Bran nods and gestures towards Eli, The pill Bioshock saw in Haxor's memory does not sound like it anchored any enchantment.
"Very well then. Let us go to this lab."
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Eli stared at the computer screen in mute disbelief. He knew using his powers was damaging to his cells, but the rate was comparable to the rate his body could heal, and so it was kept at bay. But he'd had to push himself to save Blink. He'd pushed harder than ever before, accomplished things he hadn't thought possible. And today, he was five years older because of it. Happy birthday to me.
He leans back in his chair and closes his eyes. He imagines walking into his house, returning from saving the day. As he walks in, "SURPRISE!" When he opens his eyes, there they are. Everybody's there in his house - Vick, Blink, Bran, Wingblade, the other weird flying girl, his dad. "Whoa! Is all this for me?" he asks.
"It's not every day you turn twenty-one!" says his dad.
"Hey, birthday boy." Eli turns around, and suddenly Bronwyn's there, dressed in form-fitting black dress. She slinks her way over, wraps her arms around his neck, and pulls him in for a kiss. Eli can feel his whole body burning up as his blood vessels expand underneath the surface of his skin, turning him bright red. She smells like flowers and tastes like cherries. "What about Marco?"
She giggles, her finger tracing little circles on his shoulder. "What can I say? I prefer older men."
Eli opens his mouth to say something, but it's drowned out by Vick jeering. [B]"Get a roooom!" Suddenly, a warm smell drifts in from the kitchen. "Is that... chocolate cake?"
"Your favorite!" says his dad. "There's some Bailey's in it too, for a little kick, since you're finally legal. And that's not the only surprise." The next thing Eli knows, his mother walks out from the kitchen, wearing an apron and carrying a plate with a massive cake. "Happy birthday, Eli," she says with a loving smile. Setting the cake down, she strikes a pose with one hand on her hip. "Come give your mother a hug!"
Trembling, Eli embraces his mother, and he suddenly realizes his cheeks are wet. "Mom, I thought -"
Eli whips around, and there's his mom's computer, displaying a video call. He's back in the lab, alone, and the party is gone. His cheeks are still wet. And then she's there, on his screen. Dressed in a stark white lab coat. His mother.
"Hello, Eli. It seems you've been busy."
=====================================
Eli is sullen during the meeting, seemingly not even listening. It was his first time seeing the rest of the others since they had saved Whippoorwill and Blink. He'd been given a spot on their team, and taken to Defender's HQ for a special mission briefing. He ought to be over the moon, but instead his head's somewhere off in space. In the past three days, he'd saved Blink's life, lost five years off his own, and been branded a terrorist for the effort. With all that going on, he's got a lot on his mind. Not to mention the call with his mother...
He snaps to attention when Bran says his name. "Huh? Oh, yeah, the drug. I don't know what it was, but it gave him some crazy kinda high. I could... feel it. Just from his memories. I don't think it was magic."
The weird flying girl - Thor Girl, as the papers were calling her - Skuld, as she'd introduced herself - seemed to confirm the choice for the lab. Internally, Eli's relieved. He hadn't like the looks of that transport facility, from what little he had absorbed. He had an idea about who might be funding a place like that, and if he was right, it wasn't anywhere he wanted to go. "What are we waiting for, then?"
"Nothing I can think of. Are we all ready? Hashtag, can you get us there quick? Otherwise, we'll need some transportation for the group."
Wingblade looks a bit different. She is wearing another spiky colored wig, this time a neon green. She also is sporting a pair of long batons on her back and two tonfa at her waist.
Vick stands up and cracks his neck. "All right boys and girls, gotta put a hand on me... and keep it above the belt, all right?" he says, moving to the center of an open space.
If the group gets a solid grip on him, he will close his eyes and concentrate.
The 'port was fast, sure, but it sure as hell didn't FEEL pleasant. Those who had been ported by him before would have gotten used to the disorienting nature of his power. Kaleidoscope dreams and half-past futures flash by for an instant before they Arrive.
Through Hashtag's teleportation, the group arrives on the scene, though, not in the way they'd have probably chosen.
Hashtag and Wingblade find themselves uncomfortably (or comfortably?) close in the trunk of an abandoned car in the parking lot. Thor girl sits in the driver's seat, though any keys or gas it might have once had are long gone, Bioshock is underneath it, the cold pavement smacking his head like an upset mother, and Bran the Blessed seems to be standing on the front like a hood ornament.
Bran hadn't teleported before.
