GBG Session 12.5: Wrath of the Dragon

<Darkling> "Alright Pilots." It's the Vice-comm speaking to you as you float in your plugs. "As we launch you, I want you to be aware of some upgrades that have been made to your Aesir. We've taken battle info and new technologies to try and give you an upper edge this time around." With that, he initiates launch, jettisoning the pilots towards the surface.
Rasia licks her teeth, swallowing a gulp of LCL.
<Darkling> "The MAGI are analyzing what they can right now. We'll pass the information to you in a moment."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods, giving the Vice-comm a quick salute.
<Darkling> "We've got a good reading." The tunnels rush by and the pilots are thrust into the snowy wastes outside the dome.
<Darkling> The dome behind you is still full of thick fog and mist which is seeping out at points, notably a large section to the north. The top of the dome is shrouded completely in fog.
Corrin strides out as soon as he comes to a stop, eagerly searching the gloom for the target. The Unit's shoulder-mounted rifle whirs with his movements.
<Darkling> Not far from where the pilots are is the Jotun, a shambling disfigurement if nothing else.
<Rasia> Unit 01 growls, the noise taking a sharp pitch at the very end. Almost a keening sound.
<Darkling> Standing as tall as the Aesir, bits and pieces of metal stick out from random body placements and tumorous growths.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Dreil hovers once free of its restraints, an extra layer of armor apparent over its form, a red spear held close in one hand.
<Darkling> Hollow eyes stare at the Aesir from under a bright red orb embedded in it's skull, and from a slack jaw hangs a drool covered tongue.
<Darkling> "Jotun identified as Grendel. Pilots, you know what to do."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja eyes the peculiar Jotun. "Any plans, team? Or thoughts? I'll try to aim for the head... but it almost seems too easy." Null Vier moves forward through the snow warily.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...if I might make a suggestion, then. Estimate the location of the plug as if this were an Aesir, and aim there."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei tilts forward, gliding across the snow and closer to Grendel.
<Corrin> "But the core's right there!" Corrin protests. "I'll keep it busy while you take the shot." And with that, Unit 02 goes charging in, its Pilot yelling at a creature that probably can't understand him anyway.
<Darkling> On moving closer in, the Pilots can spot several of the flying Trolls in the area that had invaded the Dome.
<Rasia> Unit 01 slams forward onto its hands, A-Type armor unfurling and bristling with a faint pulse of AT. The quadruped chases after Corrin's Unit, filling the air with clicks and screeches far and away from its typical roaring. In the mind's eye, the fog may as well not be there.
<Darkling> The trolls swarm up into the air, causing sight of Grendel to fade from view.
<Rasia> Another series of rattling clicks, pulses bouncing off the dome's features in cacophony.
<Darkling> Through the mist a clawed arm swings out and passes by Null Zwei.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Null Vier marches on, its AT field colliding with the Jotun's. It takes aim at the Jotun.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He mutters location information to Rasia, locating Gendel and four Trolls. "...something else...very big."
<Corrin> "Damned thing's hiding in the fog!" Corrin announces, even as he presses a switch on one side of the controls. There's a beep. "Pilot Lahja, you ready?"
Corrin swings into the mist in an attempt to corral the foe, but hits nothing. "Come out and die!" Corrin shouts.
<Rasia> Bullets ring out, sending Grendel into a feint left, only to meet Unit 02's prodigiously-armored tail, swatting it square in the chest.
<Darkling> A blue glowing fist appears in the mist, flying in a direct path of Null Ein.
<Rasia> Muscles bulge and ripple against its armor as Rasia snatches the fist from the air, blocking the punch square on its palm.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Ready, Pilot Corrin!" Lahja says with a wide, almost maniacal looking gleeful smile as Null Vier's shot connects with the Jotun's body.
Rasia takes her hand off the grip, filling Wilhelm's message window with Arabic. 'Big thing? Go kill?'
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Ignore it for now, Rasia." He responds as he sends another Ping of his field. He frowns, wondering what it is. No matter. He peers through the fog, locking on a Troll. Null Drei's eyes flash before twin beams of energy strike it.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Vice-Commander."
