damned_institute | Night 37: M11-20 Hallway

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Night 37: M11-20 Hallway

[From here, roundabouts M16]

Celes tapped her foot and as she tried for the life of her to remember just where the Gambler resided. Hellfire, she should have gotten a straight answer from him. But then, it would have meant she'd also asked. Celes sighed and shook her hair from her eyes, adjusting her hair clasp. She walked for a bit, up and down the halls, listening for voices that were familiar. When the first hallway bore no fruit, Celes turned to the next one.

Halfway down, she heard the familiar accent of Luxord's voice through the door. There was still plenty of time to meet her subordinate, she'd been quick tonight. Celes rapped on the door three times and waited. "Master Luxord? Are you within?"

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(From here. (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/518064.html?thread=42755760#t42815920))

"Good evenin'~," Heiji chirped, all smiles as he sauntered up to the group, katana propped lazily on his shoulder. "Sorry 'm late. Had t'give Kuroba his pipe back and pick this up. So, what's up?"

He looked at the group assembled. Momo, Homura, Okita, Guy-He-Didn't-Know, and Other-Guy-He-Didn't-Know. Fishing... pretty big group for fishing. Must've been a big catch.

The door opened and the first round of business was discussed. The only member unknown was, indeed, Itachi and he'd have a metal bar which would hopefully be able to do some damage. He didn't doubt the man's talents if Homura called him for this job, but a sword would have been preferable. Moving into the room, he dropped to the side, ready to listen and receive orders as needed. Heiji appeared just on time and Okita smiled at him, happy to see that his chosen 'puppy' had his fangs for the night.

Of Okita's own experiences with the nurses, he had quite a bit to stay. MOMO already took care of the fast part, but Okita at least knew how to kill them efficiently. "As MOMO-san said, they're fast. They aren't just armed with scissors, but also with needles that have a mixture that burns and will make you sick. The nurses can fire them like bullets, so I advise caution if you come up against any that have them. As for killing them - remove the head. Piercing their hearts does little beside slow them down, and while damage will eventually kill them, beheading them is faster and will give them less time to attack us."

He'd seen the larger men with chains, but as of yet, he'd not fought any of them. All he knew was that they were strong, but not so fast. "The larger ones, the ones with chains - they're slower, but harder to defeat for their strength. They broke through a door the previous night, scattering it like straw. Teaming up on them and dealing as much damage as possible would be advisable."

Homura listened carefully to the recalled encounters, which sparked a sense of familiarity, but little in terms of the detail that would go with actual memories. Still, between Okita and MOMO, there had been enough information offered to make up for those remaining gaps, and Homura nodded when Okita brought up the encounter from the evening before.

"Okita and I went to the place last night." Homura opened a notebook, pulling out a maps he had sketched of the area during dinner, and offering them to the members of the group. "There were two of the large creatures, and as Okita said, they broke through a door as if it were nothing. There were also two of the smaller ones, though they stayed back, letting the larger pair do the work."

The method had been simple, and suggested the pecking order of the staff. The behavior had been what Homura had used to create his strategy for tonight, one that hopefully would be sufficient for the job that needed to be done. "The first room was empty when we arrived. If there are any monsters there, we should clear them away quickly before entering the second. Okita and Itachi. You are likely the fastest here, so you'll enter the room first."

He glanced up at the two men in question, then continued. "Your initial goal is to draw out the larger creatures into the first room. That is where Kenren and I will be. We'll wait along the wall dividing the rooms to allow you clear passage, and then attack the creatures from behind. That should be enough to divert their attention away from you two."

Chuckling slightly, he bowed his head towards the elder god. "It should be a good fight, Kenren. While we fight the larger creatures, Itachi and Okita should head back into the second room and take care of the nurses there. They clearly were the ones issuing orders last night, so take them out as quickly as possible. Then Okita will assist me while Itachi helps Kenren."

If everything went according to plan, then the battle would be difficult, but tactically in their advantage. Homura went over what he had said in his mind to be certain of it, then turned to the last two in the room. "MOMO, Hattori. Hopefully neither of you will be involved in the actual fighting. At the start, you'll be waiting along the dividing wall with Kenren and I. Once Okita and Itachi have gone back into the second room, you'll take up a position in the doorway. Use the flashlights to provide light for the battles, but be ready to move once Okita and Itachi have killed the nurses in the second room."

