exsiliumlogs | Closed

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Date & Time: Around 2330 to 2500
Location: Hong Kong, ruins of an abandoned research facility
Characters: Kano

duplicitoussight and Ico

hornedomen
Summary: Stealth mission through techno ruins
Warnings: Techno ruins may be dangerously awesome.

They're everywhere.

[Ico watched the old machines circle around the outer perimeter of the facility. Despite the years that passed and the aging state of the architecture, the old sentries continued their guard without rest.

He sat on the ground, his back against what may have been a wall at some point in the past.]

I can't even see how we're supposed to get in from here. How are we going to get through those things?

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[Kano's crouched down with Ico, his eyes red to let the boy know that they're working. Ah, it would've been easier if they had Kido with them--sneaking in would've been a cinch. But they'll have to make do with his. Frowning, he peers over their cover.]

... charging in wouldn't be a good idea at all. I don't think Ico's sword is that sharp, either. [He grins.] That leaves us with sneaking in, doesn't it?

You're right, but how're we going to sneak past that?

[He looked over the wall. The heat and dry air stung his eyes. Nature was no longer here to take back the land; the constant warring drained most of the life here long ago. He could not see any signs of regrowth, only artificial structures slowly crumbling away.]

They can't all be still working, can they? Maybe there's one that's broken and we can get around there.

[It was a desolate wasteland out here, certainly, with only the weak flickering of ancient lights to signal that whatever energy source kept the facility was still hanging on. If they were stuck here, it'd wind up bad news for both of them. Watching the robots slowly trudge along their path, Kano waves for Ico to follow him.]

Let's head to some other cover. If we look at it from a different angle, we'll probably find a blind spot to use.

Okay.

[He stayed close to Kano. While Kano watched the machines, Ico looked for more cover. Many of the structures had fallen to pieces, leaving behind only fragments of its original shape.]

We can go around there.

[He looked at what remained of a hallway. It was a short distance away, but it was not that big. If they were quick, they probably would not be caught.]

[He focuses, expanding the area of his illusion. If the robots spotted them, he could manage to confuse their sensors for a few precious seconds. It's the most cover he can give them. Throwing another smile at Ico, he tilts his head at the hallway.]

Let's go, then. [With that said, he darts out.

The soft scuffle of his footsteps sound too loud. A robot swivels its head their direction, but by then Kano's already ducked behind the ruined hallway, breathing out.]

[Ico was right beside him. His worn leather sandals did not make as much noise, though it made it harder to find traction. He nearly tripped when he reached the hallway.

That was too close. He looked around to see if any robots were coming.]

[Kano glances back too with red eyes, his powers working to make them seem like little more than shadows. Fortunately, it seems that the robots haven't caught sight of them.]

Haa. For guards they're pretty inattentive.

Good. Maybe they're too old to see us.

[He went as far as the broken hallway could cover him. At the end, he cautiously peeked around the corner.]

There's a broken one there.

[Not only was there a broken machine lying face down in the ground, Ico could also see a broken window. It was high up, but he had seen Kano climb more daunting structures before.]

We can get in through there.

[He's definitely broken into sturdier buildings. Casting a look at it, then around at their surroundings, Kano steps forward. If they stand upon the broken machine to give them the height they needed, they should be able to climb in through the window. If not... well, they'll just have to find another way before the robots discovered their presence.]

Good eye, good one! Since you spotted it first, you go first, all right?

All right. Follow me closely, okay?

[He waited, watching the remaining robots circle the area. When it was clear, he dashed for the building. The sand helped to dampen the sound of his running and he made it to the broken robot without any complications. He had the same idea as Kano, using the robot to gain the height he needed to jump up to the window.

He climbed in as fast as he could. Then, he turned around and held his arm out for Kano.]

[Kano waited until he saw that Ico was in the clear. Glancing around one more time to make sure the coast was clear, he hurried over. The robot made a hollow sound when he bumped his foot against it, but he ignored it as he stretched up his hand to grab Ico's.

Thump... thump... thump...

It sounded like the guards were coming back. Kano doesn't say anything or look to see if they were nearby. He focused on clambering in, holding on tightly to Ico's hand.]

[Ico heard them coming. He pulled as hard as he could to bring Kano in.

He's light, he thought. Not as light as Yorda, but he had thought Kano would have weighed more. Once he climbed through, Ico huddled inside so he could watch the robots below. They were looking at something. His heart raced when he realised that the guards noticed the footprints he left in the sand.

They know we're here.

He whispered:] Come on. [He went further down the hall. The building was in stark contrast to the desolation outside. Most rooms still had light and it was cooler inside. There were no guards here as far as he could see, but Ico did not know how long that would last.]

[It doesn't take much effort to pull Kano in--and it's just in time, too, as the robots stomp on by. He could hear the soft whirring of their gears turning as they swept the area, searching for the intruders.

Ah. He hoped that they'd get in undetected but that was too much to ask for, wasn't it? The mission began a tad more difficult, but they can still do this. It wasn't over just yet.

