aubergines | ( #002 ) FAKE MARRIED AU

Definitely. The villains have to look good too, you know?

[ But as she's saying that, she's looking around. There are pieces of Reaper tech here and there, similar to the ones she's seen (and subsequently stolen) during her other jobs. But where those were little Cerberus camps holding tech, this is something much, much larger in scale, and Kasumi's not liking the looks of it. ]

[ For Peter's part, he doesn't recognize the machinery, just assumes it's bad. And he's-- getting some seriously bad vibes from the whole thing, anyway. He knows, to some extent, that Cerberus has been poaching Reaper technology, using it for their own ends, and seeing as how they had suspected Cerberus had a hand in Refuge, it's not hard to put two and two together.

And the sum does not look good in the slightest.

There's an open lab to Peter's right, and he steps in, sweeping the corners for hostiles and once again coming up empty. And that's unsettling, too, to not have run into anyone in a lab as large as this. At a glance, he spots tables of machinery and small devices. Some of them Peter recognizes as implants and body mods, the others are a mystery to him. ]

The hell are they planning to do with this stuff?

I almost don't want to find out.

[ But she already has a hunch, and it's a serious horror movie tier conclusion but she can't put Cerberus past serious horror movie tier. I mean, she thinks, this much Reaper tech lying around, and people who come here disappear all the while the Illusive Man's army just keeps growing?

She'd followed Peter into the open lab, and she's looking for any more clues when she finds a data pad on one of the desks. ]

But we probably will find out. We have to. Whatever it is they're doing here, it can't be good, and we'll need to sound the alarms when we get out.

[ Before she starts reading the data pad, she spots a machine out of the corner of her eye, located at the far end of the lab along with a few others like it. Definitely looks like something Cerberus would make, but with an infusion of Reaper stuff. Her chest tightens as she looks away from it and down at the data pad, all the while realizing, it's just big enough for a person to fit into. ]

[ At that, he nods. He's coming to the same conclusion as he looks over the tech. He's more than familiar with the look of body mods, having stepped in on accident on more than one occasion as Rocket or Gamora helped each other repair the various cybernetics laced throughout their bodies. (And fuck that was always unsettling, seeing one or the other lain out, muscles exposed, as the other carefully worked at repairing whatever damage had been done.)

So Reaper cybernetics. Doesn't that sound interesting and dangerous as hell?

He moves around the room, looking at the completed mods and unfinished projects. While he recognizes some of it, the majority of this stuff goes way over his head. If Rocket were here, he'd probably be able to discern the purpose of some of this stuff.

And still Peter keeps thinking, Where are the scientists? Where are the engineers? as he finally disengages his helmet. Maybe they're all out getting pizza and celebrating someone's birthday? Chances are, though, they're just in another part of the facility they haven't explored yet. (Or at least, that's his hope. He really doesn't want to stumble into anything more sinister than what they've already found.) ]

Read anything juicy?

[ Kasumi's eyes are darting across the data pad quickly. It's... a list of names?

But then she looks up at Peter with her lips parted, which is to say that she has a look of horror, when she pieces together the document she just read, realizing that the names were sorted into two categories: Indoctrinated, which Kasumi had expected, and Experimentation risk - converted.

My god, she thinks, converted into what? ]

This is bad. Really bad, Quill.

[ She accesses a link to another log on the data pad, which causes a nearby screen to activate and play back a surveillance video showing the large machines and, well, people being trapped and turned into husks. ]

[ He's about to ask, "How bad?" when the the sound of the screen flicking on catches his attention, and then--

Oh. That bad.

-- something icy goes through his veins at the sight. ]

... I think I just threw up a little.

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[ At that he nods, then moves back toward the hallway. And even if they haven't seen anyone, he's still keeping his blaster at the ready. ]

Was kinda hoping they were maybe celebrating someone's retirement, or throwin' a baby shower or something. It is lunchtime, after all.

[ She likewise moves toward the hall, taking one final glance back at the lab before stepping out. ]

Aw, and we didn't bring any presents? How rude of us.

[ He smiles a little, despite how fucked up this all is. ]

I'm sure we'll figure something out. Sweet severance package, maybe?

Let's just get them a gift card.

[ Forging onward down the hall, she pulls up her schematics to check their location. The west wing wasn't too far, now, but Kasumi has to wonder--if they already saw a lot, and they weren't even in the 'restricted west wing' yet, what could possibly be going on in there? ]

[ To say everything they've seen so far is unsettling would be the understatement of the century; but a quick glance over Kasumi's shoulder at the schematics -- and realizing that they haven't even hit the west wing yet -- makes him think that they haven't even seen the worst of it yet. So Peter speaks his thoughts aloud: ]

You think maybe they don't expect anyone to make it this far? Or that anyone who does gets-- changed?

