Bleach

(4:34:10 PM) Prof: It is a day of relaxation in Seireitei!
(4:34:27 PM) Prof: None of you are on patrol or really have any pressing matters to attend to.
(4:34:34 PM) Prof: How are you spending your free time?
(4:34:41 PM) Eric: Yuu is just hanging o-hahahaha no
(4:34:46 PM) Eric: he's in the Dojo practicing forms
(4:36:00 PM) Inc: Reggie, on this particular day, is also practicing forms, using simple training spears
(4:36:28 PM) Prof: In the same place?
(4:36:42 PM) Inc: Yes.
(4:36:59 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild is making the Division 7 unranked soldiers scrub down the building floors because they are gross and she's sick of it. (To be fair she is also scrubbing with vigor right alongside them)
(4:37:00 PM) Prof: All right, there are a couple other people practicing or training, but it's pretty sparse in the dojos.
(4:38:34 PM) Ethan: Igor is borrowing a golf magazine from 8th Division for reasons of which only he is aware.
(4:38:49 PM) Ethan: Or has recently, rather. He's probably flipping through it as he strolls home.
(4:40:08 PM) Prof: Then, something peculiar happens!
(4:40:27 PM) Prof: For Reinhild, the first sign is when she suddenly leaves all the other soldiers behind.
(4:40:40 PM) Prof: For Igor, it's the sudden, pervasive silence replacing the usual background chatter of Seireitei.
(4:40:55 PM) Prof: For Reggie and Yuu, it's much more obvious - all the other people practicing are quite suddenly frozen in place.
(4:41:13 PM) Prof: Lady and gentlemen, it would seem that time has stopped.
(4:41:27 PM) Eric: His next maneuver comes to a ragged halt as he notices
(4:41:29 PM) Inc: "... Hrm?"
(4:42:01 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Hm. I am not putting. Why the hush?"
(4:42:32 PM) Foxfire: "Hey now, pick up the pace you..... huh?"
(4:42:36 PM) Prof: After a minute or so of this bizarre state of affairs, the strange silence gives way into an even stranger rhythmic sound in the distance, like a dull but loud heartbeat.
(4:43:08 PM) Prof: It is coming from inside Seireitei!
(4:43:47 PM) Eric: Aren't most of us also inside Seireitei?
(4:43:52 PM) Prof: All of you are.
(4:43:54 PM) Prof: So it's nearby.
(4:45:17 PM) Foxfire: Well obviously she's not going to be able to count on backup. Reinhild dashes out and roofhops in whatever direction it feels like it's coming from.
(4:45:21 PM) Eric: Yuu makes eye contact with Reggie. They should go investigate
(4:45:30 PM) Inc: Reggie checks that his Zanpakuto is in place on his back... Then starts out of the dojo. His face, as often, is serious. Inwardly, he's cautious about whatever stopped time, but nods towards Yuu.
(4:45:45 PM) Eric: They move without really saying much
(4:46:30 PM) Prof: It's not hard to find the source of the sound.
(4:46:46 PM) Prof: In an open plaza somewhere is a strange, misshapen tower made of red crystal.
(4:46:47 PM) Ethan: Igor picks up a frozen passerby near him and sets her down out of the way, then removes his zanpakuto from a baldric hanging it on his back. He's not much for agility, so propelling himself into the air with a hammer against the ground is the fastest way he can investigate. He hops across town like so.
(4:47:30 PM) Prof: There are actually a couple other Soul Reapers here who aren't frozen, drawn by the same source.
(4:47:44 PM) Prof: Most of lower seats or unseated officers.
(4:47:56 PM) Eric: Yuu: "That's...new."
(4:48:18 PM) Prof: Notably present and frozen, right in front of the tower, is 9th Division Lieutenant Keats...
(4:48:47 PM) Prof: ...no, wait, she's actually moving, very, very slowly, in the middle of an endlessly prolonged gesture of her hands flying to the hilts of her zanpakuto.
(4:49:16 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Is strange. She is usually very fast."
