Nightshift 25: Discplinary Therapy Room Hallways

[norainu]

[from here]

Renji stopped himself from simply stumbling into the hallway by grabbing the door frame. There were nine people behind him, poised for attack and rescue. But it would be stupid to run in blindly.

He pulled the knife out from the back of his pants, holding it ready in his hand, then raised the flashlight to start illuminating the hall. He moved cautiously in. The others would follow.

Comments

[damned-monsters.livejournal.com]

The hallway was dark, shadows stretching and reaching as though clawing at the beams of light from the flashlights. That beam passed over shapes, moving out there in the darkness. Beasts set to guard, to watch, to protect. Beasts that hungered for flesh. Beasts that seemed to give off some strange, faint glow of their own when the light touched them.

Three in number, forms like humans, skin a strange dull gold, the creatures moved with a jerky rhythm, as though puppets controlled by some unseen force. Blind, hairless, open mouths devoid of teeth, the creatures shambled towards the rescue party. Their five fingered hands, a gross mockery of humanity, raised and sliced at thin air with sword-like claws.

[norainu]

Well, he hadn't thought for even a moment that this would be easy. Renji decided not to check for the spirit threads quite yet; the creatures were between them and the doors, so it wasn't like they could try to break through until they'd been taken care of, or at least sufficiently distracted.

He nodded to Sora, jerking his chin at the one closest to the doors. They'd go after it together. He looked at Artemis as well. "Stay behind me," he said. "If someone falls, help them. If three of us fall, run."

He signaled his intention to Hitsugaya and whoever else might be watching, though he didn't move forward quite yet. As soon as Sora had his keyblade out, they would charge it together.

[byname-bynature.livejournal.com]

The boy followed Renji along the hallway as fast as he could--drawing a crude map and running wasn't as easy as Artemis had originally thought. When the group arrived at the hall, he craned his neck to see past Renji.

Artemis stared in shock at the creatures. His mind was fumbling, desperately searching for a scientific reason for these things. Obviously, his brain couldn't wrap itself around the issue because there really was no reason for their creation--that he could see, at least.

Renji's words snapped him out of his trance, and he gave the man a stiff nod, "Understood." Something cold had gripped his heart. It was foreign, and altogether unwelcome. Was this the feeling Artemis had never had time to experience? Was this fear?

Left hand shaking, Artemis drew the scalpel Haku gave him out of his pocket--ready to stab anything that might want him for a midnight snack.

[lighthearted]

The trip to the halls where the experimentation happened wasn't nearly as long as Sora had been expecting it to be. He made certain to commit that path to memory, as it was one he might have to travel many times in the future. He hoped not, but even the bearer of light had to be realistic about certain things.

As they reached the proper hallway, the boy prepared for a fight. There was no way such "important" rooms wouldn't be guarded, but they had at least come with reinforcements.

Still, the monsters that were there to apprehend them were of a sort he hadn't seen around thus far. They were similar in structure to the thing with the huge triangle on its head, which meant that they might have quite the fight ahead of them.

When he heard Renji's order to run if a certain amount of people fell, Sora mentally shook his head. No, he wouldn't run this time. He had to save Kairi, no matter what.

Though when Renji seemed to be waiting for him, Sora bit his lip. "The Keyblade usually only comes out when I really need it. I have to wait for them to attack!" Dangerous, yes, but there was nothing else he could do. The creatures were on their way over, so he steeled himself and waited, staring forward unflinchingly.

[damned-monsters.livejournal.com]

The creatures each seemed to narrow in on a target. Shambling in stilted steps, they advanced. One drew up before the first group, bladed fingers raised high, mouth open in a silent scream. How could the thing sense them - blind, without ears, how did it sense their presence? And how did it pick Renji as their leader? For it was Renji that those bladed claws swiped down at, glowing with the same eerie dull gold as the rest of the creature's body.

The claws fell in a slow but precise arc.

