deep breath, trying to focus himself a bit and then rushes through yet again. Corvic Mordacci's voice is sounding loose and throaty now. He croaks like an oversized frog. "Oh, th'lab..." Ravil Raindance: "But furely 'tiff our queft to efcape dif mafe?" Ravil Raindance speaks in a horrific pronounced slur, his tongue uncooperative. Ravil Raindance: "But there iff one way to enfure thif bard strayf not..." Corvic Mordacci discovers the glass in front of him with his face. He bonks right into it. Adessa Cypersong leans heavily on the glass next to her and begins murmuring to herself. Quinn Bayhill places her hands on Ravil's shoulder. "We will be ok...just stay here." Arthur Kinlay coughs again as he reaches the lever, leaning against the wall as he catches his breath. "Shee.. aw fug... dis.."  He straightens up and reaches for the lever, pulling it down. // With the lever moved down the lab way is opened. Ravil Raindance plops down on the glass, alongside Adessa. Adessa Cypersong takes notice of Ravil after a second, and starts mumbling at him in bad Arborian. Quinn Bayhill nods. "Yes, very good. Remain seated for the moment. Keep each other in good spirits, please." Ravil Raindance: "Thif bard knowf not that whif you fpeak, dearef adeffa, but he agreef wholeheartedly." Arthur Kinlay makes it down the hallway with the lever and into the lab.

== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay knocks on the glass wall. "Hey!"

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Quinn Bayhill: You are in! Corvic Mordacci is sitting on the other side of the glass, rubbing his forehead and looking into the lab like a sad, orphan puppy. Quinn Bayhill looks to Corvic and reaches over to rub his shoulder, trying to comfort him. She offers him an backward smile and nods. "It will be ok."

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Arthur Kinlay: Yeah.. okay jus'.. jus' lemme tale a look.. Arthur Kinlay walks around the room, looking for anything that might hint to an exit, or a way to shut down the damn gas. // Everything is just mumbo jumbo with no clear reasoning to it. Arthur Kinlay: Aw what de hell... CORVIC. Arthur Kinlay: What am I looking for??

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Ravil Raindance: "Is thif... Permanent? Can feel the 'rot eating away, like a chompacababara. Ravil has... Ravil has a performanfe tomorrow." Corvic Mordacci keeps rubbing his forehead and staring ahead. He doesn't feel the rubbing on the hard glass of his shoulder-tank. "Whic-wuh- wign owght? Sssowroght or contagon.... Ravil Raindance: "bereft of wordf, bereft of wit, his show if sure to be..." Ravil Raindance: "...shit." Adessa Cypersong seems to be leaning forward. She thunks her head onto Ravil's shoulder. Ravil Raindance obliges by slipping an arm about Adessa's shoulder, drawing her into a complanionly side-hug.

== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay sits on the chair in front of the desk and decides to sift through whatever file might be there. // Sorry, Arthur. It's cryptic. Arthur Kinlay: CORVIC

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Corvic Mordacci: Hmmm? *Corvic looks up and blinks slowly at his name*

== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay takes the book, or PDA, or whatever it is that's in his hands and hops off the chair, walking ot the glass, and presses the thing on the glass, facing Corvic. "What's it say?"

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == // Corvic has the Science. According to the datachron the soulrot isn't your usual brand. It's been modified and tested to dumb down slaves and make them easier to temper to their whim. They didn't fall into a trap. They fell into the lab run. The generator ought to turn off the gas. Corvic Mordacci sqints at the datapad and takes a lot longer than usual to read and comprehend what is in front of him. After several mintues he clears his throat, then clears it again. "G-..." more coughin gna clearing. "Gen-" *cough" "erator.

== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay turns and looks at the sparky thing. "...that?"

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Corvic Mordacci nods and wipes a sleeve across his mouth.

== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay: Oh.. ohhh. Arthur Kinlay takes his datachron and tries to call Wylion. "Wyl! Heyyy Wyl!" Wyl answers back, surprisingly, hissing. "Please tell me you have a taxi outside. Say yes, please. Please." Arthur Kinlay looks at his datachron. "Huh.. we're... in a glash maze... wif soulrot. I'm at the generator. You got Nifa?" Wylion Glittergale: | "You're-- You're /WHERE/?" Her voice lowers and one can almost hear her smashing her face on the screen. "--N...nooot exactly. Listen, I'm not a tech expert." Arthur Kinlay: I.. yeah... ah know.. das why I ask for Nifa... okay well. "I mean. You do you. Nika's, uhhhhh.....She's um. She's not exactly /within sorts/ to be handing out advice presently." Arthur Kinlay frowns. "Yeah nor are we.. okay." Arthur Kinlay: ...I could blow if up. Arthur Kinlay: Hum... GUYS

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Corvic Mordacci: Wegh are noght ragts in a traghp, but raghts in in a lab. Noght sure if inprovemegnt... Corvic Mordacci closes his eyes and leans his forehead against the glass again, taking deep breaths, trying to clear his head. Quinn Bayhill: We are screwed?

== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay: Might wanna.... move away from the glass yeah? Yeah.

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Quinn Bayhill nods. "Be careful." She looks to Corvic and smiles at him. "Come my friend, we must move now." She takes his arm and works to drag him away if need be. Corvic Mordacci is led away, a good thing as he wasn't paying enough attention to catch what was going on himself. Quinn Bayhill moves him to sit with the other jello molds. "Have a seat." Quinn Bayhill: Then whatever the choice is...it needs to be made soon.

== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay moves over to the generator and, just for pity' sake, TRIES to find a way to manually disable it before doing something stupid. // Arthur does not find a way to manually disable it. There also is presently a timer reading across the front. It reads: Seven Minutes. Arthur Kinlay: hum... there's a timer. Arthur Kinlay: Awwww fack it. Arthur Kinlay moves as far away from the generator as possible while remaining in the room. Then he takes one of his pistols out and, aiming at the spinny part above the sparky bits, he charges up his blaster and let's out a shot. // Arthur, before he takes his CERTAINLY FATAL shot, notices a keycard on one of the desks. Nifty! As for the Generator... // Shooting the generator is apparently NOT the answer. The bullet lodges between the spinning blades, and for one horrible second it sparks. The sparks become fatal and the coils EXPLODE. Surprisingly, the glass remains in tact. As for the canisters. The central, pulsing and /green/ (don't be fooled, you're all color blind) tube short circuits in the face of this terrible idea. Liquid soulrot leaks from the ceiling sprinklers, filling the room with its haze.

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Ravil Raindance: ...Nnno no no no Quinn Bayhill raises her arms up to cover her face then moves to use to her body to sheild the three in case of glass then starts coughing again. Adessa Cypersong slumps straight forward and just hits the ground. Ravil Raindance scrabbles to his feet, clawing at the glass for purchase. "'s bard, now barely bard aaaaaat alllllll, dof not wish t'die witness 'n'... wordless..." Ravil Raindance: "...world stripped 'f colour, life, sound..." Quinn Bayhill growls and shakes her head as she stands up again before trying to rub feeling back into her arms.  "Well..thissh, ish jusht great." Ravil Raindance: "...going back upstairs... no gas there..." Corvic Mordacci clamps hes hands over his skull and curls forward, eyes closed shut. He just lets out low, periodic groans.

== THE FACILITY - MAZE LAB == Arthur Kinlay curses loudly, grabbing the keycard and rushing out of the room.

== THE FACILITY - THE MAZE == Arthur Kinlay follows the twists and turns of the maze, taking another heavy dose of Soulrot. He meets up with the others. "C'MON." Ravil Raindance: "...Wha'f you found?" Arthur Kinlay: C'MON! Arthur Kinlay turns around as Quinn follows him, frowning. "Don't -leave them there-" Quinn Bayhill: The two are....a bit mush at tha moo...mooo...*GROWLS* Moment. Ravil Raindance: "Leave who? There's nobody left. Not even you. Not even Ravil. We are all but shades, phantomf..." Corvic Mordacci is nothing more than an obstruction. He's pressing a hand hard into each temple, lips pulled back over jagged teeth .  "N-no... n-nought.... rav...rav..." Quinn Bayhill leans down, cursing at her arms as she works her damnest to pick up Dessa and fling her over her shoulder. "Cannot geeet boottff." Arthur Kinlay: Ravil STOP FUGGING RHYMIN AN HELP Adessa Cypersong's ear twitches. That's at least something. Ravil Raindance blinks in confusion at the prone Corvic. "...H-help? Yyyes. Yes. Ravil can help." Ravil Raindance seizes Corvic by the ankle and starts dragging him along. Or trying to, anyway. Arthur Kinlay grabs Corvic by the arms, helping Ravil. Adessa Cypersong goes entirely limp on Quinn's shoulder. One of her arms does that dramatic drooping fall thing over the side. [[ ADESSA HAS WIPED ]] Ravil Raindance: "Nnnnnnnnnnurrrrrrghhhh!!!" Ravil Raindance clutches his skull, which has the side effect of dropping Corvic. Arthur Kinlay seems to fair no better than Ravil, dropping Corvic as well as a searing pain stabs him in the skull. Quinn Bayhill nearly slumps over but seems to be fighting to keep on her feet. "Go..got...got to go." Corvic Mordacci drags, a complete deadweight. His eyes open but he stares ahead vacantly, mouth open in a confused grimace. If he could, he would tell his friends to leave him.  [[CORVIC HAS WIPED]] Quinn Bayhill looks to Arthur, Corvic and Ravil before reaching for the card from Arthur. "I...I'm sorry." She hefts Dess and tries to make a break for it. Ravil Raindance: "Many... moons ago... 'neath the... 'neath the... green? green. boughs of... of... Arboria-That-Was, th-there... there walked an intr- intre- in-tre-pid merchant..." [[ RAVIL HAS WIPED]] Quinn Bayhill lets out a shriek as a horrid pain slams into the back of her head when she passes the last Soulrot container. She lets out a base growl and starts spiriting, jostling Dessa over her shoulder. The two of them make it safely out of the maze. [[ ARTHUR HAS WIPED ]]

[cypersong]

[CHATLOG] Sticky

In which Adessa meets Sticky and tries to help someone. We all know how that usually ends up.

