GBG Session 14: Party Crasher

<Darkling> The week has passed and the pilots have been allowed back to their apartment, along with Lit as their Operations Director and handler again. Word in the base is that Madeline has been reassigned to another location and position pending more mental exams. That is the rumor anyway.
<Darkling> Spending the weekend at home was nice, you've been allowed some time to get back into the groove of living away from the base, all your belongings returned, and had some time to relax.
<Darkling> The television has been on quite often, most often showing news reports and interviews with some NERV public relations personnel about the Aesir and their mysterious pilots. Between that and the weather, non-stop propoganda commercials about the Aesir and the war on Trolls. It's really being pumped out there now that it's in the open.
<Darkling> The weekend passed and it was back to school. Most of the roads are back open, with construction bogging traffic down, and the sprinkling of snow that is still coming through the open dome. Ivy has not been attending school with you, since she is only staying temporarily, instead heading to the base with Lit after he drops you off to conduct tests and experiments.
<Darkling> There's also a noteably smaller population at the school now that you think about it. You're sitting through a boring lecture on vectors in math class, so plenty of time to think about it.
Rasia isn't even sitting facing the teacher, staring out the window at the snowfall.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja is sitting through it, alternating between taking notes and making little scribbles in her notebook.
<Corrin> Frowning, Corrin is blankly staring at the board, eyes glassy. A break from his usual routine of at least trying to pay attention. His mind's elsewhere again.
<Darkling> The usual whispering at the back of the room is going on. Things seem fairly back to normal at the school.
<Darkling> The teacher continues to drone on about vectors, not even looking thrilled himself with the subject.
Rasia swivels her eye to look at the whispering, ears focusing.
<Darkling> "...so you want to go there at lunch? I bet it would be awesome."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm listens in the best he can from his position.
<Darkling> "What's so special about it anyways?" "It's a way out of the dome you dumbass. Haven't you ever wanted to take a look?"
Rasia perks, freakish ears zooming in like microphones..
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Vectors, vectors, vectors. Lahja continues to take notes. Why couldn't the whisperers have been eaten by trolls? Or Ivy.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm actually sits up, peering over his shoulder.
<Darkling> "Yeah, ok, that sounds cool. Maybe we'll see one of those robot things even."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Well, this should be an intersting day.
<Darkling> It'd appear most everyone is paying more attention to the conversation at the back than the teacher.
<Darkling> "We'll go at lunch then, meet out back the school by the track."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> After a while Lahja looks over her shoulder, giving no one in particular a sleepy-eyed glare. Seems she's still oblivious to whatever they're talking about.
Wilhelm_Faustus leans to the side, peering at you and your desk, Lahja. He snatches up your worksheet and starts writting.
<Rasia> Wonder how many people will be there. Rasia's eyes glaze over, as a fantasy of running through the snow, chasing down Trolls clouds her mind.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> It comes back moments later, not only completed but with a note to meet at the track during lunch.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja gives Wilhelm a quick nod as she looks over the note. Then she goes back to paying attention to the teacher, forcing herself to do so despite the dull subject.
<Darkling> The class ends as dull as it started and you're shuffled off to history. Today's subject is current world history, and the teacher seems more than excited to talk about the newly announced Aesir.
Rasia taps on her mouthguard, reinstated as a precaution.
<Darkling> "This is a wonderful time to be alive in. As much as you can look back at the wonderous history of our ancestors, so few can say that they lived through such a momentous event!"
<Darkling> "This moment in our time may mark the beginning of a new era, one where we may finally be able to live outside the domes again."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja actually looks fairly enthusiastic about this, the topic being a welcome contrast to vectors. That and it's stroking her ego pretty nicely.
<Darkling> She goes on about this for nearly the full forty-five minutes of class before you're dismissed to science, which is as boring as math was. Soon enough comes lunch.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> As lunch-time comes Wilhelm makes his way out of the school and to the track.
<Rasia> Rasia's hot on his heels, leaving Corrin to Lahja.
Corrin gets up and follows directly after Rasia, eyes narrowed.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows along, her eyes narrowing just a tad as well. Not that anyone is especially likely to notice. "Corrin?"
<Darkling> Ahead of you already gathered is Art, Brina and Penelope, along with a few others. Grundi and Kurt are there too.
