damned_institute | Nightshift 30: M31-M40 Hallway

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Nightshift 30: M31-M40 Hallway

[M39]

Being dragged away from ZEX mid-conversation was something of a mixed blessing. On the upside, it meant that Zelnick would have at least few minutes to regain emotional balance before spending the whole night with the guy....

Well, perhaps it was more of a mixed curse. Normally Zelnick didn't begrudge allies their oddities, but ZEX had this amazing ability to jump straight from normal conversation to oh-god-awkward innuendo-laden flirting, and Zelnick couldn't do much but hope that he'd keep away from the latter.

In any case, he paid closer attention to where they took him, this time, not just his room number, and he realized he was actually really close to Yuber's room. Wasn't that convenient?

Once he was in his room, he started to get ready for the night; skillet, knife, pestle, all loaded into the apple basket that had wound up in his closet, along with a couple pens and the radio (hadn't Yuber said it spilled hints at night?). This meant he couldn't take all the apples with him, so Zelnick wrapped them in one of the extra shirts and left them in the corner of the closet. All that was left was to get the flashlight, which he found under his pillow like he did last night.

Then the intercom clicked on.

So that was their lord and master, in this place? After spending the first night confused and the first day hearing the voice of the Head Nurse, he found that the guy sounded pretty sane, until he admitted to killing someone. "The man on the radio--" did he mean whoever was on the other side of the little antique, sending out hints? And the method of death sounded... frighteningly personal.

He unloaded the skillet from the basket and held on to it as the doors unlocked, and sat at his desk to wait for ZEX.

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Usopp's behaviour hadn't seemed to improved since they had spoken on the board earlier in the evening, and he began to silently consider reasons behind the cause.

"There possibly was some form of airborn sedative or sleeping spell introduced into the cafeteria to end the battle between the patients and those who work here. There's no other method they could use to knock out such a large room of patients for transportation back to their quarters. Perhaps that in addition to the sedative given to Usopp has caused further complications ending with these results." Yuber offered thoughtfully while gesturing over towards the affected pirate. It was a plausible theory, and the conversation he'd previously with Reno.

Whatever amusement that had been on his face previously vanished as he glanced over to Sai. It would be more beneficial to their little alliance if they spent this night collecting further supplies - especially with his ally's mind in such a state. Yet, the pirate's safety was his first riority, and he would hardly continue on with the search if there was any doubt to their protection.

"I'm certain you'll be more than capable of protecting Usopp here without our aid?" He stated more than asked Sai. There was no doubt within his mind what the answer would be, but in doing so Sai and himself would have entered into a verbal contract within his mind... even if the ninja wasn't aware of such things.

If Usopp thought they were allies, that was good enough for Zelnick; he'd trust that he could trust Usopp and his friend. "I'll do my best to see that no stabbing has to happen, Captain Usopp," he said, solemnly. Especially now that he'd seen the impressive collection in Usopp's closet-- even if he wanted to steal from the other captain, at the risk of getting stabbbed, there was no way he could carry it all with him.

Glancing at Yuber, Zelnick said, "Well, they could be using some sort of electronic implant, or mind control. A gas would've knocked out everyone, not just the rioters-- unless its sedative effects are triggered by stress and strenuous activity? But then it would've affected the staff, too..." He shook his head and looked like he was going to say something else, paused, and then added, "They might have put something in the dinner of anyone who rioted? It's not like you guys were hard to pick out, with all those hulking bodyguards-- it might not be too hard for one of the staff to slip something into the food, either as you're getting it or while you're distracted by conversation...."

The theories danced in his head, though they weren't exactly the most important thing at the moment, and he shook himself out of their grasp long enough to say, "Pity we won't get explosives tonight. I'm better at fights that involve lots of things that blow up." He smiled sadly, and said wistfully, "Like the other guy's ships." Oh, what he wouldn't give for his beautiful Vindicator...

A sleeping spell, as in magic? The thought hadn't even crossed ZEX's mind, given that magic had become outdated and largely forgotten in his time. While it could explain the numerous strange things that happened here, that seemed to have been the entire point of "magic" as he understood it... to explain things temporarily until factual, real evidence could be found.

