Welcome to the Sprawl

(Dead Space 2 topic, taking place during the time of Chapter 10, the trip to the USG Ishimura. Yes, the name is somewhat misleading, but it's so that we can get a grasp on the game in the series.

For the record, the level we will do starts [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc_M7hCjLxY&t=09m52s]here[/url]. Might as well start them at a shop. We'll have them leave at another save station later.)

[i]Remains of the USG Ishimura, the Sprawl[/i]

He had not been on this world long before he had been struck from behind. Maybe five minutes, ten? Just enough to get a brief look around.

Naito Zivaku got the general area he was in: an abandoned ship of some sort, seemingly under observation of one kind or another. From the looks of the technology, the holograms, it was in the future. From the blood and guts on the ground, it was horror. Perfect after his time in Space Paranoids, really.

The angelic time traveler was going up to a large structure labeled the "shop" when a being struck him from behind, knocking him to the ground. He turned over at a screech, drawing his blades in self defense... and froze in horror at the humanoid... [i]thing[/i] standing above him. Clawed, scythelike arms, a humanoid, distended head, skin and tattered clothing black as death. He had to do something, but... what? He had never seen the Necromorphs. Of course, his time in the cyber world had shown him some similar situations, but not this. Finally, he slashed at its midsection...but the attack did nearly nothing. What was this? What could he do?

"Head down!" A bullet from a sound suppressed weapon struck the Enhanced Slasher in the face, head exploding and spraying brains and diseased flesh on the ground. It staggered back, just in time for the time traveler to look to his female savior.

Sergeant Azumi Ian, from one of the nearby doors, actually the way forward. She was in her CQC ODST battle dress uniform armor, handgun firing at the thing's body three more times as it stood still.  "Go down! Now!"

It didn't. Rather, the headshot just made it [i]angry[/i]. The Necromorph slashed wildly, Naito only just getting out of the way before he was slashed in half, but still suffering a wound to his abdomen, which he grunted from.

Someone came in behind her, some kind of futuristic assault rifle with a triangular muzzle in his hands. He wore a [url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7C4q7UtUTKs]dark gray leather flight jacket, a black shirt with a strange slogan, padded jeans, a belt with several pouches and a suspender, red gloves, futuristic boots, and a ballistic vest[/url]. It included a kind of metallic mask over the top of his head and his face, with a light coming from several bars across the facemask, some kind of hologram projector on the front of his chest. From the looks of things, this was not vacuum sealed, his light-skinned neck and the back of his short, black, graying-haired head. Not wasting a moment, he unloaded. Not on the body, but severing the left arm with a stream of bullets, sending it staggering back. A kind of light-based tractor beam came from his left hand, or a device on it, catching the limb and bring it close to him, hovering. In the next motion, it was thrown, spearing straight through the target's chest and impaling it to the far wall, dead.

Though he had saved them, the man had to ask. "Who are you people? What are you doing here?"

"Who are [i]you?[/i] I'm Sergeant Azumi Ian. This guy's Naito Zivaku."

"Seen people like you before," he said, the mask disassembling, folding into the hologram projector on its own. She needed to get something like that, maybe from Kira. His bluish-green eyes showed the faintest hints of madness, but not enough to be a big deal. He looked about forty five, forty six.  His tone did not seem completely sincere as he spoke next, a hint of sarcasm.

"Isaac Clarke. Engineering."

====

"Why here?  Why of all places, why here?"  Jasmine kept asking herself the same question over and over.  She recognized this place.  More like she couldn't forget this place.  After all it was the first place she experienced the horrors some of the worlds could provide.  And Jazz thought she left it all behind after escaping the first time.  And at the moment she was all alone.  At least before she had Louis pretty close by before any of those Necromorphs showed up.

Jazz made her way slowly.  She remembered how those things could pop out of nowhere so she had to be even more careful.  Though she wouldn't need to be much to her complete and utter relief when she spotted someone she actually didn't expect to see so soon.

"Naito!"  Jasmine yelled as she ran over and grabbed the guy in a tight hug.  Having someone she knew around made her feel so much better.

