GBG Session 8: Into the Thick of It

<Darkling> You're in the jeep on your way to school. Rasia isn't with you, Lit had to take her to the base for a checkup, so she gets to miss out on all the fun today. The man in a black uniform driving the jeep isn't too friendly looking or talkative, but he does his job delivering you to school on time before ordering you to 'get out' promptly.
Corrin quickly obeys, bag in one hand. He looks back over one shoulder for the other pilots a few steps away from the jeep.
Wilhelm_Faustus slithers out next, bag slung over one shoulder.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja exits last, using a minimum acceptable quickness. She looks less than thrilled.
<Darkling> Should be a tame day with Rasia to harm anyone.
<Darkling> Lahja, Corrin, seems like just another day to you. Something itches at your brain though Wil.
<Corrin> "Come on, Pilot Lahja! We'll be late!"
<Darkling> Corrin's exclamation pinpoints what it is in your mind Wil. You three have a bus to catch, it's field trip day.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks around for said bus.
Corrin is already heading towards the doors.
<Darkling> Sure enough it's waiting in the parking lot, your classmates are climbing aboard.
Corrin looks back again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sighs, looks to Lahja, then starts for it.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja picks up the pace ever so slightly. Enough to seem compliant, but only to a minimum. She heads toward the school doors at first, much like Corrin, but then notices Wilhelm going in the other direction and changes course...
Corrin finally gets a clue when he sees where Lahja's going, and hurries to catch up with the other two.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I should be excited. But I'm not."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...neither am I."
<Corrin> "Why not?" Corrin asks, head jerking around as he jogs.
<Corrin> "And excited about what?"
<Darkling> "It should be exciting! We get to see a harvest dome!" says Icelin, appearing out of nowhere.
<Corrin> "Ah."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...a harvest dome? I suppose this is comperable to highschool trips to farms, before Second Impact."
Corrin glances sideways at the other pilots.
<Darkling> "But farms before the Second Impact we're controlled by humans are were at the mercy of nature." She points out getting on the bus.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "The trip. Maybe it has something to do with being stuck on a bus with a few people who have proven consistently annoying." Lahja says a bit flatly.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He climbs aboard.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja does as well, without much energy.
<Darkling> Most of the bus is taken up. Looks like there is a free spot beside Grundi, Icelin, and a whole row free for two.
Wilhelm_Faustus plops down next to Icelin.
<Darkling> She smiles. "Aren't you the least bit curious how the harvest domes work?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja claims an empty spot. She sighs in relief.
Corrin takes the last empty spot, slumping a bit.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I suppose."
<Darkling> The bus starts up when the last kid, the nerdy boy that was drawing the Aesir, gets on and sits beside Grundi.
<Darkling> And then you're off. The school doesn't get the luxury of taking the quicker subways, so you get to spend an hour on the bus as it drives through a dark underground service tunnel.
<Darkling> Looks like Grundi and the boy are chatting it up quite nicely. Icelin hasn't really shut up about how the domes work and the animals there.
<Corrin> "You were right, Pi-" Corrin cut himself off with a face. "Lahja."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja briefly glances to the kid, and then to Corrin, as if he'd done something wrong. But it's quick, and she keeps herself busy with drawing. Badly. "I usually am. One day I'll be giving orders."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Lahja, the Aryan just snorted. Seems you'll have competition for that post.
<Darkling> "And then they herd the cattle into a bolt machine that brains them. It's rather unsanitary and cruel, but one of the quickest ways for them to die so there isn't any lasting pain." Icelin explains, whether you are listening or not.
Corrin looks over at Lahja's last words. "Better you than some." He frowns. "Think this one's going to be the same one?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...you seem to know a lot about the process, considering the gruesome details."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'd find that interesting." Taking note of the snort, Lahja smirks. "Sounds like Icelin smuggled a cute wittle piglet aboard. Did you hear that noise it just made, Corrin?"
<Darkling> "Oh, well I like to stay informed. Sometimes dealing with animals can be gross, but you have to deal with it."
Corrin grins.
<Darkling> The bus hits a bump, sending you forward and out of your seat slightly Lahja, just as a cupcake sails past where your head was and *wops* into the window with a smear.
<Darkling> The teacher stands up, looking for the cupcake assassin.
<Darkling> "You have such bad aim Art." someone says from the back of the bus.
<Darkling> Giggles follow.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks to the window, then behind her. Her eyes widen a bit, more in annoyance than surprise. "If that's the best you can aim I'd hate to walk around on your bathroom floor!" She snaps at no one in particular, heedless of the teacher.
<Darkling> "Quiet down children!" The teacher yells.
Corrin sits back, head snapping to the front.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja sits looking straight ahead, none too pleased. She sinks down lower into her seat and glares at the seat in front of her.