But there still was the nagging fact that everyone, even these humans who ostensibly knew nothing about his species or the galaxy as he knew it, was speaking his language. No good thinking about it now. "I'm sure there have been opportunities during the day to discreetly inject those who misbehaved with a variety of chemicals... perhaps some designed to activate after a certain period of time has passed."

A shame that they wouldn't get what they'd came for, but as long as he was with his Captain, it didn't matter too much. At the Captain's words, ZEX smiled again a bit awkwardly. "If only this involved interstellar combat... that's a field I'd have a great deal more confidence in."

"Okay. That's good. Sorry. You can't trust everybody here. There's some people who'll kill other people just because. Even if the Institute isn't controlling them." Usopp explained disjointedly, then added with an awkward smile. "And I get paranoid when I can't think right." True, he was paranoid most of the time, but it seemed to come out verbally worse than usual.

Concerning why he was confused, he offered, still standing in the doorway with it open, "They can make us all pass out at once at night. So they could make me... y'know. From a distance? They don't really need needles." It should have occurred to him when this whole phenomenon had started, but instead it took all this discussion to make that thought float up in his brain.

As for Sai's matter-of-fact statement that they wouldn't be making explosives, he found himself a bit muddled again. "We can't make explosives. We don't have everything. OH! We could make poison gas. I have lots of bleach." Why they'd want to make poison gas was beside the point; he was sure the potential was there, with the bleach and ammonia. Something else, too...

He reached deep into the closet and pulled out one of the little red paper mache spheres he'd created. "I made it in arts and crafts. It's paper mache. With gunpowder and a fuse it's a bomb!" He put it in Zelnick's hands, even though there was an admiral around too, because the admiral didn't really seem to be in charge of things and also was maybe having trouble getting used to being human. Space people! Hadn't something about that been in his conversation with Luffy at breakfast, before... stuff?

Having handed over the sphere, he sighed wistfully, "Blowing up other guy's ships is fun." He was thinking mostly of wooden ships and cannonballs but the principle was the same. "I have a toolkit. Broken glass. Eggs! Um. Air freshener. Medicine. Bandages. Spare batteries. A treasure. A sign that says 'wet floor.' More bleach. Lots of piping. I was gonna make a flamethrower. Flour and chili... I made some smoke bombs. Kind of. There's other things..."

Edited 2008-03-02 18:44 (UTC)

"Usopp," Sai warned with a sudden rather harsh glare when the pirate started going on about what they currently had stashed away. As friendly as these people seemed, there was no reason to tell them everything about that. Especially after all the trouble they'd gone through to get a good deal of it. He was still a bit bruised from the spider.

As his friend continued, Sai ended up taking a couple steps towards him and slipping his hand over his mouth. He tugged Usopp's head back just a little but none too gently, hoping to get the point across. After completing this action, but not without letting go of his friend, the ninja once again smiled at the others.

"Thank you. I'll take all of that into consideration." And he would, though the issue was still puzzling and their ideas hadn't put any of it in a more positive light. "Please be careful if you decide to venture into dangerous territory."

Yuber watched with interest as Sai abruptly halted Usopp’s babbling explanations. A slender golden brow rose up in quiet amusement at the sight before he chuckled softly. “You have no need to worry over such things.” The Black Knight murmured in reply to Sai’s words of warning. What he had come across so far within these walls had been rather lacking, to say the least, but he welcomed the possibility of studying further unique creatures this place creates.

“If there’s nothing else,” The stated question was directed towards Zelnick and ZEX before he gave a slight nod over towards the door. “We’ll leave you both in peace.”

[repost for radio >.>]

"The difficult thing with poison gas is keeping from breathing it yourself," he said, a bit ruefully. "But if there was a way to limit the effects to a small area...." Well, they could figure it out when Usopp was a little more lucid. Zelnick examined the little paper balls with interest. "I never would've thought of this," he admitted, handing them back. "It's a good idea. Maybe you could show me how to make them sometime? Assuming we need more, that is." He smiled at the prospect of needing more shells to put gunpowder into.

