God Yet Lives

Mortal and Sab look at one bird cage, "Why are we getting fire?" Mortal asked.

"It's the hell miasma" Yue surmises.

Kira bristled when he heard Mortal speak, but he held his tongue and his blade.

Urahara<Yes. The cage is to keep it reproducing itself for study.>

S"And now that you know that, I'm out of here."

*Senthose takes his miasma cages into the Garganta, which closes behind him.*

A"So...should we just go home, or what?"

Mortal nodded her head, "I imagine, we're not usually wanted here, so if we're going to be training until winter it would be best if we went to a place that was more... hollow friendly." Mortal gave Kira a sideways glance, then chuckled, "We wouldn't want to harm anyone because they attacked us by accident, or something."

"So, you plan to train in the world of the living. Don't you think your spiritual pressure would disturb nearby mortals?" Sab asked.

"True... I guess the best place to train would be Hueco Mundo. I can't say I'm eager to get back to the sand..."

--

Noctis snuggled closer to Euryale, cuz why not.

"I... don't really want to return to Hueco Mundo ether... I still have some questions I want to ask Nel. If she doesn't mind answering them." Yue says as he scratches his head. He he continues to speak politely and respectfully to those around him.

A"So where will we go in Hueco Mundo? Do you plan to take Las Noches?"

Nel<Oh...sure....>

*She sounds like she wishes she had pepper spray.*

"Sorry. I was just wondering why you decided to fight on the side of the shinigami? In spite of your, our, nature as arrancar you chose this side to fight for. I... I'm at a loss. I don't know why I should fight any more. I feel conflicted between my very nature as an arrancar and doing what I want to do, help people."

Kira left the room and went back to his barracks.

Mortal shrugged her shoulders, "I don't know. Hueco Mundo is a big place, but sticking with Las Noches kind of confines us. Plus I imagine every hollow out there wanting to make a name for itself, and get some power would go to Las Noches eventually, and I'd really rather not meet them when they get there. It'd be a distraction."

"Why not just train on them?" Sab suggested, "Only the strong would think of claiming Las Noches, so it'd be like having a constant supply of strong hollows to train against, and you could train on your own between fights."

"Huh, I guess you may be right, if there is someone in Hueco Mundo stronger than myself, I probably have no hope of defeating Keter anyway, but fighting strong opponent, after strong opponent may help me grow as a fighter." Mortal said, tearing open a garganta, "Well, lets be on our way."

Nel<I agreed to become an Arrancar to make Hueco Mundo a better place. I did not see Aamon for what he really was until it was too late. I don't know if I'll ever go back to Hueco Mundo...but for the time being, I am content in stopping the Hollowfication process in the first place. Perhaps that's why I really accepted a Zanpakuto in the first place.... But, anyway, I have to get back to work.>

~The Next Day!~

*Euryale gets up & walks into the kitchen. She does a double-take as she notices Lilith sitting at the table. Her Soul Reaper uniform has been thrown on the floor & she's dressed in normal clothes. Her Zanpakuto is resting on one of the chairs.*

E"Lilith? How did you get here?"

L"Picked the lock with a Sho. You know. Again."

E"Okay, wrong question: Why are you here? I mean, don't get me wrong, it's not that you're unwelcome, but you could at least notify...is something wrong?"

L"I just don't want to go home right now. That's all. You have anything non-alcoholic?"
==========================================
*Aroma comes up towards Mortal in the "courtyard," from the caves Barragan's forces had made their homes in. She was accompanied by a Hollow about her size with a spindly humanoid body, bat-like wings, & a skull mask. She looks at him.*

<Freddy.>

A"Really? Well...anyway...Mr. Freddy says he saw lights on in Death's Gorge again. Did you look to see who was in there?"

<They call it "Death's Gorge.">

A"Right, right, sorry. Anyway, he told me he didn't want to bother you about it in case it was nothing, but I didn't know what to do, so I thought I should ask you anyway."

Noct walks in after taking a shower and raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Fancy seeing you here." Noct said, walking over to the fridge. "To what do we owe the surprise?" She asked, pulling out some OJ, and a glass from a cupboard. "Do you want some OJ?" She asked Euryale, her hand hovering over another glass.

--

Mortal looked at Aroma and listened to her and Freddy go on about Death's Gorge. With a small sigh she replied, "I guess it would be prudent to check it out. Make sure nothing is going on." Mortal looked over at Sab, who was sitting just a few feet away, daydreaming about something. Seeing no real need to take Sab, or Aroma along she simply said, "I'll be right back." Then she opened up a Garganta to Death's Gorge, and stepped through.