Bronwyn had, and she'd been treated to a real menagerie of images, dancing with Marco merging into flying with Shayera, or laughing with Eli and the excitement on Mary-Beth's face whenever she got to get her hands on real magic, but also the chanting of Balor's cultists, a flash of blood on a house key clutched in one hand while she hurled a javelin with the other.
A real mess.
But Bran didn't have as many of his own memories, especially not with such resonance. He saw flashes of Haxor's rage, felt the burning of Balor's eye, but mostly...nothing.
Ugh. If I'm going to travel with Hashtag, I've gotta make some happier memories.
Then with a crumpling sound he was suddenly standing on the hood of a car that just wasn't designed for a quarter-ton of person to appear on top of it. With a rueful expression hidden by his helm, Bran gingerly got off of the abandoned car to look around.
How close are we?
Hashtag can hear, feel and smell Wingblade in close proximity, and for a brief moment, his guard goes down. "Uh... hi." he says, unable to fight off the tide of hormones flooding his veins, "Come here often?"
Wingblade groans, first because of the disorienting nature of the teleport, then due to the cramped confines she finds herself in. She quickly realizes Vick is laying on top of her, and she groans again.
"Hash, where's here? Ugh! I think something's dead in here with us. >snif< Yep. Dead raccoon."
She tries to twist, but she can't find any room to move. Her wings twitch but she keeps them folded, not wanting to risk skewering Hashtag. "Stop moving! I don't want to jab you. Stop, that's my leg. And that's my-- you know what that is."
"Oops." he says, not entirely sorry about any happy accidents, but he feels around (the space) and sighs. "Yeah. Raccoon. I think this is a car-"
The space rocks as unknown to them, Bran hops off the hood. Vick falls the small amount of space between them he had made. "Ah! Sorry." he says, "This is..." he is starting to feel *very* uncomfortable with how close they are. "I don't know where here is exactly, but I think we're in the trunk of a car. Hold on!"
He reaches into his pants and pulls out his cell phone (thankfully). Turning it on, it is immediately obvious they're stuck in the trunk of an old derelict car.
"Huh. I mean, I was aiming for a parking structure, but... really?" he mutters to himself, trying to think about baseball or his math homework and not the fact there was a girl literally in direct close body contact with him.
Well, it's already pretty trashed.
With a grunt of effort, Bran tears the trunk open. Llyr's tongue! Does that smell normally happen when you teleport, Hashtag?
Resting Gae-Dearg against a nearby pillar, he offers them both a hand out of their entanglement.
Oh, my apologies. It's the raccoon.
Though it doesn't seem to have dampened his ardor at least. Boys are Gross!
Shayera's senses detect a rise in Vick's heartbeat and perspiration. "Are you--?" she begins, but quickly stops herself to save him the possible embarassment. "I mean, hold still. I think I'm being pressed up against the wheel well among other things... I should be able to just open up."
The trick is to not open them too fast and tear myself apart, she thinks.
Shayera bites back a scream and squeezes Hashtag painfully tight.
Suddenly light spills into the trunk. Wingblade uneasily climbs out, looking a bit pale. "Thanks, Bran."
Vick lets Wingblade step out and flops onto his back. "I'll uh, just need a moment. Just leave me here with my raccoon buddy here." he pants.
Oh god! My ribs! he struggles to catch his breath, though he tries to look like he's just collecting himself mentally. He had quickly illusioned the smell of dead 'coon into something more pleasant, like lavender.
Bran can't help but notice that Shayera's not looking her best, and while Hashtag's enjoying a moment alone with the raccoon, discretely rumbles, Shayera, should you be doing this before you've healed? What if you make your wings worse? This isn't something you should just walk off.
"I'm fine!" Wingblade snaps. She draws her two batons and spins them with a flourish. "I don't need them to be a part of this team."
Now that she's out of the trunk, she takes a look around and stretches out her senses.
She taps the communicator in her ear. "Testing. Everyone reading this?"
That's not what I- Bran's knuckles pop as his fists tighten, and he bites off his retort. Now's not the time, you can apologize later. Her too. Maybe. If she's not too stubborn!
Grinding his teeth a bit inside his helm, he responds, Yes. I can hear you.
Bioshock, Skuld, are you recovered from our journey? Shall we proceed?
As he moves forward he does his best to sense any anomalies in the environment, aside from the oddly comforting crackle of Thor Girl's presence of course.
"Ow!" Finding himself lying on the ground, Eli tries to push himself, banging his head against the car's low-sitting underpan. "F~!@!"
