Night 69: Patient's Library

[ninelivesonce]

[from here]

The library smelled more strongly of dust, old leather, and dry rot when it was pitch-dark. Or maybe that was just Taura's imagination kicking into overdrive. Katherine would be at home here; Taura found it quaint, and confining. She juggled the star into her clawed hand without a sound, and pulled out her flashlight, pressing the little button to turn it on.

She could see enough for most things, but a secret passage generally meant a hidden trick, and unless Rita asked her not to look, she wanted to know how it worked.

This was possibly their last safe ground, too. "The healing stone's in my bag, along with the stunner. You just point it and push the trigger. Just in case, you know?"

Comments

[overlimit]

So far, so good. They'd reached the Library without any delays... though that could have been Landel's plan. If he'd prepared a trap for them here, he wouldn't want anything to keep them from walking right into it.

Rita gave Taura a nod, showing that she understood. If Taura were to be incapacitated, it would be up to Rita to use the equipment she'd brought... but considering Taura was providing most of the muscle of the pair, Rita hoped it wouldn't come to that.

She led the way down the aisles of bookshelves, stopping once she reached a familiar row of books. She lifted one hand and rested it on The Oxford Book of English Verse, but didn't pull down just yet. They had to be ready for this. "There's a hidden switch here. Once I pull it, we might have a fight on our hands. Get ready." With that warning, Rita pulled down on the upper corner of the book, and braced for the worst as she heard that telltale click.

[ninelivesonce]

Taura nodded, and set the flashlight along the top of a book on the next shelf over, so that it lit as much of the room as it could without encumbering her further. Then she spun the throwing star in her hand, lazily, and took slow, deep breaths. Not so much to calm herself; she was calm, besides the usual pre-combat stomach flutters, which happened whether or not they were dropping through free-fall on the way there.

Landel knew they were coming; he'd said as much. So what he sent after them would tell them something about his tactics. That was, of course, if they survived it.

[damned_intercom]

As soon as the correct book was pulled, the bookshelf began to slide to the side, revealing a dark set up stairs that go upwards. At that same moment, static began to pour from the library's intercom speakers.

"Landel's Institute InformATIOnallll R-r-rrrrelay Intercom Systemmmm--" The automated female voice would no doubt sound familiar to a veteran patient, but that likely wouldn't make it any less unnerving. "Initiatinngggg IDENTIFICATION COMMAND 546. Working. WORKing. Work...inggg...."

[overlimit]

Rita had expected a monster to come charging out at them, or something. But the passage appeared clear so far, and instead of anything coming through there, sounds from the intercom filled the room. IRIS? It seemed to have been triggered by the switch. "That's new," Rita commented, lifting her flashlight to investigate. She kept a tight grip on her weapon with her other hand, in case things took a violent turn.

Slowly, she approached the passage, illuminating the steps leading upward. "This is starting to look like an invitation," she said to Taura. They couldn't relax just yet, though. They had to take it slow and stay on guard. There had to be a trap in here somewhere.

[ninelivesonce]

Identification? They didn't have anything, unless their clothing counted. Or maybe the bracelets? Taura held hers up to where a camera could be mounted, but nothing happened.

"I agree. Let's see what they have to say before we cut ourselves a better Deal, mmm?" They were walking into a negotiation empty-handed, and they knew it. Well, not precisely empty-handed, but a little visible and concealed weaponry was usually a healthy assumption all around; that didn't count. What they had on their side was desperation; having little to lose was rather freeing, if one knew how to use it.

She retrieved her own flashlight, and added its light to Rita's as she ducked through the doorway.

[to here]