Imposter [Part 45]
May. 16th, 2021 06:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: The second stage begins.
Contains: Minor character death.
Notes: Among Us AU! :D
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Sci-fi
Word count: 2,962
Total word count: 49,449
Status: Work in progress
Muzaka had hated the waiting, but as the klaxon blared overhead, he exhaled, grabbing his helmet. He made one last check on the agent -still not moving- and headed out, slipping his 'suit on properly.
He saw Kentas leaving at the same time, climbing gear hidden in the water barrel he was carrying, and they left the western building, Kentas trailing a little behind him.
Muzaka frowned a little at the snow flurry that greeted them when they exited. Unexpected, but it should help.
[I've hacked into the ship's cameras,] Tao said, [so they can't see you. I've also made the ship think its got a niiice full tank so there won't be any alerts when you take the fuel.]
[Thanks,] Muzaka said. He went around the base more from memory than sight, and he peered at the white expanse in front of him and Kentas when they made it to the southern plain. Even with the snow, Muzaka could still see some of the soft lights from the ship through the haze.
It was a direction to head for.
[Ready?] he murmured to Kentas.
[Yeah.]
No-one came to greet them as they approached the ship, and Muzaka tried to keep out of sight of the bay doors as possible.
Muzaka stared up at the intimidating height of the ship, the smooth metal legs. If they climbed up from here, that should take them directly to the fuel line.
[All right then,] Muzaka said, seeing Kentas set down the water barrel. [Let's get climbing.]
*
Shiiit. M-21 could sense the new imposter was there but he couldn't tell where. Tao hadn't said anything to him yet, so that had to mean they weren't near him.
He would just stay in Medbay for now.
*
Frankenstein could sense Em was in the eastern building somewhere as they followed Orange up to the seismic stabilisers. Thankfully with the snow as thick as it was, their presence shouldn't be missed if they ducked into the eastern building.
[Boss, move!]
With Tao's warning, Frankenstein dashed ahead, feeling something thudding behind them.
Their presence wouldn't be missed if they were attacked either!
They skidded a little on the freshly fallen snow, sliding into the eastern building.
Those weren't gunshots. The weapons didn't make that kind of impact.
The imposter's transformation?
Frankenstein exhaled, trying to settle their heart as they waited for decompression to finish, keeping an eye on the outside door. They really weren't used to all this excitement of constantly running around and checking over their shoulder.
But being attacked meant they were being followed though. That was good. The other imposter wasn't going after Em.
The doors opened and Frankenstein dashed through them.
They might be running in circles, but so long as it was keeping people distracted, they would keep going.
*
Muzaka exhaled as he followed Kentas' magnet holds. Each one Kentas set down made the ship leg vibrate a little as it attached, and Muzaka just had to trust that if there was anyone inside, they couldn't see or feel it.
So far no-one had come to investigate them or started shooting them, so they were doing something right.
Muzaka grunted as he lunged up, grabbing the hold. He was used to doing everything he could to keep cool in the boiler room - the snow's cold hadn't seeped enough into his 'suit to make him stiff, but he was starting to feel it, his hands not moving as fast as he'd like.
He swore when his hand slipped off the hold, the snow making the surface slick.
[You all right?] Kentas asked from above him, and Muzaka sighed, dangling off his other hold.
[Yeah. Keep going.] He would just need to make sure he had a good grip every single time, and that he was still balanced elsewhere.
Muzaka glanced out towards the base, but all he could were a couple of lights and vague shadows. It was as if it was only him and Kentas there.
Were the others doing all right? Tao hadn't said anything, but if something had happened, they would be busy dealing with it, rather than wasting time to give them updates.
He shook his head. And to make sure no-one would be hurt, they had to do get the fuel as quickly as possible.
With a grunt, Muzaka pulled himself up, making sure he had a better grip this time and started climbing again.
*
Tao grumbled, squinting at his pad before sighing and leaning back. [What do you think?] Tao asked Takeo.
[Neither of us are much use here now.]
[Yeah...] He couldn't help the others if he couldn't see his screens, and Takeo couldn't shoot anyone if he couldn't see them. Or Takeo could, but he might be shooting someone else.