<Darkling> "Yes Pilot?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> <Wilhelm_Faustus> "I'm...picking up something big with an AT Field. On the dome."
<Rasia> "Rr?" Unit 01's head swivels at it backs up, trying to peer out of the mist.
<Darkling> "You must be detecting Pilot Hollander within the dome. Check again and verify with us."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I've checked twice. It's too large to be her."
<Darkling> "Roger that. Try and give us any other info you can. We'll check on it."
<Rasia> And it kicks off, bringing its talons to bare, meeting Grendel's arm and digging in, but not finding anything truly vital.
<Darkling> With a blue flash filling the fog, Grendel disappears, and appears with a crackle of energy behind Null Vier, a heavy handed swing coming down and just missing.
<Rasia> A foul howl as Ein is deprived its target. Disappearing from audial senses, the beast cranes, looking for prey.
Corrin is momentarily blinded by the flash. Blinking, spots dancing in his vision, Corrin sees only the mist. "Where'd it go?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Over here, pilots! It just appeared right over here!" Lahja says to the others urgently. All the while Null Vier dashes away from Grendel, stopping to send a small hail of bullets toward the trolls.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei spins to face Grendel, blue hexagons collecting in its outstretched palm. It fires off a super-heated blast, but misses as Grendel dodges. "Dammit!"
Corrin snarls, turning Unit 02 with a yank on the yokes and sends it sprinting towards Grendel. "Lahja, move! You! Get back here!"
<Rasia> Unit 01 bolts out of the cloud, trailing mist and fog behind it. As its AT Field comes back into contact with Grendel's, it sizzles a path through the blue hexagons and digs its rakes its claws down the Jotunn's torso.
<Darkling> Grendel flashes away, a roar escaping its throat as it disappears with a blue crackle, reappearing by Null Drei to smash it's fist into him.
Wilhelm_Faustus grips his controls tightly as he feels the entire Aesir shake from the blow. Armor dents, flecks of silver blood splattering in the snow. "How dare you strike at me?!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Before he can yell at Grendel anymore another blow coveres the beast in more of Null Drei's blood.
<Darkling> A crackle comes over the comms in the Units. Laughter?
Rasia bristles, snarling in the plug as Wilhelm takes damage.
<Corrin> "Shut up and hit it back!" Corrin shouts at Wilhelm, ignoring the interference.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja takes note of the peculiar silvery blood, getting a tad pale at the sight. Null Vier quickly takes aim at the Jotun and fires. "I'll avenge you, Wilhelm!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I'm not dead!"
<Corrin> "Then move!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei takes a 'step' back before lifting higher into the air, floating out of Grendel's reach.
Corrin lunges once Wilhelm is in the air, his attack going wide.
<Rasia> Rasia, on the other hand, will have none of that shit. Snatching Grendel by the leg, Ein carves deep grooves all down the Jotunn's leg dragging it over. With a growl blossoming into a roar proper, the Aesir plunges its whole fist into Grendel's chest, twisting its claws around and pulling out a handful of gore.
<Darkling> Sinking back away from Ein, Grendel clutches its chest, almost cowering as it does so, it's body shifting and metal plates grinding. Within moments it's a fully armored Unit, almost mimicking Drei other than the gashes in its flesh and the hole through it's chest.
<Corrin> "What the hell?"
<Darkling> It shrieks, and in a flash it vanishes from view, appearing closer to the dome.
<Darkling> Far above, still looming over the dome is that giant cloud head of fog. Rumbling thunder can be heard from it.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja smiles as Ein rips up Grendel. "Beautiful." She says, sounding like she means it. Then her eyes narrow as her vision gets fogged up. Null Vier moves away, firing off a shot at that troll to reduce it to a splat of gore before swinging around and setting the unit's sights on the Jotun.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> As Null Drei 'lands' if focuses its attention on Grendel. Its eyes flash but...no hatebeams this time. A roar from the rolling cloud of fog distracts the pilot, throwing off their aim. A cross-shaped energy explosion lights up the sky away from its intended target.
