escordvi | Log 4

They usually don't talk out loud if they can avoid it, and they all have different powers.

(They look thoughtful.)

Might be possible to reason with them in our language, but ...they don't really respect cuckoo types like me.

(They find an opening in the duct that should allow them into the room and start working on getting it open without making too much noise.)

Edited 2025-06-10 00:59 (UTC)

. . . [Time is of the essence, so he sees no point in thinking on what may or may not be possible. He'll stick to his plan, disappearing in a snap as Chris continues into the room. He'll reappear above the guard and land a powerful kick from behind their head. It should knock them senseless, stop them from alerting anyone else. Once sure they're knocked out, Shadow will grab them by their arms, hoping Chris had already unlocked the door by this point, so he can drag the guard into the room with him.]

(The guy in question is nearly 9 feet tall, absolutely hulking... and Shadow should have probably paused to ask himself why this particular guard was on their lonesome when most of the rest of them are all on teams.

Because that kick? Does nothing... to the guard. Instead, the force of it is transferred to the back of Shadow's head instead. Have a taste of your own medicine, hedgehog. Even if it is entirely undeserved.)

[The force knocks him into the guard in the process. Not the intended hit, so it won't do anything to them. What was that? A deflection spell? He can't stay, he's been hit worse than that. Shaking his head, he quickly brushes it off and moves before the guard can catch him.

He lands back on the ground, keeping out of guard's line of sight. Or could they still see him from behind? He'll figure it out as he attempts to grab hold of their legs and knock them off their feet. All the while, aware of the door and keeping the fight from getting dragged into the room, for now.]

(One point in Shadow's favor: the hulking guard is slow. He'll be able to get out of the way without trouble, and the guard will only just be turning their head to see if they can spot what just came at them when he starts trying to tip them. They're heavy, but he's strong enough to get them to tumble.

Chris is listening. They can't tell what's going on, but they get a sense that there might be some trouble and they stiffen, unsure of whether to join him or stay inside.)

Edited 2025-06-16 00:49 (UTC)

[A moment of reprieve. His head is throbbing, but he ignores it. In a flash, he's gone from the vicinity, hiding himself from the guard's view once they get up. Shellphone is out, eyes on the guard. Hopefully Chris picks up.]

Direct hits being deflected somehow. [The message is short and to a point. He hopes that's enough that Chris could possibly provide further intel. For now, he watches the guard get back on his feet, searching around in frustration of whomever is responsible. Let's hope they don't decide to check the room behind them.]

Shit. Probably some kind of boost. Want me to try and hit them with a non physical attack?

(Re-Genes are more disciplined, more difficult to affect in that way, but they can do it, especially if he gives them a good distraction.

No such luck. Though slow to move and react, this guy isn't unobservant or stupid. They can't tell where Shafow is exactly but they'll head in the direction that the few movements they were able to pick up--some kind of speed boost, they figure--seemed to be going... though they'll fortunately pause to peer in every room, grate, etc. along the way.)

[...He could try that, if it's just physical hits that can't get through.]

I've got their attention. [The shellphone signal drops. Do what you feel is necessary. Shadow moves from where he was hidden while the guard isn't looking in his direction. His left hand crackles with energy as he summons a chaos spear to send flying into the guard. The intensity is lower, set to only stun the guard if there's another rebound.]

Edited 2025-06-16 13:42 (UTC)

Got it.

(And they close their eyes and reach out. Feel Shadow's mind, closed off, all business. Feel the guards a few hallways away, human, longing for home. Pull back inward, seeking the familiar crackle of-there.

They zero in, touching the mind, the senses. They slip in, wrap themself in a feeling of familiarity--they're supposed to be here, they've always been here--and then...

The guard jumps at the sight of a spear coming toward them, bringing up an arm that appears to be mostly metal--a canon?--to fire back in the direction the spear came from before they even fully register who threw it-

And Chris is in. They aren't fast enough to stop the firing--fuck!--but Shadow can probably dodge just fine. The spear reflects harmlessly but Chris jumps on the sound of the canonfire, increasing the sensitivity until the ringing and banging is all that fills and all that can fill the Re-Gene's head and they shrink back with a cry of startled pain, clutching at their skull.

Chris slips out of their mind as they stumble and finally collapse, leaving the rest to Shadow.)

[A cannon for an arm. He disappears in a flash before the attack hits him, but that means it'll crash into a wall and equipment, creating a loud noise. He can't worry about that as an opportunity presents itself when the guard suddenly stumbles, screaming in pain. Shadow has to act now.

He reappears on top of the guard, summoning another spear of energy and stabs them with it, sending through a wave of chaotic energy that essentially fries them. They won't be getting up anytime soon. In the next moment, the door to the room will open wide with Shadow standing by.]

We can't stay here. Can you use him or not? [...Shadow you might have baked the guard just a little bit.]

(Fuck! Yeah, that got the attention of the humans around here. Probably the Re-Genes too.

Chris looks at the Re-Gene and shakes their head.)

They're alive but... no time. Better to let them be a distraction and sneak off somewhere else.

(It's gonna take multiple guards to move that guy, so there will be fewer watching other spots. Something the canon hit is sparking. Fire might be a concern soon... which also serves as an excellent distraction.)

[He's checking the area around them, looking for where to proceed next while Chris explains the situation. They need to get to the second floor. Buildings should have either a lift or a stairwell somewhere. He saw neither in this room.

He starts to move, heading for another door that seems to take them out of this area and into a hallway lined with other rooms. This seems to be their only path forward so Shadow continues, expecting Chris to follow. They may run into others down this path. Either they hide in one of the rooms or confront them as they go.]

