Nightshift 48: Main Hallway 2-East

[hasnomeaning]

[from here]The hallways here were different, and yet, very close to the same. Ayanami spread her beam around the hall as she moved out from the stairwell, again, glancing around. Nothing. And few noises; less even than the floor below. Was this a viable option? She stopped, looking to the right down a hall ridden with doors. Would any of those give

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[perfectrecord]

Though not nearly as grueling as the previous time, the long ascent up the stairs had still been a painstaking, delicate process. Gripping the cane in one hand and the rail in the other, von Karma had had to stick the flashlight in his pants pocket, angling the lamp upward so that he would have sufficient light to see. It was already hazardous enough to climb stairs in the dark without having the additional encumbrance of a walking stick, but it was preferable to use it to avoid needless strain on his knees. Thus, he was quite grateful that Xemnas had agreed to go up ahead of him without so much as a protest.

After what seemed an eternity, the older man arrived at the top, finding that his companion had already turned off his flashlight. It was just as well, since von Karma could hear the sounds of a struggle coming from the hallway just ahead of them. Another chill coursed through him; that last incident in the upper level of the Sun Room from two nights ago was still much too fresh in his mind. He turned off his own flashlight and squeezed his eyes shut to acclimate them to the dark; it would indeed be foolhardy to traverse these halls with it illuminated.

"Mr. Xemnas," he whispered, "from here until we reach our destination, it is imperative that we make no more noise than absolutely necessary. So listen well to my directions, for I won't repeat them again." He paused to mentally translate his memory of the map into words, then resumed, speaking more slowly. "At the first junction, turn left into the new hallway. From there, the room I'm headed for is the fourth door on the left." He stopped for another moment to give Xemnas time to assimilate this information.

"Now let's go. There is no time to waste." He re-opened his eyes and glanced ahead through the hallway. All he could make out were vague silhouettes of walls and objects, and that was thanks to the dim light from the Sun Room area far ahead. Oh, how he wanted Ms. Taura here; he knew that she had night vision, but did Mr. Xemnas? Were that stranger's orange eyes useful for something besides reminding him of someone who had an equally irritating stare?

...Bah! He would just have to make do. After all, this wouldn't have been the first time he had ever had to grope his way through a building completely devoid of light; he could do it again! He transferred his cane to his left hand, then placed his right hand against the wall, repeating the instructions for Xemnas in his mind as he felt his way to the first intersection in the hall.

[To here]