tampered | Log

He'd been on heavy sedatives, restraints, for what felt like ages. Klaha had not lived his unlife long enough to be able to lose weeks in the blink of an eye, and when he began to come out of it, he was disoriented and frightened. Strapped to a table with wires and tubes sticking out of him, he blinked, shifted, trying to figure out where he was. It took a while for him to remember he'd woken up here before - but now there was something different. He was alone, truly alone, without the presence of the network invading his consciousness and without the bizarre waking-dream phenomenon.

Klaha gasped, choking and coughing - it felt unnatural, because he did not require oxygen, but there was something in his chest and throat -- he sat up, still disoriented but coming out of it quickly, bindings at his shoulders and wrists snapping. He reached to his face and grabbed at the tubes there, ripping them out with a pained cry as they ripped up his insides. He collapsed again after that, trembling as is body regenerated. The sensation was nothing like he'd ever felt: Klaha was not a fighter, his rare injuries had been nothing like that.

After a long, dazed moment, he rolled off the table, stumbling, trying to determine where he was. Memories flitted back to him - Közi, Seras -- Millennium!

Resting against the table, his shoulder slumped. Közi, where are you? he sent out, trying to reach his companion. He feared his captors were only out for a short while.

Közi hadn't waited to set out. It had been too long spent fretting over the situation at hand - too long without rest, without feeding properly - though Yu~ki's blood had been enough to keep him sated this long. He still hadn't weakened much. He supposed it was an effect of drinking immortal blood, but it wasn't a thought he'd lingered on in light of the present events.

He clutched a medical blood packet in one hand - not for himself, but for Klaha - in case he was too weak to maneuver himself through whatever it was they would ultimately face. He'd come with few expectations, and his only solid goal was to assure that the other was freed from what manner of containment he'd met.

The vampire had appeared near the Zeppelin - not directly before it, a cautionary measure in case others were lingering about. But when he saw none other than Captain there a vague sense of relief settled over him. He still wasn't sure that he trusted the man - but under the circumstance, he'd little other choice. His approach was slow, and halted completely in light of the sudden invasion of Klaha's voice - evident care abandoned entirely as he came to a direct stop before Captain to reply.

I'm coming for you. Now.

There was no sign of Seras, yet, but he expected her there soon. As for Yu~ki - he'd told him to stay away. He didn't want to instill any sort of panic in Klaha, and figured that if for some reason his own attempt at rescue failed it would be best that one of them could still act.

The Captain tilted his head to the side slightly as he saw Közi approach. Then he turned to the side and pointed down the long corridor.

Be careful! I don't know who's here and who isn't. I know there's normally people here but I can't see any of them...

He tried to walk, and fell to his knees, bare skin slamming to the cold floor, bruising. Weakly, he pulled free of the rest of the tubes and needles that were implanted in his arms, realizing with a little burst of shame he was naked. Klaha remained on the floor for a little while, blearily taking in more of his surroundings until he felt he was able to move, making his way over to a metal cabinet and finding, thankfully, his clothes. Dressed but barefoot, he wandered about the room, finding the door sealed.

Who is with you? This it's too quiet here, Közi, something is different.

Most of them are gone - I think.

There was a momentary silence, in which Közi regarded Captain - his gaze calm but not without some semblance of suspicion. There was a very slight inclination of his head - respect was owed, if he was indeed proving himself an ally - but at the same time he felt that little was deserved to any who'd affiliated themselves with this lot.

It was only when Captain pointed that Közi started forward again, but he drew to a stop once he was level with him.

"Who am I to expect?"

Meanwhile, the alternate conversation was continued -

You.

The Captain didn't reply. He simply turned and started walking down the hallway, indicating that Közi should follow.

How did you find me, if no one is with you? What's going on? The people here.. they're not here! There's usually.. three I think, maybe more..

Strength fading fast, Klaha felt the mental link vanishing.

Captain Harker is a werewolf. Is Seras with you?

He sat down heavily on the floor, near the door. There was no lock that he could see, but it wouldn't budge.

The door opened slowly, to reveal the tall, imposing form of the Captain. He stepped aside to let Közi through.