Rasia clucks her tongue, unable to otherwise express disapproval.
<Corrin> "Lahja." Corrin replies, glancing over his shoulder as he continues to follow. He's energetic again all of a sudden, if not cheery. "We should do something about this."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Grundi...of this will be good! A motion to Penelope.
<Darkling> She waves to you but seems in conversation with Brina and Art. Her hair has also changed colour again, now a deep scarlet.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "It's stupid." Lahja says flatly, obviously not sharing the enthusiasm. "If something bad doesn't happen I'll be a lutefisk's uncle."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I'll ask the two of you not to interfere or stop it."
Rasia sizes Art up, automatically checking for limps or bruises to exploit viciously.
<Corrin> "Yeah." Corrin nods, frowning, his gaze snapping around to Wilhelm. "Why not? You running off again too?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Just...leave already, hm? Go run to Weaving or someone with your tail between you legs."
<Corrin> "I'm not going anywhere. And neither are you."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He snorts and looks away, back to the others.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Can't stop an entire class." Lahja says in a resigned tone.
<Darkling> Everyone here looks in decent shape, and watching the current argument you're having.
<Rasia> Damn. Rasia continues to give zero fucks about Corrin's disagreement, stuffing her fists in her sweatshirt. Her clothes already felt tight and itchy, eager to feel the winter wind on her skin.
Corrin stands there, Lahja's logic sinking in, then glares at the other classmates. "What are you idiots doing?" he shouts. "Why'd you want to go outside?"
<Darkling> "Why wouldn't you, chicken or something?" Art smirks at him and the girls giggle.
Rasia turns her head. What? Corrin isn't a chicken. Chickens are delicious.
Rasia wiggles her nose, glancing at Wilhelm before rubbing at her neck.
<Corrin> "There is nothing outside that you want to see." Corrin insists, fists balled. "Nothing. At. All. If you go outside and get lost, you'll probably freeze to death. Did you even check what it's like out there, or are you stupid as well as useless?"
<Darkling> "We've never seen the outside you dumb shit. Almost all of us were born in this dome or are too young to remember anything except it." Penelope says. "Besides, you don't have to go, no one invited you anyway. Come on." She starts to walk off, the others following.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Hands slipping into his pockets he glances to Rasia and Lahja, then follows.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows along, but at a slight distance. In the event of a troll attack all she needs to do is outrun the slowest person. Having a head start wouldn't hurt at all.
<Corrin> Corrin stalks after Wilhelm, an angry look in his eyes.
Rasia tags behind, purring just under her breath.
<Corrin> "Wilhelm!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He ignores you.
Corrin picks up the pace, temper rising. If the older Pilot won't stop, he'll just have to make him. "Stop!"
<Darkling> "Go back to school you baby!" Someone calls from up ahead.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Rasia, could you silence him please?"
Rasia looks over her shoulder at Corrin. She turns, miming out the motions of putting a collar and leash on herself before pointing at him. Her gaze is soft, but purposeful and vaguely sad.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks to Rasia, then Corrin. Interesting. Very interesting.
<Corrin> Corrin takes this in, then shakes his head, the motion jerky. "Rasia? Let me through." he asks. Not demands, for once. "Rasia?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks up briefly, to a familiar building. Freyja's office was in there. She might be there herself right now. ". . ."
<Rasia> She doesn't move, simply holding his gaze, trying to ask with her eyes. Is it coming off? Or do I have to tear it?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'll haul you off to the nurse's office if it's necessary." Lahja says to Corrin.
Corrin finally shakes his head. "Come on, Rasia!" he shouts, frustrated and angry at Wilhelm, himself, and Rasia, as well as for reasons he can't quite place. "He's going to get them killed! The only ones going hunting are the Trolls!"
<Darkling> The whole group stops and looks at Corrin.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Facepalming in progress.
Rasia cocks a soft smile, hidden by her mouthguard, but it shines through her eyes. At least it wasn't 'because duty'. She looks over at the group, undaunted by the sudden divulging of NERV's secrets, and turns her focus back on the boy. She thumbs to herself.
<Darkling> "Is he on drugs or something?" A kid asks, much to the laughter of the group.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "You have no idea. Lets keep moving."