Adessa Cypersong thumps down onto the ground below the deck and starts rummaging around. She's probably making a lot of unnecessary noise. Autumnfell Soothwind is smoking a cigarette, his attention drawn to the datachron in front of him. He doesn't seem to react to the footsteps, but his ears does swivel to track it. Adessa Cypersong stomps around like some slightly large racoon, clawing at stuff and mumbling in arborian. Autumnfell Soothwind sighed, "Vigil sure attracts a lot of weirdos..." He then gets up, slipping the datachron into his jacket, to see what's going on. Autumnfell Soothwind pokes his head out from the side, "...Hi." Adessa Cypersong is caught with one arm almost through the wood slats. She just stares stupidly at Autumn for about three seconds before responding with a "... Hello." Autumnfell Soothwind points to her arm, "Are you stuck?" Adessa Cypersong shakes her head. "Oh. No." She goes to pull her arm out and is indeed stuck. She puts a foot up on the wood and keeps pulling though, like this was totally part of the plan. "... No. I am to be okay." Autumnfell Soothwind tilts his head slowly at the other Aurin, "Okay. Don't get splinters." He folds his arms across his chest as a small grin starts to form over his expression. Adessa Cypersong gives him a look. Adessa Cypersong: ... You know, why you is to be down here anyway. Autumnfell Soothwind "Oh." He points to himself with an amused expression, "Waiting on someone." He then points to Adessa, "Why are -you- down here?" Adessa Cypersong sounds absolutely offended that he'd even ask. Like she's supposed to be here. "-I- am to be making sure Rigena, she is not to be stealing my boots." Adessa Cypersong tugs once more, REEALLY HARD on her arm, and it pops out from the wood like a winecork. She leans on the wall like this was her plan all along. Autumnfell Soothwind lets out a boisterous laugh. "The little blue thief wants your boots?!" He laughed even more, setting his hand to the wooden plank to steady himself as his shoulders and chest heaved from laughter. "OOooh that Rigena. Always up to trouble." He turns around and waved her off, "Glad your arm is out." Adessa Cypersong: Mm. She is to be stealing Wylion's boot. And I am thinking, maybe she is to be taking mine, too. Adessa Cypersong swipes her bloody, muddy boots from the grass and holds them up. "But. They is here. So." She jabs a thumb towards the wood. "What is to be inside this thing?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Wylion...?" His tail flicks quickly at the name, "The woman who is dating Kyrize?" He knocks his hand on the wooden planks, making a dull thumping noise. "Behind this thing is..." He lowers his voice into a whisper, "nothing." he said as he spreads his fingers on both hands out. "Poof." Adessa Cypersong grins. "Yes. She is to be doing this thing." She looks suspiciously at the wooden wall. "She is, aboslutely, to be doing this thing. And she is saying that she is not." Adessa Cypersong: If it is nothing, why it is covered, this thing? Autumnfell Soothwind merely shrugged. "Who knows. I don't work here." Adessa Cypersong wrinkles her nose at him and immediately goes to get out of the crawlspace. "Ah. How you is to be knowing Wylion?" Autumnfell Soothwind "She rubbed her hands over me." Adessa Cypersong: ... IS she doing. Autumnfell Soothwind "...What is she doing?" Adessa Cypersong puts her hands up and wiggles them. "Be rubbing on you." Adessa Cypersong: Why she is to be doing this thing? Autumnfell Soothwind takes in a deep breath and exhales out. <Weave. That sounded so bad in Common...> he muttered in Arborian. Adessa Cypersong tilts her head and raises her eyebrows in amusement. "I am not to be offended of this thing." Adessa Cypersong: I am just to be wondering, why she is doing this thing. You is not Kyrize, so. Autumnfell Soothwind snaps his fingers, "I think she tried to use me as bait." Adessa Cypersong nods, as if this is totally obvious. "Yes." Adessa Cypersong: I am to be doing this, all the times. Autumnfell Soothwind "Very smart move." He concurred as he made his way to the walkway, "But... the bait found out." Adessa Cypersong crawls back up onto it, eyeing him. "So. Is you good bait, or no?" Autumnfell Soothwind shakes his head, "I am worst bait." Adessa Cypersong grins wide and walks forward, papping his face with her palm. "Yes. I am to be the worst thief. And Wylion, she is to be the worst burgular." Adessa Cypersong: And now, I am to be rubbing on you also. This is all working, yes? Autumnfell Soothwind reached his arm up to pull Adessa's hand away. "Please stop touching me. The last time Wylion touched me, I ended up sending Cartels to attack Marauders in Whitevale. And walking away with a lot of money." Adessa Cypersong snickers and wiggles her fingers. "Which Cartel?" Autumnfell Soothwind taps his chin, "Don't remember. Gold stars? No. Black ice." He shakes his head. "No no. Vanilla Ice." He grunts, "No... Red...star?" Adessa Cypersong's eyebrows shoot into her hairline. "... Redstar. You are to be working with Redstar." Autumnfell Soothwind shakes his head. "No. I haven't worked with them. But I did work with the Deadstars." Adessa Cypersong squints at him. "You are to be sure of this thing." Autumnfell Soothwind nods, "I mean. I could have. I'm not going to lie. I work with a lot of Cartels and Marauder groups." Adessa Cypersong just continues to give him a weird look. "... Okay." Autumnfell Soothwind leaned forward, "You are friends with Wylion?" Adessa Cypersong: Well. Wylion, she is not to be touching you if you is to be working with Redstar. Adessa Cypersong tuts like he's stupid or something. "Yes. I am to be best friends with Wylion." Autumnfell Soothwind smirked. "How's that friendship working out? And Wylion touched me very inappropriately. Without permission." Adessa Cypersong rolls her eyes. "Is there to be any other way?" Adessa Cypersong: Why you is to be asking me this thing? Autumnfell Soothwind raises a finger to Adessa, "Yes - many more ways. Like, maybe saying 'hello' instead of RUBBING YOUR HANDS ALL OVER SOMEONE'S ARM." He coughed into his balled-up hand and flicked his ear. "And I asked because..." His visor lit up into a bright fluorescent white. "She seems like a very interesting fellow." Adessa Cypersong grins and turns away to strut up to the Vigil. "Wylion, she is to be very interesting. This is a good word." Autumnfell Soothwind follows, because why not? Adessa Cypersong sits down and scoops up Rigena's precious, precious flowers. Autumnfell Soothwind "Are you a tender?" He points to her deathclutch on the flowers. Adessa Cypersong: Oh. No. I am just to be touching it. Adessa Cypersong touch touch touches the thing like how she touch touch touch'd his face. "Maybe I am to be coming back for this thing." Autumnfell Soothwind shrugged, "Okaaaay, Flower-Child." He said teasingly. "Last I saw - Wylion got pretty hurt. So did Kyrize. Didn't see you though..." Adessa Cypersong tilts her head to one side. "... Ah. Yes, this is to be my fault." Adessa Cypersong: I am hearing that Kyrize, he is to be waking up now. Autumnfell Soothwind "Oh? Good. I guess... But, why is it -your- fault?" Adessa Cypersong: They are to be coming to be getting me, and are to be getting hurt. Adessa Cypersong raps her fingers on the pot some more and then puts it back on the table. Autumnfell Soothwind "...How the in the rot did coming to get you do all THAT to them?" He snerked, eyeing the potted plant. Adessa Cypersong takes a deep breathe and speaks through a single exhale. "I-am-to-be-working-with-Darkstar-and-also-to-be-getting-captured-by-Redstar-and-maybe-to-be-made-into-a-slave-and-so-they-is-to-be-coming-to-get-me." Autumnfell Soothwind is silent for a few good moments. His visor dims. "Okay. Okay. Alright." he takes a seat on the crate next to Adessa. "I never did ask for your name. Can I call you Flower-Child?" Adessa Cypersong: Neh. Adessa. Adessa Cypersong: Who you is being? Autumnfell Soothwind "Sticky." Autumnfell Soothwind "Wylion named me Sticky." Adessa Cypersong snorts immediately. "... Sticky." Adessa Cypersong: When she is to be coming back, I am to be asking her about you. Autumnfell Soothwind "She will tell you many stories. All lies." He nods sagely. Adessa Cypersong: Mmm. This is usually how Wylion's stories, they are to be going. Adessa Cypersong: Why you is working with all of the cartel, Sticky? Autumnfell Soothwind "Because they are sometimes very dumb. And very rich." Adessa Cypersong nods. "... Yes. Yes, this is true." Autumnfell Soothwind "And sometimes they give you many, many tech! Fun tech!" He makes an explosion noise with his mouth as he stretched his arms out and apart. Adessa Cypersong wrinkles her nose. "Tech, it is not to be fun. If I am to be finding tech, Sticky, I am giving it to you." Autumnfell Soothwind sets his elbow on the table. "No one ever just -gives- you a gift without expecting something." He tapped his clawed hand to the table, "Or trying to kill you." Adessa Cypersong rolls her eyes. "Oh. I am not to be killing anyone." She pauses, and an ear droops. "... That guy, he is deserving it though." Adessa Cypersong perks up both ears in his direction again, all grins. "What kind of tech, you is liking?" Autumnfell Soothwind "It's alright, Flower child." He smiled, "I can get my own tech." Adessa Cypersong: I am not even to be LIKING flowers. Adessa Cypersong: They are not even to be growing right. Adessa Cypersong mumbles something in awful Arborian about flowers and stupid. Autumnfell Soothwind "Hah - come on, the name Flowers suit you." Adessa Cypersong tuts. "How it is to be suiting me. I am not even to be green." Autumnfell Soothwind "Nnnnoooo-" he said, in a long drawn out manner, "But you did touch that flower pot a little too much. So you're Flowers now.": Adessa Cypersong smirks at him. "I am to be touching everything, too much." Adessa Cypersong wiggles her feet under the table. "How you is to be meeting Wylion?" Autumnfell Soothwind points to the inn behind him. "I was sitting there. Drinking. Smoking. Then in she comes, rubbing me all over." Adessa Cypersong: I am not seeing a problem. It is sounding like you, you are not to be doing anything important anyway. Autumnfell Soothwind "That is true!" He nods, "Wasn't doing anything important. Except enjoying my quiet time. Alone." Adessa Cypersong taps her fingers on the table. "No one is to be enjoying quiet time alone with Wylion." Adessa Cypersong: This is your mistake. Autumnfell Soothwind "Are you really blaming me when she came up to me?" Adessa Cypersong: Yes. Autumnfell Soothwind "I mean..." he tapped his hand to the table. "I guess I could have silenced her." Adessa Cypersong shrugs at him. "Neh." What a people person. Autumnfell Soothwind "So." He tilts his head curiously at Adessa, "They got you out. And they got injured. And here you are... Maybe you should take the flower pot to Wylion as a gift!" Adessa Cypersong tilts her head to one side, looking up and considering this. "... Mmmaybe." Adessa Cypersong tilts her head the other way. "Mmmaybe Wylion, she is to be trading Rigena for her boot back." Autumnfell Soothwind "...Why can't she just get new boots?" Adessa Cypersong tuts at him. "I am not knowing. I am telling her, have Kyrize be buying new boot. But, she is to be liking this one." Autumnfell Soothwind "Wylion is so odd..." He sighed. "Rigena's mate melted my boots once..." Adessa Cypersong: Rigena's mate. This is Sami, yes? Autumnfell Soothwind "No, no, the other one. Tanwyn." Adessa Cypersong shakes her head. "I am not to be knowing this one. Why this one is to be burning your boot?" Autumnfell Soothwind "He fumbled an acid grenade..." Adessa Cypersong blinks at this and then sloowllly grins. "The Fringe Rangers, they is to be very fun, yes?" Autumnfell Soothwind takes in a deep breath. "I wouldn't call them fun." Adessa Cypersong: Why not? Autumnfell Soothwind "Let's just say..." He sighed, leaning his cheek on his hand, "It's like herding pumeras." Adessa Cypersong: Mmm. You are not knowing fun, Sticky. This is sounding very good. Adessa Cypersong taps her fingers on the table. "Not quite hunting frogs good. But good." Autumnfell Soothwind "My definition of fun is..." He smiled viciously, showing his fangs, "hide and seek." Adessa Cypersong: ... What you is, a kit? Adessa Cypersong leans forward on the table, sliding the flowers out of the way. "Why?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Why what?" He asked innocently, the smile still on his face. "Hide and seek is nice to play." Adessa Cypersong shrugs. "I am. Guessing so?" Adessa Cypersong looks over at the flowers and then scoops them up again, putting them on her lap. "You is not looking dressed for hide and seek. Why you is wearing this thing?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Oh - this outfit?" He looked over himself. "It IS for hide and seek!" Adessa Cypersong: How you is to be hiding in this thing? Autumnfell Soothwind "Oh. Well. -I'm- not hiding. Someone else is hiding. I'm the seeker." Adessa Cypersong: Like hunting. Adessa Cypersong looks down and starts picking through the dirt in the pot. Autumnfell Soothwind "Yes! Hunting..." he said with an obvious glee in his tone. "A very, very long hunt. Did you know Cassians are very good hiders?" Adessa Cypersong continues picking at the dirt, but her ears shoot to attention. "You is to be hunting Cassins?" Autumnfell Soothwind nods, sliding the psyblade off his back and setting it on the table. He spins it in a circle, "Oh yes. It's like a game to them! And to me. They leave tiny little clues. And I find them! And they try to not make a noise when they hide but..." He points to his ears, "I am a very good listener. When I find one, another one -SCREAMS-! And I keep on hunting them..." He stops twirling the psyblade, "Until I win the game." Adessa Cypersong blinks at him. She raises a single eyebrow and says nothing for a second, and then, "And Kyrize. You are to be knowing him." Autumnfell Soothwind "Oh. Yes. Gramps. I know him." Adessa Cypersong: And he is. Okay with this game. Autumnfell Soothwind "Oh, I don't know if he knows this game. I am sure he'd like to play." Autumnfell Soothwind "Maybe he should play..." he said outloud. Adessa Cypersong continues to look at him thoughtfully, and then returns to her new flower. "This is. An interesting game, I am guessing." Autumnfell Soothwind "Very interesting indeed." He nods slowly. "We're taking a break from the game right now. It was..." he hummed, "too /bloody/ exciting!" Adessa Cypersong just. Shakes her head at him. "I am not thinking killing people, it is exciting." Autumnfell Soothwind "Who said anything about killing?" He tilts his head, "oh - wait, you think.... I'm killing people?" Adessa Cypersong: I am thinking, they is to be die, and you is helping with this thing. Autumnfell Soothwind "Well..." he hummed again, "You're not wrong." Adessa Cypersong: I am knowing a few people who is to be doing this thing. A lot. Adessa Cypersong flicks a bit of dirt from off of her already dirty fingers. Autumnfell Soothwind "What if I told you I am doing it for... justice?" Adessa Cypersong stops and looks up at him. "... This is to be okay, then." Autumnfell Soothwind "Then I am doing it for justice." Autumnfell Soothwind "And peace!" Adessa Cypersong seems to be okay with this answer! Adessa Cypersong: My boyfriend, he is to be killing people for justice and peace also!" Autumnfell Soothwind "Ooh! How wonderful!" Autumnfell Soothwind steepled his fingers together. "You must be lucky to be surrounded by so many righteous people!" Adessa Cypersong tilts her head from side to side. "Mm. I am trying it, too. It is not so bad." Adessa Cypersong yawns lazily. "We is trying to be taking down a cartel." Autumnfell Soothwind "Eh... kinda hard to take down a cartel completely." He mused, "Someone always starts it back up again. And they are always crazier than the previous one." Adessa Cypersong: Yes. Adessa Cypersong: My teacher, she is the leader of this cartel, before. Adessa Cypersong chirps pleasantly. "She is to be saying, this new person, he is running her company into the grounds." Autumnfell Soothwind slapped his hand on the table as he laughed, "Oh! I've heard that saying before. It's truly... aggravating." Adessa Cypersong: Why it is? Adessa Cypersong grins at him. "You are to be finding many things aggravating, Sticky?" Autumnfell Soothwind "A lot of things aggravate me." He snarled, "Because they always choose the most difficult solution." Adessa Cypersong rolls her eyes at him. "You are to be knowing -everything." Autumnfell Soothwind "I try to be." Autumnfell Soothwind slings the psyblade over his back and cuts his gaze to the horizon. "But I am only one Aurin." Adessa Cypersong: Mmm. Yes. And one aurin, they is not to be knowing everything. Autumnfell Soothwind laughed softly, "But I know -enough- to stay just a tiny step ahead." He pinched his fingers together. "But you're right. Pride can be bad." Adessa Cypersong: Oh. Oooh, I am not to be saying this thing. Adessa Cypersong grins. "Pride, it is to be good. Sometimes. When I am to be doing this thing." Autumnfell Soothwind "You are an odd one too, Flower-Child." Adessa Cypersong grins at him, all lopsided. "Oh you are not knowing this. Why you are thinking so?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Just a sense. Seen enough Aurins to tell me when one is odd, unique, special..." He grinned, "Worth talking to." Adessa Cypersong: Daww. You are being sweet, Sticky. Autumnfell Soothwind "Of course. The delicate and beautiful Flower-Child deserves it." Adessa Cypersong just snickers at that. "Ah, you are FLIRTINGS with me." Autumnfell Soothwind sits up straight as his wristchron rings. "Sorry. One moment -" A hardlight mouthpiece forms from his visor to his lips, as he speaks into it. "No. What?! WEAVE ROT!" He hangs up the call and looks to Adessa. Autumnfell Soothwind "Can you heal?" Adessa Cypersong blinks at him. "... Kind of." Adessa Cypersong: Not. Well. Autumnfell Soothwind "I can, kind of as well." Autumnfell Soothwind "Not well, either." Autumnfell Soothwind "My friend is injured." Adessa Cypersong blinks. ".. Oh." Adessa Cypersong: ... Sssoooo you are wanting. Healings? Autumnfell Soothwind raps his knuckles over the table. "You - follow me. To Celestion." Adessa Cypersong: .. Oh. Oh.Kay." Autumnfell Soothwind nods. "Yes." Autumnfell Soothwind pulls up a map and shows it to Adessa. "Right here. This is where he is." Adessa Cypersong blinks at it and nods. "Yes. I can be going to this thing." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: ... No. Lasrillian Cliffclaw lies. Autumnfell Soothwind "This way." Autumnfell Soothwind knocks on the door angrily. "OPEN UP!" Adessa Cypersong rocks back and forth on her heels with her hands behind her back. Lasrillian Cliffclaw flinches. "You... You called Autumn?" Damie Goldseed sighs in relief, "...I hate this part...", he hesitantly begins the stiching process, "Pl..Please forgive me if I hurt you.." Autumnfell Soothwind hears voices from within. He tries to open the door. Lasrillian Cliffclaw nods. "Don't worry too much about it," he murmurs. Damie Goldseed nods, "Y..You wouldn't keep still...I thought he could..Well..Hold you down.." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: Well, let him in, I suppose. Autumnfell Soothwind "Screw this, Adessa - step back!" Autumnfell Soothwind shoulder chucks the door. The door swings open effortlessly and he skids on his knees. Adessa Cypersong peeks behind her ear at the laundry lines. Hmm. She needs a new shirt. Damie Goldseed: The door's open...He can come in.. Autumnfell Soothwind "Ooopphhh---" Lasrillian Cliffclaw leans back against the bed, biting his lip. "Ah, shit. That hurts," he murmurs, hissing softly at the stitches. "I don't like this," he complains. Autumnfell Soothwind picks himself up from the ground. "WHAT IN THE FRESH HELL HAPPENED NOW?!" Adessa Cypersong follows Autumn, looking around like she already owns everything in the house. "... This is to be very nice." Adessa Cypersong starts touching as many things in the room as she can. Damie Goldseed arches a brow at him, "How do you think I feel?..One wrong stich and-" looks up, turning to Autumn, currently stiching Las's leg Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears flick. He glances up at Autumn. "Sorry." Damie Goldseed smiles but then frowns at the woman, ears lower, "Wh..Who'se that?" accidently pokes the wrong part of the skin Adessa Cypersong starts getting her grubby hands all over the trophy case. Lasrillian Cliffclaw whines complanitively. Autumnfell Soothwind spots the bloodied, deep gash leg. He yanks Adessa over, and points to the stab wound on the leg. "Flower-Child. Can you?" Damie Goldseed turns back to Lasrillian, panicks, "S..Sorry!" he takes it out and returns to stitching. === MISSING SECTION! SORRY! This was a two day log and I lost the middle! === Autumnfell Soothwind grits his teeth as he leaned his head forward to Lasrillian, "You don't steal from friends." He said through gritted teeth. Lasrillian Cliffclaw: Lyrath isn't my friend. Damie Goldseed blinks, "You stole it.." the words couldn't process, "...Your a liar to.....And you want me to trust you!?" his ears fold back and his voice raises Adessa Cypersong has absolutely been here the whole time Damie Goldseed: But he was mine!! And you ruined that when you stole those files!! Lasrillian Cliffclaw: I didn't know! I didn't know that would happen. I didn't intend to hurt you. Autumnfell Soothwind holds the needle out to Adessa. "Sedative. Probably. Have it ready." Adessa Cypersong holds it and stares at it, like she knows what she's doing. "..Yes." Damie Goldseed "Liar...Liars..Firs Shade now you!?" he leaned back, hands moving to his head, "And you had the nerve to say to trust you!" Damie Goldseed: But what hurts most...I almost did! Lasrillian Cliffclaw ducks his head. "I'm sorry," he murmurs quietly. Adessa Cypersong holds the needle up and pokes at it. This is a thing you do as a doctor, right? She looks down at the three. "...So you are to be stealing from a friend, yes?" Damie Goldseed slowly shakes his head, gaze turning to the floor, "I thought you could actually help me to... To....." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: I still want to help you. I'll give back what I took. I promise. Autumnfell Soothwind turned his attention back to the two males in front of him, Autumn's right gloved hand comes out to grab Damie's leg. "We'll fix this - but right now..." He turns to Lasrillian, "You - you need blood. You are going to repent for your mistakes." He waved Adessa over. "Do you know a doctor near to Celestion? With Aurin blood ready?" Adessa Cypersong: Mmm. I am to be knowing Doctor Corvic, but I am thinking he is not around right now. So. No? Autumnfell Soothwind "Where is Doctor Corvic's practice area?" Adessa Cypersong: Crooked Corners. Lasrillian Cliffclaw looks at Autumn with wide eyes. "I don't want someone else's blood in me." Adessa Cypersong: If you are to be losing the blood, having the blood is a good idea. Damie Goldseed shakes his head, getting to his feet, shaking his head, "No...No more people coming to my house....You can carry him to Crooked Corners....But he can't stay here...I don't want any of you here.." he raises his voice a little, "I want you all out....Out of my room, out of my house, out of my land" he then turns and walks away Autumnfell Soothwind "I don't give a roan's ass whose blood you get in you. You're GOING for a transfusion." He turns to Adessa. "Adessa - stop him." Adessa Cypersong blinks down at Autumn. She just came to have a good time and is honestly feeling so confused right now, but she turns and follows Damie out. Autumnfell Soothwind "Make him stay. Make him watch this fool make up for his mistakes." Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears droop. "... Fine," he murmurs dejectedly. "Let Damie leave if he wants, okay?" Autumnfell Soothwind jabs his finger at Lasrillian, "You don't get to tell me what to do with Damie. You lost all your rights to." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: ... And you have more of a right than I? Autumnfell Soothwind "Did I steal from him and fuck up a friendship?" Lasrillian Cliffclaw: ... Point taken. Autumnfell Soothwind "Get up." Autumn kneels in front of Las as he used his right pauldron to help the other male get onto the bed, Lasrillian Cliffclaw rises up at Autumn's insistence. "Onto the bed," he murmurs, already leaning on it heavily. Autumnfell Soothwind "Sit." He shoved Lasrillian without care onto the mattress. Lasrillian Cliffclaw sits on the edge shakily. "... I'm sorry," he murmurs. Autumnfell Soothwind begins to unbuckle his pauldrons' clasps, the heavy armor falls onto the floor, the blade making a gash on the rug. He slings his psyblade off his back and sets it over the blade. He's quiet the entire time, but Lasrillian can probably feel the anger radiating from him. Lasrillian Cliffclaw keeps to himself, setting his hands in his lap quietly. Autumnfell Soothwind "You are a liability, Lasrillian Cliffclaw." Autumn spoke tersely at the other, "A disgrace to have started this rivalty between Damie and Lyrath." He stepped ever closer to the edge of the bed, "Even I know the boundaries. Yet you - who dare lectured me, have overstepped." He turns his back to the other male as he slowly shakes his head. "If you were anyone else..." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: It wasn't intentional. Autumnfell Soothwind merely snarled at those words. "That only makes your transgression worse, Lasrillian Cliffclaw." Autumn pressed his back to the bed. "You will pay well to remember your misgivings." Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears flick. "I'll give back what I took." Autumnfell Soothwind "You will also mend that bridge that you so helpfully destroyed." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: Yessir. Autumnfell Soothwind "I would ask for your promise - but your words no longer carry truthful value to me." Both of Autumn's hands take Lasrillian's and slings them over his shoulder, "But I have promised you aid. And aid you will receive." Lasrillian Cliffclaw sighs softly. "I just wanted to fill my stomach. I thought they might be actual books that I could market." Autumnfell Soothwind slings Lasrillian over his back for a piggy-back ride. He hunched himself forward as he sets one hand below Lian to serve as a seat. "You could have asked for my money - or ransacked my kitchen, Lasrillian Cliffclaw." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: ... I don't want to be completely dependent... Besides, if I drain your resources, you'll have to work more to make it up. Autumnfell Soothwind "You are mine - Lasrillian Cliffclaw." Autumn began to take small steps towards the door. "What is the purpose of being together if I do not help you when you need it the most?" He stops and turns his head to look behind his shoulder, "Or do you not see me in the same light that I see you?" Lasrillian Cliffclaw: I love you. I just... I don't want to be so much of a burden as to change the way you see me. Autumnfell Soothwind "I think - that concern is no longer valid, Lasrillian Cliffclaw. You have done much to sour your image." Lasrillian Cliffclaw falls silent,  resting his head against Autumn. "...Yeah. I guess it backfired horribly." Autumnfell Soothwind "We are leaving, I will collect the rest of my equipment after you are rested."

== DAMIE'S HOUSE - OUTSIDE == Adessa Cypersong trumps through the bushes, grumping. "GREEN ONE." Damie Goldseed lifts his head up, turning to the aurin, he glares at her with his teary eyes and hisses through his teeth, "Go away!" Adessa Cypersong just grins down at him. "Nope." She wanders over and plops down in the grass. She's decent enough to give him a good amount of space, at least. "I am not to be knowing who you is being. I am Adessa." Damie Goldseed continues to glare at her, ears folding back as he backs away closer to the panel, "I said go away! This place is private!" Adessa Cypersong shrugs. "Would be liking to. Sticky is to be telling me to stay. Be sure you is okay, I am thinking." She leans back on her palms and nods her chin up at the statue. "This thing, it is very pretty." Damie Goldseed: I SAID GO AWAY! Damie Goldseed glances at something blue behind her, eyes widening in fright, he quickly shakes his head, covering his face with his hands, mumbling, "No, no, no..Not here..Not here." if you look, there's nothing there Adessa Cypersong blinks and slowly turns her head to look. There's nothing behind her though, so she turns back around. "...You are to be seeing Shadows, or something?" Damie Goldseed uncovers his face, glaring at this intruder of his sanctuary, "GET OUT NOW! AND TELL THOSE OTHER TWO TO LEAVE!" Adessa Cypersong chirps at him. "I am seeing these things. Shadows. I am to be taken by a cartel, yes? And seeing them all over, since then." She pulls her tail into her lap to play with while she watches him. She makes no move whatsoever to leave, but also doesn't get any closer. "Why you is be to upset? I can be helping, maybe?" Damie Goldseed: Your not even supposed to be here..I don't want anyone near my house..I don't know why Autumn brought you when he knew that! Adessa Cypersong shrugs. "I am not knowing. I am not to be knowing Sticky, beyond maybe. An hour. I am not to be -stealing-, if this is your worry." Damie Goldseed seems to get angrier, "My worry is that you know where I live, and I don't know you!..And right now,  I dont care who you are just go away!" he's in no mood for politeness Adessa Cypersong snorts. "I am not to be knowing how to get back here, even if I am to be wanting to. So this is okay. Also, I am not wanting to, so this is okay too." She pauses and gives him a once over look. Adessa Cypersong: If it making you feel better, I am to be leaving once Stick is leaving also. Damie Goldseed "No, this is not ok, this is-" stops, ears lowering, eyes widening in fright again, behind Adessa was a pumera, larger than normal..and something felt...unatural about it...it glared at the aurin female and let out a haunting growl Adessa Cypersong turns back around slowly. "... Ah." She seems to be totally unsurprised by this, even though her ears droop and her pupils shrink as she turns back to Damie. "... You are to be living in a dangerous place." ||Pumera|| it sizes her up, and then, pouces, leaping into the air in an attempt to land right on top of his prey. It lands on her back, pushing Adessa to the ground, it's large nose nears her neck, sniffing, what was off, was that though it felt light as air, something was forcing it down on you, making it feel heavier, it let out a growl as it's beady black eyes stared at it's helpless victim Damie Goldseed could only sit their, frozen with fear, "No..Please no..Not again.." he wispered...begging that it wouldn't happen again Adessa Cypersong gets slammed onto the ground. Her bruised elbow touches it and she yips in pain, ears pinning back onto the ground. "Wylion is to be KILLING ME when I am to be getting HOME-" she snarls. She drops her head down so the thing can't get to her neck, but otherwise there isn't much she can do pinned like this. ||Pumera|| see's that her neck is covered, angered, it lets outa loud, unholy roar that could even chill a granok to the bone [GM] Every single bird that was in the tree's takes flight, the sky's soon covered by a mass of flapping wings. Lasrillian Cliffclaw freezes at the roar, his fur standing on end. Autumnfell Soothwind turns his head in the direction of the roar. "...An attack?" Damie Goldseed "Please.." he calls out in a quiet tone, "Don't kill her..Dont kill another one.." he pleaded Lasrillian Cliffclaw shrinks back slightly. "If you're going to investigate, set me down first." Autumnfell Soothwind nods. He walks back to the wooden steps of the house as he squatted, letting Lian climb off gently. Lasrillian Cliffclaw lets go of the other, sitting on the steps. Adessa Cypersong wiggles just enough to get her good arm free. There is a disturbing cracking noise. She grabs the Pumera by the neck, digging her fingers into it's scruff, and does her best to slide out from under it quickly. ||Pumera|| the beast turns to Damie, and then, the mighty cat's face slowly shifts, the head is replaced with a black hood, the face is covered by darkness, all you could hear is wraspy breathing Autumnfell Soothwind comes back to a stand {stand} and he walks back into the house to retrieve his armor and weapon. Autumnfell Soothwind "Scream if more approach, Lasrillian." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: I will. Autumnfell Soothwind takes his psyblade in his hand like a chakram, as he runs at the direction of the roar. ||Pumera|| Tt feels small, claws on it's neck, but it does not budge, it slowly looks down at the girl, and out of the darkened face, appears two, beady, blood red eyes Autumnfell Soothwind skids to a halt at the sight. Autumnfell Soothwind "FLOWER-CHILD! DAMIE!" He yelled out. Adessa Cypersong's eyes get wide and her bad hand claws into the ground but otherwise, she doesn't show any fear of the hooded thing holding her down. She twists her head sharply to look over at Autumn. Damie Goldseed catche's autumn out of the corner of his eye, he turns to him, petrified, "Autumn.." as he say's his name, the beast turns to the read headed aurin, "...Run.." Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears flick. He anxiously sits on the steps, unable to help. Autumnfell Soothwind merely lets out a snarl as he held his psyblade out in a battle stance, heading towards the beast. "No." ||Pumera|| The face shifts back to that of a pumera, jumping off of the girl, it bolts at Autumn, the large cat attempting to tackle it to the ground Autumnfell Soothwind sees the Pumera leaping at him, but the size, strength and speed of the cat surprises him. He begins to duck away from the Pumera, but it manages to clip him on the shoulder as he held his psyblade up to block it. "Weaverot!" He screamed out as he pivoted on his feet, returning the pumera's attack by slashing at the beast with his own psyblade. Adessa Cypersong uses the opportunity to get to her feet while the thing is distracted. From her overalls pocket she produces a single pistol and aims it at the beast. Her aim is shakey and her target is moving, but she shoots at it anyway. ||Pumera|| The blade strikes, but it moves straight through the beast..as if it weren't real, it lands on its paws and slowly turns to Autumn ||Pumera|| Doesn't even move, the bolt passes straight through it, it then attempts to tackle Autumn to the ground again ||Pumera|| Tackles the aurin, to the ground, baring it's long, razor sharp canines Mystified by the spectral form of the pumera, Autumn's mind begins to wander and think of possible solutions - but it is too late. He's caught by surprise as he's pinned under the cat. {sleep} "Dismiss your pet." Damie Goldseed looks at Autumn,arching a brow,his back against the panel, trying to say something, but nothing comes out Adessa Cypersong gets as low to the ground as she can, cradling her bad arm close to her. She starts shouting at the thing in Arborian, but it's so broken and accented that the other two probably won't understand what she's saying. Then she turns to Damie. "Be CALLING IT OFF!" Damie Goldseed turns to Adessa,tears coming to his eyes and shakes his head, he then scrambles to his feet and runs into the bush ||Pumera|| is about to finish it off, but then..it explodes into a puff of blue mist, and even that quickly disappears Autumnfell Soothwind sits back up and turns to Adessa calmly. "Injured, Flower-child?" Adessa Cypersong's ears are pinned back and she's breathing heavily, clutching her arm, which has begun to bleed. There's something white sticking from it, but she's not dead, and that's something. "Why he is calling that thing!" Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears flick. Autumnfell Soothwind "I don't know, Flowers. Wherever he ran off to..." He gets up and looked behind him into the bush, "It matters not. I must get the other to Doctor Corvic." Autumnfell Soothwind makes his way out of the clearing, looking for Damie. Lasrillian Cliffclaw sits on the step, looking up at Autumn. "What happened?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Damie summoned a spectral pumera. Was attacking Flower-Child. But it turned on me. Have you seen him?" Lasrillian Cliffclaw shakes his head. "No. He's an esper?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Apparently. I wasn't conjuring it. And it was attacking Adessa. Unless it was you." Lasrillian Cliffclaw shakes his head. "No. I wasn't." Autumnfell Soothwind nods. "It also disappeared the moment he ran away. He's an Esper." Lasrillian Cliffclaw frowns. "I'll... I'll try to talk to him about it later." Autumnfell Soothwind "That will not be a good idea. His anger and mistrust of you will only trigger his powers." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: I will try. Autumnfell Soothwind walked up to Lasrillian and jabs his finger against the other male's chest. "You're not talking to him, Lasrillian Cliffclaw. Not now. And not without a trained Esper." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: Not now. Later. Damie Goldseed watches every thing from the safety of the tree's his large, green ears picking up everything, he held himself,he feltsick..it was all over..they knew.. Autumnfell Soothwind "And not without a trained esper." He reiterated. "Am I clear, Lasrillian Cliffclaw?" Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears flick. "I don't want him to hurt himself... Crystal clear," he mutters. Autumnfell Soothwind "He deserves some time alone to settle down. His powers won't misfire and hurt himself. If it did, it would have done so already, I wager." He looked towards the pathway leading away from the home. "Let's get you somewhere with a doctor, okay?" Lasrillian Cliffclaw nods slowly, holding his arms out. "Yes, please." Autumnfell Soothwind turns to Adessa, "You are well. I have lost sight of the young esper." Adessa Cypersong limps out of the brush, ears still pulled back and arm still cradled. "So. We is to be seeing Doctor Corvic, yes? Because. This is a good idea." Autumnfell Soothwind "Yes. I do not know what additional injuries this Thief has attained." He tilts his head to the blue haired aurin behind him. Lasrillian Cliffclaw speaks up softly. "I've just got the leg." Autumnfell Soothwind "You're not a doctor." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: We didn't trade any blows other than that. Autumnfell Soothwind "Lyrath... you said. Hmm..." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: Yeah. Adessa Cypersong blinks over at Lasrillian. "Oh. Good. Many thieves." She looks down at her arm and then back up at them. "What you is to be doing, for making him so angry?" Lasrillian Cliffclaw: ... I stole from a friend's friend. Adessa Cypersong gives him a blank look. "... Wait. This is all?" Damie Goldseed he slowly backs away, needing somewhere to just sit and mourn..not his defield sanctuary, however, he accidently steps on a twig, causing it to snap very loudly, he looks at the others in fear and dashes into the bush Adessa Cypersong: What you is stealing? Lasrillian Cliffclaw: Private documents. Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears flick at the snapping sound, but he assumes it to be an animal. Adessa Cypersong nods her head slowly. "Ah. Yes. Well, this is to be doing the thing, yes." Autumnfell Soothwind unclasps his pauldrons, slinging them to the ground along with his psyblade. "Valuable items. Very personal. Very secretiv---" The snapping of the twig made him look behind the building. "..." Adessa Cypersong turns her ears towards the twig first, and then the rest of her. "..." Autumnfell Soothwind "Do you hear anything, Lasrillian Cliffclaw?" Lasrillian Cliffclaw: I heard a twig snapping, yeah. Why? Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears flick. "Otherwise, just ambience. Breathing, animals scuffling about." Autumnfell Soothwind "... Thought it could have been the young Esper." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: First, he has a name. Second, even if it were, let him have time to himself. Autumnfell Soothwind "If you value his name, perhaps you should have remembered to grant him the respect he deserved by not stealing his private journal." Lasrillian Cliffclaw: I didn't read it. And he didn't write it. He didn't even know Lyrath had files on him until I showed him. Autumnfell Soothwind "That is none of your concern. And neither is it mine." He squats and pressed his back to Lian once again, "Let's go before the pumera returns." Lasrillian Cliffclaw reaches forward, holding onto Autumn. "Okay." Adessa Cypersong looks down at his things on the ground. She pauses and grabs at least the psyblade in her good arm. She fumbles with it for a second but seems to decide that just holding it is good enough. "Okay. This is a good idea." Autumnfell Soothwind secures Lian to himself once more, hunching forward and using his left arm to support the other male. "I'm assuming... if Damie wants to talk to you, he will call you himself." He nods at Adessa, "Thank you, Flower-Child." {stand} Blue esperic energy coats the pauldrons as he lifts it into the air behind him, making it float along with each of his steps. Lasrillian Cliffclaw's tail flicks. He rests his head against Autumn's back tiredly. Autumnfell Soothwind "Show us the way to Corvic's."

