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damned_institute2008-09-20 10:19 pm
qui-gonjinn.livejournal.com) wrote in damned_institute2008-09-20 10:19 pm
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Nightshift 35 - Walk-In Refrigerator
[From here with RAID GROUP]
A blast of cold air greeted him.
Moving quickly, the Jedi retraced his steps, moving past the racks of frozen meat and feeling, if not quite seeing, the feel of evil go stronger. Qui-Gon's breaths came in white clouds, but he wasn't as cold as he'd been before: the extra layers of his clothing helped keep the cold at bay, for now, at least. He didn't intend to stay here any longer than he had to. Heading deeper inside, Qui-Gon searched out the discolored tile on the floor, kneeling next to it and running his fingers on the edges until he could get a grip on it. Straining, he eventually had it lifted enough that he could shift it over to the side, uncovering the black depths of the staircase that would lead him to the basement.
The Jedi Master lowered himself first down the shaft, bringing his flashlight to bear on the dark staircase, stepping moving back and angling his flashlight to help the others. He stood by in case they needed his help climbing down.
A blast of cold air greeted him.
Moving quickly, the Jedi retraced his steps, moving past the racks of frozen meat and feeling, if not quite seeing, the feel of evil go stronger. Qui-Gon's breaths came in white clouds, but he wasn't as cold as he'd been before: the extra layers of his clothing helped keep the cold at bay, for now, at least. He didn't intend to stay here any longer than he had to. Heading deeper inside, Qui-Gon searched out the discolored tile on the floor, kneeling next to it and running his fingers on the edges until he could get a grip on it. Straining, he eventually had it lifted enough that he could shift it over to the side, uncovering the black depths of the staircase that would lead him to the basement.
The Jedi Master lowered himself first down the shaft, bringing his flashlight to bear on the dark staircase, stepping moving back and angling his flashlight to help the others. He stood by in case they needed his help climbing down.
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He did, however, pause long enough to watch the older man remove the tile, and he made a mental note of its location and discoloration. He wondered if they would be coming here again in the future, although a part of him hoped they would find the answers they were seeking tonight. Still, things like answers and solutions rarely came easy in Landel's. Despite his initial misgivings about their mission, however, Obi-Wan was prepared to do what it took to assist his old friend in his quest to bring Martin Landel to justice.
After glancing towards their traveling companions, the younger Jedi followed after Qui-Gon and lowered himself down the shaft. He kept his own flashlight on as well, hoping to provide a little extra light just in case it was needed.
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There was no point in taking too much time to check it out, though. It was all food, for the most part, and would do them little good. Soon she was heading down with the others behind her.
The fact that the little boy was now armed with some sort of tool didn't make him any more useful in her eyes. If anything, he was now that much more of a hindrance. He'd probably hurt himself with that before he managed to do any damage to the enemy. Hopefully whatever friend Qui-Gon had brought along would be more useful. At least he was quiet.
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The monk slowly made his way down the narrow stairs.
He barely suppressed a wince, as the healing shoulder wound was jostled.
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Even without having an understanding of the German lyrics, it's impossible to miss the dark tone of the song. The high notes are hit hard and often, full of rage and grief and determination. The singer performs Brünnhilde's end from Act III of Wagner's Götterdämmerung, as the Valkyrie throws herself into Siegfried's funeral pyre and ushers in the death of the gods and the destruction of Valhalla.
The old world will end in fire, a new order rising out of the ashes.
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The cold air was the first thing to greet him, followed by the smell of various foods, particularly frozen meat. However, tonight had something new. Was that opera music he was hearing? Archer couldn't name the piece, but it wasn't important.
"The trap door should be over there," he said, motioning to the corner. "Underneath the tile in the corner."
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As far as he knew, it was the only entrance (or hidden entrance) found so far, and it was still fairly odd seeing a concealed staircase in such a modern kitchen the second time around.
As they entered, the sound of a woman’s skilful singing drowned out Archer’s words. Opera? Sounded German. He’d had experience with opera before, but he had to admit, whoever was singing down there had quite the voice. Strange enough during a Landel’s night, stranger still to be coming from the ballroom.
Ren took a silent breath, hardly needing the use of his second sight to make an assumption. He used it anyway. Definitely not smart to go down there without having an idea of who was doing that. Once his eye blinked open on the vaulted ceiling, he brought the ballroom into focus even as he split his attention with the two with him. In the southern portion of the room, he saw something, and quickly repositioned his eye on another column. Half woman, half something else, levitating off the ground and belting out German opera with a deceptively beautiful voice.
Well, that proved it.
“There’s an enemy down there,” was what he said out loud, cocking his head while observing the trap door, and at the same time recalling his eye. “One of the more dangerous ones, I think.” Let them think he’d had some experience.