Rasia takes Corrin by the arm, giving him a nuzzle in the neck before dragging him along. Genuine affection, or manipulative ploy?
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows along, having a curious look at the interaction between Corrin and Rasia.
<Darkling> The keep on, occasionally make jokes about the baby and his medicine.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> ". . ." More reason for Corrin to die? Why should I care? Agh, shut up! He focuses forward.
<Darkling> It takes near an hour to reach the wall of the dome. Then the search begins for the breach.
Corrin has his mouth open to speak one moment, just realizing what he's done...then finds himself being dragged along. As the others search, he looks to Rasia.
<Darkling> It's colder near the edge of the dome, and you can hear the thrum of machinery inside the walls.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He runs fingertips along the glass, all but staring out.
Rasia lets go of him, once his compliance seems sealed. She stares back at the boy, reading his face.
<Darkling> A call from behind a dumpster, Kurt seems to have found the breach in the wall.
<Corrin> "Can I walk now?" Corrin asks quietly. The fight seems to have gone out of him, especially with what's just beyond.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks around halfheartedly, not entirely enthusiastic about the search. But she does wander over toward Kurt and the dumpster. "Oh, good... you found something."
<Rasia> A nod. She jogs towards the activity near the breach, throwing a glance or two back at him.
<Darkling> In front of Kurt there's a hole in the wall reaching a good fifteen feet across and twenty feet high, though it slopes down at your feet into the earth. It almost looks like a giant worm burrowed into the dome from the outside. The wall itself is quite thick, almost thirty feet from this side the the icy wastes on the other side.
Corrin looks away after a moment, and heads towards Lahja.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm stares out, wondering why it is he wants to get out there so badly.
<Rasia> Whoosh! Rasia sprints and bounds through the hole like a gazelle, after stopping to wonder at what created it.
<Darkling> The other kids gather at the edge of the dark where Kurt is staring as Rasia bounds through it, exchanging murmured whispers.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wilhelm follows out after her, trying to keep an eye on the girl.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja stares at the hole, reaching down to rub at her leg as the sight brings to mind the time Null Vier shot its own leg, and with it a brief instance of phantom pain.
Corrin sees Rasia vanish through, and his brow furrows. He looks to Lahja. "I lost my tablet." he says to her quietly.
Corrin 's gaze moves to the hole and the crowd around it. Still too many, and with Wilhelm and Rasia out there...
<Darkling> "Let's check it out!" Art says as he half jogs into the dark.
<Rasia> Her socks and shoes were left at the hole's exit, and there she is another thirty feet out just...playing in the snow like a cat, or a little kid.
Corrin moves ahead at that, standing in front of the tunnel as though to block it. "Listen to me!" he yells. "If it goes outside, you have to stay together! Don't go off alone!"
<Darkling> "Whatever shrimp." He is all but ignored.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I brought mine. Just in case anyone got maimed." Lahja says in a very nonchalant tone. She doesn't seem especially excited at the sight.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He leaves his shirt, shoes and socks at the exit near Rasia's, just standing there and staring up at the sky.
<Rasia> Her head explodes from a snow drift, having burrowed under it. She catches some flakes on her tongue, before noting Wilhelm. Hmmm...not a bad idea... Back under the snow she goes.
Corrin looks to Lahja sharply, still standing there. It's a large entrance and he's not a large Pilot. "Any connection?" he asks, suddenly hopeful.
<Darkling> A few of the other kids make their way out into the snow, starting to play, making snowballs and tossing them about.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He looks down, out across the snowy waste...and smiles.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "All yours." she says as she hands over the tablet. "Just don't read any of my emails to or from Ivy, or my fanfiction about her."
<Rasia> Rasia bounds between two snowbanks, and then further out into the bleak whiteness, her tush turned towards the group as she stares like Wilhelm. Her pupils are near pinpoints, adjusting to the brightness. Even out here...life. I can sense it. I can smell it.
<Darkling> Some arms wrap around Wilhelm, if only for a brief moment. "Holy frig you're cold!" It's Penelope.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He starts to speak, but its not German. Norweign? He clears his throat. "I told you I'm different, didn't I?"