He lies there on the pavement for a moment, waiting for the stars to subside. He can hear voices, but can't make out what they're saying. Then the car shifts, and the underside of the car is at a normal height again. Eli's about to try to push himself out when the care shakes with the horrible sound of rent metal, and he lies flat again, holding his breath.
After a few moments, it finally seems safe to come out and he begins to crawl forward when the communicator in his ear crackles to life, and he bangs his head on the car again. "G-D D#&$ IT!"
Finally, one hand pokes out from underneath the car. "...I'm alright," he says weakly.
Shayera spots the hand poking out and grabs it. "We gotcha," she says, giving him a pull to get Bioshock free.
"Now, let's see what we can make of this place."
Wingblade, you notice as you look around that this area is pretty remote, to begin with. However, because of that reason, any wayward sound will most definitely alert possible enemies here. That said, it seems that there's a small sewer system hole, actually already open. Peering inside you see its rather large, most likely due to the fact that this laboratory used to be an industrial factory, and this pipe was used for the runoff.
Bran, looking around it is quite apparent that if there any lookouts in the building it would be quite easy to spot your group's approach. Seeing as your stealthy(ish) so far, it would be best to find cover or disappear quickly. You look and notice that some broken windows are more pane glass than industrial, near the fourth and fifth floors. It signals to you that there must be offices, most likely any paperwork you'd want, that's where you'd go.
There's a small rustle of leaves behind you, away from the factory and deeper into the woods. However, looking back, you don't see anything.
Seeing the sewer grate, Shayera immediately dashes towards it. "Come on, we're exposed out here! Quick!"
Once in cover, she takes a good look at the woods to see if she can sense anything out in the woods.
An actual lookout would be surprising, but we're too exposed to any eyes or cameras that are there.
Looking back towards the woods, he dismisses the noise, Probably some beast. We should continue before a sentry spies us.
Even if it is a guard, perhaps we can lure them in after us if they think we're unaware.
Skuld had never really enjoyed teleportation, but this trip was as bad as the trip that had brought her to Midgard. Instinctively ripping open the driver's door, she fell to her knees and proceeded to upend the contents of her stomach onto the pavement. She staggered to her feet just in time to hear Wingblade shout from the back of the car.
Staggering in that direction, she asked in a shaky voice "Is all well here?"
Vick flops himself out of the trunk, chuckling to himself. "Raccoon buddy, you da best." he says jokingly, closing the trunk and watching it pop back open again. "Eh." he concludes, turning to look at Thor Girl as she staggers over to his end of the car.
"Look, I think that went really well." he said. "That was not very bad considering I just chucked the entire team across the whole freaking city."
He watches as the group starts the operation and rolls his eyes. Not even a thank you. God.
He uses the powers he's more practiced and familiar with; creating very realistic illusions.
And he manages to flawlessly project an illusury barrier around the team, hiding them from observers, as long as they don't get within a dozen feet of him. Even sounds from inside the barrier are muffled (but not completely blocked).
"All-right, ladies and gents, stick close to me and no one will ever see or hear you unless you're breathing down their neck. If you are... well I suppose you know what to do." he declares.
Bran looks up in surprise at Hashtag's illusory prowess, I though he was just a teleporter! Ugh, I've gotta get a better handle on what everyone can do. After all, we're a team now!
That is quite a glamour, Hashtag. You rival Ceridwen herself in your craft.
Shall we?
"Who?" he asks, his face plainly confused. "I'm not a big fan of pokemon."
Shayera stands back up with a look of annoyance on her face. "Thanks, Hashtag."
She folds her arms and considers the pros and cons of splitting up, one team through the sewer pipe and one under Hashtag's illusion. After a moment, she discards that option.
"Okay, let's not waste Hashtag's talent. Lead the way, watch where you step, and stay alert."
"Righto." he says."Front door?" he asks, grinning.
Ugh, read a book!
That's not fair, you've got a lot more reason than most to read up on this stuff.
And Mary-Beth to help find the good stuff.
Still though, a pokemon?!
She was an enchantress of great puissance who- he makes a dismissive gesture, It is of no consequence, as long as she too has not returned.
"Righto." he says."Front door?" he asks, grinning.
Shayera ignores the Pokemon talk. She doesn't know what they're talking about anyway.
Yeah, let's go ahead and try that. But don't go in a straight line."
"All right. Weebles wobble, serpentine. Got it." Vick replies, starting to walk the team to the front of the building.
Skuld was apprehensive about the skullduggery. Both of her parents had taught her that she should face her enemies, weapon in hand and shouting challenges to them.