====

Naito was still staggering to his feet when the glomp of a hug took him by surprise, flattening him against the wall next to the "store." He was initially scared, scared that he was going to die... but then he recognized who it was. A blush came over him, and he hugged her closely, stroking her hair to comfort her. He himself had not had a good time, but she seemed distressed. She was never like this around him.

It was the first time since Rapture, too. So long for him, given the horrors of Space Paranoids. "I... I missed you," he said, meaning it. "Are... are you okay, Jasmine? I'm sorry about before, I'm... I'm so sorry..." He was sorry about upsetting Jasmine. Not about what he had said.

Meanwhile, the native looked to them, surprised to see the newcomer. "Jasmine, is that you? It's me, Isaac. Isaac Clarke, from... last time." He didn't really know how else to describe it, since this was the same ship, three years later. "Everyone's dead," he said flatly. "From last time, anyway. Kendra was an EarthGov agent and turned on me. Got Ellie and... well, I [i]had[/i] Stross... damned lunatic..."

Azumi nodded slowly, looking to Jasmine. Like most, she didn't look aged a day. She was used to this by now. "Hey, Jasmine. How are you doing? It's me, Azumi Ian from Greg's squad. He's alive, if you were wondering." The last part had a hint of malice, but aimed at Greg, not her. She went to the "store" then, looking back to Clarke. "Watch our backs, alright? Gonna check this out. What's here?"

"Weapons, schematics. I have ammunition and schematics for a bunch of weapons and tools."

"A sniper?"

"Seeker Rifle could work," he said. "Shoot the limbs, though. Strong rifle, but aside from Stalkers, those headshots won't help."

She nodded, going over the shop, which had the holograms shift. She went through menus, working it all, using her munny supply (not a lot, mostly using credits in the system) to get some things.

As she did, Isaac kept an eye around, though he kept focused on Jasmine. "How is everyone? They alive? Didn't see any others after you all left."

Naito didn't ask. He understood she probably was here once, probably why she was so happy to see him. Maybe the horror lasted. He just held her, letting her answer.

====

"You're here too Azumi?"  Jasmine asked.  She did not expect to see the female soldier again after the time they spent in her world.  Still having a couple of familiar faces including Isaac who seemed to have survived the first time going through the Ishimura means he can do it again.  Really if Jasmine had to be in this world again she was glad that it was with all of them.

"Wait a minute wait a minute."  Jasmine said as she suddenly got to her feet and turned to Isaac.  "Are you actually talking now?"  Yes it did take some time for Jasmine to recognize the fact that Isaac was now suddenly voiced, compared to him being voiceless before.

====

(For sake of convenience, we will probably be calling Isaac Clarke "Clarke" to distinguish him from the Zivaku demon.)

"..."

Okay, so he didn't really feel talkative his first time facing down Necromorphs. But who could really blame him? He just decided to answer. "Yeah, Jasmine, I can talk." His voice was decidedly deadpan. "When you're being betrayed and surrounded by the living dead, it's best not to talk the first time around. Could you answer me?"

Azumi finally came back, holding a collection of items. Three small med packs that she distributed amongst the Interferences, and a medium sized one for Clarke, who took it in kind. In her hands was a rifle. The [url=http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/Seeker_Rifle]Seeker Rifle[/url] was a good addition to her equipment, at least for now, she assumed. The woman held it in her hands, keeping her machine gun on her back and her pistol at her waist. She could put it away another time. "Hm..." She looked over the specs a bit more. "Okay, looks good."

She looked to them, first to Jasmine, smiling at her and the confused Naito. She wondered offhand if she wanted help, considering what she had heard in New Mombasa. "I saw Hawk, Kynthia, and Audrey," she said. "I assume everyone's okay?"

Naito looked between them, getting his footing again. "W-what was that thing?"

"Necromorph. We call it a Slasher," the engineer said. "Normal shots like the head usually don't work. Cut off the limbs. That does it. Or the yellow spots. Just be careful not to die."

