[center] [img]http://i63.tinypic.com/2ijgg9d.jpg[/img][img]http://i65.tinypic.com/b66f5i.png[/img] September 4, 2020 Night Time[/center] [color=B0C4DE]"318...318...318..."[/color] Brent muttered over and over under his breath as he walked down the hallway. [color=B0C4DE]"Ah, there."[/color] He wore his black-as-night jumpsuit, freshly purchased, and had just eaten a fulfilling meal with bartender Steve. The dandy man's advice about drinking was somewhat useful, but considering the mission on this particular night, Brent couldn't fully explore the wonderful world of alcoholic beverages. The free steaks were nice as well, but he had opted for something lighter. A lean salad with some slices of turkey would tide him over today. With '221' and 'Clark' on his mind, Brent fiddled with his hair a bit before knocking on the door. The speed with which Emma answered the door left little doubt that she had been anticipating whatever it was they were doing. [color=8A3DFF][i]Not because of Brent, of course. I just want to find out what happened to Padma and Alexis.[/i][/color] She justified to herself. She had taken the time to learn their names, figuring it only appropriate given the circumstances. As the door swung open the look on Emma’s face made it clear that she was a little surprised by Brent’s attire. Emma, of course, was still wearing the clothes that she had on this morning. [color=8A3DFF]”Planning on going as a burglar for Halloween?”[/color] she teased. [color=B0C4DE]"It's my ninja costume, thank you very much,"[/color] Brent huffed, before smiling. [color=B0C4DE]"Ready to go then?"[/color] Emma nodded. [color=8A3DFF]”Yeah, let’s… uh, where exactly are we going though?”[/color] she said as she headed out the door and locked it behind her. [color=B0C4DE]"221.[/color]" After repeating it in his head so many times, it almost didn't have any meaning at all to him, but Brent shook his head. [color=B0C4DE]"Yeah, it's either in this building or the other one. Heard that there were guards stationed around it though, so probably the latter."[/color] Emma nodded. Yeah, guards. Wait, guards? [color=8A3DFF]"Er, the building's guarded? Are we, uh, not suppoused to be there?"[/color] She said with an incredulous glance towards him. What was she so surprised about? [color=B0C4DE]"Not the building, the room,"[/color] he said, [color=B0C4DE]"And it's still a dorm building, so we'll be fine. If worse comes to worse, just blame me for dragging you there."[/color] Emma sighed, turning to head towards Room 221. [color=8A3DFF]"Well, if you say so."[/color] One floor down and forty-six steps later, the dynamic duo stood before Room 221, Building A. It was fairly quiet, and definitely didn't look like it had a whole bunch of guards standing beside it. Hopefully this was actually it and they got a nice, quick, easy answer to all this. Knocking twice on the door, Brent stepped back a bit, glanced at Emma, and waited for a response. The door swung open to reveal the scruffy blonde girl Brent had encountered in the lobby before. Behind her, a girl with green highlights in her hair was changing. [color=f7976a]"CLOSE THE FUCKING DOOR!"[/color] the girl in the back screamed. [color=f7976a]"Ehe,"[/color] the blonde snickered before stepping out and slamming the door shut behind her. [color=f7976a]"So who the fuck are you two?"[/color] Emma glanced at Brent, and then the girl. [color=8A3DFF]"Well, we're, uh, looking for Clark, but it looks like we've got the wrong room?"[/color] A nervous laugh trailed her sentence. She was [i]trying[/i] to sound as casual as possible, having only been made aware of the fact that they could very possibly be killed by guards for snooping around only minutes ago. [color=B0C4DE]"Unless Clark's your last name or something?"[/color] Brent said. No? Alright. [color=B0C4DE]Name's Brent, by the way, room 330. Just moved in yesterday, but hey, nice to meetcha, even if it's a mistake."[/color] [color=f7976a]"You're...looking for Clark?"[/color] the girl repeated slowly, sucking in her lips with a raised eyebrow before making a popping sound with her mouth. [color=f7976a]"Yeap, you've got the wrong room--if we're talking about the same Clark."[/color] She turned to head back inside. Emma quickly added, [color=8A3DFF]"No, definitely not the same Clark. Probably. How would I know? Hahahaha."[/color] Emma quickly turned around, pulling Brent along with her. [color=8A3DFF]"Is now really the time to be introducing yourself around? Clearly Clark [i]isn't[/i] suppoused to be someone we should be looking for."[/color] She whispered harshly. Brent raised an eyebrow at her. [color=B0C4DE]"I mean, she asked? So I answered? Isn't that normal?"[/color] He then tilted his head to the side, his tone turning a tad more serious. [color=B0C4DE]"So are you stopping and just letting it go now?"