man your battle stations, we'll have you dead pretty soon

[tadeadshi]

[Panic had run straight through his core when he knew someone had found their safe house. It'd been the best one yet, they had managed to stay there for months now, but it really was too good to last. They still had so much to find and clean up, he wasn't ready. He grabs his bag, the one he kept packed for if they had to run fast, and made for the door but stopped just outside.

It was them. It was the Six, they'd found him and Callaghan. He's not sure how, Callaghan's mods to his collar had jammed their trackers so... It must be something else they used. But if they're here then they could help. They could take over this mess, and he could go home.

Maybe.

Tadashi's throat's gone dry with the dirt and dust kicked up from their landing and scuffle with Callaghan off to the side and he stands watching, swallowing the lump in his throat. Callaghan, that's right, he-- He'd done so much to get them out, he couldn't let the guy just be taken back to prison, he'd be killed from the inside --

He makes a run towards the group, waving and trying to call out but any sound he makes drowned by the shouting.]

Comments

[pushtheboundaries]

[considering he was aiming for the man's face, Yurei can't help the twinge of disappointment. but mission complete, and he casts a brief look towards the man struggling with the body before moving to retrieve the blade. by the time One speaks, he's cleaned it on the unconsciousness form, and is looking from armored figure to whimpering mess with what could be curiously.

and then he points the blade at the survivor. the message is clear; him, too?

what's not clear is how much of that is for show, and how much of him is caught up in his own persona.]

[microbrobotics]

[ He shakes his head subtly. A twinge of concern; he's having trouble telling the mask from the man right now too. But he'll let this one slide, for now. ]

Move on.

[ And then he pauses, looking down at the lone conscious thug. ]

We'll come back later. If we have to.

[pushtheboundaries]

[it's hard to tell anything from him at the moment. whether he's relieved or disappointed, frustrated or calm - sensors in his suit would read that his heartrate is, of course, elevated. there's still the adrenaline flowing through, but even if signs are up, they're steady; his breathing hasn't altered from in-four-out-four since the first kill.

but Yurei does pull back the knife, sliding it back in to its armor slot without another look to their survivor. survivors; he's only so used to leaving those, even after being on the run with Tadashi. innocents...

guilty by association.

but he moves to take position by Hiro's side - his right hand, so to speak - finally speaking a pair of words;] Where now?

[microbrobotics]

[ Innocent of the crime being punished tonight, anyway. They could be complicit, but Hiro won't take that chance. If he didn't see them specifically, then they survive the night. Period.

He stalks forward quickly, towards the next building in the compound. By now, the alarm has probably been raised a well; they're going to meet more resistance from here on out. Fine by him. They can still keep the element of surprise if they're clever. ]

Forward. Five left - probably together. We'll have to be fast.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he can do fast. retrieving the line is, thankfully, designed to be easy- it unhooks itself at the push of a button and is retracting back in to him with enough force to knock his arm back - he could probably use it as a lash, if necessary. but for now he's moving just a step behind One, still breathing steadily-if-quickly.

he could clean this all out, could clear it within the half hour, leave none alive

behind the mask, Robert licks his upper lip.]

Avoid or confront?

[the element of surprise can be used two ways, of course. and he doesn't know about One, but he's certainly got some fight left in him...]

[microbrobotics]

[ It's a salient question. He's sure that if they confront, then someone else might end up dead. But - but if they're all in a group and they're all guilty, then ... He tilts his head to one side for a moment, thinking. ]

Confront if they're targets. Otherwise avoid.

[pushtheboundaries]

[again, no sign of (dis)approval, not even a grunt of acknowledgement- but there seems to be a subtle shift that signifies he's heard. or maybe there isn't, maybe it's nothing at all...

maybe it's him speeding up when he heads shouting ahead, automatically moving to take point. the knife is back out, his motions purposeful and dramatic- and anyone turning the corner and coming in to view would be greeted by what is no doubt an imposing sight.

let it never be said that Yokai/Yurei/Callaghan dismisses the idea of a good first impression - especially not if it's meant to terrify.]

