Nightshift 36: Main Hallway, 2-West

[spirit-forge.livejournal.com]

[from here]

No one else appeared to be in the hallway. It should've been good news, but Archer still found it disconcerting. There were usually other patients around by now, but he couldn't be certain. His sense of time felt off in this place.

He might as well move on, since he was short on time. Not to mention that he didn't want to risk getting attacked.

[to here]

Comments

[silent-shades.livejournal.com]

[From here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/497998.html#comments).]

Rude moved along the hall swiftly. He felt like a kid let loose in a sweet shop. Track down the monster and harvest it's blood or find some chemicals and blow shit up? Hell. Find the chemicals and blow the bastard up. Two birds with one bomb. Efficient.

Of course, he'd have go and make the bomb and come back another night for that. And he really needed to hit something. It would have been unfair to punch Reno while he was sedated and there was no fun in giving him a dead leg when he couldn't feel shit.

He looked back at Elena. She looked a little better now but she was a woman and thus prone to sudden changes in mood.

[brightlyshine.livejournal.com]

It was helpful to be moving, to be doing something. Elena was really glad that Rude had came to get her, had made this suggestion. The problem itself wasn't fixed, but she did know that sulking in her room all night wouldn't have helped. This was something she could do, could help with.

She glanced over at Rude and gave him the tiniest of smiles before moving towards the next hallway, hand close to the knife's handle so she could grab it at a moment's notice. She'd been studying the hallway maps a little too.

[diamondstorm]

[from here]

It was empty upstairs for once, and Renamon was thankful. The soft sounds of walking came from somewhere close, but it didn't interest her. She had business to do.

This hallway, then.

[diamondstorm]

[to here]

[whiteychan.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/491309.html?thread=40117805#t40117805)]

The stairs were a little tricky, his body not quite wanting to remember how to work. Thankfully there was a railing and he was able to use it for support and mostly hide his condition. He did, however, stop at the top of the stairs, at the intersection leading towards their eventual goal. He leaned up against the wall briefly. "Give me a moment," he said to Artemis and Toboe. "Then we'll continue."

[nakanai-toboe.livejournal.com]

Toboe nodded. "Okay." Really, Hitsugaya looked like he needed more than just a little break. But Toboe set himself to keeping watch for anything waiting to attack without saying anything else. He smelled that Renamon had been through this hallway already--judging from the strength of the scent amongst the reek of blood and decay, more than once. He didn't see anything threatening in the shadows, at least not yet.

[jokers-wildcard.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/491309.html?thread=39738157#t39738157)]

There. Harley reached the final step, but kept her hand against the wall to keep from getting too dizzy. Last thing she needed was to end up falling right back down those stairs. The world was spinning too much to immediately head off so she chose to wait a few minutes, at least long enough to be able to walk again.

Harley turned her gaze back to Crane, who had quietly followed her up. She half wondered how she must look to him, wiped out from climbing a single flight of stairs. She blinked trying to clear her head, when she realized something else this guy had said didn't quite add up.

He had mentioned it before, but she still found it odd how someone could be from Arkham and not have heard of her. Although she supposed she shouldn't really lump herself in with the Joker, even if they were an item.

...Wait! Her eyes suddenly lit up in revelation (or the closest thing to it while half sedated). That was it! Crane here was from Arkham! He could verify she wasn't crazy! Well, more so.

"I... I'm a..." Okay, calm down, Harl. Don't get too excited. "I'm part of The Joker's gang... back in Gotham. I'm his right hand girl... don'tcha know? And... his sweetheart." She offered a shaky smile, looking at him expectantly for a reaction.

[scaredy-crow.livejournal.com]

Her...babies? She certainly didn't look like the motherly sort, but appearances could certainly be deceiving. Still, the word lab had caught his attention. He did want to see what chemicals he could find to remake his fear toxin with, after all. And they were going in the same direction, so it didn't hurt for him to follow her up the stairs and continue asking questions.