(And well, Chris follows, fanning out their mind to see if they can sense the guards.)

There's a stairwell up ahead. Three ...I think they're agents? Coming down.

[He stops, thinking of their next step with this information. Golden sparks appear in his hands and he starts firing spears made of energy at a few doors behind them, along with the one they just came from. Almost seemingly at random.]

Move. [He takes a few steps ahead, opening one of the undamaged doors for them both to get inside. He's banking these agents will pay more attention to the damage and they can pass without incident. If not, gain further information as they come through to take care of them.]

Got it!

(They don't even bother trying to scan his mind for the plan, just assume he's got some kind of idea and slip in the door.

If nothing else, he's proven himself a competent and capable teammate.)

[There are rushed footsteps in the hallway they were just in. Voices, bringing attention to destruction down the hall as Shadow anticipated.

"Search the rooms down here!"
"The freaky thing is capable of doing this?"
"It really escaped to this world then...?"
"If it did, we'll make sure to finish the job here."

Scanning these agents reveal they are just GUN agents. Feelings of fear is prominent in all of them despite what they're doing. All had a distorted, ominous image of shadowy monster imprinted in their mind, seem to almost resemble the hedgehog currently leaning against the door, listening to hear if the coast is clear. Digging pass that might provide further details of other personals and such in this building.

Shadow in the meantime will open the door just a creak, hearing no one nearby. Eyes are on the three agents that are further down where they've just been. It appears they can proceed unnoticed.]

(And well, they have to pause. Look at Shadow in a new light. Because well, if that isn't familiar.

Freak, huh? Thing?)

I'm surprised you don't just kill all of them.

(They say once they're certain they won't be overheard.

It's not like they're innocents.

They don't kill them... but that's because they don't really kill anyone. Unless they absolutely have to, but even then. Shadow doesn't have those reservations, as far as they can tell.)

Edited 2025-06-30 07:28 (UTC)

And bring further attention onto us? [He would, he absolutely would. He already has. For the pain and despair they brought to his family all those years ago. The hatred that still hasn't gone away since. It takes all of his being to do nothing more than clench his fists and spare the lives they are leaving behind. He can't, they are not the objective.

As they reach the stairway to get to the upper floors and start moving up.

"You hear that?"
"Think I saw something move behind us."]

...Keep going. [Shadow will stop as the stairs start to twist in the other direction. They have a means to contact the other and rendezvous eventually.]

You're right, but they still probably deserve it.

(More than some others, at least.

...The hilarity of this is that Chris would, in fact, actually feel terrible if they killed those people, or even if Shadow killed them because of something they said.

His instructions give them pause. Split up? Maybe, but losing track of each other seems like a bad idea.)

I can redirect them. (Use some kind of telepathic illusion, or put up their usual 'do not notice me' aura, they mean.)

[He glances towards Chris, the footsteps of agents getting closer. He remains standing where he is, simply nodding and stays on guard. Just as the shadows of the agents start to come into view.]

(And Shadow might feel it for a brief second as they concentrate on the perception field. Perhaps his mind will suddenly want to believe that he's alone after all, or seem to forget who he was just talking to, or just suddenly feel intensely as though Chris isn't worth noticing or reacting to in any way.

Then it ...expands? To envelop him too as the guards approach.

They're invisible. Not worth noticing. Shadows caused by the weird flickering of the even weirder magical light. Someone should probably fix that.

As long as no one does anything too attention grabbing--say, attacking or bumping into them--the agents should look at them... and then pass on by as though they saw nothing at all.)

[He felt it before the area of the effect spreads. There's uneasiness, when it felt like something shifts in his memory, eventually returning once he's covered in this invisible veil.

His expression turns grim, fists clenching. Even if it's not their intent, it's a force of habit of his to react poorly if there was ever a hint he was being manipulated. But he manages to keep his anger underwraps, just as the guards come into the stairwell space.

"No one's here."
"Could have been the trick of the light, sir."
"Tch. Go back to where we were. All three of us didn't need to be here dammit."
"But if that monster was here-"
"If we don't turn around, he'll get the jump on us, so move!"

As they talk, Shadow is force to stare down at them, doing nothing. Waiting. If they could see him, they see death staring back at them. Him and GUN have a complicated relation these days, but why do they speak as if...

The guards start to move, returning to the hallway once more, grumbling to themselves. Once he's certain they're out of earshot, he'll be the first to quietly start moving up the stairs.]

(His reaction, even if it's entirely internal, makes them flinch and grit their teeth.

They keep the field up, letting the guards lose interest and leave, then turn to follow Shadow.

They almost dnap at him, but. Well. They can't help but understand on some level.)

I'm not interested in the contents of your head, Shadow. Even if it worked that way.

(Why are you so afraid? They'd ask but they know he probably won't answer, so they just go with the assumption based on the most common source of people not liking the telepathy.)

Edited 2025-07-05 07:40 (UTC)

[Shadow glances back at their words. Eyes narrowing slightly.]

Focus on the mission. [That's all that needs to be said. That's all that matters right now. He continues onward until he reaches the door to the second floor. His ears are pressed against it, seeing if he could pick up anything on the otherside. Soft footsteps, uniformed, someone pacing on the other side.]

(They sigh.)

Kind of hard if you keep spiking my threat sense while I'm trying to concentrate on helping you.

(But they won't say anything else as they follow him, unless he decides to continue things on his own. Because he's right: they can't afford to be distracted with a big argument right now.

They listen in their oen way when he stops at the door: with their mind.)

Edited 2025-07-06 05:47 (UTC)

Log 4

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