Event: Consolidation Theory, Part Six

[snowblindmods]

Characters: the marked, the unmarked, and their rescuers
Location: ???
Date: Morning 356
Summary: Time to get out of here.
Warnings: gore, psychological horror, warn for specifics in the subject lines

Part Six OOC Post

Comments

[devoutish]

[Alfie's sitting propped up against the wall, looking halfway out of it as he fiddles with one of the many bandages that covers his body. He looks up at Quark's voice, though, and a thinly-veiled look of alarm crosses his face. He knows what "help" usually means in situations like this. Quark is going to grab him and drag him off to some surgery room, isn't he?]

... Quark.

[But he knows there's no way that he can talk him out of it.]

[averytinyparticle]

[Maybe Quark should have more thoroughly considered the implications of him trying to rescue anyone after the role that he played as a brainwashed cultist in the Tower. But he didn't. He rushed in, desperate and wanting to help. Feeling like he had to be able to do something, surely.]

The Admin...she figured out where everyone was being kept and showed us the way. We gotta watch out for Mister Miller, but we can make it.

[devoutish]

[That... doesn't sound like the words of somebody who's about to try to drag him away. He blinks at Quark - still a little suspicious, but listening.]

I can't go out, mate. I've tried.

[averytinyparticle]

Yeah, I know. I mean--that's what everyone's saying. But we're not seeing the same things, maybe because of the drugs you were given? I'm not sure.

[Quark steps closer, crouching down so he's not looming over Alfie.]

[devoutish]

Quark, I've tried. I've tried a thousand times.

[Mostly when Royce sounded particularly upset.]

The ones who haven't got the lines on 'em, right - they can do it. I can't.

[averytinyparticle]

Of course you can! I know you can.

[His expression gets indignant in that way that only a child's could. It's more than that, though--he looks almost desperate. Please, please let this work.]

Because...because it's you, and nobody could keep you chained down here like this, not that bastard Mister Miller and not anybody else!

[devoutish]

[Oh, Quark. Quark.

He's dizzy and nauseous, and sick, and depressed - but how can he be defeated, when Quark is standing there in front of him showing so much faith in his badassery? Alfie heaves a heavy sigh, and moves to stand on shaky legs.]

Shall I give it another go, then?

[He fully expects it not to work.]

[averytinyparticle]

Yeah!

[That's the spirit! Or, it's, somewhat the spirit. Quark isn't going to ask for too much in this situation. He does reach for Alfie's arm, though--looking for an uninjured place to hold onto.]

I'll go with you. You just gotta tell yourself that it's not--that this isn't real. It's just a big room full of people.

[devoutish]

[Good luck finding an uninjured place - he's covered in bandages. He doesn't flinch away from the touch, though.]

A big room full of people? That's what you see?

[averytinyparticle]

[Quark nods.]

Yeah...I was really surprised, but that's it. There are some sinks and toilets but other than that, just one room with everyone inside of it just standing or sitting around.

[devoutish]

[He's not all that surprised, honestly. The more he thinks about it, the more it makes sense. At the barrier, he hesitates just the slightest second - and then he sticks his hand through.]

[averytinyparticle]

[Quark's eyes brighten--there'd been an instant where he held his breath, afraid that Alfie would recoil from some unseen barrier...but then nothing happens, as far as he can tell.]

What do you see now? Did it change?

[devoutish]

[Instead of answering, Alfie continues walking, shuffling through the nonexistent barrier and out into the hall. He's heading for Royce immediately, of course - though luckily, he's already been broken out of the delusion by Ecks.]

Quark.

[He reaches back for the boy, touching his shoulder.]

How did you get down here?

[averytinyparticle]

Well...I'm not sure, not all the way. After the Admin said that she found where you were being held and I said I wanted to help, I got really dizzy...and then all of a sudden I was here--where ever here is. I was in a bunch of confusing hallways, and I had to hide from these figures that were sort of static-like. Eventually, I found my way here.

[devoutish]

You don't know what building we're in, then?

[averytinyparticle]

[He shakes his head.]

She didn't say, and I couldn't find anything that made it obvious. I've never seen a building that looks like this one. It must be somewhere we haven't found yet.

[devoutish]

Well. No better time than now to explore.

[He tears his eyes away from Royce to look down at Quark.]

You're all right? Nothing's happened to you lot?

[averytinyparticle]

Yeah, I'm alright.

[But he frowns. There are a lot of people here--ones that he knew had asked the Admin if they could help.]

But when I woke up down here, I was by myself. I didn't see anyone else until I got into this room. I guess that means this place is pretty big...

[devoutish]

How long were you wandering before you found us?

[averytinyparticle]

[Quark shakes his head.]

I couldn't really say for sure. It felt like hours, but that might just be because I had to keep stopping to hide.

[devoutish]

Hide.

[Alfie murmurs. His head is woozy, and he's not sure whether that's internally- or externally-caused.]

Right-- no more standing here and talking. Let's get out of here.