[ The end of the hall, as it turns out, is their ticket into the west wing. This door is appropriately plastered with RESTRICTED ACCESS and AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY signs, but a cursory look through a nearby console on Kasumi's part reveals their transmitter will do just fine for getting them in.

For a moment, she thinks, I hope getting out will be this easy before turning to Peter. ]

West wing is right through here. You ready, partner?

[ He doesn't quite hesitate, but there is a thoughtful second where he doesn't say anything. And then he pulls out his second blaster. Just in case. ]

Born ready, partner.

[ She responds with a silent nod before using the transmitter. This time, the console takes a little while in opening the door; probably a couple of additional verification processes, Kasumi thinks. Then, with a beep, the console on the door turns green and slowly slides open to reveal yet another dark and ominous hallway with another, already-open door at the end. When she steps on through, she looks around at the hallway and finds something mounted on the wall above the other door. ]

There's a biometric scanner for this room. Though, hmm. It's not functioning? I mean, that makes things easier for us, but... Guess they're just letting people walk on through for this birthday party.

[ Peter's not sure if he's more relieved or annoyed or nervous when the door opens and they're still not greeted by heavily armed guards. On the one hand, hey, this job is turning out to be pretty easy. On the other hand, this is creepy as fuck.

Which is why he lowers his blasters, but he's still tense, prepped for action at a moment's notice, should it come to it. He flicks a glance to Kasumi, and in the look are all his conflicting feelings, but mostly it's screaming, What the fuuuuuuuck? But then he shakes himself and forges on ahead. ]

Must've been expecting family or something to join in. Hopefully they don't mind us crashing. I'm great at parties.

[ The look she returns is definitely a puzzled one, too. This is pretty much a horror flick in the making, and Kasumi's halfway to expecting something's just going to pop out at them from a corner or out of nowhere. She stops in her tracks and turns to Peter. ]

I think I should scout ahead. There's no way this entire level and wing are just completely empty--I'm not even sure what we'd be up against at this point, but it would be good to know before any crossfire happens.

[ He doesn't like that idea at all, and it's telling in the way he frowns. ]

I don't think it's a good idea for us to split up...

[ -- and the way he trails off is also telling: as much as he doesn't like the idea, it's also a logical one. ]

[ She gives him a reassuring pat on the arm. She knows it's a risky move, but there's something in her that's saying you have to go. ]

I'll just be going down the hall a little further, and you can still reach me on our comms. It'll be fine. Besides, you're freaking Star-Lord, and you can kick some serious ass.

[ By the end of her sentence, she's already going dark. ]

[ He sees that her image is already doing that weird ripply thing, which means she's about to go full ninja on him, and he makes a grab for her arm first. ] Wait, Goto, we need to--

[ -- too late, though, and his hand wraps around a fistful of air. He sighs. Like, a really epic one, one filled with the regret of a billion life choices.

(Not really. Mostly he's annoyed, and if there was a rock to kick, he'd be abusing it right now.)

It's a weird little quirk of Peter's equipment that his comm system is built into his helmet -- which means he has to actually trigger his mask on before he can open up a line. He does so immediately, though, because the idea of sitting silently in some ostensibly abandoned lab by himself is-- well, okay, it's not scary. Peter definitely isn't frightened (and how dare anyone imply as much!!!), but there's an uneasiness that's inching up his spine.

He has the weirdest feeling he's being watched, despite the lack of cameras in this hall. ]

Fuck radio silence. [ He's saying it into his comm, on the channel he and Kasumi had set up for this mission. His voice is quiet, though, and he leans against a wall, guns holstered once more and arms crossed. ] Don't keep me in the dark, okay?

Roger that, Star-Lord.

[ She's moving quickly through the hall, peering into every panel of clear glass that she passes by and finding absolutely nothing. So far, nothing still, though she notices some signs of disarray. ]

There's a few offices down along this hall. Still empty, but some lights on and some screens are still active, so at least it looks like someone's been around.

[ The next thing she notices, however, are sounds that don't quite bode well for the situation. She'd much rather be hearing idle conversation, like two Cerberus lackeys talking about the Illusive Man's freaky eyes or something, but instead she hears something that starts out as indistinguishable groaning, which is way less fun and way more creepy.

