\ Haven:Mist and Shadow Plotlogs/The Red Observer Sr Ritsuka 241116
Plotlogs

The Red Observer Sr Ritsuka 241116

In the shadowed city of Haven, nestled near the coast of Boston, Massachusetts, an insidious adventure unfolds. The narrative involves two central figures: Illyana, an angelborn with a propensity for violence and a demonic heritage, and Ash, a character marked by a more pragmatic and stealthy disposition. Their mission leads them to explore the depths of a facility known for its sinister experiments, clandestinely manipulating both the supernatural and the mundane.

The duo's investigation commences with the discovery of alarming documents that hint at vile experiments and a plan to push harmful pharmaceuticals onto the market, including a nefarious project dubbed "Aurelia Genesis" and the troubling "Human 2.0." Driven by a combination of fury and determination, Illyana and Ash delve into the facility's nightmarish layers, both literal and figurative. They traverse through the oppressive ambiance of meticulously sterile corridors and rooms on the second sub-floor, encountering evidence of human rights atrocities that include mechanical augmentations on unwilling subjects and twisted biological enhancements.

Illyana's rage escalates with each revelation, fueled by the sight of children and adults subjected to barbaric modifications. Their journey culminates on the third and darkest floor of the facility, where they come face to face with Takashi Renjiro, the cold-eyed scientist responsible for the macabre experiments. Surrounded by the horrors of his creation, including a monstrosity made from angelborn flesh, machine, and animal parts, Ash and Illyana realize they've walked into a trap masterminded by forces aligned with the Dynasty, a powerful entity evidently not of their own world.

In a dire twist, Illyana attempts a desperate attack against Renjiro, but their efforts to escape or fight back are thwarted by the sudden activation of a ward that traps them within the nightmare they've navigated. Only by invoking their own mysterious and dark powers do they manage, at the last moment, to shadowwalk back to safety. Ash takes the initiative to alert the Hand, an influential organization, about the infiltration by the Dynasty and the urgent need for a tactical response.

The narrative concludes with unresolved tensions and the stark realization of the facility's depth of corruption and influence. Illyana's personal vendetta against Renjiro becomes a matter of cold vengeance, aiming to unleash her fury not just upon him but upon everything he represents. Meanwhile, Ash's calculated approach aligns with broader strategies to confront the looming threat posed by the Dynasty's presence in Haven.

In this grim tale set against the backdrop of Haven's supernatural underbelly, Illyana and Ash become embodiments of the eternal conflict between raw emotion and calculated action, set upon a stage where the stakes are as high as the souls and sanity of those caught in the crossfire. The story leaves the readers pondering the cost of their eventual retribution and the true extent of the darkness that lies hidden beneath the surface of civilization.
(The Red Observer(SRRitsuka):SRRitsuka)

[Fri Nov 15 2024]

On Haven
Haven City is a shadowed city nestled at the coast near Boston, Massachusetts. Supernatural beings thrive and struggle under the endless conflict between bustling urban life. To the northwest lies White Oak University, an institution where supernatural study to control their abilities and also features a clinic for not so great experimentation on live people. But the university tends to draw both humans and supernaturals alike. The city is surrounded by endless forests that cover god knows what in its perpetual mist, and a lighthouse still peers and shines over it, guiding people back to a more safe harbor to the city.

It is afternoon, about 51F(10C) degrees,

Precious snowflakes dance and descend slowly down from the grey skies, a slow snowfall has taken up the city of Haven, gentle and everlasting with cold temperatures that won't waver until spring returns and it will only get colder yet. It's only just started. It has been but a few weeks since some information was garnered from a Professor at the academy

Today, some of the united efforts has managed to bring in some more results, enough to get a good grasp at where it may yet be located. And so, a party here gathers once more, here, in the middle of Haven, with new information, though how much will they share with each other? Well, that is a different question altogether

Illyana had changed her positions again, a shift in her position, her affiliations information was lost. Information that couldn't be picked up on. But this does not mean that she was blind. There had been people that she had seen more than once. They had the same eyes, the same kind of look, but they had always looked different. Some of her own connections even reported that several of her sources have been completely and utterly silenced with near to absolutely nothing to go on. The assassins were quick, stealthy, fast, except for a singular detail: They utilise and rely on something no one here in the US commonly does: Biomancy.

Ash belongs to a group that is more powerful and does have more of the resources necessary to find it, and some information came easy, and this from one of the higher ups of the Hanshin Group itself, as the chess pieces would have it. They know about Aurelia Genesis Labs, and they delighted in informing Ash that the experiments may yet bring in new profits, but that they had been concerned in one particular prospect: There have been burner calls, numbers made, messages sent from the facility, somewhere to the far east and some information from a recent data discovered from the Vetr-dome have been leaked along this to Chinese competitors. The damage is minimal, the information useless, but someone is putting a block behind it, making it untraceable, difficult to reach. They weren't willing to provide Ash with anything, but said that they would appreciate it if they could find out if they so happen to.

The effort of the cult and its contacts had perhaps been the most successful, not only did they have access to some more secluded information through those contacts, but also received a little package from the Japanese girl everyone here knows. It started with some information tracking from the geo-location, picking up old data, exchanging some old GPS tracking for the girl's phone, which had proven more difficult than one expected. And it always cuts off, just as it leads outside of Haven and the forest, past Sanctuary's reach, a few dozen miles down. The expert suspected that something is jamming the signal there, and that there is probably a block or access to a limited line of communications there, either arcane or through military-grade technology, but it is hard to tell. The information that the Japanese girl provided, just to follow up on her contacts, is far more precise. It was delivered through mail to Illyana and Ash, all of it in English, and from her friends, not from her. She is unaware and would probably not approve so much. It was just slipped through under a door of an apartment or suddenly in one's pocket, and contains both information on where it is, but also the floor plans for the first level, as well as a single access code. It does say that it will only work a single time, because afterwards, she will never receive another, should the facility keep intact.

As far as the note the contacts were provided with go, the entrance is heavily secured by autonomous means. Turrets at the entrance, on both sides. The area is fenced off, communication silence. Camera above the front door that only leads straight into an elevator and a passcode that needs to be entered on an identity scanner for irises and fingerprints. The turrets, as far as she understands it, work through face recognition technology. They are set to use non-lethal means, small but accurate firing with tranquillisers until a guard from downstairs is ready to come up to 'process' knocked out individuals. She fears knowing what that means. There appear to be a total of three floors but she has only ever been given access to the top-most floor. The middle and lower are unknown and far more restricted. The top most primary tackles and observes viruses in the laboratory, as well as working on producing a new vaccine every year against the most common diseases like the flu, and more recently also Covid. There are notes that some of the observation and rat testing labs were a little odd, specifying that they were too large for just rats, but she never asked about it. The top most floor is a singular hallway that goes across, with ways to left and right in the middle, leading to janitorial, testing, production, development labs between, and also an office to the head of research for the specific floor called Hiroshi Takeda. The last sentence on the file states "You will know why I am not very willing to work with them anymore when you see what they wish us to produce and sell." All this information made its way into Illyana's hands, with both of them belonging to the same cult, and her friends knowing Illyana is a good friend to her.