[/color] Emma let out a heavy sigh, [color=8A3DFF]"I-I, wouldn't it better to just-!"[/color] She cut herself off. [color=8A3DFF]"It's not important. Let's just go find Clark, okay?"[/color] His amethyst eyes narrowed. Was she wavering, now that her own life was at risk? Was that the extent of her own decisions? He stayed there, considering everything, before ultimately walking off, down the stairs once more. Building B was the next target, then. Three hundred and twenty seven steps and two floors later, they were at the second 221 that was nearby. Gesturing towards the door, Brent said, [color=B0C4DE]"Wanna give it a go this time?"[/color] Would she be willing to cross the threshold if he didn't drag her along? Emma glanced at him, and then at the door. [color=8A3DFF]"Yeah, of course. I'd be happy to."[/color] She said with a tone that might've indicated that she wasn't exactly [i]happy[/i] to. She gulped, and then knocked on the door. No response. Emma gave Brent a small shrug. [color=8A3DFF]"Maybe he isn't home?"[/color] She suggested. [color=B0C4DE]"Hm..."[/color] Brent walked up and knocked a second time. [color=B0C4DE]"Maybe he didn't hear it?"[/color] A thumping noise like a body hitting the floor emanated from behind the door before the sound of shuffling feet approached. The door creaked open slowly, revealing a bleary-eyed girl whose long, black tresses hid almost half of her face. She brushed the hair out of the way and blinked owlishly at the two of them, saying nothing. Emma gave the disheveled girl a curious glance. [color=8A3DFF]"Er... does someone named 'Clark' live here?"[/color] Emma was getting a distinctively bad vibe. The door closed. A second later, something like ink seeped out from below the door, spelling out the word "No" in jagged letters. The substance retracted back under the door several seconds after that. [color=B0C4DE]"Well...you know where he is then?" [/color]ventured Brent, willing himself not to be bothered by that strange substance. Emma glanced at Brent, and then the ink. [color=8A3DFF][i]Nope.[/i][/color] She'd let him take the lead, and once they figured out where they were going she'd leave [i]as soon[/i] as possible. The ink splashed outward, touching Emma's shoes and rippling violently before it snapped back into a placid smoothness. "Hospital" it now spelled out in neat cursive. Emma nodded, hurridley turning around and walking away from the door. [color=8A3DFF]"Alright! Hospital it is! Let's go!"[/color] She eagerly declared. She wasn't going to deal with the strange ink lady anymore. [color=B0C4DE]"Yup,"[/color] Brent chimed, directing his smile at the door, [color=B0C4DE]"Thanks a lot! You got really nice....mind writing? power writing? too as well!"[/color] With that, Scooby and Shaggy zipped the fuck out, vrooming towards the hospital at top gear. Honestly, at this point, the hospital really was becoming a familiar place to him, huh? The question though, is how they were going to find Clark now. In the lobby, Brent looked at Emma, considered her apprehensions, and said, [color=B0C4DE]"So...guess asking the staff isn't gonna be too great an idea?"[/color] Emma sighed. [color=8A3DFF]"Well, I don't think we'll get anywhere with them but... well, how else are we going to find him? Judging by what we know I doubt he'll be hanging out in the lobby."[/color] Emma scanned around the room. She doubted he'd be there, but it would be awfully convienent if there was some guy holding a sign that said 'Clark!' in the corner. There wasn't. Hm...yup, definitely wasn't a dude with a nametag that said 'Clark'. [color=B0C4DE]"Well, time to bite the bullet,"[/color] Brent said cheerfully. Approaching the receptionist's desk, the amethyst-eyed youth smiled at the person manning the desk. It was certainly a lot calmer in the hospital now, after Benediction seemingly worked his magic and healed a hell lot of people in one go. Margaret was probably at a spa now, just sweating away all her stress and salt. [color=B0C4DE]"Hi there, I'm looking for someone named 'Clark'. Is he in one of the rooms here?"[/color] A nurse with curly brown hair looked up from the blue folders he was reading through at the question. [color=f7976a]"Clark who?"[/color] [color=B0C4DE]"Clark from 221? Sorry, don't actually know their last name."[/color] [color=f7976a]"...You have permission to visit?"[/color] the nurse reached for the computer. [color=f7976a]"Names?"[/color] So there WAS a Clark at 221? Brent half-turned to Emma, signalling her with his breathtakingly intense eyes, before saying, [color=B0C4DE]"I'm Brent Roless. Don't have permission to visit, but, well, didn't realize we needed it. What's the form for that?"