z479

[z479]

"I uh... It's fine. I got out of there and I doubt I'll run into them again."

He will. Going after Z-13 he'll definitely run into them again, but she doesn't need to know that.

"I wasn't aggressive so they weren't."

If she can't see well after the little not so psychic burn incident, he can easily lie about the bandaged wound on his head.

"Just... Would have been here quicker if it hadn't have happened. I'm kind of pissed about that, honestly. But... Catch me up on you. I only know bits and pieces."

Oh. This is a lot of information for her to take in.

She lets it sink in as he cleans her face, grateful to be free from the caked feeling.

“There were… two others who had you? What do you mean by that?”

There’s plenty of concern in her voice. Both for the safety of her friend and… well, the safety of Z-13. She’s never met the latter, though in a roundabout way he’s the reason why she’s here, isn’t he?

But the thought of someone hurting Zeef was a larger concern at the moment.

[z479]

The blood on her face makes his heart sink, taking a scrap of bandage and a bit of antiseptic to carefully try and clean some of that away... It's hard seeing Alena like this.

"Yeah... I got that she wasn't one of ours when I saw the thing on her outer wear. I'm just glad I got away from the two who had me before anything else happened."

Hey Zeef that's going to worry people, don't mention that.

"Catching up would be nice, I don't have much at all that's changed though, other than being sent down here to hunt and bring back Z-13, at least."

She grunts when the last bandage is tied. It’ll have to do.

909 “looks” up at him. There’s still dried, cracked blood smears around her eyes, and her pupils were mostly clouded over. Still, her expression was soft, even if restrained.

“Yeah. You’re an idiot. But you’re my idiot. And I’m your idiot, too.”

909 reaches up to ruffle Zeef’s hair, then she closes her eyes to give them a rest.

“She wanted me to guide her to the crystal. I don’t know who she is. Definitely not Urbanshade.”

She rests her head against Zeef’s chest, her body worn out and exhausted. She let out a yawn that ended in a small smile.

“….We have so much catching up to do.”

[z479]

"You shouldn't do it again... You don't have the same safety as others from the damage, stupid."

He lets out an annoyed sigh, tightly tying the final bandage around the wound. Being called her best friend out loud hurt... But at least now she'd be safe, at least until he's returned.

"Just because I'm an idiot who only thinks about what I'm told doesn't make it your fault for all of this... If that woman told you anything, by the way, you should let me know. If I know what she's after I can make sure she won't have any interest in either of us."

Hopefully, at least.

"You... You should get some rest, though. You heal better when you're sleeping."

As he worked on her wound she would flinch and grimace, her jaw clenching with such a force that would likely tear someone’s hand clean off. Though, she kept as still as she could; her embrace on Zeef, having someone to squeeze and hold onto, helped.

“I don’t, hrgh, I don’t blame you for it. I would do it again if. If it. Helps assure you. Hh. A-and if it’s the only way.”

Her tail thudded heavily on the ground in a move of venting out the pain of the medical work and the muscle contractions around the wound.

“I thought I lost you. As a friend. Best friend. I’m sorry. Maybe I should have, should have told you more how much I cared before I. I fucked everything up for myself. And left you alone.”

[z479]

He was going to set her down, but it seems that's not happening from the death grip when he even attempts it.

"Of course I did... I didn't intend to leave at all. Base called me back, I didn't have a choice."

They could do so at any time now too. He doesn't have his radio at all, he doesn't know how to give any sort of report now... They'll call him back eventually, one way or another.

Finding what remaining medical supplies he can 479 sits down with Alena in his lap, working slowly on getting the gunshot wound cared for.

"I'm sorry I did this to you... If it wasn't for my stupid eyes..."

She resisted at first, her large tail throwing her weight around unevenly as he held her, but as he spoke she immediately stopped. This was him, right? Her Zeef? She remained silent until they got to the room.

If he were to put her down she would cling onto him tightly, holding him to her as she would finally feel comfortable enough to let out some of the pain she’s felt. Her face would bury into his shoulder or neck as at last hot tears wettened her cheeks— though this ended in a hiss as it further irritated her eye wounds.

“You came back,” she managed to say.

[z479]

With no footsteps sounding behind him Zeef doesn't even bother to look back, skidding to a stop when he hears the splash nearby. The glow of his eyes is difficult to purposefully use at times, but the dim green light is enough for him to find his friend sputtering and coughing, grabbing hold of her suit to drag her out of the water and over his shoulder, hoping the position would dislodge any water still in her lungs.

Even if she fought against him he'd be trying to run away, back the way they came to her old room for the moment. Sure they could be found again, but there are supplies there, he could help patch her up further if he finds them.