Közi had followed wordlessly up until that point - but when the door opened to reveal Klaha as such, his face faulted. He stilled there for but a moment, then closed the distance to him in a few short strides, dropping to kneel opposite him and offering out the blood.

"She's meant to arrive shortly," what had formerly been discussed through their link now plainly audible.

The sight of the Captain was a little startling, because Klaha hadn't quite acclimated to what on earth was going on. He knew, from their brief meeting in the dreamscape, that he was one of his captors, but that there was something about him. Something that made Klaha want to know why he was the way he was. He was about to inquire when Közi rounded him and came to his side.

He tried to speak, but all he ended up doing was spitting up blood and tissue, still raw. He looked at the other vampire, eyes flashing, swirling, blue and red, his powers fluxing without control in his state. "We have to get out," he managed. Something wasn't right, he could feel it. Couldn't Közi?

The draculina ran, body a yellow hued blur. She could see the zeppelin up ahead and slowed. The two large automatic guns strapped to her back--bringing the Harkonnen cannon out with her for a stroll would have been more than a little suspicious--ceased their motion as she paused.

Was she too late? Seras scanned the perimeter for Közi and remained out of sight as much as a person wearing yellow could.

The Captain knelt down and helped Klaha to his feet. He nodded his head to the doorway, trying to indicate that it was time to leave. Now.

A nod - and he was to his feet again, as well. Reaching outward, Közi motioned to guide Klaha's form to his own as opposed to allowing the Captain to lead him, assuming that it would be more comfortable for the other vampire.

Even he still did not wholly trust the man who'd offered such assistance.

There would be time to speak of it later, of course - and so Közi started forth in the indicated direction.

Klaha stumbled along with him, though he continued to watch Captain Harker, wanting to know why he was allowing this. Not that he was complaining, of course, but he still wanted to know. "What..."

He clung to Közi's arm, his body slow and sluggish. He tried to focus, pulling his strength into himself to try and make it out.

Seras remained outside. She could see Közi and other movements within the zeppelin. Staying hidden for now seemed to be the best action she could offer to the situation for now. Surely they knew she was here by now. She could feel a strange zing cross her consciousness like a radio frequency.

While she had the opportunity, Seras readied the guns.

The Captain's booted feet rang through the suspiciously empty hallways as he lead them down towards the exit hurriedly.

This was too easy. He knew it was too easy. He knew it was coming. But he was hoping it would come later.

He stopped suddenly and stared up at the ceiling.

Közi didn't falter even when he heard the other's steps come to a halt. He doubted it would signify anything pleasant, and was fairly certain that if they were meant to stop with him it would have been implied.

"You'll learn of it later. He doesn't speak.."

The Captain grunted, then fell to his knees, his hat falling off of his head. Growling in pain, he reached into his pocket, pulled out an envelope, and pressed it into Klaha's hand.

He stared directly into Klaha's eyes and opened his mouth.

"Run," he rasped.

Deadweighting himself slightly to get Közi to stop when the Captain did, he looked over at him.

"What is..." but the question died on his lips when he was given the envelope. He met the Captain's eyes, and there was something both disturbing and powerful about that one word, coming from him. "What's wrong?!" This is it.

Klaha found that he had a hard time tearing himself away from his werewolf companion - but he turned back to Közi, continuing on, sense of urgency intensifying now.

Red eyes flicked back only when he heard the word spoken - and immediately narrowed at the sight. His hold on Klaha tightened, he employing his strength to his advantage now as his own pace quickened immensely - he mildly regretful of the fact that he hadn't urged Klaha to take the blood when he could. Then, at least, were the need to fight to arise he could have fled on his own.

A crackle, and the intercom jumped to life.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Oh, but you should know better, Captain. This is not some social club that can be joined and left at will. We are like a Mafia, Captain. We will take back what is owed to us."

"Oh..."

Any normal man might have sworn, then, but Klaha recognized that voice from the network, and it meant no good. He ran, leaning on Közi when he stumbled, going unfortunately slow in his current state. He was fairly sure hell was about to be properly unleashed.