Corrin all but snatches it, ignoring his fellow Pilot's banter. He's typing into it, a message about what's happening to Lit...and nothing happens. "Goddamnit all to hell!" he shouts, slipping into English. Shaking his head, he pushes it back towards Lahja. "Cannot...Can't get a connection. Come on!"
Rasia licks her mouthguard, about the only decency she's got left. She makes a long arc to explore new ground, using long strides to make herself harder to track.
<Darkling> "Yeah.. but this can't be healthy." She wraps her sweater around herself. Even in your state Wil, it does feel chilly out here.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Not surprising." She takes the tablet back, not entirely surprised, but still a bit disappointed. "You know, whatever made this hole could be under the city..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Still, refreshing. He takes a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "He's right you know. About Trolls."
<Corrin> "Yes." Corrin replies over his shoulder, obviously agitated. "And if these idiots stay out too long, they won't be around to worry about it!"
<Rasia> Hey, Wilhelm. Got an Israeli coming over to check on you.
<Corrin> "Besides, Pilot Wilhelm..." he adds to himself, trailing off as he picks his way over rocks.
<Darkling> "Is he now? Don't tell me, we'll get eaten alive if we stay here?" The look of concern in her face is not apparant.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Hard to say."
Corrin emerges into the wastes, snow crunching under his battered boots. It's cold, but he pushes that to the side as he immediately looks for the others. Where's Rasia? Where's Pilot Wilhelm?
<Rasia> Rasia's in her birthday suit, alternating between bounding off into the wastes and stalking things nobody else can see. She's actually not that hard to see, being brown.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...Rasia!
<Darkling> Art's new cell phone comes out. *click*
Rasia creeps over to Wilhelm, puffs of condensation appearing in rhythm with her heaving chest. Her eyes are alight, unable to smile for her mouthguard.
<Darkling> Another click. "This was such a good idea."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He kneels down. "You Have to put your clothes back on, okay?" He reaches over and takes off her mouthpiece.
Rasia licks her lips, wiping saliva off before it can freeze to her face. #5"Feels nice..."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "And the others are getting some good pictures from it. Unless you don't care." He responds in Hebrew, standing with the mouthguard in his grasp.
<Rasia> #5"Wilhelm care?"# She replies in kind, flakes melting on her skin.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Jealous, maybe." He continues in her native language. "Lit wouldn't be happy either I suspect."
Corrin is running towards the other pilots. He hesitates at the scene, coming to a stop several feet away, not sure what's going on. Standing there, he tries to look away and focus on the problem. "Pilot Wilhelm!"
<Rasia> A frown. She scampers over to put on a layer of clothes, at least enough to pass for decent. She still looks like she's going to bed, rather than running around the winter. Corrin's cry catches her attention.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Go away Corrin."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He bristles, looking out into the empty wastes.
<Corrin> "No." Corrin replies bluntly, glaring once Rasia is out of the way. "You're not sneaking off. You're coming with me, and we're making sure none of these idiots get lost and freeze. Understood?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Get everyone back inside then...and quickly."
Rasia eats a handful of snow, heading out to pick a fight with Art.
<Corrin> "You're coming." Corrin repeats. "Where's Rasia gone?"
<Darkling> The ground rumbles.
Rasia bristles, head snapping around.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He grabs Corrin by the shirt, pulling him in. "A troll is close you ass! Stop focusing on me and get them inside!"
<Darkling> Just a mere ten feet from Rasia the ground erupts, Art is gone in a flash as a monstrous tubular body reaches into the sky.
Corrin might be slow at times, but he understood that perfectly. "R...Right! On it!"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja cracks a smile for the briefest of moments. It felt good to be right, though she also felt like a bit of an ass for feeling that way.
Corrin skids to a stop, then keeps running. "Rasia! Move!"
<Rasia> Her whole body's on fire. Everything screams to attack.
<Corrin> "EVERYONE! GET INSIDE!" he yells, still running.
<Darkling> The thing towers over you, stretching from the hole to over twenty feet in the air, at least half that in diameter.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> This is almost entertaining. Well...Art is dead now, hm? "Rasia, inside!"
<Rasia> At long last she turns and flees, grabbing any poor children slower than her and physically dragging them.
<Darkling> The rest of the students need no prompting and are running for the hole, most of them already halfway through.