"I don't hear her coming after us... We should be in the clear, hopefully..."

As much as Z-479 was beginning to piss her off, she didn’t pursue. Not with now a pounding headache and an impaired field of vision.

“I’m not your enemy.”

She hissed these words loudly as he retreated. He really was leaving her with little choice, though. Perhaps she should have shot him. She wouldn’t be able to take better aim now, though, but still she raised her gun again. She could at least try to aim for the legs— often not as protected from behind.

But something tells her he isn’t much of a threat, either. It was apparent he had been here for the fish girl. He wouldn’t be retreating if she wasn’t. That speaks more to Osprey. These were people in need of saving, people who could still be helped. People that weren’t yet the monsters rumoured here.

Tch. She wasn’t here to play saviour. Not yet, anyway.

She lowers her gun and lingers in the dead-end of a room. She’ll stay here until she feels that 909 and 479 were far enough away that her leaving the room wouldn’t threaten them. Oh well. A guide would have been nice, but she was more than capable to do this mission on her own.

Meanwhile, in Alena’s frenzy it was hard for her to focus on the vague black and white shapes around her. She was not used to this much activity from her spines. She felt the walls, looking for a corner that she could turn into to be out of sight. Soon she felt the empty space, turned and—

SPLASH!

She fell into a chasm of water. Her gills weren’t yet fully developed, so the surprise of the fall had her accidentally inhaling the salty water. She coughed and sputtered, clinging to the edge that she fell from. She could hear footsteps, though not sure whose they were, and tried to remain quiet— it wouldn’t be hard to track her though. She made enough of a racket with the splash and the coughs.

[z479]

Oh. He didn't expect her to just. Back off... The confusion only lasts for a moment before his ears pick up Alena's movement. She'd not be fast enough on her own, would she...

Within a few moments 479 figures he can likely carry his friend, and ends up hurling the heavy flashlight at the strangers head, turning tail to grab 909 and begin running off. If he gets shot, at least she can keep going while he acts as a human shield.

Not the first time he's done that for someone.

There was some inclination for that idea, though as if the thought wasn’t hers. Osprey studied the face plate, contemplating. What could it be for? The eyes were a weird place to protect without protecting the rest of the head.

She waited for a moment, lingering, then stepped back. It was hard to see enough as it was with her vision clouded with black spots. She didn’t need unwanted trouble that a single Urbanshade Staff could bring. She could always kill him later, anyway— when she has what she wants.

Besides… he’s Z-Class, and a Z-Class of this level of intelligence could be worked with. Saved, even. She’d just need to be careful.

Alena, sensing her movement, hobbled away as best as she could. She’ll have to trust Zeef, just like, somehow, he may be putting faith and trust in her. She’ll find a way to help him, or pay him back at least. She wasn’t much use with a wound this bad paired with her blindness.

[z479]

Zeef's tongue clicks feeling the gun against his jaw, a low growl rattling in his chest. That's not ideal.

"Who'll be hearing about this? Bet you nothing would come of it anyway."

He needs to buy Alena time to get away... If she got away but he ends up dead, it'd be fine. He could come down quickly after reporting this other. Their signs where always on the suit, not the armor. Even if he can't see what it is exactly, he knows she's not UrbanShade... For now, however, he'll play along.

A grin crosses his face, the only indication of any emotion. What man fears death when he's faced it hundreds of times and came back right as rain?

"You know someone's bound to survive a shot to the jaw. You should aim somewhere better."

Like his forehead. Like the flesh behind the plate.

Remove it.

Take it off.

Face your fate, Monster.

Osprey almost let out a sigh of relief when the light was moved even slightly away; she couldn’t see around her that well, her field of vision riddled with dark but colourful splotches no thanks to the light. She couldn’t see 479 stepping closer to her, and let out a surprised grunt when she was pulled closer to him. Her aim on 909 slackened, and instead it was now 479 with a barrel to his jaw.

Not that Alena could see that, not clearly anyway. But she could pick up from their weak electrical pulses, and the noise, that it was now or never. Gathering her strength, she did her best to move to a new position or location, preferably one behind Zeef and into the next room.

But she lingered near the door, wondering if she could in turn help Zeef out of this situation, too.

“Protocol, huh? They’ll be hearing of this.”

All bluff. At this close of an angle, maybe 479 could see a feint insignia on her uniform. A snake curled around a rose tree, or some semblance of this. Engraved on a harder armoured piece of her clothing, it could only be caught by the light’s glaring reflection.

[z479]

479 steps closer, clipping the holster back on its harness like he's actually putting away a firearm, only lowering the light slightly as he gets close enough to take the card.