<Darkling> "Sometimes I think our classmates are worse than the cattle we slaughter." Icelin remarks quietly.
<Darkling> The rest of the bus ride is pretty dull, the teacher keeping an eye on everyone from then on.
Corrin nods, voice dropping as well. "At least the enemy puts up a fight. Who wastes good food like that? Only useless."
<Darkling> Soon enough you're arriving at the harvest dome, and back into the light. The fresh smells of dirt and manure waft into the windows of the bus as it pulls to a stop and the doors open.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He's quick to cover his nose, eyes watering some.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja sighs. Perhaps she subconsciously expected this distinct scent, accounting for her lack of enthusiasm. Either way she seems to sink even lower into her seat, as if that would help.
<Darkling> "Everyone off the bus." The teacher gets off first, and you hear him cuss.
Corrin stiffens, lowering his head.
Wilhelm_Faustus all but chokes on these new scents assaulting his senses, missing the more sterile environment of home.
Corrin stands, looking straight ahead.
<Darkling> Icelin waits patiently for Wilhelm to move, but looks eager to get off the bus.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja takes very shallow breaths. It works fine for a while, but then she ends up covering her mouth and nose, breathing more normally. She stands, waiting for Corrin. "Watch where you step."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stands and moves out of her way with an apologetic look.
<Darkling> She hurries off the bus, hopping off and landing with an audible plop.
<Darkling> The moans and complaints of other kids getting off are all too audible as well.
Corrin finally steps out into the aisle, shaking his head slightly. His hands are closed into fists, bag forgotten.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja moves to get off the bus after Corrin. And before making that final step she looks down at the ground.
<Darkling> The ground looks nice and soft and muddy. Other kids are sinking a good inch into it.
Corrin just steps off, looking straight ahead with his hands at his side.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Is that really mud? She gives the ground a look look, then delicately steps into the ground. If only she could hover like Null Drei...
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wil follows after them, looking faaar from thrilled.
<Darkling> It squishes like mud at least.
<Darkling> Off to the right of the school pack is a herd of cows being led through some metal fences, a worked prodding them along with an electrified pole.
<Darkling> The teacher looks around then spots their tour guide, heading right towards them, wearing hip high waders like the rest of the workers. "Greetings! I'm Tim Smith, and I'll be showing you around the facility!"
Corrin stops walking, and looks dully at the tour guide.
<Darkling> "Our first stop is going to be the locker rooms so we can get you all suited up and drop off your bags!" He is waaaay too chipper.
<Corrin> "Right. Drop our bags..."
<Darkling> He starts leading the way and the crowd begins to follow.
Corrin wades through the muck with the others, determinedly looking straight ahead.
<Darkling> You're led into a large guest locker room. Boots and hip waders are hung on the walls. "Everyone get changed and we'll prepare to start the tour."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja seems a little more enthusiastic now. Protection from the mess! Sort of. She quickly changes.
Corrin relaxes once he's in the locker room, then starts to follow the instructions. There's still mud and that smell, but it's muted. Less of it.
Wilhelm_Faustus changes without a word or much thought.
<Darkling> A regular flow of complaints can be heard from Brina and Penelope. "This is so degrading. Ugh!"
Corrin breathes in deeply once he's done changing, looking at nothing in particular, then exhales and straightens. He hadn't thought that'd happen. This place isn't back there. It's just a trip. Absently, his right hand twitches once.
<Darkling> After getting suited up, you're led down a hallway with protective glass showing a good view of the cattle in large pens. At least it doesn't smell in here.
<Darkling> "This section here is the cattle pens. We keep mainly the bulls here separated from the calves and the cows. They're in a pen further down. On average, we have around ten thousand cattle in this facility."
<Darkling> The teacher chimes in "Remember everyone to take notes. This will be in your test."
Corrin reaches for his bag...wait.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> In the test. Great. Lahja mutters something under her breath. Probably profanity.
<Darkling> "Let's continue down the hall to the calves." He starts leading the group ahead.
Corrin remembers his tablet after a few moments and holds it in his hands as he walks.
<Darkling> "Most of our cows are in a constant state of pregnancy. It's unfortunately the only reliable way to keep the birth rate from being lower than the consumption rate of the cows. Plans are in motion to build another harvest dome identical to this one. That will double our cattle supply."
<Darkling> He points through the window at a group of calves being tended by some workers.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows around, staring at Corrin's tablet. She makes a mental note to copy off of him later.
Corrin tries to type one-handed, fails, and presses his tablet against the window before typing frantically one key at a time.
Corrin is too busy typing to notice the scene beyond the window.
<Darkling> You hit something and it takes a picture of the calves instead.