[microbrobotics]

[ It certainly makes an impression of some kind on this pair of thugs The group flinches back for a critical moment - enough for One to swoop behind and taser the first one. Down he goes. But the other one pulls out a gun. Pauses for a critical moment, not sure which of the two opponents to shoot. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[Yurei doesn't wait to give the man a chance to pick a target- he's on him in an instant, swiping with his blade. the now-freaking-out thug manages to stumble back with a shriek, grabbing on to his bleeding hand, and somehow avoids the next swipe- but Yurei still doesn't give him a chance to recover, managing to press him against the wall, and then move in for what is unmistakably a killing stroke.

apparently, he only has one setting; lethal.]

[microbrobotics]

[ No. That man isn't on their list - he might not be innocent, but he's not guilty of this particular crime. Hiro's voice hisses over their comms instantly in a warning. Not loud enough to be heard outside their helms. ]

Yurei, stop.

[pushtheboundaries]

[what was going to be a knife to the gut barely turns in to a deep cut along the side; the man would scream, if Yurei's hand hadn't automatically moved over his mouth. as it is, he makes a muffled sound of pain, tears welling up in his eyes as his own hands fly weakly to the armored wrist holding him against the wall. one can imagine his thoughts; some variation of oh god, oh god, no doubt.

as for Yurei? he's still, shoulders hunched, not looking anywhere near One- but he's still. and tense, the rhythm of his breathing quickening to an arrhythmic pattern, heartbeat spiking as he awaits another command.]

[microbrobotics]

[ That's still a little more damaging than One would like; he kneels next to the thug for a moment and sprays a quick burst of wound-sealing foam into the cut. Still hurts like hell, but the dude won't die for sure now. Then he whirls on Yurei, getting directly into his face. ]

What would Abigail think?

[pushtheboundaries]

[that enough for Yurei to...well, maybe not quite flinch away, but he pushes some distance between himself and the thug- who goes ahead and drops looking pale ad as though he'd like to pass out, now, wound sealant or no sealant.

Yurei's flexing his hands, breathing still ragged, all the signs of a lost calm but he can't react now, he's still on- he can't-

he squares his shoulders, abruptly, taking a single shaky breath, and just like that- it's back on. visibly, at least, though everything inside is still, well...]

Out.

[his voice is even flatter than before, if possible. but they need to get out of here, he needs to get out and away before he loses any more of

anything, really.]

[microbrobotics]

[ One can see the signs of someone losing control; he's experienced enough as a leader by now, even if the specifics of someone going crazy with violence are new. He just nods, sharply. ]

I'll finish. Wait outside.

[ So much for staying "innocent." ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[that?

that gets clear confusion from him. Yokai does not leave things unfinished. Yokai does not rely on others to clean up after him; he is the one who takes care of things, who covers the retreat if necessary, and otherwise gets things accomplished at whatever the cost.

Yurei is not Yokai, but the man behind the mask shifts a bit, only so certain. he has an order, and yet...]

[microbrobotics]

[ He just shakes his head sharply. If Callaghan is losing control, then ... then he's a liability. Time for him to sit out. No matter what the remaining tasks are. Some part of him has gone numb already, just watching these men die. ]

Get out. You're compromised. Wait for me there.

[ ... He holds out a hand for Callaghan's knife. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[no. no. nonononono- he swallows down what tastes like bile and forces himself steady, even as he obediently raises his hand to surrender the weapon]

...I can finish.

[there's a hint of a plea there; none of Callaghan's personas beg. even this is a stretch, but he can't fail, he isn't allowed to fail, he has to succeed he can't let himself- he can't-]

[microbrobotics]

[ God. That plea in his voice ... The man had worked for Yama, right? What did failure mean for someone in that position? It couldn't possibly have been pleasant, Hiro knew that already, but ... In that moment, the thought crystallizes instantly: Callaghan was irrevocably damaged by this experience too. Just not to the same extent as his brother. And after seeing how close the two are now, Hiro can't help the spike of pity. For Callaghan, a man he used to hate more than anyone in the world...

A man he doesn't hate at all, any more.

He just shakes his head, the movement gentler now. And just this once, he switches off the modulator. Still comm-only, so it won't leak out to the outside, but normally he doesn't even take that chance. ]

It's okay. Just wait for me outside, okay? When I'm done, we'll leave.

[pushtheboundaries]

[not to the same extent- and certainly not in the same direction. but there's an edge of something to Robert now, something that's only slightly soothed by Hiro's understanding and calm. he's able to place the weapon in the outstretched hand with only a bit of lingering hesitation, and the slow draw back of his hand still seems a bit uncertain...

but then he turns and runs, triggering the stealth cloak as he does. it seems he at least has enough together to do what he can to avoid further provocation failure trouble.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Good. Small mercies, at this point; he can only hope that Callaghan doesn't take the opportunity to disappear into the night. He could do so very easily if he chose to give up the suit. But ... Maybe at this point, it doesn't matter. Their work is nearly done; they've cleaned out most of the mafia nests already, with only a few remaining after this mission is over. The Six can take care of it either way.