<Darkling> A section of the road ahead on the path they came from caves away, likely from the Troll tunneling.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "So he was the one under there?" He asks himself, skidding to a halt.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Don't stop!" Lahja says as she begins to run herself, though she makes it a point to keep slow to an extent, frequently looking over her shoulder. She's heading back to school, obviously.
<Darkling> The road in front of you drops a dangerous amount Lahja, can't go back that way.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Into the sewer!"
Rasia grabs a manhole, wrenching it up and off like it wasn't even there.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Following Wilhelm's advice she goes down toward the nearest hole to get inside. Despite the situation she can't help but laugh. It was definitely more interesting than vectors.
Corrin catches up with the others at last, stopping and taking in his fellow pilots. "Get in there, now!" Corrin shouts, echoing Wilhelm.
<Darkling> The body of the Troll squirms forward, it's end opening into a mouth made of five segments, all covered in serrated teeth with more grinder like jaws spinning deeper in it's maw. Two more students disappear in a gory splatter.
<Darkling> A groan from above, and the body of the Troll begins to pull away back through the breach and into it's hole in the snow.
<Corrin> "Move!" Corrin shouts at the students, gesturing at the hatch.
Wilhelm_Faustus disappears into the sewer next, trying to get his barings. He pulls out a penlight, turing it on. This...looks familiar?
<Darkling> It looks like a sewer, but you might be able to recall that map you were given, and the buildings you passed on the way here give you a decent indication of which way to head.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "This way..." He heads off, not bothering to see whos following.
<Rasia> Rasia keeps close what remains of their group, every muscle pulling taught enough to give her movements a snappy, jerky quality.
<Darkling> Penelope and Brina are clinging to each other whimpering, Kurt  and Grundi are still with you, the rest, not so fortunate.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I know a safe place ahead of us."
<Darkling> The path through the sewer is cross crossed by massive dug out tunnels, no doubt from the Troll you just encountered.
Rasia occasionally creeps forward or falls back, scenting and attempting to track it. It's crude, but better than letting it get the drop again.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He turns to walk backwards, trying to see it.
Corrin stumbles through the muck, trying to get towards the other Pilots. "We have to report this." he replies, perhaps taking refuge in procedure.
<Darkling> Walking backwards you step on something squishy underfoot, and again, the ground isn't solid here.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stops to look down.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja follows along quickly, her mind buzzing. What if it was laying eggs down here? She's only marginally paying attention to the chatter.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Don't fall behind, it's following us."
Rasia growls, stopping only long enough to grab a hard, heavy object.
<Darkling> You're standing on something vaguely fleshlike, and it spans the tunnel.
<Corrin> "...Shit." Corrin mutters, turning to look at the other non-Pilots. "You heard him. Move!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Fascinating..." No time, he presses on.
<Darkling> It starts to slide into the wall from under your feet.
Rasia scowls, instinctively throwing her stone at the fleshy thing in passing.
<Darkling> It flinches, then moves along quicker into the wall, leaving a deep gorge in it's wake.
<Darkling> "Where are we going?" Kurt pipes up.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "There." He points ahead to a rusted steel door.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I agree. It really is interesting." Lahja says absently, not slowing down despite the interest. She does take a long look over her shoulder after the rock throwing, however.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Hurry up!" He points to the door, slowing down.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "You'll find a room with a shower, but don't go beyond it."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Aren't you coming as well?" Lahja asks, moving to open the door if no one else is trying.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Once everyone else is in, so get in there!"
Rasia helps wrench the door, its rust no match for an Israeli in her underwear.
Corrin is trying to move the other students forwards if they're hanging back. "Come on, you idiots." he mutters, shoving and pulling as he listens for noise.
<Darkling> The room beyond the door is shiny, chrome metal facings and trim, a wall with a dark glass window from floor to ceiling and a shower at one end. Another corridor heads away from the room.
<Darkling> There's another locked door, looks lik it heads back to whatever is behind the glass.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Wil brings up the rear, looking over his shoulder for the Troll.
Rasia scrunches her nose, turning a slow, steady circle. Here? She sniffs, exploring the small room, certainly looking for something...
Rasia growls, jumping and grabbing the vent cover. Not very good with orders, is she?