Corrin ignores the flash and presses down on the yokes. Unit 02 charges in, its swing going wide.
<Rasia> With blistering speed, Rasia closes in on the fleeing Jotunn wearing Drei's skin. Clenching talons into one forearm, it fills the dome with a thunderous, sickening rip. Grendel's arm comes completely off, spraying blood in a wide arc in the snow. Rasia howls murderously in her plug.
<Rasia> Her pupils tighten, a brief gasp of hesitation passing her lips.
<Darkling> With the momentum of her attack, Grendel falls forward to it's knees. One arm comes up, blue energy crackling around it as it's form flickers and inches forward in the snow before slumping over and landing in the blood stained snow.
<Rasia> Ein's head cranes back as Rasia does the same, checking on Wilhelm and Drei. Just to be sure.
<Darkling> The Vice-comm's voice rises over the comm. "Good job pilots, but you're not done yet. The MAGI have finished penetrating the remaining field over the dome that Wilhelm detected."
<Corrin> "Sir?" Corrin asks, head jerking up from the grisly scene in front of him.
<Darkling> Cracks are making their way down the dome pilots. "We're in your hands pilots."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's dead?" Lahja asks, a mixture of surprise and disappointment. She looks upwards toward the dome afterwards. Ivy was in there.
<Darkling> Smaller patches of fog are rolling down the dome as it splinters and sections of it fall away.
<Corrin> "Something's attacking the dome!"
<Darkling> A thundering roar sends dust and debris into the air as the larger fogbank lifts up into the air and swoops towards the Aesir.
<Darkling> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<Darkling> The cloud of fog passes over the heads of the Aesir and the pilots, leaving the top view of the dome now insight, a gaping jagged maw left wide open to the sky. The mist rolls off of the being inside revealing what would appear to be a large white and blue dragon beating it's massive wings to stay aloft.
<Rasia> Unit 01 braces on all four feet, neck craning back to howl at the massive Angel, blood still caking its dull red armor.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei stays still long enough to analyze the new enemy and its strengh before twisting its body around, killing an advancing troll with its beam attack.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> After taking a while to stare at the dragon, Null Vier raises its rifle toward the remaining trolls, casually sending off a hail of bullets at them.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Should you ever be given a firearm outside of the Aesir, I will strive never to anger you..."
Corrin looks from the shattered dome to the winged creature high above, and slams down on his Unit's controls wordlessly. The thrusters integrated into its A-type armour flare to life, and Unit 02 shoots into the air and towards the dragon.
<Rasia> Shunting the weight to its back feet, Ein stands semi-upright. The jointed, flexible wings on the A-Type extend to their fullest, still more of a sleek dart than a plane. Boosters on its flanks and ribs alight, and Unit 01 is in the air, tail stabilizing it as it races towards more prey.
<Darkling> The Jotun rears it's head then opens it's jaws at the two approaching Aesir, covering them in blue crackling flames.
<Darkling> "Pilots," It's the Vice-comm. "We don't want to have to send out Pilot Ivy's Aesir, as it is not fully tested, but keep us assessed of your situation if you need the backup."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Null Drei and it's pilot turn to face the Dragon, reaching up as if wanting to grab it. Then they unleash a heavy blast of molten AT Field, but it screams by as the enemy dodges.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja decides to take no chances with this, opting to carefully take aim at the dragon. "This one seems deceptively frail, pilots."
Corrin is rigid inside Unit 02's plug as the feeling of flames fades and Unit 02 shoots up and by the dragon,trailing smoke in its wake. "Just take it down, now!" he shouts. A solid, flickering layer flares to life from the Unit, pushing down against the dragon. "Once it's on the ground, we can kill it!"
<Rasia> Null Ein draws its claws across the hexagons of energy keeping it from its prey with each strafing pass. Finding a weak point as Corrin stresses its AT Field from above, it lets out a howl, bringing is thrusters to full bore. Blood oozes from its talons, thrumming to life with channeled energy. For a split second, it breaks through, and darts in to grab the dragon's wings.
