taxonomites | V: [Location: Wolfram and Hart | Osten + Voice] The Cracks Are Showing

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V: [Location: Wolfram and Hart | Osten + Voice] The Cracks Are Showing

Wesley's tired. He can't seem to get any decent sleep. Only snatches. He and the others are still working to produce more oxygen cylinders to stave off the inevitable but the work is taking its toll.

What they're doing only seems like a way to keep themselves occupied and fighting in some fashion against forces far beyond their control. The proverbial finger in the dyke which is about to burst.

He paces the lobby, taking off his glasses to pinch at the bridge of his nose. There's a pressure behind his eyes. A dull headache he can't seem to get rid of. The space feels oppressive, even though he's not particularly claustrophobic.

Stepping outside he actually welcomes the rain and wind buffeting at his body. He pulls his jacket closer around his body. Gazing upwards, he's surprised to see that beyond the occasional cloud, a vast expanse of cavernous rock spans what used to be the sky. Curious, he starts to walk further down the blocks in a south-easterly direction. Forgetting his own rule to stay close to his friends and allies, he heads towards the outskirts of Osten quarter.

It soon becomes apparent that a rank foul-smelling sort of air is wafting past him. Breathable air.

The unseen barrier is down. That much seems clear. And with it comes a possible reprieve for Taxon's citizens.

He activates his bracelet, speaking into it:

"I believe that the forcefield encompassing the city has completely collapsed. There seems to be a sustainable environment past it. If someone is able to recheck the oxygen and CO2 levels that would be appreciated. I'm going to investigate further to see if the barrier collapse extends to the city walls themselves."

[OOC: Wasn't sure about format here, please let me know if I need to tweak ;)]

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"Hope we haven't left yet!" Spike shouts, walking over. His coat is over his head and covered in snow, but he lets it fall to his shoulder as he approaches. "Ran into a bit of hail. Completely destroyed my car. Now then, what were we talking about? Tunnels?"

«I, too, will explore through the second tunnel. I can clear six of your feet without difficulty,» says Aximili in public thought-speak. Stalk eyes burst out of his skull like worms from an apple, even as his feathers retract into his skin. For a moment, his skin is pink and bald, like a plucked chicken. Hooves are forming at the end of his shifting legs. Finally, waves of blue and tan fur ripple over his flesh. The kafit bird's tail extends into the long, muscular tail of an Andalite. The change is complete.

He takes a moment to stare at the snow-covered human male who has just arrived. The climate control must be in critical failure. He hopes the weather will not be so extreme wherever the tunnels emerge. «Yes. We have located two accessible tunnels: the one you see before you, and another to the west that is elevated approximately six of your feet up the cavern wall. The intention is to split into one team per tunnel.»

Aximili spins his stalk eyes around at the group, even as he keeps his main eyes focused on the newcomer. His tail is poised in case of trouble. Paranoia is a hard habit to shake, even though according to Aximili's investigations, there is no Xandrona source in the city and therefore no Yeerks. These humans seem determined and brave, as humans often are, but he still doesn't feel remotely at ease among them.

"The hail destroyed your car? That doesn't bode well."

The climate controls really have gone haywire if it's snowing and hailing in Taxon. Wesley frowns. They can't stay around hoping that their captors will fix the problem before it's too late for the people stuck here.

"There appear to be a series of tunnel entrances which are now accessible. We're splitting off into two teams. Bravo team is taking the higher entrance. Alpha will take this closest one. Once Buffy gets here, we're set to go, I believe."

He is fascinated by the morphing creatures abilities, but sadly there is little time to delve into where he is from and what his species it.

Looking around he wonders where Honeythorn Gump has gone and whether he also plans to explore the tunnels.

Wesley moves to stand closer to Fred, speaking in a lowered tone.

"I don't suppose you have some aspirin in that bag of provisions do you?" He rubs at his brow again, wishing that the blasted pressure behind his eyes would dissipate.

Fred waves a bit at Spike when he arrives and watches their new thought-speaking companion finished changing into...whatever he is. No wonder he'd have an easier time in that form- it'd be much easier in this weather. She smiles at him once he's done (or seems to be done, anyway).

Wesley asks her about an aspirin, and she nods. "Yeah, actually. I think there's some in the medical kits. Hang on." She takes the backpack off and digs through it a bit, coming up with two aspirin and a bottle of water. "How are you doing? I know we have air now, but...it got pretty bad there for awhile." She's worried about him.

Spike smiles at Fred, then watches the... whatever it is shapeshift and listens to it talk into his head for a moment, then looks at the rest of the group.

"Well, technically the wall I drove into destroyed my car, but the hail destroyed my visibility." He doesn't sound too upset, though. He's fine, and there are a lot more where it came from thanks to Angel's extremely extensive garage, and he's pretty sure he can talk Angel out of another one.

"I can do either tunnel, I guess."