<Darkling> No sign of the Troll down the sewer anymore Wilhelm. Looks to be safe.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He closes the door as he enters, grunting to pull it until it locks.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja moves along to the other door. She looks about the room, eventually noting that locked door. She doesn't feel particularly secure in here.
<Darkling> The vent seems secure, but that scent is definitely coming from there.
<Corrin> "Where are we?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "The basement of a secure building."
Rasia twists and pulls, digging her fingers in and tearing at it, growling.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "You can get out from- Rasia?"
<Corrin> "Secure?" Corrin starts, then looks to Rasia. "Rasia?"
<Rasia> She's even swinging left and right, using her weight to work the vent.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Rasia, don't. Come on."
<Darkling> Metal groans and the vent pops off the wall sending Rasia tumbling back.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Dammit." He moves to get in front of the open vent.
Corrin moves after him. "Pilot Wilhelm. We have to report that the troll's inside."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "It's been told to the proper authorities."
Rasia rolls to her feet, dropping the vent and moving right up to Wilhelm, locking eyes.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stares at her.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja takes a deep breath, then makes a face.
Corrin grabs Wihelm by the shoulder. "You're lying."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Damn you Corrin, you made him look away. "Just what the hell is your problem?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "Not the time." Lahja says sharply.
<Rasia> And that's all Rasia needs. She clambers for the vent, grabbing and squirming her way in.
<Corrin> "My problem? You've killed the entire fucking class and you're asking what-Rasia!"
<Darkling> A tight squeeze, even after Rasia slimmed down at the base, but she makes it in.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He tries to reach in after her. "Don't go in there!"
Rasia crawls, the scent driving her batshit, her teeth already bared.
Corrin pushes forwards. "Why? What's in there?"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He pops out. "Down the corridor you'll fnd offices, tell them what happened." He points, then crawls in after Rasia. "Rasia!"
<Darkling> A short distance your face meets another grated vent Rasia.
Rasia headbutts that fucking vent.
<Darkling> It pops off, clattering to the floor.
Corrin hesitates, then runs for it.
Rasia falls in, landing on her hands and rolling to her feet.
<Darkling> The students left in the room are huddled close, obviously traumatized.
<Corrin> "Lahja!" Corrin shouts over his shoulder, already heading down the corridor.
<Darkling> Rasia, around you is mostly dark, but you can tell you're in a sprawling room. Large glass cylinders make up a gride as far as the eye can see, glowing reddish-orange and full of LCL. So that explains one smell.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja looks up toward the vent, then to Corrin, and then to the other students. She motions for them to get moving.
Rasia sniffs, creeping towards one tank. She puts her ear to it.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He all but falls out of the vent in his rush, grunting as he lands.
Corrin skids to a stop where Wilhelm said the offices where, glancing about wildly.
<Darkling> The gurgle of fluids and bubbles and the hum of electronics.
<Darkling> There's another door at the end of the corridor Corrin, an elevator.
<Darkling> There are things floating inside the cylinders, humanoid shapes.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He stands up, looking around for signs of Rasia.
Rasia squints, trying to compensate for the shitty light.
<Corrin> "Lying sonofa-" Corrin shouts, breaking off into hacking coughs. He'd pretty much exhausted his supply of curses parroted from Commander Ashley anyway. He looks behind him.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Please, Rasia, we need to head back. They can't find out you were in here."
<Darkling> A recognizable face floats by, idly spinning in the over sized test tube.
Rasia gasps, her heart stopping for a moment. #5"Copy."# She whispers.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...so now you know."
Rasia turns to look at him, eyes only vaguely comprehending.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He holds his arms out in indicate the entire room.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'd just prefer we were all together if something bad happens. At least that way one of us might be able to run off and pass on the bad news. It's a courtesy." And with that Lahja follows along after Corrin at a leisurely pace after a slight delay. "But I'll be back if you'd prefer to stay here."
<Darkling> The rest of the students follow behind Lahja, more than eager to get out of this place.
Rasia creeps closer, her nose still wrinkling with every breath of Freyja. #5"...strange."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Is it?" He passes her, pressing a hand to the tube. "Each time I visit my memories are passed on the them. So everything I know they will."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "We're all the same, but we always think of ourselves as individuals."