[norainu]

As the creature moved forward toward him, Renji shifted on his feet, ready to dodge. Mentally he cursed himself for only being armed with a knife; the range was about comparable to that of the creatures. It was better than nothing, but a longer weapon would have been a welcome advantage.

He was ready when it swiped at him. Thanks to the fight with the necrits earlier, all traces of the painkillers from earlier had been burned from his system. Even the pain from the relatively minor wounds they had caused him left him sharp and ready.

He dodged downward and to the side to avoid those swiping claws, coming up to thrust his knife at the creature's momentarily unprotected side; on a human, it would have been the soft section between the floating ribs and hip. Not an ideal blow, but a good opener; it was hard to fight with one's bowels punctured, after all.

[byname-bynature.livejournal.com]

Artemis nearly shrieked when the claws came forward to slice Renji to ribbons. But somehow, he held his ground behind the man. For once in his life, he was going to do as he was told.

This is no game, he told himself, I could end up maimed or dead if I do something moronic. Artemis turned to Sora, his eyes clearly full of sheer terror.

"Any chance of that Keyblade-thing making an appearance soon?" He asked, his voice shaking, "We could really use it, I believe."

[whiteychan.livejournal.com]

To anyone else, the horrific nature of the monsters ahead of them might have been distressing. To Hitsugaya, it was liberating. Having spent nearly two full days in this place with only a minor scuffle with some annoyingly obnoxious human, the opportunity to get into a real battle was something he had been longing for a long time.

For one of the few times since arriving at Landels, the young captain actually smiled.

Hitsugaya nodded in his agreement as Renji signalled their intentions. He motioned slightly at one of the other beasts. He didn't have the body mass to batter down the doors like Renji did, but he could make one damn fine distraction. He motioned briefly towards one of the other beasts, then glanced to Jean and Rena, who were closest to him. He knew Jean could fight, but had no idea what Rena was capable of. "Let the monster focus on me," Hitsugaya said as he unslung his bat. "Jean, strike it wherever you get a shot. Rena, keep the light on us. If anyone falls, help them. If I say to run, retreat without question and don't wait for Renji or me." If anyone was to die here, it would be the shinigami. That's how it always was.

[blazingsword.livejournal.com]

Pens were not going to work with these creatures, Jean thought, absently nodding. She quickly surveyed them; their eyes didn't seem to work, but that didn't mean other senses weren't functional. Their sense of smell, perhaps.

Her knives would have done most of the work in bringing down something like this, or if Lady Achea were here, no doubt they could have subdued the beasts. As it was, though, she'd come in here prepared for hand-to-hand combat.

Jean's hands curled into fists, but they still remained at her sides. Hitsugaya-taicho had said to let it focus on him, and besides, he had a weapon...

[kaerutokoro.livejournal.com]

These were definitely not dragonflies. She hadn't expected the exact same malady to encounter the party during their journal, but the anticipation was tied to something more real. The forms before them were entities of fiction to Rena: humanoids, almost like...

Aliens?

They staggered closer to the group, each step making Rena's throat dryer. Fortunately, the more experienced fighters were already issuing their orders; a fact that came as a comfort to the girl. "Y-yes!" she answered Hitsugaya, readying her equipment.

It was then Rena noted that unlike the shorter individual besides her, Jean held no weapon. Was she going to fight them just like that? That wouldn't do at all--not if she could help it. "Jean-san." The girl touched the woman's arm. "Please take this." With her other hand, she offered the metal bar.

[damned-monsters.livejournal.com]

The second creature continued its halting, strange walk. There was something almost mechanical about the way it moved. This one bent double, its torso low, one arm held out before it like a thresher. It drew its claws back and forth, back and forth, sweeping at the space in front of it and showing no signs of slowing or stopping.

It seemed to intend to simply clear a path down the hallway with is claws.

