[COLOR=GRAY][CENTER][COLOR=dimgray] [sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/a5vAmUp.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=silver][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I] - [I]Dundas Islands, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=silver][b]Take On Me #3.072:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Crawling[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=silver][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=silver][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]The Black[/I][/right][/SUP] [INDENT][color=#ffffff]“This is the first time he’s left a subject alive.”[/color] Miguel nodded on the screen as Torres spoke into the microphone. [color=#ffffff]“He’s relying less and less on help though, we only found three other bodies. There are still at least two other students unaccounted for who were identified as members of Hyperion’s Children. But overall, Daedalus is simultaneously getting bolder and sloppier.”[/color] Shiv reported. [color=#ffffff]“He’s devolving then.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“It would seem so, which means next time is going to be even messier.” [/color]The Foundation Fist replied before taking a sip of the black coffee in front of him. On the screen, Torres mirrored him, drinking her own coffee from her hotel in San Francisco. [color=#ffffff]“Daedalus’ entire mission has been about pushing the Hyperhuman gene further, making it stronger. He’s trying to create something.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“The perfect host.” [/color]Shiv replied as Torres quietly nodded in agreement.[color=#ffffff] “Which means he’s dying.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“So he’ll have an accelerated timeline,”[/color] Torres responded, [color=#ffffff]“I know we have our differences, but I think you’d be wise to bring in one of H.E.L.P.’s H.I.T. units, they specialize in this kind of stuff. The Force isn’t trained for the kind of mind that Daedalus has and you simply don’t have enough resources.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“How are they coping with the loss of Tawhiri?”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“The boosters have left most of them emotionally stunted, they’re barely reacting to his death. Worse still, some of them are forgetting he’s gone.”[/color] Torres replied, [color=#ffffff]“I want them off these boosters, but I’m afraid the psychosis will set in. Despite Montgomery’s adamant denial of such things.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Why Nakamura got into bed with that madman, I will never understand. But it is not my place to challenge the Master.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“Then I shan’t tempt any further slander from your lips,”[/color] Torres stated, [color=#ffffff]“Though I do worry about Nakamura’s decision-making more and more each day. He expects the Force deployed to find Tawhiri’s killer; he believes a show of force is what the assassin needs. I’m worried, we’re putting our best and most valuable assets directly in harm’s way.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“I shall talk to him.” [/color]Shiv nodded,[color=#ffffff] “Hold the Force back, see if you can get them each submitted for a full psych evaluation. Hunting down the assassin will fall firmly on his Eyes and his Ears. When the assassin is found, then I shall strike.”[/color] He added, his stoic expression unflinching before uttering one final bone-chilling statement. [color=#ffffff]“There is no mercy for those who meet the Foundation’s fist.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“I don’t like fighting a war on three fronts, Miguel. I need you on campus while we have to deal with Daedalus. Spreading you between him and this assassin weakens us in both investigations and we’re still trying to make headway with H.E.L.P. regarding P.R.C.U.”[/color] Torres rubbed the back of her neck, trying to ease the stress settling into her shoulders. [color=#ffffff]“Then perhaps, the enemy of our enemy is our ally. An olive branch to H.E.L.P., in addition to bringing in one of their investigative units, we could give them some good publicity and turn over the arrest of the assassin to Director Caspian.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“It would certainly strengthen our position.”[/color] Torres agreed. [color=#ffffff]“Say nothing to the Chancellor though, I’ll deal with Jim personally.”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“As you wish.”[/color][/INDENT] [COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR] [INDENT]The steady beep echoed through the infirmary room. Outside, medics moved to and fro, the start of the semester keeping them busy between Trial injuries and early adventures in the Augmented Reality Center. Minor burns, sprained ankles and jammed fingers all took time to reset and heal, but thankfully kept students out of beds. The monitor in this particular room continued its steady chirp. It had done so for nearly a week now with no change as the dark-haired young man lay motionless in the bed, a breathing tube coming out of his mouth while an intravenous drip supplied him with everything needed to sustain him day in and day out. Suddenly the beeping increased as bloodshot eyes opened wide, panic setting in before he clawed at the breathing tube occupying his throat. Gagging and choking echoed through the room before his jaw suddenly unhinged to make the entire process easier, a separate set of breathing orifices opened on his neck before Thaddeus Finch suddenly sat up in the hospital bed he was occupying. Dragging the breathing tube out of his throat, he dropped the saliva-ridden piece of plastic to the floor, gasping for breath before splitting a wad of mucus and phlegm onto the tiled floor beside his bed. [color=#ffffff]“Tad!” [/color]Jessica cried excitedly jumping up from the chair she had been reading in and rushing to her fiancé’s side. Her eyes glowed softly as she used her powers to induce a sense of calm over the panicked man. Tad’s breathing began to slow, his body relaxing before gently slumping back into a sitting position on the bed. [color=#ffffff]“Jess… No, I-”[/color] Tad tried to say, as Jess just shushed him gently. [color=#ffffff]“I missed you, let me go grab a doctor.”[/color] Jess stated, as Tad fell complacently into the bed. [color=#ffffff]“I’ll be right back.”[/color] She said, running into the hallway, [color=#ffffff]“HE’S AWAKE!”[/color] Her shout echoed as Tad looked up towards the ceiling, any fight in his body gone from Jess’ abilities. His mind was racing. He remembered trying to tell Jim something before he had slipped into the coma. Blackjack, Hyperion, Katja. What was the connection, why those three words? [color=#ffffff]“You’re awake?”[/color] A foreign voice asked, as an unfamiliar face filled Tad’s vision, examining his eyes and pupils. [color=#ffffff]“That wasn’t supposed to happen,”[/color] She muttered before raising a syringe. Tad watched, confusion rapidly spreading across his face as a vial of his blood was extracted. The woman softly hummed to herself before singing aloud as Tad’s eyes went wide in horror. He would never forget that damned melody. Those damned lyrics. [color=#ffffff]“[i]Down in the valley, valley so low,. Hang your head over, hear the wind blow.[/i]”[/color] [color=#ffffff]“No-”[/color] Tad croaked as another syringe was injected into him. His eyes rolled back before heavy eyelids closed, disjointed thoughts racing through his mind, attempting to outrun the inevitable darkness that was quickly consuming them. He had to tell Jim, Katja was with Hyperion’s Children, he needed to fight, he needed to adapt. Why did Jess have to leave? A small giggle echoed distantly in his eyes as a whisper of hot breath tickled his ear lobe. [color=#ffffff]“The winds are blowing.”[/color][/INDENT] [COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR] [INDENT]A man sat slumped over in his wheelchair, the lights on numerous screens flickering while a wicked smile slowly spread across his face. Beside him, hanging from a hook was the body of his former host. His eyes fixated on a single flashing red dot located just off the coast of British Columbia. A laugh caught in his throat quickly turned to a blood and spittle-laden cough, but despite his ailment, the smile never vanished. A bony finger scrambled for a button on the arm of the wheelchair before a suppressant was pumped through the mask, calming the barking cough. Continuing to stare at the screen, Daedalus managed to croak a few haunting words. [color=#ffffff]“I won’t let anyone take you from me.”[/color] [right][color=#ffffff]“Haaaveeen.”[/color][/right][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]