<Corrin> "Lahja! Where's Rasia?"
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "She hasn't emerged from the vent with Wilhelm. Do you have any idea where we are?"
<Rasia> "..." She squints, taking a moment to try and wrap her head around that one. Her teeth click. "Wilhelm mine."
<Darkling> Grundi pushes the elevator button, and it hums to life.
<Corrin> "Bastard said there were offices. Said we were in a basement." Corrin snaps. "Get in there!" Corrin shouts at the other students. "Tell them what happened!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "And them?" He motions to the other tubes. "Will you take them in as well?"
<Darkling> "Stop yelling," Brina whimpers. "Please."
<Rasia> "Mine. Not Her." She bristles a little at that.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "We should go before she knows you were here Rasia. This...isn't ment for anyone's eyes."
<Darkling> The elevator door opens, and the students shuffle in.
<Rasia> "Mine!" She barks, voice echoing off the wall.
<Corrin> "We can't just leave without them." Corrin says to Lahja, still standing there.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...I know."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He approaches her, caressing her cheek. "I'm yours, I know that. But we still have to leave here."
<Darkling> "He said it was safe here.. I just want to go home." Brina's eyes are red from tears, Penelope's face still buried in her shoulder.
<Rasia> That appeases her, at least for now. She casts one last look at the tanks, knowing there's...something that squirms whenever she thinks about them. Something...off. A part of her she isn't completely used to. She finally nods, licking his cheek and heading for the vent.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "...not sure why I'm worried. Both of the covers are broken, they're going to know..."
<Darkling> The students stare at Lahja and Corrin, waiting.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods. "I know. But I'm not going to leave these people alone. They'll probably never be able to look at meat again without thinking of their classmates." Lahja says, loud enough for the others to hear. Hard to tell if she's actually concerned or she's just trying to rub salt in Grundi's mental wounds.
<Rasia> Dilemma resolved. Here comes the missing pair, now.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "What in the world are you waiting for?"
<Corrin> "Get in."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "The two of you." Lahja says with a smile. Then she walks into the elevator.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "You missed all the fun, Lahja."
<Darkling> The elevator door closes behind everyone and starts upwards.
<Darkling> It stops when it reaches the first floor, opening up to a very startled secretary. Papers fall out of her hands. "Wha...what's going on here?!"
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Please get Doctor Freyja for me."
Rasia licks her teeth, growling lazily at Wilhelm's request.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He grabs her hand and gives it a squeeze, then whispers for the others. "Doctor Freyja happens to keep an office in this building."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> Purely coincidence.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> "I'll have to ask about it later." Lahja nods toward Wilhelm, not suspecting anything out of the ordinary. At the most she thinks the fun he referred to was just the view of Rasia crawling through the vent.
<Darkling> "Yes Wilhelm." She grabs her papers and goes back to her desk hitting a button on her phone and talking into it.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> He steps out of the elevator, smoothing back his hair.
Rasia squeezes back, following the boy.
Corrin steps out. "Come on."
<Darkling> The other students follow behind, a bit more relaxed in this setting.
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja exits, taking a deep breath. Amongst other people she feels a little safer, and has a slight buzz as well. A long way from a combat high, but it's something.
<Darkling> The elevator door closes behind them, and hums again. The secretary is on the phone with someone else now. "Yes sir, with other children too. I don't know sir. Right away sir."
<Darkling> She puts the phone down and turns to Wilhelm. "Please wait here."
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "Of course." He looks to the remaining students.
<Darkling> She sits back down, the music in the lobby a gentle melody.
Rasia rolls her neck, wishing she hadn't forgotten that sweatshirt of hers.
Corrin stands there, looking somewhat lost all of a sudden.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "I suggest you let me do the talking."
<Lahja_Ilvainen> Lahja nods to Wilhelm, perfectly satisfied with that.
<Darkling> The elevator dings and opens up, Freyja stepping out on heels, bright red fiery mane bouncing as he walks towards the group. "Well, isn't this a nice surprise."
Rasia growls, freely baring her teeth at the woman.
<Wilhelm_Faustus> "My deepest apologies, Doctor Freyja, there was a bit of an incident. Who else could I count on?"
 <Darkling> ===============END===============