[whiteychan.livejournal.com]

The beast's movements were unnatural, even when compared to what he normally fought. If he had his blade, or even ~any~ blade, he wouldn't have been as concerned about the creature's method of approach. As it was, he wondered how effective his baseball bat might be in stopping its approach.

There was only one thing to do. He charged forward, closing the distance between himself and the creature and giving him more room before it got to the others. To someone taller, the bat might have given them an advantage in reach over the creature. To Hitsugaya, it only evened the playing field.

He swung his aluminum bat at the creature's extended arm, hoping to at least knock away the deadly claws and create a small opening. He swung with a good deal of ferocity, his aim to keep its nonexistent eyes trained on him and not the others. He was determined to remain its target if at all possible.

[blazingsword.livejournal.com]

"Thank you, Rena," Jean replied, and she felt a little relieved, with the metal bar. As the monster had come closer, she'd seen its razor sharp claws, and realized that fists weren't going to be much help.

The monster continued its way down the hall. While it didn't seem to want to attack, Jean wasn't taking any chances.

She followed on Hitsugaya-taicho's heels, hoping to find a weak spot. Even if he'd ordered her to let him be the target, there was no meaning in watching a battle unfold and doing nothing. And the size difference between the two was worrisome.

As the spirit prepared to land a blow on the monster's clawed arm, Jean grasped the bar tighter and lifted it, ready to strike as soon as she found an opening.

[entrust-to-few.livejournal.com]

"Oh… my..." Larsa nearly dropped his flashlight as he tried to cover his mouth, eyes widening at the sight of those grotesque figures lurching towards them in a frantic pace. But he quickly recovered from the shock with a look of determination, holding tightly to the rapier as if it were his lifeline, and for this battle it didn't appear to be far from the truth.

Looking towards the others in his group, the child gave a quick nod before pointing the flashlight back towards the group of monsters.

"I will light your path as you make your attack."

[lost-metal.livejournal.com]

Ed stared at the creatures for a moment, eyes wide. He'd never seen anything like them before. But after a split second, he raised the needles he was carrying. He'd fought chimeras and homunculi, he could whatever these were.If he attacked from behind, kept his right side towards the monster...

He nodded at Larsa, a savage grin crossing his face. Well, he'd been wanting to fight something, hadn't he?

He glanced over at Homura and Gabranth, waiting for them to move too. Be easier if they could overwhelm it.

[screwthegods]

Homura was more keen on the idea of Ed staying back, given how the boy had already acted that night. But he recognized stubbornness, and knew there would be no chance of that. The dropped jaw and shock that came from the other boy made him as good of a candidate to linger.

Like the others, Homura had never seen creatures of this kind, yet he wasn't so inexperienced to let the shock overwhelm him, and to make him falter. He tightened his grip on his sword before stepping forward, arrogant as ever, sword lazily held at his side for a moment.

"I'll go first. You both strike while it's occupied." Not his preferred method of attack, perhaps, but Homura had no qualms being the distraction, especially when his weapon gave him the best range for doing so.

And with nothing else, he moved forward from the group, bringing his sword up and looking for his first opening.

[judgemagister.livejournal.com]

It was no surprise when the beasts entered their path, blocking the potential rescue from preceeding. They moved mechanically, lacking human grace or the fluidity of most beasts.

It wouldn't be a surprise if they had specificially been chosen for guard duty, and so it would be a foul mistake to underestimate their speed and movement. The weaponry was obvious enough.

It suited him well enough to leave Larsa behind, as the other two creatures were sufficiently occupied. Nodding at Homura, he moved the spear to his side, intending to use it as more of a pike than a throwing weapon. Noah waited until Homura moved forward for his first strike, sliding to the side and aiming the spear at the creature's head.

[damned-monsters.livejournal.com]

The third and final creature fell upon the last group, advancing with a jerking purpose and determination. Its clawed hands were raised, poised to swipe, to swing down and cut its victims where they stood.