There was an attempt for other people to be contacted by the girl's own friend, specifically by the Orderite Lucienne. She was one of the Swords in the local branch, but has since transferred to the Boston branch away from Haven after the entire fiasco on removal. It was a subtle but urgent request, as one would make for another friend. She had the address of the AGL available for those interested and that there should only be two dozen armed personnel on the facility from what she could find out. Her pleading wa

There was an attempt for other people than Ash and Illyana to be contacted by the girl's own friend, specifically by the Orderite Lucienne. She was one of the Swords in the local branch, but has since transferred to the Boston branch away from Haven after the entire fiasco on removal. It was a subtle but urgent request, as one would make for another friend. She had the address of the AGL available for those interested and that there should only be two dozen armed personnel on the facility from what she could find out. Her pleading was plain; she is responding to the girl's own worries, and mentioned something called a 'PPP', Personalised Painkiller Patches, meant to be marketed as "Relieve Pain with Precision", but the patches contain compounds that enhance pain receptors if discontinued to create a dependency.

The day is along into the afternoon, and the snow continues. How the party is to approach it, well, who is to tell, other than Ash and Illyana

Having shared the requisit information between herself and Ash, Illyana meets with the Hand Shadow in a location that she allows Ash to choose; This way, it will have the grounding of Hand protections, along with Illyana not needing to have Fayad trailing her, as that would turn very much into a disaster- Like all those months back when the original her vanished. This time however, Illyana and Ash are not weaklings seeking reprieve from the hostility and hate of the monster Gonthorian, but are powerful in their own right, and thus, they can deal with this save for one major issue as Illyana sees it: She's no expert. She can likely move fast enough and violently enough that they could break down the doors, but it would be noisy, and Illyana is not subtle when employing her totally super heroic and not at all monsterous and impressively murderously monsterous powers. Thankfully, Ash is capable of being subtle, so knowing the objective, this being infiltrating for answers, Illyana turns the floor over to the androgyn. What a shame, of course. The frenchman would have been useful here; His technology would have been useful, though as a bonus, Illyana, complete with powered armor and a sabre, has more than this. There are a small number of grenades-- Not that Illyana knows how to use them- Maybe Ash does. If so, there may be systom killers and dampening.

Ash has chosen on of the several Hand bases they've been setting up as of late, though it's merely an office, insofar as Illyana should be able to tell. Though, at least, they've assured her of having swept for bugs right before. Ash is there waiting, looking frazzled with a slight scent, suggesting activity one wouldn't expect from an asexual. They look like they could use a shower, but at least none of it is overwhelming or uncomfortable. For Illyana, though, her perceptive senses makes it stand out, of notice.

Ash, likely unaware that these altogether minor details might be so easily read, reads the gathered data instead, pooled between the resources available to them both. In a murmured drawl, they explain, "I can make it past the turrets fine, but we'll need to find or purchase fingerprints. Ideally, from the same place. I can steal both from Ritsuka, but I don't think we want to involve her any further, right? We can try to find someone on the scene, and hope I can pull the right luck needed for it."

Swapping through a few more pages, they also point out, "We should consider janitorial. It's an obvious weak point, possibly, but they *do* have access to these other floors, while simple guards may not. Also, I can't be *certain* that I'd be allowed to bring a guest in behind me." They tap their fingers on their desk, adding, "Illusions mostly work on the mind, not the eyes - which makes tricking cameras not an option, besides face shifting. That's more on the person, than the viewer, but close study reveals it...."

They're rambling, as they overthink, looking over every possible weakness, area for fucking up. They tap their fingernails, a sharper sound than the pats, as they focus. "I hate being black for these kinds of things...."

As it turned out to be, Ash was indeed right to bugsweep, as someone had not just left one or two or even three, but nearly ten cameras in this room. Someone, ahead of time, was aware, or had been watching, and tried to set something up, but evidently it all fell apart by the simple bugsweep. There is the code that the contacts had been provided for Illyana, noted as FJDU584-594X-SHRI, and while the documents do not list the need for fingerprints and iris scans - who knows if that means actually not needing them, the people that put it together did not consider this clearly. There is a small written and single-letter spelled word penned in blue ink besides it that mentions the word 'emergency'.

Here, indoors, the snow and the cold does not reach inside, and evening is slowly arriving, when people start to make their way home, leave work behind and rest to start on another day tomorrow.

In spite of everything- And the distinct lack of common sense, Illyana does have a keen mind, so it's likely no shock when she points out, "A guard would be too obvious anyway; If they're on a rota a missing one, or one slightly off would prove to be suspicious. We could path in if we had a better line of sight, but again, we only have the floor plan. I've seen a master vampire path into an unseen areas, but I like actually being alive." There's a moment as she thinks before adding, "I could super jump over the defenses and make myself faster, though that still leaves you, so I think maybe the play would be you moving up with the code and me running in after you. I can hit maybe... sixty MPH for a short enough burst if we wanted that, so the risk would be my jetstream. Or we could try the face stealing and casually walk in. Try the bodyguard thing if you can get the face of an official?" Then the bohemian hits on another point. "We have the code and they're after someone with angel and demon blood directly. Maybe I could just walk on in there. I'm sort of exhibit A. And outside of that, I think we're going to fall short, so mitigating loss of life is high on my priority list. Ritsuka should also likely be left out of this. I really don't want to have to break her neck and hide her in the nightmare if we fuck up. I like her." Illyana does not mention that she's already killed a number of people this week, but it likely goes without saying for a supernatural.

Ash thinks, then nods. "We can't plan much without going on the scene, I think. If I find a good face, I'll take it. I can...." Suddenly, they start to strip, removing their lovely, warm winter clothes for something far less warm, but more fitting.

"Oh good." Illyana quips after waiting for Ash to finish changing. "Now you look the part. "Let's go break in." Zipping her jacket up, she's ready to rock. And today, hopefully no one dies-- That is, unless Illyana or Ash get peckish along the way and the security are stupid enough to attack. But surely they'd not do that, after all. That would be most silly."

"Oh good." Illyana quips after waiting for Ash to finish changing. "Now you look the part. Let's go break in." Zipping her jacket up, she's ready to rock. And today, hopefully no one dies-- That is, unless Illyana or Ash get peckish along the way and the security are stupid enough to attack. But surely they'd not do that, after all. That would be most silly.

As Ash switches out into something fare more comfortable, and Illyana zips up, the snowfall does get worse. The trip is done with vehicle, for a while, up until about a miles from where the fence separates the way into the facility complex, and then, whomever is driving them, refuses to continue on, because in that moment, GPS cuts, phone signal cuts, all electronic devices seem to lose their signal. It is a good way through the forest, and the trip through was eerie, a monster watching with yellow eyes from the distance, the hoot from an owl... But haven is left behind and they both know they've entered an area where this same protection does not hold.

