Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

There was a plan? Corvinus mumbled into the carpet, before groaning and rolling over, his arm draped over his eyes as he flailed an arm at Jessica's prodding foot Soppit.

Leering down at him, Jessica stuck out her tongue and poked him one last time before flopping back, giving Corvinus a moment to wake up a little more before he sat up and blinked around at Jessica and River.

Yes, Plan. Rules, no powers outside the Tower unless emergency. That doesn't really apply because your powers don't seem to work in the day and you'll probably find you're very good at hiding. Other things, don't eat people. No idea if that's a problem yet, we'll find out as we go I'm sure. And Jessica stays with you to babysit for now, because Chuck and Henrietta both failed miserably, whether it was their fault or not. Daily bloodtests for another week at least, after that we'll poke you with needles less often. O, and you'll still be working, watch out for John, he'll probably try and contact you now in person, if he does, just stay calm, and memorize what he says, report it back to us so we can try and figure this mess out. we still don't know what he's after pulling this stunt.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Three rules, gotcha. Don't, be, stupid." River said with a smirk, ticking the words off on her finger. "Do we have some sort of sealed room for crazy lycans or something? I wanna try and set it off, see what I can do where I'm not gonna hurt anything, before i get back to running around the town. Other than that, I'm good, all that makes sense." She told him, nodding.

After a moment, she picked up again. "I'm pretty well just thinking out loud here, but are we sure this was John's fault? You said the wraith was exceptional beforehand, and we already know I'm pretty rare. from what I can tell, I can twist this into being pretty sneaky, could be this -has- happened before, but the few times it's happened the person has just hid successfully?"

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

That's the gist of it yea, And the Lycan rooms are at the factory you delivered to before, because it's further out of the way just in case. You're free to use them, and experiment yourself all you like, it's your body. Corvinus said, standing and rummaging around for the Tylenol for himself, getting another glass of water.

Jessica smiled at the knowledge she would be River's continued personal babysitter, chuckling at the idea. New Roommate! We're gonna party~! To which Corvinus immediately answered a solid No, saying that if any more partying were to happen, that he would just murder everyone with a pointed stick.

River was free to lounge around and poke fun of her boss all she liked, or go out and find these so called... Lycan Rooms for a little trial and error. Or just to lounge around the Tower all day like a lump.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Yeah, no parties for a while, I think." River said with a chuckle, shaking her head. "If you're actually moving in, I'll take the couch. That bed is a lot softer than I'm used to. Think I'll go check out those rooms, then, I wanna sort this out as much as I can. When's the blood test for today?"

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

I'm not hard to live with, promise Jessica said, grinning widely before Corvinus answered. If you're going to the factory, they can just take it when you arrive, I'll call ahead to give you access to one of the rooms. And instructions about the lighting for when you show up. He groaned, as he clutched his head and cracked 3 raw eggs into a glass of milk, swiftly downing it.

I can drive you there, shouldn't be a problem with the light in the cars, since we can tint the windows to a rather severe degree, and it's better then taking the sewer since I have to follow... Jessica said, although the chance to see Slip would be nice, it would probably get her into a ton of trouble.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

River nodded, giving Corvinus a pat on the back. "Good luck surviving, buddy." She said with a chuckle, answering Rebecca as they left.

"Sounds like a plan. I wanna see how badly i need suntan lotion at some point, but we can check that there as well, especially if the lighting is that good. Sewer would be an option, but we'd both have to take either or, since John can apparently cut our cells."

River followed Jess into the elevator, starting to stretch while they went, loosening the muscles that had bunched up during the party and her night crumpled on the bed.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Jessica nodded and the elevator ride to the garage went by quickly, River's hangover quickly starting to fade as she lashed out at the elevator lighting without meaning to, still not quite having the hang of any of this yet. Though she was grateful for the dark, and the quiet, her eyes adjusting to the blackness incredibly quickly, and Jess shimmering slightly with an outline on her form, like she had been printed out against the shadows for River to see.

In the dark, River's hangover all but vanished, and Jessica didn't comment, simply chuckling as the elevator doors slid open and Jessica wandered over to a locked cabinet to grab a set of keys to that same black mercedes.

If River was fine with continuing, Jessica would hop in the driver's seat, and tint the windows down to their maximum, rendering them almost black, and the car dark and comfortably cool as they drove, arriving at the factory in decent time, Jessica displaying she could, in fact, drive like a sane person. Waved on through the gate as soon as the car arrived, the pair continued to another underground garage, stone pillars casting delicious shadows that seemed to call to River for a moment, before a distinctly familiar, and annoying voice called out from the elevator nearby. Well if it isn't the wonder Twins, I hear we have a new science project I get to play with~ Cylus called, his usual smirk in place.