<Rasia> Tangling its tail around one and sinking talons into the other, Ein stalls out the dragon's attempts to fly. The beast twists and thrashes, trying to get at the agile predator tearing open scratches and holes in its wings. The air screams as layers of AT attempt to deflect the worst of the damage. A wave of snow and dust proceeds the fall, as Null Ein lands with an audible strain to its armor, A-Type deactivating.
<Rasia> "Down." Rasia announces.
<Darkling> The dragon doesn't stay down on the ground long though, flipping itself upright on it's hind legs, teeth gnashing past Ein as it attempts to bite it in vain.
<Rasia> Unit 01's tail thumps the snow as it leaps back and forth, its howls resonating against the metal plate.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Now that Rasia and her new friend have landed, Null Drei attempts another blast from its AT Field.
<Darkling> The dragon, despite it's size, is quick to move out of the way.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Here's a distraction, pilots! Make the most of it!" Lahja says urgently as Null Vier unloads a flurry of bullets at the dragon.
<Corrin> "On it!" Corrin responds, swallows, then toggles the thrusters and lets the Unit drop straight down. Rolling as it drops, its pilot yelling incoherently, Unit 02 slams shield-first into the dragon, allowing its momentum to add to the force of the blow.
<Rasia> Seizing the wing, Ein rips and tears at the membranes, snapping one or two tendons in its ferocious disregard for anything.
<Darkling> Screaching in a fury, it's tail lashes out, driving straight through Drei, punching a hole clear through it and tearing back out, downing the Aesir.
<Darkling> "Pilots! Can you hear me! What the hell is going on?"
<Darkling> "Pilots? We're attempting to send an evac unit after Wilhelm."
<Rasia> "WILHELM!" Unit 01 wrenches around, taking a few panicked steps towards the Aesir.
<Corrin> "Wait!" Corrin shouts as Unit 02 tries to rise. "We have to finish it off!"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Sir! It just took down Null Drei!" Lahja glares sharply at the dragon as it rips into Null Drei. More as a matter of instinct than forethought, Null Vier fires a shot at a weak point in the dragon's leg, tearing off a chunk and bringing it down. "Rip it apart! For Wilhelm!"
Corrin finally gets Unit 02 to stand, the countdown flashing in the corner of his vision. "For NERV! For the human race! Die! Die!" he shouts frantically as he moves his Unit, hammering the wounded beast again and again as the Unit's systems groan in protest. Ichor splatters onto the icy wastes as the hammer crushes the dragon's body and exposes its insides to the icy air.
<Darkling> There's already a VTOL flying towards the scene. "Finish it off ASAP!"
<Rasia> It's like snapping a violin string. Tendons pull taught and muscles explode into action under the armor. Seizing the dragon's jaws, Rasia and Unit 01 take the order to heart. Fleshy tearing and sickening crunches preceed a fountain of gore as the Jotunn's skull is bifurcated across the jaw, the Aesir diving into the mess until its claws scrape a familiar red jewel--
<Rasia> Ozone fills the air as the core goes critical, Null Ein rattling Null Drei's plug as it just barely beats the shockwave back, letting the wave ride over its sleek, stained body.
<Darkling> Once the site is clear, the VTOL continues on route to evacuate Wilhelm. "Good job Pilots. Stand by."
Corrin slumps in his plug, Unit 02 mirroring the motion as the light finally fades from its eyes. "Yes...yes, sir."
<Darkling> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
<Darkling> Lahja, Corrin and Rasia are all treated quickly, the Valkyries finding no lasting damage from the battle. Wilhelm has been put in a separate room across the hall, Freyja fussing over him.
<Rasia> Rasia, if allowed, probably wouldn't let two little doors stop her.
<Darkling> Unfortunately there's two guards standing outside, along with the Vice-comm, keeping her at bay until Freyja is done her examination.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja paces about, a highly irritated look on her face.  All the energy of a combat high, but none of the emotional buzz. Not fun.
