Nightshift 38: West Wing, South Hall 2-B

[secret_orchard]

[from here]

As he turned the corner, Armand hesitated again. This was a long hall, and he couldn't yet see the far end. He faltered, slowing up and suddenly wanting to hide behind TK. But he managed to keep his voice steady.

"Can you explain to us--to me actually--why you seem to think you're such a terrible person? I need to know, you see, before I

Comments

[janus_006]

The question took him a little by surprise. Armand genuinely thought that he was made of bunnies and rainbows, didn't he? Usually, he wasn't in the habit of telling people his life story, but he had to tell Armand something. Or he could be the Cat Who Walked By Himself and refuse, and leave.

He wasn't stupid - he knew that going it alone in this place was a recipe for disaster. Why not go the whole hog? Everyone knew his name here already. "I stole a superweapon with the sole intent to destroy Britain's economy, which would in turn destroy the world's economy, because those bastards killed my parents." An oversimplification, perhaps, but also a minor lie. "And I've killed I don't know how many people in cold blood, and on the tenuous justification of 'because my bosses said so'. If that doesn't taint me, I don't know what does." He crossed his arms. "Is soul-baring time over? Can I go back to being a bastard now?"

[loyal_soldier]

TK kept walking, his face a very practiced blank. He was getting better at being practical, not ideological in this place, but... This didn't make things any easier. All that stuff put together immediately said 'Rebel' to him. He just gritted his teeth and tried to ignore it.

[damned_monsters]

What was it with the patients these days? Were they no longer afraid of the things that went bump in the night? It was silly of them not to be wary when it came to the night here. The night was dangerous regardless of what they'd heard. The night was deadly, no matter their skills.

From ahead in the hall came the creaking of a door, even though no door was open. And then from behind, the same sound - as if someone unseen had just passed them.

For a long time, no other noises were heard and then - she giggled right next to Armand's ear. There was no outline to be seen, nothing but her voice as she laughed and began to pull the air from around him.

[Kaze]

[reanalyze]

Citan listned carefully, his expression turning to a thoughtful frown. How interesting. He'd known men like this - he supposed he was one, in a way. He had certainly killed many people, though not simply because the Emperor ordered him to.

"Soldiers cannot question or go against their commands," he finally said, lightly. This man could well be dangerous man, but he could also be a useful man. Citan was going to say more on the subject when the noise caught his attention.

"What in the world...?" he managed, glancing about but seeing nothing.

[secret_orchard]

The giggling distracted Armand. It sounded as if it were right next to him. He brushed a hand against his ear. He wanted to respond to the whole of Alec's statement not just the questions, so he was grateful for Citan's cogent summation. It was obvious that TK was unhappy. The faster he answered the damn questions, the faster he'd get control of his tongue back. Armand tried to take a breath before speaking.

When he couldn't get any air, he tried again, vaguely panicked. To rid himself of the compulsion to answer, he used what little breath he had to whisper, "If you insist, Alec. You're not a bastard."

He let his legs fold in the vague hope there would be air closer to the floor, like in a fire. He couldn't keep his panic from showing now, but he hadn't the breath to speak now.

[janus_006]

Alec frowned - the questions had been rhetorical - before he noticed that Armand seemed to have trouble breathing. He decided that asking if the Frenchman was all right would be a bad idea, since he might asphyxiate himself in an attempt to answer. His first suspicion was a panic attack, but that immediately changed when Armand collapsed.

Trevelyan's mind immediately jumped to the idea that there was some sort of gas in the hallway - he'd seen fits like this before. He made his breathing more shallow and spoke quickly. "We should go," he said, trying to help Armand to his feet. "I think there's gas in the corridor. We need to move."

[loyal_soldier]

TK picked up Armand, realizing for the first time that they'd gone down the wrong corridor. Idiot. He should have realized it before.

Not wasting any more time or breath, TK started moving as fast as he could manage while supporting his friend.

[to here]