OPERATION SEXY MARIO: CONCLUSION

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 19th
Location: The UE Holding Compound, and surrounding area.
Characters: Anyone being rescued, doing the rescuing, or doing the distracting.
Summary: There have been some slackers freeloading off the UE for the past couple weeks or so, so let's go drag them home.
Warnings: Likely violence! Let a mod know if we should update this.

Those meant for distraction and those meant for rescue alike are both loaded onto the same stolen highspeed train. It's a great distance to cover, but the train manages in just under two hours, and deposits both groups three miles from the Holding Compound — a desolate and cold area, with rocky, uneven ground, small but jagged hills well-scattered and covered in scraggly trees — and there they part ways.

The diversion is sent away north, to draw United Earth attention and aggression upward, further into the continent, while the rescue team takes a much slower and quieter route to approach the Compound from the south, closest to Exsilium. The rescue team's orders are to wait a full half hour, to be sure that all forces who can be drawn out of the Compound to meet the sudden onslaught from the north will have already left.

The diversion team won't have an easy job of it. The soldiers are heavily armed, and trained to fight to the death before they surrender. They're grouped in organized squadrons, about 20 in each, and seem to outnumber Transports by three to one. Scattered throughout these soldiers are the Masked, the UE's special forces. These soldiers strike with a deadly precision, enhanced speed and strength, and highly advanced weaponry. Also, oddly enough, they seem to have a few smaller members among them, standing about 4 feet tall, and wielding strange powers… Those familiar with the powers of their kidnapped friends may see distinct similarities.

The Compound itself, when the rescue team makes their way in, will be very quiet. All prisoners had been forced into locked rooms (together or separately — whatever was most convenient) before the soldiers had left to face the encroaching threat. There are still personnel left to man the base, of course, and a few of them are armed soldiers — but for the most part it's scientists and researchers. Careful, though. Even scientists and researchers are perfectly capable of sounding the alarm to bring back the armed threats.

Once everyone is out of the Compound, the train will begin running a return trip. It will be kept as long as possible, while the distraction teams sneak back from the battlefield in small groups, but it can't wait forever. Those on the battlefield for the longest, the hardest hitters or the most dedicated fighters, might just have to find another way home. So… any Transports with relocation abilities feel like lending a hand?

Comments

[vaccination]

[Reluctantly but obediently, Ellie nods and draws her bow. She sweeps her eyes up and down the hall, ready to shoot whoever looks like they work in this place.

It's hard to focus on anything else while Joel is in pain.]

Steph?

[She's looking to her right now for guidance, if only because Joel is stubborn and would rather pop a lung before admitting he needs a moment to be stabilized or whatever. Ellie doesn't even know what can be done right now. Steph must.]

[controlledvariable]

[She won't be shrugged off easily.]

Stop moving, we're going to take a second to check what state you're in, and then we'll move. If you hurt yourself even more you're useless to her.

[She's appealing to his protective instincts, hoping it'll make him realize that rushing off will just make things worse for Ellie.

Her gaze snaps to Ellie at the sound of her name, just for a second.]

It's alright, Ellie, we just need a minute. You can take my rifle if you want.

[Since she dropped it on the ground in favour of helping Joel.]

[beardedflannel]

[ Already Joel's damning this woman to whatever hell will wait for her in this godforsaken mess of a fucked up world they're in. He grunts out something unintelligible and complies, staying crouched to a knee where he is with her at his side.

Taking that moment to really get his breathing stable again, Joel looks over in Ellie's direction. He's remembering fall again. How it had just been the two of them, how brave she had been forcing him to keep walking until they reached the damn horse- whatever its name was, he can't remember right now. ]

Get on with it, then.

[vaccination]

I'll stick with this.

[An arrow is much more quiet than a bullet, and Ellie's never been a fan of drawing attention to herself unless she needs to.

She glances at Joel, meeting his eyes. Steph's okay, good. And Ellie is fine as long as he's okay.]

How long is this gonna take?

[controlledvariable]

Not long. It's gonna hurt though, sorry.

[Now that Joel's stopped fussing, Steph quickly peels off one of her gloves and runs her hand over Joel's left side, as gentle as she can be while still trying to feel the position of his ribs. She wasn't lying about it hurting, but it's necessary. After a second, she lays her hand flat against his side where she can feel most of the damage is.

At least he's in a hospital gown, which is thin enough she can feel through it.]

Take a slow breath for me, doesn't need to be too deep.

[This isn't gonna be fun if he has flail chest.]

[beardedflannel]

[ As great as it is that this woman is trying to help him, the pressure to his ribs, the second wave of heat and nausea he fights back by clenching his teeth, Joel would very much like to deck her. Push her away, shrug her off. Something! He keeps telling himself that she's trying to help, just trying to help. This woman is not his enemy, she won't hurt Ellie or him.

If they were to lift his gown to show his side, they would see a wonderful bouquet of colors splashed over his skin. They will, however, once they're safely out of there and as far as away as possible.

A grunt is drawn out, hoarse and shuddering, as her hand rests flat against him. Without thinking about it Joel goes to take that slow breath; it kills him to do so, his brow beading with sweat. And there's that quiet grating sound carrying from his chest to his eardrums, the sickest feeling ever, churning his stomach. ]

We- we done?