[/color] [color=f7976a]"The form? No one visits Clark while he's recover--"[/color] the nurse stopped himself. [color=f7976a]"You don't have permission, sorry,"[/color] he finished flatly. Emma half-returned Brent's half-given glance. [i][color=8A3DFF]Did he just look at me?[/color][/i] She wondered. Any signal given was beyond her comprehension. [color=B0C4DE]"Ah, you know when he'll be out of here then?"[/color] [color=f7976a]"He rarely leaves the hospital. If you want to see him, I can send in a request to the Director, but that's all--"[/color] he looked at something behind the two of them before grimacing. [color=f7976a]"Guess it's your lucky day."[/color] A figure flanked by two guards and followed by one stood behind them, wearing a hooded sweatshirt two sizes too big and sweats equally unfitting. Most of his face was covered by the hood, and from how far forward he had pulled it, it was intentional. A mouth like a crocodile's opened to speak. [color=f7976a]"Heard my name,"[/color] Clark said. Emma followed the receptionists gaze, turning around. [color=8A3DFF][i]Yep, this looks like trouble.[/i][/color] She tried her best not to shudder when the person who apparently was Clark opened his... mouth. The two guards that followed didn't exactly serve to make him less threatening. [color=8A3DFF]"Uhhhh..."[/color] She nudged Brent. He seemed eager enough to talk to the weird people today, so why should she? Perhaps if Clark looked more normal, he would have taken more notice of the two soldiers flanking the thickly clothed man, but right now? When it turned out that [i]he[/i] was the mummy dude from yesterday? That was definitely a pleasant coincidence. [color=B0C4DE]"Evening dude,"[/color] Brent waved, [color=B0C4DE]"What a coincidence, eh? Guessing you're busy though, so I'll cut to the chase. My friend here's got a question for you."[/color] With that, he gestured towards the suddenly quiet girl. [color=B0C4DE]"The stage is yours, Em."[/color] How far will she go? [i][color=8A3DFF]Shit.[/color][/i] She was really, [i]really[/i] hoping that Brent would take this one, because quite frankly after the way Shane reacted to her comrade's deaths earlier today she highly doubted that crocdile-face would take kindly to them bothering him for a question that from his perspective would seem quite trivial. And, of course, she was scared shitless of him. [color=8A3DFF]"Well... uh..."[/color] Emma coughed. [color=8A3DFF]"We were... well, we were told that you could, uh... well, that is, yesterday two of our, er, friends died on a combat mission... and we were told that you knew what would happen to their bodies?"[/color] Emma gulped. She wasn't looking forward to Clark's answer. Brent placed a hand against her back. To reassure her? Or to make sure she didn't back away? [color=8A3DFF][i]That reminds me, I am [b]so[/b] going to hit him later.[/i][/color] Clark didn't answer for a while, standing unnaturally still in front of them. Finally, he looked towards the nearest elevator. [color=f7976a]"Want to see?"[/color] [color=f7976a]"You don't have permission to take them down,"[/color] the guard to his left interrupted. [color=f7976a]"And the one good thing about being me is that you can't do a thing to stop me,"[/color] Clark made his way to the elevator and the same guard placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. [color=f7976a]"Don't try it,"[/color] he warned the guard. [color=f7976a]"I'm fragile, you know. The Director would probably kill you if you hurt me."[/color] [color=f7976a]"We'll report this to the Director."[/color] Clark shrugged. [color=f7976a]"Benefits of being me: 1. Detriments: a lot,"[/color] he beckoned the two with a weak wave of his hand. Emma gave Brent a glance. Maybe fear? It was hard to say. It's not every day that strange crocidile men beckon you into elevators. Emma sighed, already resigned to the fact that they were more than likely going to get in a lot of trouble. [color=8A3DFF]"Alright, then, let's go."[/color] She decided. [color=B0C4DE]"Sorry for the trouble we're causing. Thanks."