[entrust-to-few.livejournal.com]

Despite the confusion that was running amuck amongst the crowded hallway, Larsa made sure to keep his arm poised as he lit the path for his fellow group against the indescribable beast that was attacking them. As much as he would've wanted to join and end this battle quicker, their weapons would have done them no good if they weren't able to see their opponents in the first place.

He worried for the other's safety as well, but he knew to focus on those he had been aligned with. Though his concentration was interrupted when he heard a muffled voice coming from several of the radios in the area. Larsa did his best to listen before a frown stained his features.

Realistically, he was not able to remember such details in the man’s words. The speech and meaning were completely foreign to him, and it did not help that they were expected to decipher a single detail out of the tangled mess they were given from what felt like months ago. If he’d been any less of a man he would’ve sighed loudly in frustration, but instead he took note of another battle’s achievement from a seemingly simple action.

"It will be easily overtaken once you’ve pinned it down on its front!"

[norainu]

[from here]

Renji walked out of the room, Kairi firmly in his arms. He paused once they were outside of it; at least one of the fights seemed close to ending. He looked at Artemis. "Stay here," he said. "When the next group finishes, tell them that Adel is in that room." For a moment he balanced Kairi easily in only one arm, so that he could point out the room to Artemis. He kept pointing until he was certain that Artemis had the exact location.

He turned his attention to Sora. "Let's head back to Ed's room," he said. "The kids'll want to know how things are going."

There was room to get past the monsters. He headed that direction. He figured he'd drop Kairi off at Ed's room; Sora could stay with her, and Tamaki could fuss over her. Then he'd head back and... hopefully find something to kill.

[byname-bynature.livejournal.com]

Renji's command caught Artemis by surprise. Stay here? Renji must have really not wanted to look the boy in the face now. His secret was blown, after all--there were bottles all over the floor. But Artemis was used to being hated by now. At least staying in the hallway didn't involve suturing wounds. ...yet.

Artemis shrugged, trying to look indifferent. But of course he wanted to come back with the rest of the party--hail the triumphant heroes and all that.

But then again, there was blood to be bottled...

"I'll let them know," Artemis assured Renji, trying to keep the edge out of his voice. He didn't want to become the next surgical table, that was for certain. Without another word, he moved to stand next to the door Renji indicated. There was no need to help the group. After all, a man had just pierced the monster's weak point with a spear. Ed's rescue group would be there soon enough.

[lighthearted]

While it made sense for Artemis to stay behind and help the others (though it looked like things were winding down, anyway), Sora was still somewhat sad to have to leave him behind. He had offered his help, after all.

He gave the other boy a pat on the shoulder similar to the one he'd received from Artemis just earlier, and then turned to Renji. It looked like Kairi was falling asleep, which was probably for the best. She had to be extremely drained after being injected with darkness. Though he did have some concerns as to how that was going to affect her...

Renji was on the move, though, and Sora had to jog to keep up. "The kids?" he asked. Were there people waiting for them, then?

[heartcrown.livejournal.com]

Kairi was surprised to see Renji balance her in one arm while he pointed out a door to Artemis, and for a second she clung to him as if she thought she were going to fall, but realization sunk in and she soon released the death grip.

Sighing to herself once Renji and Sora were on the move again, the redhead caught a fleeting glance at her old friend and flashed him a small smile before allowing her eyes to shut once more.

Within a few moments, she was fast asleep.

[norainu]

"Suou and his friend," Renji said. "Maybe Sheska as well. They stayed behind to prepare if there were casualties."

He kept walking.

[byname-bynature.livejournal.com]

Artemis turned from watching Renji carry Kairi away from the battles. Ed was breaking away from the battle--the monster was finally dead.

"He's in that room!" He yelled, pointing back at the door and running towards Ed. On the way, he picked up some of the pill bottles, ready to store the blood in the stolen containers.

[Moving up to Rena/Jean/Hitsu Fight thread~]