<Darkling> "Let's head out into the pen shall we?" He opens a door and a good scented breeze fills the hallway.
Corrin cradles the tablet in one arm and finishes typing as he stumbles along.
<Darkling> You're admitted to a small pen of calves and allowed to get up close, pet and feed them.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja moves along. She makes a mental note about the cows being pregnant so often.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares at a calf for a while, even leaning forward a bit to look at it. She makes a questioning moo at it.
Corrin finally lowers his tablet with a sigh, and moves to join the others with the calves.
Wilhelm_Faustus keeps to the back, not interested in feeding or petting them.
<Darkling> Most of the other kids are right up there taking advantage of this.
<Darkling> Someone slips and lands on their back with a sucking plop. Looks like Art couldn't keep his footing and fell backwars into a pile of manure one of the workers had been shoveling.
<Darkling> The teacher sighs as the worker helps him up. "It's in my pants!" He cries, and is taken off to get cleaned up.
Corrin hears a noise like Rasia biting down on a tomato and continues to try and get a look at the calf from his place in the back of the crowd.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "One day, little calf, you'll be forced to squeeze out babies." Lahja says in a flat tone. "My mother told me it was like trying to squeeze a watermelon out of a hole the size of a lemon, except there's lots of blood, slime, and meat coming out. It gets better."
<Darkling> The rest of the kids continue on petting the calves.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Eventually your little cowlings will be made into assorted meats to feed a species that..." She stops abruptly. She looks about, noticing something amiss. Then she makes her way over toward Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ."
Corrin finally got a good look, and steps back after a while.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Did you notice that we're lacking in adult supervision now?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He glances around.
Corrin jogs over.
<Darkling> She's right, the teacher and the tour guide are gone taking care of Art.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...huh."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "We could hide behind the cows and wait for everyone else to move on." She says as Corrin approaches, not sounding serious in the slightest.
<Corrin> "Lahja. Wilhelm." Corrin greets, stopping a few feet away. "Are you done too?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His gaze turns upward in silence.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Yes. I've given a baby cow an important lesson in life. Now I've remarked on the lack of adult supervision."
Corrin looks around, now watching his step. "You're right. They're gone!" He frowns. "Pretty sure that's not supposed to happen."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...perhaps this is the one." He comments to no one.
<Corrin> "The what?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He points.
<Darkling> What he points to is the roof of the dome being repaired.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "The one that was on the news." Lahja looks in the direction Wilhelm points.
<Corrin> "Oh. Yeah, looks like it..." Corrin replies, following Wilhelm's finger. He's actually smiling. "Heh."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...and the one you saved." He slips his hands into his pockets.
<Corrin> "We saved." Corrin absently corrects.
<Darkling> Still no supervision around. That won't last long though.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Peculiar that this is the one they'd choose. If it's undergoing repairs it may not be structurally sound." She has a somewhat dreamy tone of voice.
<Corrin> "Well, there's always Rasia if we get squashed."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> With a sigh he gazes around, then approaches the calves.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Do you suppose those recordings are still around here?" She asks absently.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "No." He sounds certain.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> She sighs. A bit disappointing, but probably right. She observes Wilhelm and the cows.
<Darkling> The teacher and the tour guide come back finally, and the tour moves on, now devoid of Art.
<Darkling> You're now being escorted through the hallways again. "We're heading up to the Grinder. I will warn you, it's a bit hard on your stomach, so anyone feeling ill should look away."
<Darkling> He opens athe door and the scent of blood fills everyones nose.
<Darkling> Filling your ears is the screaming agony of metal grinding cow parts to a bloody pulp.
<Darkling> The first student walks up the platform, turns white, and upchucks everywhere.
<Darkling> "We need a cleanup in the Grinder" The guide yells into a walkee talkee. "Kids, please step back." He starts ushering you out the doors.
Corrin nearly doubles over, staring, Adam's apple bobbing sporatically. The smell. The smell. He straightens after a moment.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja steps inside and takes a deep breath. And then she's out just as quickly when the guide sends them out.
Wilhelm_Faustus grabs Lahja's wrist, pulling her back inside.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> And then she's back in!
<Darkling> The kids start filtering out trying to get a view of the machine.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He drags her to a hidden spot and waits, a finger to his lips for silence.
Corrin swallows as he straightens, then breathes. Shallow, quick breaths. He looks for the others as he walks.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> She keeps quiet. She seems abnormally twitchy and wide eyed in here. Not happy, exactly, but something like it.
Corrin scans the retreating gaggle one last time to make sure, hand over his mouth, then stops walking and ducks out of the crowd.
<Darkling> Seems you are left alone in the room, the grinding of metal against flesh and bone continues unabated.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He steps out from hiding and stretches a bit.