"And Hattori." Homura focused on the boy specifically, who had a youthful presence about him. It was quite clear that having a sword had given him a bit of an ego, which may well be put to the test that night. "You specifically have the task of protecting MOMO. She is our only healer. It is your duty to make sure no harm comes to her."

All that having been said, Homura paused then, giving each member of the group time to think it over. "If you have any questions, now is the time to voice them. Depending on the number of enemies, the plan will have to be adjusted, but there is no way of knowing that until we get there. And Itachi, thank you for the materials. Just set them by that closet." Homura motioned to the door, then waited for responses from the others.

Kenren snorted in amusement when Homura addressed him. It should have been a terrifying prospect, to go up against the monstrous nurses, but he couldn't admit that the thrill of it was already beginning to set in. A good fight, with none of the trickery or near panic of the more recent encounters. "Yeah, it should be," he agreed with a grin, hand tightening on the hilt of his sword for a moment.

The plan seemed pretty damn sound to him. It wouldn't necessarily work in practice, but it was simple enough that it was easy to modify on the fly. "I'm ready," he said once Homura had finished speaking.

So that was what became of the nurses at night. Itachi didn't see how scissors could be all that dangerous, though the needles might pose some sort of challenge. Not that he knew what bullets were, but it was apparent that the nurses threw them like senbon. Even without his Sharingan, that should not be so difficult to deal with. As for beheading them. . . that might be difficult with a knife and a crowbar. He would find a way to defeat them, however.

Hopefully this Okita would do the same. Itachi preferred not to work with people, especially people whose abilities and fighting style he knew nothing about, but in this scenario it was really the only option. At least the plan was sound. And they apparently had a healer, a luxury he had not experienced for a number of years. Overall, despite the sub-par weaponry and lack of experience with both his opponents and his allies, he had had more difficult missions in his life.

Itachi dropped the bag of items where Homura had requested. "I'm ready as well."

It didn't sound like it was going to be too different from that night with Homura and Hijikata. The group was definitely larger and they were going to be going to a different location, but it seemed her job was essentially the same. Provide lighting for the battle, stay out of the way, and be ready in case anyone required assistance once the fighting was over.

MOMO did feel a little guilty that Heiji had been asked to protect her, but there was little she could do about that. The nightshift workers were highly dangerous, and she'd never been much of a physical fighter. She was certain that she could use Ether to defend herself if it came down to it, but it was better that she save that for healing purposes. She'd just have to hope that everything went okay.

"Got it," she said, nodding to Homura.

"Understood," Heiji said, giving Homura a lazy salute. Apparently having a sword had improved his mood by leaps and bounds. And while the plan sounded dangerous, it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. Protect the squishy, sounded easy enough. He'd fought against that stitched-together thing.

"Looks like it's you'n me, Momo-chan," Heiji said, grinning down at her. "Don'tcha worry one bit. I've got y'covered."

So it would be him and Itachi who would play the bait tonight. While working with someone he'd never met before did make him a little apprehensive, he trusted the man's skills because Homura and Kenren did. If his leaders were able to put faith in him, then so would Okita. Pitting Homura and Kenren one on one with those large behemoths didn't sit well with him, but he had no choice about the matter. The nurses needed to be killed before the larger things could be or they might come and stab the group in the back. Smaller and faster, the nurses would likely give even him a little bit of trouble. He just hoped it wasn't the sort of trouble that healing couldn't help.

Nodding at their orders, Okita looked to Heiji first, noting the sword and the improved attitude. He didn't seem to mind playing protector, which was just as well. He wasn't ready to kill yet, even if he was willing. The swordsman turned his attention to the group then, taking in everyone's faces. Tonight was going to be difficult and for all their experience, they still had no idea exactly what was awaiting them. The thrill of fear at that knowledge and the adrenaline that came with it were more than welcome to the samurai and he smiled thinnly as he readied himself for what lay ahead. "Understood. I'm ready to move when you are." He looked to Itachi now and smiled a little more warmly at him. "I look forward to fighting at your side."

Homura listened to the assorted responses, glad to hear the confidence in each, and the understanding. This was his first major venture after what had happened, certainly in terms of the size of the group, and it was important to Homura that it succeed. This one attempt, if successful, could give the History Club a needed push forward on multiple levels.

Since there were no questions, nor signs of hesitation, Homura picked up his sword. "Okita, you'll take the lead. The rest of you follow me. Do not fight anything unless there is no alternative. We've only got a limited amount of time until morning, and we should use it all to our advantage."

And with that, the group headed into the hall.

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Night 37: M11-20 Hallway

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