"Yes, that's generally a good thing," Azumi deadpanned back. Zombies. Just swell. "I think we probably should start moving. Jasmine, would you like to talk with me a bit? As we walk. Just wanted to know if I could catch up on stuff with you."

====

"Sorry but I saw Louis when I met Azumi but haven't seen him since."  Jasmine told Clarke.  Really it was weird to hear him talk again but it would make things a bit easier now.  They could really know what they are doing.

"Um sure Azumi but is now a good time?"  Jasmine asked.  Sure it would be nice to catch up with Azumi but considering where they were Jasmine wasn't all that sure.

====

Clarke nodded, starting off ahead as the helmet reassembled. "You two can stay back and pick up the rear. I cleared out the rooms a bit in a row ahead," he noted to the women. "Hey, Naito is it?"

The time traveler tilted his head. "What is it?"

"You can fight, right?"

"Um...sure."

"What do you have? Any guns?"

"...I have a flashlight?" he asked.

"....swell. And the swords?"

"I'm good with them. I can cut off limbs." With that, they took the forefront. Naito would take in close, Clarke could take a mid range, and the women could take long range and the back.

Azumi nodded, following at a distance, aiming down the sights of her gun. "As long as we're in an area where he cleared it, we might as well talk now," she said. "Come on, Jazz, you saved my a** from the Hunters a while back -- amazingly, I might add -- so I think I have to make it up to you by keeping people off of your back while we talk. It'll help you to relax, anyway. I'm a good shot."

====

Jasmine blushed a bit at the praise Azumi gave her.  She really didn't think she did that well against those Hunters.  She felt like she barely was able to beat them, heck she would have died to the second if it wasn't for the magic of her chakrams.  "Thanks Azumi."  Jazz did say as she gave her a bit of a relieved smile.

"So what did you want to talk about Azumi?"  Jasmine asked, rather curious.  She really didn't expect the soldier to actually become a Interference but she didn't mind.  Azumi was nice to her back when they first met even with how alien Jazz looked.

====

Azumi smiled to Jasmine, about to answer...but had to check something. "Just one sec." She looked back to Clarke and Naito, both strafing the area, back and forth, Naito keeping his flashlight out just in case. "You're sure there's nobody in the next few rooms?" she called over.

"No vents," the engineer called back. "We've got a safe route to the tram, then I'll be able to get down to the tethers. I was going back to get supplies."

Azumi nodded, and began to speak to her. "How have things been in general? Any boys, any powers, anything?" She wanted to talk about Naito, but she didn't want to make it too obvious, not wanting to incriminate Greg. Still, she had to say something. "Oh, I got promoted. Sergeant now."

====

Jasmine just listened to Azumi not really offering any replies.

"Not really.  Just been going through worlds."  While it was nice to talk to Azumi, Jazz really didn't feel too comfortable talking so casually here.  While Clarke said it was clear, Jazz was still a bit nervous.

====

"Nice to know," she said. Azumi sighed, feeling the tension. "You keep being so nervous, they might smell fear. You never know with these things. Just try and concentrate on me, okay? I gotcha. Nothing's going to hurt you, so let's just talk." She glanced briefly over. "Do you trust me? Don't hesitate to say if you won't take me on my word on something. I like honesty. A lack of it can get people killed. Has done as much in my line of work."

The soldier continued on, looking left and right, the light on the end of the gun helping. She tried to make the point more. "Aside from that guy, not much. Hey, how about you go over and talk to Naito? He's a good kid, might be able to help you loosen those nerves."

Meanwhile, the group finally came to the tram. It was a pretty standard train station as far as things went, one of the trams there. A door opened, many buglike creatures coming out, finally Necromorphs!

Clarke's reaction was very swift, his change to a new weapon. The [url=http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/Handheld_Graviton_Accelerator]new gun he had out[/url] was functioning like a shotgun, sending force rounds out and obliterating the Swarmers in one go. He leaned inside, looking left and right, and motioned for Naito to keep a lookout to make sure the women could join him.

Naito looked back to them, having been ignorant to it all due to his focus on the place around them, nervously looked around before looking back toward the other two, holding out a hand to let them on.