<Corrin> "Damnit." Corrin mutters into his palm once the others are gone, then walks up to the door. If he's wrong, he's going to regret this. Reaching out with the hand not covering his mouth, Corrin takes a deep breath and opens the door.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja remains in hiding for the moment. Keeping herself down low, she peers out into the open and listens. "There's going to be cleanup eventually." She says quietly.
<Corrin> "Lahja!" Corrin calls as he stares into the abbatoir, lowering his hand for a moment. "Wilhelm!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...idiot is going to attract attention before then."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja quietly sighs. She sticks her head out to look at the glorified blender, imagining Corrin in it.
Corrin steps inside after a moment, eyes darting from blood-stained gear to blood-stained gear, searching.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks around for another way out of the room.
Corrin has covered his mouth again and is hunched over slightly. He's still searching, head turning from side to side.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja joins Wilhelm in the attempt, making it a point to stay low and keep behind some kind of cover whenever possible. That meat grinder is a bit of a distraction, though.
Corrin moves further inside, movements strangely warily and measured. "Pilot Lahja!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...keep your voice down."
Corrin looks around, starts to look back, then jerks his head back around.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A look of vemon for Corrin and he's marching to the other side of the room.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> She turns to face Corrin, making the hush motion. Very sharply.
<Darkling> Elsewhere Lit tries to console Rasia with some spicy beef jerky. "I'm sorry lass, but I just want to make sure you're healthy."
Corrin shuffles over. "What the hell are you doing?" he hisses. "You'll get caught in this mess if you're not careful."
Rasia rubs at her arm, three areas inflamed from industrial needle puncture (no wonder she hates the fuckers). Still in a medicinal gown, she sat patiently for the final verdict, doing her absolute best not to feel good every time the Valkyrie off to the side dabbed her nose with a bloody tissue.
<Corrin> "Come on! We have to get back before they find we're gone." he continues in a low tone, at least relative to the churning of the gears. A stray splatter of gore lands nearby.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...go right ahead, I'm curious about something." He reaches a door at his end of the room and opens it a crack, peering out.
<Corrin> "I should." Corrin mutters. "I really should."
<Darkling> The hallway is empty, and has a few others branching off from it. Looks like at the end there is a stair case.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He slips into the hallway.
<Darkling> Lit sighs a bit. He hated having to make her endure this.
<Corrin> "What're you doing?" Corrin snaps as he moves up behind him, fingers opening as he speaks. "There's nothing here but meat. Harvest dome, remember?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He walks, ignoring the branching hallways, not even seeming to care if the others follow him. "...but the Jotunn was trying to break in."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows along. She keeps quiet, simply nodding in agreement with Wilhelm.
<Corrin> "It's the enemy!" Corrin retorts, still following. "Denial of resources, or maybe it was the first thing it saw. If we needed to know why, the Captain would have told us."
<Corrin> *the dome was just
<Darkling> The Valkyrie comes back with the results, some cotton swaps stuffed up her nose at this point. She makes a point to keep her distance from Rasia and hands the clipboard to Lit. "All ufb her vahtals ah goofd."
<Darkling> Lit raises an eyebrow. "Good or goofed?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...stop being so loud." Is his only comment. As he reaches the end of the hallway he looks to the stairs. Up or down? He starts down. Why? "...people always try to bury their secrets."
<Corrin> "If we needed to know, we'd have been told." Corrin maintains. "I should report this."
<Rasia> Of course they are, Rasia narrates to herself, I didn't do anything different. On the outside, it's just an intense stare and a gentle rock back and forth on her tush.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...go right ahead."
<Darkling> "Goofd." She scowls and walks away. "You ah fwee to go." then leaves the room.
<Corrin> "I should." Corrin mutters, looking down. "I could."
Corrin looks to Lahja.
Rasia hops down without a second thought, looking at Lit.
<Darkling> He hands over her clothes, "I'll be outside." Then steps out the door as well.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "We'll have a talk later." Lahja says quietly but sharply, then makes her way downstairs after Wilhelm.
Corrin shakes his head and follows the other two.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I doubt it realizes he use this facility to feed the population. If it does...that's troublesome." He continues, but a little slower now.
Rasia stares at a point in space halfway through getting her shirt on, suddenly caught up in something. Hrm. After some time, she exits with her clothes back on.
<Darkling> "So, how would you like to spend the rest of your day off?" Lit asks as she emerges fro mthe room, still holding out that jerky.
<Corrin> "So what's your idea then? They'll find out we're gone soon." Corrin demands, somewhat quieter than earlier.
<Darkling> There's some labels on the doors as you head down the stairwell, labeling the sub-floors.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja quietly ponders that. If it wasn't trying to attack a strategic resource, then what?