The courtyard ahead is largely empty, in fact, the entire place is a fenced up grassy space, with a single road leading up to a sort of... small, block-sized structure about the size of a single room. From here, it looks to have some machinery at the front and a small dot-thing above it. The entrance to the fence is simple, but there is scanner both on the left and right side from it and another camera watches from the fence gate as well. Nothing grows for about fifty meters off the fence outward in any direction, and all the poles between each fence compartment, have a sort of ball at the tip, cameras as might sometimes be seen in buses in certain regions of the world. The whole structure is still far away, and likely, the cameras cannot yet zoom onto them or detect them.

Ash nods to Illyana, asking, "Are we going to take my luxury van, or pathing in?" There's a bit of excitement - clearly, they want to show off the van, but the practical part of them knows that pathing is cleaner. "On one hand, getaway vehicle... on the other hand, a footprint." They simply assume that Yana will understand their metaphorical wording.

As Ash is interested in taking their van, and Illyana and Ash need to get there, she lets them take it, likely driven by an operative to keep the two fresh on arrival. There's a so-so gesture as things are arranged and soon, they find themselves outside of the noman's land and technology cuts out- Inconvenient, but not entirely unexpected. This then means that they must infiltrate the fence, then head in further, so of course, that is what they must do; They have a pass code and everything.

Ash happily drives their Becker Mercedes-Benz Sprinter JetVan, showing Illyana the cushy convenience of the luxury vehicle. She'll be able to see and experience: This luxury-class Becker Mercedes-Benz Sprinter JetVan is a navy blue modern vehicle, with a sleek, seamless look - complete with high roof, extended wheelbase, tinted windows, and an electric sliding door. Fiberglass moldings and aluminum entry steps are color-matched to the outer shade for a smooth transition.@line
Inside, the van is soundproof, climate controlled, with plush, European leather seating. Five seats wrap around like a couch, with two more facing the front. All of the seats offer massaging, heating, cooling, and adjustable leg rests. The two VIP bucket seats have burl wood consoles, fold out tables, and a pull out fridge, with a viewable 32" HD screen.

A 43" HD screen on the rear has different channels, allowing both screens to utilize the 7.1 surround sound system via the onboard media center. GPS tracking, Lo-Jack recovery, and emergency equipment balances out burl wood and European leather surfaces for a luxurious ride.

On the way there, Ash makes a stop - at biolabs! After purchasing some goods, a glance at the techs is all it takes - and they walk away with a new face. Arriving at the parking lot, later, they look around for better, fresher faces, more deeply involved than their backup. Preferably someone leaving, not entering.

"We can path out if need be." Illyana suggests to Ash. "or shadowwalk."

As far as Ash can see, there is not a single person present on the property itself and some of the pharmacist at Biolabs are easy to remember, though whether they have access to this place is something that may perhaps need to be tested if there is no other way to find out. They are very polite at least, and offer a smile, never knowing any of what might go on to happen. The turrets mentioned on the file are also nowhere to be seen, likely hidden somewhere, either underground or at the side, but it is difficult to see from here as they might be inset underground intto the pavement. The building itself is certainly no three floor building either.

Ash nods to Illyana, in agreement before they get out of the van. They would have tried to a sight into one of the tech labs - after all, they've gotten in and walked those labs quite a few times by now - and simply hopes that the most important one they've seen is at least as important as Ritsuka, or close. But, they can't truly know that, can they? It's all guesswork.

Blessing themself with good luck, they enter boldly, as if they meant to be there. They don't look up or over at the cameras, of course, though they do find themself wishing that they'd had a scarf to wear. So long as nothing stops them, they'd walk right in, and pausing only a moment to think before putting in the code.

"Spooky Resident Evil style secret underground Bond Villain base." Illyana decides, mixing her metaphorss, assessing the no-man's land before the door. Yet, there is a code, so they might as well use it. "This isn't what was described on the floor plan, so someone's been fudging official reports- Or that's a floor down through the completely unsinister and more than normal enterence stone shaft." Illyana observes as she follows Ash in- Following, not leading. Unintentional innate angelic servitude, or fully intentional human shielding? Who knows- Likely the former. Though Ash has luck on their side, so they head on in as far as they can get.

Ash doesn't speak up in response, simply going about their work.

The first thing that Ash finds is that the fence has no passcode or console, but the scanner on both side pick up and the camera moves smoothly around and then focuses on Ash. Whether fortune hits or not, it not unclear and the camera at the fence entrance then also turns to focus on Illyana. Its lense circles and spins, the scanners at the side of the fence gate do their work - and then open the way into the courtyard and the way up to the small structure that does stand at the center of the barren complex. The camera above the structure's door most definitely activates and begins to observe both Ash and Illyana, and now that they are close enough, their senses allow them to see a subtle outline in the asphalt at the sides of the way, that is most definitely where the autonomous turrets are likely hiding that had been mentioned in the report. Now that they are close enough, they can see the aforementioned access console to the left of the entrance door to the small building, while the right holds the iris and fingerprint scanner.

Ash may regret not studying the art of hacking, at this point, but there's only so much someone their age can learn, right? They've knowledge of the occult, of rituals and incantations, access to the finest medical skills, and a professional level of stealth... but does anything play into this? As it is, they can only continue to act with confidence, playing a part, using their stolen face and credentials to make it through. This being an underground facility, as well as there not being any visible humans to play with puts them at a distinct disadvantage. They can only wait for what happens.

And embrace the Cold, relaxing.

Noting Ash's profesionalism, Illyana puts aside the all too catching air of fun, falling into step easily- And quietly, going out of her way to look as unthreatening as she can, which is all well and good until shit goes down and the perfectly normal teen turns into a fireworks display. For now though, completely unsuspicious medical care professional and plus one. When the cams move to follow Illyana and Ash, the bohemian doesn't react; She's meant to be here, and there's no danger of a full ID with her face-covering hair and the reflective lenses of her sunglasses. Still, the iris scanner and fingerprints. Ominous and deserving of being broken, but that would be a one way trip towards tower defense, and that's not needed right now. Instead, Illyana waits for Ash to finger in the key code: It was an emergency code, so it likely bypasses the extra protections as an one trick, get out into jail free card.

Ash and Illyana draw closer to the door, and come to a stop. The darn camera turns its lens and angle and keeps on the two of them. There is the sound of machinery that goes through the ground, and from the lines in the asphalt, movement can be heard as the turrets go up and angle themselves on Ash and Illyana. It is a total of four, two on each side, with the two on the left aiming for Illyana and the other two on the right aiming for Ash. They do not fire the moment they can, and for now, they still remain on standby, as if observing. Watching.

Able to approach, and with the forewarning of enhanced supernatural senses, Illyana shouldn't be surprised when the turrets rise, but in spite of everything, this is the first time heavy ordinence has been used potentially against her. There's a moment where she considers to let the plan go to shit and start smashing with only the kind of rage fueled devastation a demon can bring to bare, and that clearly plays over her features in the slight smile that creeps its way over her face, though she abandons this as she waits on Ash. She's ready of course to act, fully prepared to set the turrets off kilter by raising the gravity around them, though that might not be needed here and now. So Illyana does the hard thing: She waits on Ash to type in the code, ready to leap into action or wander casually in as the situation demands, the only visible note of this being the subtle shift of her feet as her weight settles onto the balls, rather than the toes of her feet.