Azumi stepped on board, briefly taking Naito's hand as a sign of respect, though unnecessary, and let go as she passed, going to the left side of the tram car, about the size of a subway car inside. "Hey, kid, how about you go and talk to Jazz? She's not feeling too great." she asked, pointing to the right side. "I'll stick with Clarke."

"Um...sure," Naito said, helping Jasmine on next before going off to the opposite side of the tram from Clarke after he hit a button on the holographic panel to activate the tram to his intended location.

The engineer called in to his RIG, a small holographic screen with an audio output registered. "Ellie, how are things on your end? I found some help."

A woman's voice sounded pained on the other side. [i]"Aw... Isaac."[/i] She seemed to cringe over the radio. [i]"Damnit, that hurts. The ba***** bit me."[/i]

Clarke seemed shocked, even with his helmet on. "What? Ah sh**."

Azumi had to cut in before the man could finish. "Are you alright? I'm with the people he found."

[i]"Yeah I'm fine,"[/i] this "Ellie" responded before turning attention back to the protagonist. [i]"But he's stopped talking, and won't look at me. How's it going on your end otherwise? And please tell me this plan is going to work!"[/i]

"I'm almost there. We're heading to the bridge to activate the gravity tethers."

Overall, the two older travelers seemed to be minding their own business to let the younger two talk, for various reasons.

Naito touched Jasmine's shoulder, concerned. "Are you okay? You can talk to me if you w-want to.... Anything. Really."

====

"I know Naito..."  Jasmine said.  Really as much as she liked Azumi she wasn't all that much in the same kind of talking mood the soldier was.  Maybe talking with Naito might help a bit.  She did want to talk with him...just in a place that didn't give her nightmares.  "I wanted to talk to you after but...I think this is the worst possible place for it.  But I want to say...I've been thinking about what happened back in Rapture."  Jasmine said as she looked at Naito.

====

Naito nodded sighing sadly. "I didn't want to upset you... Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?"

Ellie again. [i]"Well, good. They're swarming through a hole in the Medical Deck. At least you won't have to go through there."[/i]

Azumi, listening, offhandedly wondered if anyone else could feel that sense of impending doom. Suddenly, the train began to slow to a stop, the intercom sending out a message through the car. That explained why.

[i]"Unexpected obstruction ahead. Shutting down. Welcome to the Medical Deck."[/i]

Clarke's reaction was both nervous and annoyed. "Crap."

The door opened to the car, flickering lights on the other side in the station. The native walked out first, looking left and right as he traded the Force Gun for a [url=http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/211-V_Plasma_Cutter]pistol-like tool[/url], aiming around the area. There was a glass partition for the waiting area for a next tram, but they remained relatively safe. The tram they had stopped on had blocked the way down the tracks. There was nobody in here, and no vents. And the door was closed.

Naito walked into that glass area as Clarke, shuddering a bit as if hearing something, picked up some plasma rounds from a nearby table before walking to the door, with Azumi now.

She spoke the two of them. "You two can stay here. I just want to make sure Jazz is okay. Okay, Jazz, Naito? We can cover up ahead. I'll shout if we have any trouble, and we won't go past... Hey, Clarke, what's the next room?"

"A hallway. No vents or windows, just the way from the main rooms to the tram station. Anyone in there will be all there is for a short while. No other ways they'll get by us, and the tram's blocking the tunnel. If I wasn't in a hurry, I'd use this as a safe room."

"Okay, good," she said, and looked to Naito. "You take care of yourself, kid. Believe me, you've got a lot more people who care for you than I do. Just sit tight, and everything'll be fine. Nobody's gonna come down this way. I'll see you in a bit."

"Um...okay?" He looked to Jasmine. "Um... just... I..." A blush in spite of their situation. Now he was completely alone with her.

Azumi smiled slightly, depolarizing her visor for a moment. "Oh, and Naito?" she asked.

"Y-yeah?"

"About Space Paranoids... thanks. I owe you one." With that, the visor repolarized, and she walked through. Some gunfire could be heard, but not a lot. A few blasts, then silence. A bit of talking on the other side of the door showed that the humans had been the victors.