[ Choked out, laced with pain and irritation. ]

[vaccination]

Hang in there, Joel.

[She wants to turn and watch, as if keeping her eyes on him would ensure that he'll be okay, but she knows she has to keep her eyes on the hallways.

A part of her almost wishes some fucker would come their way just so she can put one right between his eyes.]

[controlledvariable]

[She can feel the awkward points of bone and the feel the grate when he breathes, but everything moves in the right way, which means he at least hasn't got flail chest.]

Nearly. You've got a few broken ribs, so you're gonna need to move carefully. [With that, she pulls a syringe out of her belt, though it's more like an EPI pen than a proper needle] I'm giving you an anaesthetic to dull the pain so you don't pass out on us.

[It's not a question, as soon as she's sure Joel's heard her, Steph injects him near the injury site, careful not to hit any nerves because she wants him numb, not unable to move.]

Now we're done.

[The used syringe is slipped back onto a pouch, her glove tugged back on and her gun scooped up and slung over her shoulder (safety off) so she's got her hands free to help Joel to his feet.]

I'm gonna need you to take point, kiddo.

[beardedflannel]

[ he's got no time to protest. The sudden sound of the injection followed by the sharp prick can only mean one thing. She managed to put a needle in him efficiently and with him that distracted, mad props to her considering how much he can't properly stand needles much. If he has to deal with them then fine. He's got no say in that, dammit. ]

--shit! Warn a man before you do that!

Christ--

[ Joel moves away from the offered hands, irritated, grumpy. He pushes himself to stand, actually kind of grateful for the numbing sensation beginning to take over through the left side of his ribs ]

[vaccination]

I got it. [She remembers the way they came, and starts in that direction. This is too much like the university, Joel injured beyond her ability to fix and being stubborn all the while.

Thank god for Steph.]

Joel, you better let Steph help you walk outta here. We don't have time to fuck around.

[controlledvariable]

[She doesn't point out that she did warn him, because there's no need to add to his attitude, not when it's making things more difficult.

And she starts following Ellie, though she does look back at Joel; even through the mask, it's clear she's got an eyebrow raised in a silent are you going to let me help?.

Men.]

[beardedflannel]

[ Oh how he'd really love nothing more than to snap and snarl and growl at the both of them. He's not entirely too sure who he wants to do all of that more to, the strange woman wearing a mask or Ellie. And just why the hell is she wearing a mask? What does she have to hide? How could he let himself go and get pinched by a needle by a woman wearing a damn mask?

Can you walk?

Yeah.

Then fucking walk!

His lips press and thin as he shoots Steph the foulest look ever in return to her raised brow of a silent question. After a few seconds of what seems like some serious internal debate, Joel gives in.

He gives Steph a curt nod, trudging along after them as best as he can. ]

[vaccination]

The exit isn't that far.

[Then, to Steph:]

Just help me get him to the doors and I can take it from there. You've have to go find Ellie.

[Don't mind how strange this sounds, Joel.]

[controlledvariable]

[It's only Ellie's presence that saves Steph from snapping something in response to the look Joel gives her. She hardly knows him, but she came looking for him first, instead of going to the people she loves. The least he could do is show some respect.

But there's no time to get snippy, and Ellie doesn't need to overhear that particular argument, so Steph just keeps moving. The rifle's at the ready again, but she's also keep an eye on Joel in case he needs her help.]

I'll get you to the edge of the compound and cover you for as long as I can.

[To the doors isn't far enough for her peace of mind, not when Joel's in the condition he's in.]

[beardedflannel]

[ Maybe when he isn't so distracted by his thoughts and what's going on around him, thoughts of how close the gunfire sounds echoing from down one of the corridors at their side, how there's the sound of a rumbling battle in the distance somewhere outside of the facility. How they need to get out of this place, how he wants nothing more than for all of them to be back in the crappy little place he had fixed up for them.

Joel's tightening his grip on the stolen rifle. He knows Ellie can clear a way for them, and he knows he can help her no matter how much blood he's lost or how injured he is. It's like a severe case of deva ju, Joel is half expecting a big burly black man with a shotgun to come bursting out from a passing door, accusing them of how they had shot his friend-- ]

And then what?

[ Since he has no recollection of how he arrived here, he's at a loss on just how they're going to get away. ]

[vaccination]

And then we take the train back and get you fixed up. Or get you fixed up and take the train back, whatever order.

[Whatever Joel will allow. Stubborn, stubborn, stubborn. Maybe Tess should have come along for this part. Ellie could handle Joel pretty damn well, but it wasn't as effortless as Tess.

Ellie's steps quicken for a moment as she checks around a corner, a hallway dangerously silent, and then she motions for the two to hurry.]

C'mon, we've gotta move.

[controlledvariable]

I'd advise the latter.

[In her expert opinion.

Which is actually an expert opinion, considering she's had more than enough medical training to make an assessment, here.

At Ellie's quickening pace, Steph actually slows, but only for a moment, until she's fallen behind Joel.]

I've got your back.

[beardedflannel]

[ The rifle is pulled up as best as it can be. Joel tries not to use too much of the muscles in his torso, a glance thrown back over his shoulder at Steph as she takes position. He nods and follows after Ellie, making sure to keep close. ]

Let's just get to the damn train.