== CORVIC'S CLINIC == Autumnfell Soothwind "A doctor lives here...?" Adessa Cypersong covers her head ineffectively with the psyblade to shield herself from the rain. "Yes, this is where Kyrize, he is to be staying, before." Autumnfell Soothwind "...Kyrize." Autumnfell Soothwind snorts. Adessa Cypersong moves past them and to the couch, collapsing in it with a sigh. Autumnfell Soothwind sets Lasrillian down on the cot. Lasrillian Cliffclaw rests back on the cot quietly. Autumnfell Soothwind sets the pauldrons back on the ground as he worked on fastening it back to his shoulders. Autumnfell Soothwind "Where is this... Doctor?" Adessa Cypersong has pulled out an old datachron and is typing away on it. "I am not to be knowing." Lasrillian Cliffclaw flops down to lay on his side, curling up slightly. Autumnfell Soothwind studies the room as he holds his hand out to Adessa. "Thank you for carrying the psyblade. I hope it was not too heavy. May I?" Adessa Cypersong nods on the floor. She's dropped it there. "I am to be seeing if anyone is knowing where Corvic is." Autumnfell Soothwind walks over to retrieve the psyblade. "Thank you, Adessa. Were you injured badly?" Adessa Cypersong blinks up at him. "... You are calling me my real name." Autumnfell Soothwind "It is a very nice name." He smiled. Adessa Cypersong smirks at him and drops her chron, returning to poking her heavily brused arm. "I am not hurting anything that is not already hurting, I am thinking. Artur, he is to be mad at me when he is hearing this." Autumnfell Soothwind "You have a good reason at least. You were trying to save a young man, yes? From the dangers of the woods." Autumnfell Soothwind looked to his wristchron quickly as he typed in a quick message. Adessa Cypersong tilts her head from side to side, prodding at her bruises. Her wrist is swelling up. "Oh. I am not thinking that is to be helping, doing something good. Karmatic debt is too high." Autumnfell Soothwind looked away from his wristchron and back to Adessa. "I don't believe in karma. Or fate. It is what you make of it." He looked behind him, hoping to see or hear a doctor or a nurse. "...Exert power over your own destiny." Adessa Cypersong: Mmm. I am not to be believing in this thing, like you. Autumnfell Soothwind "Then why worry about karmic debt?" Adessa Cypersong: Oh no, I am believing in THIS thing. I am not to be... NOT believing? In karma? Adessa Cypersong wrinkles her nose. Words are hard. "This is making sense?" Autumnfell Soothwind "No. Try Arborian." Adessa Cypersong: ... Mmm. This is not much better. Autumnfell Soothwind "Then it matters little to me." He grinned. Autumnfell Soothwind turns tro look at Knife. "Nefe." Lasrillian Cliffclaw lays on the cot, half-asleep. Xnfe Icefang: "Didn't get shot at on the way in...that's actually something." Adessa Cypersong considers him for a second and then looks over his shoulder at the newcomer. "... I am to be knowing you." Xnfe Icefang tilts her head. "Huh?" Autumnfell Soothwind gestured behind him to the female aurin, "Possible fractures or bruises from a spectral pumera attack." He then points at Lian's direction. "Stab wound to leg. Possibly need blood transfusion. Not sure what else. I didn't get a scan." Adessa Cypersong: Re-breakings. Adessa Cypersong looks down at her arm and continues poking at it. ".. Probably." Xnfe Icefang is still confused by the 'am to be knowing you' remark from Adessa...but she shakes her head dismissively, summoning her scanbot to scan Lian while she moves to look at Adessa. Autumnfell Soothwind makes way! Lasrillian Cliffclaw glances up at the scanbot tiredly, shrugging. Adessa Cypersong leans back as she gets closer. "Uh. Hello, friend of Rigena." Xnfe Icefang takes out her PDA and starts looking at Adessa. "Hi there. I'm Doctor Knife....er...that's right. Rigs is a friend." Autumnfell Soothwind sighs and climbs up the cot, sitting cross legged next to Lian's head. "Hey..." he said gently as he tapped the other's jaw. Lasrillian Cliffclaw opens an eye and looks up to Autumn tiredly. Adessa Cypersong nods. "Yes. I am seeing you there, when Wylion and I, we are going to see her about slaves." Adessa Cypersong doesn't look incredibly comfortable. She keeps looking around the room. Xnfe Icefang starts scanning Adessa. "Slaves...?" Adessa Cypersong: Mmm. Rigena, she is to be helping us find homes for them. Autumnfell Soothwind "Just a little bit more, okay?" He lifts Lian's head up to rest on his lap. His fingers pull away the bangs and some clumps of his hair as he gently runs his gloved fingertips over Lian's jawline. Lasrillian Cliffclaw nods. "Mhm. A little more." Xnfe Icefang scans Adessa more...looking at her wounds? Xnfe Icefang: "Autumn." Autumnfell Soothwind "Nefe?" Xnfe Icefang: "Come here." Autumnfell Soothwind "Just a second..." Autumnfell Soothwind sighed out heavily as he plants a kiss on to Lasrillian's forehead, carefully sliding his head back down to rest on the cot. Autumnfell Soothwind "Yes?" Xnfe Icefang hands Autumn a syringe, "Stick this in his arm...he's in the beginning stages of an infection...trees, this place is dirty...Antibiotic...while I look her over." Autumnfell Soothwind takes the syringe. "Okay. I already gave him a medishot, but more can't hurt." Xnfe Icefang: "That' Xnfe Icefang: "That's not a medishot..." Xnfe Icefang: "That's an antibiotic." Autumnfell Soothwind "Ah." Autumnfell Soothwind patters away quickly. Xnfe Icefang scans Adessa more, looking at the wounds that Autumn mentioned...bruises would be less urgent. Adessa Cypersong watches Autumn go and then looks up at Knife. "...There is different?" Autumnfell Soothwind holds the syringe out, as he taps Lian's upper arm. "Las?" Xnfe Icefang: "Medishots are nanites that act similarly to platelets and work to close wounds. Antibiotics kill bacteria." Lasrillian Cliffclaw opens an eye lethargically, looking up at him and nodding. Adessa Cypersong looks at her and slowly nods as if she knows what's being said. Then she looks down at her arm. "I am to be coming here, soon, to be having surgery on this arm anyway. Doctor Corvic, he is to be needing to rebreak it." Autumnfell Soothwind injects the syringe's contents into Las' arm. He recaps it and sets it on the crate after he finished. Xnfe Icefang cringes. "Rebreak it...?" She shakes her head dismissively, "If that's what you're in for, go right ahead...What attacked you?" ((Is she bleeding, or anything?)) Autumnfell Soothwind "Nefe - it's done. Las' losing consciousness, though..." Xnfe Icefang calls back to Autumn, "That's probably good...it'll help him not feel pain..." Lasrillian Cliffclaw's tail rises up from the cot periodically, flicking. His ears twitch as well, but otherwise, he seems content to rest, although not fully asleep. Autumnfell Soothwind "Alright - I'll keep an eye on him." Autumnfell Soothwind sighed out and slumped down to sit on the floor next to the cot, his psyblade pressed agaist the metal cot's frame. Lasrillian Cliffclaw murmurs quietly. "'M sorry." Autumnfell Soothwind "Just rest." Lasrillian Cliffclaw huffs softly. "I am." Autumnfell Soothwind "You better be." Xnfe Icefang takes a closer look at the arm, "Why does he want to break it?" Adessa Cypersong's ears fall forward a little. "Because it is to be broken before, and healing badly. So he is needing to rebreak the thing. And then I am to be resting." Lasrillian Cliffclaw whines softly. "This is all my fault." Xnfe Icefang drops her mouth open for a moment, seemingly horrified. "Wh...what? Really? Does he live in the pre-industrial age? That's..." She clears her throat, "You know what? It's not my place to...criticize a doctor's methods...it's just...that's a bit archaic a treatment..." Autumnfell Soothwind An audible loud HISS is heard from the main room. It quiets down after a moment. "Yeah well... sometimes you do something you'll regret. Doesn't mean you can't fix it." Lasrillian Cliffclaw sighs. "I might not be able to. I'll try." Autumnfell Soothwind pockets his visor into his coat. "Don't bother if it won't work, Lian..." Adessa Cypersong looks up the stairs again. "Uh. He is to be mordead. So." Adessa Cypersong leans away again. "What you are to be doing." Lasrillian Cliffclaw huffs quietly. "I have to bother." Xnfe Icefang facepalms, "You're someone else's patient...I'm not going to -do- anything...You could probably use a painkiller, though." She takes a syringe from her belt. Autumnfell Soothwind "I think you bothered enough, Lian..." Adessa Cypersong seems to take this as a good sign. "Well. I am telling him, I am to be going home and wrapping it. Maybe putting some numbing leaves on it. It is to be fine." Adessa Cypersong: But he is saying no. Lasrillian Cliffclaw's ears flick. He mumbles. "You're right... But I've gotta try." Lasrillian Cliffclaw lays still, now. "... I'm tired, Autumn. Is it okay if I sleep?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Yeah... go sleep. I'll keep watch." Xnfe Icefang shakes her head, "Sorry...I'm having trouble understanding what you're saying...you don't want the painkiller, then?" She tilts her head. Adessa Cypersong's ears drop in embarassment. "... Oh." She considers it and then shakes her head no, opting to say nothing instead. Lasrillian Cliffclaw falls asleep without another word. Xnfe Icefang scratches the back of her head, "Oh....kay...Well, let me know if you want this...it'll make you feel a lot better. I need to go see to Lian..." Autumnfell Soothwind sighed and looked up to Nefe. "Bastard fell asleep." Xnfe Icefang shoves a Syringe into Autumn's face....not in a stabby way. "Try to get her to take this? She's clearly in pain...and, I can't tell if she refused treatment, or what..." Xnfe Icefang gets to scanning the KO'd Lian. Autumnfell Soothwind takes the syringe and holds it up. "Uhm... okay..." Adessa Cypersong is just looking around the room nervously. Autumnfell Soothwind "'Dessa." Adessa Cypersong pins her ears back and stares at him. "Do not be calling me this thing." Xnfe Icefang starts working on Lian's leg... Autumnfell Soothwind "Okay... Flower-child..." Adessa Cypersong makes a little strangled noise, but doesn't argue the nickname. Autumnfell Soothwind holds out the syringe to Adessa. "Doctor said you need to take this." Adessa Cypersong sticks her tounge out at him. How mature. Autumnfell Soothwind smirked. "That's a yes then." Adessa Cypersong: I am not to be saying yes to this thing! Autumnfell Soothwind "Why not?" Adessa Cypersong goes back to looking for an exit. "Because one drug, it is to be meaning more than one drug. And then many, and then Wylion maybe is to be finding them." Autumnfell Soothwind "Uhm..." He looks at the syringe and tapped his finger to it. "This is not a drug that makes you want more, though..." Xnfe Icefang facepalms, calling into the other room, "It's for medical purpouses..if someone's gonna prevent you from being treated, then that's an abusive person, and you need to stay away from them." Autumnfell Soothwind "Nefe! I got this!" Autumnfell Soothwind scowled and points at the room outside while looking at Adessa in a 'Can-You-Believe-That?' way. Adessa Cypersong pins her ears and glares daggers through the wall. Xnfe Icefang wouldn't give a crap if there wasn't a wall in the way. She'd still say that. Regardless, she works on Lian. Autumnfell Soothwind holds the syringe out again, "Come on - Adessa. Trust me. It's not going to make you want more. B'sides, it will help Arthur and Wylion not find out you were hurt. Less karmic debt, right?" Adessa Cypersong squirms a little in her seat. Adessa Cypersong: ... Okay, fine. Adessa Cypersong looks down at her datachron again, tail wrapping around herself. Xnfe Icefang lets out a sigh of releif when she hears that, and keeps at Lian. Autumnfell Soothwind "Would you like me to, or would you like to do it?" Adessa Cypersong starts shaking her head VIOLENTLY. "No! You is to be doing this thing!" Autumnfell Soothwind "Okay okay!" He starts shushing her like a kit. He uncaps the syringe and holds the needle against the swollen wrist. "Close your eyes if you have to, okay? I am going to count to three. Let me know when you're ready." Adessa Cypersong winces at her datachron. "When you is done, Wylion, she is wanting to be speaking to you." Adessa Cypersong closes her eyes, but doesn't squeeze them shut. Autumnfell Soothwind sighed. "Alright... Okay. Three. Two---" He jabs the needle into her skin, and quickly injects the contents of the syringe into Adessa's swollen wrist. "ONE!" He yanked it out as it empties out completely. He quickly sets the syringe and the cap on the table next to him. "There! See! All done." Adessa Cypersong yips a little and bites her lip. "This is to bE MAKING IT HURT -MORE.-" Autumnfell Soothwind "The pain is only temporary. It will heal your wounds. If it didn't, the pain would be... permanent." He smiled, "Take that as consolation, eh?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Now - Wylion. Can you ask her to come here? I... cannot leave." Adessa Cypersong frowns. "No." she picks up her datachron and shoves it at his face. "She is wanting to be -talking- to you. Texting talking." Adessa Cypersong <txt> he says u is 2 b coming here Autumnfell Soothwind "Uhh..." Adessa Cypersong turns the chron around as it beeps and looks at it. "She is to be saying, she is to be fighting you." Xnfe Icefang perks her ears and looks over at the other room. Autumnfell Soothwind blinked at the datachron, not comprehending. He takes out his visor and attaches it over his eyes. It latches on with a sickening vacuum noise. "I don't think that's a good idea..." Autumnfell Soothwind "Send her a message for me and ask her to come here instead. At least whoever loses the fight will have medical care." Adessa Cypersong taps at it with one hand, pulling her other arm close to her. "Okay." Autumnfell Soothwind "Well... at least you got looked at by a real doctor." Adessa Cypersong tuts angrily. "No. I am to be staying until Doctor Corvic, he is coming home." Autumnfell Soothwind "Suit yourself." Adessa Cypersong: If I am to be going home, Artur is to be finding out and worrying. Xnfe Icefang lets out a sigh. Autumnfell Soothwind "Well... I'm sure Arthur will be happy to see that /nothing/ happened to you." Adessa Cypersong grins at the idea. "Maybe." Autumnfell Soothwind waved Adessa off. "I'll be waiting for Wylion." Autumnfell Soothwind stands quietly over Lian's cot. "How bad is it?" Xnfe Icefang is sewing Lian's leg up. "Why are you fighting someone?" Autumnfell Soothwind "I'm not. She wants to fight me, I think. It doesn't matter. If they are hostile, I am sure it will be taken care of swiftly." Xnfe Icefang rubs her forehead. Adessa Cypersong calls in a singsong voice through the wall. "Wylion is to be saying you is dying, soon. I am thinking she is to be joking." Autumnfell Soothwind flicked his ears towards Adessa's voice. "Tell her okay." Xnfe Icefang tosses Autumn a syringe. Autumnfell Soothwind catches it. "What's this for?" Xnfe Icefang: "Radioactive signature. It'll let me monitor your vitals from any distance." Autumnfell Soothwind "...You think I'm gonna lose?" Xnfe Icefang: "No...If I thought that, I'd give you my emergency transmat transponder." Autumnfell Soothwind "I am not leaving his side. No matter what." Autumnfell Soothwind clamps his hands over the cot's metal edge. "I leave for two days..." Xnfe Icefang: "I can take him...I wouldn't trust leaving him in -this- place anyway..." Autumnfell Soothwind "Some where safe?" Autumnfell Soothwind looked around. "Perhaps its best. Then I don't have to hold back." Xnfe Icefang tilts her head, "I have somewhere that's safer than any place in the system...Promise." Autumnfell Soothwind " Autumnfell Soothwind "Just make sure he doesn't run off when he wakes." Autumnfell Soothwind "Lock him up if you have to. I'm being very serious." Xnfe Icefang nods. "Take care...and, spend some time with me sometime." Autumnfell Soothwind nods, he injects the syringe's contents into himself. "I will. I promise. Are you taking him now?" Xnfe Icefang nods, placing both of her palms onto Lian's chest. "Unless you want me to wait?" Autumnfell Soothwind shakes his head, "No. Take him wherever you're going. Just... send me a message later where so I know where to find you." Xnfe Icefang starts to activate her transmat, "Oh...one more thing?" She starts dematerializing. "Get her to see a real doctor? She wouldn't let me treat her..." She vanishes, along with the wounded and KO'd Lian. Autumnfell Soothwind nods. Autumnfell Soothwind "I shall..." he sighed out as they vanish. Adessa Cypersong is still sitting on the couch, texting. She's put a pillow over her arm. It's slowly getting bled through. Autumnfell Soothwind leans his shoulder against the pillar. "So..." He points to the bloodied pillow. "I trust you'll take that looked at yourself?" Adessa Cypersong looks up at him with tiny pupils like she forgot he was even HERE. She blinks and then looks down at the pillow. "... Oh. I am to be waiting." Adessa Cypersong tilts her head from side to side. "I am not to be fixing by myself. Hoogdoo, it is not good for the bones." Autumnfell Soothwind takes tentative steps towards Adessa. "Yeah?" He pulls himself up to sit on the very edge, his back turned to the other. Adessa Cypersong nods. "Yes. It is to be causing many problem. So." She lifts up the pillow to peek at her arm, and then puts it back on it. "So. I am to be staying here." Autumnfell Soothwind "Hoogdoo, eh?" Autumn tilts his head as he rapped his knuckles against the wall. "Tell me more of this hoog-doo - and when is Wylion coming?" Adessa Cypersong: Oh. Wylion, she is not to be coming. Myrnica, she is to be comiong. Adessa Cypersong: And Artur, also. Autumnfell Soothwind "Hunter Peaceweaver?" Autumnfell Soothwind "This will be very interesting." Adessa Cypersong: grins up at him with a little wince. "You are to be knowing Myrnica?!" Autumnfell Soothwind turns his head back to Adessa, removing his visor again. "Yeah. I've spoken to Hunter Peaceweaver a few times. She seems nice." Adessa Cypersong nods. "I am liking her. She is to be understanding my arborian, some." Adessa Cypersong's chron keeps beeping. Pretty madly, now. She looks down at it and taps on the screen, smiling. "It is nice that you is to be staying for your mate." Autumnfell Soothwind pressed his back to the wall, his psyblade doesn't seem to be more than a mere decorative piece. "He's not my mate." Adessa Cypersong continues tapping. She's not good at being social, obviously. "Friend, then?" Adessa Cypersong's eyes widen at her chron. "... Oooh. Artur is to be very worry." Autumnfell Soothwind shrugged. "I don't know. He's just special." He chuckled but he frowned, leaning over to Adessa, "Adessa - Thank you. For following and talking to Damie. I'm sorry you got hurt. Can I at least offer you some help?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Arthur should worry. You're very hurt and you're not being helped." Adessa Cypersong leans away immediately. "What help you is offering?" Autumnfell Soothwind holds both his hands out, palms turned upwards. Golden esperic energy crackled around his gloves' tip before it faded away. Autumn sighed and yanked off his gloves, revealing his bare hands as he channeled the energy again. "Some... small healing. Just to stop the bleeding, the pain. A small gesture of my thanks to you." Adessa Cypersong wrinkles her nose and returns to looking for an exit. "Is it to be hurting?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Truthfully - it's a warm feeling. Like dipping your feet into the waters of hotsprings." Adessa Cypersong: Nnnghokay. Autumnfell Soothwind "And... some tiny bits of pain. It is mending you back to health, after all." Adessa Cypersong's ears shoot up. "Oh. Oooh, do not be doing that thing. I am to be waiting for Doctor Corvic, still." Autumnfell Soothwind wilts his ears a little, "But I cannot bear to see the friend of Wylion injured and not being aided. When I am sitting right here." Adessa Cypersong pulls the pillow back off of her arm and winces, looking down at it. Part of the bone is sticking out. "Can you be stopping the bleeding, only, then?" Autumnfell Soothwind "That will be... difficult..." He gulped at the bone protruding out from her arm. "In fact I don't think I can even stop  just the bleeding." He dips his head apologetically, "It's not how esper healing works. It... fixes what is broken." He gestured to the bone, "There will be a lot of pain..." Adessa Cypersong winces at the idea of it. Adessa Cypersong: How I am knowing I can be trustings you? Autumnfell Soothwind "You don't." He admits without hesitation. "But, how can I know I can trust -you-?" Autumnfell Soothwind "This is Nexus. Not Arboria." He leaned away, the glow on his claws dimming. "Nothing is the same as how it was." Adessa Cypersong gives him a suspicious look, but puts her arm out anyway. "I am not to be worrying about your magic." Adessa Cypersong: I am to be worrying because I am not knowing you very much, Sticky. Autumnfell Soothwind looked at the outstretched arm, furrowing his brows. "No one really knows me. Not even myself." Gently, he sets one hand under Adessa's, and he hovered the other over the protruding bone. Golden esperic energy flicked to life from his claws as it enveloped his hands. Adessa would feel a warming touch from Autumn's hand that was holding hers. "But knowing me means little, almost nothing. It is what I do and accomplish that matters." His eyes meet Adessa's gaze as he gave her Autumnfell Soothwind an encouraging nod, "Ready?" Adessa Cypersong relaxes just a little, leaning in to watch. "Yeah." Corvic Mordacci makes his way through the trashed streets of the Crooked Corners, carrying two large bags from each arm. Autumnfell Soothwind "Okay. Just... be ready. okay?" The golden aura begins to seep over to Adessa's arm, fully covering her flesh and exposed bone. A sharp and intense burning is felt that quickly mellowed out to a numbing, hot sensation. As the energy seeped into her flesh, it would slowly wind its way deeper in until it met bone. Autumn closed his eyes as he focused and channeled his healing spell to mend and adjust the broken bone. The golden aura glows violently, turning from yellow to Autumnfell Soothwind amber. Adessa would feel the burning sensation ebb and pulse from a relaxing warmth, to a stinging burn. This sensation would alternate as the esperic energy worked on healing and restoring Adessa's arm. Adessa Cypersong tenses up and winces through clenched teeth as the stinging starts. Corvic Mordacci || The front door of the clinic creaks open and heavy footsteps come inside along with the rustle of fabric. Adessa Cypersong squeezes her eyes shut as tightly as she can. She doesn't notice Corvic come in. Corvic Mordacci turns to look at the two aurin in his sitting room. He stoops to set the two bags brimming with groceries and supplies down by the door then approaches. "Addes-" He freezes. Completely. Yellow eyes locked on her arm. Adessa Cypersong starts at his voice, jerking her arm back.  This is probably a VERY BAD IDEA. Adessa Cypersong: NNGHGHNGHHI DOCTOR CORVICCC. Autumnfell Soothwind is focused heavily on his healing, he seems to be oblivious to his surroundings. Clenching his jaws, Autumn's hand pressed down onto the top of Adessa's arm as he forced and channeled even more esperic energy into mending the bone correctly. Corvic's voice does not register to him. As Adessa takes her arm away, Autumn opens his eyes in a startled manner, his mouth opens in shock. "Adessa!" he called out, as he made a lunge at the arm. You can see that the bone is still Autumnfell Soothwind protruding, but less so. Swelling has gone down somewhat, but it's not as bad as before. Corvic Mordacci's mouth falls part open, revealing the jagged tips of his lower teeth as he surveys the gristly scene. The look of shock doesn't last for long, though. He closes his mouth and kneels carefully, coming in closer to watch what's happening. His eyes drift momentarily to Autumn's face but don't stay long. He's mostly fixated on Adessa's injury. His voice comes low and gentle but stern. "Adessa, please be still." Adessa Cypersong is slightly more frantic now that there's TWO people all up in her space. Autumnfell Soothwind "Adessa - stop." Autumn leaned back, "Who are you, Mordesh?" Adessa Cypersong: Autumn, this is to be Doctor Corvic! Autumnfell Soothwind winced and rubbed his forehead, the golden energy whizzing out from his claws. He rests his head in his hand as he bade the doctor an unenthusiastic hello. Adessa Cypersong speaks through clenched teeth and her face almost seems to spasm as she tries to look casual about this whole thing but keeps squeezing her eyes shut in pain. Corvic Mordacci sits closely to observe but doesn't move to interfere with Autumn's work. The yellow eyes drift over to the unknown auburn aurin again. "Corvic Mordacci, the owner of this clinic." He stands. "She could use something for the pain." Adessa Cypersong: I am to be HAVING this thing! This pain, it is NEW. Autumnfell Soothwind grunts as he continued to cradle his head in his hand. "You go take care of her. She is yours now." Corvic Mordacci's brow furrows deeper and his frown stretches further down his face. He looks worried. "You already took medication?" Adessa Cypersong points to the syringe on the table. "The other doctor is to be making me take it!" Autumnfell Soothwind "Your generic medishot..." Autumn grumbled out. Corvic Mordacci turns to stare at the syringe on the table before picking it up and inspecting it. His look of concerin is ever-so-slightly-slipping into one of actual anger. "Other doctor? What other doctor?" He sets the medishot down and unclips his resonators. Autumnfell Soothwind "My doctor and friend. There was another injured here and he required immediate aid." He lifts his head up to look at Corvic, a scowl on his face. "And I couldn't find a god damn doctor in this clinic." Adessa Cypersong points at Autumn with her GOOD hand. "The one he is to be calling. For his friend! His friend is to be bleeding out, we is not knowing what to do, so we is bringing him here, but." Adessa Cypersong seems to not be able to stop talking now that she's started. "We is to be going to helping his friend, and there is to be a shadow pumera and it is to be jumping on me." Autumnfell Soothwind "A young esper was feeling threatened. Maybe." He added. Corvic Mordacci closes his eyes for a moment and lets a breath out through his nose. When he is out the sign outside is off and there is always a message left to indicate when he will be back. He gives his head a small shake and when he opens his eyes his face is once again impassive. He starts channeling a soothing energy into Adessas arm that will mostly just ease her pain for the moment. "I am the only doctor working at this clinic. I am glad your friend could arrive in time to render aid." Autumnfell Soothwind "Yes, I apologize for the intrusion. I followed Adessa here, hoping to seek your aid. She mentioned you were a great doctor." Autumnfell Soothwind "I did not know the doors would be open if you were not present." Autumnfell Soothwind "You must have see very relaxed patients." Corvic Mordacci eyes Adessa as he continues the stream. "The doors are locked from the outside when I am absent for my patient's safety but select few possess the code to enter." Adessa Cypersong's ears droop over her face. "Nngh I am to be having Wylion's code." Corvic Mordacci: Adessa, are you comfortable moving under the big scanner? Adessa Cypersong tenses up immediately. Adessa Cypersong: Is it to be putting me to sleep? Corvic Mordacci: No. Autumnfell Soothwind beats his palm to the side of his head, "Okay. I think - I'm feeling better." Adessa Cypersong puts a protective hand on her arm and winces. Another drop in the Bad Mistakes bin. "Okay, okay." Adessa Cypersong: Be promising, you is not to be putting me to sleep Doctor Corvic." Autumnfell Soothwind "I'm sure he could've sedated you by now if that was his intention, Flowers." Corvic Mordacci leans in slightly to look at her arm again. "I pinky promise." Adessa Cypersong looks horrified by the prospect of it. Adessa Cypersong: Okay, okay. Adessa Cypersong: Where the big scanner is? Corvic Mordacci: Wait here. Autumnfell Soothwind grabs his gloves and slips them back over his hands. "See you round, Adessa." Adessa Cypersong squirms on her bloody pillow. "Okay. Bye, Sticky." An electric hum comes from the other room, then the end of a medcot comes hovering through the doorway. It pulls up next to the couches so that Adessa only has to make a transfer of a few feet.  "If you could help her Mr... ah, what was your name?" Autumnfell Soothwind "Sticky." Adessa Cypersong does a fairly good job of sliding herself over onto the cot. She wobbles from side to side on it like it's a surfboard, and leans over to scoop up the little bloody pillow to hold onto. Just in case. Corvic Mordacci makes a noncommital hum as he manuvers the cot around "Sticky." Corvic Mordacci backs up and pulls the cot smoothly as he goes, pushing it over to rest under the scanner again. Autumnfell Soothwind was TOTALLY not obstructing anything. Autumnfell Soothwind quietly slips away through the front doors. Corvic Mordacci: The next question is... *He leans in again, before going over to his computer to configure some things.* How did -this- happen? Adessa Cypersong slouches and holds her broken arm, looking up at the light nervously. "Uh. We are to be helping Sticky's friend. And a pumera, it is to be pouncing me. I am not thinking, I am trying to catch myself with this arm."The scanner overhead thrums to life. A little grid of blue lines travels over Adessa then concentrates in on her arm. Corvic tries to keep her calm. "This is just a scan. It will not hurt. It is only light, like from my resonators." Adessa Cypersong's fur starts to stand on end. "Okay," she says in a high pitched voice. "This is fine." Corvic Mordacci makes  alow thrum in his throat then walks back over. "Well, Adessa, at least one step of the surgery is no longer needed. But your bone has been through much trauma. I would like to fit you with a cast." Adessa Cypersong makes a whining noise in her throat. "I am to be -SO GOOD- this week, and I am only to be shooting with my RIGHT HAND, and a PUMERA is putting me in a cast!" Corvic Mordacci: Pumeras are powerful, potent predators, that is nothing to be ashamed of. Corvic Mordacci's scanner is also running a search for foreign elements in Adessa's blood. Adessa Cypersong waves her good arm around for emphasis. "I am to be shooting CARTEL MEMBERS. I am fightings the SLAVERS. And I am to be hurting by a CAT." Corvic Mordacci goes about collecting supplies and preparing for the procedure. "A collossal, incorporeal cat. I am sure."

