[center][h1][color=f7941d][b]ISAAC BLACK[/b][/color][/h1][/center] [center][h1][i][b][color=ed1c24]Britta Hagen[/color][/b][/i][/h1][/center] It was a damn good thing she was here, because in the midst of all this trauma that Jean was going through, they had almost missed the outright tragedy that was Diana's life, even [i]before[/i] her inclusion into to the war. The most that Isaac had noticed was that 'Something's wrong with her', and that could be said for alot of them. Isaac's attention to Jean or Lucia had been largely due to the amount of active suffering that he could clearly see. He didn't know what could be distressing someone like Diana because he didn't know [i]her[/i] that well. Truthfully, neither had Britta, but she did this thing that Isaac wasn't as good at: Asking people. When Britta DID, she got so much unpacked, right then and there, that she could scarcely believe how much of an [i]asshole[/i] Richard Donster could be, and how blindingly-stupid Diana's sister, Astra, could be. It was even more-so when Diana told her that Astra wished that her own flesh and blood would die in the war. There really [i]was[/i] no limit with some people, was there? As much as I want to help Diana pull together so she can pull her own family together, some of these people could really use a punch to the face. It was like the Donsters and the Vastergoths lived in a whole 'nother [i]world[/i], away from common sense or the war altogether. That was the real tragedy. Something tore those people apart, and Britta had the thought in their head that it was each other. She'd never seen an actual feud between families before, so for something like that to be long-lived and generational was both foolish and unnatural. It couldn't be sustained for so long without people on both sides practically [i]forcing[/i] it along. Kind of like this war. Well, at least they were all safe in...Castleton? That's in Isaac's territory, Edinburgh... Didn't he mention that that's where the crazy girl came from? They actually met, apparently. [color=ed1c24][b][i]I wonder if we could all meet after the war... Not Middleton. He'd only ruin such a gathering. But the rest of us, maybe...[/i][/b][/color] She continued to listen about the Vastergoth family with Diana until attentions were turn to...to... Well, will you look at that? Jean was [i]dancing[/i]. There was hope for him yet. Where was Isaac? He'd want to see this. Ah, there... Against the wall on the other side. She'd swing over after telling Diana, [b][color=ed1c24]"I'm gonna check on a few things now."[/color][/b], and heading the long way around. ISaac was smiling as he watched this sudden and unexpected spectacle. [b][color=ed1c24]"So, is everything alright on your end of things?"[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"Yeah, things are okay. I think they may even be able to stand [i]Luke[/i], eventually."[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"For his sake, let's hope so."[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"Everything alright with Diana?"[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"Maybe not now, but in future, perhaps. The Vastergoths are very supportive of the Darcsens, and people don't like that. So, Luke-"[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"-naturally stuck his foot in it and reminded her of all her problems at home."[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"More of that than you know. Her family isn't like yours. They're a very important and troubled people."[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"Anything I can do?"[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"You promised to teach her cards, didn't you?"[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"That's true."[/color] And once Jean was put in a bright-eyed mood by his dance with Reyna and he made his announcement, Isaac resolved to do just that. At the very least, he would teach and play games between the three of them. It'd make at least Diana herself feel better. So, over he went with a deck of cards in hand and the silver-gray Gunner close at hand. They'd play into the night, and then finally the company of the 15th Atlantic Rifles would turn in and get some sleep. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Now, admittedly, we have to give Jean credit here. Waking up into ANY situation in the morning without a hangover is a blessing, to be sure. As much as it was just slightly bothersome to not be able to have even a [i]couple[/i] drinks before bed, getting up with your head intact was definitely a plus...especially when somebody is trying to [i]kill you[/i]. The night had been spent in their uniforms. They didn't like it, not when there was a bed that demanded their enjoyment properly, but to set a good example, the NCO and the lady Gunner had to set a good example. Well, [i]some[/i] good examples... They were still sharing a bed, after all, and by morning, the two of them were holding each other for extra comfort, smiling at thoughts of the previous night. They woke up and gave each other a mock salute, snickering as they distangled from each other and got up to stretch. All their stuff was here, as per preparations, even ammo. It was a real pain to unload their machine guns, because THIS is where the real jamming started. Trying to pull it out would snag the belt, and then worse, some of the bullets would pop out and have to be re-belted. Isaac and Britta had to do this last night outside, in accordance with the Inn's rules, before turning in. [color=f7941d]"Everything check out?"[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"Mmm-hmmm. Gun, knife, evil-looking serrated blade - all here."[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"That thing's not chewing through the holster, is it?"[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"Only the bottom part. It's fine."[/color][/b] Some of their spare weapons were more dangerous, than others. The weird hatchet-like prybar in Isaac's belt wasn't [i]nearly[/i] as problematic for storage. So anyway, they headed on down into the Inn common area where Jean was, already. He looked good. Well, [i]better[/i], at least. The Corporal was talking pleasantly with Catherine on the matter of the Inn, post-war, and neither of the Gunners wanted to interrupt. That said...something else [i]did[/i]. They all heard a sound...one that was quite unforgetable. The last time Isaac heard something like that, there was a boom and a shock and he couldn't hear for a while, after. [center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lF6cRCb9u8M[/youtube][/center] This time, it was different, though. For, as Jean and then he and Britta observed, it was a curious thing... It looked like they were launching smoking mortars, but...there was [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9wmWZbr_wQ]no explosion.