"This is just procedure..." It's so not. "Reduces risk and all."

Reaching out for the card he makes a move as if to put the light down, using it to try and cover his overshooting of the card to grab and yank on Osprey's wrist to bring her as close to him as possible. Other courses of action had come to mind, but most of them had down sides. With this one, at least he'd likely be in the way of any harm.

At least if he can pull her closer, Alena may be able to move away.

Osprey frowned, but with one hand she pulled out an ID. If he would take it and run it through anything it would be as clear as day that it’s fake, but she was relying on no one being that thorough. This is the black site, not an office.

“Now will you get that damned light out of my eyes?”

She was, however, surprised to learn that a Z-class was assigned a position such as his. So not only are their experiments horrid, but the experiments are disposable soldiers? Strange, but makes sense. Pity twisted in her, but that was all she could afford right now.

Alena herself did not bother to move, not yet, as she waited for an opportunity to come to do something. She wanted to trust Zeef and be hopeful that he was here to help her, but in truth she didn’t know what to expect. She couldn’t even see him. Not properly, anyway.

[z479]

Hellis.... Hellis Hellis Hellis.... That name does register as one he should know as he slowly takes a step or two forward, not lowering the light or holster in his illusion.

"Understand that if you're impersonating UrbanShade staff you will be disposed of... Z-479, under orders to only report directly to my superior, Ma'am."

"You wouldn't happen to have your ID on you, would you? Inspectors are meant to carry them for situations like these."

He believes her, but the closer he can get the better his chances of getting Alena out without another incident are. He pretends to have not seen her, hopefully meaning this 'Hellis' will be distracted and more focused on him in the end.

A wave of relief washed over 909, and though she could not see Zeef physically, hearing his voice was enough to give her some hope that things may not be as lost as they were.

Or he’s just, ya know, doing his job, she thought. But she couldn’t really afford to not comply with him at the moment.

Osprey flinched from the light being shone in her eyes, and a look of frustration settles over her. Luckily, her team had fake covers registered with Urbanshade— though if more thoroughly inspected they would be easily seen through.

“Urbanshade Inspector Hellis, ID number UBI-0668H.

909 gave a suspicious glance over to her, but said nothing. She started trying to inch her way closer to Zeef, though froze when she heard the safety switch of a gun flipped and pointed at her.

“There’s enough trouble for everyone down here so don’t make it worse for yourself, kid. Someone has to make sure you all are doing what you’re assigned to do. So, why don’t you give me your ID and your report. And for fuck’s sake get that light outta my eyes.

[z479]

479 had been trained to walk near silently through the sites odd floor structure, staying in the center, off the strange panels on the floor, walking when you hear someone else walking or making noise... As he enters the room his thumb hovers over the flashlights button.

Osprey's rummaging can cover some of his approach, but not all. At least with that he knows where to point his light before he flicks it on. He'd have to keep the light in her eyes until further notice.

"Freeze. Identify yourself with your code name or prisoner identification number. I won't hesitate to send you back to base if you don't comply."

There's a procedure for this. If this other person is UrbanShade they'd comply. Probably... Hopefully. He can't keep this up if they see past his gun bluff.

Within a blink of an eye, the cat was gone.

Meanwhile, Z-909 leaned heavily against a wall with her wrists cuffed behind her. Earlier’s adrenaline had shielded her from most of the pain from the bullet wound, but now that some time has passed the contractions were starting to settle in. Little care had been given to the wound; but it was at least bandaged. At this point she considered hoarding med kits. Well, she would have to get away from Osprey, first.

She had already found the key card to advance a while ago, though never tipped Osprey off to it. She listens as the woman grew agitated rummaging through drawers and lockers, wondering if it had been a good idea to hold her back. What had 909 been hoping for, anyway? For someone to come along and help her? Right. That didn’t seem very likely to her.

Still, she bided time. As 479 drew slowly nearer, her spines began to twitch again, drawing her attention to his gear. Was it another one of Osprey, or Urbanshade’s own MTF? She couldn’t escape two of them.

[z479]

He pauses with the cat creature, leaning out to glance in the direction he looks. Cats and their eyesight... A few rooms? 479 wishes he could see that far...

"Thank you.... I'll... Well, you'll probably find me with how strange you are, won't you. Alright then. Good luck on... Whatever it is cats do."

He gives a slight nod in return for the hat tip, heading onward into the rooms beyond. Disconnecting his holster from its harness 479 raises his flashlight, holding the two objects one over the other. If he's lucky, whoever has his friend won't be able to see past the light after he turns it on; better to wait to do that, otherwise he might give himself away when he doesn't need to.