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...should there be trouble, you can easily blame it on me." He's watching the doors carefully, reading the labels.
Corrin frowns as he follows the others.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Once he reaches the bottom of the stairs he turns right without a single explanation.
<Darkling> A blank wall meets you.
<Corrin> "Don't give me that." he retorts, then follows Wilhelm around the corner.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." What?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja gives the wall a rather flat look.
<Corrin> "Well, there's your answer." Corrin snorts. "Nothing."
<Rasia> She eats it, tearing it off in rough chunks between thoughts. Finally, she speaks. "Ein."
<Darkling> There is a seal around the bricks in the wall, as if a door was no longer there anymore.
<Corrin> "Unless you think the enemy wanted hamburgers before attacking us."
<Darkling> Lit nods, and heads toward the cages.
Corrin strides forwards, pushing past Wilhelm. He raps the wall with one fist. "Nice work, Pilot Wilhelm."
<Darkling> It sounds hollow.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He smirks.
Corrin raps again, now looking at the wall.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He starts stripping off the special gear they'd been given.
<Darkling> Someone was burying secrets.
Rasia tags along, striding ahead of him the closer they get. Is it...eagerness?
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Once free he moves to a grate off to the side. He fishes a multitool from his pocket, and starts taking out the screws.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> What sort of life has this boy led?
Corrin watches the other pilot warily.
<Darkling> The reach the cages in no time at all. There's some engineers and construction crew at work right now, mostly just polishing and bumping out dents in the armor.
<Corrin> "You planned this." Corrin says flatly.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...yes, because I've been here so many times before."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja casts a curious look at Wilhelm. Then she watches his back... not that it would do a lot of good.
Corrin falls silent at that. "What do you think's behind there?" He presses after a moment.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He drops the screws in a little pile and yanks the grate free. "...I don't expect either of you to follow any further." He's taking off his shirt, leaving only his tank top.
<Rasia> She jogs her way past the other units, stopping to look at Null Drei with a suspicious bent, until she's before Unit 01. ...What the hell is she miming? Touching her face and mouth, eyes locked on the Unit.
<Corrin> "No, you don't." Corrin snaps, moving closer. "I'm coming with you. I don't trust you."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He lays on his stomach and starts crawling into the vent.
Corrin glances to the side. "Pilot Lahja?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods in agreement. "After you."
Corrin nods back with ill-concealed relief, then ducks and scrambles into the vent.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...too hot in these domes..." He mutters, moving little by little.
<Corrin> "Your idea, bookfreak. Keep moving." Corrin snaps back as Wilhelm's shoe wavers in front of his hand.
<Darkling> The vent leads on ahead, dry cold air blowing in your faces as you crawl.
<Darkling> Lit stands by watching her for a moment before asking one of the engineers how things are going with the units.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Well, this is more like it.
Corrin grits his teeth and keeps crawling.
<Rasia> Realization flashes over her face. The speed her head snaps to look at Lit makes the bones pop, but she catches her tongue before whatever idea it was reaches her mouth. Instead she strains her ears to hear what the technicians say about the Units.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows along, waiting for Corrin to get a bit of a head start before she enters.
Corrin scrambles ahead, elbows scraping the vent bottom, and overall about as subtle as an accident in a junkyard.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I'm hurt you don't trust me. We fight together don't we?"
<Darkling> "..upgrades are going smoothly, and there have been no complications thus far."
<Corrin> "I trust you to fight the enemy. Not to serve NERV." Corrin replies after a moment. "Keep moving."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...serve, hm?" He lets it drop there and continues crawling. How much further?
<Corrin> "Duty. You don't seem to get it."
<Darkling> There appears to be an opening ahead.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Not all duty is to NERV. Doesn't mean it can't overlap." She says in a hushed tone.
<Corrin> "NERV should come first." Corrin responds instantly.
<Darkling> Lit nods to the engineer. "Good. Keep up the work." And pats him on the shoulder, then walks over to Rasia.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Hm. He stops, wriggling around to free his multitool from his pocket before reaching the next opening.
<Corrin> "What're you doing?"
<Darkling> Butt wiggle in your face Corrin.
<Corrin> *What are you doing?
Rasia wiggles her nose. Nothing important. Her attention returns to Null Ein and its sleek face. It has a heartbeat, and feelings. It has to have a mouthguard. I have to have a mouthguard. Could it... Is she trying to stare it to death?
Corrin hisses furiously.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...you talk too much to be stealthy." He mutters.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'd ask you what's so great about NERV to establish a point, but we should keep it down."
<Corrin> "Stealth is for spies."
<Darkling> The opening is on the floor of the shaft you're currently in Wilhelm, looking down.
<Darkling> "I wouldn't want to have a staring contest with you.." Lit remarks coming up beside her.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He gets to the edge, peering down.