[Right, let's head for the office for now.] It was too early to head for the ship, since Muzaka and Kentas didn't have the fuel yet.
Tao climbed down from the roof, dropping to a crouch when he landed. It would have been nice if the planet had been one with a lighter gravity, then he could have just flung himself off without worrying about landing.
While he waited for Takeo to jump down, Tao wiped at his pad screen and peered at it. Most people were still clustered around the stabilisers, good. Aris was in the western building, away from them. Also good. [Looks clear.]
Takeo landed next to him, and they headed for the office, Takeo's hand on his shoulder. Takeo would watch his back while he watched everyone else's.
Tao wiped at his screen again once they were inside. Still safe, though Aris didn't look like she'd moved much from where he'd last seen her.
In fact...
Tao frowned as the doors opened.
Wasn't she walking the exact same-
"There you are!" Aris purred, from right in front of them.
Tao froze, his breath catching in his throat. How had she-?
"I thought you might still be accessing the feeds, so just in case I had one of my toys play a little recording for you." She gave them a cheery smile.
Just like Tao had done to the ship. Shit. He glanced at Security and saw the same agent still there, metallic cables extending out from its chest, connected to the security's tower. Dammit, he should have suspected something was happening.
[Sorry, me an' Takeo are gonna be going dark,] Tao told the others, backing away from Aris as she approached. [Good luck.]
*
Muzaka sucked in a breath when he heard Tao's message. He wanted to call back, but that would be the wrong thing to do. Tao and Takeo needed to concentrate on what was going on, just like him and Kentas.
He crouched, hands curling around the latch handle. He twisted, feeling the escaping air as he opened it.
Right. He had to do this quickly. Maybe whatever Tao had done had stopped working, now that Tao was distracted.
Muzaka breathed a sigh of relief as he peered into fuel line enough. Locks and something golden glowing softly through it all. It was the modern fuel that stayed in its own casing, and would be easy to transport.
The fuel slid out smoothly - it was a tube almost as long as his forearm, and twice as thick. It would easily fit in the water barrel.
[Is that it?] Kentas asked.
Muzaka tucked it under his arm, holding onto one of the handles on the side. [Yeah.] He wasn't entire sure of his grip, but he didn't want to attach it to anything to carry and then watch it fall either. At least this way he would know where it was at all times.
Muzaka started climbing down as Kentas followed, unsticking the magnets again as they passed.
*
Did not like this at all! Tao dashed across the base, not daring to look back, because that would slow him down and he needed all the distance he could-
He yelped, stumbling as something lashed by his side. It missed, creating a crack in the ground instead.
Whips. Boss had mentioned she'd used to work on weaponising 'suits, but he thought she'd transferred areas because she hadn't been that successful.
Her 'suit was definitely effective!
And was even strong enough to deflect gun ammo!
The good thing was he was Aris' target, which meant Takeo was free to go to Security and deal with the agent there. Because otherwise Tao couldn't trust his security feed, and the agent there could be telling Aris where everyone was. Or at least where he was - Muzaka and Kentas didn't seem to be targeted by her. From what he saw anyway. Dammit.
With Takeo going to the western building, Tao had to go east, his pad thumping against his thigh. [Em, if yer still in Medbay,] Tao said, watching Aris coming after him as the doors opened, [hide in the vents a sec.]
The doors closed after him, giving him time to catch his breath. Uuurgh, the daily walks with Takeo was nowhere near enough to prepare him for all this running.
Tao went straight through Medbay, not seeing Em at all. Good. He heard the doors open as he entered the lab, and it was a headstart. Not much of one, but better than none!
Through the lab and into specimen room. Was there anything in here he could use? Tao scanned the room, seeing the bubbling tubes in the centre, but that told him nothing. He had no idea what any of this was.
No point wasting time with something he was unsure of and would take too long to figure out. Especially when he could hear the doors opening behind him. Out out out, time to get out!
Okay, where could he go? Anywhere and nowhere, depending on how much his lungs and legs could take him.