[cypersong]

[REDSTAR CARTEL] In Pursuit of Freedom - Part 2

In which Team Justice frees slaves from a Chua laboratory.

== THE LABORATORY - EXTERIOR == [GM] The path leads to a densely wooded area well-used by the broken grass and the trodding of heavy footsteps. The area itself seems quiet, although a Redstar ship is spotted on the perimeter. A Redstar Guard, hereby named Patsy, appears to be inspecting his new Redbok shoes just ahead. Myrnica Peaceweaver slinks, tutting. "Warrior Nika, would you like this one?" Nika Pelevin doesn't answer Myrnica right away, looking over at Arthur. "Do you want it alive?" She probably means the guard. Arthur Kinlay sniffs. "Won't shed any tears for 'em." Nika Pelevin nods, and strides forward with her gun charging a bolt in this horrible hrrreeEEEEEEE noise. She hefts it up and aims it at the guard, hoping that the shrieking is doing enough to catch attention before she lets out the flakshot. Ravil Raindance: "His story cometh to an abrupt ending. More merciful by far than those languishing 'neath his whip!" [GM] The Guard's boot drops with a thud onto the ground at the sound of something powering up. He makes half of a yelp before he's caught in its line of fire, twirling beautifully. He goes down in a charred heap. Adessa Cypersong swivels her ears around. Nika Pelevin lowers her blaster, the weapon tapering off with a little smoking whine. "Perimeter's secure." Arthur Kinlay let's out a low whistle. "Nice shot." Nika Pelevin: I am always a nice shot, sir. Adessa Cypersong: Everything is everything. Quinn Bayhill: Helpful. Nika Pelevin: It means she agrees with me. Myrnica Peaceweaver slips forward, weaving silently forward. The hackles raise along her tail. Adessa Cypersong gives Nika a weird look. No it - you know what okay fine. Ravil Raindance conjures forth his psabres with a roll of his wrists. He proceeds through the woods at a brisk pace. Corvic Mordacci keeps an eye out for other guards before stepping forward. He runs a scan over the fallen guard to make sure he's dead. Nika Pelevin stops at the treeline, admiring the charred corpse for a couple of seconds. Corvic Mordacci determines that this dude is defintiely dead. Myrnica Peaceweaver clacks her nails in irritation along the mask for several moments, slow and rhythmic from thumb to pinky and back again. This stops and she swivels a look. "Here." Nika Pelevin stalks forward, keeping her gun barrel raised in front of her. Adessa Cypersong pins her ears back and takes a single, solid step backwards, looking down at the bunker. Arthur Kinlay upnods towards the north. "Ship's over there..." Corvic Mordacci: Another bunker.  With any fortune this one will not be on fire. Nika Pelevin eyes the bunker. "Likely locked." Adessa Cypersong's head whips to look at Corvic, eyes wide and horrified. "You is to be in a BURNING BUNKER?" Ravil Raindance takes note of Myrnica's tapping mannerism. Though his mask betrays no expression, the slight cant of his head suggests, subtly, concern. He plods over and lays a hand upon her shoulder. "Is all well with you?" he murmurs. Arthur Kinlay grimaces. "That'd be a treat." He looks at Adessa. "Ah.. yeah... when we were looking for you." Adessa Cypersong takes another step away from the bunker entrance. Myrnica Peaceweaver ticks her head to the side sharply towards the hand and stops. "I'm fine," she says, rolling her shoulders free and slithering forward to test the wheel. Surprisingly, it's unlocked. Corvic Mordacci half-opens his mouth to answer Adessa then think better of it. He turns to Nika instead. "Perhaps you could repeat your last success..." Arthur Kinlay walks over to Adessa and places a hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to go in there." Quinn Bayhill: Can we just go now? Quinn Bayhill: Too long..too..too...too...tooooo long. Adessa Cypersong just stares up at Arthur. "Nngh." Corvic Mordacci steps up to take a look at the bunker with a hum of consternation. Quinn Bayhill moves to jump right on in. Nika Pelevin watches this with a sigh, going to join Q on the frontlines. Myrnica Peaceweaver's head tilts from side to side, watching Arthur and Adessa. "It would be good to have a look out. I may stay with her, if she wishes." Ravil Raindance: "'Tis time to let the cloak of caution slip away - swift action shall have it's day!" Ravil Raindance also leaps down the hatch. Arthur Kinlay gives Adessa's shoulder a squeeze, nodding to Myrnica before looking at Adessa again. "That sounds good for you? We won't be long." Quinn Bayhill: Tick tock tick tock, thought we were on a mission clock. Nika Pelevin: We are. Ravil Raindance: "Dearest Quinn! We shall make a poet of you yet!" Adessa Cypersong nods and sits herself down on the ground next to the lightpost. Arthur Kinlay nods again and hurries after the others. Myrnica Peaceweaver steps off the porthole and moves over to stand next to Adessa. Silent, near immobile.

== THE LABORATORY - INTERIOR == Quinn Bayhill blinks then looks to Ravil like she has no clue what he is talking about. "We aint got time...this was their stupid idea." [GM] Something feels off, and it’s not just the nauseating scent of chlorinated floors. It almost feels like someone is watching you just from the corner of your eyes, but when you turn to look - you see nothing. Arthur Kinlay narrows his eyes, looking all around. "Something's... not right." Nika Pelevin pauses as she steps forward, frowning. Quinn Bayhill: wrinkles her nose. "No shit sherlock." Nika Pelevin: Tread carefully. Arthur Kinlay: I'm not talking about the smell. Ravil Raindance: "Aye - something skitters, dancing furtively on the very edge of perception." Quinn Bayhill cracks her neck from side to side. "Whelp...we are here to do the thing, so unless there is another train of ideas..." She moves as if to step forward. Corvic Mordacci curls his upper lip, revealing the points of sharp teeth. "A feeling of forboding... not unexpected." Nika Pelevin snorts and heads forward as well, keeping point with Q. Nika Pelevin eyes the door and, with full knowledge that the damned thing's probably going to shut at some point, strides past it. [GM] Just past the doors can be heard the mutters of scientists at work, and that sort of dull humming that comes with florescent lighting. Arthur Kinlay follows Nika, guns raised and on alert. Ravil Raindance brandishes his blades. "Let us follow Nika's example and step lively - lest we find feet snared 'twixt time's slathering jaws." Corvic Mordacci brings up the rear as usual. Nika Pelevin looks to the room at her left. Quinn Bayhill: Lets just get this done hm? Tick tock goes the slaver delivery clock. Ravil Raindance: ...'Twas exactly what this bard just said!" Nika Pelevin heads down the hall when people don't bust in guns blazing. Nika Pelevin stops, holding up her right fist. Arthur Kinlay mutters at Ravil and Quinn. "If you two could quit complaining and focus." He mutters quitly, following carefuly. [GM] The door behind them SLAMS shut and the sound of a mechari head, muffled, saying, “KILL ME!” can be heard on the otherside. The speakers throughout the lab blare: DECONTAMINATION AUTHORIZED. PROCESSES WILL BEGIN IN ERROR. ALL PERSONNEL ARE ORDERED TO LEAVE AT THIS TIME. PLEASE HEAD IN AN ORDERLY FASHION TO YOUR NEAREST ERROR. ERROR. ERROR. Quinn Bayhill eyes the back of Red's head. "bite me......ooooorrrrrrr....maybe later on that." Nika Pelevin closes her eyes behind her mask and decides, screw it, anyone who rushes her is getting slammed in the face with her gun and /then/ shot. Arthur Kinlay curses under his breath. Corvic Mordacci cranes his head back and looks in the sounds of the speakers. "Hmmmmm..." Nika Pelevin finally has emotion in her voice, but it is /not/ good, and it is all that is brimming and bubbling pitch anger. "I'm setting that mansion on FIRE," she snarls, stomping forward, because someone's getting their ass beat. [GM] A stream of lab personnel shuffle nervously down the corridor and freeze in horror to see the door shut. “Oh no...” “No, they wouldn’t have.” “That’s impossible!” “Where’s the override?” “I DON’T KNOW!” “This is a mistake!” the voices jamble together into a panicked cacophony, rising into hysteria. And then, just about the din - the sound of a shrill accusation. “The Exiles are here! They’re here to kill us!” Corvic Mordacci already has his resonators in his hands. He flicks a switch and they power up with an ominous whine. He stares ahead with a blank face at the gaggle of researchers. Well, ce can't argue with their statement. Quinn Bayhill: Look! Shields! Arthur Kinlay curses even MORE when people start rushing into the corridor. He quickly pulls out his communicator and tries to reach Myrnica and Adessa. Please let there be a signal. Nika Pelevin's gun is absolutely shrieking when she lifts it, shooting off two shots in quick succession, rocking back with the recoil. Arthur Kinlay probably speaks a little more loudly than needed into his chron, tried to hear himself over the cacophony. "Myrn! Myrnica, do you hear me?!" Ravil Raindance yells in protest. "Nika! These are but lackeys - panicked, betrayed and left to die by their masters' cruel machinations, lacking means and motive for murder!" Nika Pelevin's gun is already winding up for another shot. "MORAL SEMANTICS LATER," she snaps.

== THE LABORATORY - EXTERIOR == [GM] Meanwhile, A mechari head is chucked through the open porthole, followed by the flickering skin of a human comes onto the surface. "...That'll take care of that." "KILL ME!" the head shrieks. Myrnica Peaceweaver's ears twitch. Her eyes widen when she sees the head get chucked and grabs a hold onto Adessa's arm. "We move," she says, and it's not a question. On the Chron, she whispers, "What?" Adessa Cypersong flinches when she's grabbed and stares at Myrn, then at the head. She's on her feet immediately.

== THE LABORATORY - INTERIOR == Arthur Kinlay speaks into his chron again, thanking whatever stars above that there's a signal. "The door locked down behind us. Can you still get inside? There was a lever next to it maybe you can reopen it and let us out." Corvic Mordacci's voice is flat and emotionless. "They are Dominion researchers."

== THE LABORATORY - EXTERIOR == Myrnica Peaceweaver takes Adessa's hand, her Nanite skin flexing. "Stay low, stay quiet," she whispers as she moves, heading for the tree. She mutters over the line at Arthur, "If I could, I would. Alas, there is...something...up here." [GM] Adessa and Myrnica manage to avoid whatever it is that is now stalking the wood. The mechari head periodically screams about dying.

== THE LABORATORY - INTERIOR == Arthur Kinlay curses, AGAIN. "Shit.. alright... damnit. Be careful we'll... figure a way out." [GM] The lab assistants, as they stand, staring the barrel down, do little more than SHRIEK when they're mowed down. Body bits everywhere. Three down. Nika Pelevin steps back fluidly with the recoil, like she's finally getting used to the new equipment she's wielding. Completely ignoring what are probably some pretty confused screams from the lab assistants, she slams back a lever and the gun resumes its screaming charging noise. Ravil Raindance grits his teeth. He puts his powerful lungs to good use. "ON THE GROUND, LEST YOU MEET THE SAME FATE AS YOUR COMRADES!" Quinn Bayhill shudders as the halls begin to look like that scene in The Shining when the elevator doors open, then tiptoes over the mess to follow up behind Nika. "Remind me not to piss you off."