<Rasia> For the first time, she doesn't immediately blurt her thoughts out to Lit, or anyone really. She turns slowly, drinking in the sensation of lying. #5"Ready."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Right. He sets to work loosening it. He wants to get down there.
<Darkling> "Ready?" He asks, caught off guard a bit.
<Corrin> "Why have we stopped?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He grunts, pushing into he can slip though. He takes some time to adjust and drops down feet first.
Corrin crawls up once Wilhelm is down, stopping on the edge of the opening.
Corrin wriggles forwards until he's on the other side of the opening, feet on the edge, then drops down after Wilhelm.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja comes down last. After she drops to the floor she takes a deep, almost desperate breath and stretches out.
<Darkling> You're all on a suspended platform, not unlike the one that Lit and Rasia are standing on in the cages right this moment. A sprawling pit opens up before you, and far off on both sides of the platform is a door into the walls.
<Darkling> Deep down below you, there's a circle in the concrete.
Corrin is looking around, head moving from side to side. He's stopped talking, almost focused now.
<Darkling> Some voices echo from the vent above.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks up for a moment, then to the pit. He approaches the end of the platform.
<Corrin> "Looks clear." Corrin comments.
<Rasia> ...Deception is hard. After a rather obvious silence, she clarifies, "Home. Pilots."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja almost freezes at the sound of the voices. She moves away from the open vent, straining her ears to listen.
<Darkling> Nothing decipherable, but they get a bit louder.
<Darkling> Lit nods, "We can go then. The other pilots won't be home until later though."
<Corrin> "Pilot Lahja." Corrin calls quietly.
<Rasia> A frown. But she nods.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks to Corrin. She stays close to him and nods, then motions for him to follow as she goes after Wilhelm. "Doesn't look good, does it?" She asks quietly.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks to Corrin and holds out a hand. "...tablet."
<Darkling> "We've got a new punching bag at home I'd like to show you though!" He starts towards the exit of the cages.
Corrin is about to speak to Lahja, but turns to Wilhelm, shooting a silent glare. "Why?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I want a picture of the runes."
<Darkling> Looks like there might have been some water down there too. It's a murky red-brown colour.
Corrin thinks it over, then nods, and fishes it out of his pocket. Holding it out, he looks down at the runes, which he hadn't paid attention to before.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He takes the tablet and snaps a few pictures before handing it back.
Corrin turns back to Lahja. "No, it doesn't. What's something like this doing here?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...makes you wonder, doesn't it?"
<Corrin> "This doesn't mean anything." Corrin snaps, head jerking back. "As soon as we get back, we're reporting all of this to Captain Skäldbjorn."
<Corrin> "It might be like..."
<Rasia> A final glance thrown over her shoulder at the Units. Is it really... And she chases after Lit.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He takes a few moments to listen, and starts walking again. He steers them to the right, silence from that door.
Corrin adds the last more to himself, and shakes his head, following.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja studies the runes, and then the red-brown. It made her think of blood, and consequently made her feel a little better. She follows.
<Darkling> The door isn't locked. Seems silly that it would be, hidden behind a bricked over door.
<Darkling> Lit takes Rasia home, a quiet affair without the other pilots, then up into the apartment.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks back to them and puts a finger to his lips. Time for some serious silence now. Once he's sure they understand he opens the door.
Corrin nods, slowly, but keeps an eye on Wilhelm at all times.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods. Then she takes a long look at Corrin, making sure he agrees.
Corrin nods, more quickly this time.
<Darkling> An observatory room, looking out at the hollow pit. A few monitors, keyboards, wires and papers are still around, but no computers.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ...how dull. Well, he sets to work looking over the papers none the less.
<Corrin> "What is this place?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...the question should be, what happens in that pit?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja seems a bit disappointed. She also seems ready to smack Corrin in the back of the head once he opens his mouth. She decides against it, then shrugs, motioning to the papers, and goes to look over some.
<Darkling> The room has no other exit that you can see. Just a big observation room that was recently abandoned. There isn't even a layer of dust on the desks yet.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He snorts and tosses aside the few papers he'd collected.
Corrin follows, glancing out uneasily at the pit, then looking at the papers.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Null." He starts looking over monitors now. Is nothing connected?
Corrin absently powers off his tablet, standing at a monitor. He'd tapped the keyboard experimentally a moment before.
Rasia takes the chance to relax as best as she can. The apartment still reeks of them, but...that isn't completely negative. Grabbing a snack, she makes to join Lit in the gym. Antsy...Rasia feels...antsy.
<Darkling> Not much here. All the papers, including the one Wilhelm is holding, is mostly blacked out.