Shit it Asshole. Not in the mood for your grief today, take your sample and follow your orders, we're getting River here into a containment cell so she can feel things out safely, surely you remember what happened the last time you taunted someone freshly turned, or is that mechanical leg of yours not bothering you as much as it used to. Jessica answered, Cylus' face flushing with momentary annoyance before he waved them inside.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Sorry." She commented slowly as the lights went out in the elevator, reaching out slowly to brush the vampire's arm, the outline not giving any sensation. "I can pick you out, got like... an aura about you." She said with a shrug.

River was prepared for another wild ride once the car got going, but was surprised when the ride was calm and uneventful, relaxing into the seat for the trip.

She felt the pull of the shadows in the parking garage, furrowing her brow a bit as she focused on stamping the notion down in her mind. The furrow deepened when she heard Cyrus's voice, glaring at the man as Jessica chewed him out. "And I've already knocked Chuck around, so don't think I can't, either." She said in a half-threatening tone, striding right up to him like she had a purpose, stopping just short and holding out her arm. "Take the blood and go away, I'd rather not deal with you before I have a clue of how badly I might hurt people around you if I snap." She finished, her glare disappearing as she simply stared at him blankly.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Cylus didn't react to her approach at all, except to hold up a switch and a syringe. It was fairly obvious that the purpose of the switch was to flood the factory with light just in case River did actually snap, but when she didn't and held out her arm, he simply shrugged, deciding it still wasn't safe to annoy a dangerous woman, and took the sample painlessly and quickly, before striding away, leaving the two of them alone once more, Jessica having tensed as well, a little worried about how River would react.

As Cylus slipped through a door nearby, Jessica breathed a sigh of relief. I really don't like him, but he's very good at his job, and although annoying and impossibly rude, you can usually count on him to help as best he can, though he may complain a great deal. She said grudgingly, not liking to praise the scientist at all, but not able to deny it either.

Heading into the elevator, River found it was much the same as the other in the Tower, and that the containment cells were clearly labeled among the basement levels, filling 3 floors, and labeled based on risk of entry.

The middle floor was the one reserved purely for werewolves and other lycanthropes, and offered good security, but the bottom was where they were headed, with maximum security, full control, and almost no living guards. These cells are usually reserved just for prisoners and newly turned, they're a little spartan, but big, and should suit your needs perfectly. They also let us talk to you and you back from inside. Just listen to anything the guards there say, they are all business, and more concerned with your safety then their own, if they ask something it's for a good reason, okay hun? Jessica said as they rode down.

The doors hissed open to reveal a long, narrow hallway, the lights having all been turned down to a minimum glow before River's arrival, and there was a single man wearing a simple grey uniform. Smiling as they arrived, he actually bowed to Jessica, his long, shock white hair spilling around his shoulders. Welcome River, Miss Harper. A pleasure as always. My name is Vorlan and I'll be your host and monitor. We've forgone a lot of the usual precautions as River is not a prisoner, and shall be allowed to leave at any time barring specific incidents. We've prepared a cell, and have been instructed to follow your orders to the letter Jessica. If you wish, we can continue. River, it is a pleasure to meet you, I will be overseeing any requests or questions you may have and am at your disposal. He said, his voice seeming to be a raspy whisper, though it held it's own authority in a strange way.

As the man rose to look at them properly, River saw that his eyes were a shock red and his skin was alabaster white, as pale as stone. Lean of build, but with broad shoulders and a kind face, he turned to regard Jessica for a moment as she spoke. Indeed Vorlan, I'm glad it's you they assigned today, we'll try and be as unintrusive as possible. River, this is Vorlan, the only Vulpine Lycan in our employ, a good man, and he never fails to be professional, you can trust him with just about anything. She said smiling.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

River raised an eyebrow at the switch in his hand, glancing around with her eyes only to see if she could spot the lights, not that it mattered. She didn't comment, letting the man do his job and leave quietly, shrugging as Jess commented. "I just cannot deal with his bullshit right now. I can apologize later, maybe."

She nodded along as the vampire explained things in the elevator. "Just don't let me out if I can't turn it off, that's all I know to ask before we get started." She said solemnly, shifting from foot to foot a bit.

They were met by Vorlan when the elevator opened, listening to the man, and then Jessica, before commenting, holding out her hand to shake. "Nice to meet you. Room's all set, eh? I think all I need is maybe a chair, and some sort of target, not exactly sure what's standard in places like these." She replied. She had to admit, she liked the man, He seemed like he took pride in his work. "Vulpine, eh? Hmm... How many tails? If that's not taboo or anything, of course. Pretty sure I remember from the debrief that it's important enough to maybe be sensitive info."

