Getting out of Dodge

[prototypezeus]

Alex is nervous. He's been avoiding this day for a while, but he can't put it off any longer. His food supply is running short, and there's only one thing to do before it goes dry completely... he has to leave Manhattan.

He stands on the edge of the rooftop in the Red Zone, looking over the city that's grown far more quiet than the last time April was here, nearly a year ago. The sounds of gunfire and animal-like screams continue in the distance, but there are few normal city sounds left.

Comments

[slayers_desire]

April can't help but feel a little nervous, standing here with Alex. She flinches at the sounds of gunfire and animal-like screams in the distance. The lack of life... is unnerving.

[prototypezeus]

For Alex, it's familiar and almost comforting, but the lack of life is getting to him too. It means going hungry pretty soon. And he doesn't want to think about how much influence instinct will have over him once he starts getting desperate.

Hopefully they won't have to find out. "The Red Zone's gotten bigger since you were here last. The hospital's right on the edge now."

[slayers_desire]

"So we will have to be careful."

[prototypezeus]

"Yeah. There aren't as many Infected, but Redlight is still spreading." He looks over at her. "You ready to do the shadow thing again?"

[slayers_desire]

"Ready..." It only takes a moment for April to take her shadow-form.

[prototypezeus]

Alex drops off the side of the building, falling down to the street like an anvil. He hits the ground and rolls, coming up smoothly in a run, not even needing to think about where he's going. The city looks even more abandoned than before, buildings falling into disrepair and often missing windows, and the red fleshy tendrils are everywhere. Alex goes down streets, leaps police barricades, runs up the sides of skyscrapers and leaps from building to building.

A tank is patrolling the street below as he leaps overhead, but he ignores it. It's not important anymore, no matter how appetizing the men are inside of it.

[slayers_desire]

Even silently following him, attached to his shadow so she can stay right with him, April can sense him denying his instinct. Right now, there are more important things on his mind.

[prototypezeus]

Alex stops at the very edge of the Red Zone, across the road from the hospital. He crouches down a little to keep a low profile, eyeing up the security at every door and the snipers on the roof. "Blackwatch is keeping this place locked down tight."

[slayers_desire]

She opens her senses to the situation around her, getting a better perspective for the security and the snipers too.

I could get us both in through shadow-form

[prototypezeus]

"You can take passengers too?" Alex is no stranger to changing shape, but he's nervous about not being in control of it.

The security is made up of Marines, and they're packing some serious firepower. All of them have, at minimum, a rifle and a sidearm. Several are armed with heavier ordnance, including shotguns and grenade launchers. Those Marines guard every exit from the building, both inside and out.

On the roof are eight soldiers, two for each side of the rectangular building. Each side has a sniper with a long-distance rifle, and a soldier with a rocket launcher. Clearly they are taking no chances, and are ready to lay down some serious pain on any threats that approach. Mostly they're keeping an eye out for the infamous and feared Zeus.

[slayers_desire]

They are all waiting for you. And will fire when they see you. It is best if we don't let them see you at all...

[prototypezeus]

"So nothing new. They've always been gunning for me." And if he has to consume one or more on their way in or out of the hospital, he won't mind so much.

"They've moved Dana up a floor since she came out of her coma, but Ragland's lab should be in the same spot. How do you want to do this?"

[slayers_desire]

I can take you into the shadows with me, and we can go to Ragland's lab. We will need time to talk to him. No use alerting the gunmen now...

[prototypezeus]

He isn't sure if he'll be able to shift while he's being 'carried,' so he chooses the form of a faceless Blackwatch soldier, his face hidden behind a night-vision hazmat mask. "Okay. You remember where it is?"

[slayers_desire]

Yes... April uses her shadow magic to take him into the shadows with her. And then heads towards the hospital. And towards Ragland's lab.

[prototypezeus]

The soldiers on guard are watching for Infected, not shadows, so they don't even notice April and Alex has they enter the hospital. Ragland is in his lab, slumped over his computer keyboard in exhaustion, sleeping. He's clearly been working hard, and with little success.

[slayers_desire]

Only when they are in Ragland's lab, does April finally take them both out of shadow form.

"Doctor Ragland?" She gently touches his shoulder.

[prototypezeus]

Alex stays in his Blackwatch guise, figuring it's safer if the lab has any uninvited guests.

Ragland starts at the touch, his glasses trying to slip off his face as he sits up sharply. He grabs them and repositions them as he turns around. "Sorry, been working so hard that-" He breaks off as he sees April, and it takes a moment before he recalls where he's seen her before. "It's you again."

[slayers_desire]

"I am here to help again. We are going to make some significant changes... ones that might affect you."

[prototypezeus]

"We?" Ragland turns, and he starts again when he sees a Blackwatch soldier in the room, immediately afraid.

"It's time to get Dana the hell out of here," Alex says.

Although his voice is that of the soldier he's imitating, the way he speaks is not. Ragland's eyes narrow a little bit, trying to decide if it's Alex under that disguise or not, but afraid to say so. If it's not, Blackwatch will kill him.

[slayers_desire]

"This is Alex, Doctor Ragland." She uses his real name, since the Blackwatch would not know that information.

"And we are removing Dana from this hospital."

[prototypezeus]

Blackwatch know his name, but they don't use it. As far as they're concerned, Alex Mercer died and was taken over by Blacklight. And they aren't half wrong.

"Alex? This is dangerous, you being here," Ragland says, his fear giving way to a new kind of fear, more nervous than anything.

"I know. But we both know I couldn't keep going on like this," Alex replies. "I'm leaving the quarantine zone. But I need to get Dana out first."

[slayers_desire]

"We came to speak to you first. With Alex leaving the quarantine zone... and Dana gone... you might be at risk. Your research might be at risk."

[prototypezeus]

"I can't leave," Ragland protests. "Without a source of fresh samples, I won't be able to make any progress."

"Ragland, you probably won't be able to anyway," Alex says bluntly. "Blackwatch might not let you. And there's not gonna be a lot of sources left, with the way things are going."

[slayers_desire]

"You could still have access to Dana. Help her."