[Open] There and Back Again

[soul_mods]

Characters: Rescue Operation volunteers, kidnapping victims, medics
Location: Underground tunnel system, beneath Death City
Rating: Varies
Time: May 13th, 7 AM
Description: The mission's simple: Arrest the perpetrators, and get our friends back. Of course, the kidnappers aren't going to make it simple...



The first step was finding a way into the tunnels connected to the sewers. Thanks to Guest investigators and the Death City Police Department, two entrances were found, allowing for a pincer movement. The mirrors are primed and ready to go, situated in the sewers proper by dawn and ready for a quick extraction of the abduction victims. On the other side, in the Shibusen clinic, medics are on standby for medical treatment of the victims and the fighters heading in to clear out and apprehend the masked weirdoes.

But the masked weirdoes have tricks up their own sleeves: The tunnels are littered with pit traps, thin wire triggers waiting to be sprung (or disarmed) with darts, arrows, or even falling rocks and debris in store for any intruders that decide to enter these makeshift halls, and the perpetrators themselves are armed with melee weapons, smoke and pepper bombs, and sheer numbers.

Today is also the day that the kidnappers have decided that a little isolation would make the prisoners more compliant. Roughly hauled up bright and early one by one, they're on their way to individual chambers when they each get a message via clairvoyance as promised:



"We're coming."




[ooc: You know the drill; tag your characters in and make your own threads using the following format: [Character(s)][Location][Open/Closed], and the victims are welcome to make threads as well for interactions among each other and those that find them. The operation will be complete at around noon with arrests taking place for a few hours afterward, for those in need of a timeline!]

Comments

[peacocked]

[sugata sees the eagerness and determination in takuto's face. he knows how badly takuto wants to rush into things, but he can't afford to be foolish or reckless especially in this type of situation.]

Haste makes waste Takuto.

[tauborn]

[He makes a face at his friend.]

Slowness makes you left behind. I'm counting on you to watch my back, you know.

[peacocked]

I have your back, and I will always have your back Takuto. But if you rush into this blindly you could end up hurting yourself or worse your girlfriend Yako.

[tauborn]

[The idea of making things worse for Yako makes him contritely take a deep breath and walk forward very slowly. It is an almost excruciating effort.

Part of him just really wants to get Yako and get this over with, although there is a small part of him that would like to take his time beating up the kidnappers. But he really, really dislikes tunnels.]

Why is it always underground? [He's muttering to himself as the light from the entrance starts to dim.]

[peacocked]

[he can't help but chuckle at that.] Because the hero can never have it easy Takuto.

[tauborn]

[He shakes his head.]

I'm not the hero. [Unfortunately, tunnels have the effect of reminding him of that. He squints a little in the deepening darkness, trying to keep an eye out for any of the kidnappers.]

[peacocked]

[he looks over at takuto and gives him an incredulous look. yea, ok and he's the queen of england.]

You're the best hero I know of. And besides, you have a damsel in distress.

[tauborn]

[He shrugs and shakes his head, because talking about this in a tunnel is something he really can't do if he wants to stay focused on rescuing Yako. And he really needs to stay focused on rescuing Yako.]

Just keep an eye out for anyone that looks like a kidnapper, okay?

[peacocked]

Of course, of course. [he heaves a sigh. though there is a slight possibility they could just be in normal clothes. so-] I shall keep my eyes peeled for anyone that looks conspicuous.

[tauborn]

[As it turns out, the kidnappers are in costumes only slightly less ridiculous than the Glittering Crux itself. When the first one appears, standing in front of their group a little awkwardly before turning and running away, Takuto can't help but think that if only the masks were golden....]

You know what I think of people wearing masks, right, Sugata?

[He grins just a little and starts to give chase, completely oblivious to the fact that he's probably running right into a trap.]

[peacocked]

Yeah... I get what you mean. [wow those sure are some costumes.... but with that he shakes his head and reaches out to yank on the scruff of takuto's shirt collar.]

Takuto! Hold on you could be running straight into a trap.

[tauborn]

[He chokes a little and then tries to break free.] But we're letting him get away!

[But Sugata probably has a point, and the point becomes clear when a moment later the tunnel starts filling with smoke.]

[peacocked]

[he gives takuto a pointed look.] This is why we don't run blindly after someone in a mysterious cave that they know like the back of their hand.

[tauborn]

Fine. But now what?

[He grabs Sugata by the hand so they don't get separated in the smoke. But obviously moving forward is a thing that needs to keep happening, so he takes a relatively slow step forward as he draws his shirt up over his nose and mouth so he doesn't breathe in as much smoke..]

[peacocked]

[he looks up in thought.] Do you remember the time when Madoka used her first phase against us on the beach? This is something similar to that. Just because we can't see them doesn't mean we won't be able to hear them, or sense them in a different way. Keep focused and continue on.

[though.... now that he thinks back to that fight he was able to finish her off quickly with his own first phase. but no matter. hopefully takuto has kept up with his own training, and if he hasn't welp.... looks like sugata's gonna have to start that up again. he gives takuto's hand a tight squeeze just to let him know that he's still there.]

[tauborn]

[He remembers very clearly how that fight went. Sugata's King's Pillar isn't something a person so easily forgets, after all.]

Right. Just don't attack me this time.

[And if you think he hasn't kept up with his own training... you'll be in for a surprise. He's actually gotten much better since coming to Death City.]

[peacocked]

[he gives the tiniest of huffs. wow, r00d. see if he helps you out in the future!]

It was the only way I could get to her. And besides, need I remind you that I no longer have the ability to preform that anymore?

[tauborn]

[He shakes his head and then realizes that with all this smoke, it's unlikely Sugata can see the movement.]

I know. I guess you'll just have to find out what your new powers are.

[It probably won't take you as long as it took Takuto to figure his out.]

[peacocked]

I can worry about figuring that out later. We have something else even bigger on our hands right now, though. So... [he trailed off as he urged takuto to move forward.]

[tauborn]

[He takes a few determined steps forward, and a split second of faint whistling is the only warning they get. Luckily, Takuto is pretty good at moving on instinct, so as he jumps backwards into Sugata, the three darts manage to sail past the pair of them without hitting.

Still, they were close enough to see, even in the smoke. Takuto swallows slowly, and then whispers.]

I think it's a trap.

[peacocked]

[sdlkgahsf gackt! at least give some warning when you're gonna back up into him bro. he rubs his head with his free hand. right, okay. concentrate.....]

I don't think it's wise to go back. They'll probably use that to get closer to us, or to set up even more traps.

[tauborn]

[He nods and hurries ahead, tugging Sugata with him.]

Keep moving forward, huh?

[peacocked]

[he scoots a little closer as he's tugged along.]

It's the only option available to us right now, so yes.

[tauborn]

[Even though it's been quite a long time since he's had Sugata watching his back like this, it feels very natural to trust the blue haired boy like this. In a few moments they clear the smokey area, only to find themselves up against a small group of club-bearing masked enemies.

An ambush. But Sugata had predicted as much, so at least they are ready.

Takuto doesn't slow, but releases Sugata's hand so he can draw a sword from the sheath strapped to his back. It's not as elegant as drawing a star sword, to be sure, but he's gotten pretty good at it nonetheless.]

[peacocked]

[it's at this point sugata feels like he could be more of a liability to his friend than actually give him help. he kind of wishes he had something he could use to give him some sort of leverage, but.... he isn't the type to back out. especially when he sees how badly his friend needs him to be here.]

You take the ones on the left, and I'll take the ones on the right?