<Darkling> Lit has the punching bag all set, and is throwing a few hooks into it.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sits down with his arms folded over his chest, legs folded indian style.
<Darkling> You might notice it's not at all hot down here like it was up in the cattle pens. In fact it's a little cool.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja keeps up with the papers, skimming them over for anything comprehensible. "Must have left after the Jotun attack." Lahja says, her voice barely above a whisper.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A glance to Lahja...then he tries to think. Those erect nipples won't help, so he looks away. The pit, monitoring equipment, runes...
Corrin looks down on Wilhelm, standing nearby, hands at his side. From time to time, he looks around. "We should check the other door. You coming?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...there were voices coming from that direction."
<Corrin> "So we should investigate."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...should we? Rather curious all of a sudden."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He'd considered that as well, anyhow. Odd he and Corrin were briefly thinking alike.
<Corrin> "If there's anything to find here, it's not here, and this whole thing was a bad idea to begin with. Come on, unless you're hoping to starve down here."
<Corrin> "Pilot Lahja?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stands and pulls something new from his pocket. Not his multitool, but the throwing knife Lit had used on the gull.
<Rasia> Halfway into her own turn at the bag, she blurts out. "Pilots." But didn't I ask about them a few minutes ago...
Corrin hasn't noticed the weapon yet.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> After a while she gives up on the papers. Null what? She nods in agreement with the other two.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...going further could put you in trouble with NERV."
<Darkling> "They're at school, on a trip I think." He wipes a bit of sweat from his brow breathing heavy.
Corrin pauses, freezing in place midturn.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He's already leaving the observation room, shoes left behind in favor of bare feet for moving quietly.
<Corrin> "We're already in trouble." Corrin says quietly. "And I don't trust you."
<Darkling> Back on the walkway, cool metal meets  your feet Wil.
<Corrin> "Pilot Lahja?" Corrin repeats.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "We'll see what's there." She nods, slowly moving along.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He doesn't answer, warily approaching the door. He has the knife ready to throw should it come to it.
Corrin strides along, hands clenched and staring straight ahead.
<Darkling> There are definitely voices coming from that direction, getting louder as you approach.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His mind is distracted for a moment. The metal is cold? How cold must it be in here then?
<Corrin> "Pilot Wilhelm, what is that?" Corrin snaps, keeping his voice down, at least by comparison with his usual volume.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Once he's close to the door he lowers himself onto his stomach. Is there any room between the floor and the bottom of the door?
<Darkling> Lit decides to try something else, and holds the bag for Rasia. "Concerned about them?"
<Darkling> Maybe half an inch Wil. You can hear the muffled voices a bit better. Sounds like water cooler talk. Guards on duty?
Corrin follows quietly, question put on hold. He's almost creeping along now.
<Rasia> A silent nod, between punches. "Ants."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He holds his breath. Are they just on the other side of the door, then?
<Darkling> A shadow casts over the door as if to answer him.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Damn.
Corrin is hovering directly behind Wilhelm.
<Darkling> "They aren't defenseless." He replies, wondering if that's actually what she meant.
Corrin drops to one knee and reaches for Wilhelm's knife arm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> His arm pulls out of reach and the knife vanishes into a pocket. He looks back and motions them back the way they came.
Corrin nods, scooting back.
Rasia pauses, staring at him. A drop of sweat runs down her cheek. "Ants pants." She tries again. Idioms are fucking stupid and whoever invented them needs a punch, Rasia concludes.
<Darkling> "Anxious?" Lit tries again.
Rasia nods, licking her teeth.
<Darkling> The walkway grinds loudly under Corrin and Lahja, swaying.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ...great blazing bags of crap.
<Darkling> "What was that?!" A voice comes quite clearly from the other side of the door.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Run." He whispers harshly.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Thanks to his mastery of stealth he reaches the grate first.
<Darkling> Of course, it's seven feet above you Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Of course it is.
<Darkling> Lit smirks. "Are you growing fond of them?"
<Darkling> "Check the holding cell." A voice says at the end of the hall, as the doorknob turns a couple times.
<Corrin> "Off the side!"
<Corrin>  Corrin hisses, moving to the platform's edge.
<Darkling> "Dammit it's locked. You got the keys." Some cursing and the jingle of keys.
<Rasia> A low growl. "Trouble."
<Darkling> That's a loooong drop Corrin.
Corrin gestures frantically.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He motions frantically...you can see the vein bulge in his neck.
Corrin tries to follow Wilhelm's response, wild-eyed.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> For a split second or two Lahja's mind goes into overdrive. Run. Where? It's almost a giveaway in and of itself. Probably only the vent. Maybe if there's one hell of a jump involved. Or teamwork. She makes her way over.
Corrin gets it at last, and practically sprints over.
<Darkling> The lock turns.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He motions Corrin is going up first, and looks to Lahja for help lifting.
