[hr]Bones… [hr] The escalation of events came like a sucker punch. The anticipated powwow made a turn for the absolute worst as the Consortium’s finest were now pitted in a room full of wraiths. These weren’t the run of the mill kind of spirits they were used to dealing with either. They operated like a unit, eerily similar to that of a task force by picking targets and working cohesively. But the most terrifying revelation about this whole ordeal was that they managed to infiltrate the Outer Shell. Not only did they pass the massive wall full of anti-wraith defense mechanisms and security checkpoints, but they went a step further and walked right into the headquarters of The Consortium, undetected. The first thing Ezekiel did was retrieve the notebook he’d been reading. He stuffed it into the breast pocket of his blazer as Latika pounced forward, running head on towards the green wraith whose sights were set on Carmina. Latika drew out a whip from her utility belt. With a click of a button, it sputtered to life with a blue aura that caught the attention of the spirit. With a flick of the wrist, the roped end of her weapon snaked around the neck of the wraith. The blue energies of the whip sent out violent shocks, sending the spectre into a frenzy. Bones walked forward with his lantern in hand. Its design was that of a silver skull that had its mouth wide open. He held it up by the handle welded on the top of its head and pointed it at the green wraith. “Keep it steady!” Ezekiel said to Latika. It struggled about, trying to inch away from Ezekiel and his lantern, and when it went to claw at the rope bindings, Latika dialed up the charging intensity of the whip. It jolted in pain and waved its limbs frantically in frustration. Bones held the lantern firmly as the swirling energies of the device began to reverberate up his arm and through his entire body… [hr] [@Azlum] Two 2nd class Investigators rushed to aid Dr. Isaacs and Professor Hartwell. Unfortunately for them, they weren’t equipped with any anti-wraith weaponry. It didn’t stop them from trying. “Get behind me!” One of them called out as he unstrapped a pistol. The other Investigator had a shotgun out. “Firearms are useless!” Dr. Isaacs cried out, but it was already too late. The shotgun boomed and the scattered pellets flecked through the advancing wraiths, piercing one of the new recruits. The rookie fell to the floor as scarlet fluid oozed out of him. One of the wraiths then hovered over a work bench full of an assortment of tools, then disappeared. Just as it did, every item that littered the flat surface rose, and then rained down on both investigators, stabbing and pelting them relentlessly until they became bloody piles of meat. Isaacs and Hartwell both stumbled onto their rears, scooting backwards and hid behind the nearest overturned desk. “This isn’t looking good, old friend.” Professor Hartwell puffed. He glanced over the ledge of the desk to see the remaining red wraith still in its regular form, howling towards them. He flinched his eyes shut, ready to accept defeat. Seconds went by and nothing came. A surging hum of electric pressure was heard and felt. Professor Hartwell opened his eyes and saw the red wraith caught by Investigator Hayley Malik’s energy weapon! “Oh, thank the bloody makers…” Hartwell slumped back down, joining Dr. Isaacs, who was tinkering with some kind of instrument. “What are you doing?” “Trying not to die, of course! Now keep low!” After twisting a knob and tightening a gear here and there, Dr. Isaacs slammed the instrument into the ground. It was perfect timing, because the work tools possessed by the other red wraith was upon them. The device projected a spherical shape, encapsulating both Dr. Isaacs and Professor Hartwell within its protective shield. [i]Clang! Krssh! Drnnngh![/i] The tools slammed onto the barrier like a hailstorm, but the shield remained intact. “How long will this hold!?” Professor Hartwell yelled, covering his ears with his hands from the loud noises echoing into their small space. "We're about to find out!" Dr. Isaacs said.