Finally reaching the outside of the enclosure, Klaha stumbled again. "Közi, can you get out of here?" he asked, shaky, meaning their teleportation.

It was far too quiet. Seras moved closer and closer to the zeppelin. She could see some sort of entry way that was all too conveniently opened. Upon seeing the two well clothed vampires emerging, Seras had to blink and gawk in surprise. There had to me more to this.

"Közi! Klaha!" she called to them as much as she could without raising her voice.

The Captain slowly got to his feet. His hands, with fast, practiced motions, went for his mausers, and he began to fire at Közi and Klaha.

If he couldn't, the sound of gunfire was more than enough to inspire him to try. He dove aside, an instinctive action, nails practically burying themselves into Klaha's upper arm in an effort to keep his hold - and what power he'd reserved over the past few days was put forth in an immense effort to shift both himself and the other from harm's way.

It worked.

Somewhat.

He'd managed, at least, to move them the few meters necessary to get them outside -- slightly farther back than Seras -- and it took him a moment to realise what had essentially been a failed attempt.

"Apparently not," the belated reply.

The roar of gunfire was not something to make her startle but Seras did jump slightly in surprise. She knew that there would be some sort of bombardment. Without another thought on the matter she sprinted ahead with return fire. Klaha and Közi needed to run for cover!

The Captain didn't appear to move, to even try to dodge. What was gunfire to him? He simply shifted his aim towards Seras and continued to fire.

"Seras!"

Having re-appeared behind her, Klaha turned, barely having caught a glimpse of the young woman before they vanished. He was shaken from the rough treatment, but stayed down, not wanting to get his head blown off. He did watch, however, still half-collapsed against the other vampire.

The Captain was the one shooting? Wasn't he supposed to be aiding in Klaha's escape? Seras could see a definite intent to the way he was firing. He was not dodging at all. What if he were to come at her?

Seras clenched her teeth. Rather than continuing to fire at The Captain, she aimed higher at the zeppelin exterior. Sure enough, the night lightened with an explosion.

For a moment Közi was still, merely watching the fire as it took place through slightly widened eyes - as it were, he'd been searching since Klaha's disappearance - and so as of yet he'd not been exposed to much of the technology that the City bore compared to that of his home.

The explosion in itself, however, brought him back - enough to register the fact that remaining here was most definitely not in their best interest.

"Klaha. We need to go."

His eyes widened at the explosion, shocked. The edge of the zeppelin went up in flames, the heat from it booming back at them.

"Captain Harker..." he seemed to be in his own world for a moment, but Közi snapped him out of it.

"Ah-- yes," Klaha said, looking over at him, shaken. "What about Seras?

A gloved hand and arm shielded her red eyes from the crackling fire, it wasn't the light that hurt just smoke. She backed away, squinting to see if anyone was trying to come through the flames. It was as good a time as any to make a break for it.

"Run," Seras called over her shoulder. She would have to return home. Better they separate.

"She wants us to run," plainly - tone a bit flat, perhaps, as it was the second time they'd been told.

A single movement, notably weaker but fueled enough by the prospect of dying again, and Közi hefted Klaha to stand at his side - not giving the opportunity for much else to interrupt before starting forward again, quickly - making up for Klaha's weakness to the best of his ability.

"Ooof!"

Klaha stumbled again, still weak and slow, but let the other vampire manhandle him away. He might have quipped about how he'd been locked up for God-knows-how-long and might have wanted to see if everything was going on properly but, one, he was exhausted, and two... Közi had a point about running. He went with him, and it wasn't until then that it kicked in that he was out. He felt himself shaking, but he held it together, making their escape.

Seras spared a glance behind her as she made her way into a retreat. The two vampires had been able to slip away after all. That done she broke into a run, zig-zagging from one wall to another up to the roof tops. Behind her the smoke and fire painted the night. Guiltily, she smiled to herself heading home.

The Captain stood in the midst of the fiery debris and falling rubble. Without a word or a gesture or even an expression, he holstered his guns, knelt down to pick up his cap, and turned to walk down the hallway, his footsteps echoing through the halls as the fires burnt.

And somewhere, a man was clapping slowly.

And laughing.

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