He mulled over what she'd said about this Joker. It didn't sound very familiar to him, but he'd heard so. Still, from what she'd said, he had a gang. Gangs in Gotham tended to be very dangerous, especially if they outlived all the mob rivalries. If Harley was the leader's sweetheart, then she was either very lucky or very dangerous. To be in Arkham, he was willing to guess the latter.

"Oh, I see," he said conversationally as he followed her slowly up the steps. "I'm sure nothing they try could keep you from them."

He thought carefully over what else he could find out about the Gotham that she was from. Harley knew a version of him, if nothing else, which was something he would be aware of. She'd said before that she had never taken any classes with this 'Professor' Crane, so that really left just one option for her to be on good terms with him, considering she had been in a gang and come from Arkham. This Crane had to have been there in some capacity or another. From their previous conversation, she'd given him the impression that this other Crane wasn't a doctor, so he had to have been a patient. Even if it was an alternate Gotham, this Crane was likely still Scarecrow. If she knew him as that, not only could he have a confidante, but someone to potentially use for information.

"I'm afraid the name Joker isn't terribly familiar to me, but I've started to develop a bit of a theory as to the differences between the Gothams we know." He paused for a moment, considering just how to ask this next question. "For instance, you've mentioned another Crane that you know. Could you tell me a little bit about him? How did you know him?"

[enigmaticmedium.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/497998.html?thread=40216654#t40216654)]

There were other people in the hallway, enough that Xelloss was a bit surprised. This area wasn't exactly out of the way, but it also wasn't a hub of activity the way the main halls downstairs seemed to be. Well, in Xelloss's experience, at least. He turned to make sure Anise was still following. Were the other patients competitors for the possible prize, or simply passing on their way to some other goal?

It was getting a little exciting. He waited at the top of the staircase for her, smiling still. Searching with only one flashlight would also probably be rather exciting, in a different way...

[gald_digger]

Anise was grateful that Xelloss didn't have anything to say about the embarrassing stumble. Most of her friends would rub it in with some light teasing, and the ones who wouldn't would still rub it in unintentionally by asking if she was okay. This way, it was easy enough to put it behind her and keep moving. Quickly, but not too quickly.

The girl caught up to her partner in no time, matching his smile with one of her own. Just as he said, there was a faint glow from the direction of the Sun Room, and visibility was a little better, but Anise decided not to run ahead again, for the sake of avoiding any more embarrassing incidents.

There were more people up there than Anise had expected, and she gave a somewhat disappointed look as she glanced around. The last thing she wanted was competition for these prizes. Oh well! If she wanted to avoid that, then they would just have to keep moving without stopping.

[kanpekinasenshi.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/497998.html?thread=40119630)]

Almost time to make a choice. Seiya was surprised, though, that the hallways seemed busy upstairs tonight. In an odd way, it made her hesitant to even try the trick on the balcony here. It wasn't that Seiya wasn't used to performing in front of an audience, and the balcony did look clear, but so many people around would be distracting. Particularly if they responded.

"... It's too crowded here." Seiya said quietly. "I want to head down the hallway ahead--there's an outdoors balcony that I think would be a good spot, too." It was closer towards the center of the Institute, though, wasn't it? And there were those birds waiting on the rooftops...

[tranquil-seas.livejournal.com]

Michiru looked around, noting the few people who lingered in the hallway. It was easier to see up here, since the moonlight that leaked into the Sun room fanned out across the balcony as well. It wasn't much, but it made her job easier.

The change in plans didn't. It would be better to find a less occupied location, but now that meant traveling to a location she'd never been to. Not to mention that an outside location added a whole new dimension that she'd need to keep her eyes on.

"And if there's people out there as well?" she whispered back, giving Seiya a long look. It didn't escape her notice that the hallway Seiya was suggesting led them closer to the pulse of energy she'd sensed. "If you think it'll be worth the extra time and energy, then I'll follow you. But the sooner we finish this, the better." Waiting another day to find out if Usagi was still here was entirely unacceptable.

[screwthegods]

[From here]

There was nothing more than a few people in this hall, but Homura's experience from the night before made him cautious. He kept his distance from the other parties, stopping there because now they had to decide which hall to attempt first. The hall immediately ahead only had one unopened door according to the map; that made it easy to decide that for the present, that area wasn't worth heading down. With limited time, it would be best to go to areas with more doors.

