Riku (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
inherited) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
damned_institute2010-03-23 12:01 am
inherited) wrote in damned_institute2010-03-23 12:01 am
Entry tags:
Night 48: West Wing, South Hall 1-A
[from here]
Another hallway, which meant that he needed to slow his steps to a jog and turn on his flashlight. His light shifted over the walls quickly, up, down, around him, and even toward the floor, as if little black heads with yellow beady eyes would suddenly pop out and attack him. Though he didn't have any idea what most of the monsters looked like here, Riku doubted that he would see anything like the heartless. They may have the Darkness to change Kairi completely, but it didn't seem like the type of thing they would use against their patients. Making them into heartless would only be useful in the situations where Nobodies might be involved. Some people here might be strong in heart, much like Sora had been, much like Kairi had been, but he doubted that would be the intended result of their experiments. No, they were probably going for something else.
But what?
Riku shook his head uncertainly before he picked up his pace again. Nothing seemed to be clear. Not even the Darkness of this place seemed like that Darkness, even as he tried to see if it was the same way. But with every aspect of him feeling relatively weaker, it was no surprise he couldn't really check, couldn't really differentiate to tell for certain. He also knew there was a possibility that his senses were weakened. That would slow him down more, but they didn't bother to remove his experience or knowledge. Those were still things Riku pocketed and kept. They were what would help him help his friends.
[to here]
Another hallway, which meant that he needed to slow his steps to a jog and turn on his flashlight. His light shifted over the walls quickly, up, down, around him, and even toward the floor, as if little black heads with yellow beady eyes would suddenly pop out and attack him. Though he didn't have any idea what most of the monsters looked like here, Riku doubted that he would see anything like the heartless. They may have the Darkness to change Kairi completely, but it didn't seem like the type of thing they would use against their patients. Making them into heartless would only be useful in the situations where Nobodies might be involved. Some people here might be strong in heart, much like Sora had been, much like Kairi had been, but he doubted that would be the intended result of their experiments. No, they were probably going for something else.
But what?
Riku shook his head uncertainly before he picked up his pace again. Nothing seemed to be clear. Not even the Darkness of this place seemed like that Darkness, even as he tried to see if it was the same way. But with every aspect of him feeling relatively weaker, it was no surprise he couldn't really check, couldn't really differentiate to tell for certain. He also knew there was a possibility that his senses were weakened. That would slow him down more, but they didn't bother to remove his experience or knowledge. Those were still things Riku pocketed and kept. They were what would help him help his friends.
[to here]
no subject
As he stealthily walked through the hallway, Spock's flashlight cut through the darkness and lit up the path in front of him. So far there didn't appear to be any hostile creatures, nor any confrontations among the patients. Perhaps McCoy's path to their meeting place would be quiet as well. Still, at some point they were likely going to have to locate some means for the doctor to defend himself. The odds of him eventually getting cornered by one of the unusual beings here were too great.
In the meantime, they would have to rely on Spock's bat to keep them safe, though the first officer knew he would only use it if absolutely necessary. Not only was it bulky and unsophisticated, but it would do them little good if they found themselves in a situation where they needed to cut something. If they ventured onto the second floor again, they would need to make finding sharper items one of their priorities.
Once Spock decided the area was suitable for him to wait for the doctor, he walked toward the wall and calmly waited. There were a few other patients passing through the area, most likely in an effort to accomplish goals of their own. For now, he was safe here.
no subject
It didn't take too long to come out into the same hallway from last night. Spock was already there. He was nothing if not prompt, which was just another Vulcan talent of his. McCoy found himself breathing a sigh of relief. Not that Spock wouldn't wander off without him, he was even more a stickler for regulation than he was, but it was still reassuring to see something familiar in this mess, even if it was Spock.
McCoy strode up to him. Seeing him like this was was an improvement over last night: he didn't feel like his heart was about to jump out his chest, which was probably because he didn't have the damn Vulcan sneaking up on him out of the darkness. Spock couldn't be counted on to observe certain courtesies for the sake of humans, like maybe giving a man some warning. It was just lucky that Jim had detained him a little longer.
The doctor slowed then stopped.
"Spock," McCoy said, somewhat neutrally. Were they still on a 'yes, sir' basis tonight or had Spock mellowed a little since then? Not that any Spock he'd ever met could ever lighten up, but who knew, maybe he'd surprise him one day. At least with his Spock, he could sense his moods, even if he swore up and down that Vulcans didn't have them.
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Regardless, it appeared he had made it here without engaging any dangerous creatures. Lowering the light a little, the Vulcan moved closer to him. Presumably, they would be searching on the second floor for more supplies, though it appeared the doctor had acquired some new items since the last time they'd met.
Gaze flickering toward the package McCoy was carrying, he asked, "I presume these were the items Captain Kirk referred to on the bulletin board?"