The crack of a whip chased him as he ran, and nope, he'd taken too long!
Would be nice if she could trap her whip on something, but what? Tao stumbled through admin, not even bothering to look around. He could throw a plant pot at her head, but she'd probably just smack it down.
Something bigger. Heavier. A rock? And then he threw it into the lava pit and that dragged her down into it? Tao eyed the large rocks as he passed them.
No, that meant he would need to shift something heavy and with how he was feeling right now, he could barely toss a plant. And for all he knew, the suit would be able to hold all that weight, and then he'd be the one getting smacked with a whip with a rock on the end.
No thanks.
But electricity worked. He knew that. It was enough to stun her for a bit. Not a lot, but it was better than nothing.
If he could get her to wrap her whip around something electrical?
Electrical! That could do it!
[Hey, Em,] Tao said, angling towards the western building. [Don't suppose - you'd be able to -hff- switch Electrical off for me?] If Aris went in right now, it was going to be really obvious where she was, and she wouldn't use her whip then.
It would have been nice to have a list of everything Em could do to the base, but there hadn't been time amongst everything else. He was finding out now at least.
[I can turn off the lights? Electrical will go dark with it.]
[Yes! Perfect!] Electrical and Security had entrances on the same side, so if he went in through the northern door, she might not realise he'd went into a different door. If she even remembered where Security was.
Hopefully.
She might have upgraded her 'suit's visor as well and she could see in the dark.
[And turnin' Electrical back online?]
[In Electrical. Flip the switches until all of them are lit.]
Right. Em could only sabotage - he couldn't also fix the problems he'd made. Tao would have to turn the electricity back on himself.
Okay. With him inside, that meant she'd definitely hit something inside at least.
It was the only plan he had, so he would have to go for it.
[When do you want me to do it?]
[When - urk!] Something wrapped around Tao's leg, yanking him back enough to slam into the ground, winding him. Not good not good!
Tao kicked out, trying to dislodge the whip. Didn't do anything.
He was dragged back a foot, and nope, his rock into the lava pit wouldn't have worked.
The whip loosened and Tao gritted his teeth, rolling to the side, wincing as the whip came crashing down where he'd just been.
That would have hurt. Not killed him, or torn his 'suit. Just made specifically to hurt.
He scrambled to his feet, hobbling a couple steps, and shitshitshit, he needed to move if he didn't want to be dragged back to the ship.
He dodged the next cracks through sheer luck and that was exactly what he needed right now.
Unless she was just playing with him, trying to exhaust him.
That was fine! If she was dragging it out for her own pleasure, he could use that.
The doors to the western building opened up in front of him, and he dashed in. [Now, Em!]
Two seconds later, the lights flickered, and then died.
Good. Perfect. He needed to be close enough to Electrical that no-one else could reach it before he could and see what happened, and he needed to be close enough that he could leave quickly.
[Hey, Takeo,] Tao panted as he limped further into the building, [coming in hot. Don't come out.]
It didn't feel like he was coming in hot, and he tried to catch his breath, his ankle throbbing.
He needed to stick close enough to Electrical's doors that Aris would see them close and assume he'd gone through. Unless he wanted to make sure she saw him enter.
That was too risky. He needed more time than that.
Tao heard the door pistons moving behind him and okay, he hadn't been as ahead as he thought.
He ducked into Electrical, and breathed a sigh of relief, seeing a small glowing panel on the walls. That had to be it.
[Come here, little rat,] Aris said. [I know where you went.]
Good. That was the point.
Tao opened the panel, seeing the switches. His arms were still mostly unhurt and Tao flipped all but one.
And now, he was stuck here. Waiting.
The door opened, and Tao saw the light reflecting off Aris' visor.
[Did you think you could hide in here?]
[Yes?] Tao's heart thudded hard in his chest as he swallowed. This had to go perfectly. He had one, maybe two chances at this.
[But now you're trapped here. Oh dear. I still haven't broken your leg yet,] Aris said. [Though I think I'll break a few more things first, for all the trouble you've given me!]
