(no subject)
Talking with Ryoko cleared up several things, now Washuu felt like she’d be able to concentrate again on her own work. The link between her and her daughter would remain, and they were both okay with that. Granted, there was a bit of bleed from Ryoko’s mind into Washuu’s, but she’d be able to deal with that. Staying in her child-form would take care of the biggest threat of distraction. Considering the consequences of separation, just about any hassle would be worth it.
These (and the face of a pretty red-headed naval officer) were the things that were on Washuu’s mind as she stepped through the door into her subspace lab. Probably that was why she didn’t notice what was amiss until it was too late - The glass-like dome was around her before she could react. That didn’t stop her from escaping, of course.
Moving on instinct, she teleported left, left, then right, then left again, trying to keep ahead of the traps that seemed to be everywhere. Wherever she was, a sphere of her specially formulated unbreakable glass appeared around her. Even her shouted commands to the lab were doing nothing.
Nothing seemed to work, and finally there was more than a sphere waiting for her when her teleportation brought her back into the lab-space. Crushing metal arms seized her and a crackling inhibitor field descended. Just to drive the point home, one of the metal appendages struck her in the solar plexus, tearing her breath away, forcing her struggle helplessly just to start breathing again.
Washuu couldn’t think of anything but not dying in the agonizing minute or three it took to get her lungs working properly. During this time the bruising grip on her limbs had loosened, depositing her in a glassine pillar surrounded by powerful inhibitors. For a time she lay there, curled up and gasping.
When she could stand, she did, shakily leaning on the smooth walls of the trap. A shadowy figure was approaching, a figure she was far too familiar with.
“Good to have you back, Professor,” Kagato spoke with an unholy joy. “I was beginning to think you’d stay away forever. Thanks for giving me plenty of time to perfect my little present for you.”
“You won’t keep me here for long, you bastard,” voice still hoarse and grating from the blow, “this is my territory.”
His already wicked grin turned vicious. “But I don’t need to keep you for long, Professor. Just long enough to follow your research to its final conclusion.”
“My research…” Oh Hell. John Smith had tried to warn her about this. Why hadn’t she listened? This was exactly what he’d seen; if she didn’t think of a way out of it, his vision of Ryoko would come true.
Everything that had happened lately fell in on Washuu all at once. Screwing things up so badly with Ryoko to begin with, spending all that time on this terrible project, resurrecting the monster before her and thinking it would do anyone anything but harm…it was all just too much. She lost control as guilt and rage rolled over her. She battered herself against the glassine prison and screamed until her throat was raw while Kagato’s laughter rattled in her ears.
These (and the face of a pretty red-headed naval officer) were the things that were on Washuu’s mind as she stepped through the door into her subspace lab. Probably that was why she didn’t notice what was amiss until it was too late - The glass-like dome was around her before she could react. That didn’t stop her from escaping, of course.
Moving on instinct, she teleported left, left, then right, then left again, trying to keep ahead of the traps that seemed to be everywhere. Wherever she was, a sphere of her specially formulated unbreakable glass appeared around her. Even her shouted commands to the lab were doing nothing.
Nothing seemed to work, and finally there was more than a sphere waiting for her when her teleportation brought her back into the lab-space. Crushing metal arms seized her and a crackling inhibitor field descended. Just to drive the point home, one of the metal appendages struck her in the solar plexus, tearing her breath away, forcing her struggle helplessly just to start breathing again.
Washuu couldn’t think of anything but not dying in the agonizing minute or three it took to get her lungs working properly. During this time the bruising grip on her limbs had loosened, depositing her in a glassine pillar surrounded by powerful inhibitors. For a time she lay there, curled up and gasping.
When she could stand, she did, shakily leaning on the smooth walls of the trap. A shadowy figure was approaching, a figure she was far too familiar with.
“Good to have you back, Professor,” Kagato spoke with an unholy joy. “I was beginning to think you’d stay away forever. Thanks for giving me plenty of time to perfect my little present for you.”
“You won’t keep me here for long, you bastard,” voice still hoarse and grating from the blow, “this is my territory.”
His already wicked grin turned vicious. “But I don’t need to keep you for long, Professor. Just long enough to follow your research to its final conclusion.”
“My research…” Oh Hell. John Smith had tried to warn her about this. Why hadn’t she listened? This was exactly what he’d seen; if she didn’t think of a way out of it, his vision of Ryoko would come true.
Everything that had happened lately fell in on Washuu all at once. Screwing things up so badly with Ryoko to begin with, spending all that time on this terrible project, resurrecting the monster before her and thinking it would do anyone anything but harm…it was all just too much. She lost control as guilt and rage rolled over her. She battered herself against the glassine prison and screamed until her throat was raw while Kagato’s laughter rattled in her ears.