Ash notes that, despite them putting the code in, there's no response from the system. They *knew* they should have stolen fingerprints... so, they step over for the iris scan. Their mind races as they do the best they possibly could - they shift just the pads of their fingers, just right before pressing them into the fingerprint scanner, to mask their fingerprints. By the time they lift their fingers, the skin has reverted.

The terminal console on the other side of the door remains untouched so far, no code had been entered just yet, but when Ash goes for the eye-scan - it blinks red. Dark BEEP - rejected. Seems this staffer from Biolabs has no access to this place. Alas, the turrets most definitely do not look happy, but the camera focuses back onto Illyana and Illyana specifically. Then - the turrets return into their standby and disappear far quicker underground than had appeared and the building door opens.

Inside, is nothing more than an elevator, but it's perhaps now clear, that Illyana, and perhaps even company, was expected.


Ash enters boldly, as if they meant to be there. They don't look up or over at the cameras, of course, though they do find themself wishing that they'd had a scarf to wear. So long as nothing stops them - the fence only being a pause - they'd walk right in, and pausing only a moment more to think before putting in the code .

begins to inspect the door with the kind of eye that isn't looking for, say, reasonable methodology like locks, but for where the hinges are. It's not something that a lot of people focus on with doors, though it's something someone could easily learn from any length of time watching crime shows and police procedurals, but if one is going to break a door, the lock, though one weak point isn't the only one. THe other spot is the upmost hinge, as that will inevitably be holding the majority of a door's weight on it, so if it were dislodged... Say via supernatural strength or the subtle application of heat to weaken them, it will, at least in theory... and with the luck of the fae, dislodge the mourings enough that the lock will no longer find purchace with the slight change in weight and orientation of the jam. No matter how technological a door is, that is the key if one doesn't in fact have a key, so if push comes to shove, Illyana wants to be ready to both push and shove with the six hundred pound lifting weight of an angel in order to get herself, and Ash inside before they can become swiss people via the medium of machine gun mounts that may or may not be trained on them.

Ash nods to Illyana, waiting on her lead as it seems that she is wanted here. "Ladies first," they say, motioning her forward. They respond as if this was no surprise, but Illyana would feel a bit of dread rising then falling, smooshed before it could form words. Not consciously, but the way one schools themselves, forcing their mind to reject the intrusiveness, or closing off emotions.

THis is really rather sinister. Glancing to Ash, Illyana still reaches out, using the ability to manipulate heat to ruin the mechanism for the door. At least this way, there will be no chance that an escape rout will not be at least passable. "That's sexist. I should just toss you in." Illyana points out to Ash, but at the end of the day, Illyana is angelborn, and that's an easy to follow instruction, even if this is a trap- Which is very likely the case. That said, the door is open, so it would be exceptionally rude to not enter. So off they go, into the unknown- Though Illyana loosens her sabre in its back sheath, priming her power armor if it is needed.

The elevator doors lie open, having, seemingly opened on their own by now. The turrets, as a brief look would also show, do not have any machine gun mounts, but singular, on point precision barrels, likely to fire the tranquilizer that had previously been mentioned in the notes that had been provided to Ash and Illyana. The door itself looks to be steel, as do the hinges, but Illyana could probably wedge something in somewhere if she wanted to keep the door in a permanent state of open all the same - and so she does, using her ability to control heat, the locking mechanics melts somewhere, and the door is now doomed to be opened until repaired.

The elevator ride leads downwards, underground and there is the all too annoying music that plays on every corporate elevator ride. The sign at the panel shows only four symbols: E, -1, -2, -3, and a small and little light besides -1 is glowing, likely the intended goal. Would Ash and Illyana like to prepare in any way of this elevator ride before it reaches -1? Above them is a hatch they could open, too. If they so desired to do something with it.

Ash shrugs, more able to banter now that they no longer have to pretend to be something they're not, drawling, "You're the guest, so you first... and if that's the case, I thought it polite. I do apologize." Simple, logical, and an apology - very hard to tear apart and turn back on them, which is exactly why Ash did so. And Illyana would know that Ash did it purely to deny her. And Ash would know that Yana knows that Ash is fucking with her. And so, a polite response serves as a dig, in return, in the least bantery banter they can for the moment.

As the car descends down the shaft, Illyana points out to Ash with zero venom at all, "I really hate you so much. Why wont you suffer for me." There's a finger and thumb set slightly apart as she adds, "Just a smidge." Then, reaching up, Illyana opens the hatch at the top of the lift. Another quick escape rout. Then she moves to one side of the conveyance, sabre by her side just in case, giving no possible way that tranques or weaponry can be used. Illyana has no desire to be used as an experiment today, thank-you-very-much. Still, this is no time for propper MCU style friendly bickering, so after prepping weapons and armor, all that's left to do is to wait for the thing to descend to level minus one.

Ash is not hoping for a shootout in the depths of an organization with the defenses here - it stands to reason that such a secure facility wouldn't be so easy to escape through as running through an elevator door and climbing the shaft. They glance around the elevator, for once actually looking for cameras.

If they *did* try to prepare, would they be seen? What are the chances of someone using the elevator and just closing a hatch? They know that Illyana could easily just punch the hatch open - this is understood as her role in these things. Fast and hard. While it's Ash's job to worry about all the little things that go on - and yet, relying on their luck more than anything else, in case things go bad.

As the elevator continues to drop, they respond to Illyana casually, as she acts in accordance with their thoughts - not desires - in a way that understands that they are of like mind here. They feel their vest under their clothes, feel for their weapons in their bag, though it's surely not the only weapons on them.

And, as well, they wait. They have no way of telling, after all, if they have 7 minutes for a quick ritual... they probably would have needed to do so in the back of the van before entering.

The elevator comes to stop on level -1. It comes to a stop, still, and then the brief few seconds must feel agonizing before the doors slowly - yes very slowly open up into a hallway. Both Illyana and Ash had seen the plan for this floor on the file that was provided to them. And when they get to peer out into the hallway that leads from the elevator from a small, half-circle sort of elevator-lobby out, is a vacant facility.

The air hums with the faint buzz of fluorescent lights, casting a sterile glow over the pristine white-tiled hallway. The singular corridor stretches in both directions, with glass-paneled doors revealing glimpses of testing rooms and orderly production labs. Signs affixed above each doorway read in clean, bold lettering: "Testing Unit 1," "Development Lab 3," and so on. At the center of the hallway, two branching paths lead to janitorial supplies and storage on one side, while the other opens to a conference room lined with polished metal chairs.

At the far end of the hall, a frosted-glass door bears the engraved name: 'Hiroshi Takeda, Head of Research - Unit 1.'

On the brief way up to the shaft, Ash could not see any cameras in the elevator shaft itself, and even the elevator itself does not seem to possess one. The elevator shaft itself can be climbed up with ladders if it was needed, and the route up through them appears to be away from any rising or descending elevators, making it a likely safe route for the most part. The one thing they do notice is about the elevator itself is that the button to a lower floor, each has a small scanner besides it. Someone likely has to scan in some badge or other item that holds a specific key to access the other two floors below.