Tao ducked the whip, and exhaled when the whip wrapped around one of the machines. Yes!
He straightened and slammed his hand on the switch, the light going green.
The machines hummed, coming on all at once, and Tao dived out of the way, just in case he was too close.
[What's th-] Aris shrieked and the electricity must have coursed through her.
She slammed into the wall, falling limp, and Tao stared at her. It was hard to tell if she was still breathing, but her 'suit was smouldering and she wasn't moving either.
Tao glanced at the lights again before limping out again. The lights were on, so no-one else would come through and find her. That should be enough.
He flinched at a 'suit standing outside but relaxed, seeing Takeo's familiar blue. [Hey...] he mumbled, stumbling over.
[Hey,] Takeo greeted, wrapping an arm around Tao's waist, supporting his weight.
Yeah, he just needed a minute to get his breath back.
*
M-21 hated being this blind. He could see fine when the lights were out, but he was still blind. He couldn't tell where the other imposter was. The imposter hadn't been the one chasing Tao and Em couldn't figure that out. Had things changed?
Every creak set his teeth on edge and he just. He just had to get away. Move. Even next to the vent, he felt too enclosed. Trapped.
He ducked into the vent, going through, and after peering through, came out the vent at Storage.
Tao would be in the western building, so no-one should see him when M-21 exited.
No-one outside, good. The snow was clearing up a little too, making it easier to see.
M-21 headed south. He could try for the office or the western building. He kept a lookout, and it was just empty around him, the moonlight enough to light the way for him through the snow. This was better. He could see anyone coming for him in all directions, and he could run in all directions too.
Probably better to head to the office - he had no idea what door Tao would be going out, or if Tao was being followed.
M-21 jogged a little more, but he caught a light at the corner of his eye. There wasn't a light there. He whirled around, seeing a dark 'suit he hadn't seen before. His heart thudded in his chest, his skin prickling. Haloed around the imposter were large wings. That was the light he'd seen.
That had to be the imposter's transformation.
He was dead.
The imposter is Rai, but there's pretty much not been any way to show any tells for him before this since he wouldn't take off his helmet or talk, pfft.
Summary: The second stage begins.
Contains: Minor character death.
Notes: Among Us AU! :D
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Sci-fi
Word count: 2,962
Total word count: 49,449
Status: Work in progress
Muzaka had hated the waiting, but as the klaxon blared overhead, he exhaled, grabbing his helmet. He made one last check on the agent -still not moving- and headed out, slipping his 'suit on properly.
He saw Kentas leaving at the same time, climbing gear hidden in the water barrel he was carrying, and they left the western building, Kentas trailing a little behind him.
Muzaka frowned a little at the snow flurry that greeted them when they exited. Unexpected, but it should help.
[I've hacked into the ship's cameras,] Tao said, [so they can't see you. I've also made the ship think its got a niiice full tank so there won't be any alerts when you take the fuel.]
[Thanks,] Muzaka said. He went around the base more from memory than sight, and he peered at the white expanse in front of him and Kentas when they made it to the southern plain. Even with the snow, Muzaka could still see some of the soft lights from the ship through the haze.
It was a direction to head for.
[Ready?] he murmured to Kentas.
[Yeah.]
No-one came to greet them as they approached the ship, and Muzaka tried to keep out of sight of the bay doors as possible.
Muzaka stared up at the intimidating height of the ship, the smooth metal legs. If they climbed up from here, that should take them directly to the fuel line.
[All right then,] Muzaka said, seeing Kentas set down the water barrel. [Let's get climbing.]
Shiiit. M-21 could sense the new imposter was there but he couldn't tell where. Tao hadn't said anything to him yet, so that had to mean they weren't near him.
He would just stay in Medbay for now.
Frankenstein could sense Em was in the eastern building somewhere as they followed Orange up to the seismic stabilisers. Thankfully with the snow as thick as it was, their presence shouldn't be missed if they ducked into the eastern building.
[Boss, move!]
With Tao's warning, Frankenstein dashed ahead, feeling something thudding behind them.
Their presence wouldn't be missed if they were attacked either!
