[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/hvuUP9f.png[/img][/center]

Rose stumbled back as the floorboards splintered, a large root writhing beneath them. [color=ff4f61]"Eeeeehhh! What the...?"[/color] She stepped aside, one hand over her thudding heart, the other pointing her gunblade at the tendril. No, she scolded herself, it didn't do for a Ze to get jumpy, especially at a time and place like this.

[color=ff4f61]"Heh..."[/color] She caught her breath. [color=ff4f61]"At least the plants are livening the atmosphere. And yeah, you know how I kept saying I'd run away and join the Ze? I had to follow through. I'm Steel Rose now."[/color]

Her forced smile faded as she listened to Jay's warning. The way he described Nox possession was worse than she'd imagined... and if the Ravel got their way, there'd be many, many more hosts trapped in here before long. [color=ff4f61]"Well, shit."[/color] Her stomach sank. [color=ff4f61]"So you were right all along, Ruski."[/color]

Ruskali, as usual, was quick to speak up, his cries of defiance echoing through the building. [color=ff4f61]"You tell 'em!"[/color] Rose backed him up, her bright confident tone returning. [color=ff4f61]"Like we'll let them anywhere near the Light. Or let them keep you walled up in here. Your bodies... They're still alive. There's a chance you'll be able to go back."[/color]

At Jay's mention of a vessel, Rose opened her bag. [color=ff4f61]"Is an old satchel ok? Just, uh, be careful not to set off the motor skates in there. They didn't work quite as expected."[/color] This time, she kept her cool when the plants wriggled, all while keeping a healthy distance. Falling through the floor wouldn't help matters.

Unknown to her, neither would the many-legged creature darting silently along the ceiling...