[/color] The pair followed Clark into the elevator. One of the guards made a motion as if to stop at least the other two from getting in and Clark clicked his tongue. [color=f7976a]"Never really thought I could threaten my own bodyguards with a trip,"[/color] he said off-handedly, almost snorting with the half-joke. Reluctantly, the guards filed in after him. As Clark reached to input the particular series of buttons that would take the elevator to the restricted basement floors, one of the guards stepped in front to block Brent's and Emma's view. Once Clark was done, the elevator doors closed and took them downwards, no button lighting up on the control panel. It was quite a long ride--at least a few minutes going down. Finally, the doors opened into a brightly lit hallway, floors and walls layered completely with that transparent material their arriving trucks had been made from, and the same material that coated their cuffs. Except here the material had been layered on thick enough that the actual floor was several feet below, while the blank hallway and equally blank doors were treated to only slightly less severe amounts. There were soldiers lining the walls here, while others patrolled the corridors. They were tense, as if danger was constantly present. When the doors opened, several of them turned quickly to face the occupants, guns at the ready. At the sight of Clark, they marginally relaxed, though the presence of two unfamiliar faces thickened the tension in the air. [color=f7976a]"They don't have clearance for this area,"[/color] one of the guards around Clark spoke, the same one who had tried to stop the mage earlier. The soldiers in the hallway pointed their guns at Emma and Brent. Clark stepped into their line of fire. [color=f7976a]"They're looking for their friends,"[/color] he explained, too casually for the situation. [color=f7976a]"You don't have the authority to bring people down here, Clark,"[/color] the soldier closest to them spoke up. [color=f7976a]"Yeah, so I've heard. But are you really going to stop me? How?"[/color] he tucked himself between Brent and Emma, throwing his arms over both their shoulders. The lack of weight and thinness of his arms was evident, even through the padding of the sweatshirt. [color=f7976a]"Let's take a walk. Don't step away from me,"[/color] he spoke to the two of them, loudly enough that the surrounding soldiers could hear. [color=8A3DFF][i]Can't run. Can't run. Can't run.[/i][/color] Emma recited the words to herself, hoping that she would follow her own advice. They were in too deep now, huh? Brent turned his gaze from one soldier to the next, before his eyes settled upon Emma. If she did something stupid, would he be able to stop her before the guards decided to gun her down? ...no. His shoes dug into the ground. He wasn't fast enough. Yet. Moving through a hallway filled with soldiers looking for a chance to shoot with only a malnourished student as a line of defense was probably surreal--it sure felt that way to Clark, who had stopped caring somewhere between his body degrading and the chaos of the emergency the night before. They reached a room at the far end of the hallway and Clark lifted his arms away from them to pull his ID card out of his pocket. There was no visible access port initially, but when he held the card up to where the handle of the door would usually be, several lines of light zipped vertically across the material and the door slid open. The reaction from the soldiers was instantaneous--they formed several phalanxes of bodies around the door, the foremost soldiers aimed and ready while the ones behind them waited anxiously. Inside the cavernous room, a brown-haired boy wearing a red parka sat on a dark blue bean bag in the middle of a containment chamber that had been converted into a substitute bedroom with plushes, toys, comic books, handheld gaming consoles, and even generators connected to televisions and various computers. A simple bed sat in the corner while a toilet and sink protruded from the opposite side, partially hidden behind a clear, plastic curtain. A [i]very[/i] glorified prison. He was eating a sandwich while a ghastly, woman-esque creature wearing what looked like a black evening gown with a vertical slit-mouth for a face ate slowly through a pile of broken monster bodies. The jarring contrast of what appeared to be thick, golden hair on the creature's head only made the scene look like a terrible, disjointed nightmare. In the corner of the room were the mangled bodies of Padma and Alexis, along with the Aberration boy who had panicked in the dining hall earlier. All of their marks were gone. [color=f7976a]"Hector,"[/color] Clark waved. Turning to face the door, Hector grinned and waved back. A nightmare that devoured corpses and a child that watched without any particular emotion at all. Within the cavernous 'graveyard', all Brent could focus on was the sandwich that the small child ate while his 'pet' did the same. A jumble of monster corpses was piled up high, while, in a separate corner, three distinctively human bodies lied. Human? Yes. Human. He was right after all. In death, subnaturals became natural once more. But Zhang didn't give a fuck about that. He could even admire that apathetic focus on effeciency. Did he like the end result though? No. Wrapped up in his own thoughts, Brent realized too late that Emma really, really, really shouldn't have seen this. Half-turning, his entire body was tensed as a singular thought transpired. [color=B0C4DE][i]Ah, this was terrible.