But he's not done here yet. There are still three men - three abominations that need to be destroyed. Thinking of them as something other than human is the only thing that keeps him moving forward. He'll keep this simple, efficient. Sneak up behind them with his stealth functions. Shock them into dazed wakefulness. And then, once he has their attention - when they know why they are being punished ... Even then, Hiro hesitates for a moment. His hands tremble as the knife blade descends on the first one's jugular.

After that, it's just quick and silent. Any more on his list, he doesn't even bother to keep them awake. Knockout, then knife. It's all over within minutes, at most. And then he makes his way back outside.

He's trembling desperately inside his suit, but outside there's no sign, save for the slight wavering of the knife in his hand. Blood streaking his faceplate, covering most of his bad arm. It's done. He's crossed a line he told himself he would never cross, a line that would make him into a monster for good - but all of his brother's rapists are dead. He tells himself that, if anything was worth becoming a monster over, it was that.

For now, he's just outside the building again. Looking to see if Callaghan is still there. And trying to choke back the bile rising in his throat, breath rattling loudly over the comm. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[he doesn't go far. long experience, both before, during, and after Yama, has given Robert a knack for finding spaces he can take shelter within. he finds one now, a small space that cramps a grown man like him, especially wearing armor- but it's a place where he can pull off the helmet, suck air in to his lungs, and for at least a few minutes, struggle to not be sick.

he doesn't completely succeed, but he swallows it back down, puts his face in his hands, and breathes.

this isn't a safe place by any means, but it's a place where he can let the shaky walls down so that he can build them back up as quickly as he can. it takes a few more minutes, but he finally does. and when he puts the helmet back on, he hears Hiro's breathing.

god, what has his weakness cost this boy, the one whom he promised himself that he'd take the blood for?...forcing him to clean up after him. despicable.

Robert swallows again before speaking, and when he does, his voice is quiet;]

If you need to be sick, there's a sewer grate over here. On your five.

[microbrobotics]

[ Hiro just shakes his head, weakly. He can't risk taking his helmet off, even for a moment; he'd rather throw up inside of it than potentially link himself to this - this crime that he's committed. For his brother's sake, if nothing else. ]

Not here. [ His voice is hoarse and it's not just from the modulation. ] We need to leave, now.

[ The rest of it ... the rest of it can wait until they've gotten back to Callaghan's guest house. And then he can decide what to do with himself. What a murderer like himself deserves after all this. ]

[pushtheboundaries]

[...

what can he even say to that? he nods, getting up - by now, any trembling is under control - and follows Hiro's lead, silent for the trip back. he knows he wrecked things; he knows he can't fix it. he knows there's repercussions bigger than himself, bigger than even Hiro, because now he's scarred both brothers in ways he'd never wanted to...

all because of a fire.

all because of a single mistake.]

[microbrobotics]

[ Your mistake, Callaghan. Now you've irrevocably two young men who should have been your star pupils. Funny how the world changes on a dime.

He says nothing all through the walk back. An occasional glance back to make sure they aren't followed - but they were thorough. Everyone was dead or knocked out, and their comms are down. IT'll be hours beefore they can talk to anyone else about this, and by then they'll be long gone. Meanwhile, Hiro just ... continues to breathe, slowly. Trying to stay calm. Briefly, he considers not going home at all after this. How can he face his brother when he has blood on his hands...? That thought pulls the rest of the world down around him, grays it out to nothingness.

But his brother would hurt worse if he didn't come home, even as a murderer. So he has to find a way to live with this, one way or another.

He stops just outside Callaghan's guesthouse. ]

Suit off. I'm destroying both of them.

[pushtheboundaries]

[destroying the suits. so much for his thought to promise that this won't happen again; it's utterly unnecessary, it seems. Callaghan obediently reaches up to remove the helmet, pulling it off his head with a heavy breath. perhaps it's for the best...]

...come inside for a minute.

[it's not- quite- an order. he doesn't give One orders. but as he looks over his shoulder, he's not...quite...talking to One right now.]