The fact that what little lighting there was in the area just blacked out in favor of low, red lights and now sirens are going off is just all too well-timed. Then, an automated voice rings through the halls: Attention all personnel: a breach has been reported in the west wing. I repeat: a breach has been reported in the west wing.

Understandably so, Kasumi's first conclusion is that they must have found her and Peter. ]

I swear to god, Quill, I didn't touch anything--

[ But then the announcement continues on, Personnel present during the beach are unable to contain the situation. Use all necessary force to subdue and eliminate all hostile subjects upon contact. ]

Edited (woops typo) 2014-11-10 05:10 (UTC)

Shit.

[ The alarms make him jump -- which isn't particularly difficult, given the fact that he's wound up tighter than a spring. Then the recorded voice is going off, and he thinks, SHit, they found us. He's about to start demanding Goto's location, asking if she's okay, and then she responds before he can. He sighs in relief. ]

Wasn't me, either. Look, just hurry back--

[ ... And then the recording continues (and Peter hates recorded emergency messages, hates how goddamn calm they always sound), and something cold and heavy drops in his gut. Peter has a moment to think, The hell do they mean by "unable to contain"? before he hears the brief rapport of gunfire, ending with an all too human, all too wet scream from behind one of the doors. And then he hears the scraping of dragging footsteps, hears low, almost metallic moans coming from behind not just one door, but all of them.

One of the doors collapses under the combined weight of grey, ashen, too-thin bodies, skin covered in wiring and tubes and glinting metal, and Peter has just enough time to pull his blasters from his holsters and back up to the entrance. Another door collapses, then another, then another, and Peter is quickly realizing there's a hoard of motherfucking Reaper zombies standing between him and his partner; that he's got his back to a door he can't open, because Kasumi has the transmitter; and that he's so. Fucking. Screwed. ]

Goto. I've got a problem.

[ It's all he can manage to get out before a pair of unnatural blue eyes finally spots him, and a grating scream cuts through the directionless moaning. The creature leaps at him just as all the others turn to face him, and Peter thinks, I'm so fucked, before he begins firing. ]

Hold on, Quill, I'm coming--

[ Still cloaked, she immediately starts back in the direction of the entrance where Peter is. The sound of another door collapsing behind her, though, makes her take a quick glance back only to find a sizable squad of Cerberus troops coming through--no Atlas, at least (it wouldn't have been a problem to dismantle, but with everything else going on right now? It surely would have been a hassle).

She's silent on her end for a moment, leaping and climbing over hoards of Husks to make her way back to Peter, when she gives him the news. ]

I know you're busy, and don't panic, but there's a small-ish group of Cerberus guys heading over. Must be the latecomers to the birthday party. Two big guys, some guys with shields, a sniper--hold on, there's some cloaked chick coming too--how dare she?

[ When she hears the familiar whizzing of electricity through the air, she knows she's getting close to him and--whoa, yup, definitely getting close, seeing as she just had to dodge his own blasts. It's then that she decloaks to start plowing through the Husks, grabbing each one by the head and letting loose a dose of Overload before pulling out her pistol and dispensing them with a well-placed shot to the head. ]

[ Peter’s so goddamned relieved to have backup that he nearly misses the Husk sneaking up on his right side; he just barely has time to whip around and slam the butt of his blaster into its head, firing a bolt of electricity square in its chest. It twitches and writhes before falling motionless to the ground.

The news that they’re not alone, though, is less than comforting. ]

We should bail. Let them deal with-- Shit--

[ A Husk leaps at him, and he has to sidestep out of the way—which, naturally, puts him into the arms of another waiting Husk, who grabs him, pinning his arms to his sides. On instinct he drops to the ground, slipping out of the creature’s hold, and he spins around on a knee to shoot a blast of fire into its chest; he gets back to his feet just in time to shoot at another Husk making a grab for him, kicking it away. ]

-- Still putting in my vote for bailing.

Yeah, let's-- [ the following get out of here that she says is promptly drowned out by the crackling sounds of a chain overload from her omni-tool, current jumping from husk to husk and sending them writhing to their deaths on the floor before a distinctive cry of Hey! Who're those two!? from one of the Cerberus troops catches her attention. ]

--might I also suggest a flashbang grenade?

[ Right after she says that, she waves her omni-tool another time as a surprisingly convincing holographic projection of Kasumi appears in the midst of the Husk party, moving almost as though its actually interacting (read: beating the crap out of) the nearby targets. The real Kasumi cloaks in the meantime, only to reappear to strike at a Husk sneaking up beside Peter. ]

Hey.

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