(4:49:23 PM) Prof: The tower is throbbing rhythmically, and looks more like a grown thing than a built structure.
(4:49:54 PM) Prof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yMBS5yRLlU (mood music!)
(4:49:57 PM) ***Inc reaches for the hilt of his zanpakuto, but doesn't yet draw or trigger it. "Whatever's stopping the others from moving is only mostly holding her," he observes, looking up at the tower.
(4:50:04 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild: "Ach... it's too quiet! And too... full of nobody doing things! Who here has seniority?"
(4:50:31 PM) Prof: Reinhild's question is interrupted!
(4:50:59 PM) Prof: One of the other soul reapers is prodding the tower with his sword when it emits a loud CRACKing sound,
(4:51:18 PM) Eric: Yuu takes an involuntary step back
(4:51:29 PM) Prof: and part of the base snaps open into some kind of massive limb, grabbing hold of the unfortunate unseated reaper.
(4:51:35 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Was not me! You all saw it!"
(4:51:45 PM) Prof: A hole opens higher up on its body, and it stuffs him into it before closing again with the soul reaper inside.
(4:52:12 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Oh."
(4:52:19 PM) Inc: "...  We need to figure out how to break this thing. Now."
(4:52:28 PM) Prof: This is followed by a cacaphony of cracks as the rest of it unfolds, the base of the tower coming apart completely to form seven enormous clawed limbs that can act as arm or leg.
(4:52:49 PM) Prof: The top of the tower opens op to reveal a single eye, black save for a glowing blue pupil.
(4:53:25 PM) Prof: The eye swivels around and unmistakable focuses on the frozen Lieutenant.
(4:54:07 PM) Inc: #
(4:54:16 PM) Prof: (go ahead!)
(4:55:03 PM) Inc: "Sos, Guide My Path!", Reggie shouts, drawing his zanpakuto even as it begins to shift into a spear-like shape. No way is he letting this.... Thing kidnap or a lieutenant if he can stop it. As soon as it is in hand, two more spears seem to be with it... And the first of them is getting thrown directly at the beast's eye.
(4:56:03 PM) Prof: Moving alarmingly fast, the thing raises an arm to block the spear, rocking backwards from the impact!
(4:56:17 PM) Prof: (Initiative: Yuu, Reggie, Reinhild, Igor)
(4:56:27 PM) Prof: (Yuu!)
(4:56:36 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Is it maskless hollow?"
(4:57:52 PM) Eric: "Catch them, Wanahari!" Wanahari flashes white for a split second, then with a whipping motion from Yuu it extends outwards on a wire, spreading the blade out into short segments! The last few feet of the sword whip are going to wrap around the arm of the creature reaching for lieutenant Keats.+
(4:58:32 PM) Prof: Yuu's sword pulls the leg to a stop with a good expenditure of effort!
(4:58:45 PM) Prof: Whatever this thing is, it's strong, but not unstoppable.
(4:58:49 PM) Eric: Yuu: "Hrk. It's strong!"
(4:58:59 PM) Prof: Meanwhile, a third leg rises, then comes down intending to step on Yuu!
(4:59:05 PM) Prof: (Yuu react, Reggie)
(5:00:21 PM) Inc: Reggie responds with the second spear, aimed at the softest-looking spot on the leg that is aiming for Yuu! Already, his spear is forming more of them, which are gathering in his off-hand, just waiting to be thrown.
(5:00:32 PM) Eric: Yuu glances up to see the leg coming down, than vanishes, flashstepping. His path is obvious, as he's tied to the thing's leg, and he reappears ontop of a nearby building.
(5:00:57 PM) Eric: fortunately, Wanahari is very long
(5:01:39 PM) Prof: The leg smashes down where Yuu was an instant ago, sending up a cloud of debris that all stops, frozen in midair, a moment after it is thrown up!
(5:01:56 PM) Prof: Then Reggie's spear hits home at the joint, and actually severs the leg at the knee.