He was about to add more when the small radio device he was carrying suddenly came to life with a screech. Spock's eyebrows faintly furrowed as he raised the radio to where both he and McCoy would have easier access to it, and listened to the woman's rushed message (http://community.livejournal.com/damned/849929.html) as it spilled from the speaker. The tension in her voice indicated she was upset or angry, though Spock was more interested in hearing what she had to say. Judging from her words, she was referring to the threat Landel had alluded to at the beginning of the night -- a more active "resistance" member, apparently, though whether it was someone the patients were familiar with was uncertain.
It sounded as though the man was injured. Spock briefly glanced toward McCoy -- he knew he would want to investigate any area that could potentially be harboring someone who was hurt. The man was a trained physician, after all, and he had adequately demonstrated his stubbornness regarding such matters last night.
When the message suddenly ended with a promise to contact them with more details, Spock lowered the radio. "Interesting..."
no subject
The Vulcan drew closer. He looked down at the bundle in McCoy's hand. "That's correct. Looks like a basic first aid kit and-"
McCoy didn't get to finish. The radio in Spock's hands let off a screech like an alley cat with a caught tail. The doctor started. The sound wasn't nearly that loud, the old radio relatively small, but in the dimly lit hall, it thundered through the hallway with a volume that made him wince.
The feedback died down. Spock lifted the radio as the speaker's crackled. McCoy leaned towards him slightly in response.
A woman he didn't recognize began to speak. He listened silently, head cocked. The doctor couldn't pretend to understand everything she was talking about. There was a hard edge about her voice, anger and fear maybe? She spoke about a man as if they should know who he was, or at least, some inkling, and clues. Maybe Spock had a better idea what this was all about. He'd been here longer than he had. Granted, it sounded like a few days only, but it was better than nothing.
One thing was very clear, and that was that someone desperately needed help. The radio went silent. McCoy watched it for a few seconds longer, then lifted his eyes when nothing more followed. He met Spock's gaze. He didn't look at all phased at hearing what was a plea for help. He looked mildly curious.
"I'd hardly call it just interesting. Someone needs help," he said. Spock hadn't asked for his opinion, but McCoy wasn't too shy about offering it all the same. "I think we should try and find them. It sounds serious."
no subject
They were not as armed as Spock would have liked, however. A single piece of sports equipment was hardly enough to fend off some of the larger creatures, even though it was true that it was better than no weapon at all. It was worth noting that they possessed a first aid kit, though, which was also more than they had with them the night before.
As predicted, McCoy was of the opinion that they ought to locate the injured person. While Spock believed it would be unwise to completely ignore the message, the matter was not as simple as going to find him.
"The woman on the radio has yet to provide any clues as to where he might be, Doctor," Spock neutrally replied, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with him. "Are you suggesting we wait for an elaboration concerning his whereabouts?"
no subject
Was it just him or was Spock in one of those moods right now? Not that a Vulcan could have 'moods', of course not, but Spock obviously had some. There were days when he'd be surprisingly patient or indulgent, or just unmoved by anything short of a red alert. Even then, Spock just wasn't the type to go batting an eye when he had phaser fire going around those pointed ears of his.
Then there were some days where he'd shut someone down lightning fast with his logic, where he wouldn't tolerate anything. And right now?
Right now, he was being downright inscrutable. Spock hadn't actually agreed or disagreed with him yet, just pointed out a wrench in his suggestion so far. He hadn't reprimanded him for speaking out of turn either. Instead, he was asking what he'd have them do with that problem in mind. It felt like he was given some leeway here. He just wasn't sure how far that went, but if he could convince Spock to go on, maybe they could help that woman and her friend.
McCoy went on cautiously.
"We don't know when or if that woman will get the chance to make another broadcast," he pointed out. "Standing around waiting won't get us anywhere. At least if we're moving, exploring, we might have a higher chance of finding him on our own before she does."
He added, appealing to that logic of his; "And we can broaden our knowledge of the grounds. We'll understand more about the layout in the process." Knowing Spock, he'd had the entire institute already mapped out by now, making that point null, but McCoy only had a very limited map himself to go on, and no photographic memory either for it. "Whatever clues she gives us won't mean a thing if we don't know what it refers to."
Why she'd have to resort to clues in the first place when she seemed to badly need help from the patients, instead of just saying it was a good question. Maybe she was afraid the Head Doctor would hear it, use it to find her. But if they could figure it out, why not the Head Doctor?
What was going on anyway? McCoy had assumed that this was all the work of a unified group of lifeforms, if not just one incredibly powerful one, but it sounded like there was obviously a dissenting group.
no subject
The possibility that this was a trap was still not out of the question, of course, which meant they would also need to go about this cautiously.
"He may be trapped in one of the higher floors of the building," Spock said. "Particularly if the administrative offices are located there, as I suspect they are." Judging from the messages they had heard, it sounded as though the staff had engaged him in some way. Unless he had managed to escape outside on his own, he was likely on an upper floor.
"Perhaps it would be best to enter the second floor again and continue searching for useful areas until we hear another message," the Vulcan quietly added.
no subject