Corrin doesn't argue, instead moving into position.
<Darkling> "I can see that. Falling in cow pies.." Lit laughs.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> 1...2...heave! Yeah...that'll be a hernia.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja moves into position with a nod, helping with the heaving.
<Darkling> The door swings open. "Hey you! Stop!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Either he's weak or Corrin needs to eat less roadkill.
Corrin scrambles up quickly and is around in a moment. He freezes at the shout.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Lahja, seems you're up next and he's in a hurry. Corrin, you paying attention?
<Darkling> "We have intruders in the holding cell." The one yells, pulling out a gun. "I said stop!"
Corrin reaches down for Lahja.
Rasia switches to her legs, bouncing from foot to foot between kicks until the muscles ache, and then trading off to give Lit a turn.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Holding cell? Thats interesting. Wait, focus.
<Darkling> Lit works the bag, much less ferociously as Rasia, but giving it a good pounding.
<Darkling> "Hold still or we will open fire!"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Would they shoot a kid, Lahja wonders? She reaches up toward Corrin with morbid curiousity.
Corrin shakes his head, still reaching.
<Rasia> She still has to brace, squeezing the bag tightly, but she takes the chance to let her mind wander. A rare thing for her.
<Darkling> The click of a safety being removed tells you yes Lahja.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Grab her!" He shouts.
<Corrin> "Don't move." Corrin snaps. "We're holding still! Don't fire!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Idiot! He'll kill you too!" He pushes up with all his might, c'mon Lahja.
Corrin pulls.
<Darkling> *BANG* A warning shot, maybe. Either way it misses the dangling Lahja and Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He falls back, oddly surprised by the shot. He reaches for his pocket.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja knows that sound all too well. It gives her a split second pause before she scrambles up. Whatever hesitation she had is gone when the shot rings out.
<Corrin> "Move!" Corrin yells, reaching for Wilhelm.
<Darkling> A few more heavy blows to the punching bag, Lit even jumps forward, putting all his weight into it, maybe trying to see if he can push Rasia back.
<Darkling> *BANG* Another shot ricochets off the wall behind you Wilhelm.
Corrin reaches further. "Come on, you fucking idiot!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Bastard. Do you know who you're shooting at? He gets to his feet, knife pulled free of his pocket.
<Darkling> "Out of the way!" Another guard gets in the doorway and kneels down taking aim.
<Darkling> *BANG*
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Two guards? He can do this without Corrin and Lahja in the way. He starts forward- and stops suddenly.
Corrin releases his grip and drops out of the vent.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He takes a few stumbling steps back.
<Darkling> "Little shit. How's that feel?" The guards stands.
<Darkling> The guard stops again aiming for Corrin. "Freeze!"
<Darkling> Behind you Corrin, Wilhelm stumbles again, silver lifeblood oozing out of his chest. He careens sideways, and makes a tumble down into the pit.
<Darkling> A knee to the punching bag and Lit steps back panting, his chest soaked with sweath.
<Rasia> She'd stumbled from the initial charge, still gripping the back. Breaking her trance, she looked up at him, in a similar state of exertion.
Corrin starts towards the edge of the pit, then stops, staring at the guards.
<Darkling> *THUMP* Wilhelm hits the bottom of the pit, body smeared against the circle of runes, a silver splatter of butterfly wings arcing out from under him.
<Corrin> "You shot him." Corrin says dully.
<Darkling> "I said FREEZE!" His gun is trained on you. He didn't miss like the other guard. Might want to listen.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> The guard's remark. Corrin's sudden drop. Lahja connects the dots. Wilhelm got shot. Shouldn't she be feeling something, like anger or nausea? Something other than interesting? But that's what it is. That's all it is. Interesting.
Corrin stands there, just staring. It doesn't make sense. It just doesn't.
<Darkling> The other guard advances on you, and pins you to the ground cuffing you. With you secure a gun points up into the grate at Lahja. "We're going to get you down, do so peacefully and no one else needs get hurt."
<Darkling> "Want to help me make dinner for the pilots for when they get home?" Lit asks, stepping back.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'll be peaceful." She says absently, but agreeably. Why isn't she mad?
<Rasia> It takes her a long moment to answer. She could...technically cook...but it wasn't normally something she did. A nod.
Corrin doesn't resist, instead staring ahead at the angle his head's currently craned back at. Wilhelm's dead. He can't believe it. Won't believe it. He was there a minute ago. They were exploring. Searching. Now he's not.
<Darkling> You're brought down from the grate and cuffed as well, the both of you being dragged off.
Corrin just allows himself to be dragged. Following. Obedient.
<Rasia> "Dinner happy." She stands upright.
<Darkling> ===========================END===========================