(5:02:26 PM) Prof: The eye turns to look down at the soul reaper that just injured it, and a piercingly bright ray of blue energy lances forth towards him!
(5:02:31 PM) Prof: (Reggie react, Reinhild)
(5:02:36 PM) Ethan: #
(5:02:42 PM) Prof: (Igor support Reggie)
(5:03:22 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild swears very sharply and darts in. Keats isn't going to be easy to move like that but she's going to try. She wraps one arm around her waist and holds her blade aloft with the other.

"Fly out, Falken!" The chain of light snaps out to a respectable length, sinking the blade into the windowsill of a building, and rapidly contracts.
(5:03:34 PM) Ethan: Can a hammer block a laser? In Bleach it probably can. Igor leaps into the beam unreleased zanpakuto first. "You got first blood! I am jealous! Will not lose to you!"
(5:04:07 PM) Prof: The beam and hammer collide in an explosion of energy!
(5:04:09 PM) Eric: Yuu: "It doesn't HAVE blood!"
(5:04:19 PM) Inc: Reggie's response is, naturally, a Flash Step of his own, moving to nearby cover... Just as Igor shifts into position to smack the laser.
(5:04:41 PM) Prof: Igor is hurtled back. That hurt, maybe enough to slow down a sane person.
(5:04:57 PM) Prof: The beam is deflected, though.
(5:05:20 PM) Prof: Meanwhile, Reinhild lifts Keats like a statue, and carriers her away from the towerthing!
(5:05:42 PM) Prof: It immediately ignores the other three of you, scrambling with its six remaining legs to pursue its target.
(5:05:43 PM) Prof: (Igor)
(5:05:50 PM) Inc: "You must be quicker on the draw, Igor," Reggie responds, silently being very glad Reinhild has chosen to save the near-frozen- well, crap.
(5:07:47 PM) Ethan: Igor gets back on his feet, laughing heartily. He ain't even mad. "Big tough bug. This will be good fight! BREAK THEM, NOSOROG!" Released, his hammerhead is even bigger, and he springs his way onto the creature's back to deliver a blow he hopes will cripple it. +
(5:07:58 PM) Eric: Yuu releasesthe leg now that Keats is out of the way
(5:09:03 PM) Prof: The monster's stance does falter as it nearly collapses under the intense blow, and some cracks do appear on its surface, but it doesn't shatter like he was probably hoping.
(5:09:16 PM) Foxfire: Rein looks back over her shoulder. The flash of fear in her eyes is quickly replaced with a manic delight. "Ah... wonderful! Completely wonderful! I'll keep it distracted, SO KEEP ON AFTER IT JUST LIKE THAT!"
(5:09:33 PM) Prof: It reaches up and grabs Igor, who is not hard to catch with his "stand there and hit it" strategy.
(5:10:16 PM) Prof: Another circular hole opens up in it, revealing nothing immediately visible inside save for blackness. It looks like it's gonna stuff him in there.
(5:10:24 PM) Prof: (Igor react, Yuu)
(5:10:25 PM) Inc: #
(5:10:31 PM) Prof: (Reggie support)
(5:10:35 PM) Eric: Yuu sprang off the roof towards one of the creature's feet, unleashing a punch that sent shockwaves of spiritual pressure deep into the creature's ankle.+
(5:10:49 PM) Inc: That is no less than three of Reggie's spears aimed at the arm that grabbed Igor.
(5:11:17 PM) Eric: maybe he can make it fall over
(5:11:22 PM) Prof: That's a pretty hefty expenditure of power! But as it so happens, it does the trick, especially when timed together with Yuu's attack.
(5:11:42 PM) Prof: The claw that Yuu targeted and the claw that Reggie targeted both shatter, leaving those two limbs as awkward stumps.
(5:12:09 PM) Prof: Thrown by the sudden change in balance, it falls over, firing a ray at Reinhild as it tries to recover its footing!
(5:12:16 PM) Ethan: Igor only doesn't fall into the hole because he grabs the edges with all four limbs. "Ha! Puny false hollow!"