Glancing out quickly, Illyana ducks out, then back into the elevater before looking to Ash. There's a look: It's something shared by most action movie protagonists that reads along the lines of 'It's quiet... Too quiet...' Though she says nothing. The walkway looks free though, even via nightmare charms, so they are meant to be here, and though labs and conference rooms are likely places to trash and or investigate, the likely spot, where someone is waiting is the office of Mister Takeda. If little else, then a key card will likely exist in a desk, or some other methodology of descending further... And if push comes to shove, Illyana was once Hand, and Ash still is, so they are likely on the same page about just kidnapping anyone they find and hypnotising their way deeper. This all considered, Illyana nods to Ash, points to the office and raises her brows. Though why the bohemian doesn't just ask is likely meaningless. After all, they know they are there, even if this fact may not have fully sank in with Illyana.

Ash watches Illyana, watching their surroundings, coming to the same conclusions of their own. 'They', the big They and not the nonbinary twink, were waiting. And whatever would happen would happen there. Still, they hold up a finger to Illyana. and walk forward. As if heading to the hallway... then stopping right before, leaning their back to the wall near the janitor rooms, and waiting for Illyana to take the other. Then, they peek around that corner. They know that it's unlikely that there will be a deathsquad waiting for them - but one should be paranoid, surely, when infiltrating.

Beyond the slight hum of machinery, complete silence hangs oppressively over the area, beyond the slight tap and steps of Illyana and Ash as they cross the first half over. When Ash glances around, they can see that the Janitor closet is definitely open, housing a wide array of different cleaning items. The hallways themselves do not seem to be depressurized or have any proper laboratory cleaning procedure, but they notice that, rather than a single universal one for the full hallway, they exist just beyond every door to all of the different facilities on this floor.

The floor themselves are open, passing by windows that allow to peer into one of the labs does not reveal anything that looks as odd. Ash with some medical experience does not see anything odd. Some diagnostic data, some scans, but nothing that looks gruesome or especially cruel. One of the labs does show a formula that Ash may not recognize, depending on their pharmaceutical experience. As far as it appears, this floor is truly devoid of any personnel today.

Taking that spot at the other junction angle near to Ash, Illyana glances around. Ash mentioned wanting something previously from the janitorial stash here, so this is as good a time as any, and in spite of everything, Ash and Illyana somehow work well together, even if it is as objectively professional as a buddy cop movie. So before heading to the office where information is likely to be gathered- Ritsuka did mention Takeda before, and so did the professor before he was trapped in that freak melting accident in his office- Illyana wonders if he ever escaped. -- Unimportant. Illyana feels a desire of sorts to get something, which means that Ash wants it, which means that Illyana wants it, too- Angelic spiraling at its best. So the two wait before advancing, as Illyana reflects on not having seen death robots, or ninjas. Almost certainly the idle thoughts of someone unhindged- or maybe simply Hand operations at large. Who knows, really.

Ash notes the windows and decompression chambers - easy traps - but, at least, there's not one for the janitor closet. They check around for storage while they're there, before looking for supplies. Stump remover, perhaps, might be too unlikely in this sterile facility, but aluminum cleaner might work. Even air or dry fire suppressants - they need potassium nitrate. Not to mention alcohol and bleach for fun - chloroform, anyone? And them some ammonia...

If not there, then in storage, hopefully, would be held some supplies for meetings or breaks. Maybe some sugar packets, possibly even vinegar and baking soda. They expect some aluminum foil, and a host of other chemicals - but they know that, for some of them, they will have to rely on luck to find them.

Entering past the door, Illyana finds that a modest office lies beyond, neatly arranged with a single desk, a large display flickers with reports, and a well-worn leather chair stands behind the desk. The office looks calm and organized. As Illyana searches through the files and documents, Illyana does find the file on the Japanes Girl among other employee files. They all seem to be limited to this floor, though that of the Japanese has been marked with an asset stamp on the bottom right, and none of the information available on it is something that cannot be found through a research.

Something far more important that Illyana does find however are other documents that turn out to be personal entries. They say that the chief of the floor, Takeda, certainly observed some suspicious behavior from those on the lower floors. Demand for assets, moving of artifacts - and then Illyana finds a file on the Seraphim blade itself. It goes through some information on what it is, what it does, but more than that, the file marks it as lost. The corresponding entry from Takeda tells that he suspects the "Facility Chief" was involved in some fashion with it becoming 'lost', but that he has no proof. He also notes that there had been two armed Asians that had been allowed access to the lower floor and that he thought the Japanese may had been with them for a while, but when she dropped from the facility, considered that impossible. There is also more files for pharmaceutical ideas that they intend to push onto Biolabs to produce and sell. At the top of that pile is something called 'Performance Enhancer Pills' with the slogang 'Unlock Your True Potential!' But a brief glance tells that it is supposed to cause long-term neurological damage in exchange for short-term productivity boosts to be sold into corporate environment. Illyana also finds a medium-sized, Vetr branded mascot hidden in a corner.

Ash rummages through the janitor closet, and oddly, finds pretty much all they are looking for. At the least they stored through on everything that an underground facility could ever need - the added expiration date does state some of it has expired, and there is definitely some off-shelf industrial cleaner among some more experimental, AGL branded ones, that are definitely not sold anywhere at all. Also some Vetr branded cleaners, with the recent condition and push for purchases under threat of the Trump apocalypse, but all in all, Ash can manage to find all they may require and expect to be in a janitorial place - and that in excess.

Searching through the office, Illyana yoinks the documents mentioning the seraphim blade, and those pertaining to the performance pills. If nothing else, it's something that Ritsuka could want and information that the factions likely shouldn't gain access to. There's a snort of laughter as Illyana finds the Vetr item, though having expected something of the sort, she returns to Ash. Shaking her head she whispers, "Documents largely on the blade, which I want to keep close, and some pills they want to push on. A little more on suspicious activity on the lower floors, but no key cards or ways further down. So we can use the ladders in the lift shaft, or we can keep looking. Thoughts?" Seeing that Ash has been busy with their impromptue shopping trip, the bohemian nods. This should be entertaining either way, though she does return to the office to punch- Dare one say break what looks to be a Vetr Mascot

Ash takes their supplies, putting some in their bag, putting others in little containers... but what was most important was the little aluminum foil tubes they quickly formed, putting both the sugar and KNO3 into. They hand it to Illyana, murmuring, "Please heat," knowing that the 'please' was unnecessary... but doing it anyways was part of their bond.

And so, they enter the office looking with Illyana for documentation. They reflect on the chemical formula they've seen, as well as these new things... but it seems to them that they can either withdraw, or go in deeper.

"This facility manager... seems like they're the ones who we need to find, they murmur, thinking." They run their fingers over the paper with the PEP pill paperwork, before sighing quietly. "We leave today, can we come back? We can stalk the place to find the Facility Manager in the future... but without files, they can tell us whatever they want. Are you ready?"

Punching the mascot must be incredibly satisfying! But Illyana could notice something that's inside of it. Something- metallic flat?

Illyana Indeed heats the tubes as requested and hands them back over to Ash. "I think we need someone better at invading using technology before we can do more." she agrees. "Finding Takeda is a significant clue and the paperwork we have is a great start. But I'd like more numbers before we go further. This was already too suspicious."