Zelnick tried to keep track of everything Usopp was listing off-- before he got cut off by Sai, that is-- and after Usopp had been muffled, he suggested, "Ethanol is flammable, right? you could try that for your flamethrower." He grinned cheerily.

At Yuber's suggestion, Zelnick shrugged. "We don't need to stay longer, I don't think." Turning his attention back to Usopp, he promised, "I'll do my best to find more useful things-- especially for gunpowder, of course-- and you can take care of what we got last night." That said, he took the basket and sorted out everything they had gotten from the lab-- every resource he had listed in his notebook-- and laid them in fairly neat rows on the bed, leaving himself with the kitchen knife, his radio, and the basket itself. "I'll let you figure out how to store this stuff," he said, since Sai was obviously wary about letting their newly-minted allies have too close a look at their trove. "And stay safe."

Barely a moment passed before his radio clicked on and began to play music, and he listened attentively all the way through the-- the new girl's speech, he guessed, though he hadn't ever heard the voice of the man who had died.

It was utterly charming how Usopp and his companion interacted with each other! It seemed so easy and natural... ZEX almost found himself jealous. Someday he'd get the hang of human culture and interaction, he was sure.

ZEX smiled and, still with an air of unfamiliarity, nodded just slightly. "I do wish you the best of luck, and hope your thoughts clear soon, human. It can be a dreadful thing to not be thinking clearly." It was too bad he had nothing he could personally offer Usopp for their cause, but he hoped to change that over the course of the night. "I hope we can meet again soon to... develop a closer relationship."

He turned back towards the human Captain, face muscles twitching in an attempt to move non-existent head tentacles. "I'm ready to set out when you are, my love."

Usopp blinked as he found his train of thought, finally running down a straight path, cut short by Sai's glare and the utterly unsubtle hand over his mouth. "Mm?" And he hadn't even gotten to the fruit juice or the baskets or the ketchup or... but he found himself nodding to Zelnick, and waving goodbye to Yuber and ZEX, without trying to speak again.

They'd agreed, on risk of stabbing even, and they'd left presents--he was inclined to think nicely of them, although he had a bad feeling Sai was going to fuss at him for being an idiot when they left. I can't help it, my brain's all... things.

The voice on the radio was a woman. The radio guy had gotten a sex change? But hadn't he died? Usopp's mind was too preoccupied to catch much of the message. At least Zelnick and ZEX seemed to be understanding about Usopp's problem. And ZEX sounded like he wanted to be friends--that would be nice. A person couldn't have too many friends.

Sai noted the announcement on the radio only because it was a different voice than usual. Apparently the death of the original radio man had not brought an end to the nightly broadcasts. The ninja usually left his own radio behind, since something that might crackle to life at any unknown time wasn't particularly conducive to anything that required stealth. If there was anything important to hear, he was sure he'd be informed.

Still not releasing his hold over Usopp's mouth, Sai nodded his goodbyes to those that were leaving. "Thank you again. You've been very helpful, and we'll see what we can do." And this was the truth. He had no reason not to help Usopp repay these men, but spilling information on what they had was still something to be frowned upon. For being a pirate, Usopp was far too trusting.

[Ack! Sorry that I took so long guys =\ uni classes went back this week and I’ve been stuck doing a crapload of stuff for that until today =_=;; but I I’sh back!]

“Until next time,” Yuber slightly inclined his head towards Usopp and Sai after the ninja’s words. He’d need to speak to the pirate when their mind was clear of whatever was inhibiting them tonight, but that could be at a later time; he was in no rush after all.

Glancing at the pair going with him, the Knight did nothing more to suggest they follow him as his silent movements took him out through the door, and back into the hallway. They still needed to pick a direction to go in tonight, but from what he could tell, the second floor held the more useful items.

[To here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/301449.html)]

As the others left, Usopp exhaled heavily through his nose, then gave Sai a very pathetic, very clearly sorry look.

Sai could say all he wanted about not having feelings or emotions, but he definitely knew how to be possessive. And Usopp himself knew, with a little strain of thought, that he wouldn't ordinarily just sit and list all those things even to a new ally. Even one bearing presents.