Naito walked into the glass chamber, sitting on a bench after moving some luggage over to give space for both of them. "Y-you can sit with me if you want..." he said. "It seems like a good time... no battles around here. Azumi's a good woman...just a little...broken up. I can't say I'm not," he sighed, not saying more on that for a few moments. Finally, he spoke again. "If there's anything I can do to get your mind off of things... please let me know what you want to talk about with Rapture. I just hope I don't say anything that embarrasses me again..." He blushed slightly, knowing she knew what he meant.

====

"Thanks."  Jasmine said as she nodded to Azumi.  She had went through the medical deck when she was here before so not having to go through it again was a bit of a relief.  The Sneaselmorph sat next to Naito and smiled at him.  "Thanks Naito.  I really appreciate it.  I mean it.  I just...this was the first kind of world like it I ever went to."

Jasmine paused slightly before continuing.  "This is probably the worst place to talk about it but...well I mean I know you like me and you're a great guy Naito and I guess...I guess I kind of want to try it.  I mean I want to try being together.  I-It's nothing concrete but just a couple of dates...you know right?"

====

Azumi was out of sight, yes. She was away, wasn't able to listen...mostly, aside from mumbles, as was the case the other way around too. But Naito couldn't even hear that.

He mind was racing and drawing a blank at the same time. He really did like Jasmine. Had to admit it after all of this time, but... he was also from the future. Would he have to deal with that? And would she still like him after hearing about... that? Would he...? No, the decision was clear.

Naito's ability to speak was not.

The young man's face went bright red, his eyes bugging out* and his breath stopping for a moment. He leaned back and forth, trying to come to... and finally managed to spit out...something.

"I...I'd... Erm... I mean.... Er.... if you want to, I can, but... uh... I don't mean to impose, J-Jasmine, I mean... if you l-like me and w-want to..." It was obvious he wanted to, but he was still having trouble coming to terms.

(*pun intended

Also, if they're gonna go, she's probably gonna have to be the one to say she's feeling more ready.)

====

As amusing as Naito's reaction was, Jasmine was getting a bit worried that she might have broken him with that.  Though once he started talking Jasmine knew something right away.  If they were going to be dating, she would be the one to decide everything, at least until Naito starts deciding things for himself.  But that made him cute in the Sneaselmorph's opinion.

"I do like you Naito.  You helped me a lot and you're a good friend.  I don't mind trying to see if we can be anything more."  Jasmine responded.  For all of her flirting, Jasmine was just as not used to these kinds of things as Naito was, though she was able to handle herself a little bit better at least.

"I guess that means we're uh dating right?  We don't need to do anything to make it official do we?"  Jasmine asked.

====

Naito nodded slightly, blushing a bit more. So he had a... girlfriend? Jasmine actually... No, no. He would have to wait and let her decide. And then came the issue of time travel... One thing at a time.

"L-let's w-wait until you decide, o-okay? I don't know how this works..." He nervously scooted closer, wondering if he should wrap his arms around her...

Luckily for them both, Clarke poked his head in as Naito said this, a little impatient and needing to move on. "Look, I know you two are busy, but we gotta move. Ellie and Stross don't have that much time, and Tiedemann -- the security chief on the Sprawl who's worked against me -- isn't the greatest on top of the Necromorphs."

Azumi sighed, also looking out at them, though her helmet was too dark to see into. "Sorry, but he's right."

"R-right," Naito said, standing up again. He looked to Jasmine, a little nervous to hold her hand.... He shook his head slightly. "N-no, bad time to do that... Later..." With that, he walked out, but not before giving Jasmine a quick hug, whispering to her. "All the time you need..."

The group went on, into the next room. It was very dark, but not pitch dark. The luminescent liquid around showed enough, as did the panels around. Was that the remnants of blood?

Naito did then take Jasmine's hand, wanting to comfort her, but also for his own comfort. The group continued, finding a panel of some kind of device.