<Darkling> "This sort of thing is not supposed to happen." She pokes at him with a pen.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "It isn't a side-effect from feedback?"
<Darkling> "We've not seen something like this before, not from feedback." She writes some notes. "It appears harmless though."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "It stings...a little."
<Darkling> She hands him his clothing. "You're fit enough for duty. I'll have you by in the next few days for your session, and have a checkup on it then."
Corrin stands in place, trying to stand tall with the Vice Commander right outside. The fight left him drained, and there's still the bloody after-taste of LCL in his mouth, but it's not important. After a while, he approaches the door, brow furrowed.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Of course, Doctor Freyja." He smiles faintly, then starts to dress.
<Darkling> "Good." She smiles, then turns and leaves, heels clicking.
Rasia bares her teeth at Freyja as she leaves, teeth already licked clean of LCL.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stands and pulls on his pants, glancing across the room. Another bed...still bare-footed and shirtless he approaches.
<Darkling> She stops briefly, speaking to the Vice-commander. "He'll be ready in a minute."
<Darkling> A moan from the bed.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He grabs the curtain, frowning as he slowly pulls it aside.
<Darkling> The Vice-comm looks at Rasia "Give him a few minutes to change at least, then you can see that he's alright."
<Darkling> Another moan.
Rasia grunts begrudgingly, standing right where she is.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "..." He swallows hard.
<Darkling> "I am told to give you all commendations for the battle, directly from the Commander." The Vice-comm stares down at Rasia.
<Darkling> A flicker of recognition.
<Darkling> A hand raises towards your Wilhelm, that one eye full of hatred.
<Rasia> Her head cocks to one side, bad mood letting up a little.
<Corrin> "Thank you, sir." Corrin says quickly, before speaking again, much more hesitantly, standing stiffly in place. "Can I ask a question, sir?"
<Darkling> "Permission granted."
<Darkling> Her blood crusted lips peel. "Y-y-your... fffffault."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Would she do it if she could? He almost wanted to test it, see if she would strangle the life from him if given the chance. "And how is that, if I might ask?" He steps forward, closing the curtain behind him.
<Corrin> "What is the status of Pilot Hollander, sir?"
<Darkling> Her hand points to his chest, new blood dribbling from her mouth.
<Rasia> On the other side of the door, Rasia ponders showing Wilhelm how to put on pants, because his current method is clearly completely wrong.
<Darkling> "Pilot Hollander is in perfect condition. She has volunteered to assist with relief efforts for the wounded in the city.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Poor, foolish woman. I'm a pawn. You? You aren't even that. A speck in the battle of gods and giants."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja salutes the Vice-comm, containing her nervous energy and standing still to do so. Her annoyance is momentarily alleviated.
Corrin nods, still standing at attention but subtly relaxing slightly. "Understood. Thank you, sir."
<Darkling> She sits up in the bed, a restraint snapping as she rises, spitting her words. "There are the monstrous brood with all the ravens!"
Rasia leans to one side, trying to peer through the door.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He slips his shirt on as he considers her words.
Corrin steps out of Rasia's way, exhaling as he moves back.
<Darkling> "May flame play over them, and may your back be burnt!” She lunges out of the bed, collapsing to the floor causing quite a racket.
<Rasia> "--!"
<Darkling> The Vice-comm opens the door, bursting in.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Tch." ... "Are you alright?" He tries to throw some concern into his voice.
<Darkling> She's dragging herself across the floor, leaving a bloody smear in her wake.
Rasia slips in after, glancing at her copilots.
<Corrin> "What's that..." Corrin starts, then looks up. "Pilot Rasia, wait!"
<Darkling> "Nurse!" The Vice-comm shouts, heading over to Madeline as she claws, hissing and spitting blood, picking her up even as she throws a fit, trying to claw and rake at him.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He takes a step back, then another.
<Rasia> Without something else in the way, she interposes herself, Wilhelm able to see over her head.