But it had been on the tip of his tongue, as he'd tried to remember all they had so he could think of what plausibly could be made, and then it just sort of started... and he forgot to stop.

With the others gone, Sai finally removed his hand from his friend's mouth. He gave the pirate a long look that said nothing in of itself, but only because the ninja wasn't very expressive. He wanted to make Usopp take note not to do something like that again. "I understand that you're confused right now, Usopp," he said quietly, "but please watch what you say. You're currently in possession of some valuable commodities others in this place would want to get their hands on. You don't want that to be spread around by word of mouth."

Then is was almost as if the incident hadn't happened, and Sai gave the pirate a smile in an attempt to assuage any worries he might have had that the ninja was angry with him. "Now, are you feeling any different?"

Usopp continued to give Sai the same hapless and guilty look, even with the hand removed. "I'm just... well, I don't think they were." He paused, then said slightly dismally, "At least I didn't say what the treasure was." Anything else they could regather with effort, but that treasure wouldn't be replaced any time soon.

The smile was recognized, but Usopp just twitched his lips in an effort to smile back before going over to half-sit, half-collapse on the bed. "No. I still feel like my brain is half gone." If he didn't have that, what did he have left? Was his aim still good?

He hadn't told them the exact nature of their "treasure" - this much was true. But simply mentioning that they had something they considered a treasure could be even worse, as it would bring out other's curiosity. That was never a good thing. If Usopp had told them it was a soldering iron, the mystery would have been taken from it, at least.

"Physically?" Sai asked with a frown in response to Usopp's statement. He didn't think this was actually the case, but it was best to ask anyway. He laid a hand on the pirate's forehead but still found no fever. "Perhaps you should rest a while. I'll watch the door in case anyone else comes by."

"No. Just... the same thing, still." Usopp yawned. "Maybe you're right. If I nap, I can't say stupid things. Unless I talk in my sleep..."

That was a new and really scary thought, actually. What if he did talk in his sleep? People would hear, would hear... well, the odds were a lot better that he'd lie in his sleep, so that wouldn't be too bad. "Sai, wake me up if I start talking, okay?"

Sai didn't believe that Usopp talking in his sleep could be particularly harmful, but he nodded at the pirate's question anyway. He just hoped that if he did start saying something he shouldn't that he would be easy enougn to awaken.

As he thought a good friend should, he began helping Usopp get settled in bed, including pulling the covers right out from under him with one swift tug and then setting them back over him. Resting might not do anything for the pirate at all, but surely it couldn't hurt. Everyone could use any extra rest they could get here anyway.

Sai was tucking him in.

Usopp hadn't had someone tuck him into bed since he'd been five years old. Maybe longer. Sometimes, when he was really hurt, Chopper'd put a blanket on him but it wasn't quite the same. This was weird.

Sai was always weird. He had emotions but he expressed them in weird ways. Like smiling when he thought something was wrong or going all blank when he was upset or not knowing when people normally would touch and when they wouldn't. Sai was just plain weird.

Everyone Usopp knew was weird, except maybe Kaya. Usopp liked weird people. Then when he liked eggs too much or he called himself a great captain or ran into a room full of death slugs, they could just think Usopp was weird back. And he was too.

But he was also warm and comfortable and Sai could take care of things a lot better than Usopp could. For the moment, he tried to let anxiety go, and just fall asleep.

Usopp wasn't complaining, so Sai finished tucking the pirate in with a smile. He even reached up to brush a few strands of hair away from the teen's face as he'd seen others do with the sick and injured. It wasn't a terribly sweet and sentimental gesture coming from him, especially as it was a rather brief movement.

Once finished, he was all business again. He positioned himself near the doorway, back to it with his arms crossed. This allowed him to face Usopp while listening through the door at the same time. The noises from the clinic would make getting a true account of what was going on in the hall difficult, but he'd do the best he could. It was more than likely that he was going overboard.

Edited 2008-03-10 17:38 (UTC)

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/303919.html?thread=25246511#t25246511)]

Although his mind was busy constructing backup plans, Mello didn't have any time to waste. He didn't have time to check every room so he chose at random, moving on whenever he heard voices and moving in when he didn't. Most likely, people took their possessions with them when leaving for the night to avoid something like this. It would be too risky to steal from a person, though. Better to try the supply closets.