(5:12:19 PM) Prof: (Reinhild react, too far for support)
(5:15:51 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild's in mid-air again. The middle of her light chain suddenly stiffens at a single point and swings as if it were attached to a pulley, sending both Reinhild and her cargo flying even higher into the air.
(5:16:31 PM) Prof: The beam misses by a hair's breadth, striking a nearby building and shattering the wall into free-floating debris.
(5:16:59 PM) Prof: The enemy is, for the moment, stunned! Who wants to take a hit to take advantage of its prone state?
(5:17:50 PM) Ethan: Igor does!
(5:17:55 PM) Eric: Yuu will go off with desparate rage at its eye, for a big downwards stab with Wanahari in retracted form!
(5:18:02 PM) Prof: Igore, follow that up!
(5:18:17 PM) Ethan: He scrambles into position to get another blow at the spot he cracked. +
(5:18:40 PM) Prof: ???: "Hey, hey, hey!"
(5:18:40 PM) Eric: Yuu: "AAAAAAAAAAAHH"
(5:19:08 PM) Prof: There is an incredibly fast blur of motion as Igor and Yuu, rather far apart, are simultaneously kicked in the gut hard enough to fling them away from the thing.
(5:19:26 PM) Prof: Before they can get a clear look at their attacker, it's gone again--
(5:19:31 PM) Eric: "AAAAA-WHOOF!"
(5:19:46 PM) Prof: --no, as the monster regains its footing, there's a human-shaped figure on its "shoulder".
(5:19:53 PM) Ethan: Igor: "BAH! Who has the balls?"
(5:19:58 PM) Prof: Is that a soul reaper? Their head is hooded.
(5:20:03 PM) Eric: "owwww, what was that?"
(5:20:23 PM) Prof: ???: "What's this? When did you encounter us before?"
(5:21:17 PM) Inc: "... How curious," Reggie stated, looking up towards it. "Shouldn't we be asking the questions of the invader?"
(5:21:26 PM) Prof: The voice is male, by the way.
(5:22:02 PM) Eric: Yuu stands up, "What are you talking about I've never seen you before."
(5:22:18 PM) Prof: Also, if anyone's perceptive enough, there's something peculiar about this person.
(5:22:27 PM) Prof: Also, about the creature, and the beams it's been firing...
(5:22:33 PM) Prof: ...absolutely no spiritual pressure.
(5:22:40 PM) Prof: Not even the slightest hint you'd get from a Plus.
(5:23:21 PM) Prof: ???: "To think that there were so many of you, this high up in the ranks. I never would've guessed."
(5:23:32 PM) Prof: ???: "This changes things, I dare say."
(5:23:37 PM) Ethan: Igor: "There are even more, but most are frozen."
(5:23:38 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild tosses the Lieutenant through an open third-story window as she descends. "Please do stop talking in circles and get to the point!"
(5:23:55 PM) Foxfire: "It is very rude and irritating to say the least!"
(5:24:33 PM) Prof: He laughs. "You're in no position to make demands of me. You wouldn't even be able to move if you hadn't experienced the touch of the void."
(5:24:58 PM) Prof: "I think I'm going to abandon this harvest for now, though. This bears more research."
(5:25:27 PM) Eric: Yuu: "If you think you can just leave after all the trouble you've caused you've got another thing coming."
(5:25:28 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Bug is yours?"
(5:26:03 PM) Prof: "Are you going to stop me, then? I'd welcome the opportunity to see how far you've developed."
(5:26:13 PM) Prof: (Enemies: Harvester, Soul Reaper(?))
(5:26:20 PM) Prof: (Yuu, wanna take the shot?)
(5:26:27 PM) Eric: Yuu takes the shot
(5:26:44 PM) Eric: attempting to yank his leg out from under him with Wanahari
(5:27:13 PM) Prof: As Wanahari wraps around the man's leg, he jerks the leg backwards, and Yuu is instead sent hurtling towards him!
(5:28:00 PM) Eric: "WOAAAH!" He tries to orient himself in midair so he can throw a punch in time.