They skidded a little on the freshly fallen snow, sliding into the eastern building.
Those weren't gunshots. The weapons didn't make that kind of impact.
The imposter's transformation?
Frankenstein exhaled, trying to settle their heart as they waited for decompression to finish, keeping an eye on the outside door. They really weren't used to all this excitement of constantly running around and checking over their shoulder.
But being attacked meant they were being followed though. That was good. The other imposter wasn't going after Em.
The doors opened and Frankenstein dashed through them.
They might be running in circles, but so long as it was keeping people distracted, they would keep going.
Muzaka exhaled as he followed Kentas' magnet holds. Each one Kentas set down made the ship leg vibrate a little as it attached, and Muzaka just had to trust that if there was anyone inside, they couldn't see or feel it.
So far no-one had come to investigate them or started shooting them, so they were doing something right.
Muzaka grunted as he lunged up, grabbing the hold. He was used to doing everything he could to keep cool in the boiler room - the snow's cold hadn't seeped enough into his 'suit to make him stiff, but he was starting to feel it, his hands not moving as fast as he'd like.
He swore when his hand slipped off the hold, the snow making the surface slick.
[You all right?] Kentas asked from above him, and Muzaka sighed, dangling off his other hold.
[Yeah. Keep going.] He would just need to make sure he had a good grip every single time, and that he was still balanced elsewhere.
Muzaka glanced out towards the base, but all he could were a couple of lights and vague shadows. It was as if it was only him and Kentas there.
Were the others doing all right? Tao hadn't said anything, but if something had happened, they would be busy dealing with it, rather than wasting time to give them updates.
He shook his head. And to make sure no-one would be hurt, they had to do get the fuel as quickly as possible.
With a grunt, Muzaka pulled himself up, making sure he had a better grip this time and started climbing again.
Tao grumbled, squinting at his pad before sighing and leaning back. [What do you think?] Tao asked Takeo.
[Neither of us are much use here now.]
[Yeah...] He couldn't help the others if he couldn't see his screens, and Takeo couldn't shoot anyone if he couldn't see them. Or Takeo could, but he might be shooting someone else.
[Right, let's head for the office for now.] It was too early to head for the ship, since Muzaka and Kentas didn't have the fuel yet.
Tao climbed down from the roof, dropping to a crouch when he landed. It would have been nice if the planet had been one with a lighter gravity, then he could have just flung himself off without worrying about landing.
While he waited for Takeo to jump down, Tao wiped at his pad screen and peered at it. Most people were still clustered around the stabilisers, good. Aris was in the western building, away from them. Also good. [Looks clear.]
Takeo landed next to him, and they headed for the office, Takeo's hand on his shoulder. Takeo would watch his back while he watched everyone else's.
Tao wiped at his screen again once they were inside. Still safe, though Aris didn't look like she'd moved much from where he'd last seen her.
In fact...
Tao frowned as the doors opened.
Wasn't she walking the exact same-
"There you are!" Aris purred, from right in front of them.
Tao froze, his breath catching in his throat. How had she-?
"I thought you might still be accessing the feeds, so just in case I had one of my toys play a little recording for you." She gave them a cheery smile.
Just like Tao had done to the ship. Shit. He glanced at Security and saw the same agent still there, metallic cables extending out from its chest, connected to the security's tower. Dammit, he should have suspected something was happening.
[Sorry, me an' Takeo are gonna be going dark,] Tao told the others, backing away from Aris as she approached. [Good luck.]
Muzaka sucked in a breath when he heard Tao's message. He wanted to call back, but that would be the wrong thing to do. Tao and Takeo needed to concentrate on what was going on, just like him and Kentas.
He crouched, hands curling around the latch handle. He twisted, feeling the escaping air as he opened it.
Right. He had to do this quickly. Maybe whatever Tao had done had stopped working, now that Tao was distracted.
Muzaka breathed a sigh of relief as he peered into fuel line enough. Locks and something golden glowing softly through it all. It was the modern fuel that stayed in its own casing, and would be easy to transport.
The fuel slid out smoothly - it was a tube almost as long as his forearm, and twice as thick. It would easily fit in the water barrel.