[/i][/color] Emma shuddered. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to vomit or run. [color=8A3DFF][i]Can’t run. Can’t run. Can’t run.[/i][/color] She was doing her best to remind herself that running away wasn’t an option, but her legs were threatening mutiny. She closed her eyes and took a breath. She [i]needed[/i] to find out what was going to happen to Padma and Alexis. She’d come this far, hadn’t she? [color=8A3DFF]”W-what the hell… what is this?”[/color] [color=f7976a]"The answer to your question,"[/color] Clark replied, putting a hand on Emma's shoulder. [color=f7976a]"Satisfied?"[/color] He calmed slightly. She didn't run yet. Brent turned his attention back to the creepy kid. [color=B0C4DE]"Hey there, name's Brent, This your hobby or your job?"[/color] Hector pursed his lips after another bite and swallow, seriously pondering the question and not at all concerned about strangers appearing at his door. [color=f7976a]"Hmm...both!"[/color] he answered cheerily, turning back to his monstrosity. He increased its size a bit more as it finished its latest batch of monsters. Now the creature was the size of a small truck from its previous human-like height. Emma gulped. [color=8A3DFF][i]Satisfied…?[/i][/color] This was no answer. This was more questions. But what would the answers be? She both wanted to know and wanted to shove them away. That scared her. Everything scared her, but it was only now that she was becoming aware of exactly [i]how[/i] scared she should be. The monsters weren’t just outside, they were inside, underneath the very place she slept. Here she was, escorted by one, who only moments ago placed his arm around her and lead her into this nightmare. The scene before her was horrifying, begged her to look away, yet she couldn’t bring herself to. She was surrounded by guards, flashbacks of the incident during orientation playing back in her head. They all wanted to shoot her. They were, very likely, just as scared of her as she was of them. USARILN was supposed to be the good guys. That’s what she had always thought, what she had wanted to believe. Precursors, Aberrations, Arbiters, Sub-Natural. The words had meant little to her only weeks ago but now they seemed to be her life. So were they the heroes? [i][color=8A3DFF]There is no black or white, only shades of grey.[/color][/i] Her own naiveté surprised her, before her thoughts turned back to questions. The mantra still ran in her head. [color=8A3DFF][i]Can’t run. Can’t run. Can’t run.[/i][/color] She meant it both literally and figuratively. [color=8A3DFF]”Satisfied?”[/color] she finally repeated slowly, voice dragging over each syllable of the word. [color=8A3DFF]”We’ve seen where they are, but what’s going to happen to them?”[/color] She already knew the answer, but hadn’t accepted it. [color=f7976a]"Miranda eats them. Duh,"[/color] Hector responded, shifting into a more comfortable reclining position on his bean bag. [color=8A3DFF][i]So, that’s it.[/i][/color] It was then that Emma knew she really was surrounded by monsters. Clark, who saw [i]this[/i] as a hobby. Hector, sitting unflinching, uncaring on his bean bag. Miranda, who was going to eat the corpses of her comrades. [color=8A3DFF][i]Shades of grey? What a joke.[/i][/color] And Brent? Emma didn’t know how to feel. He’d helped her, he seemed nice, but something was off. Was she just imagining it? Was the stress getting to her, fueling paranoia against a person that by all appearances meant her no harm? That didn’t really matter, did it? What was worse of all was the fear she felt. Her fate stood before her, she knew. Be it today or a year from now this was likely the place where she would end up, fuel to feed whatever the horrible sight before her was. She knew now, she was sure, USARILN was no place for heroes. [color=8A3DFF][i]Is this what it takes? Is this the way to fight DC’s monsters?[/i][/color] The words in her head stopped repeating. Emma didn’t run. She’d been trying now for so long. Trying to hold it all together. She’d tried so hard, even with everything she faced. Her powers developing, being captured by the government, seeing people die, fighting monsters, a suicide attempt… and now this. She’d never see Valentine again, or Riley, or her parents. Hell, at this rate she might not even see Hazel, Callan, Marcus, [i]any[/i] of her new friends. She’d die, what, a week from now? She’d alone and afraid and then she would end up here. [color=8A3DFF][i]Just let go.[/i][/color] The voice in her head screamed. She wasn’t even trying to hold her stigma back anymore. [i][color=8A3DFF]You’re going to die, you don’t matter, none of them care about you, the monsters are all around you…[/color][/i] It kept going, and going, and going, countless thoughts in the span of a couple of seconds. [i][color=8A3DFF]You’re one of the monsters, aren’t you?