(5:28:17 PM) Prof: He grabs Yuu by the fist as he comes into range, the hand like a steel vise. It doesn't feel like human flesh at all.
(5:28:32 PM) Prof: The force of momentum, though, blows the hood back, revealing his face.
(5:28:53 PM) Prof: Half of it is made of red crystal like the monster beneath him, his left eye black save for a glowing blue pupil.
(5:29:06 PM) Prof: The hand that stopped him, as well, is made of the same substance.
(5:29:11 PM) Eric: Yuu's eyes widen
(5:29:21 PM) Prof: ???: "Hmm... not what I was hoping for."
(5:29:32 PM) Prof: He throws Yuu, who smashes into a nearby building hard enough to leave a crater.
(5:29:48 PM) Prof: Then, something shifts in the air, or it's more like you're permitted to see something that was there all along.
(5:29:59 PM) Prof: An enormous eye, the size of Seireitei, looking down from above.
(5:30:09 PM) Prof: ???: "Come on, Harvester. We're leaving for now."
(5:30:26 PM) Ethan: Igor: "That is... not usual.:
(5:30:28 PM) Ethan: "
(5:30:52 PM) Prof: The Harvester folds in on itself, shrinking until it's a cube small enough to fit on the palm of the hand, and he pockets it before vanishing upwards.
(5:31:06 PM) Prof: The eye blinks, then is gone, and time resumes in a chaotic instant of flying rock.
(5:31:35 PM) Prof: And confused soul reapers.
(5:31:42 PM) Ethan: Igor (ignoring rocks hitting him in the face): "I wanted to kill that."
(5:31:47 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Is bad day."
(5:31:59 PM) Eric: Are any bits of the Harvester still lying around?
(5:32:04 PM) Prof: Nope.
(5:32:05 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild: "I really cannot disagree with that."
(5:32:08 PM) Prof: Nothing remains of it.
(5:32:10 PM) Inc: Reggie simply glares into the sky. "... He spoke of voids."
(5:32:12 PM) Prof: Nor of its master.
(5:32:13 PM) Eric: Yuu: "Ughhh"
(5:32:36 PM) Prof: A few seconds later, there is a flash of white and a burst of menacing, but not yet overpowering, spiritual pressure.
(5:32:50 PM) Prof: Flash-stepping into the center of the plaza is Captain Derzhavin.
(5:32:55 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild: "Mind you there's not much I can do at all; that terrible man was very ambiguous, I wish he'd been clearer would that be too much to ask-"
(5:33:03 PM) Prof: Her sword is drawn.
(5:33:09 PM) Prof: Derzhavin: "What is the meaning of this?"
(5:33:15 PM) Foxfire: And then she shuts up because Derzahvin is fucking terrifying.
(5:33:28 PM) Ethan: Even Igor takes a moment to speak.
(5:33:31 PM) Ethan: "Was not my fault."
(5:35:01 PM) Prof: Derzhavin: "No? Then whose was it?"
(5:35:05 PM) Eric: Yuu climbs out of the crater, shaking his head clear "...Captain Derzhavin?"
(5:35:16 PM) Prof: She's staring daggers at Igor, but that's because she doesn't really have any other way of looking at people.
(5:35:47 PM) Prof: Derzhavin: "There has been a disruption within Seireitei, and several of you were not here a moment ago."
(5:36:47 PM) Eric: Yuu tries to form an answer that makes sense, but is brought short.
(5:37:00 PM) Eric: How can you explain THAT in a way that doesn't sound fucking crazy?
(5:37:43 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Giant crystal bug attack. We fought, it disappeared. Strange man was controlling it."
(5:37:51 PM) Ethan: (Igor does not care about not sounding fucking crazy.)
(5:38:00 PM) Foxfire: You can't, but Reinhild will try. "Some of us were immune to whatever magic it was using - there was a very rude man in a hood, and he said something about previous exposure."