[/url] You would definitely hear it, even from far away. Everyone who'd been in this war knew that. With all those shots, it was seeming like there was a whole lot of nothin' going on. Wait... [color=f7941d]"Smoke? Is it smoke to get in undetected?"[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"That's alot of smoke, then."[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"Could be a new way to sneak in an army."[/color] He'd been hearing some idle chatter about them testing out no ways of waging war. His Drill Sergeant said as much in training, but he also heard it on the train. Nobody he'd listened to that much had any details, just that it was something they were doing to keep in pace with the Imperials. Good thing... Those damn machine gun cars were murder. It wasn't long before one of those shells started whistling overhead, though. Isaac's newfound fear of being bombed to pieces came out, suddenly. [color=f7941d]"Aw shit... TAKE COVER!!"[/color] There was, of course, [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=299knTdX-Wo]no boom.[/url] It hit the pavement, there was alot of glass from the impact, but if anybody had been taking Isaac's advice, you wouldn't get any glass in your eyes, face, or anything else. And it's not like the lack of [i]previous[/i] booms didn't mean that ALL of these launches were - he assumed - smoke bombs. They could've had surprise artillery...maybe. Now, Jean and Catherine had been outside when this nearby thing came down, which Isaac felt he'd have to have a word with Jean later about, but he wasn't gonna get a chance to, not for a while. Something happened, all of a sudden... The top popped off of that canister in the road and a...a kind of yellow smoke began to hiss out of there. It was thick and spreading, almost like it was alive... Isaac stared at it, his mind not quite able to articulate that sinking feeling, that dread of what the smoke could be. It wasn't [i]normal[/i] smoke. Stuff you confuse people with isn't [i]yellow[/i]. It's just smoke. This, though... This wasn't smoke. [color=f7941d]"What the hell [i]is[/i] that?"[/color] [b][color=ed1c24]"I don't know... It looks [i]sick[/i]."[/color][/b] It DID look sick. Isaac felt an insecure sensation inside, like watching a swarm of bees come upon you, angry about their wrecked nest. Britta was thinking of Yellow Fever, as strange as that sounded. They were both brought out of it as they heard Jean struggling with the door. Dammit, he was trapped out there! It was jammed somehow! When did THAT happen?! Isaac went for the door with his prybar and started trying to leverage it. He couldn't kick it open because it was a damn solid oak door stuck in the frame. [color=f7941d]"Dammit...can't...move it!"[/color] This is why a prybar should really be a long piece of steel and not a little hatchet-wedge! You'd get out of doors like this in no time! Isaac didn't see what happened next, but Britta did as Jean did. He was still trying to do more than crack the frame and/or the door when he heard the [i]purpose[/i] of the yellow gas... [b][color=ed1c24]"Isaac, hurry! The smoke'll kill him! It already got Catherine!"[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"Nothing doing! It needs a battering ram! Jean, just get out of there!"[/color] [color=ed1c24][b]"What about everyone else?!"[/b][/color] [color=f7941d]"Has to be a back way out! We have to-"[/color] Just then, the windows were busted all the way by...what the hell?! No wait, that was Jean, shouting at them and pointing to his mask. Sounded like he wanted them to put them on. The masks? Isaac's eyes shot open for a moment, remembering those creepy miner masks they said would protect them in tunnels in sewers. Good god... [i]That's[/i] not what they were for! They [i]knew[/i] this would happen! Isaac took the weird thing out from under his webbing, as did Britta. They put the things on, pretty much as Jean did. You could just about hear the muffled cursing from Isaac before he started shouting as loud as he could. [color=f7941d]"Everybody out! The back way, ANY way! Just get away from the smoke!"[/color] He didn't even know if he could be understood in this thing. He couldn't think straight, right now. It was stuffy in this thing, he was freaking out just about everyone he came across who hadn't seen or heard of these masks, and it looked like the army was surrounding him and the squad in a cloud bank of poison... He and Britta were both practically forcing people to find a safe way out, making sure everyone who had a mask was wearing one. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> [center][h1][b][color=a0410d]RIKES[/color][/b][/h1][/center] He was en route to delivery point, as he was told. Another delivery to the others, and then back to the building, once his morning exercise was done. Had to stay strong, move around often. Needed to, so that when the loud whiny shots came and the enemy appeared, he was ready for them. Almost never that hard in the mornings, though. People are so sleepy and lazy, they don't have the energy of his own kind. Hadn't heard from one of them in a long time. Wait... There was a sound from far off, ringing in the air. He tried to answer it... Nothing. It didn't sound like another wolf, but it might've been. What if it were injured? There were...actually a number of them around. Were there a number of packs roaming through? He had to see. It could be important. He trailed the source of those sounds, along with strange heavy thuds in the ground he'd never heard or [i]felt[/i] before. This could be dangerous. He- New sound... He'd never heard whatever that hissing was, because snakes do not... What was [i]that?[/i] No, no no no [i]no![/i] Wrong! This is wrong! That fog is wrong! No no no! Get away from it! Away, away, away! And he bolted as fast as he could, sensing there was something unnatural and [i]terrifying[/i] in the air. There was only death, that way. Of that, he was certain. He men in the building could shout if they wanted, but he was not going into that!