He also considered that Kenren was probably somewhere in the halls by now, and if he had begun in the same place, it was likely he would be in the area to the left. Not only were there a number of doors, but they were close together, making that the most opportune place to start. Ultimately, it would be better to go in different directions, since Homura doubted both keys went to the same door. Even eliminating one would be a help to the other pair, should both not find success that night.

"This way." Homura motioned to the right, stepping in to the next hall.


[To here. Direction was decided by random dice roll.]

[spirit-forge.livejournal.com]

Archer peeked out into the hallway from the top of stairs. It seemed like there were other people moving about, but no monsters or anything that indicated danger. Still, he'd keep his senses sharp just in case.

"All clear," he whispered to Thursday, before stepping out.

[jurisfictional.livejournal.com]

It had been distressingly quiet all night, to be honest. Still, Thursday nodded silently in response, glancing down the hallway. File storage was on the other side of the building, if she recalled correctly - at least, it had been labeled as such on her map.

[only-logic.livejournal.com]

[From Here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/491309.html?thread=40477997#t40479277)]

Stepping out of the stairwell, Hohenheim peered around through the darkness. If he had an extra hand, he would be able to use his flashlight, but it was impossible when he was keeping Yuuri upright. He stepped aside to allow Wolfram to follow along before setting his pillowcase of bottles and fished around in his pants pocket to find his flashlight.

He pulled it out and offered it to Yuuri. "Point in a direction Yuuri, and we'll go that way. Remember, we are looking for rooms with locks on them," he said kindly before reaching down to grab his pillow case again. They would get somewhere quickly this way.

With that, he set off down the hallway.

[arrogantflame.livejournal.com]

Wolfram followed only long enough to make sure that they weren't being followed, from downstairs or otherwise. Once he was certain that they most likely wouldn't be attacked from behind, he quickened his pace and stepped in front, eyes scanning for any vicious cats or anything else up ahead.

Yuuri seemed to be pointing to the first hallway. Wolfram had never gone down there, so it seemed as good a place as any to start.

He gave Hohenheim a reassuring nod that he had things under control before heading down the smaller hall.

[kindalikedit]

[From here]

They reached the second floor. Dean had a good look around. Some more halls that branched off from this one, his flashlight beam just reaching far enough to show something that looked like balcony railings off in the distance, his torch glinting off metal. Despite the voices he'd heard earlier, this end of the second floor seemed to be empty, which was fine by him. It'd be easier to hear if anything tried to sneak up on them. Dean remained quiet, guarded, knowing that even for his usual gig, this could be a whole hell of a lot dangerous than normal if he got caught with his pants down.

He was tempted to ask Tokito about what he remembered before waking up in this place - ask if there were any strange smells, any electrical disturbances, stuff like that. Now was neither the time nor place, no matter what suspicions he had. If Tokito did have any "abilities", he'd have to save trying to find out until later. The kid didn't seem like he'd snap and go apeshit on Dean, just from his first impression. Kind of bitchy, sure, but straight-jacket crazy? Not so much.

[wild-right-hand.livejournal.com]

It took Tokito a few seconds to figure out which direction they needed to go, now that he was in territory he'd only ever seen sketched out on a two-dimensional map. But he saw Dean's flashlight beam glance off the railings around the top of the Sun Room, and that cleared things up. "That way. Past the railed area and all the way to the end. Last hallway branching off there." Maybe they could take a peek down into the Sun Room, too, see if it was safe. But who knew how much time they had left, with the way things worked here.

[godforsaken]

[From here.]

The hallway seemed to be empty by the time they made it out of the staircase, though Sync could make out lights further in. He gave an idle glance to the hallway on his left but kept moving forward.

[tender-cruelty.livejournal.com]

Oh, so they were following. Perhaps he shouldn't have waited for them to catch up. He wasn't all that interested in what lay in the Patient's Possession room. He'd never owned very much so it seemed pointless to go looking for something that wasn't going to be there. Unless they had a hangar for a mobile suit hidden away somewhere at least.