== THE LABORATORY - INTERIOR == [GM] The Lab Techs hit the deck, holding their arms over their head and begging to the Scions for sweet surrender. Nika Pelevin just. Lowers her gun to shoot at the people who are now offering themselves up like free dinner, and she steps forward, completely ignoring Ravil and letting off a final shot. Corvic Mordacci steps through the gore with no sign of being disturbed. [GM] Another one bites the dust. Quinn Bayhill lets out a prissy whine. "I -just- bought these boots." She shakes off an ear from her right boot. Arthur Kinlay walks over live and dead scientist alike, visibly no more disturbed by it than the medic. Nika Pelevin turns, aiming at the final target despite literally all of her allies being in the path of her blaster fire. Her arms are shaking and she doesn't shoot right away, visibly breathing. "Kinlay, orders," she snaps. Corvic Mordacci charges up his resonators with a stunning charge and lowers them to the man, letting it off point blank. If he doesn't try to move out of the way it might zap him into unconsciousness. Quinn Bayhill SLAMS herself against the wall and inches to move NEXT to Nika. [GM] The Man does not move at all. He seizes up, and goes still. Chua down! Arthur Kinlay steps foward, peering into the nearby room. "Find a way to get the fuck out of here." Ravil Raindance isn't visibly disturbed, or terribly distraught, but he /is/ mildly disgruntled. "Had they but faced us, blade or blaster in hand..." he grumbles. Now's not the time for dissent, though. Nika Pelevin stares at the prone body that's still breathing and it is a bodily argument to turn. But one foot slides over the other, trailing blood with it, and she stalks down the corridor. [GM] Two large containers are airtight sealed. In one appears to be a fresh crop of strangely vivid necroblooms. In the other, unmistakably, a host of Strain eggs in perfect preservation. The cages across the room contain the panicked faces of a dozen human slaves. Corvic Mordacci kneels to inject the unconscious chua with something that will defintiely kill him... painlessly. Then he makes sure there are no other survivors inteh hallway. Nika Pelevin looks to her left, squinting, before she turns and goes to her right. Arthur Kinlay hurries toward the slaves' cages. "Damnit, Quinn, still got that keycard?" Quinn Bayhill nods as she digs into her bosom and pulls out the card AND the keys. "Not sure which of these will work." Arthur Kinlay: Try both, hope for the best. Corvic Mordacci pokes his head into the room the chua was standing in front of to make sure there are no captives in there. [GM]  A “patient” is strapped to the table. Judging from his fantastic lab duds this isn’t a slave, but an unfortunate lab assistant who got caught on the wrong end of an experiment. Sensory wires criss-cross his abdomen which looks bloated and uncomfortable. Quinn Bayhill smacks her lips together. "Yeeep." She attempts to look for a slot to slide the card down, and failing that, she looks for a lock to use the keys on. [GM] The Cages have an old fashioned lock. Looks like the key fits! The gates swing open. Quinn Bayhill lets out a sigh of relief. "Lucky I stole these and their pocket change!" She moves to the next cage and the next to open them all up, one after the other. "Deal with them Red!" [GM] Hissing fills the lab as the air is filled with chemical sterilizers. That can’t be good for your health. Arthur Kinlay let out a slight sigh whe nthe cage doors open. "Alright folks try to keep calm. The doors are on lockdown right now but we're looking for a way to fix this, so don't go crowding on them. We'll come back and -" He looks up at the noise. "Shiiiit... alright, everyone -down-. Stay low, just like a fire exercise, right? We're gonna fix this." Ravil Raindance coughs and splutters in surprise. "Wh-" he chokes, waving a hand before his face as if that'll disperse the toxins in the air, "What poison doth pervade this lab?" Arthur Kinlay rushes out of the room to try and find a way to stop the Dieing. Nika Pelevin doesn't even seem to notice the poison, though her breathing is coming as an angry, hissing rasp. [GM] All one hundred and fifty slaves are contained behind the electric gates. They hardly make a noise, their faces a whitewash of accepted defeat. Nearby a dutiful lab assistant keeps tick-tacking at a console, unhearing of anything around herself. Arthur Kinlay stops when he reaches Nika. "We gotta hurry, they're poisoning the air." Quinn Bayhill pulls her arm up to bury her nose into the pit of her elbow. She coughs hard and squints through watery eyes. "I better get a bonus for this shit!" Nika Pelevin doesn't need to be told a second time. She heads forward, lifting the gun, which fires off another lurid green bolt of plasma straight at the lab assistant. Corvic Mordacci is looking over the state of the man on the table when he hears the hissing. He makes a quick decision, injects the man with something that should kill his pain and keep him a bit loopy, then he attempts to free him from the table and strip off his lab coat. [GM] The Lab Assistant curls over the console from the shock of the blast. Dead. Gone. Dead. Nika Pelevin turns and just. Storms back down the hallway, because at this point in the evening she doesn't care if the slaves drown in whatever the hell they've laced this place with. "That's five," she hisses -- at Q -- when she walks by, like she's really pleased about racking up a killcount. Nika Pelevin has the mental patience to wait at the base of the stairs, though she rips her mask off and shoves the cowl down, trying to suck in air in exactly the opposite way that's going to help. [GM] Corvic's new patient makes a groaning noise, but doesn't seem to notice. His bloated belly rolls like jelly. That's not good. Ravil Raindance: "'Twill be one hundred and fifty five, if the means to shut off the gas does not soon evidence itself!" Arthur Kinlay walks over to the console where the now-dead lab guy was working, trying to find away to shut down this damn decontamination. Quinn Bayhill cough cough wheeze. She reaches up and rubs her eyes with the back of her sleeves. "Whats the word Fearless Leader?" Arthur Kinlay covers his mouth with his arm, coughing as the poison starts seeping into his lungs. "The word is try to open that fence and get these guys, and ourselves, the fuck out of here before we choke to death." Corvic Mordacci frowns at the bulbous, bloated belly. He doesn't know what that is but he doesn't suspect it's good. He abandons his 'patient' and makes to catch up with the others. Getting too sidetracked. He coughs. Arthur Kinlay abandons the hope of figuring out the details of the decontamination process and instead tries to find a way to simply open the main door to the bunker. [GM] A helpful message blinks open on the screen from his manic pounding. "Call Mother?" Nika Pelevin waits about a minute and, when she decides everyone has decided to play Goodie Two-Shoes, she hops up the stairs because they probably lead to more people to shoot. Ravil Raindance breaks into a racking fit of coughs, so violent that he needs to brace one arm against the wall to remain standing. "This bard..." He pushes himself from the wall and tries again, "...This bard had best follow after Nika." Arthur Kinlay leaves the computer, not feeling like talking to some dead labrat's mother. "Corvic, can you see if you can get these guys out of there, and get them moving? I'm gonna keep looking for a way to get out of here." Nika Pelevin growls and turns, very nearly taking Ravil's head off when she sees him, because for about two seconds he's little more than a moving target. She doesn't move. Corvic Mordacci steps up and tries his hand at opening the door closing off the bunker first.

== THE LABORATORY - EXTERIOR == Myrnica Peaceweaver presses her back against a tree, her ears twitching and straining to hear. "Do you hear anything, Little One?" Adessa Cypersong swivels her ears around, not daring to peek out from behind the tree. [GM] Just on the verge of hearing can be heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching their direction. Adessa Cypersong's ears pin back and she turns back to Myrn. "Someone is to be coming." Myrnica Peaceweaver nods her head, her hands opening and closing. "I need you to stay here. I am going to draw it out of hiding. I want you to shoot it. Do you understand?" Adessa Cypersong blinks stupidly up at Myrn. "I. I am not supposed." But she stops, because obviously Arthur isn't here to yell at her. She pulls a pistol from her jacket and nods. "Okay." Myrnica Peaceweaver Myrnica doesn't look back as she slips from around the tree, creeping with a measured pace. The nanites slowly melt off her skin and she she waits, defiantly, for the blow to come. Mm best bait. Adessa Cypersong peers through the murk at Myrn. Luckily she is very used to this sort of thing, and she catches the glint of nanoskin. She raises her good arm and shoots immediately, catching whoever it is in a hopefully fatal spot. [GM] Consieglier Morasse gets pounded by a spray of bullets. His nanite skin flickers off and his grinning face is revealed. His claws already out, he's not so easily deterred, and makes a swipe at Myrnica. [GM] Consieglier's swipe misses, but it's a near thing. Myrnica's ears duck to her head as she turns, her claws catching on the Consieglier's armored cuff and turning it aside. Adessa Cypersong's ears remain on Myrn and the man, but she raises her arm and her hand shakes. The next spell bullet goes whizzing past the man's head and into the trees nearby. Adessa Cypersong's shot, by some act of hoogdoo, grazes the guy's head. [GM] Morasse's shoulder shakes as the bullet grazes off of it. But there's no time to locate where the stealthy shooter is. His claws swing home down on Myrnica, sinking two inches past the breastplate to bite into her flesh.   Adessa Cypersong moves as quietly as she can behind one of the other trees, aiming again with a much better shot. [GM] Morasse visibly shudders as the shot solidly lodges into the armor. He makes a grizzled noise, unlodging his claws and sinking another swipe that leaves Myrnica stumbling backwards with a fresh streak of crimson down her arm. Myrnica Peaceweaver Myrnica recoils, glancing down at the fresh cut right through her fancy new armor. There's a sound of a muffled roar and she snaps forward, slamming the claws with sheer force to send the Consieglier stumbling backwards. Adessa Cypersong probably would have made her next shot if Myrn hadn't pushed the Consieglier backwards. The bullet luckily goes over Myrn's head

== THE LABORATORY - INTERIOR == Quinn Bayhill: The gates are electrified....I don't know shit about tech thingies. Ravil Raindance: "Though thine own indifference can be read plain 'pon your features, dearest Nika, this bard would still prefer his head to remain atop his shoulders." Corvic Mordacci grimaces and tries for simplly opening the electrified gate with the slaves behind it instead. Nika Pelevin bares her teeth and switches the barrel to point at Arthur, and it's about four seconds of internal struggle before she lowers the weapon. Arthur Kinlay still has one gun raises, his other arm covering his mouth. "What's in here?" Nika Pelevin: N. Nothing. Breakroom. [GM] The fence turns off. Yay! Ravil Raindance drives his psabres into the floor, using them as hooks to swing down from and survey the contents of the Mystery Hole. Quinn Bayhill: Wonderful! I'll buy you a drink as soon as I can afford it. Arthur Kinlay curses. "Wonderful. We still need to get that damned door open." Arthur Kinlay: ..Ravil? Nika Pelevin blinks at Ravil's name like she's genuinely not sure when /that/ guy got here, looking down the Mystery Hole. Ravil Raindance: "Nothing has begat /something/, so it seems! There's corridors aplenty down here." Nika Pelevin: Move over. Nika Pelevin hops down the hole when Ravil's out of the way, clenching and unclenching her fists with her weapon strapped back into its holster. Corvic Mordacci Keys up his communications and speaks to the team. "I got the gate open but we need somewhere for these people to go." [GM] Unlike the other rooms, this one smells...cleaner. Or, at least, like air is openly circulating the mires of dust and chemicals through the facility. The breeze leads to the generators and HIGHLY flammable tanks (judging from the multiple stickers) and a pair of broken air shafts that loom above, rusted down to the bolts. It doesn’t look sturdy. Nika Pelevin lifts her wrist-chron. "We're working on it." And then, to Team Searchy Findy, "Air shafts might be our best bet." Arthur Kinlay nods. "It might." Nika Pelevin lowers her hand and pauses for a couple of seconds before she makes a horrific noise. Her eyes widen and she slaps her hands back over her mouth, heaving into a series of unfriendly-sounding coughs. There's definitely vitalus-stained fluid coming up with that. IT'S PROBABLY FINE. Ravil Raindance shoots a glance over his shoulder, concerned for Nika in spite of everything. "Take heart," he murmurs softly, "we shall yet find egress from this dismal labyrinth." Corvic Mordacci lets out a few nasty sounding coughs as well. He opens the gate and tries to usher the slaves out. "This way, help the injured." Nika Pelevin keeps one hand staunchly over her mouth, closing her eyes and concentrating before opening them and following them down the corridor. Quinn Bayhill refrains from Moo-ing at the large group of people they have freed then looks to Corvic uneasily "Um...kay?" She moves to him then tilts her head. "What do I do?" Corvic Mordacci looks to Quinn. "Take the lead, find these air shafts Arthur was talking about." Arthur Kinlay peers up at the vents. He snaps his fingers. "Be right back!" He rushes back towrd the break room. Quinn Bayhill moves to the cages then looks back to Corvic and nods. "RIght..." Quinn Bayhill: Cmon people! Lets get out of here! Corvic Mordacci stays back to make sure all the slaves make it out. Ravil Raindance climbs into one of the air shafts, using his hook pswords for puchase. Nika Pelevin speaks through her fingers, calling up the air shaft. "Is it a way out?" Arthur Kinlay climbs back up to the break room then shouts out. "Nika, come over here, at the hole." Nika Pelevin hesitates, but follows Arthur's orders. Arthur Kinlay , meanwhile, goes to pick up one of the two ladders behind the couch, dragging it back to the hole. Ravil Raindance: "It is!" Quinn Bayhill moves down the corridors and grins finding the steps. "Cmon...hup two three...keep it moving!" Nika Pelevin looks up at Arthur. "He found the way out," she croaks. Quinn Bayhill: We got them out and they are heading this way. Arthur Kinlay nods, lowering the ladder into the hole. "Awesome, take that and bring it over, should help get the others out. Corvic Mordacci doesn't follow until the last of the slaves has made it out. He comes up behind them. Nika Pelevin grips the ladder with both hands, rolling to the back and keeping it steady for what she's sure is going to be an onslaught of people. Ravil Raindance weaves an espernetic length of rope, hurling it to the bottom of the air tunnel. Nika Pelevin keeps her balance on the ladder, squeezing the sides as hard as possible because it's keeping her standing. Arthur Kinlay grabs the second ladder and places it at the hole itself. "There, should be easier for the slaves to get down. Quinn Bayhill motions for the slaves to follow Arthur and waits up for Corvic. Quinn Bayhill is humming....is...IS SHE HUMMING "Im a Survivor?!" Yes...yes she is. Quinn Bayhill waits for Corvic and helps him out seeing as he looks worse off than she does now. "Cmon Doc. You are gonna be just fine." Corvic Mordacci stubbornly stays in the back, doing his best to help those who are struggling. The delay means he's stayed in the worst of the poison for too long, though and it's starting to get to him. He refuses to leave anyone who looks salvageable and encourages the others to help the ailing ones along. Quinn Bayhill grumbles and moves behind Cormax and places two hands in the small of his back and PUSHES him forward. Quinn Bayhill: DOWN YOU GO! Nika Pelevin closes her eyes as people rumble down the ladder, spacing out slightly. Corvic Mordacci lets out several ugly coughs. Quinn Bayhill is all smiles. "Cmon! Lets go Lets go! All ya'll need fresh air...now!" Quinn Bayhill , such a people person. Arthur Kinlay's only answer is muc hthe same as the others. COUGH COUGH Nika Pelevin pries her hands off the ladder and turns once the milling rush of slaves heading towards clean air dies down, keeping her hand shoved in front of her mouth and nose. Quinn Bayhill keeps on humming. [GM] Slowly, but surely all of the remaining, living slaves make it out. Ravil Raindance arranges an espernetic rope dangling from the top of the pipe to ease the traffic along.

== THE LABORATORY - EXTERIOR == [GM] For those just now joining the program, the Consieglier (Yes, the same man on the treadmill) is currently dueling blades with Myrnica. Myrnica doesn't seem to be doing too well, with one significant chunk out of her armor and another slash down her leftward arm. He, however, is now spurting blood FREELY from beneath his shoulder blades from Adessa's shots. Arthur Kinlay takes a DEEP BREATH when they finally reach the surface, and instantly regrets it as he coughs again. But hey, fresh air. Ravil Raindance raises his mask, taking deep gulps of the cold, crisp and poison-free air. Nika Pelevin heaves in air with an ugly rasp, coughing up god-only-knows-and-no-one-wants-to-know into the slush. But her senses are back about her, and that unfortunately includes the murder switch being flipped back on. She reaches for her gun and grasps it on the fourth try, pulling it in front of her. Adessa Cypersong's ears SNAP towards the bunker but then just as quickly snap back to the fight in front of her. 'Everything you hear is unimportant beyond your target' Quinn Bayhill inhales deeply and lets out the tiniest of coughs then smiles wide as she looks around. Her brow furrows seeing the state of everyone else. Her expression quickly goes to one of unease. Corvic Mordacci continues to let out wet, wracking coughs. He needs  a moment to rest and apparently hack up a lung or two when they hit clean air. He's too busy coughing to even notice the epic duel at first. Ravil Raindance conjures forth his psabres and rushes into the fray. He wisely steers clear of Nika's line of fire, closing the distance in as brisk a run as his ravaged lungs can manage. Then he veritably leaps at the consigliere, the littlest whirling dervish, spinning his blades in a balletic arc. Arthur Kinlay scans the area through red-rimmed eyes, still clearing his throat. He scowls when he takes stock of the battle ahead and, raising one pistol, let out a shot towards the consigliere. Nika Pelevin stares at the man in front of her and that's about all of the invitation she needs, running forward with her gun not to shoot him, but to club him as hard as possible with the bronze barrel of the blaster. "You're KIDDING ME," she shriek-rasps, apparently 1000% done and wanting the rest of the world to know it. Quinn Bayhill looks around then spys the fight then grins happily. Finally, something she understands. She runs full charge to try and tackle the guy..yes...using the rack as the battering ram, cause its worked so well before. Corvic Mordacci pushes himself to his feet, still coughing, and gets a grasp on the situation. He moves around in an arc so as to not get in front of the line of fire and focuses his resonator beams on the most injured looking person: Myrnica. [GM] Morasse is a sturdy, stealthy, dodgy opponent. That much is clear as he deftly ducks beneath Ravil's blades and swings to the side, nearly using Myrn as cover from Arthur's pistols. That, however, leaves him wide open when Nika comes barreling in and his skull takes an ugly looking batter. Q's hefty bosom seals the deal and he stumbles back, caught off foot for the first time. He rounds up and, with a swimming look, focuses on Nika and charges at her, blades uppercutting. Nika Pelevin slides back, sneering, and despite feeling dizzy as all hell and nauseous enough for the entire group, she lifts her gun. It starts to charge. Myrnica Peaceweaver takes the brief respite she can get, sinking onto her haunches. Her clawed hands pin beneath the mask and she literally wrenches it off her skull. Luckily, her ears are more durable than they appear and they merely fold up. A stream of blood dribbles down her chin, but Corvic's healing rays seem to put a little fire in her blood and she launches forward, blames slamming for Morasse's open back. Corvic Mordacci reminds with urgency from behind. "Nika, Friendly Fire!" Nika Pelevin sounds about as angry as is to be expected, "I can aim, I can AIM," as if she came out here to have a good time and she's feeling so attacked right now. Adessa Cypersong's ears are doing acrobatics over her head as she tries to keep her eyes and ears on her target. She shoots again, wincing as she pushes a little too hard on her bad shoulder. The spellbullet grazes the Consiglier's arm. Ravil Raindance maintains the momentum, knowing full well his lungs will kick up a fuss the instant he pauses. With his initial swing going wide, he round about and drops into a low crouch, reversing his psabres so the hooks face outward. His movements flow into a swift swipe at the Consigliere's leg, - specifically to hook into the back of his knees, to either cut or trip him. Arthur Kinlay raises both pistols, his brow furrows as he takes aim, the crowded area preventing him from going gun crazy. Nika Pelevin adjusts the tilt of her gun now that his head's out of the way of the team, and that's more than good enough for her. She lets off a shot. Corvic Mordacci is barely watching the opponent, he is watching his allies. Myrnica stilll looks the worst off so more heals for her! [GM] Morasse stumbles before Ravil's swinging blades, and that leaves him at the mercy of Nika's guns. Chunks of red and black scrap fly off, leaving a nasty and crusty looking wound. Arthur's shot hits home beneath his ribs. Oh, he ain't looking to good. But, he's not going down without a fight. He snarls, finding his last surge of energy and surges forth again, slashing for all his worth at Nika. Nika Pelevin staggers back, falling to one knee because she's seriously getting to the end of her stamina, here. She puts all of her effort in keeping the gun trained on Morasse's head. Myrnica Peaceweaver skids against the ground again, one hand pivoting her back on point. She launches forth again, her blade training to get in the fleshy bits beneath his rib cage where his armor's already peeled off. Adessa Cypersong takes a few steps out from behind the tree. She takes a single deep breath, puts both hands on the gun, and barely takes a second to aim before shooting a spellbullet straight into the Consiglier's head. Ravil Raindance: "Payment rendered in full. A fitting end to a sordid tale." [GM] The Consieglier, beneath the combined might of his foes, topples into a heap on the ground. Corvic Mordacci turns his attention to Nika next, opting for a slower but more steady energy stream. He casts an annoyed look at the dead man in the snow and coughs. Nika Pelevin responds to all of this by tipping onto her side and ending into a slumped, mostly sitting-up position with her gun laying in the snow in front of her. Quinn Bayhill shoots him in the ass anyways, cause damnit thats happening! POP! POP! Corvic Mordacci doesn't say much for the rest of the evening, he's too busy coughing and clearning his throat. But he frets over everyone and does his best to patch them up Ravil Raindance busies himself putting on an impromptu performance for the benefit of the somewhat confused and forlorn slaves. Myrnica Peaceweaver straightens up, her lungs heaving. She's certainly not bleeding anymore, but that doesn't seem to much stop her seething until she realizes the poor guy is dead. The blades SHNK home, dripping beady bloods all over the ground around her feet. Nika Pelevin curls up in the snow, because the snow is nice, and it isn't trying to poison her. Adessa Cypersong takes a few steps forward in the snow and then just drops into it, chest heaving.