Hopefully he can spot 909 before the stranger sees him.

“Someone who knows what kind of worry you’re in, friend.”

Perhaps he has been around Sebastian a little too much.

“This way.”

After leading him down a few corridors, Watch’r paused and craned his head. Then, he looks back at 479 with that charitable, but unnerving grin. Somehow the cat manages to tip his top hat.

“They’re finding key cards a couple rooms ahead. It’ll buy you time. Alena is injured, and the other doesn’t hesitate to take out anything that poses as any threat. If you’re not careful, you may actually kill her this time, hehe! Tread with caution, and go reunite with your lonely star. I’ll think of a prize some other time, pretty boy~ Tchehehe!

[z479]

A shiver runs up his spine feeling the strange toothy presence over his shoulder, the visor giving away the faint glow in his eyes at the feeling of a threat. What... What is this thing?

He almost flinches when the nickname is used, a sour expression scrunching his face up as he hurries after the weird cat. Alena must have told this thing... Yeah, sure, that's it.

"What... Kind of prize would you even want? What the hell are you? I've never seen a Z-Class mentioned like you..."

Hopefully this creature will understand his worry and hurry to where his only friend is. Being too late... He doesn't want to think about that part.

The cat’s grin seemed to grow ever wider, and tilted its head at an unnatural angle.

“I can pick a prize later, hehe.”

The air around the cat seemed to glitch, and then it was gone. There was a cold presence behind 479, though, and something that leaned its head forward to coarsely murmur next to his ear. Perhaps in his peripheral he could see a pointed head and glistening teeth.

“Just follow me, ‘Zeef’.”

After a curiously wet click of a chuckle, another glitch to the air and the cat returned. It quickly rounded the corner and out the door— slowly trailing its tail behind for 479 to see and follow.

[z479]

Someone with a gun? Another MTF? That's bad. That's really bad. 479's hand immediately goes to the flashlight at his hip, trying to reassure him of its place. It wasnt his usual weapon, but it might still work as a bluff.

"... If you're offering, strange cat, I'll take you up on it. I don't know what you might want, but if you know where she is... I'll give you head scratches or something for showing me."

Cats like that right? It wouldn't be anything bad for him. Maybe it would be good for him with all this stress even...

“Me? Heh, no. If I did, it wouldn’t be anything that you fear.”

The cat got up and stretched, claws flexing, tail lashing. A strange black ichor dripped from its maw.

“There was a little scuffle here, though. Some lady with a gun. But there’s no body so if I were you I’d take some comfort in the fact your bestie is alive before you do something brash.”

Then, the cat’s eye seemed to flash as he looked back at 479. It almost seemed to be smirking.

“Or if you wanna cause a little trouble I can lead you to her right now~”

[z479]

The feeling of eyes hadn't originally been enough to draw him from his panic, but as the rage builds and the voice crackles its way through his mind 479 becomes hyper aware of the other creatures presence.

He turns quickly to look at the fluffy blob, the violent green glow calming a bit seeing what's before him. That's... A cat right? Why... None of his coworkers mentioned that cats are telepathic, but sure. This is the BlackSite, even if it's not normal, it's normal.

"Did you do something to Alena?"

His words drip with malice as he moves to stand in front of the cat. Noting the strange hat and unnerving expression... He's never heard of this Z-Class before. Caution would be the best idea here, even if his heart is thudding violently in his chest.

Rushing through the site having only managed to grab a flashlight on his way 479 breezes past the blood splatter outside the room his only friend had been staying in, pushing the doors servos to move quicker as he forces his way in.

Breathing heavily his eyes dart across the space, finding no trace of Alena. His heart drops as he briskly walks over to the discarded bandages. Where is she? Why is she gone? Oh god oh fuck is he too late?

He curses loudly, throwing the cloth at the wall as tears begin to run down his face, the drops collecting along the bottom edge of his visor. He has to go look. He has to find her but... He can't get his legs to move.

█✢█ @z479

Though long gone, the evidence was fresh. That wouldn’t help much, though. Z-909 was nowhere to be found.

What was sitting in her place, however, was a black feline with a strangely coloured eye. A bright pink scar ran the width of his face and down the length of his torso, parting the fur on either side. Scars also wrapped around the cat’s front wrists. His muzzle was curved in such a way that it made it seem like he was grinning— or maybe he actually was. Above its head a small top hat was floating, with a yellow ribbon decorating the base.

He sat there, watching, that grin ever present, and that strange eye narrowing knowingly. A voice begins to speak, though it feels more like it’s coming from inside 479’s head.