"The problem is, we only had one code." Illyana grimaces.

"I suppose we could try scouting the nightmare before coming back. The least that could happen is nightmare warding, and if successful, your van's mirrors are enough to step out." Illyana adds more directly to Ash. "Thoughts?"

Ash nods to Illyana, murmuring, "Fair - I was teetering. They want you here, for whatever reason... we can try it again. Though, I *suspect*... that it was the Facility manager who wanted you here. Though, why this floor is empty...." They stop there, though their face speaks for them - they do not like it at all. They look towards the elevator with narrowed eyes, before considering the desk, thinking about the drawers... but, the shake their head, cutting off their own thoughts.

"Could be trapped... and we can shadowwalk out...." Ash glances to Illyana before pointing out, "...we didn't need it, it didn't work for us... so you are the key here. If we need to return. Or... we could set a shadowwalk here, if you like... and you have to carry me back."

By 'we', Ash clearly meant themself. Rituals and arcanism is their expertise, after all. They tilt their head to Illyana, as she speaks, before drawling, slowly, "...we can. That's reasonable... but care is needed, too." Ultimately, it's Illyana's call. Ash's logical side understands the push, but they are also very aware of the risk... and the strange situation that makes them feel more and more uncomfortable as the time passes.

Thinking it over for a moment- All the time in the world really, Illyana nods to Ash. "Let's try the nightmare. Then we can shadowwalk out. Now we know what we're looking at, we can path in at any time."

Ash nods to Illyana, stepping close so that they can follow her stream into the nightmare... and whatever that promises for the duo.

"More specifically, we can path directly into this office." Then, because it's smirking at her, Illyana punches the Vetr mascot again. It deserves it.

With Ash in agreement, Illyana attempts to step into the nightmare. Fully expecting a ward, it's at least worth a try, and this would be the most stealthy method to explore the lower levels.

Silence hangs heavily over the quiet hum of machinery. Outside, the weather was cold, while in here, it remains quite warm. Snow piles outside, over the turret machinery, and to shadowwalk would be a very quick way out. The code, indeed hadn't worked, but it was registered all the same - And tomorrow someone is going to kidnap staff from a pharmacy to hurt, revoke any access to the facility for someone, among another array of problems and conflict that won't be fun for anyone to sort out.

When Illyana punches the darn mascot again, she feels something inside of it again, something flat, there could be something hidden inside of it, if she cared to take it along or shred it open. Do Ash and Illyana already enter the nightmare? And will they descend or keep to this floor?

"Wait a moment..." Illyana muses, grabbing the mascot and ripping it open to see what's inside. "There's something here." That said, she does indeed step into the nightmare. It is the logical choice and it likely would have made the entire infiltration easier. Bypassing walls and floors means that in the nightmare they can gain access to far more. Though yes, scouting via the nightmare is the plan. It is wise to move forward.

Ash steps in after Illyana grabs whatever's in the mascot, trusting her angelborn strength and demonborn viciousness to cut through without need for a blade. After all, if she needed one, Ash' collapsible trident was there. - not to mention Illyana's sabre, or their own. After that's handled, a quick sweep of the floor would be nice - especially the storage and meeting room - but the intent is to focus on the descent, going through the floor to figure out what might be waiting for them.

Now in the nightmare and ripping what ever is hidden from the mascot, Illyana gestures for Ash to lead on. They are the Shadow and have the stealth training, after all, though using her innate perceptive powers, Illyana will be looking out as they sweep firstly this floor, then begin to descend.

Launchtime? Ash would well known that it is by far no lunchtime at all. It is evening time in Haven, closer to when people will soon head to sleep or have started to nestle to rest. That is for mundane people, while others had just started their morning. Ash remembers that the file noted that the facility supposedly held about two dozen guards, but where were they? On the floors below? Maybe. But then the elevator had opened. Throughout a lot of this, Illyana had been observed by a party and while the reasons themselves remain elusive, she is clearly the central piece to all of this. The observer is likely the facility manager, and everyone for this floor will likely return tomorrow and notice files to be missing. So whenever another group is gathered, there is likely to be increased security, and likely more for the night as well. Upstairs, the tranquilizer turrets would knock out people, the lock is very difficult to bypass. There is no doubt that today, they had likely been granted access by that same manager and that they are likely within the facility itself. This floor certainly does not possess any security monitors, so security must be handled somewhere else.

As for what lies below, Ash cannot guess. But the two step into the nightmare, Illyana finds a metallic keycard with a serial and bar code on it. The mascot is now shredded and the keycard looks to be a backup card of some sort. The transition into the nightmare is - odd. It feels heavy. At first, almost as if it was unbearable, almost impossible to bypass, but then, it just all feels like it clicks into place and they find themselves in the nightmare itself. Here, this floor looks just the same as it does outside if the nightmare, beyond the common oddities that comes with the nightmare itself. Both Illyana and Ash can also feel that they cannot step out of the nightmare here, this was a one-way transition, but unlike normal wards, they do not find their movement impeded on this floor.

Ash frowns, glancing at Illyana - but, there's nothing for it. If it's too late, it's too late. Wherever this ward had been set up, Ash had not seen it and missed it, and here they were. There's nothing else for it. They take advantage of it while they're in here, checking those rooms, before descending.

The key card being slipped away, Illyana is now very glad she took the mascot with her. No evidence means the card will likely not be missed. So it might be useful in future, if not today. With nothing else found and no security here, they must be on the lower levels and this is an one way trip. That's unfortunate, though these things happen. So she and Ash descend to the next level.

Descending upon the second sub-floor reveals an eerily pristine one, its walls and floors hold the same sterile white as the floor above, but the air feels heavy, as if the atmosphere itself were pressing down on the whole floor. The overhead lights hum softly, though some flicker momentarily as if struggling to remain steady. Large observation windows reveal empty laboratories, but there is the faint sound of movement and a scraping sound, metallic and deliberate. Each room has its own grandious feature: a table lined with restraints too small for adults yet disturbingly complex, or an array of tools glinting under the fluorescent light, designed for purposes no one could call humane.

Digital monitors flicker along the walls, displaying cryptic equations interspersed with nonsensical strings of text. Occasionally, the feed glitches and shows flashes of human silhouettes writhing or screaming in silence. In one corner of the hallway, a disused stretcher sits abandoned, streaked with dried crimson smudges. The faint smell of antiseptic fails to mask the coppery undertone in the air.

At the end of one hallway, turning left from the elevators, is a room marked "Subject Containment," and through the reinforced glass, one can glimpse shadowy figures hunched and motionless under dim lighting. When one stirs, its movements are unnervingly erratic, as if something unseen were guiding it. Both Illyana and Ash can hear a faint, rhythmic clicking echo from behind them, but when they turn, it is always empty. Ash sees nothing of it, but Illyana notices a ghost leaving whenever it happens.

On another end lies a room that is the armory, and here, on this particularly floor, both Ash and Illyana find they are not the only one - that is, ignoring the barrier between the nightmare and reality. The armory shows military grade equipment, and there is some people across the floor. Less than a handful, mostly looking to be security. They look to be the kind that have been very well trained and together, may actually impose a significant threat.