This was Midgard, however, and it seemed the people here had forgotten what it meant to show the darkness who you were and that you were not afraid.
She thought all of this, yet said nothing, as she did not want to sound unsure.
And thus, Hashtag experiences something similar to base as they move slowly up the front door.
The front door is made up of a pair of two large metal doors, the handle and metal studding is rusted, and few test tugs reveal that it probably rusted shut entirely. Looking along the left and right, it seems there are no windows on the first through third floors.
More rustling of leaves and you all hear what is a definite *snap!* of a twig to the right side, inside the brush. It's getting cold and the night seems to be almost upon you all.
"Breaking the doors down would make too much noise, but maybe we can get in through those windows. Hashtag, did you grab the spark plugs from that car?"
While Wingblade or Skuld could surely reach those windows, four stories would be a mighty leap indeed.
A swift entry may be worth the risk of the noise.
Bran reaches over to get the best grip he can manage, and gives the door a sharp tug, trusting that Hashtag's illusions will suffice to muffle any noise.
"I could always carry two of you up, if Wingblade could carry the other."
"I, uh, well, let's see about another way besides the front door and the obvious upstairs windows." Should have taken the sewer route...
At the sound of the twig snapping, Shayera snaps her head in its direction and again focuses her enhanced senses, trying to ascertain what may be shadowing them.
Bioshock winces in anticipation of the sound of the door. "We're off to a great start," he says, sarcastically chipper. The feel of the place has him on edge, and he startles at the sound of the snapping twig. "What was that?!"
Nothing.
You stare, Wingblade, straining your senses, but you don't sense anything. Not even an animal.
Odd.
And you're sure you heard something.
"Are there mages here who can render someone from sight?" whispers Skuld to the group. "If so, perhaps they are in a guard patrol, as who would notice such a guard?"
Bran grabs the doors and uses his strength to pull them open (no roll necessary). It opens up to what could be described as a hospital entrance, a greeting counter to one side and three hallways leading left, right, and forward. The debris here is apparent, broken chairs leaves from the wilderness, and cracked floor tiles as far as the eye can see.
Next to the fornt entrance you enter in is a box with a red button, still glowing.
Lockdown Activation says the writing above it. The glass the covers it has been shattered, though the button remains unpressed.
Further down the left you spot what may be elevators. Down the center hallway, you can make out what would most likely be patient rooms. The right remains a mystery.
"That's not right. I know I heard something."
Now you're questioning your own senses. You're in no shape to be out here. Your stupid pride is going to get someone killed.
It was hard -- harder than anything she'd ever done, truth be told -- but Shayera grits her teeth and stops short of going further.
"Guys, I don't think I'm ready to keep going. I'm... still hurt. I'm a liability. And now I'm hearing things. Go on ahead and I'll stay here. I'll guard the exit." She closes to door to the outside and waves them on in.
"Do not allow doubt to cloud your resolve. If you heard a noise, I believe you." Skuld gave Wingblade her most reassuring smile.
"Sorry, I didn't hear anything, but that might be because I'm focusing on keeping our asses out of sight of any eyes.| Hashtag quips. "No rush guys. I can keep this up all day. Really."
Moving slowly and carefully to try to keep Hashtag's job easier, Bran steps a pace back to be able to look her in the eyes.
Wingblade, I know that you are not at your peak, but attend: You would ask us to leave a wounded comrade to face an unseen foe alone, and to cast aside our leader as we ourselves enter danger in the same breath. Do not demand this.
Her team's efforts to encourage Shayera made her stomach twist in knots. But she squeezes her eyes shut and forces her doubts aside. "All right," she says, twirling the batons in her hands.
Let's see, what would Whippoorwill do? Assume she's been seen. Proceed, making note of ways out and anything in the environment she could use to her advantage. Do the unexpected.
"We should check the right wing first, since its use isn't obvious. Then we'll check upstairs. Stay alert."
She starts moving down the hallway.
You all begin moving down the right hallway, a barren area that is one large stretch lit by the fading light of the late evening through the broken windows. Every step is accompanied by the crunch of glass.
Rounding the corner, you meet a pair of large double doors, the thin windows that would normally show you what's on the other side is completely encrusted by some kind of...mold?
Frowning, Shayera steps closer, keeping an eye out for security cameras. She sniffs at the doors and listens closely for sounds coming from the other side.
We should be wary. It looks as though a grave misfortune has befallen this place, but it struck too quickly for them to "lockdown" their lair against their errors.
Once Shayera gives him the nod, Bran will take a deep breath, and push open the double doors.