Clarke nodded slightly, grabbing the side of the panel, and pulling it off, showing mechanical inner workings. "Watch my back. I've got to fix this up." He shoved his right hand up into the machine, then the left, and began to do his professed job...as they came from all around the group.

[url=http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/Puker]An enhanced Puker[/url], four of those same Enhanced Slashers as before, and three lumbering [url=http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/Exploder]Exploders[/url] came toward the group from a distance, all from different angles. Roars, as the Slashers charged. It was time to fight.

Azumi was deliberately cold, but quick as she took aim at one of the nearest Slasher's arms, firing and blowing it off. As it staggered back, Naito's half-panicked Moon Wave took out its legs, causing it to fall down, dead.

Not wasting a second, the soldier aimed at one of the sacks of an Exploder, firing at the yellow as instructed. It exploded violently, destroying another Slasher and itself, but allowing the remaining ones to come...

The angel was scared, there was no doubt about it. Though Azumi was as well, she hadn't shown it, unlike him as he tried to slash at the Puker. He cut off one arm...and the other came down on his shoulder, forcing him back against the nearest wall. He screamed as the vile vomit burned his body, steam rising as he tried to fight it off, to cut off the leg he was aiming for, to kill it...

"Don't move!" The shot took it out for him, and the next the one right on the other side, a third taking the head, but leaving the acid-spewing, open cavity of the stomach there. Finally it was dead, the monster falling to the ground beside him, the acid still burning the ground around him, making it hard to move toward him, and also for him to move in his pain.

Azumi took aim again, looking around. Two Exploders, three Slashers, the latter Enhanced types. She could take them out, maybe, but the ammunition problem... Jasmine would have to. Her chakram discs could do the deed as the woman ran around the side to get closer to the burn victim, gasping for breath. She could tell by how they acted that they were together in some form, or at least by how he did, but she wasn't going to let him die. She just hoped she could save him in time. "How much more?!" she shouted to their resident native.

"Just hold them off! A few more seconds!"

(You can take out the remainder. A double chakram throw taking out both of the Exploders at once ought to do the trick. He'll be done when they are.)

====

"Naito!"  Jasmine shouted as the half angel seemed to be burned by a necromorph she had never seen before.  Really she hadn't seen any of these necromorphs before and seeing them now made Jazz glad that she didn't.  But right now Naito was down and something in Jasmine seemed to snap.  It was just a few minutes ago when she admitted she liked Naito and seeing hurt like that made her mad.

"Just die damn it!"  Jasmine shouted as she threw her chakrams at the ones she noticed exploded.  The bladed rings went right through the explosive sacks and the combined explosions managed to wipe everything out.  Jasmine ran right toward Naito, only unconsciously, grabbing her chakrams as they returned to her.

"Naito are you okay?"  Jasmine asked as she pulled out a Hi-Potion.

====

The acid around the angel finally bubbled away as Clarke took his hands out of the panel, a new elevator platform working. He swore at Naito's condition, but Azumi knelt beside him, taking the Hi-Potion and feeding it to him. The wound healed to a degree, but the damage.... it was a temporary measure at best. Still, Azumi appreciated it, nodding to the Sneaselmorph.

"Talk to me, Naito," she said, her voice forcing itself to be kind and calm, an effect that Jasmine could probably tell was forced. "Can you walk?"

"Gah..." he was gasping for breath, trying to pull himself up...and fell. "I... I think I can.... I..." He looked to Jasmine, upset due to how she looked. "Please... I'll be okay..." He hoped so, anyway. He just needed time with a save point and time on his ship to use healing potions.

Azumi sighed, cracking open his med pack's tube, looking at the cyan gel inside and leaning toward him. "This is going to probably hurt, but you're going to be fine."

He nodded weakly... then bit his lip hard as the section of burned flesh over his torso had the fluid administered to it, the acid being counteracted and neutralized, the burns stopping from getting worse. It wasn't enough to make him combat ready, but it wouldn't hurt to walk anymore, though he did look like he needed support.

The ODST ducked down, holding the Seeker Rifle in her right hand only as she draped the time traveler's arm over the back of her neck. "You're going to be fine, alright? I'll make sure you get back to your family. You can walk now, right?"