Ash notes what they can for the future, focusing on the layout, and the uses of each room. Containment, they wanted to stay far from... if there was anything that could hurt them from the nightmare within, it would be in there... not to mention, from without.

The armory gets their largest attentions - they note how many there were available at this time, how many munitions the armory seems ready to support. They don't bother for details - they can get vague looks, but details are lost in the nightmare. This is common. Nothing else, it seems, catches their interest... the evident torture and experimentation doesn't move them - they assumed as much coming in.

Though, the table with restraints leave them to murmur, "Rats," idly, without elaboration.

Is now very enraged. There are signs here of things that she does not like and it is likely that she will do something exceptionally stupid- Like nightmare pulling these guards one by one to murder them slowly and painfully. But Ash is here, and they are a curiously calming influence, and in the nightmare, it would be pointless to destroy anything. Still, the temptation is there and the temperature rises around Illyana dangerously. This is unforgivable and though killing a few security guards would aleviate some of that frustration, it wouldn't be the end of it. What would be? The scientists, of course. Eyes narrowing, and knuckles white, this is more than likely visible to anyone who knows Illyana even slightly, but for now, she can do nothing. Ash's responce to things was expected; They were always the pragmatic one, and though the bohemian doesn't like it, that is yet another reason she is better out of the Hand. So she nods, just the once, teeth bared as she snarls, "We're coming back with an army. Everyone dies."

Of course, this is only one of the two other levels. What horrors can linger for Illyana and Ash to find on floor three.

Most notable, there does not seem to be an office for a floor manage anywhere, and Ash is right to be cautious about Containment, as something might had just twitched around to look Ash and Illyana, but it is not here, and that room is dangerous and the guards here are definitely trained to handle it. And they do not see the tentacles and eels it spewed, all too familiar with something some fought outside a mansion last week. Though whether or not it comes from here or elsewhere, whoever knows? Ash cannot count the exact numbers in the armory, or be certain if it translates into the nightmare as it is in reality, but the variety of the weapons seems to be an excess from the side of the nightmare, all caliber 5.56mm and probably enough ammunition to defend this facility for a good long time. The guards on this floor do not seem to see or witness Ash and Illyana though. The way down or retreat remains.

Ash nods, no stranger to Illyana's justice. "Scientists first, though," they murmur, their own pragmatic mind following a similar, thought fundamentally different, train of thought than Illyana's. They focus on the who and what, and it seems obvious where the root of this facility comes from. Illyana has the drive to pull it up by it, and Ash the mind to tell her wear to yank. Not angering easily has its strengths alongside someone who can get angry for you. A balance of logic and passion, sense and emotion, calculation and action.

Their yin and yang aside, it seems tight for the next floor, and so Ash descends after being sure that Illyana is ready to follow. Careful, face first. Scan for anyone in the nightmare. Drop in silently, hide from line of sight. Just because *most* can't see in the nightmare, this did not mean all... if the Frenchie was here, it would be more glaringly so.

Not dignifying that with a responce, Illyana follows Ash down. There's some authenticity in Illyana's actions. There's a consistant pattern of violence, and Ash knows it well, so it is likely that the scientists will be first. Though it's not an one hundred percent certainty. That though is a problem for later. Now, the two must continue scouting so that the return trip- With a veritable army will have the best chance at ending this.

Finally, the last and third floor. And who would have thought? Yes, the third floor is a stark, pristine abyss of humanity's darkest impulses. The air feels still, each breath as if plagued by sterility and cold. The walls are gleaming white, unblemished and clinically perfect. The hallways are far too quiet, save for the faint hum of life-support systems from behind sealed doors. Through reinforced observation windows, sterile chambers reveal some of the experiments: a human body grafted with metallic limbs twitching violently under the weight of its enhancements, another stripped of skin to expose layers of pulsing, augmented musculature beneath. Some are children, most are adults. Yet in another a meter shows the name of a disease or plaque, combined with some level of radiation as a demigoddess is perpetually tested on for diseases and effects of radiation. She is in the nude and carries no light in her eyes.

Digital monitors display data streams in rapid succession, overlayed with images of test subjects, but only some are alive, others clearly not. Notes written in clinical precision label these experiments as 'Project: Aurelia Genesis' and 'Human 2.0'. Occasionally, a line of corrupted text flashes, making the screen glitch.

The main hallway ends at a massive, polished steel door engraved with the name: Takashi Renjiro Chief Scientist and facility manager. Beyond it lies a vast, high-ceilinged laboratory illuminated by cold, surgical light. At the center stands a glass operating theater, where a little girl lies strapped to a table, her body riddled with grotesque bio and cybernetically engineered modifications. Mechanical arms hang overhead, still glistening with fresh blood. Around the theater, other experiments, people, are stored in sealed glass pods. They might just be half-human, half-machine hybrids locked into endless suffering, their bodies twitching or their mouths frozen in silent screams.

One more door steel door lies forward for this floor... one more room left to explore, just on the other end of the experimentation theater.

Ash can probably realize by now on one note - the children and Illyana's reaction. This is purposefully done to get to her, to dig a heel into her heart, to risk making her lash out, to unleash the monster in the demonic angelborn, and rip it all to shreds.

If the second floor was fury, this third is incandescent malice. What began with wanting answers transformed slowly from an adventure, to a nightmare, to something that brings out the worst impulses in Illyana. It's visceral hate incarnate, and where Illyana was a broken thing already, this only deepens that. It's almost visible how the angel retreats for its own good and the demon emerges. It's not slow. It's abrupt and brutal, the humanity boiling from Illyana as it is steadily consumed with a pyre of hideously directed menice. That last door remains. And Illyana begins to head for it. She cant rip it from its frame in the nightmare, but it's not hard to imagine what she would be doing if given half a chance. She wants to enter that last door. And so she does. This scientist-- This Renjiro has now become her singular objective and if layed out as an innocent stabled with the unenviable scapegoat complex or a genuine monster, there is another monster stalking it.

Even Ash has to pause here. The human experiment is... not good, but they expected this, they'd followed the signs. Yes, it was realer than they could have imagined, but they were built to be tested and twisted, they were meant to be broken and beat. They were a part of God's plan, and this meant that they could glide past the pain, tucking it away to torture their sleeping mind, and instead focus on what needs doing.

Is it the children in there? No, not at first. The demigoddess gets to them more, yes. They want to focus more on which part is Project Aurelia Genesis, and which part is Human 2.0. They focus on the text - but this is the nightmare, they are lucky to make out this much. They're aware... and so, this cannot be their productive distraction.

So, to the steel door. And so, to the theatre, watching another child get brutally mutilated, suffering. No, it wasn't the experiments that did it... Ash couldn't help but feed on their fear, and they naturally opened up to drink in their pain. It was the knowledge that they had to tell this, have to tell Illyana words she'll hate to hear. To risk the chance of breaking their powerful, yet fragile friend, family, beloved sister. To gain her anger on them, perhaps, as they choke out the words, "In the nightmare - we can't-"

Perhaps their worry, their kid gloves are for naught. Or perhaps there is no point - there are deaf ears on Illyana's head. So, they hurry after, in the wake of her warpath. Perhaps the trouble will come when it's time to leave. Perhaps, terrifyingly, she'll go as cold as that first floor... only to explode when the assault comes.