[cypersong]

[REDSTAR CARTEL] In Pursuit of Freedom - Part 1

In which Team Justice frees slaves from a Chua mansion.

== THE MANSION - EXTERIOR ==

[GM] The Mansion is surprisingly intact for being owned by a prominent Chua Scientist. There are the usual nick-nacks decorating the walls and a few suspicious looking char marks that, judging by their smudged and fading appearance, some poor servant was likely assigned to clean. There is a dirt trodden path leading into a prairie behind the mansion. Arthur Kinlay furrows his brow, scanning the area. "This is a lot fancier than I'd've expected from a Critter." Myrnica Peaceweaver cracks her neck from side to side as she trots merrily through the grass, her ears smoothing back. "A little," she admits. Quinn Bayhill: Ive seen better. Nika Pelevin scowls behind her hawklike mask, remaining silent. Ravil Raindance: "Have we a plan? Forgive this bard, if you would, his lack of raiment red. Pigeonholed to a singular role is many an actor's woe. And chuakind are seldom inclined to make for an appreciative audience!" Adessa Cypersong does a good job of flicking her hair over her shoulder which is impressive because it's so short. "Ravil, I am to be fabulous enough for both of us today." Quinn Bayhill: Hope your face isn't known as a 'missing assest'. Nika Pelevin offers quietly, "It'll look much nicer when we light it on fire," as if she's already planned the arson party and woe betide the group if they forgot marshmellows so she can literally eat the flames of her hatred. Quinn Bayhill says, complete with airquotes. Myrnica Peaceweaver chuckles like this is the /very/ best joke, which it probably is to her. She turns about in the grass, peeping between the strands. "It is well fortified, but that is nothing new. They are ever paranoid, in my experience." Stopping to look back up at the party, she smiles. "What is the plan, Leader Kinlay?" Adessa Cypersong moves forward into the grass, ears poking out like little black seedlings. Quinn Bayhill looks to Arthur and nods. "Yea, Red...whats the plan?" Nika Pelevin stalks down to join Adessa, and unlike her little pupil, she's easily seen over the field. Ravil Raindance: "And so you shall, dearest Adessa! For Ravil should refrain from hogging centre stage - everyone deserves quality time, to bask 'neath the limelight." Adessa Cypersong tuts at Ravil. "I am to be -always- center stage." Arthur Kinlay stares at the house, then at the empty landing pad. "Hrm... if we can take over that mansion quickly enough, we might be able to secure the place before the shipment arrives. If they notice something's wrong they might decide to turn the ship around." Arthur Kinlay looks at Nika. "Thought?" Nika Pelevin glances over at Arthur -- at least, her masked face turns towards him, giving him attention. "The sooner we dispatch whoever is inside, the better our odds become at securing the ship. If they are able to send off an SOS, we will have to leave -- cargo or no cargo." She pauses. "Captives," she says shortly, correcting herself. Myrnica Peaceweaver claps her hands together, just once. The nanites swarm over her skin, blending her into her environment neatly. "Quick and quiet, it is! Like the stinging viper. I like it!" Arthur Kinlay nods. "Keep an eye out for any sort of alarm system. Don't let anyone reach for a console." Quinn Bayhill: Chop hands. Gotcha. Nika Pelevin: If they lift their communicator, aim for their wrist. Nika Pelevin nods at Q. Ravil Raindance: "Swift and sure shall Ravil be, but silent only by necessity." Arthur Kinlay: Alternatively, the heads. Quinn Bayhill: Hell, if you can hit'm in the head first, that would really be best. [GM] There are several sensors equipped to the perimeter of the gates, and a large peeping eye camera twitches from the front door to across the grounds. Doesn’t look like there’s a safe way to just stroll past the camera. Arthur Kinlay clicks his tongue. "Those cameras' are an issue." Nika Pelevin sidesteps next to Arthur and points -- once she's s Myrnica Peaceweaver snaps her head sharply to the side, her fingers pressing to itch at her scalp. "Cameras?" she asks, following Arthur's gaze. She makes a little 'ah-ahhh' noise. "So they will be." Nika Pelevin sidesteps next to Arthur, pointing at the cameras, the small silver boxes that represent the invisible tripwire system. "There'll be no strolling in unless we deactivate those." Quinn Bayhill: Anyway to take'm out from here? Myrnica Peaceweaver clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth as she looks between the gates. "It is not so impossible, I think, if you are deft of foot and inclined to keeping to the shadows." She pauses, looking back at the group. "....Which might be problematic for you all." Nika Pelevin: I leave sneaking to those without firepower. Adessa Cypersong pins her ears back and glares at Nika. "Not fair." Myrnica Peaceweaver: Do not be so cruel, Warrior Nika. You may be both...if you are talented. Quinn Bayhill: I would suggest just shooting them from here...but chances are they are rigged to alert someone if that was gonna happen. Nika Pelevin shrugs at both Myrnica and Adessa. Nika Pelevin: Agreed, Q. Ravil Raindance: "'Tis a most perilous plan you propose, sweetest Myrnica! But if so inclined you are, sweet Myrnica, to tapdance so 'pon heated coals, then know this bard shall diligently follow your every footfall." Nika Pelevin sighs as quietly as she can manage. Quinn Bayhill: Get a room you two. Nika Pelevin: Can the Jabbits remotely deactivate the cameras? I have no head for sneaking around wirelessly. Arthur Kinlay stares flatly at Myrn and Ravil. "...I assume they will after this is done." Myrnica Peaceweaver chuckles haughtily to herself, her pride stroked. "Perilous plans are ever the ones I dabble in, Ravil." She pauses considerably, drawing a look from the safety of her nanite stealth at Arthur. "I fail to see what a room has to do with this mission, but very well." Adessa Cypersong says nothing, picking at some stray strings on her sleeves. "Maybe, I am to be contacting them for us." Arthur Kinlay nods to Adessa. "Give it a shot." Adessa Cypersong puts a hand out for his chron. Adessa Cypersong: Okeee. Nika Pelevin keeps her eyes on the mansion's weeble-wobbling cameras, flexing her hands into fists and relaxing them, curling and relaxing. Myrnica Peaceweaver: If your companions yet fail, I have no qualms with walking into the maw of the beast. At the very least, I may be able to locate the...the wires that give them...the...the juice. Ravil Raindance: "This bard knows little and less of chua contrivances - might these prying eyes be averted from us, should a singularly interesting sight elsewhere emerge?" Myrnica Peaceweaver bobs her head, unseen, in agreeance with Ravil. Adessa Cypersong: ... Distraction, this is to be a good thing. Ravil Raindance: "Mayhap this bard could borrow briefly a datachron?" Adessa Cypersong: Maybe if someone, they is to be distracting, and then everyone is to be going in? Or, to be finding another way in than the front? Quinn Bayhill digs into a pocket and pulls out her chron and holds it out. "Dont break it. Its not mine." Ravil Raindance: "Many thanks." Ravil Raindance takes the device gingerly. He sets about hoogle image searching 'Chua face' and, after a few moments browsing the results, selects a decent photographic portrait of some miscallaneous DRED scientist. He stares for a time, commiting the image to memory. Handing the 'chron back, Ravil closes his eyes and focuses. Espernetic wisps weave and coalesce, giving form to a squat, pudgy shape that, layer by layer, takes on detail and substance. "That such a frightful image must be Ravil Raindance graven deep into memory!" Ravil laments. Nika Pelevin sighs. Louder this time. Quinn Bayhill blinks at Ravil as she takes her datachron back then tucks it away. "That is such an interesting use of that ability." Myrnica Peaceweaver makes a delighted little noise. "Very good! Ravil, the stage is, as ever, yours." Ravil Raindance presents the chua-construct with a dramatic flourish. It responds by doing a merry little jig. " "Behold - a new actor for our production. This bard hereby dubs him Pazco." Corvic Mordacci arrives just in time to see the chua illusion form, which is good, otherwise he'd have been very confused. He stares at it as he walks up. "Impressive." Arthur Kinlay blinks slowly at Ravil.... and Pazco. "....wow." Nika Pelevin stares flatly at Pazco as if she wishes she could punt him like a furry football right through the twin Dominion banners acting like a goalpost. Myrnica Peaceweaver cuts a look from her nanite stealth to Corvic. "Another joins our merry party!" She sounds every bit as delighted as you can imagine, complete with C: face. Nika Pelevin mutters to herself and resumes eying the mansion. Adessa Cypersong tilts her head at Pazco. "... Oh. How we is to be using it, then?" Ravil Raindance: "How else did you suppose this bard, for want of a troupe, performed his plays?" Myrnica Peaceweaver: As a distraction, dear Medicine Woman. Arthur Kinlay nods at Corvic. "Thanks for comming." Corvic Mordacci nods to Arthur. "Of course." And eyes the spot of air where a voice is coming from. Adessa Cypersong blinks and seems much more interested in Corvic, grinning and waving from the grass. "Hi Doctor Corvic!" Ravil Raindance: "Pazco shall steer wayward yonder prying eyes - seize attention he shall, weaving in his wake a meandering thread to follow, without causing undue alarum." Ravil Raindance scrunches his brow in concentration, walking the chua-construct forward. Corvic Mordacci nods to Adessa, sneaking a look at her arm as he does so. There is extra tight pinch around the corners of his mouth of worry but he doesn't say anything. Ravil Raindance: " Nika Pelevin closes her eyes and patiently counts to ten. The glow illuminating the eye-slits on her hawklike mask wink out until she opens her eyes again, breathing out through her teeth. "Please put on your best act," she says at Ravil's back reluctantly. Myrnica Peaceweaver slithers forward deftly, leaving behind a quiet hush as she weaves around the grass. She stops before the gates, mindful of the sensors. Quinn Bayhill mutters under her breath. "Were all gonna die out here." Ravil Raindance follows behind Myrnica. His attention is elsewhere, so he trusts her footfalls. Nika Pelevin: You might. Nika Pelevin says it in a monotone. Rude. Myrnica Peaceweaver: Nonsense. We are destined for greater battles, no? Quinn Bayhill nods to herself. "Yes..I might." [GM] The Camera is seduced. No, but really, The Camera follows the path of the Chua with INTENSE interest. What is this funny little thing doing walking around the grounds? Corvic Mordacci's yellow eyes turn to Quinn. "A possibility I will do my best to prevent." Quinn Bayhill looks to Corvic. "Well ain't you a peach? Ya got my thanks for that." Adessa Cypersong darts forward into the deeper grass. Arthur Kinlay blinks slowly again. "Well bite me... it worked. Better get moving folks." Ravil Raindance has the chua pause and gaze warily about, as if lost and confused. This is to cause the cameras to remain still for long enough, hopefully, for the group to gather underneath it's blind spot. Quinn Bayhill refrains from biting him. Arthur Kinlay is thankful for that. Nika Pelevin stalks after Adessa, about a millionty times less sneaky and likely not giving a goddamn about it. Corvic Mordacci moves through the grass, trying to -reduce- the crunching but he has no skill for stealth. Myrnica Peaceweaver wraps the edge of her tail around Ravil's wrist like the very best seeing eye...aurin. "Be mindful, they are fond of explosives." And with that, she slithers forward. Adessa Cypersong is, luckily for the mordesh, QUITE stealthy. She sneaks past the gates and towards the house. Ravil Raindance gazes about, notes everyone's in place, and strategically paces Pazco back and forth, covering their approach. Myrnica Peaceweaver cranes her head up to look at the camera. "Shall I knock?" Nika Pelevin presses up against the wall, at least as close as her musketlike weapon-of-choice will allow her to be. "If we're confident enough to take out whoever answers, yes," she says quietly. Myrnica Peaceweaver chuckles. "I am always ready to 'take out' enemies, Warrior Nika. Fret not." Arthur Kinlay walks up to the door while the camera is still distracted. "Lemme take a look first." [GM] The Door is HELLA locked. Arthur Kinlay carefully tests the door. "Come around, maybe we can get the jump on them rather than have them come to us." Adessa Cypersong scoots on up and give Arthur a -look- Nika Pelevin waits for the telltale tumbler clicking, back to flexing her hands repeatedly into fists. Arthur Kinlay carefully tests the door, fidgeting with the lock. "...the hell do chua's lock their doors with." Myrnica Peaceweaver: Carbon rods and many lasers, Leader Kinlay. Quinn Bayhill: Locks? Adessa Cypersong puts a gentle hand on his arm and slowly pushes. No, baby. No. Shhh. Arthur Kinlay raises his brow at Adessa. "huh uh..." Adessa Cypersong pins her ears back and glares at the lock like it should have the common decency to open before greatness. Myrnica Peaceweaver unlaces her tail from around Ravil's arm and LEAPS up to hook a hold on the outcropping above herself. She strong-arms herself up to look at Arthur and Adessa. "Perhaps there is another entrance?" Adessa Cypersong: Mmm. A door in the back? Arthur Kinlay: Can you take a look around? Nika Pelevin: I hope so. I'm give seconds away from blasting a hole in the door. Nika Pelevin: That solves the necessity for locks. Adessa Cypersong: ... Nika. Myrnica Peaceweaver: This I can do! Nika Pelevin: I am not wrong, Adessa. Ravil Raindance: "Does the dread portal yet hold fast 'gainst your thieving wiles?" Adessa Cypersong thinks about this quietly for a second. Quinn Bayhill looks to Nika and smiles. She is a goddess of death. Adessa Cypersong: ... You are not to be. Corvic Mordacci just waits, and listens, pressed up against the wall. Nika Pelevin stares straight ahead and now her hands are definitely remaining curled into fists, that's probably a good sign. "Please find another entrance." Myrnica Peaceweaver leaps nimbly off to land with an unexpectedly heavy THUD in front of Corvic. The Nanites shift and bubble and she moves, disappearing into the grass. Corvic Mordacci jumps slightly at the unexpected thud next to him and his eyes try to follow the direction of the shifting nanites but he quickly loses sight of them. He gently nudges Quinn in the back. "Who is our concealed companion?" Adessa Cypersong wiggles the stupid lock and peers down at it. "... Chua, they is to be so stupid. How they is doing this thing." Ravil Raindance: "Alas! This bard bids you hurry, for poor Pazco's sake. For he is gripped in the throes of stagefright most fierce, and under such scrutiny, shall soon unravel!" Quinn Bayhill leans her head waaaay back and looks to Corvic upside down. "Thats Ravil's ladyfriend." Corvic Mordacci blinks down at Quinn's upside-down face. "Aah... I see." Nika Pelevin pauses. Her mask jerks down in the direction of Ravil, "Was that a pun." Myrnica Peaceweaver pops her head around the corner of the wall to peer down at Adessa and Arthur. "Companions!" she hisses a whisper. "There are windows a plenty and a...device." Adessa Cypersong perks her ears up at Myrnica. "... Oooh. Windows." Adessa Cypersong: I am to be better with the windows! Ravil Raindance: If 'twas not before, dearest Nika, it is now." Nika Pelevin starts to growl. Quinn Bayhill turns and looks up at Corvic. "Red thinks they are gonna get a room after this." Corvic Mordacci's shoulder make an involunatry cringe at the mention of windows. Adessa Cypersong scrambles up on the wall towards Myrnica. Adessa Cypersong turns back and arp-chirps at the rest of them. Myrnica Peaceweaver offers out her hand for Adessa to take. The nanites shift voluntarily, giving away the gleam of her blue bla blue hand. Nika Pelevin creeps away from Ravil for his sake, following the arping. Ravil Raindance: "Many a night have we spent with nought but star-speckled sky above our heads, and shadowed undergrowth for a bed. A room, Quinn, is but a formality!" Adessa Cypersong snickers. Nika Pelevin hups onto the railing, eying the tight squeeze as if she's personally adverse to it. "Open the window first." Adessa Cypersong: Workings on this thing! Corvic Mordacci follows along behind, climbing up architecture slowly and with 0 grace. Quinn Bayhill looks down at Ravil. "but then everyone would see, and bugs would bite at the bits" She mutters lightly cause they are supposed to be sneaking after all. "Just saying, rooms are nice." [GM] The window eases with an oiled precision. No one appears to be hanging around this part of the mansion. A glaring red shield blocks any further progress, but there looks to be a promising lever. Ravil Raindance: "'Tis time for Pazco to bid us adieu! Go forth, dearest mind-companion, content in the knowledge that your career, however fleeting, shall not soon be forgotten!" Adessa Cypersong peeks through the window and waves a hand back at the others. Myrnica Peaceweaver: Perhaps you wish not to forget him, but I do so. It is the ugliest projection you have made yet. Nika Pelevin snorts. Ravil Raindance compels the chua-construct to throw an epic tantrum of cozmotronic proportions and stomp bewilderedly out of the compound. Once out of view... Ravil Raindance: "Then mayhap you might more readily appreciate /this/ sight, sweet Myrnica. A spectacle, just for you!" Ravil Raindance snaps his fingers and Pazco silently /explodes/.