(5:38:08 PM) Prof: Derzhavin: "And you expect me to believe--"
(5:38:15 PM) Eric: Yuu: "...Keats. She wasn't totally frozen. She might be able to help."
(5:38:16 PM) Prof: Keats: "It's true, Captain."
(5:38:37 PM) Prof: Keats jumps down from the window Reinhild threw her through.
(5:38:54 PM) Prof: Keats: "There was some kind of time distortion. I couldn't move, but I was able to see what was going on."
(5:39:34 PM) Prof: Derzhavin gives Keats a long, searching look before sheathing her sword. The pressure subsides.
(5:42:17 PM) Prof: Derzhavin: "If what you say is true, then this is a serious matter. For such a thing to breach Seireitei with none of the Captains being aware of it..."
(5:42:51 PM) Prof: Derzhavin: "There will be a hearing to discuss this incident at sunset. Your attendance is mandatory."
(5:43:36 PM) Eric: "Yes Ma'am."
(5:43:40 PM) Eric: That sounds reasonable.
(5:44:37 PM) Prof: She flash-steps away without another word, assuming that her orders will be followed.
(5:44:43 PM) Prof: Keats turns, stops, then turns back.
(5:44:50 PM) Prof: Keats: "Thanks for saving me."
(5:44:54 PM) Prof: Then she's gone, too.
(5:45:07 PM) Prof: You've got a couple hours until then to catch your breath or talk to each other / anyone else, if you want to use it.
(5:45:15 PM) Ethan: Igor: "So! Who wants dinner!"
(5:46:25 PM) Eric: Yuu: "How can you think about eating after that?"
(5:47:12 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild: "That seems like a good use of our time. Important discussions and empty stomachs are a poor mix."
(5:47:23 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Looked like crab. Could get seafood."
(5:48:49 PM) Eric: Yuu: =_=
(5:50:02 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild: "I for one have had enough crab in my life for one day. What was that bar you dragged me to last week?"
(5:50:49 PM) Foxfire: "The one that made the delicious greasy meat pies?"
(5:52:59 PM) Eric: "Shouldn't we stay sober for the hearing?"
(5:55:56 PM) Foxfire: "Well the beer tastes like a cow's arse; I only go for the food."
(5:56:25 PM) ***Inc sighs. "Sure. Let's get some food."
(5:56:40 PM) Prof: Delicious greasy meat pies!
(5:56:40 PM) Eric: Inc get back on your side of the 4th wall
(5:56:55 PM) Prof: Anything of note over food?
(5:57:20 PM) Eric: Yuu eats a surprising amount of food considering how small he is
(5:57:31 PM) Eric: how skinny, at least, he's not super short
(5:58:23 PM) Ethan: Igor: "And then I said, 'you are tiny bug! I need newspaper, not hammer!'" The fact that he not only didn't say that but is telling this story to the people who were there with him does not seem to matter.
(5:58:54 PM) Ethan: He's drinking the cow ass beer but is almost incapable of getting drunk.
(5:59:07 PM) Inc: Reggie seems controlled about how much he eats. While he did not practice any religious dietary restrictions, he does seem to ponder something.
(6:00:57 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild eats neatly and very, very quickly. She's writing down a transcript of what she remembers as she does so.
(6:03:09 PM) Prof: The hearing takes place at a meeting room within the central part of Seireitei under the jurisdiction of Central 46.
(6:03:17 PM) Prof: And there sure are a lot of very dangerous people in this room.
(6:03:59 PM) Prof: Captain Yuuta "Just call me Yuuta" Maehara from 12th Division waves as you enter, full of his usual youthful energy. Lieutenant Chugach stands head and shoulders tall than him, his face immobile.
(6:04:14 PM) Prof: Derzhavin and Keats are there, naturally,
(6:04:48 PM) Prof: And at the far end of the room is the small and ancient form of Captain-Commander Nobuko Takatsukasa, Lieutenant Zhao kneeling next to her.
(6:05:02 PM) Inc: Reggie, notably, has changed to his proper Shinigami uniform at some point offscreen. Not that he likes doing so, but...