<Darkling> The wild woman in the Vice-comm's arms, Captain Madeline, has the right half of her face bandaged and bloody, her right arm missing entirely, and black veins  creeping across her exposed flesh from beneath the bandaging. She's shrieking profanity and gibberish now as the Vice-comm holds her down, a Valkyrie rushing in to sedate her.
Corrin heads after Rasia, tiredness forgotten with this and the yelling.
Corrin stops and stares.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He turns away, stooping down to pick up his shoes before leaving the room. Seems hes lost interest.
<Rasia> Rasia pursues, grabbing his arm once they're safe from the woman.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stops, wanting the arm to remain attached, turning to look at her.
Corrin barely notices them leave, still staring at the crippled woman. "...Director?"
<Darkling> Her screams of protest and rage soon abate, the Vice-comm releasing her.
<Rasia> She seems to want the same thing. The sleeve comes up and she busily inspects the shoulder joint, giving a few sharp pulls. "..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...something wrong?"
<Rasia> "Worried. Arm." If Wilhelm cares, it's the same arm she ripped off the first Angel.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...and why is it you would worry about my arm?"
Corrin stands there stupidly, still in the medical room. Finally coming to his senses, he moves to follow the others out.
<Rasia> ... She opens her mouth a few times to try and explain, but gives up and simply licks his shoulder. "Wilhelm. Safe."
<Darkling> The Vice-comm follows out, shutting the door behind him.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "More or less." He rubs absently at his abdomen.
<Corrin> "Pilot Wilhelm." Corrin greets, mind obviously still elsewhere.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...Corrin."
<Darkling> The Vice-comm stands at the door still. "I'm going to have to ask you all to stay on base currently. We'll arrange for some temporary quarters until things get resolved. It should be a day at most."
<Rasia> A low growl, but she nods.
<Corrin> "Yes, sir." Corrin responds, turning as soon as the Vice Commander starts to speak.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." How annoying.
<Darkling> "As I mentioned before, we'll be giving you some commendations. The Commander himself has decided to attend and do the honors."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja gives the Vice-comm another salute. Seeing Wilhelm about lightens her mood up a bit more. "Yes, sir."
<Rasia> Commander... Her brows push together.
Corrin brightens up more at this news, posture straightening more.
<Darkling> Agent Weaving, if you remember her, has approached quite stealthily from behind. "Weaving will escort you to your quarters, and ensure that you are taken care of adequately.
Corrin most definitely remembers her, and has to repress a sudden jerk at the sight of the Agent. "Yes, sir..."
<Darkling> "Good. Thank you again pilots." He salutes, then heads off down the hall.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm keeps quiet, distracted.
Corrin returns the salute distractedly, then goes back to staring at the Agent.
<Darkling> "This way." She says.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja returns the salute as well, then follows Agent Weaving.
Corrin follows, looking away after a moment and at his fellow pilot.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He follows, hands in his pockets.
<Darkling> She leads you down some halls, and a single flight of stairs up, then another corridor. Looks to be a commons area. She swipes a card in a security panel at a door, pushing open a door after a beep. "Home sweet home."
 <Darkling> The room is not very lush compared to their apartment. Three sets of bunk beds, a bathroom, and an open concept kitchen and recreational area. No television to be seen, and a single bay window that looks out into the woods surrounding the base.
Rasia creeps towards the bunk beds, studying each one carefully.
Corrin glances at the beds. "Just like Austin."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Almost immediately Wil is approaching what passes for a kitchen, opening the freezer above the fridge.
<Darkling> She points to a number written on a stickie note. "Page this if you need me."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's just for a while." Lahja says a bit flatly as she takes in the sight of the room.
<Darkling> The door closes leaving the pilots alone.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He frowns, looking around. He pulls out a tray of ice and snatches up a dish rag. "How...cozy."
<Darkling> There's a few magazines on the coffee table about life in the dome, a deck of cards, and looks like some bags containing the pilots clothes.
<Corrin> "Wonder if the apartment's still standing..." Corrin muses, looking out of the window and up.