Far at the end of yet another room, a room that contains rows of humanoid figures suspended in translucent pods filled with clear fluid. At the far end, stands an asian man in a labcoat just before a console with over a dozen different security monitors that display the camera feed throughout the facility, his appearance is immaculate in a crisp, white lab coat. His eyes are cold, and his smile is chilling. When Ash Illyana step through the door, he seems able to see both of them, and his smile turns their way. It is almost as if he had been waiting for them, because behind him, just as Illyana and Ash enter, a massive cylinder filled with opaque liquid begins to drain to reveal a towering monstrosity. Something between a human, animal, and machine. At least on the first glance, because now that they are here, and can look, a screen right next to it shows the composition of the creature within: Angelborn. There is no human in there, just angelborn, animal and machine, stripped and strapped together. A lung is hanging down on one side, a rib is poking out elsewhere, surrounded by a trail of machinery and wiring and the hollow eyes of a blonde-haired man's head dangles away on one side, connecting to what is supposed to be an arm.

What they also see on him, is a small badge, and it screams relic and as those with the power to, both Illyana and Ash, notice another two asians standing just behind the, masked and garbed in black with a weapon in each hand.

They, too, can see Ash and Illyana, and they wait. It is then that Ash realizes on one last piece of information, something from their own occult repertoire of knowledge. something, that wasn't so clear before, and if not for being more than a mere expert in the field, had ever escaped them: These are most definitely not aligned with Japan and the Hanshin Group. All of this in summary? Biomancy in one, particularly perverse form, and these two, must be the kind of ninjas that only exist primarily in a single place on the world: China. The Dynasty. But there is no proof.

And now, the way back closes off to Illyana and Ash as the facility feels to grow thicker in the nightmare... Someone's finished or reversed the ward.

Though perceptive, Illyana fails to notice the ninja, the experiments or anything other than this doctor. And that is when things go wrong. The ward is complete, there is no returning to the lab right now and only pathing or shadowwalking are travel methods. But still, Illyana is focused on one thing-- One person, and she reaches within and rips at the very fabric of reality. Illyana grips and she tugs, trying, with little more than animal rage and bloody minded, furious stubbornness to nightmare pull the cold-eyed doctor.

Ash tested the shadows instinctively, knowing that this was a different sort of magic - though, they certainly didn't expect it to work. The Dynasty has its own, secretive, ways of doing things. Their focus is on retreat, action... no doubt, the angel-creature would attack even in the nightmare. They minds notes the two ninjas, as well - it seems that none of these three were in the nightmare... but that could change in an instant, if not left.

The problem, really... was that Illyana could not be stopped here. Not by Ash. Maybe if they'd spoken sooner... but, it's too late. She was diving into the trap, because how could she not? The androgyne's racing mind needed to find a way to pull her out, instead.

Crossing his hands over his chest, the labcoated man looks incredibly pleased when he sees Illyana lash out, butt the joy never quite manages to fill the coldness and cruelty that permeates primarily in his eyes and it is there that he reaches around his labcoat, and retrieves a little charm from a pocket. A nightmare charm as both Illyana and Ash immediately recognize, or at least, fundamentally it is one. The two ninja place themselves to each of Illyana's sides, disregarding Ash entirely, for yes, this was a trap, and yes, Illyana is prey. The scientist seems to focus on the charm and then, Ash and Illyana's side on the nightmare does not prove to be so empty anymore as slight eels and tendril begin to slither across the ground, and reach, reach for Illyana's ankles... and will begin to climb if let to happen, and where let, they start to curl and hold to each other, as if to bind Illyana.

The face of her enemy is right before her and so so close... Illyana needs his blood. He needs to die, but having learned from the templars, she can do nothing when pinned. It may be instinct then, a self preservational requirement that causes her to move. There's no assurance of this, and the nightmare pull was not successful, but Illyana has already decided that revenge is coming. So empowered by the forge demigod crafted power armor that improves even her speed, she strikes with her sabre at the doctor: One slash, one cut. A mark to herald her return- With an army is all that Illyana wants. Ash lays forgotten and though these shadows begin to clamber over her, the bohemian also has shadows of her own. If the attack hit or not is something she'll only spot later, for self preservation triggers her shadowwalk, and she is whisked away, blood still up. But she has a name. And she can path. Illyana has researchers in both Vengeance and within the Disruptors. Illyana has never given into her monsterous nature before, but now she does, and every single member of this man's family she can find will die in the most painful ways she can devise, burned to death from the inside in exactly the same way Kittie Heartly was-- The sickening, evil methodology taught to her by Gonthorian.

Ash clearly thinks that, once again, they need to save Illyana. so has been their path since they've committed the gravest Sin, one that they are ever determined to repent for, and yet, never will be. Their mind whirs, their bracelet glows, and a hand reaches behind their head, a relic of their own humming, singing, begging to be used...

And yet, it's not needed. The flash (or reverse flash) of shadows from Illyana is followed by one of their own - and they're back to where they last performed the ritual. Immediately, they contact the Hand, and tell them the important new - One of their assets has been infiltrated by The Dynasty. The location and what details Ash can remembered, but they do use their authority to grant a request.

Explaining that the group had damaged and played with their angelborn asset - which Yana was (if only in as much any friend who doesn't mind beating up your students technically is) - and they desired a withdrawal of information from the man. Ideally, personal. They can start planning the assault *with* the Hand, in this case, rather than having to choose to keep mum for Illyana's goals, or allow the Hand to snatch away - or worse, scare off - the prey here.

The man made a mistake in underestimating Ash, but that's fine with them. This was how they would win.

When Illyana has her inquiries made later, there is two outcomes that she does receive: The first is that an agent was killed. No evidence. No trace. Nothing. Outright disappeared. Not even an ounce of their identity or existence left. The second is that the man does not exist. He has no birth certificate, no identity, he literally does not exist in any capacity. Not in Japan and not registered as a Hanshin person nor any academical credentials anywhere. The man, has no identity.

Later, going through some of the documents Illyana recovered, she will find that Takeda, from the first sub-floor had noted that the staff from below had grown odder and odder over the short span of a couple of months. They left the downstairs area less, he once had access to them, but that was revoked for what appears to be entirely unreasonable reasons. Takeda had known sub-level 2 to be a place on the experimental side for new pharmaceuticals, the ones that were far more restricted for animal testing, and further down, to be primarily a place to work on new bio-technology for agra culture, for the fields and harvests. He lost access to all of them. With it, comes a simple realization, too. The man likely branded nearly everyone sub-level two and below and mindwashed and controlled them as he desired, let alone brain-washing, the facility could easily be there, somewhere on the lower floors and used to keep those below under complete obedience and control.

But preparations take time. None of the people here in Haven belonging to a faction, is a real faction soldier generally. This is a cold war after all and everything; there is few that does spare the young or old and most make no difference between the innocent and guilty. Just another day. Just another secret. Just another cruelty.