He followed Ico's lead, his eyes glowing a slight red as he pushed it to its limits to make sure to shroud them in an illusion in order to provide cover.]

... ha. They aren't as old as I thought they were.

I think they are old. Everything else looks old.

[Ico hurried while the place was still empty. He looked through rooms and halls, searching through desks and shelves.]

It's like a maze in here. Did you find anything?

[Just as he approached the door, he heard the steps of one of the machine guards.]

[Kano meanwhile follows closely behind, searching the places that Ico overlooks. He does it as quickly as possible--they were bound to be found by the guards at any moment--

His hands hover over a certain folder.]

Well...

[--and speak of the devil, they were coming. Kano holds out his hand for Ico to hold onto. He doesn't know how well this will work, but...]

... looks like they came sooner than we thought.

[He grasped onto Kano's hand. He was not sure exactly how his powers worked, but Ico knew he had to hold onto his hand. The robot scanned the room with a bright red light that hurt Ico's eyes. Age and sand had taken a toll on it and the machine made a loud, grating sound that frightened the boy.]

[He can feel the tension from Ico. Kano gives his hand a gentle squeeze, to reassure him. His eyes are working the best they can--all he can hope is that the robot will see only an empty room.

A minute passes. Then after another sweep the robot clanks away. Kano heaves a sigh but doesn't let go of Ico's hand just yet.]

Let's hope his friends don't come along.

[That minute felt like an eternity. While he grasped onto Kano's hand, he was ready to draw out his sword. Once it was gone, Ico finally relaxed. He could not remember breathing the whole time it was there.]

At least we'll hear them. They're so loud.

[He reached over to take the folder that Kano found.] Is this what we're looking for?

It's better for us if they are~

[He hands the folder over to Ico--they're plans and blueprints, detailing some of the weapons they've been searching for.] Well, this is close enough, isn't it? They got a couple of samples lying around in the basement, but this can work too.

This is great; we won't have to carry all that stuff with us. [He put the folder in his backpack.]

Now we have to find one about those machine guards here.

[There were two ways that Ico could think of, either find the plans like the one Kano found, or bring one back. However, he was not sure if he could fight one of those guards.]

Getting one to come back with us would be too hard, huh?

[The idea of dragging a robot back makes him snicker a little. It'd be much too heavy for them, wouldn't it? They wouldn't get very far if they tried something like that. That, and the fact that neither of them had weapons aside from Ico's sword.]

It turns out that this mission's a paper-pushing sort of thing~ I feel like a spy!

[He smiled.] That's right. Even if we got one, it must be really heavy.

[He would ask Kano about paper-pushing and spies later. This place was too dangerous for idle questions. He cautiously looked outside of the room before leaving.]

This way.

[Exactly where 'this way' went, he did not know. There was nothing useful left in that room so any other place seemed like a better chance to find those plans.]

[Fortunately, Kano had a general idea of where to go thanks to the folder... though knowing that they had to go to the basement only pointed towards "down." Well, a direction was better than no direction at all. He turns the way that Ico does without question once the coast was clear.]

... I hope they have elevators around here.

Elevators?

[Those were moving rooms, right? He continued in his direction, not knowing if where they were going went to such a room. Suddenly, good fortune shone upon them in the form of an electronic screen with a map.]

Over here. [Ico went to it at a quick and quiet pace.] This is where we are. We need to go through this hall and it'll be on the left.

[A grating sound grew louder, as well as the sound of footsteps. Another guard was coming.]

[So some of the power in this factory was still working. That was a relief... and possibly dangerous. They wouldn't be able to tell if any other systems were online, security or otherwise. Still, he pays attention as he looks at the map.

He's begun nodding and was about to speak when he hears the footsteps. Without thinking, he reaches for Ico's hand again, glancing at the map, making sure he knows the route. They can't speak, unless they wanted to be heard.

They had to run again.]

[He had the same idea. Once Kano grabbed his hand, he ran ahead. The hall was too open; there were no places to hide. He went inside a room, one that connected to other rooms.

Door after door, Ico raced closer to the elevator. Suddenly, he stopped. More footsteps, that meant there was another guard ahead. The noises droned in his ears. They were both getting closer.]

[At this rate, they would be trapped. Kano's grip on Ico's hand tightened and his eyes glowed a bright red. If he could concentrate on keeping up their cover as they moved, they should be fine.

He hasn't managed something like this before. But there was no other choice for them. He tugs at Ico, tilting his head towards the direction of the elevator. He could hear the robots closing in on them.]

[He did not need more prompting than that. He raced to the elevator, never letting go of Kano's hand. The sounds of the guards consumed all other noise.

The elevator door was broken; Ico noticed that it looked like it was forced open. Inside, the elevator lay at the bottom. He reached for the cable and pulled on it. It should be strong enough to hold them. However, Ico could not hold Kano's hand and climb down at the same time.]

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I'll just. Subtly try to sneak in more descriptions that I missed. Feel free to throw some in too!

okay!

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