<Darkling> You can see the sky Corrin, through the trees and unobstructed by glass, and it looks like it's snowing.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He dumps ice into the rag then wraps it up. "...it would be troublesome if it weren't."
<Rasia> "--Book!" Raz suddenly barks.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Hm?"
Corrin jerks his head around at the shout. "Pilot Rasia?"
Rasia makes her way out into the common area. Worry flickers in her eyes. She goes to Wilhelm first. "Book!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Book...oh, oh yes. I'm certain it is fine."
<Corrin> "They're on the table..."
<Rasia> "Need here!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He sheds his shoes, socks and shirt. His torso is blemished by a round mark made up of blackened veins, in roughly the same area Null Drei had been stabbed som completely. Even on Wilhelm you can the mark on his front and back. "That seems unlikely at this point, Rasia."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Trolls may yet roam the streets, and with the fate of poor Madeline...I doubt they'll allow any of us to leave."
<Rasia> A harsh noise, her stress interrupted temporarily by the markings on the boy.
<Corrin> "Tough luck about the Director, though." Corrin comments, still oblivious to the other Pilot's injury. "Guess means we'll be getting Captain Skarl...Lit as our Director again."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I find her more interesting as she is now."
<Rasia> Fingers poke and prod, refusing to leave the veins alone.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Ga- ow. Careful, please."
Corrin stares for a moment, then shrugs. "Good idea, though. About the trolls."
<Corrin> "It's our duty to fight them, after all."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "What about Madeline? Was she the one making all that noise?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "She was hallucinating, I believe."
<Corrin> "Yeah." Corrin confirms. "She wasn't in good shape. I don't think she'll be our Director after this."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He finally presses the ice-filled rag to the mark, flinching as they touched.
<Darkling> The door beeps, followed by a click, and in comes Weaving with two boxes of pizza.
<Rasia> "Book!" Rasia nearly assaults the poor agent.
Corrin just stands there, watching.
<Darkling> She sets the pizza down. "What book?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Something from the apartment, rather personal and important to her."
Corrin looks at Rasia now.
Rasia points at what Wilhelm said.
<Darkling> "If you give me a description of it I can acquire it for you."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Leather-bound. Kept under a pile of baubles and other shiney items."
<Rasia> "..." But it's secret... She murmurs into the agent's ear, describing it and its hiding place in very simple terms.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja eyes the pizza boxes with some skepticism. "Hallucinating. I wonder if the trolls caused it. Of course the stress would, but maybe it was poison? Like cow gas?"
<Rasia> A mean look back at Wilhelm.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He puts a hand up in surrender. "Sorry, Rasia."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Pain-killers. She was missing an arm."
<Darkling> "I'll get it for you. Eat up, it's still hot." She exits the room again.
<Corrin> "And that." Corrin adds, pointing to Wilhem's injury. "Across her face."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "She confused me for a deity of germanic pagan origin." He smirks. "That's how high she is."
<Corrin> "A what?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> A sigh for you, Corrin. "She though I was a Nosre God."
<Corrin> "Oh. Right." Corrin nods.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "She lost an arm... wow."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I doubt we've seen the last of her." He claims a bunk, laying down with a hand holding the ice pack in place.
<Corrin> "Well, you were right about the enemy." Corrin comments. "How'd you know the core was a dud?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Did you even pay attention to the enemy, to Grendel?"
<Corrin> "Yes." Corrin snaps.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Then I shouldn't need to tell you it was as much an Aesir as a Jotun. If it wasn't the core we were aiming for..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He waits patiently for a response.
Rasia frowns quietly. It wasn't him. Just remember that.
<Corrin> "It didn't look like one at first." Corrin says after a while. "And how'd that work, anyway? If the enemy knows enough to copy our Units like that..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Swing and a miss. Oh well. He rolls onto his side.
<Darkling> A howling wind batters at the window, flakes of snow starting to pile up. The lights in the room shut off, except for a few emergency ones. Time for bed.
<Darkling> ==============================END==============================