NIGHTSHIFT 43: RECREATIONAL FIELD

[timeseal]

[ from here ]Instead of another hallway like he was expecting, Rolo was surprised to find a cool breeze flowing in as soon as he opened the door, gazing out into the darkness that blanketed what looked like to be a field of sorts. The beam of his flashlight didn't go very far, and all Rolo could tell was that this looked vaguely familiar - perhaps

Comments

[number1smiley]

Brother. Now that she thought about it, the boy did have that pathetically thin look that Lelouch had. Being aware of the relationship between Rolo and Lelouch did not make her any less suspicious of the boy. Her main concern was for Euphy. Just because the boy was family to Euphy's close friend did not mean her and Rolo were on as friendly terms. She was not about to forget that Rolo had gone for a weapon upon encountering her. A reflexive instinct, perhaps, but it was still something to keep in mind. She would watch this boy a little longer before deciding to reveal the information he clearly wanted.

When Rolo asked Teresa about monsters, her lips curled up. Would he be surprised to find out he was talking to one? It wasn't as if silver eyes were found in anyone other than half-youma hybrids like herself. There was a better example of monster than herself anyways.

"Yes," she replied as she watched Rolo with an unreadable expression, despite the smile situated on her lips. "There are various creatures about. Most are enlarged common beasts but those are not the ones you should concern yourself with." Her smile took on a bit of smugness. "Your concerns should revolve around the monsters in human skin. Like the two over there."

[timeseal]

He wasn't too surprised to be answered with a smile at first, scowling just the slightest when he misinterpreted the woman's expression. However, that scowl twisted into a look of shock when she proceeded to confirm that yes, there were "creatures" prowling the facility and more or less proving Christian right. His eyes widened a little slightly.

First the dead returning to life, and now monsters? Maybe he really did die and wound up in Hell.

Even stranger was when the woman pointed out the two that she had looked at earlier, implying that they were not the humans they appeared to be. Though, he found it hard to really care; those strangers hadn't even paid him or the woman any mind, seemingly absorbed in their own conversation.

But it was a free tip nonetheless, so Rolo tried to look like he was considering it as he looked at the two again.

"... I see. Then shouldn't we leave them?" He was anxious to move on. If she wanted to fight them, that was her business.

[number1smiley]

"Are you scared?" Teresa's posture remained relaxed as if she was not worried about the demons at all. "I doubt those youma will find you appetizing in the slightest being nothing but bones and skin. You'd be little more than a snack that would barely quiet their hunger a fraction."

She appeared to be appraising the demons, though she watched Rolo out of the corner of her eye. "Then again, I have been told bone narrow can be quite tasty."

[timeseal]

"No," Rolo replied just as bluntly. Annoyed, yes. But scared? He wouldn't have a reason to be if he just left as quickly as possible and left the "youma" to their own devices. Of course, Rolo did take her warning into consideration. That was why he was leaving those two for this woman, who was clearly better equipped than he, to handle it.

Though, he couldn't help but look just the slightest bit uncomfortable as the woman went on to inform him that the "youma" wouldn't find him too appetizing, except for maybe a chewtoy.

... Right.

"Then I'll get out of their way," Rolo replied flatly. One probably would have expected an edge of sarcasm in his voice, but there was none as he started to move past Teresa. He wasn't going to hang around long enough to test her theories.

[number1smiley]

Teresa chuckled at the boy's response. She crossed her arms again as Rolo crossed in front of her.

"Do you think you'll find your answers in there wandering all alone without a weapon?"

[timeseal]

Why wasn't she leaving him alone? Rolo found it even more irritating because she had a point and he turned around, looking over her briefly. Was she taunting him or just trying to help?

"Do you know where I can find one?" He asked, looking over the weapon that she had strapped to her back. Now that he actually looked it over, it looked like... part of a bed frame? How the hell could she lecture him on not having a weapon when that was the best she could come up with?!

[number1smiley]

If only the boy knew what Teresa could do with such a weapon, as crude as it was. He may change his opinion of such a thing. As it was, she inclined her head toward the small shed toward the back of the field.

"You could look in there," she replied. "Proper weaponry does not come easy here. Perhaps our handlers do not believe the dead need to be armed."

[timeseal]

Finally, a piece of information that he could actually use! Sort of. Rolo could barely make out the shed in the dull moonlight, but this woman wasn't lying about it being there. It was better than nothing, and worth checking out since these "monsters" seemed to exist. Rolo wasn't too keen on trying to figure out ways he could kill someone (something?) with a crappy plastic pen when he potentially had better weapons.

"..." Rolo stared at the woman, though. Now that he thought about it, this was truly suspicious. Why was she "helping" him like this, when it held no benefit for her? For a moment, he wondered if this was a trap and she was actually waiting for him to turn around so...

It was a risk he would have to take though. Rolo needed a weapon if situations like this were going to be common during his stay here, and he started to walk off in the direction of the shed, as if trying to see her true intentions by baiting her with his back.

[number1smiley]

Aww, the boy looked like he expected her to bite him or something. It was almost cute how much he was trying to deny there was fear of her deep in his gut. And yet, he turned his back to her. Silly boy. Either he had a death wish or was curious as to her reaction.