[/color][/i] Emma didn’t frown, or sigh, or cry, or run. A smirk broke out on her face. A smirk that grew into a grin that grew into a laugh. It was faint at first, just a chuckle. And then it became peals of laughter. [color=8A3DFF]”I get it now!”[/color] She was trying her best to get out words in between giggles, [color=8A3DFF]”We’re not any different from them!”[/color] Apparently Emma had an epiphany. Ah. He had saw that coming. It was only natural after the small child made it clear that his 'little' pet grew stronger the more it ate. Such synergy. Free corpse disposal for monsters and subnaturals, while further raising the combat power of an abberation dangerous enough to be locked in a containment chamber by himself. How grandly convenient. How incredibly efficient. How fascinatingly... ...dislikable. Beside him, Emma was breaking, her static expression enough for Brent to tell that either her mind had purged everything or that it had overflowed. He shouldn't have told her. He could have done this alone. Investigated by himself and just informed her afterwards. It wouldn't have been too hard. After all, he had seen worse, even before coming into USARILN. Disappearing completely from the world wasn't a bad way to go. Not compared to being zombified, being worn as a necklace, being fused into another monster, or a multitude of other shitty shits. Her smile. Her laugh. Her mask. Brent recognized it. He did the same, after all. [quote]It's always better to smile.[/quote] He recognized it, and disliked that as well. A heavy hand fell on her other shoulder. [color=B0C4DE]"We're all subnaturals. That's where the similarities end."[/color] He didn't need to see himself in the mirror. Not fucking now. Clark watched silently as the constellation of lines around the black-haired girl's X drew upwards from her throat. Not quite strong enough that he could catch a pattern, but also not weak enough that they couldn't spread fantastically far. He lifted his hood slightly, watching one of the lines end in a sudden right angle. Had he been feeling better, he might have done something for her, but right now he could hardly muster the desire to pare down the spreading Stigma. The occupants of the other containment chambers needed him more anyway. He mouthed an apology, but his forearm covered the movement. Hector watched the laughing girl curiously, finishing off his sandwich with a few more bites. [color=f7976a]"Weirdo,"[/color] he called out, before directing the rest at Clark, [color=f7976a]"So what are you here for, anyway? You don't need to eat my Stigma anymore."[/color] Clark nodded at the human bodies in the corner. [color=f7976a]"They wanted to see their friends."[/color] Hector stuck his tongue out. [color=f7976a]"Well, they saw 'em. They gonna stick around to watch Miranda eat 'em, too?"[/color] he looked between the two strangers as he asked. [color=8A3DFF]”No, no, Brent…”[/color] the laughter was beginning to calm, but stray snickers still broke from her. She didn’t care one bit about the exchange between Clark and Hector. [color=8A3DFF]”That’s not what I mean. Not at all. Look at this, look at what we as a race has done… Human, Sub-Natural… we’re no different from DC’s monsters, are we? People stand by knowing kids are dying fighting for them, despising us all the same. Have you seen how the people in CC1 see us? Padma, Alexis, they died for them. But they’re… [i]we’re[/i] just animals in the end, right? Animals, backed in to a corner, doing whatever it takes to survive? If this is what we do with power, why do we deserve it!? Why should we [i]live[/i] with it? Why do they deserve survival? If… if this is what we’re going to do to our own we’re not any better…”[/color] Emma’s laughter stopped. She looked up to him, [color=8A3DFF]”Right?!”[/color] The words came out like a harsh accusation. She wasn’t laughing anymore, but a grin had spread across her face. She’d apparently been delighted by the realization. He could understand both sides, huh? He could logically explain to her that the damage caused by DC's creatures, as well as subnaturals gone rogue, had essentially caused the same hysteria as terrorism in the past has, where the 'victims' essentially branded an entire race or religion as evil. It wouldn't be the strongest argument, but in a world gone mad, it was justifiable. He was even tempted to just tell her to shut up and keep her retarded epiphany to herself until they got out of this awkward situation. No doubt the soldiers around them weren't going to be particularly enthused with watching an x-girl lose her fucking mind. But he didn't. And without noticing it, his grip tightened on her shoulder. [color=B0C4DE]"Surviving..."