[Is that it?] Kentas asked.
Muzaka tucked it under his arm, holding onto one of the handles on the side. [Yeah.] He wasn't entire sure of his grip, but he didn't want to attach it to anything to carry and then watch it fall either. At least this way he would know where it was at all times.
Muzaka started climbing down as Kentas followed, unsticking the magnets again as they passed.
Did not like this at all! Tao dashed across the base, not daring to look back, because that would slow him down and he needed all the distance he could-
He yelped, stumbling as something lashed by his side. It missed, creating a crack in the ground instead.
Whips. Boss had mentioned she'd used to work on weaponising 'suits, but he thought she'd transferred areas because she hadn't been that successful.
Her 'suit was definitely effective!
And was even strong enough to deflect gun ammo!
The good thing was he was Aris' target, which meant Takeo was free to go to Security and deal with the agent there. Because otherwise Tao couldn't trust his security feed, and the agent there could be telling Aris where everyone was. Or at least where he was - Muzaka and Kentas didn't seem to be targeted by her. From what he saw anyway. Dammit.
With Takeo going to the western building, Tao had to go east, his pad thumping against his thigh. [Em, if yer still in Medbay,] Tao said, watching Aris coming after him as the doors opened, [hide in the vents a sec.]
The doors closed after him, giving him time to catch his breath. Uuurgh, the daily walks with Takeo was nowhere near enough to prepare him for all this running.
Tao went straight through Medbay, not seeing Em at all. Good. He heard the doors open as he entered the lab, and it was a headstart. Not much of one, but better than none!
Through the lab and into specimen room. Was there anything in here he could use? Tao scanned the room, seeing the bubbling tubes in the centre, but that told him nothing. He had no idea what any of this was.
No point wasting time with something he was unsure of and would take too long to figure out. Especially when he could hear the doors opening behind him. Out out out, time to get out!
Okay, where could he go? Anywhere and nowhere, depending on how much his lungs and legs could take him.
The crack of a whip chased him as he ran, and nope, he'd taken too long!
Would be nice if she could trap her whip on something, but what? Tao stumbled through admin, not even bothering to look around. He could throw a plant pot at her head, but she'd probably just smack it down.
Something bigger. Heavier. A rock? And then he threw it into the lava pit and that dragged her down into it? Tao eyed the large rocks as he passed them.
No, that meant he would need to shift something heavy and with how he was feeling right now, he could barely toss a plant. And for all he knew, the suit would be able to hold all that weight, and then he'd be the one getting smacked with a whip with a rock on the end.
No thanks.
But electricity worked. He knew that. It was enough to stun her for a bit. Not a lot, but it was better than nothing.
If he could get her to wrap her whip around something electrical?
Electrical! That could do it!
[Hey, Em,] Tao said, angling towards the western building. [Don't suppose - you'd be able to -hff- switch Electrical off for me?] If Aris went in right now, it was going to be really obvious where she was, and she wouldn't use her whip then.
It would have been nice to have a list of everything Em could do to the base, but there hadn't been time amongst everything else. He was finding out now at least.
[I can turn off the lights? Electrical will go dark with it.]
[Yes! Perfect!] Electrical and Security had entrances on the same side, so if he went in through the northern door, she might not realise he'd went into a different door. If she even remembered where Security was.
Hopefully.
She might have upgraded her 'suit's visor as well and she could see in the dark.
[And turnin' Electrical back online?]
[In Electrical. Flip the switches until all of them are lit.]
Right. Em could only sabotage - he couldn't also fix the problems he'd made. Tao would have to turn the electricity back on himself.
Okay. With him inside, that meant she'd definitely hit something inside at least.
It was the only plan he had, so he would have to go for it.
[When do you want me to do it?]
[When - urk!] Something wrapped around Tao's leg, yanking him back enough to slam into the ground, winding him. Not good not good!
Tao kicked out, trying to dislodge the whip. Didn't do anything.
He was dragged back a foot, and nope, his rock into the lava pit wouldn't have worked.