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The song seemed cajoling, urging their small party closer to its songstress. "It seems as though the Good Doctor," the name was laid with some sarcasm, "has a certain love for the arts, does it not?" The young general hoped that the creature would put up more of a fight than some of the other monsters. If it were half human, she wondered, then did it also mean that it acted on more than base instinct, or was the song just a form of human mimicry?
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He found the entrance, exposing it to his team, but he didn't go down yet. "Hold on a sec."
Instead, he took out his map from his sack, displaying the basement. "Here. This is where we'll come out in the basement. It leads to a ballroom and to the south is our goal for tonight." Pointing to the southern door, to the right of where they entered, he continued, "Near the door, there are two indentations, which I assume serve as locking mechanisms, for a sword and shield. I have both of those objects."
Searching his sack, Archer pulled out a bundle, the sword and shield. "Ren, I'd like for you to place these in their proper position, while the rest of us cover you and handle the monster. We'll wait for Brook downstairs, just outside of the ballroom, but if the monster senses us we'll have to take action without him."
"Do you guys have any advice or comments to add?" He turned to look at his teammates, studying their facial expressions. He didn't know about Ren, but Celes, as a general, probably had more tactical experience than him. "Before we continue, I should also point out that I don't know what lies beyond that door. Arts and Crafts doesn't have any intel on that area. I assume there's something of worth in there since it's so heavily guarded, but for all I know, it could be a trap. The other rooms each had their own dangerous trials, so if anyone wants out, now would be the time."
He wouldn't blame them if they chose not to go, especially with the way things were going. Plus, he understood that the unknown was a scary thing for some people.
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It wasn't until Archer pulled out something from his makeshift bag that the doll made a distracted noise. "Hmm?" He took them reflexively when they were offered, balancing them in his arms and wondering at the feel of blade against his hand.
What was all this about?
He blinked, expression placid, though inwardly wondering if he was getting asked to take care of the door because he was supposed to be the weakest link. What was Archer going to do if the doll had the inclination to back out or Brook didn't return from his other dangerous fight? Have one or the other be bait while the other tried to open the door? Now that was a scary thought. There might not necessarily be safety in numbers, but it was definitely better than nothing. At the same time, however, if there really was something dangerous behind the door, Ren didn't mind being the first one to take a look.
"I don't have a problem with any danger," he started thoughtfully. Then he hefted the two items he'd been given. "But where did these come from?"
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The General frowned deeply, considering. "Do you have any sort of long-range attack, Archer? I've a little magic left to me, it seems, and it would be best if I used it wisely. I would rather not waste it on a smaller monster and risk being unable to heal, or heal one of us and not have enough to properly defend myself." Especially if she was without a sword for Runic.
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Turning to Celes, he said, "Yes, I have my bow and five arrows, which I'm proficient with." Boy was that an understatement. In his normal state, there was no way he'd miss unless he wanted to. If he shot at the target a hundred times then he'd hit the bullseye a hundred times. Archer wasn't the heroic spirit of the bow for nothing. And like he thought, the general brought up some good points.
"Right. I was thinking that I'd offer long-range support while you covered short to mid-range. That's why I think you'll be needing this," he said, extending the handle of his sword to her. Somehow, he had a feeling she'd prefer it over the bat. "Then you could give Ren the bat for self-defense, just in case."
Finishing up, he spoke, "Like the Celes said, we should try to conserve our energy. Our goal is to get past the monster, to the southern hall; not to defeat it."
He was very pleased that no one mentioned backing out, after he gave them the choice.
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"Well, then. I'm ready when you are."
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The servant was all right with being taken only at face value. He'd just have to support them if or when it came down to it.
And on that note, he wasn't all that surprised to hear that both used magic and stuff, though maybe he should've been. If only a little. Long, mid, or short, those were all ranges easy enough to handle with certain kinds of supernatural capabilities, but since he wasn't being asked, he kept his mouth shut about it. An 'Archer' with a specialty in archery, huh? Definitely fitting.
The bat was something he eyed with some scepticism, though he took it all the same. It wasn't going to do him much good, but if they weren't enlisting him for any ill-matched battles, it was probably better he carried it than Archer or the girl, right? "Thanks. I'll try and get it back to you in one piece." Baseball had never been his sport.
As long as the goal was to avoid the monster, not get in its face, Ren figured it was well enough that they didn't get into a discussion of what that she-thing could do. It wasn't like he knew firsthand, anyway. Running worked fine, if they were attacked while waiting for Brook.
He nodded and gave a half-smile to show he was ready. Glancing at Celes, he added, "By the way, I never got your name."
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With that finished, Archer stepped forward and descended into the darkness.
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The kitchen was clear, or at least clear long enough to get through it. Renji paused in the walk-in, inspecting the already open trapdoor. He wasn't all that surprised that people had beaten them here. And in the end, it wouldn't really matter. "It's down through here," he said.
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The ice box was empty when he reached it, the trap door already ajar. He didn't waste a moment, and slipped quietly down through it, not far behind the others now. The room below was lit, so he'd have to be even more cautious.
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