On the weak confirmation and slight reassuring smile to Jasmine from the younger of the men, they continued onward.

The next room was a kind of medical testing room, with a broken glass, cylindrical container on one of the sides, another unbroken next to it, but with a deceased Necromorph specimen. Clarke seemed to space out, a as if concentrating on something that wasn't there, and Azumi waved her arm in front of him.

"Hey, man, snap out of it, we gotta go. Door's open."

Naito, even in his condition, did hear the snap of the nearby vent bursting inward, an Enhanced Slasher and tailed [url=http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/Leaper]Enhanced Leaper[/url] joining them suddenly. "Guys!" he shouted, but Clarke was already back to action.

A well-placed plasma cutter shot sliced off the Slasher's left arm as it charged at them, sending it staggering back for Jasmine to defeat. Meanwhile, the soldier among them took aim with another, reloaded shot from the Seeker Rifle she had difficultly-aimed sidearmed to accommodate Naito, taking three shots at the Leaper before her helmet's reticle on her helmet-mouted display could take in the new weapon with its one-dot targeting sight. Finally, she managed to cut off the Leaper's sizable tail, two of the shots hitting him, without giving a word edgewise

Clarke sent out a blue pulse of energy at the now-enraged Slasher, slowing it near a halt to make things easier for them before using his technologically based telekinesis to catch the clawed arm of of the slasher, throwing it straight through the Leaper's body with a single pulse, impaling it to the back of the vent to leave it to hang there, dead.

Meanwhile, Naito's condition was again taking a turn for the worse, the medicine being a temporary measure, though another that Azumi had given him, her own from their store of it, had helped somewhat for a time. It didn't look like he'd be conscious for much longer if he could not get to a save point. Azumi did recognize this, though she could snot deal with it now, needing a little bit more time. Jasmine probably had her own vial for a small med pack still, and Clarke still had his several vials for a medium-sized one, but they needed a little more than that, a full healing on a ship, for him to be okay.

====

Jasmine helped Naito up.  It made Jazz bite her lip at his condition.  Even after using the healing items from both her and Azumi, Naito still looked pretty bad.  They had to get him out of here, sooner rather than later.

"I am going to try and get Naito to a Save Point!"  Jasmine shouted as she started slowly moving forward, looking for a Save Point so they could get Naito to safety.  There was no way that she was going to let Naito die.  Especially not now.  Not after that talk the two of them had.

====

Azumi nodded to her, continuing on. "First sign of one we see, you take him out of here. Clarke, what's the situation on anything that seems useless, but you touch anyway?"

Isaac Clarke thought a second. "They're called 'save stations'. Panel on the wall, labeled. You'll know when you see it."

Naito coughed out his words, his stutter due to weakness rather than nervousness. "I... I won't die, J-Jasmine... Won't leave you..."

On they moved. The trip was somewhat long, through several sections of moving platforms, electrical issues, and other situations of similar caliber, not to mention the issues with two tentacle-bearing, infantile [url=http://deadspace.wikia.com/wiki/Lurker]Enhanced Lurkers[/url] that needed to be taken care of at the same time. Clarke dealt with the one on one side as Azumi fired with her Seeker Rifle. With their combined efforts, both of them were killed.

Finally, a new reprieve. This room pad a safe passage across a small bridge like area. Azumi looked to Clarke, who put down a glowing line of some sort on the ground made of a hologram. It went across the pathway ahead.

Clarke nodded, holding his plasma cutter out in front of him as he walked over the bridge. Harmless. Might as well check this area before going back and setting up the power cell. They continued on their way...and saw it.

A small computer panel in the next room full of brightened blood. The words on it... Azumi had to say it, relieved. "A save station..." Even if she had never used this type, she knew how it worked. She walked clo--

A whipping sound could be heard, and she couldn't' even react, a spike of some sort causing her to stagger back, another joining the one in her shoulder's armor by going straight into her chest. The latter didn't do as much damage due to the degree of her armor, but the deed was done. Naito, hit, coughed up an unknown liquid due to internal damage.