[/color] [i]A broken city, filled to the brim with bulbous bodies.[/i] [color=B0C4DE]"...is trampling on the dead. So you are right. We're no different, just scrambling for answers and sacrifices. We literally feast on the dead, just like this kid and his little pet. We don't even deserve this power. Dreamcatcher probably gave it to us so we can live longer and suffer more!"[/color] [i]A frayed mask, searing the sides of his face.[/i] [color=B0C4DE]"But so fucking what? Are you going to kill yourself now? Kill yourself and toss away all the sacrifices that your friends made so that you're not there with them? Just because humans plan on using you as a meatshield doesn't mean that you should let yourself die. Just because they benefit from stepping on you doesn't mean that you let them flatten you. Just because you have to do it too doesn't mean you don't deserve survival."[/color] [i]An all-consuming silence, adding another tragedy.[/i] [color=B0C4DE]"...Survival's just winning. And the winners bear the burden of the dead. If you can't take that, my roommate has Padma's knife. Feel free to try offing yourself and apologizing to both of them in hell."[/color] This wasn't dislike anymore. A thousand thoughts filled Emma’s head again. [color=8A3DFF][i]Maybe the knife isn’t a bad idea? What the fuck does he know? It’s the stigma, it’s the stigma, this isn’t me, make it stop. Stigma? This is how it’s always been, hasn’t it? Maybe I should try to take them with me? Determination can probably smash Brent’s head in pretty easily, and [b]I[/b] can take Clark, right? Stop. I’d probably be shot and it would end just like that, neat and tidy. Stop. No more worries, no more suffering, no more fighting. Please, someone, make is stop…[/i][/color] It didn’t stop. She wanted to yell at Brent, and Clark, and Hector, and Miranda, and the guards. She wanted to tell them all that she was going to kill them, that she wanted them to kill her. She didn’t. She wanted to split her head against a wall, maybe tell Determination to squish her fragile little head in between his hand. Like a melon/ Interesting experiment, it seemed, to see if it could kill her. She didn’t. Maybe she could just run into the room and jump into Miranda’s mouth. Seemed interesting to see the belly of the beast. She didn’t. Then what did she do? She looked at Brent, contempt in his eyes. Hector and Clark, uncaring. Miranda eating away. The eyes of the guards filled with fear, some already beginning to get frisky with their guns. [color=8A3DFF]”Haha, that’s an interesting idea, Brent. I guess we should get out of here, huh?”[/color] The grin was still spread across her face. She felt like it suited her better than her usual smile. Did she? She wasn’t really sure. [color=f7976a]"Yeah, Stigmas suck,"[/color] Hector observed, picking up one of the handheld video game consoles on the floor and flipping it on. The iconic music of a particular monster hunting and catching game filled the room, echoing off the walls as Hector raised the volume. [color=f7976a]"Good thing I don't have to deal with mine anymore,"[/color] he grinned impishly, shooting the Aberration girl a sly look before his fingers busied themselves with the game. As if on cue, the cuffs around Emma's and Brent's ankle beeped rapidly and, before they could react, the tazer system activated, sending 5.0 mA of current through their bodies at roughly 50,000 volts, dropping them both instantly. Hector snorted at the sight. [color=f7976a]"Director always stops the fun,"[/color] he muttered, watching impassively as the soldiers took Emma and Brent's paralyzed forms away. Another group of soldiers grabbed Clark, holding him back while the elevator doors closed behind the five soldiers carrying the two students who were not supposed to be there. Clark looked towards Hector, neither of them surprised at the course of events. If the soldiers couldn't shoot for fear of hurting Clark, the Director would certainly make use of more precise means. But he had at least managed to show them--quite literally--the dark underbelly of the Institution. Not that anyone with even half a mind had doubted the USARILNs had secrets. He had been hoping against hope that the Director would be busy for just long enough that he could show them its darkest secret, but of course she had stepped in to prevent that. And now he'd likely never see the light of day again. Clark pulled his arm away from the guard holding it and they quickly let go, afraid of causing any lasting damage in a struggle. Pulling up a bean bag next to where Hector was sitting and pretending to be engrossed in the video game, Clark sat down slowly, not wanting to aggravate the sensitive flesh on his legs. [color=f7976a]"Did I do the right thing, Hector?"