Sab looked up at Aroma when she noticed Mortal leave, "Where is she going?"

Kira opened the door to his quarters and strode down the hall towards wherever Hisagi would usually be.
His Zanpakuto was on display on his hip and he stood at full height. His wounds had been painful, and even now his body was bothered with dull aches and occasional spikes of pain, but he did his very best to seem as though he was unfazed by the battles and was ready for whatever came next.

Atsuko lay on a 4th Division bed (presumably) and sighed. In the end, she didn't think she had been all that useful. The Venezuala Arrancar may or may not have been capable of dealing with the pink-haired mad man, and after that she just felt (and was made to feel) like a burden.

Yue nodded, "Thank you Nel"

---

~The Next Day~

Yue had remained in Soul Society overnight and was currently atop the Penitence shrine (outside) since it was the highest point in Soul Society. His scarf flapped in the early morning wind as he watched the sunrise. For the first time his scarf was lowered so his mouth and the lower half of his face were revealed. Surprisingly he looked a lot younger than one might have pegged him at.

"It's... so peaceful here" he smiled.

E"She says she doesn't want to go home. And yes please. Also, could you pour some milk for Lilith, please?"
========================================
A"Death's Gorge."

<Whelp, I'm gonna go get breakfast.>

*Freddy spreads his wings & flies off.*
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Hisagi<Captain, this arrived for you early this morning, from the R&D Department.>

*He indicates a bird cage with fire inside.*
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*Mortal shows up in a pitch black hallway. A room at the end has a light on.*

Aamon's voice<Welcome back--*sounds of paper shuffling.*--Mortar. As the lab has not been in use for at least 24 hours, the Downloaded Personality Back-Up Protocal has activated to maintain its upkeep & remind you not to touch anything because it's not yours. Remember, I am just--*static*--Senthose's bitch. I am not really here to help you. Certainly not to help you. *Static.* Recent Parameter Added to Programming: If anyone besides Senthose enters & touches anything, I will fucking kill them.>
==========================================
*Isane comes in, calling for Atae.*

"Yes Vice-Captain Isane?" Atae said, bowing.

--

Mortal let out a sigh and began to walk down the hall.

--

"What, why would you let her go someplace like that alone?!" Sab asked, "Why are you always getting her to do something dangerous?"

--

Noct did so and handed the glasses off to everyone, "Why milk, Lilith, plan on making Kahlua?" Referring to the popular liqueur.

Yue stood, "Hopefully when this is all said and done I could come back here" he then traced his fingers along the air ripping open a garganta to some remote mountains in the mortal world before stepping through with his bird cage.

"Oh, thank you," Kira took the cage before looking back to Hisagi. "Where is the healer girl? Atso...Atsuko?"

"Excuse me," Atsuko waved to Isane, before suddenly dropping her hand and closing her mouth. She felt rude for interrupting.

*Lilith takes the milk & quickly chugs it all down.*
==========================================
A"What? I don't! I just thought she should know, it might concern her. What if I didn't tell her & something bad happened?"
==========================================
<Apparently, she is recuperating in the Squad 4 barracks.>
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Isane<Repairs are going well, but we need to try & get new supplies made. The trouble is that the population of the first few districts of Rukongai has been decimated ever since-->

*She stops & looks at Atsuko when she interrupts.*
=========================================
*She winds up in a computer room that she didn't know existed. The place has been ransacked & the console smashed to pieces.*

Aamon's voice<*Static.* A personal message from the new owner of this facility: *More static.*>

Senthose's voice<Aamon's research alone is not enough to complete the hybridization process. Only a Quincy could replicate his more advanced methods. With all of them gone, there is nothing more to be gained from this facility. So believe me when I say I have no qualms destroying it completely, if anyone else tries to use it.>

Atsuko flushed bright red, "I apologize, I can wait."

"Thanks, by the way, was there any damage done to this barracks? And how many of our Division members were injured, besides the healer girl?"

Yue looks at the cage before presumably activating it.

Since Atsuko said she could wait, Atae did the same, waiting for Isane to continue. Where do I know that girl fro-- Oh yea, we ate lunch together once.