Casting a glance back at the demons, Teresa turned to follow Rolo and drew up to walk beside him. That smile still lay on her lips, finding her evening so far enjoyable.

[timeseal]

Irritation was more like the feeling Rolo was being consumed with, along with concern and... yes, a slight bit of fear, because he was stuck between this crazy woman and the two that she pointed out. He was aware that she was the most suspicious (and outwardly dangerous) person, but he wasn't about to pass up the chance for a possible free weapon. There could be nothing in that shed, but there could be anything at the same time.

It really aggravated him to know that he needed a weapon precisely to be able to deal with situations like this! But Rolo wasn't going to die, not after he already dodged that once. Not when Lelouch still needed him...

The shed came into view, and Rolo only had to look it over once before sighing. Locked, of course. Though... another glance showed the color of the lock was a rusty orange instead of bright silver. Rusted and rather worn looking. Huh, was it possible to...?

"Can you break that lock?" Rolo gestured to the worn out lock in question. If his initial impression about this woman was true, she might actually be able to do it with that flimsy piece of metal... "You're the only one with the equipment to do it."

At the same time, he braced himself, as if expecting the woman to try and use her weapon on his skull instead.

[number1smiley]

The shed was rather unimpressive. Teresa wasn't sure there would be anything suitable for weaponry within, but she was curious what lay inside. She hadn't expected it to be locked given how everything else had been wide open, but she supposed humans would feel the need to put such superficial barriers in the way if there was something worthwhile within.

"Of course, I can," she replied to Rolo's question. Stepping up to the door, Teresa ran her fingers over the lock, examining it. With her previous strength this wouldn't take any effort at all. Even now...

She shifted her stance, giving herself a more stable base, and with a quick motion, hit the lock with the heel of her hand sharply. The force partially cracked the rusted metal and, in the same motion, she grabbed it. A yank toward her and the lock separated from the door.

Stepping back, Teresa dropped the bits of rusted metal to the grass.

[timeseal]

Yes, she could break it.

Even Rolo was speechless when he saw that spectacle, eyes following the dropped piece of metal for a brief moment before returning to the woman's form. She was definitely not a woman to be underestimated. Suddenly, he was feeling a mix of awe and terror, but he was soon distracted with the doors creaking open from the force. Another quick inspection (could anyone blame him? This woman could probably snap his neck with less than effort than it took for her to rip the lock out) revealed that the shed was actually full of items and Rolo finally stepped in, focused on each creak and groan that came from wood.

Most of it was useless, just random sports equipment. But Rolo kept looking, and his endeavor was rewarded as he finally spotted something useful: Baseball bats.

They were useful things. Inelegant when it came to killing, but it got the job done in a pinch. He was quick to choose, grabbing one of the metal ones as he weighed it in his hand. It was a decent weight, and it looked easier to use then part of a bed frame, even though Rolo had the feeling it wouldn't be able to withstand repeated use. Maybe a wooden one would be better...

[number1smiley]

Teresa cast a quick glance inside, mostly looking for things that might try to eat Rolo, and noticed the items within. She had no idea what they were used for, though the club the boy had chosen seemed far more suited to him than her.

Turning back to watch the field, she leaned against the door's frame and waited. What were those youma planning?

[timeseal]

Perhaps his initial impression of the woman was wrong. Thanks to her, he finally got something better than those pens, though he couldn't help but feel like she would try to pull a fast one on him. But for now, he could relax just a little as he finally settled for one of the wooden bats. If it broke, the jagged edges would still be useful.

Little by little, Rolo was starting to believe the woman's story. Even now, the teen noticed she was staring at them still. Those people really did seem to bother her... Rolo brushed it off as something that wasn't his concern, but he also realized that anything this woman thought was actually a threat was probably something he didn't want to cross.

"What are youma?" The word was unfamiliar to him. It sounded like a word that Elevens would use, but he wasn't fluent enough in Japanese to tell. "I can't really tell what makes those people not human." If she was willing to divulge her secrets of identification, it would make his job easier.

Monsters and youma. Rolo almost hated himself for actually buying this crap.

[number1smiley]

"You can't - you're human," Teresa replied, her eyes still on the pair across the field. "At least not until they shed their skin."

It was so... odd to explain what youma were given everyone of the forty-seven sectors knew what they were and feared them. Yet, this was not the land she knew and these were not the humans that should know what she was at a glance.

"Youma are flesh-eating demonic creatures that tend to masquerade as humans to ease the rigors of the hunt."

[timeseal]

"Oh." So it was an ability she had. Interesting. Rolo wondered if it was something like Geass, in that respect. Unless she was fabricating this whole tale, because it sure sounded like it. It was like... she was talking about another world or something. Rolo admittedly was not the most worldly person, so maybe she was from some part of the Euro Universe, or India, or some exotic place he hadn't been deployed to yet. In fact, Rolo had the odd feeling like she was also wondering why he didn't know what she was talking about.

This was weird, but Rolo wasn't going to waste time thinking about it. He had more important matters to attend to.

"Are you going to take care of them? I'm heading back inside the building if things like that are prowling around out here." Now that he had a weapon, she probably wouldn't object to that like she did last time.