[/color] he asked the child. Hector's fingers stopped mashing the buttons on his device. [color=f7976a]"I'm too young to know the right thing, remember? Ask me again when I'm older and named Director Zhang,"[/color] Hector handed Clark the gaming device. [color=f7976a]"Now help me beat that trainer."[/color] Clark obliged. [hr] Back on the regular hospital floors, one of the soldiers checked the orders on his phone and quickly directed the other four to take Brent and Emma into a separate hospital room. The two found themselves on adjacent beds in an otherwise empty room, handcuffed to their bedframes. Besides the glowing buttons of some humming machinery and light filtering in under the door leading to the hallway, the room was completely black. There was no acknowledgement of their actions beyond that. No voice from the cuffs. No sudden visit from the Director. Ten minutes later, light streamed in as the door opened and a tall, lean sillouette appeared, guards flanking his slender form. Several spikes of varying sizes outlined the head of the man in the doorway before the lights came on all at once. Any suggestion of said spikes were gone without a trace as, beneath a head of thick raven black hair, a pair of stormy blue eyes glanced over the troublesome couple. Clicking his tongue, the man withdrew a hand from his long black trench coat and scratched his nose, which was lightly peppered with freckles beside the stark white Arbiter mark on his cheek. [color=f7976a]"Well, if it isn't Nancy Drew and Sherlock Holmes!"[/color] he smiled warmly, chuckling at his own joke even as he said it, [color=f7976a]"Did you both just tune out all the angry guards telling you 'No'--because I'd like to learn your secret. They're pretty obnoxious sometimes."[/color] As he spoke, his long legs carried him to Emma's bedside, where he withdrew a set of keys from his other pocket and began unlocking her handcuffs. [color=f7976a]"Speaking of secrets, everyone's got a few big ones here and there. The bigger the place, the bigger the secrets-- they say that right? That's a thing? And of course you know all about that curiosity and the cat nonsense. Just because Benediction's around doesn't mean satisfaction will bring you back."[/color] Gently placing a hand on Emma's back, he extended the other to take her hand and help her off of the bed-- ensuring she wasn't about to fall over once she was on her feet. Without missing a beat, he continued, his tone taking a more serious shift, [color=f7976a]"Look, if you've got a fix for solving mysteries, maybe try playing with the lost and found bin at the student center, [i]this[/i]"[/color] -- he jerked his head towards the door, removing Brent's handcuffs with a metalic click-- [color=f7976a]"You're lucky you made it as far as you did. The Director might not be able to save you next time."[/color] He allowed Brent to get out of his own bed, lingering nearby in case he was a bit woozy as well. [color=f7976a]"My advice?"[/color] he strode past them, standing in the doorway again, [color=f7976a]"Stay out of trouble. Trust me when I say this place has enough of it without people actively seeking it out."[/color] With that, he was gone-- leaving the door open in his wake. Secrets? Huh. Maybe there was something wrong with him, if he thought that USARILN's corpse disposal method...wasn't that dark at all. He blinked. Maybe that electric shock did something good for him after all. He was himself again, after all. Perfectly well-adjusted, completely content, no longer feeling much of anything. Ah, looking back at it, all he could feel was a bit of embarrassment. Did he really just do that? Ugh, he should have thanked Clark before he got KO'd. Probably also should have actually tried asking for those bodies. Or, if nothing else, not get into a spat with Emma in front of literally everyone else. Brent let out a sigh, still sitting on the hospital bed. [color=B0C4DE]"Hey, Em..."[/color] probably not friendly with him anymore huh? [color=B0C4DE]"...ma. Would you rather have not come down there?"[/color] His brow furrowed. [color=B0C4DE]"Should I have done this myself, and just told you afterwards?"[/color] [color=8A3DFF]”No.”[/color] Emma said. She was oddly cheerful, all thing considered. In fact, her face was alight with a wide smile. [color=8A3DFF]”Actually, I think I have to go back.”[/color] She wasn’t looking at Brent. In fact, it seemed to her right now that Brent wasn’t even there. He didn’t even matter. She was now worrying about something [i]far[/i] more important. [color=B0C4DE]"Yeah, same here."[/color] With that, he hopped off the bed. It was a curious experience, walking back alone when they were together.