"And you say I can't drive."

Oh look, it's Buffy with a timely interjection. ...Who is drenched and flew here. The torrential rain is completely inconvenient, and in retrospect, perhaps flying wasn't the best idea. She's surveying the tunnel in a wary sort of way, a gleaming red scythe grasped in her hands, just in case.

"So, tunnels. Yay. Dark, dank and spooky. Gotta love 'em." She adds, more on-topic with the general theme of conversation.

Aximili notices Buffy come up from behind with a stalk eye pointed in that direction; Andalites are almost impossible to sneak up on. He supposes it must have been an illusion created by the strange weather, because it seemed almost as if she'd floated down from the sky. She reminds him, with an almost physical pang, of his friend Rachel. She's older and significantly smaller in stature, but her face, her yellow hair, and her general bearing remind him of his fallen friend. He knows it is irrational, but the resemblance draws him to her instantly. He heard the other humans call her Buffy, which does not resemble any human name he has yet heard.

«Also, in all likelihood, liable to sudden collapse,» he adds to Buffy's assessment. He points his main eyes to the west, where the second tunnel is located, and points one stalk eye at Buffy and the other at the strange blue female. «The blue female and I have elected to use another tunnel to the west. If this is the entire expedition assembled here, will anyone else join our party?»

Wesley gives Fred a grateful nod of thanks and takes the aspirin with the water.

"I'll be fine, I just have a headache and want to head it off before it becomes a migraine. I expect it's just all the stress, the reduced oxygen and the fact that I haven't managed to sleep all that well the past few days. I've had a lot on my mind."

There's no time to elaborate on that with Fred right now, so he just gives her a look which means he'll fill her in later.

He turns to the others gathered.

"As much as Winifred and I can look after ourselves, it might be best if either Spike or Buffy accompanies us in the first tunnel. I think that's everyone who contacted me. Perhaps more will come later, depending on what we discover."

He comes jogging over to where they're gathered, duffel bag slung over his shoulder. He's braved the foul weather to catch up with the others.

"Am I late to the party? Heard there were some tunnels which could be a way outta here. Couldn't pass that up."

Wesley has lot on his mind? "You mean, other than the apocalypse?" she asks, a little disbelieving. She gives him a bit of a smile and a pat on the upper arm, though- she knows they have to get going on this. They'll talk about it later.

She nods when Wesley talks about them needing maybe one more (superpowered) member to their own party. It's a good idea- and she knows Spike pretty well, so hopefully he wouldn't mind trying the 'easy' tunnel. Heck, maybe they'd get lucky and get both him and Buffy.

Someone new shows up and she shakes her head him while putting her backpack back on. She's seen him before at Caritas, but never asked for his name. "We're all still here, so I think there's still a party going- well, as much as you can call it a party. We're splitting into two groups, so we can cover more ground."

Edited 2010-07-04 03:25 (UTC)

Aximili senses that the white-haired snow-covered male, the male with primitive human visual aids, the tiny female with the supply bag, and Buffy all know each other personally. They would be best left to their own team. He nods to Casey and Illyria, pointing one stalk eye at each of them, and his main eyes to the rest of the group. «Very well. We shall take the second tunnel to the west. I hope your journey goes safely. We will remain in contact.» He proceeds westward at a swift trot, and while maintaining the momentum of his run, leaps gracefully into the air and into the elevated tunnel.

Illyria looks up, gauging the distance that she has to make in order to catch up with the foreign creature. She hesitates for the tiniest of seconds, before glancing at Wesley, Spike, and the shell.

"Try not to die," she says, the words meant to be comforting, at the very least. Her gaze lingers longer on Wesley, before she turns and runs. Swiftly, she folds her body and very casually leaps, landing on the elevated tunnel with little effort.

Looks like he's been added to the Blue Group. Fine by him. He smirks at the blue chick's back as she leaps up into the tunnel.

"That's my kinda parting shot."

He uses his height and considerable upper body strength to haul himself up into the entrance.

Aximili peers down the tunnel with his main eyes, while looking behind at the tunnel entrance with his stalk eyes. «The tunnel appears to slope downward. It is dark.» He points one stalk eye at the large male who appears, based on his interactions with the human military, to be a soldier. «Do you have an artificial light source?»

He continues to wonder who and what the blue female is. Her leap into the tunnel reveals her to have far more strength than he would estimate a human of her size to possess. He does approve of her choice of clothing, though. Unlike most human clothing, it has a clear practical purpose: armor.

"We do seem to face them fairly frequently, don't we?"

His smile is warm and he appreciates the squeeze of Fred's hand.

Then he chuckles softly at Illyria's terse farewell and shakes his head. So like her.

"We'll try not to."

He turns to his team.

"Well, shall we be off? The unknown awaits."

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V: [Location: Wolfram and Hart | Osten + Voice] The Cracks Are Showing

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