“Took you long enough, tcheheheeee!”

[z479]

479 scrambles, not even a thought cast to the pair as he rushes out of the vent. He doesn't know the site well enough to use these things to get to 909's last location, but at least running on foot he can also pick up something to defend himself on the way.

Once he breaks out into the site proper his thoughts turn to Lobby and CA... He'd remember this. His feelings about it he'll have to sort out later, but there's no way in hell he'd forget all that any time soon.

Lobby looks conflicted and unhappy for a moment, clearly disagreeing with the desition taken but won't go against Cali's wishes, instead she walks up to 4 and uses a pincer to cut the rope that binds him, backing away close to Cali and keeping all eyes on him.

[z479]

479 takes a deep inhale when the metal makes contact with his skin, a deep growl hissing past his clenched jaw. He struggles to talk with all the thoughts and anger boiling his blood. At least if he stays down here, it'd be quicker than a return.

"I didn't intend to be anyway."

As he calms the beeping begins to slow and before long it's no longer there, just replaced by the sound of his breath. He glances over to Lobby, his words of concern in letting 479 go echoing in his head. If he doesn't bring it up even if it's been only moments since the worry was stated, maybe it'll just get breezed by.

"Let me go, and I'll be out of your hair. Simple as."

His teeth audibly grit, rage building in a man who's often not even that angry.

"I HAVE SOMEONE I NEED TO SEE GODDAMN IT! UNBIND ME AND I'M NOT GOING TO BE A PROBLEM TO YOU!"

The green glow behind the plate on 479's eyes illuminates the entirety of the cross at it's center, a faint beeping not unlike that of the PDG pinging from somewhere on him.

"I'M NOT SOME OBSESSIVE MORON! I'M ONLY DOWN HERE BECAUSE I WAS ORDERED TO BE! I DON'T CARE IF YOU GIVE ME MY GEAR BACK OR NOT, JUST LET ME OUT! I'VE ALREADY SPENT WAY TOO LONG INDULGING YOU! I'VE DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO EITHER OF YOU OR YOUR FRIEND! LET ME GO!"

Perhaps yelling in the vent wasn't the best plan, but the blood rushing through his ears as he rages keeps him from knowing just how loud he is. He's desperate to be somewhere other than here.

[z479]

Z-909 finally pulls the bandages away from her eyes. They weren’t doing much good, being full of dried blood and sticking to her skin. And she needed it off. A simple touch felt like too much to her.

She hissed when light reached her eyes— no, more like whined. She bit her lip as she tried to concentrate away from the pain, her fist banging on the table beside her in some feeble attempt to let it out.

Her tapered quill-like spines began to quiver, and some began to move like a millipede’s legs. One at a time, following each other’s movement like a crowd’s wave, they waggled and pulled at her skin. Up. Down. Twitching. She wasn’t used to this intense feeling, her muscles mustn’t have developed enough for this. It hurt. It burned. And when she shut her eyes to shield them, all she could see was an overwhelming white

And then, greys. Vague blobs of monochrome, until eventually those blobs formed into something familiar and geometric. Tables. Lockers. Drawers. Shelves. Chairs. She could see it all, and much more vividly than she could before.

She felt sick.

Though her head throbbed endlessly and her eyes burned furiously, there was yet another source of pain. Her arms, and the spots on her back near her shoulder blades— down and to the side. Her arms held that ache of what could only be described as a type of growing pain, and the spots on her back she chalked up to how hard her spines were working to provide images of a waking world she will never again hide from, not even in sleep.

She sobbed, which only worsened the pain in her head and eyes. Maybe if she chose to cooperate now, it’ll all stop. She can go back. The pain can end. …Z-479 might be proud of her, might even like her again. Maybe Urbanshade will allow her to write a letter to her sister.

Then, she heard a sound.

No. In truth she saw it in her mind’s eye before she heard it. The world was a pool of water, and every electrical or radio interference was like a droplet creating ripples. These ripples reshaped themselves into a humanoid figure slowly walking down the hallway. They didn’t carry themself like most EXR-Ps or even Z-Class. Different.

There was a radio on them. An active radio. And if she could focus on the fuzzy grey images… were those guns?

“Zeef?” She couldn’t keep the hope from her voice. She struggled to her feet, ignoring the protests her body screamed at her. Z-909 rushed to the door as best she could, happily rounding the corner, ready to spring herself onto him. She could feel more tears bite at the back of her eyes. She couldn’t care. He could insult her all he wants, she doesn’t care anymore. Loneliness is a harsher burden to bear.

But then she felt the cold hard barrel against her head.

“Don’t move.”