(6:05:57 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "Have a seat."
(6:06:41 PM) Eric: Yuu nervously sits. He is also wearing his formal uniform, though as he wears it a lot of the time, his is a little more worn than Reggie's
(6:08:06 PM) Ethan: Igor drops jovially into his seat, waving casually to the captains.
(6:08:44 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild sits calmly and eagerly. She's got no reason to doubt the reason of anyone here. They'll surely be able to figure out what happened with ease!
(6:08:54 PM) ***Inc seats, focused and frankly very serious looking.
(6:09:17 PM) Eric: Yuu associates meeting captains with being on your best behavior as a child while your father watches you like a hawk
(6:09:50 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "Keats already gave me an outline of what she remmebers from the incident. There was a time distortion, followed by the appearance of a crystal-like structure, which came alive and abducted one soul reaper before the rest of you arrived and drove it off."
(6:09:55 PM) Prof: "Is any part of this inaccurate?"
(6:10:29 PM) Eric: "We...didn't really drive it off, I don't think."
(6:10:33 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Is leaving out cocky man."
(6:11:13 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "What man?"
(6:11:46 PM) Eric: "There was a man who showed up before we could finish the creature off. He had soul reaper robes, and seemed to be its keeper."
(6:12:33 PM) Inc: "He spoke of 'the void', and was surprised so many of us - so many ranking seats among us - had faced it before."
(6:13:17 PM) Eric: "Parts of him were made of the same crystal as the creature. I don't THINK I've seen anything like that before..."
(6:13:23 PM) Eric: He doesn't sound sure of himself though
(6:13:41 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild: "We didn't even faze him; he took down two of us without even breathing hard."
(6:14:14 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "Did you say void?"
(6:14:18 PM) Foxfire: "He left, but I don't think it was because he felt threatened at all..."
(6:14:50 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "But that doesn't make any sense..."
(6:15:36 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "What did he say about the void, exactly?"
(6:15:42 PM) Foxfire: "He didn't have any spiritual pressure. Could that be the void he was talking about?"
(6:15:55 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild consults her transcription.
(6:16:01 PM) Eric: "Oh hey, you're right. Now that I think about it, he didn't."
(6:16:27 PM) Prof: Derzhavin: "Do you mean he was hiding his presence?"
(6:17:01 PM) Eric: "No it was literally nothing. Like, not even what you'd feel from a plus"
(6:17:18 PM) Foxfire: "I didn't catch it word for word, but the "touch of the void" was definitely part of the phrase."
(6:17:25 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Was it not the same for bug?"
(6:17:55 PM) Prof: Lieutenant Chugach looks at Yuuta, who nods.
(6:18:06 PM) Inc: "The 'Harvester'... If I may assign it a name. Seemed pretty fragile. One spear was enough to break a limb clean off."
(6:18:24 PM) Prof: Chugach: "A few years ago, 12th Division was working on some research about the possibility of another plane of existence beyond Hueco Mundo."
(6:19:07 PM) Prof: "The experiment was ultimately successful... however, the space that was found was determined to be completely inhospitable for soul reapers OR hollows."
(6:19:53 PM) Prof: "One expedition was ever made there, and every member of it died. The realm was called the Void - there's absolutely nothing there. The fabric of space within it doesn't accept the existence of spiritual particles."
(6:20:34 PM) Prof: Keats: "Was that thing from the Void, then?"
(6:20:50 PM) Prof: Chugach: "Impossible. Its very nature denies all forms of existence. Nothing can be FROM the Void."
(6:21:13 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "There's a more important question that we aren't asking."
(6:21:29 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "Why could the four of you percieve time during the attack when none of us could?"
(6:21:46 PM) Ethan: Igor immediately shrugs.
(6:21:56 PM) Eric: "There were some other, lower ranking soldiers who could move besides us."
(6:22:08 PM) Eric: "And Keats could move, albeit very very slowly"
(6:22:21 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "Do you have anything unusual in common?"