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Vorlan shook her hand, his grip strong and warm before he chuckled at the question. Most would probably find it a little rude, but not myself. I have the pleasure of possessing 7 tails, it's been a long and interesting ride River. As for a target, I'm certain I can arrange something, even if I just spraypaint something on the wall, or move some other extraneous pieces of furniture in. This way. He said, nodding at the pair before walking down the hall.

On either side of the hallway there was a room every 16 feet exactly, and each room was measured, the exact measurements on the doors clearly listed, almost every one of them reading 6x6x10. As they continued along, River could see that the doors were progressively getting heavier, until they seemed to be made of incredibly thick, dark steel. The room reserved for her turned out to be a good deal larger. This room, is usually reserved for the rare occurence that we must restrain a vampire, and as such is at full security. Once the door is closed, not even outside light can enter. We've set up 2 cameras. one in each corner, and once you step inside you'll find that it has a bed, a chair, and a small table, all bolted to the floor and made of reinforced steel. Not the most comfortable, but certainly the strongest. He said, pushing what had to be a 300 pound, 8 inch thick door open with both hands, and straining a little to do so, revealing the room. The measurements said it was 15x15x10, and the lights were currently off and set into the ceiling behind bulletproof glass.

The urge to step into those deep shadows was particularly strong, though any normal person would not be all that interested in willing stepping into a cell, it was simply the darkness that it offered, and the quiet. There was the furniture, as promised, and the bed had 2 pillows, and a blanket waiting.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Huh, nice." River answered appreciatively, following the man down the long hall.

She found herself raising her brows as he described the place. "Yeah, should do just fine. I'll ask for something lighter if I bruise myself of the table, or something." She said with a smirk, though she had no idea if she was being accurate or not. She did intent to find out, though.

The pull to walk into the dark was pressing at her, and she had no reason not to this time, so she did. "Go ahead and close it." She said softly, staying near the entrance for a moment, until the door had settled completely. She stayed still a moment, taking deep breaths and looking around int he dark, picking out the furniture in the lightless environment with no difficulty. Once she figured they had enough time to get to wherever the cameras were transmitting from, she spoke. "Can ya hear me? Testing, testing..."

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

As she stepped into the darkness, she could feel it, the warmth spreading across her skin slowly, the feeling that this was perfect as everything could be, even the sound of what had to be massive hydraulic locking bars hissing into place behind her and looking the door brought a small grin to her face. She would not be disturbed by the light here... She was in the dark where she belonged...

After a few moments, she adressed her hosts apparently in hiding somewhere, testing the mics and the cameras, and they switched on, River could actually spot the incredibly dim, undisturbing infrared the cameras were emitting to pick things out in the room, that spectrum not bothering her overmuch at all at that level. She even found she could choose to ignore it, or turn off the light on the cameras to blind Jess and Vorlan if she chose to what was going on. We can hear and see you just fine. Everything is being monitored and recorded. If you need something just ask. Vorlan answered, before going silent again, letting River have her moment in the dark.

But her question had gotten another answer as well, a soft hiss in her mind, almost too quiet to be noticed, but there all the same.... We can Always hear you... We can Always See... Here in the Dark, Here in the safety away from the light. Under the earth and in the deep places of the world... it said quietly, directly into River's mind...

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

River twitched when the second voice answered, a dread shiver running up her spine. "Uhh, yeah. let's start with some privacy to begin with, change of plans." She said, nervousness creeping into her tone. She focused slightly, dimming one of the two cameras for a second, long enough that they would notice. "Leave that camera on from your end, shut the other cameras and the mics off. I'll dim that one from my end, and turn it back on when I'm ready. Sound good?" She explained, doing so if she agreed before turning her focus to the voice.

"What are you?" She asked it simply, moving to sit on the side of the bed.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Understood Yup, got it. Her hosts answered quickly, everything in the room dying down except the one camera which River quickly blinded as easily as if she were breathing. Sitting on the bed, River could feel the other presence in her mind, like it was curious, watching her, distinctly alien to her in most every way, but willing to speak, to listen as well. We are the Darkness, and the Shadow. We and You are One. We are you and you are Me, intertwined. bound. Joined. We are a forgotten whisper, a dead legend, a cold truth, and dark legacy. We are Wraith... We are Corrungata Lothe. We are Dread... It answered, that same, soft, soothing hiss slipping into her mind as she addressed it.

Strange, Exotic, calling to her from within herself, within the darkness that was now part of her. She could feel that black covering slipping slowly over her flesh under her clothing, guarding her, protecting her from harm should any arise, and she could feel a distinct distrust of the LED lights above her, still dead but a constant threat.