== THE MANSION - INTERIOR == Myrnica Peaceweaver trills an amused little laugh before she slips in through the door and onto the ground. The nanites dissolve, revealing the Warden. Nika Pelevin squeezes herself into the furthest corner from the rest of the crew as she can once she's through the window, her mask's eyes marking where she actually is. Adessa Cypersong hops down onto the floor and immediately makes for the potted plant, crouching behind it. Corvic Mordacci takes a moment to get his first real look at Myrnica before sweeping his eyes over the room. He curls his hand into a fist and presses it to his mouth, surpresssing a cough. Myrnica Peaceweaver positively beams up at Corvic. "It is good to meet you, Tall One." Ravil Raindance catapults himself acrobatically through the window-frame, landing in a quiet, splay-limbed crouch. But once he picks himself up, he sways, as if overcome by a sudden dizzy spell. One hand shoots out to seize the wall - and the other to his temples. Arthur Kinlay peers around the room once everyone sneaked their way into the house. "Seems clear for now... Entrance is over there... another door back there, and that shield." Corvic Mordacci gives a nod of acknowledgment to Myrnica before looing to Ravil with concern. He moves over and murmurs, quiet. "Simple cerebral strain?" Myrnica Peaceweaver side-steps to the side to lend her literal shoulder for Ravil to take if he pleases. "Already you weaken so? Where is the fierce little warrior that may produce multiples at whim, hm?" she teases. Myrnica Peaceweaver: Leader Kinlay, which way should we pursue? Nika Pelevin looks over at Arthur. Adessa Cypersong digs around in a little side pouch and produces a silver looking face cover. She ditches her hat and instead puts on the facemask. Ravil Raindance: "'Fret not for Ravil's sake; he needs but a moment backstage before once more springing to the fore. Though versed is he in rendering material the immaterial, never before has he attempted chua. The face, the movements, the manner - 'tis a world of difference!" Nika Pelevin resumes the growling grunt sound she makes whenever Ravil starts talking, looking over into the deserted dining room. Arthur Kinlay wrinkles his nose. "Shielded door usually means something important's behind... though we should make sure the entire area is clear too. Don't want extras to cut us off when we leave." Corvic Mordacci simply gives another nod, trying to keep talking to a minimum. He too, looks to Arthur. Myrnica Peaceweaver: Might I suggest we split? We may cover more ground before the ship grows near. Ravil Raindance favours Myrn with a brilliant, mischevious smile. "And when last he rendered resplendent his multiples, 'twere for reasons by far more enjoyable!" Nika Pelevin keeps her voice low and quiet, "That might be the best way to proceed." Myrnica Peaceweaver tut-tuts at Ravil with a click of her tongue, although she manages the smallest smile. Arthur Kinlay nods and motions toward the door at the far end of the dining room. Ravil Raindance offers Myrn an impulsive little kiss to the nose, before withdrawing a theatrical mask from his tunic and setting it over his features. Myrnica Peaceweaver follows everyone else's lead of trading out masks. She pulls out the Most Awful looking mask imaginable and clicks it around her head....after stuffing her considerable mane of hair into it. Ravil Raindance: "What think you, dearest Myrnica? Shall this grim visage spear the hearts of chuakind with dread - to be followed soon, mayhap, by his blades?" Nika Pelevin slides around the wall to join Arthur, scowling to herself. Adessa Cypersong starts trying to talk to Myrnica through the mask, but it's no good. She just nods instead and puts up two fingers. Myrnica Peaceweaver looks down at Ravil, suddenly so /very/ glad she's wearing a mask. The glowing lights don't even blink. "....Y-ess," she says cautiously. "...It is....most terrifying. Ah! But they move!" And she flutters forward. Arthur Kinlay leans close against the wall by the side of the door, so as to be in partial cover when it opens, then presses his ear against it, trying to discern any noise from the other side. [GM] Arthur hears the distinct sound of two voices chatting amongst themselves on the other side of the door. The smell is that of a Roast /something/. One is close to the door, another farther away. Arthur Kinlay glances over his shoulder at Nike, raising two fingers. Myrnica Peaceweaver slips into the next room, one hand lifting to motion Quinn to follow. Ohh, a techy something! Nika Pelevin nods, pulling her musketlike blaster from her back. Quinn Bayhill eyes the table and reaches out to swipe one of the forks. Arthur Kinlay moves over to the other side of the door, not wanting to be in Nika's line of fire. Nika Pelevin slides in front of the rest of the group, waiting. Adessa Cypersong stares down at the table and swipes one of the smaller plates. She slides over to Quinn and nudges her in the back, offering the plate. Ravil Raindance nimbly clambers atop the cabinet. He remains in a low crouch, poised to spring. Arthur Kinlay takes a last glance at the crowd behind him before noding to himself, then he takes a hold of the doorknob and very lightly tests it. Quinn Bayhill takes the fork and in proper Q fashion, cleavages it then looks to Dessa and takes the plate. "Thank ya." Quinn Bayhill slips the plate over her stomach like a bit of armor. [GM] The door is unlocked and opens easily. Arthur Kinlay keeps one pistol at the ready and tires his best to open the door on his side quietly, hopefully giving Nika a shot before whoever's inside can react. [GM] The carrot peeler (and yes, they are the squirming variety) pauses when the door opens. He stares wide-eyed at the occupants on the other end before giving a YELP of alarm. "We ent done nothing!" Nika Pelevin slides in front of the open the door Arthur's open, her blaster pointed in front of her with the barrel glowing a malevolent off-green -- but not actually coughing flack into the faces of the poor carrot peeler who was probably ten days away from retirement. "Arthur, orders," she hisses, like she's already decided that painting the wall red's the better option. Arthur Kinlay quickly steps inside, looking for the second occupant of the room when the first out yelps, guns raised. "Bind and gag them... we're not here to murder servants, but we don't need a panic either." Nika Pelevin glowers and makes room for people who can actually bind and gag said servants. She doesn't lower her blaster. The glowing and whining doesn't stop. Ravil Raindance hisses in a low voice, "Stay your arms, insists this bard! Labouring so at the behest of a chua is surely torment enough." Nika Pelevin still doesn't lower her blaster. In fact, she raises it a little. [GM] The Cook turns around from his stove when his buddy yelps. The soup spoon clatters to the ground and he throws his arms in the air. "Don't shoot!" he says, and the Carrot Peeler mimicks it with a "Yeah, what he said!" Ravil Raindance: "Myrnica is adroit with knots. This much, Ravil can attest." Nika Pelevin: I'm ten seconds away from becoming a turncoat, bard. Nika Pelevin repeats it, "Ten. Seconds." Adessa Cypersong peeks her head around the door and raises her eyebrows at the poor carrot. Myrnica Peaceweaver pops her head around the corner of the room, the Nanites melting again. "I was the champion of Knot-Tying in my tribe's graduating class." She says, brightly. "Also, there is a computer. Thingy. Over here." Arthur Kinlay nods at the cook. "Both of you, back in that corner and get on your knees, hands behind your back and face the wall. Don't do anything stupid and nothing'll happen to you." Adessa Cypersong stomps forward and pins her ears back at CarrotTop. She swipes the poor Carrot from his hands. [GM] The Guards nod and stand up, shuffling with their hands in the air to the corner of the room. They lower onto their knees and compliantly fold their hands behind their backs, exposed. Ravil Raindance: "Fly now to freedom, dear veggie friends! And fear ye not - thy butchered and basted kin, we shall avenge!" Nika Pelevin closes her eyes. The glowing eyelets of her mask wink out. Myrnica Peaceweaver hums the merriest tune, the sound ringing from behind the mask, as she steps up to the cooks. She pulls a length of standard FCON black cord from some compartment somewhere and sets to tying. Arthur Kinlay mumbles quietly. Arthur Kinlay glances over at Nika and rolls his eyes. Myrnica Peaceweaver: The clock yet draws nearer the hour. We best move, yes, Leader Kinlay? Nika Pelevin upnods the barrel of her gun to Arthur as if to say DO YOU SEE WHAT I PUT UP WITH in the quietest, less violent way than her mind's suggesting. Arthur Kinlay nods. "Yes. Make sure they're secure then everyone back to the shield. Close the door behind. We'll come back to free these two afyer." Adessa Cypersong looks over to Arthur and Nika and triumphantly holds up the carrot. First slave RESCUED. Ravil Raindance beams at Adessa's triumph from behind his mask. Nika Pelevin stares at Adessa like a malevolent statue before nodding at Adessa. Yes, pupil. Good show. Adessa Cypersong scoots out of the room and back to the safety of the potted plant. Myrnica Peaceweaver nods once, absolute, as she secures the cooks bonds. "Do not worry," she tells them in a soothing, metallic sing-song voice that takes the soothe out of it. She waits till everyone is out of the room to GRAB them manfully by the wrists and direct them to sit by the stove. Myrnica Peaceweaver quietly shuts the door behind herself, beaming up at Nika. "You look terrifying, Warrior Nika." Nika Pelevin: I am terrifying, Warden. Myrnica Peaceweaver: I like it! It lends you a certain air of authority. Nika Pelevin slings her still-charged blaster back into its holster, rolling her shoulders. Nika Pelevin: That is the goal. Arthur Kinlay motions for the group to come along. "Let's keep moving folks." Nika Pelevin: How do we deactivate the field, Kinlay? Myrnica Peaceweaver makes a distinct, ringing HMMN! noise as she skimpers after. [GM] There is a lever on the wall. Adessa Cypersong points to the lever. Durr? Nika Pelevin looks down at Dessa, "Will that activate an alarm?" Quinn Bayhill eyes the table again and moves the ash hen to seat it in one of the chairs before looking back towards the group. Ravil Raindance: "Though this bard knows little and less of such contraptions, 'twould surely rob the blazing barrier of it's purpose to place the lever on the /outside/, no? Methinks 'tis a trap!" Myrnica Peaceweaver: 'Least it is meant to keep something inside, Dearest Heart. Myrnica Peaceweaver studies the field, scaling a look up and down with a slow and methodical studying motion. Ravil Raindance: "But who lurketh beyond the threshold, if not the masters of this demesne? For we have seen neither hide nor hair of any chua, beyond that dredged from the depths of this bard's imagination." Arthur Kinlay looks all over the shield and the surrounding walls. "Well.. unless you can find some other way to disable it... don't see that we have much choice." Nika Pelevin: We're in for a firefight no matter what we choose. Myrnica Peaceweaver chuckles as she hunkers low, ears smoothing over the gleaming metal cap. The nanites wash over her once more. Arthur Kinlay nods. "Better end it quickly then, before the ship arrives." He reaches for the level and pulls it down. [GM] The barrier flickers, glows, and dies. No alarms. No sounds. That's it. Adessa Cypersong pats Arthur on the arm as she walks into the stairwell. Yes. Very good. So smart. Nika Pelevin raises an eyebrow behind her mask, ducking out of instinct for a blow that never comes. Ravil Raindance: "'Twas a mite anticlimatical, Ravil feels." Quinn Bayhill: Not over yet Nika Pelevin: You would. Myrnica Peaceweaver: Merely a lull, methinks. Arthur Kinlay repeats the earlier process, pressing his ear against the door. "Watch the stairs.." [GM] It is dead silent behind the door. Ravil Raindance accompanies Adessa in ascending the stairwell. Adessa Cypersong walks stealthily up the stairs and starts crawling on all fours near the top, peeking her head over the top stair. Her ears set aswivel and she turns back to the rest of the group, Carrot still under her arm. Nika Pelevin remains at the base of the stairs, tensing. Arthur Kinlay frowns and pushes the door open to peer inside. Ravil Raindance doesn't yet conjure forth his espernetic armament as he furtively approaches the top of the stairs - they tend to be plainly obvious in shadow, wreathed in an eldritch glow - but the bard's deliberate manner suggests he's tensed and poised to spring. [GM] There is nothing but another empty hallway past the door. [GM] The sound of someone humming carries from the other room with a rhythmic swish-swish. It’s a towering mechari maid, and he’s apparently been assigned to polishing the floor. She doesn’t look to be particularly good at the job. Arthur Kinlay closes the door again and motions up the stairs. Myrnica Peaceweaver slowly creeps up after Adessa and Ravil, completely silent with measured foot steps. Adessa Cypersong waves one arm down the stairs. She puts Carrot down for a second and puts up one finger, then mimicks sweeping. Her ears remain in the direction of the other room. Corvic Mordacci has been quietly hanging back, just watching and waiting this whole time. Ravil Raindance peeks around the corner. Is the mechari armed? Nika Pelevin creeps up the stairs as quietly as she can, and as she's not decked out in a platemail regalia anymore, it's actually pretty silent. Myrnica Peaceweaver whispers from the safety of her mask, "What do your bardic eyes see?" Ravil Raindance whispers back, "A bumbling machine-effigy." Of course, the rhyme is deliberate. Quinn Bayhill: I guess....we go up too? Myrnica Peaceweaver tenses, the ridge along her tail rising distinctly. "Shall I sever its head from its body, Leader Kinlay?" Nika Pelevin mutters, "My vote is yes." Adessa Cypersong scoops Carrot back up under her arm again. Corvic Mordacci comes up the stairs very... very slowly. Placing one foot down, then shifting his weight, then placing the other. Yet somehow he still manages to make a few creaks. He winces with each one. Ravil Raindance draws his hands to his hips and makes surreptiious unsheathing motions. His psabres dutiful manifest, inch by inch. "Nay, sweet Myrnica. Mayhap 'twould be better to prise truthful answers from it's mouth 'fore shearing head from shoulders?" Myrnica Peaceweaver: It is fully capable of speech without its body, Dear Ravil. Corvic Mordacci murmurs. "This is true." Ravil Raindance: "...It /is/?" Nika Pelevin: They're automatons. Arthur Kinlay sucks his teeth. "The fun part of Mecharis, go right ahead." Quinn Bayhill glances back at Cormax. Such a sweet tall thing. At least he's trying. Myrnica Peaceweaver nods her head once. "It is indeed." She slithers from around Nika's legs and perches herself around the corner. "Shall I?" Corvic Mordacci: Yes. With haste. Myrnica Peaceweaver dutifully creeps forward after the Mechari, the blades sliding smoothly with nary a sound. She inches ever closer, sucking in the tiniest breath before leaping ON its back, her claws smoothly shearing through its neck tubes in one slice. Pitter-patter goes its head across the ground, body falling lifelessly. Ravil Raindance: "Automaton it may be, mere silver'd steel mimickry... But whence come the words, if not the likeness of lungs?" Nika Pelevin: A processor. Nika Pelevin: Machines don't need air to speak. Corvic Mordacci unclips his resonators and slides his back along the wall, inching along for a peek down the hallway. Adessa Cypersong steps over the head and walks the length of the room, peering at and touching -everything-. Myrnica Peaceweaver flexes her arms, the blades retracting and flicking excess oil onto the ground. She tramples over the body and kneels down to heft the head up. The Mechari makes an annoyed sound like this is every day fare. Arthur Kinlay mutters under his breath. "Can we please leave the misteries of Mechari physiology for later?" Corvic Mordacci slides until he comes up on some thing with buttons. A control panel perhaps. He turns to look at it, trying to discern what it is. [GM] The console appears to need a keycard of some sort to be operated. Overhead there appears to be a retracted staircase to a sealed doorway. Even with the lights cut, the little lights beep merrily. Myrnica Peaceweaver: Do you wish to converse with it, or shall I crack its skull, Leader Kinlay? Nika Pelevin stares at the back of Ravil's head, quietly wishing he didn't have lungs, before she sidesteps around him and into the room proper. Corvic Mordacci glances up at the retracted staircase, then back at the panel. He just lets out a low hummm. Ravil Raindance: "O Deadliest of the Deep Woods, 'tis ever a pleasure to watch you dance!" Myrnica Peaceweaver's tail swishes with a pleased little arch to being complimented. Yes, she is this thing. Arthur Kinlay sniffs. "Don't frankly have anything to ask of 'em." He follow's Corvic's eyes, looking at the panel, then the stairs. Ravil Raindance: "This bard wishes to parlay." Myrnica Peaceweaver: With the Head? Ravil Raindance: "Aye." Myrnica Peaceweaver shrugs up her shoulder and holds it out in front of herself for Ravil to talk to. The Mechari stares at Ravil. "What." Nika Pelevin: If it starts screaming, I'm shooting it. Corvic Mordacci: Hmhm... Arthur.. we have some sort of exit here. *Corvic points out the control panel and the retracted stairs.* Arthur Kinlay takes a closer look at the pad and nods. "See if he has a keycard or something the like." Ravil Raindance scoops up the head and holds it aloft in classic Hamlet pose. Of course he does. "O Head-Bereft-Of-Body, pray tell us - wherefore lurketh thine masters? Into what furtive nook, which crepuscular cranny, have they crammed themselves?" Corvic Mordacci steps over to the fallen maid's body and searches for a keycard. [GM] The mechari rolls its eyes before focusing. Its mouth falls open and it chatters off, deadpan, "I would prefer you kill me. If you're asking where the--" It seems to glitch out, twitching, before continuing "--he left." [GM] There is no keycard on the body. Nika Pelevin watches this, squinting. Well, that's terrible. Adessa Cypersong cups her hands on the glass case and stares into it. MINE MINE MINE. Ravil Raindance: "Left? But is there not a shipment of slaves in-bound?" Corvic Mordacci: No keycard here. Maybe Nika can take a look at it Nika Pelevin looks away from the most maudlin conversation ever when her name's mentioned. [GM] The Mechari seems to consider this for a moment. Although it has no means to, its eyes roll back as if motioning to the door. "Slaves we are, but no. Not here. He keeps them in his lab." Corvic Mordacci steps over the body to the other door in the room in the meantime and gently presses against it with splayed fingertips, testing to see if its open. [GM] The door pushes open effortlessly. Nika Pelevin jerks in place when the door opens. "Careful--" [GM] The Master bedroom is nothing to shake a stick at. In fact, with the exception of the persistent scent of something burning it’d appear no one actually slept in these rooms at all. A large metal shield set on a rolling track is attached to the wall. Ravil Raindance: "And where might this dread laboratory be found? What path might an intrepid slave-seeker follow to find it?" Corvic Mordacci: It appears to be the bedchamber. Adessa Cypersong peeks through the door from behind Corvic, and when she sees no one is inside she enters and resumes touching EVERYTHING. Nika Pelevin sighs after Adessa. "Do not take anything." Quinn Bayhill takes the books. Shes getting paid SOMEHOW for this job. [GM] The Mechari says, "I don't know. He's not nearly that dumb, although you could question his morality plenty." Arthur Kinlay wrinkles his nose. "Adessa!" He keeps his voice relatively low. Nika Pelevin gingerly steps over the pumera-skinned rug to try and stop Dessa from getting her mitts on everything. "Stop. This isn't yours." Adessa Cypersong puts her hands on her hips and eyes the pumera rug, tilting her head side to side like she's weighing options. She looks over at Arthur when he calls her. Corvic Mordacci eyes the shield on a track, trying to understand what it's for. Arthur Kinlay waves around. "Be careful... now's not the time to just touch everything." Nika Pelevin: It's covered in chua. You don't want it. Quinn Bayhill looks at the chairs and digs into the cushions for loose change. Ravil Raindance cants his head to one side. "Though you have proven a more helpful severed head than most in recent memory, this bard ne'ertheless finds thine answers sorely wanting! Surely you have little love and less for your master - surely there is something of import you might share?" [GM] Q finds twenty gold pieces and a shiny button. Adessa Cypersong sits on the edge of the bed, eyeing that rug. Quinn Bayhill pockets the find and smiles happily. Not a bad job so far. Nika Pelevin sighs at Adessa and gives up on this entirely, lifting both hands and returning to the one-aurin one-mechari puppet show. [GM] The Mechari makes the equivalent of a sigh. It's somewhat unsettling without lungs or shoulders to heave. "Look, guy. I do not love -- " And it glitches again, twitching madly, "-- But there's nothing much I can tell you....I mean, unless you wanna check upstairs. No one's allowed up there." Quinn Bayhill digs into the other couch! Cmon momma needs ramen noodles! [GM] Without a doubt, this is the scientist’s workspace. A grimy layer of burnt dust seems to have settled on various spots where grubby little fingerprints aren’t present. A keycard is stuck into a console on the desk. [GM] roll perception q Adessa Cypersong sneaks into the room and looks around, touching everything. She easily swipes the keycard from the console. [GM] Quinn finds a spare keycard and the keys to. Something. Quinn Bayhill pulls out her awesome find. "Hey...so.....someone need a key card?" She keeps the keys and BAM down the cleavage they go for now.' Nika Pelevin nods at Q. "Try it." Corvic Mordacci turns at the words 'key card' He holds out a hand. "If you could retrieve that..." Arthur Kinlay follows Adessa and sigh when she starts touching all the things again. His brow raises at the keycard. "That might be what opens the door. Let's go back over there." Ravil Raindance: "Many thanks and more." [GM] The Mechari mutters, "Please just kill me now." Ravil Raindance peers around. "Does anyone desire a talking head? 'Twould make for an interesting..." Ravil Raindance adjusts his mask. Quinn Bayhill moves to the door. "Righto..." Adessa Cypersong pulls the mask down around her neck. "Artur, I am to be wearing -gloves-." she says as if everything is totally fine. Ravil Raindance: "...Conversation piece." Myrnica Peaceweaver makes a disinterested noise as she takes off, trodding over the body and grinding her heel into its back in the process. Quinn Bayhill hrms before she tries the card at the door thingie. "And...." She SWIPES it and... [GM] The console beeps merrily once and the stairs descend, perfectly oiled and soundless, to meet flush against the floor. The door above unlocks with a pressurized hiss. Ravil Raindance makes himself a little robo-head papoose from readily available materials at hand. Quinn Bayhill: Tada! Magic! Myrnica Peaceweaver: Well done, Hunter Q! Quinn Bayhill keeps the key card, just in case and WHOOOP down the cleavage it goes. It really is like a magic trick how she keeps so much there. Adessa Cypersong stands at the bottom of the stairs and listens up to the next floor. [GM] There is a strange humming heard. Myrnica Peaceweaver considers the mechari head. "I do recall Mistress Cabal had a fondness for collecting trophies. This is not her kill, but she may appreciate it." Corvic Mordacci looks to Myrnica and gestures to the stairs. "If the subtle one would take point..." Adessa Cypersong blinks and turns back towards Nika. "It is to be making the humming, like your shop is being." Corvic Mordacci has been working to pointedly ignore the mechari head, not looking at it. Nika Pelevin frowns. "Likely a lab," she tells her pupil. "Be cautious." Adessa Cypersong is super cautious. She takes the stairs two at a time. Nika Pelevin watches this like she's not sure what to do with it, besides following her. Myrnica Peaceweaver nods at Corvic, the Nanite cloak covering every inch of her body. She slips up the stairs. Myrnica Peaceweaver holds out a hand to still Adessa. Myrnica Peaceweaver: Oh...dear. [GM] A treadmill is set against the floor with a hapless looking human running endless paces on the track. “H-Help!” he cries as he struggles to keep up the pace, the friendly looking zapper pointed directly at his back. The wires lead to a trio of generators hooked up, which explains why the room is blazing like a torch, and where the rest of the electricity powering the house is coming from. Nika Pelevin watches this blandly, because we're not talking normal horrible -- this is chua-brand horrible, and probably par for the course with them. Ravil Raindance ] Without further ado, Ravil hurls overarm one of his psabres at the zapper. Like a knock-off chakram. [GM] The zapper goes twirling, firing a few ill-fated zaps into the ceiling before toppling over. It still fires, but only at the ceiling. The human huffs and puffs, "C-Can I get-- down?" It is powering the machines. Corvic Mordacci hisses through his teeth. "Ravil! It would be more pertinent to look for an off switch" Myrnica Peaceweaver: It is an effective manuever. Adessa Cypersong: He is to be powering the computer thing. Myrnica Peaceweaver stares at the map, the computer, the generators and she takes a step back. This is not her comfort zone. Nika Pelevin: Or the whole house. Corvic Mordacci looks over and spies a big fancy computer thing. He gestures to it. "Nika?" Nika Pelevin: If he stops, we lose what little light we have. Adessa Cypersong turns back. "So, someone is to be doing the running instead. I can be doing this thing?" Nika Pelevin steps forward and turns, looking at the computer quietly. [GM] The console appears to be a private communication hub, linking the Scientist to RedStar. It’s offline. Nika Pelevin about-faces. "I don't know Dominion tech," she says, and it sounds like this automatic response she has queued up for situations like this. Corvic Mordacci looks to the unfortunate man on the treadmill. "Just a little longer." He then turns to Nika with a raised eyebrow. "So you've met with failure in the past?" Ravil Raindance: "This bard shall take his place - leastways until you dredge the desired data!" Arthur Kinlay winces at the running man. "If this is what keeps these powered up, someone take this poor man'S place for a bit. We can switch over.. but we'll need this place to have it's lights up whe nthe hsip arrives." Nika Pelevin stares at Corvic. "I don't. Know Dominion tech," she repeats, somewhat stilted. "This isn't my area of expertise." Adessa Cypersong puts a hand out to the human on the treadmill. Ravil Raindance vaults over the treadmill railing and begins to run, permitting the poor overworked human respite. [GM] The Man makes a relieved sigh (its a gasp, really, but it's hard to tell) He carefully watches the Bard until he comes close enough and jumps off, landing on his knees with a heavy thud. He heaves. Myrnica Peaceweaver steps up behind Nika. She smiles kindly up at her. "It does not look like it is working." Adessa Cypersong sits down with the poor hampsterman and looks up at Corvic. "Be looking at him, yes?" She scoops up his hand in hers and pats it sympathetically. Nika Pelevin looks back at the computer. "Right," she agrees. And that's it. She actually takes a step back from it. Corvic Mordacci meets Nika's stare with his usual, dour expression then turns away to see to the man. He kneels down. Myrnica Peaceweaver turns her attenton onto the map. She hmms for a moment, pointing at it. "There is something here. Ah, yes. A map." She picks up the datachron and hands it back to whoever may take it. Arthur Kinlay turns and watches the exit [GM] Besides being /very/ sweaty, The hampsterman seems to be in good health. Nika Pelevin creeps up to the console with all the grace of a cat being sure that the garden hose is going to rear up and bite it. "Should I turn it on," she says mechanically to anyone who's listening. Myrnica Peaceweaver: I do not know. Nika, what is this symbol? Myrnica Peaceweaver taps on the map. Nika Pelevin joins Myrnica and looks down at the map. [GM] A map is lit on the screen with a merry red blinking marker parked a few miles to the south of the mansion proper. Nika Pelevin clears her throat, able to deal with /shapes/ and /symbols/, those are fine. "That is likely where the slaves or kept or it is the rendevous point." Corvic Mordacci speaks to the man. "We are getting everyone out. But we need you to wait here until we're ready to enact our escape. There are cameras an alarms outside." Adessa Cypersong moves over to Myrnica and takes the datachron. "Gibs." Myrnica Peaceweaver releases the datachron effortlessly and looks up and up at Nika. The mask stares, unblinking. "Hm." [GM] The Hampsterman doesn't really reply, he just nods his head between big, sucking breaths. [GM] The Datachron, when turned over, bears the familiar red star of the Cartel, and another name tag attached reads: CONSIEGLIER MORASSE. Another series of back and forth messages appear to have been made before the Consieglier stepped out, all directed to the chua detailing the finer points of the shipments. Judging from the last sent message an hour ago, the Consieglier went ahead to meet the scientist at the Lab proper. Adessa Cypersong blinks down at it and walks over to Arthur, grabbing his elbow and holding the datachron up to him. "It is saying the thing." Nika Pelevin stares at the datachron before she points and says, "Consieglier," like she's really pleased with herself for some reason. "This has to belong to the new slaver." Myrnica Peaceweaver: It would appear the hunt continues. A clever man never keeps all his tools in one basket. Let us hope Chua are not so clever. Quinn Bayhill looks around the room a bit and rubs at her left wrist cuff before turning and walking out of the room to look down the hall. Ravil Raindance: "Refreshing though this impromptu workout might be - has this bard leave to step down?" Corvic Mordacci gives the man a gentle pat on the back of the hand. He'd been holding the man's arm to check his pulse. He gestures to Ravil "Listen to this artfully articulate aurin and follow his instruction. He will guide you to safety."   Myrnica Peaceweaver looks to Ravil and laughs. "A brisk pace sets the heart to fluttering. Leader Kinlay?" Arthur Kinlay picks up the datachron and reads the messages. He grunts softly. "They're meeting at the lab proper, not here. That message was sent an hour ago so we'd better get moving." He looks back towards the map. "That light, that the lab?" Nika Pelevin: That would be my guess. Myrnica Peaceweaver: It would appear to be. Arthur Kinlay nods. "Then we better head there, double time." Ravil Raindance: "This bard needs no cruel contrivance to set his pulse a-pounding, beloved. But one glance in your direction doth suffice!" Adessa Cypersong rolls her eyes. Myrnica Peaceweaver makes a giggle. Or, well, it'd probably be a giggle under normal circumstances not surrounding a horrific looking mechari-mask. "Mind your tongue, there are things better spent towards blood loss." Arthur Kinlay motions for the group to move foward. "Let's go, we'll cut the cooks loose on the way." Corvic Mordacci looks around and raises his eyebrows at the new development in plans. "or... simply come with us now.: Ravil Raindance sets steadying hands upon the poor, bedraggled human's shoulders. "Fret not. Thy chains have been struck - no longer shall you languish in the captivity of chuakind!" He even offers a brisk hug. Adessa Cypersong walks back over to hampsterman and grabs his hand again. "Come," is all she says, tugging at him to follow her. Adessa Cypersong has now saved TWO slaves. Arthur Kinlay is proud of her.