--

Noct gives a worried look to Euryale, then sits down next to Lilith. "Lilith, I didn't mean to pry, but what's wrong?" Noctis asked, "It is obvious you're upset about something, and if you came to us you must want to talk about it, so, please, feel free. We're here to listen and help in any way we can."

--

Mortal let out a small sigh, "Is this damn place going to continuously tell me it'll kill me whenever I walk into a room?" She mumbled to herself as she began to look around the room for anything interesting.

--

"Something bad? Like what? Like her possibly being in very real danger, because guess what Aroma, she is in a place called 'Death's Gorge'! Tell me, does this sound like a safe place, where anything good might happen, or does that sound like a dangerous place, that would be better avoided?" Sab retorted, "And now guess who got her to go there? You did, because you thought something bad would happen? So what, instead of something bad happening to her, she is going to happen upon that something that is bad?"

Sab had long since stood up, and slowly made her way over to Aroma. By this point she was within arms reach, and was showcasing this by jabbing Aroma's chest with her finger, "When you told her to go to Soul Society she ran into Keter, and what happened? She was stabbed in the fucking chest! And worst of all, she was so upset, and it was because you had to open your big mouth! She wasn't even needed there! Senthose was the one to end the fight, Mortal did nothing but get hurt! So, what do you do, a mere DAY later, you send her on her way to a place called 'Death's Gorge' because you thought something bad might happen otherwise! Tell me this, since when was Mortal your personal 'bad-things-stopper'?"

Sab took a step back, inhaled sharply, and rubbed the sides of her temples. "I just, I can't even..." Sab shook her head and looked at her hands. Small crescents of blood made a pattern on her palms where she had driven her nails through her hierro out of sheer anger. As she studied her palms she imagined firing a Gran Rey at Aroma, if only she could fire one. She then looked at Aroma, her mind full of twisted fantasies, and her eyes as predatory as a sheep's could get.

Without much more forethought Sab literally tackled Aroma, and straddled her, and grabbed her by the collar. She narrowed her eyes, and leaned in so that their noses were almost touching. Sab had not really thought this far ahead, she wanted to scare Aroma, let out some anger, and frustration she had building up. She didn't really want to hurt her, so she just stayed there, unwilling to let go and just glaring at Aroma.

L"I don't want to talk about it. I came here so I could be away from the Soul Society...Hollows...Arrancar from Hell...everything."

*They hear their door swing open & shut as someone walks towards the kitchen. Also the sound of metal clinking together & a crackling fire.*

S"Well, then luck's not on your side. But don't worry, I'm not here for you yet. I'm here to cash in on an investment."
=====================================
S<Yes. I reprogrammed it specifically to do that. I am surprised it took you this long to figure it out. Then again, you never were the smartest, were you INSERT NAME HERE?>

*There are a bunch of chains all over the place, some broken Zanpakuto, & some Quincy tools. Also a bunch of half-burned charts & graphs.*
=====================================
<The assault focused primarily on Captains & Lieutenants. There were very few injuries of lower-ranked officers.>
=====================================
Isane<I was just saying that we need to draft a plan for Head Captain Unohana's approval. We don't even know who's been making our medical supplies for the last 2 years, the records have all been destroyed or stolen.>

OOC: Bet Atae's wishing she stole her squad's documents for Senthose now.
=====================================
*There's nothing to really "activate." It just kind of sits there, smelling foul & inducing a tingling sensation.*
=====================================
*Aroma tenses up, eyes staring blankly at Sab. She also stops breathing.*

Yue begins to breathe in the miasma of hell and focus. He sat down on the ground and begin to empty his mind of all the things he had been worried about and began to focus on what Senthose had said.

If these things could induce a new level of power than he'd use that power to become this world's protector. That was his decision.

Noct looks at Euryale, "I believe he is referring to you." She then looks at Senthose, "What is the fire for?"

--

"So what do you want me to do?" Atae asked, "Find a new supplier? If we got enough samples of useful supplies I'm sure the 12th would be able to replicate them, and continue to supply us."

--

Mortal shook her head slightly, and checked out the charts to see if there was anything of use written there, as well as the chains.

--

Sab loosened her grip on Aroma, "Aroma?" She asked in a quiet voice, pulling her head back, "Hey, wake up." She puts her ear to Aroma's mouth to check for breathing. When she finds none Sab flipped. "No... no, no, no, no..." She leaned forward again and shook Aroma lightly, "Come on, wake up you can't die. I didn't do anything to you for you to die. What kind of Arrancar dies when you yell at them?!"