(6:23:09 PM) Inc: "... Not that I am aware of, sir."
(6:23:25 PM) Inc: "However... I think I have seen something like that crystal being before. Or something akin to it."
(6:23:50 PM) Prof: Derzhavin: "When was this?"
(6:25:37 PM) Inc: "Some years ago. Standard investigatory run on Hueco Mundo. Saw the thing, couldn't judge it, left."
(6:25:46 PM) Foxfire: Rein sits bolt upright and starts sketching on the back of her transcript.
(6:26:01 PM) Foxfire: "Did it look anything like this?"
(6:26:58 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Oh, that! I remember also!"
(6:27:06 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Very fast pest."
(6:27:10 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "May I?"
(6:27:17 PM) Eric: Yuu: "Now that you mention it..."
(6:27:19 PM) Foxfire: She hands it over.
(6:27:29 PM) Eric: "I think I saw one in the Dangai, once."
(6:27:35 PM) Prof: Yuuta peers closely at the sketch.
(6:27:52 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "...Doesn't look like anything I remember from the research archives. Chugach?"
(6:27:59 PM) Prof: Chugach shakes his head, and Yuuta hands it back.
(6:28:24 PM) Foxfire: "I fought it in Canada... I had assistance, but I can't recall who else was on the mission."
(6:28:32 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "So all of you have encountered a creature of this type at least once before."
(6:28:49 PM) Prof: Keats: "The human world, Hueco Mundo, Dangai, and now even in Soul Society..."
(6:29:03 PM) Eric: "It just ran past us and slipped by the Kototsu somehow. We were in a hurry or we would have investigated more."
(6:30:18 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "Well, it's clear to me that something serious is happening, and the safety of Seireitei is uncertain."
(6:30:39 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "Until we can figure out more about this occurrence, I want to be able to keep a close eye on all of the affected.
(6:31:28 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "Captain Maehara, get a team looking into this. Reggie, Maksimov, Strauss and Hamada, you're going to begin operating as a cross-Division unit."
(6:32:13 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "Are there any objections?"
(6:32:26 PM) Eric: "My duties with sixth division..."
(6:32:44 PM) Prof: Nobuko: "...can be redistributed. I'll leave that to Zizka."
(6:32:51 PM) Eric: "Yes Ma'am"
(6:33:04 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "Oh, uh."
(6:33:36 PM) Prof: He scratches the back of his head awkwardly. "Actually, are you guys available for an assignment right away?"
(6:34:02 PM) Prof: "We've got a bit of a situation that could use a team like this."
(6:34:03 PM) Foxfire: "Absolutely."
(6:34:39 PM) Ethan: Igor: "Is not problem."
(6:34:59 PM) Eric: Yuu salutes
(6:35:30 PM) Prof: Nobuko nods, and Yuuta and Chugach step out, leading the way for you to follow.
(6:35:30 PM) Inc: Reggie salutes in turn. "I can be ready for action in four minutes, sir."
(6:36:17 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "There's been an incident in the human world. Selena, that's my 8th Seat, was using Hollow bait for some live-fire Academy testing. Standard issue stuff."
(6:36:58 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "But there was something wrong with the batch she was using. It was way more powerful than it was supposed to be, and now she's under seige in Siberia, along with a couple dozen Academy students. I just got the butterfly."
(6:37:46 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "We need a team to head over there, break through the Hollows, and get them out of there."
(6:38:18 PM) Inc: Reggie nods. "I believe a standard attack method will work nicely."
(6:38:40 PM) Prof: Yuuta: "Nice and simple, but could get dangerous. Are you guys up to it?"
(6:39:29 PM) Ethan: Igor: "HA HA HA! I thought job would be challenge."
(6:39:39 PM) Eric: "Of course, sir. It's our job to defeat hollows."
(6:39:39 PM) Ethan: Igor: "We accept!"
(6:39:47 PM) Foxfire: Reinhild: "We'll be off at once!"
(6:39:53 PM) Prof: TO BE CONTINUED