[cypersong]

[CHATLOG]

In which Corvic inspects Adessa and Arthur, and Arthur gets a very important lesson in Arborian culture - specifically, Joining.

== ARTHUR'S HOUSE - OUTSIDE == Adessa Cypersong is sitting outside in the grass with a hammer that is WAY TOO BIG FOR HER and some bad sketches. She's looking over the sketches with her tounge sticking out. Corvic Mordacci goes up to the door of the house at first, because that's where he expects Adessa to be. He knocks on the door. He'd been too distracted to even notice Adessa sitting over there in the grass. Adessa Cypersong's ears turn to the door and her head jerks up. She's immediately horrified but it subsides, and her arms start waving above her head, hammer and all. "DOCTOR CORVIC!" Corvic Mordacci turns his head, then the rest of himself away from the door. He comes plodding over the grass. "Aha. Adessa. There you-... what is the hammer for?" Adessa Cypersong points it in the direction of the firing range. "I am to be surprising Artur. I am to be making this thing better!" The hammer kind of wobbles in her arm, it's much too heavy.. Corvic Mordacci blinks. He looks up to the firing range, then back down to Adessa. It takes him a moment to comprehend. "So you are strengthening the structure of this shooting... setup, is that it?" Adessa Cypersong nods and points down at her sketches. They're basically just boxes with a whole lot of arborian scribbled on them and probably make no sense. "Yes! You are to be visting to be fixing Artur's arm?" Corvic Mordacci's expression seems to lengthen even further. "What... happened to Arthur's arm?" Adessa Cypersong wiggles her own arm for emphasis. "He is to be saying his gun, it is breaking. I am to be fixing this thing days ago, but I am to be thinking maybe you should be seeing. In cases." Adessa Cypersong's own arms are covered in bruises Corvic Mordacci spots the bruises and frowns with concern. He steps up and settles down into the grass across from her, reaching out a gloved hand to take her wrist with the greatest of care if she'll allow it. He intends to pull her arm up a bit to get a better look at her bruises. "Do you mean his firearm is broken? or his arm-arm? Or both?" ((how fresh do these bruises look? )) Adessa Cypersong lets Corvic do his thing. "Oh. No, I am to be meaning his gun. Pew pew. It is to be breaking while he is shooting the thing." Corvic Mordacci nods. "Aha. Now I recall. I should look at his hand, on that note. How are you feeling?" He continues to inspect the bruises carefully, perhaps knowing better than most what specific brutalities they imply. Arthur Kinlay blinks, then squints at the Mordesh's crouched form by his shooting range. "...Corvic?" Adessa Cypersong scrunches her nose but grins up at him. "I am to be okay." Corvic Mordacci turns, still cradling Adessa's wrist in his fingertips. "Aah, Arthur." Arthur Kinlay smiles when the Mordesh turns out to be, indeed, Corvic. "Hey there, doing well?" Adessa Cypersong grins up at Artur. "Corvic, he is to be looking at your hand also! In cases!" Corvic Mordacci nods "Circumstances could be worse. How is your hand?" Arthur Kinlay: Oh, hum, sure. *He steps closer, holding his previously wounded hand to the medic.* It's pretty good actually... Adessa treated it. Adessa Cypersong looks so, so pleased to have visitors who are /actually friends/ for once. "I am to be healing it. The mud and the snake venom, it is to be working!" Corvic Mordacci makes a low hum in his throat and stands after gently lowering Adessa's wrist back down. He holds out the flat of his hand. "May I see it without the glove?" He.. is not overly optimisitc at the effectiveness of mud and snake venom. Arthur Kinlay blinks down at his hand. "Oh! Hah yeah right, sorry." He promptly takes his glove off, turning his bare hand this way and that for Corvic to see. Corvic Mordacci raises his fingertips to gently grasp the back of Arthur's hand, raising it palm up so he can get a better look at it. Corvic Mordacci leans over, inspecting the hand closely with a thoughtful frown. Finally he straightens. "It appears to be healing well. Though I would recommend burn medication to prevent scarring." He pats around in his pockets, not sure if he happens to have any. Corvic Mordacci frowns, pulling out a few tubes of various poultices but none of them are what he wanted. Adessa Cypersong tosses her hammer over her shoulder into some deeper grass and folds up her papers to stuff in her pocket while Arthur is distracted. Arthur Kinlay flexes his hand a bit, nodding. "Got it, I'll make sure to get some." He stretches his fingers. "Doesn't seem like I've lost any dexterity in it though, wich was my main concern, really." Adessa Cypersong opens and closes her hand a few times. "Ooh, Corvic, the people, they are to be hitting my head also. And my tail. But I am to be feeling okay now." Corvic Mordacci hummms again in his throat and returns the tube he'd been holding to his pocket. "Scarring, particularly from burns, can cause the skin to stretch and restrict... so, that is fortunate news." He looks back down at Adessa. "Adessa, would you allow me to do a diagnostic scan?" He remembers how skittish she was when first woken up. Adessa Cypersong tilts her head up at him. "Nnnyes? Is it to be hurting?" Corvic Mordacci: No, no hurting. I promise. Arthur Kinlay smiles at her. "It's a good idea, just in case. You don't feel a thing." Adessa Cypersong flicks her eyes at Arthur and then politely back at Corvic. "Mmm. Okay." Corvic Mordacci nods and unclips one resonator. He flicks on the scan function and holds his own hand in the beam of light first, turning it over.  "Only light. See?" Adessa Cypersong sticks her hand into it too and wiggles her fingers. "This is to be neat!" Arthur Kinlay takes a step back, keeping out of the scan's range, not wanting to interfere with the process. Corvic Mordacci: mmm yes, neat. Corvic Mordacci unclips the other resonator and starts a thorough scan, sweeping the grid of lines starting from her feet and upward. He is especially checking for fractures. "I heard you rallied the slaves to revolt. And such was the reason for their wrongful revenge." Arthur Kinlay sidesteps, canting his head to try and peek at Corvic's scans. Not that he'd know what he was looking at. Adessa Cypersong smirks proudly. "Yes. The others and me, we are not wanting to be put in cages with no foods. I am to be thinking, there is many of us and not many of them. But I am learning, many of the slaves, they are not wanting to escape." Arthur Kinlay rubs his nose, frowning. "That's the sad truth..." Adessa Cypersong flicks her ears back in irritation. "The slavers, they are to be punishing us for this thing. I am not to be allowed with the rest, then. And they are to be drugging me very much." Corvic Mordacci: The desire for survival can persuade a person into corruption and complacence alike. It was an admirable attempt on your part, Adessa." Adessa Cypersong: Yes! I am to be knowing this thing! Corvic Mordacci's scans hone in on the badly mended arm. His frown deepens and he concentrates on that area. Arthur Kinlay furrows his brow when Corvic frowns, but decides to remain quiet untill he gives his diagnostic. Corvic Mordacci: This bone was mended improperly... Corvic Mordacci's face darkens. The usually impassive expression actually makes a turn toward the angry side. Corvic Mordacci puts one resonator down to carefully lift Adessa's arm again in his hand, using the other resonator to look through the skin and flesh. His resonator creates a 3-D holographic reconstruction of the radius and ulna beneath and saves them to its memory banks. "Unfortuantly the treatment for such a thing is... unpleasant." Arthur Kinlay bites his lower lip. "..how bad?" Corvic Mordacci: There are nanites that can aggressively correct such grievances, but they can be costly. Alternately, anaesthetic is applied and the bones must be re-broken and then mended again properly." Arthur Kinlay wrinkles his nose at the thought. Adessa Cypersong winces. "I am not to be liking this, Doctor Corvic." Adessa Cypersong's ears droop. "You are to be making me taking the calcium pills too? Wylion, she is to be saying they is to be gross." Corvic Mordacci: They would be... beneficial, yes. Arthur Kinlay sigh through his nose, walking up to Adessa. He gently ruffles her short hair. "You should go through it, though... it could get worse if you don't heal properly." Adessa Cypersong sticks her tounge out at Arthur. Arthur Kinlay gives her ear a light flick. "Hey, I'm serious." Adessa Cypersong pins her ears back but nods anyway. "Mmmnnnnfine." Corvic Mordacci nods to Arthur's statement. "Arthur is right. Many potential problems come with leaving this untreated." Adessa Cypersong: I can still be shootings, yes? Corvic Mordacci: I can perform the operation in my clinic. You should rest your arm for several days afterward. Shooting is.. not recommended. Arthur Kinlay gently scratches the back of her head. "I'll be with you, alright?" Corvic Mordacci nods to Arthur. "You may be present as well, yes."   Arthur Kinlay nods back to Corvic. "Thank you." Adessa Cypersong bites the inside of her cheek. "I am needing to be telling Nika." Adessa Cypersong: ... And Wylion, she will be trying to give me that bag again. Corvic Mordacci: I will prepare for the procedure. Again. Shooting is -not- recommended. Adessa Cypersong tuts. "Okay, okay. I am to be good, I am promisings." Corvic Mordacci nods and turns away. "And I will get you that burn treatment while we're there. Arthur." Adessa Cypersong: Maybe, I am to be talking to my coworkers to be getting you money, yes? Arthur Kinlay smirks a bit at Adessa. "We can go see Nika tommorow before we head to the clinic." He looks up. "Ah, thanks Corvic." Corvic Mordacci raises a hand as he walks away and lowers it in something that might count as a wave. Adessa Cypersong pouts up at Arthur. "I am not wanting to be taking pills." Arthur Kinlay tuts, shaking his head. "It'll be temporary, Dessa, and it'll help you heal." Adessa Cypersong makes a little whining noise. "Yes. But. Temporary is still not good." Adessa Cypersong: EVERYTHING is temporary! Arthur Kinlay lowers himself to he eye level with her, tilting his head to the side. "Please? For me? Think about it that way: the sooner you heal, the sooner you can shoot again." Adessa Cypersong smirks at him and puts her palm on his face. Stap being endearing. "Fiine." Adessa Cypersong: Hey! I am to be fixing up this thing! *she points over her shoulder at the firing range* Arthur Kinlay snickers and kisses the palm of her hand. "Thank you." Arthur Kinlay: Hm? *He cants his head, looking over her shoulder at the range behind her. then he blinks, noticing the target dummys for the first time.* Woah, you put these there? Adessa Cypersong grins. "Yeah! I am thinking, maybe everyone can be practicing the shoot." Adessa Cypersong: Carlos, he is saying that he is knowing where you are living. He also is doing the shootings. And Wylion, and Nika! Arthur Kinlay stands up straight. "Yeah he does, the Jabbits came by a few times... while you were gone. And that's a good idea!" Adessa Cypersong grins. "And! You are to be having a tent, for celebrating when we are to be hurting Redstar! This is good!" Arthur Kinlay chuckles. "Yeah sure, we can throw a party alright." Adessa Cypersong: Yes! Good! Arthur Kinlay smile sbrightly at her. "You been at this all day?" Adessa Cypersong nods. "Well. They is heavy, these things." Arthur Kinlay leans down and kisses her forehead. "Thanks, it's a great idea." Adessa Cypersong grabs his hand and plays with his fingers. "You are always to be doing nice things for me. I am not to be knowing what to do for you, but I am to be liking this idea." Arthur Kinlay smiles again. "Really, it is." He looks up at the sky, then upnods at the house. "Getting rather late though, wanna head back inside?" Adessa Cypersong nods. "I can be working on this tomorrow, after we do the thing with Doctor Corvic." Arthur Kinlay messes with her hair a little before making his way toward the house. "It'll be light work for you missus after that. No heavy lifting. I'll help you, hm?" Adessa Cypersong: Okay!

== ARTHUR'S HOUSE, INSIDE == Arthur Kinlay closes the door behind them and heads to the living portion of the house, taking a seat on the couch. Adessa Cypersong flumps onto the couch with a dramatic sigh, squeezing the hand attached to her bruised arm. "You know, this is to be seeming okay." Arthur Kinlay gently lifts her arm, then uses his free hand to trace the lenght of it. "For now, but if it healed wrong, there's great chances it'll get worse in time." Adessa Cypersong thinks it over. "I am not to be shooting so. I cannot be helping until it is fixings." Arthur Kinlay let go of her arm and slides his own around her waist, pulling her closer against him. "That's fine. The important thing is that you get better." Adessa Cypersong scoots over and rests her head on him. "And then I am to be cleaning the boat, also, when everything is okay." Arthur Kinlay: Mmhm. We,ve got plenty of things to do heh. We won'T be bored anytime soon. Adessa Cypersong: What you are to be doing, then? Arthur Kinlay: About the Redstars? Adessa Cypersong tuts at him. "That, also. What you are to be doing -after- this thing? Work?" Arthur Kinlay takes a deep breath, leaning back. "I'm not completly sure yet? I haven't really been thinking about ot, truth be told. I'd rather focus on our current problem." Adessa Cypersong grins up at him. "Oh. We are to be fixing the problem, it is -known-." Adessa Cypersong tilts her head up at him. "I am to be coming along, yes?" Arthur Kinlay chuckles softly. "Yes, it is known. And... yes. You can help us." He gently pokes her. "/Once/ you're fully healed." Adessa Cypersong pokes him in the nose. "I am to be GUESSING I can be doing this thing." Arthur Kinlay wrinkles his nose. "Hm I'm sure you will." Adessa Cypersong yawns and links her arm with his. "You are knowing, at home..." she pauses like this is confusing. "... In Duskhallow? We are to be thinking that death, it is okay. It is to be more common than Joinings, and so it is also to be celebrate, yes?" Arthur Kinlay looks at her with a look of curiosity and interest. "...a difficult place to live in, hm?" Adessa Cypersong smiles up at him. "No!" she flicks an ear. "It is to be -okay-, I am saying. I am to be growing up this way. Kits, we are to be always chasing, chasing death because it is to be just another -thing-." She rubs her face on his arm. Arthur Kinlay smiles back, idly scratching the back of her head again as she rests against him. "Mhm." Adessa Cypersong: But. It is to be a thing that kits is doing, only. Adults is not to be doing this thing. Adessa Cypersong leans into the scratches. "When I am to be with the Redstar, I am always to be thinking that I am going to die. But now, I am not wanting this thing, because of you and Wylion." She furrows her brow in confusion and looks up at him. "This is to be making sense, yes?" Arthur Kinlay watches her silently for a moment after she asks her question, peering into her eyes. His mouth eventually curl into a smile and he leans in, resting his cheek against her hair as he holds her close. "Yes, it does." Adessa Cypersong grins and wraps her arms around him. "Good. Because I am not to be saying this thing very well. If -you- are to be an aurin, you are to be living in Duskhallow too, I am thinking. You are to be the best of ghost hunters!" Arthur Kinlay chuckles lightly. "That sounds like quite a compliment, thank you." Adessa Cypersong snickers. "It is. I am never to be catching one, but always to be trying." She gives him a light kiss on his neck and settles into a more comfortable position. "Frogs, they is to be easy. Ghosts, this is to be harder." Arthur Kinlay closes his eyes and sigh happily at the kiss. "Hmm.. I can only imagine." He remains silent for a moment longer, enjoying the simple fact of her presence, before a thought crosses his mind. "Can I.. ask you something? About Aurins..?" Adessa Cypersong nods, swiveling an ear towards him. "Uh huh!" Arthur Kinlay takes another brief moment before continuing. "Joining, the thing Wylion did to us without asking that one time... what-... well.. how does it work?" Adessa Cypersong pauses for a minute to think about it. "Mmm. Well. There is. Mmm. You are knowing about the Weave, yes? Maybe I am to be starting with the Weave?" she puts her hands up and weaves her fingers together. "The Weave, every soul is to be coming from this thing. And going back. Like. Like thread, yes?" Arthur Kinlay nods slowly, listening. Adessa Cypersong: And Joining, it is sort of to be like human marriage. Only, we are to be believing that also it is to be combining soul thread. So it is... mmm. Beyond this, and into the Weave, also. Adessa Cypersong pulls her tail up into her lap to play with while she talks. "In Duskhallow, we are to be believing in the reincarnations. And so Joining, it is making it to be easy to be finding each other after this, also." Arthur Kinlay smiles at her. "That a very nice belief." Adessa Cypersong grins and nods. "This is why, in Duskhallow, death is to be okay. Everyone, we are to be coming back, anyways. Joining, it is to be very important." Adessa Cypersong: On Arboria, more than half of the trees, they are to be Joining Trees. This is why it is to be so green, always. Arthur Kinlay nods slowly again as he listens, falling silent. Adessa Cypersong catches herself. "Oh. Joining trees, they are like. Mmm." She thinks for a second. "Humans, you are to be exchange jewelry, yes?" Arthur Kinlay blinks, as if he suddenly woke from daydreaming. "Hm? Oh, it's part of it, yes. Usually rings. They're.. a symbol of the union." Adessa Cypersong: This, I am not to be understanding. -We- are to be planting a tree. Arthur Kinlay smiles at her. "Aren't many places to plant trees on spaceships. Well, except the arkship." Adessa Cypersong makes a circle in the air with one finger. "A piece of metal, it is not to be doing anything. A tree, it is to be growing and benefitting everything. And when aurin, we are to be passing on to the Weave, the trees, they are to be still growing." Adessa Cypersong grins up at him. "Sim bee otick." Arthur Kinlay nods, still smiling. "I think I understand. It's a beautiful symbol." Adessa Cypersong nods. "I am to be doing this thing. Joining. Wylion, she is, also. Normally, it is to be the job of the Matria. But Harpies, they is sometime stepping in." Arthur Kinlay: Like she did that one time... Adessa Cypersong snickers. "Yeah. Well. Also, I am not to be having a Matria. Not on Nexus, so." Adessa Cypersong shrugs. "Wylion and me, we is to be Joining each other. If she is to be Joining, I am to be doing the thing." Arthur Kinlay smiles a bit. "That's pretty cute... and very sweet." He falls silent again for a brief moment before speaking. "Remember how upset I was when Wyl... Joined us without warning?" Adessa Cypersong winces and nods. Arthur Kinlay gently rubs her arm when he sees her wincing. "Well... I'm thinking, I wouldn't be upset if it were to happen again... I think I'd be very happy." Adessa Cypersong opens her mouth to almost (but not really, it's Adessa after all) apologize for Wylion's behavior, but she stops. Blinks. She leans away from him just enough to get a good look at his face. Blinks again. "... What?" Arthur Kinlay blinks back, a faint redness creeping up his cheeks. "Ah.. I mean... well.." He smiles a bit nervously. "Only if.. it's something you'd want, too?" Adessa Cypersong just continues to stare at him like he's suddenly grown aurin ears and a tail. She slowly tilts her head downward, eyes still on him, pupils huge. "... Artur." She pauses and continues to just look at him. "You. You are to be saying this or. Or you are to be asking this?" Arthur Kinlay stares right back at her, the flush of his cheek now quite obvious. He takes a deep breath, clearly trying to settle his nerves, then speaks again. "I am saying that.. I would be honored, happy, to be Joined to you... And I'm asking if you feel the same?" Adessa Cypersong goes completely slackjawed. She just blinks at him with her mouth half open until it hits her and she starts to turn red too. "I." She starts to grin. "I. Yeah." she looks up at him with the goofy grin for a second and then squints at him, confused again. "...Artur you are to be -asking- me to be Joined, or you are to be saying this like. Like you are to be wanting to. I don't know. Be eating lunch." Arthur Kinlay expression brightens visibly when she says yes, but then he turns just as confused when she questions him again. "I-.. No, I. ...am I making a fool of myself right now?" He let's out a nervous chuckle, then clears his throat, doing his best to look serious given the circumstances. "I want this, Adessa." Adessa Cypersong is the one that looks like an absolute idiot with her mouth hanging open. She lets out a single little awkward 'ha' that removes all of the tension, and stares up at him adoringly. She bites her bottom lip and grins up at him. Arthur Kinlay seems to grow increasingly worried as she stares at him dumbfounded untill her expression shifts. He let out a deep sigh of relief when she smiles up at him, as if an incredible weight had just lifted. "Oh stars... that's a yes, yes?" Adessa Cypersong launches herself at him and wraps her arms around his neck. The laughter won't stop now, and it's completely genuine. "Yes! Artur, of course!" She rubs her cheek against his and grins into his neck, chittering away in excited Arborian. Arthur Kinlay joins her in the laughter as the awkwardness and worry of moments before is suddenly lifted. His arms surround her, holding her thightly.