Kirk looked up as he always did when the intercom came on during dinner, as if it would be that easy to catch a glimpse of the man who presided over their captivity, and did so with such glee. CM-US trials. Without meaning to, he glanced at Admiral ZEX at those words, and away again when "re-trials" were mentioned. What did that mean? It wasn't enough to worry about getting dragged off for the night and cut open, but now you had to worry about it happening twice?

The Head Doctor's message meant that the door would be opening in a few minutes, and Kirk hurried to finish his preparations. Once again, he donned his hospital-issued coat and boots, and (remembering his lack of a sturdy container last night) stripped the case off his pillow. In his coat pockets went the radio, the box cutter, and the medical supplies he'd picked up last night. When Landel's more sinister ramblings started up, Kirk listened with only half an ear as he wrapped the bandages and things for carrying convenience.

By the time he was done, the door had long since unlocked, and there was no sign of nurses knocking on the door to retrieve ZEX... or Kirk, at that. One piece of good news, at least. He hesitated before the door, some part of him wanting to stay and speak with his roommate, but instinct and duty forbid him from dawdling. Night was short here, and his crew was waiting for him.

Simply bidding ZEX good luck, Kirk grabbed his flashlight and "weapon", and hurried down the hallway.

[to here]

Prowl listened to the radio, the door and the halls outside. It seemed the night had officially begun. Now...he had to wait. Just a while so that Lockdown wouldn't realise how close they were. Prowl had to be prepared for failure, even if he didn't want to consider it. Lockdown could overpower him or escape and Prowl would have to face him again. Besides, there was the roommate to worry about. HK. He'd be there, questioning Lockdown no doubt. Would he suspect anything? Would he continue his plans for the night?

Prowl sat on the bed, legs crossed, eyes closed.

[from here]

And of course she was the firs to arrive. It was becoming a common occurrence.

Leaning back against the wall next to the Sun Room doors, Beatrix waited and listened to the silence of the hall. While detecting HK-47 would be difficult, she was certain Lugnut would be pathetically easy to hear coming. She was not thrilled with the idea of another Cybertronia joining them, but she could not deny that without SubZero, they had to take measures to secure their passage to Landel.

Lugnut wanted her dead, she recalled. This was going to be like working with the Vipers again. The only difference? The Bride had no ties at all to Lugnut. Then again, perhaps he understood how outclassed he was. She could only hope HK-47 had given him proper warning. Beatrix was even less thrilled with the idea of securing a hostage so she and the droid could pass through the doors.

Kaworu immediately gravitated towards the keyboard. It was not a piano, not truly, but it was attractive in all of the same ways. Music freed the mind from conscious thought, and Kaworu was feeling exceptionally weighed down by exactly that. There was a heaviness, as well as a lightness. He did not know where to begin approaching the situation with Shinji. It was a simple task to forget such things when the problem itself was caused by such an enamoring distraction.

Shinji needed to survive, he was supposed to continue, and yet he was here. This place would take his life without needing a reason. A soul so important could simply be put out, and the world would continue as it always had. It seemed wrong, but was it because it was not the way things should be, or simply because Kaworu wished it were so?

And yet, Kaworu could not say he was unhappy. He had done nothing to earn himself more time with Shinji. He had made his decision, and created for himself a fate apart from the Lilim. But as much as many Lilim wished the world to work in those terms, it rarely did. Events would move into place regardless of their actions. It was rare that something happened because an individual deserved it. It was only chance. Kaworu knew that he should not have been glad, but being with Shinji was indescribable.

His long, bony fingers moved across the keys easily, constructing Ode to Joy with each progressive note.

[Reserved for Albedo.]

For the second time, Rika found herself waking with a start. She blinked at the grey light streaming through the windows, and looked across the room. Anise was still asleep. So. I'm still here. Let me just check...

Rika put on her slippers and walked over to the desk, checking the drawer and breathing a light sigh of relief. Good, the knife was still there. She wasn't sure why it would be there - shouldn't they have confiscated the weapon? Either way, though, as much as she was reluctant to use it, she was glad to have it still there.

Just then, she heard the creak of the open door, and quickly closed the drawer. Her nurse peeked in, whispering, "Rachel? Time for breakfast. You should put on a sweatshirt, it's a bit chilly." Rika nodded, quickly adding the extra layer and following the nurse out into the hall and to the cafeteria.

She was used to a Japanese-style breakfast, so the idea of something sweet - which the nurse was avidly describing, with the waffles and fruit and syrup - was a bit odd. Once she walked in, though, she had to admit it smelled good. She filled her plate with waffles topped with blueberries, some sausage, and eggs, took a glass of orange juice, and took a seat. It seemed she was early, so she took a seat close to one of the windows and waited.

[For Ange.]