He shrugged in response to Joshua's question. "Nothing on my mind."

He paused part way along the corridor, frowning slightly. "There's a fight going on ahead." He could hear voices and the sounds of a fight were fairly difficult to mistake.

[kanpekinasenshi.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/502061.html?thread=40300589#t40300589)]

Still leaning on Michiru's arm, Seiya heard someone shouting about injured people. Even if she'd had any medical knowledge, beyond the kind of first aid anyone could offer, she didn't have the energy or concentration. And they'd been lucky the patient they'd encountered had let them backtrack as it was... injuries had to come from someplace. They weren't in any shape to try and fight off any opponent.

Anyone looking at them would think she was qualified for the same kind of yell, anyhow. That, or that she was drunk. The dizziness was a bit like that, but the weakness in her legs was simply from a lack of energy. Seiya wouldn't be trying that trick again, even with a spotter, anytime soon.

[tranquil-seas.livejournal.com]

Michiru heard the shout as well, but there was nothing she could do about it. She had enough on her plate just helping her own companion. And despite Seiya's previous comment and the consequent urge to see her roll down the nearby stairs, Michiru wasn't planning to desert her. Yet.

"If I remember correctly, you already tried that. You were fortunate to have quick reflexes." Otherwise, Haruka might have left an unfortunate mark on the other girl's--at that time guy's--face.

Though, that wasn't entirely Seiya's fault. Michiru had instigated it. She just forgot to mention that part to Haruka, and the results had been rather amusing, anyway.

[To here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/497998.html?thread=40650574#t40650574).]

[notachick.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/502061.html?thread=40656941#t40656941)]

There were a few people in this hall, one Okita recognized as the peculiar man who had emerged just earlier that evening. The one who had the same eyes as Homura. That wasn't who they were looking for, however, so he left them alone.

More important was finding Kenren and MOMO. If they had the same trouble he and Homura had, they'd be in a tight spot. Kenren was a good fighter, but MOMO...she wasn't made for the battlefield. She'd run when the creature attacked them by the chapel before, shaking like a leaf. As a healer, her job was likely to remain behind and assist, not stand at the forefront of the attack.

As the adrenaline wore off for the second time that night, Okita felt his head go fuzzy and he tried to shake off the feeling. Damn him for getting sedated right before the night. He should have known better, but... Putting a hand out, he caught himself on the wall and kept moving. If he thought too hard about the afternoon, he was certain to fall again and Homura would scold him. "I hope they had better luck than we did, hm?" he called back, trying to take attention off his dizziness.

[requiemforasoul.livejournal.com]

[from here (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/491309.html?thread=40723757#t40723757)]

The first thing Siegfried noticed upon reaching the second floor was the group of five patients, some of whom were injured. Whilst he would have liked to help them, there was next to nothing he could do. He would have to ignore them.

Before continuing on down the hallway, Siegfried spoke quietly to Kio. “Kio, it is important that you be very careful from here onwards.”

[stalksperverts.livejournal.com]

Kio was absently trying to discern his surroundings and understand exactly what Siegfried was fighting for. Atonement was all nice and proper, but he'd seen what it had done to Soubi. It had taken his friend and turned him into a zombie. And for all of that, only Ritsuka had managed to get him alive again. Though Kio would never admit it, he did feel a bit of regret (jealousy?) that it hadn't been him.

The injuries came as a shock. A hospital, letting patients simply get injured like this? Kio stopped dead in his tracks, his ears almost ignoring Siegfried's words. Leaving these patients here... how could they? Just... no, no, that was wrong. No, they couldn't. And what was the warning about anyway? It was a hospital, if Siegfried could be believed.

"We can't just leave them here! What if they need help? If this is a hospital as you claim, then we have to find a nurse, a doctor, someone to take care of them." Kio sounded genuinely distressed. This was not how he imagined people reacting to wounds. There should be someone with them. He looked at Siegfried pleadingly, thinking the man would surely help.

Looking around, he called out, "Nurse! Hello, nurse? Is there a nurse around here?"