Night 52: West Wing, North Hall 1-A

[zack_fair]

[From here.]Even though the hallway seemed especially quiet tonight, Zack wasn't bothered. He was used to moving around in quiet areas on his own, from caverns to wide open fields to shorelines. He didn't get spooked very easily, and if anything, he felt like he was in his element. He had a weapon in hand was was moving at his own pace, not

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[its_the_mileage]

Indy noticed the glowing eyes before he saw the rest of the man, and was about to brandish the machete when he realized it wasn't a lab rat approaching him. Richter hadn't been kidding. His eyes were glowing (Indy blinked; it didn't go away. After that he just shrugged and rolled with it--God knew he'd seen stranger things lately). Evidently that meant tolerable night vision, since Richter wasn't carrying his flashlight. He was well-armed, which was good, and dressed in what looked like some kind of military uniform, which might be good or bad. It wasn't one Indy was familiar with, but no surprise there, if Richter was correct about his alternate-universe theory.

"It's fine," Indy said, nodding in greeting. "We should be waiting on one more. We'll give him a couple of minutes; he's usually prompt." He edged the flashlight beam over to get a better look at the sword. "I'm glad you're well equipped. I don't have any reason yet to think that the area where we're heading is particularly dangerous, but being prepared might get us through that field faster. We got held up last night."

[unheroed]

[From here.]

When Jones had mentioned that someone else would be coming along, Harvey had figured that it would be another stranger. To see none other than Recluse (and he couldn't take that name seriously, he just couldn't) standing there in an outfit of his own with his eyes glowing like he was some sort of genetic mutation caused Harvey to hold back for a moment.

He didn't exactly get along with Recluse, but they both had a distinct lack of morals which made him easier to be around than some of the other patients who believed in the purity of life and other such things. Things that were myths, really. But that wasn't the point right now.

It looked like Recluse had a few weapons to spare, which was good. Even though a sword seemed a little outdated, it wasn't like everyone could be lucky enough to find a gun -- and honestly, it was better than a dog leash. Jones had a machete now, at least, (which reminded Harvey of the axe he had, but that thing was so damn unwieldy), but the point still stood. It terms of someone to take along at night, Recluse wasn't the worst choice.

Harvey finally walked up to the pair, nodding to Jones before glancing over at Recluse. "Long time no talk," he greeted. There wasn't necessarily any warmth or familiarity in his tone, but it would get the point across to Jones easily enough.

[tartaros_avatar]

[Figuring chronology of this based off of what I see in one of Harvey's last posts, but I'm not sure if I have to force things to make them fit. If I've buggered things up, just let me know!]

Recluse had been about to reply to Jones' last statement when the intercom suddenly crackled into life, making him pause mid-breath, an expression of distinct irritation settling over his features as he listened. Yes, yes, very dramatic. Did Landel just have the woman tied to a chair? It certainly didn't sound as if there was much beyond cliche happening in terms of torture. He stifled an exasperated sigh. Physical blows were never the best option, if one wanted to cause pain. Which meant Landel either really was entirely incompetent, or simply wanted to viscerally feel like he had some control over someone. Pathetic.

And an attempt at moral superiority. Recluse let out a derisive snort. Unless he lied to manipulate others, he never denied what he was. There was no point, certainly not when he had long ago made the realization that morals and the society that created them were entirely irrelevant and meaningless.

Finally, Dent arrived, giving a welcome distraction from whatever dreck Landel was going on about now. "Indeed. Are we ready to g--" He didn't get a chance to finish the question as the lights suddenly flared, eliciting a roar of pain and anger from the overlord, throwing up an arm to shield his eyes. Damn that blasted idiot, the man was going to pay for these indignities! "We should go. I can't see in this light."

[its_the_mileage]

Indy was no more interested in Landel's self-indulgent rant than Richter seemed to be, but he probably was more concerned with the question of whether they should go try to help the girl. That was the way things worked, in Indy's experience: the bad guy kidnapped the girl and you just went to get her as a matter of course, regardless of whether you got along (or even knew each other) or not. Sometimes (Indy's fists still wanted to clench at the thought of Elsa) the girl turned out to have been working for the bad guys all along, but that wouldn't change anything the next time; the risk of letting a defenseless woman get hurt because Indy didn't do anything about it wasn't one he was big on taking.

He almost said something about it to Richter, then stopped to consider. They had no idea where she was being kept--presumably with Landel, which meant she'd be well-guarded. Even if they could find that place, and Indy hadn't had any luck on that front so far, they were so poorly armed that it would be easy for Landel or a single guard to just shoot them. And if Indy was going to attempt a harebrained, probably-suicidal rescue mission, he damn well ought to do it for someone he'd actually met--like Dad. So with a mixture of reluctance and relief, he pushed the idea aside.

Dent's arrival was good timing. Indy nodded back and took note of the cool way the other two men greeted each other. So they'd already met. They clearly weren't friends, but neither of them was stomping off at the sight of the other, either, so it looked like they were willing to work together. Richter had just started to say something when the electric lights blazed up with a whine. Indy winced and shut his eyes, then gradually let his eyelids inch open so his vision could adjust to the sudden light. "Good idea," he agreed, starting to move toward the door.

[unheroed]

While Harvey had no true attachment to the woman who Landel was torturing, it did bother him on a more deep-seated level that he couldn't quite explain. He wasn't beyond hurting someone -- even someone female -- if they deserved it, but torture just for the fun or it, or to make some ill-thought-out point -- that was the thing that bothered him. Not that there was much he could do about it. They were just supposed to listen, a captive audience as Landel made all of them uncomfortable.

He pushed it away, taking note of the lights with a shrug before he glanced over to Recluse. What the hell was wrong with him, if he couldn't deal with the lights actually being on? The red eyes probably had something to do with it, but either way, Harvey wasn't very fond of being ordered around.

Though they also did need to keep moving. Harvey was set to reluctantly follow them, but the lights were casting his shadow, which was normal enough, but -- maybe he just wasn't used to actually being able to see well at night, because he felt like something had moved oddly behind him. He glanced back for just a moment, though, not intending to hold anyone up. So, once he'd decided that it wasn't anything, he followed the other two right out the door and onto the field.

[To here.]