We must survive, should one of us perish, so shall the other. We will protect eachother. I will protect you... Use me... understand me... Know Me...

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

"Huh..." She answered slowly. "Alright, this is creepier than I thought, but suppose there's no helping it. First and foremost, I like daylight, I'm a fan of the open air under a noonday sun. I get that you aren't, I'll cut back some, but... yeah, there's gonna be daylight in the future, deal." She told it, shrugging lightly and letting it slide out to cover her.

Standing slowly, River started to pace around the room. "Other than that... yeah, the rest is up in the air. So tell me, what do I 'use' you for?"

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

If you must then you must. It will take time... to.... Adjust. Be careful, we must act according to our nature... We will be weak in the light... I will always try to guide you back to the safety of the shadows... Use me... I am you... we are extensions of eachother, bound to act as one, as I can see into our mind so can you... Will your body to act as it always has... Remember Me before we became One... And act as we Are... When you struck down the mage, we approved... We Both took joy in the act... to Protect Another, to use the power we have... To be as We truly are... There is Joy.. there is Pleasure in this... in the Truth... You have Fought me... You have Denied Me and Forced me Back... You must let me in so that we may be whole It whispered in response, within the darkness as it writhed around across her form.

River could see it in her mind, the Wraith, looking at her in the darkness, they were joined from the legs to her hips, it's body leaning back from her own, Haunting, shining flames for eyes boring into her own as it told her what it needed. It was a creature of Mind and Body, of thought, will and action... Divided they could never truly be whole, and River... in her gut she knew what it said was true, although the comforting presence, and it's calming, hissing voice didn't help any in her scrutiny... It was so hard to ignore.

She knew that she had to accept, Fully, what had happened, that she had to release that last desperate hold for some seeming miracle cure, and surrender to what she now was. Only then could she make any real progress... It was terrifying, and tantalizing, tempting, and exhilirating, making the hair on the back of her neck stand on end... They were alone, herself and what remained of this creature, in the darkness and the shadows of the earth where Life had truly started, and where this creature had been born....

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

In her mind's eye, River watched the thing, halfway split from her in the darkness, staring back at her with it's glowing eyes. She listened, and understood, but hesitated all the same.

"Why me?" She asked it slowly, her voice so quiet it barely passed her lips.

 

[Courage Wolf]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

Those same haunting eyes continued to stare at her, that tugging at her mind, it was so close, and warm, and inviting, River found herself almost wanting this to be over, to slip into what she was like it was the way things had always been meant to be, then the creature spoke again. I am given life in the dark, in the earth and the shadow, away from the light that allows so much evil to thrive under it. Away from the shining of Humans and their machinations. I am old when I am born, and ancient when I die. I am the culmination of all things before the beginning... I am the essence of primal fear, and of deep, unconscious understanding. You are a creature of Night And Day, of Freedom and Exertion. As I shape what I may during my life, you move within the shapes of others as no one was meant to. We were Always meant for this... It has happened before. There were others that were as open and free as you... Able to create and move and live and thrive no matter location, time, or obstacle. I have no purpose without you anymore. I have no reason to be... As I was born from those ancient thoughts and ways, I chose you in the same manner. To be One with, to Be Complete. When we Join, I will Die, and become a part of you, Of your freedom, and your ways. I will Die as I was meant to, and you will live and I will be of you and by you. You will hear me as a part of yourself, use me as an extension of your body, and your will. And you will Live... As you were always meant to...

The Wraith continued on and on, during this litany of it's own beliefs and it's birth, and even it's knowledge of it's own death it continued, and it's voice grew heavy within River's mind, of truth and pain and lies and pleasure, of all the things that made Mankind what it was. And River's mind was brought to her freerunning, to her nature, how she railed against being controlled on anyone elses terms unless she had purpose. How she did indeed move through, around, over, or passed the limitations of others, even those who dared think themselves her betters...

Say Yes... Let it be Done... Let us Be truly as One... My Chosen...

 

[Shrike7]

Re: Mazes within a Steel Jungle (Shrike7)

River listened, alone in the dark with this shade, her entire focus on it, no other distractions, no other priorities. What it said... Resonated, was the best way of putting it. She was still worried, still afraid of the implications, but deep down, that line that refused to be crossed blurred and disappeared as it spoke to her.

She was quiet as it finished, but only for a few seconds, giving a single short nod. "Let's... See what happens, then." She said, biting her lip for a second. Fear, excitement, and a dozen other emotions welled up inside her, filling her with a nervous energy as she gave her answer, made her acceptance...