He continued checking the numbers as he moved down the first hallway he'd passed. One room was particularly noisy--Tamaki's clinic?--but if he was lucky, the commotion in there would be enough to hide any sounds of his search. He moved close to the door of his next target, carefully trying to sort through the noise and pick out anything coming from the room. It seemed safe. Good.

Mello carefully touched the doorknob and prepared to enter the room.

Footsteps outside the door were one thing. Footsteps that stopped were another. The moment he heard anyone approaching their doorway, Sai paid extra close attention to their movements, and this was the first pair of steps to have slowed. Then, unmistakably, there was a hand on the doorknob...

That was as far as Mello needed to get.

In an instant, Sai had risen to his feet and flung the door open. Reaching out, he grabbed the blond by the front of his shirt and slammed him into the wall just inside the doorway. Eyes narrowed, the ninja gave Mello a quick once-over. Not particularly threatening, it seemed. At least not physically. But the man had been sneaking around outside their door, and Sai wasn't willing to take any chances.

"Hello," he said without smiling. "Were you looking for something?"

Edited 2008-03-10 21:32 (UTC)

Usopp's distracted mind had finally come to a rest when he was jerked awake again by a loud thump. He jumped up in the bed, pulling the covers up to his chin as though protectively, and stared around the room. Whatever dreams he'd been having were forgotten in the momentary panic.

"Sai! What's going on?! Who is it?!" Peering through the darkness, it didn't look like anyone he knew, but... he'd talked too much earlier, had someone else come on rumors of treasure? Despite his initial defensive posture, Usopp started to climb out of the bed, still holding onto the sheets for a moment before the tug of their weight reminded him to let go. It was a small person, but that didn't mean anything. Sai needed backup, in case this became violent.

Where had he left his weapons?! Ah, the closet! But he couldn't open that while this guy was standing here. Torn, he stood in the center of the room, watching and waiting to see what happened next.

"What--"

Mello's reflexes were fast, but this person's were far faster. Before he'd even processed the opening of the door, he hit the wall and heard himself gasp in surprise, and something prevented his instinctive recoil. It took a dizzy second for the disorientation of impact to pass, then he blinked hard to take in his attacker: an unnervingly stoic looking teenager.

Why was everyone in this place so goddamn young and so goddamn good at everything?

He recovered his wits quickly, and although he didn't fight back, he grabbed the boy's wrist to make it clear that he didn't appreciate being held in place. The kid wasn't wearing the same clothes as everyone else here...in fact, if he'd been a little less pinned to the wall, Mello might have actually approved.

"What the hell are you doing in my room?" he demanded as he tried to use his other hand to push the kid away.

"This is M33," Sai replied. "We've been here all night and this room belongs to the man behind me. You're not his roommate." He didn't release his hold on the blond, and in fact drew out a trowel with his free hand as the man began to squirm, holding it under his chin. "Please explain yourself better."

The man was scarred badly along one side of his face - further, it seemed, once he got a better look. Perhaps on the shoulder and/or back as well. It appeared to be burn related. A fire, then, or explosion. As he noted earlier, however, he didn't seem like much of a fighter. So it might have been from an accident.

Sai hadn't seen him before. If he wasn't straight out trying to fool them, he couldn't have been there long to not even properly remember his own room number.

"Yeah, I just saw Sousuke leave at the start of night," Usopp agreed, standing back and out of the way for now. The idea of having a new roommate, despite the relief it would give Usopp from his pretense, was terrible in an odd way. He still felt as though he owed something to Sousuke. Then again, there was no way of knowing when or if Sousuke might just vanish, and no way to prevent it.

But in the middle of the night? How would this guy know this was his new room if he had just shown up? No, no, even in Usopp's confused state it didn't add up.

"Did someone tell you to come here?" Their new allies could generously leave stuff behind if they thought they'd get it back soon, couldn't they? Paranoia rose again. "He's a ninja, he can tell if you're lying!"

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