Azumi scowled at the three Lurkers around the save station, none actually in the way, but on the sides, coming toward them. They were Enhanced in type nature, so she put the newer Seeker Rifle on her back in favor of her M7S submachine gun. She needed more shells for the sniper, ones she would buy in addition to the one she had left as a blueprint, but she knew she had a far higher amount of these bullets.

As Clarke's cutter took out one of the monstrous ex-babies, her gun unloaded into another. She kept the trigger depressed as the automatic fire drilled off one tentacle... and it moved. Lunged at her, grabbed at her and started stabbing into her back with its remaining tentacles as she tried, grunting, to take it off...and did, throwing it to the ground...and punting its head into oblivion, the body flying into a nearby wall before falling down. "Stay down!" She looked back to Jasmine, then Naito, as another stasis pulse from Clarke kept the last of them still for a short time. "Jazz, I'm not gonna ask on how close you two are, we'll deal with that when he's not bleeding out. But either kill that last one and then get him out to one of your ships, or run and let me cover for you. I'm not letting him die, alright?" She was stern, but kind, stressed, but trying to soothe her, leaning down quickly and picking up the gasping young man, holding him up for her to take in her own carry of sorts, at least to help him walk. "Decision time. Cut that thing apart or just run and we'll cover for you. Won't hold it against you."

(Your choice if Jazz should kill the last Lurker, or exit the thread and imply her helping nurse Naito to recovery in time for Miraculous Spring. If she does kill it, she can stick around to say goodbye or just go on the same post also. Just telling the options.)

====

"Come on Naito, we're getting us out of here."  Jasmine said as she helped Naito over to the Save Station.  Even if it wasn't the same as a Save Point, it seemed to be close enough in order to let her and Naito get out of here.  She did feel bad at leaving Azumi and Isaac behind at the moment but Naito needed to get out of here first.  "Be careful you two.  Sorry."  Jasmine said as she and Naito disappeared through the Save Station to her Gummi Ship.

====

Just before Jasmine left, Azumi shook her head. There was nothing to be sorry about in a situation where a friend was dying, as she knew, unlike a certain [i]someone[/i] else.

[i]Refocus, don't concentrate on him, too much danger.[/i] Anyway, any considerations had to be taken into account. She could catch up with them later. "Together!" she shouted.

"Right!" he shouted back, firing once at a top tentacle (most likely an intestine) on one of them as the soldier took the one on the left on the same with a burst, rolling to her left in a combat roll to escape another barb as it was fired, one taking him in the knee, making him grunt. That Lurker died, the next falling to one blast at the right tentacle with the M7S, then being impaled with a kinesis on the same through the face.

Silence again, both taking a breath, back to back, looking around, at the walls the doors, the ceiling, the floor. Vents? Nothing. Okay, they were safe for now.

Azumi reloaded the weapon without looking, turning to the engineer as he did the same on his tool. "You gonna be alright?"

"Don't worry," he said, though he did sigh, liking to have actual, competent support actively helping him for once in his life aside from that brief time seeing Ellie fight. "I've had a lot of practice, and I'm in a hurry. You go on ahead. Maybe we'll meet again... if I survive the day."

Best she could ask for. "Alright, then." She lowered the weapon from her left hand, holding it out, shaking his. "You'd make a good sharpshooter, Clarke."

A grunt to that. "I have enough problems from EarthGov. The last thing we need is me on security detail."

A shrug. "If you say so."

He started off. "But thanks. And if you see them again, tell them I say the same, okay?"

"Sure." And he walked off, aiming ahead. She came to the station, opening it up and looking around, making sure she didn't have any other problems.

Well, one good thing had come of this trip, aside from the new gun. It looked like Jasmine and the kid were together now, or close to it, like Greg would have wanted. No, not just that, it wasn't for him. It was what they both deserved. Naito and Jasmine both. There was a beam upward on that note.

From the wreckage of the USG Ishimura within the Titan Station Sprawl, a beam of hope.

(And that's a wrap.)