The whip loosened and Tao gritted his teeth, rolling to the side, wincing as the whip came crashing down where he'd just been.
That would have hurt. Not killed him, or torn his 'suit. Just made specifically to hurt.
He scrambled to his feet, hobbling a couple steps, and shitshitshit, he needed to move if he didn't want to be dragged back to the ship.
He dodged the next cracks through sheer luck and that was exactly what he needed right now.
Unless she was just playing with him, trying to exhaust him.
That was fine! If she was dragging it out for her own pleasure, he could use that.
The doors to the western building opened up in front of him, and he dashed in. [Now, Em!]
Two seconds later, the lights flickered, and then died.
Good. Perfect. He needed to be close enough to Electrical that no-one else could reach it before he could and see what happened, and he needed to be close enough that he could leave quickly.
[Hey, Takeo,] Tao panted as he limped further into the building, [coming in hot. Don't come out.]
It didn't feel like he was coming in hot, and he tried to catch his breath, his ankle throbbing.
He needed to stick close enough to Electrical's doors that Aris would see them close and assume he'd gone through. Unless he wanted to make sure she saw him enter.
That was too risky. He needed more time than that.
Tao heard the door pistons moving behind him and okay, he hadn't been as ahead as he thought.
He ducked into Electrical, and breathed a sigh of relief, seeing a small glowing panel on the walls. That had to be it.
[Come here, little rat,] Aris said. [I know where you went.]
Good. That was the point.
Tao opened the panel, seeing the switches. His arms were still mostly unhurt and Tao flipped all but one.
And now, he was stuck here. Waiting.
The door opened, and Tao saw the light reflecting off Aris' visor.
[Did you think you could hide in here?]
[Yes?] Tao's heart thudded hard in his chest as he swallowed. This had to go perfectly. He had one, maybe two chances at this.
[But now you're trapped here. Oh dear. I still haven't broken your leg yet,] Aris said. [Though I think I'll break a few more things first, for all the trouble you've given me!]
Tao ducked the whip, and exhaled when the whip wrapped around one of the machines. Yes!
He straightened and slammed his hand on the switch, the light going green.
The machines hummed, coming on all at once, and Tao dived out of the way, just in case he was too close.
[What's th-] Aris shrieked and the electricity must have coursed through her.
She slammed into the wall, falling limp, and Tao stared at her. It was hard to tell if she was still breathing, but her 'suit was smouldering and she wasn't moving either.
Tao glanced at the lights again before limping out again. The lights were on, so no-one else would come through and find her. That should be enough.
He flinched at a 'suit standing outside but relaxed, seeing Takeo's familiar blue. [Hey...] he mumbled, stumbling over.
[Hey,] Takeo greeted, wrapping an arm around Tao's waist, supporting his weight.
Yeah, he just needed a minute to get his breath back.
M-21 hated being this blind. He could see fine when the lights were out, but he was still blind. He couldn't tell where the other imposter was. The imposter hadn't been the one chasing Tao and Em couldn't figure that out. Had things changed?
Every creak set his teeth on edge and he just. He just had to get away. Move. Even next to the vent, he felt too enclosed. Trapped.
He ducked into the vent, going through, and after peering through, came out the vent at Storage.
Tao would be in the western building, so no-one should see him when M-21 exited.
No-one outside, good. The snow was clearing up a little too, making it easier to see.
M-21 headed south. He could try for the office or the western building. He kept a lookout, and it was just empty around him, the moonlight enough to light the way for him through the snow. This was better. He could see anyone coming for him in all directions, and he could run in all directions too.
Probably better to head to the office - he had no idea what door Tao would be going out, or if Tao was being followed.
M-21 jogged a little more, but he caught a light at the corner of his eye. There wasn't a light there. He whirled around, seeing a dark 'suit he hadn't seen before. His heart thudded in his chest, his skin prickling. Haloed around the imposter were large wings. That was the light he'd seen.
That had to be the imposter's transformation.
He was dead.
The imposter is Rai, but there's pretty much not been any way to show any tells for him before this since he wouldn't take off his helmet or talk, pfft.