[Voice (phone), possibly -> Action]

[seriallylucky]

[Fred, as seems to be normal for him on the network lately, is upset. Distressed, even. All right, let's be honest: he's panicking. He's also pretty out of breath, like he's running while he's talking.]

Help! Somebody... I think... I think they turned my mom... into a monster.

[He just pants for a few seconds, then gulps and goes on.]

I dunno... what to do. She's chasing me, and... and I just... don't know. Help...

[OOC: So my original plans for the execution of this Mystery Event have been foiled by RL imposing on the other player, so here's the improvisational version. Feel free to try to get information or give advice, but PM/ping/PP me if you want your character to actually join in. Any action stuff I want to do in a single thread, probably with one or maybe two other characters. I have no clear idea, at this point, how this is all going to go down, but acto the mods' message Fred's mom'll end up dead within about a day no matter what happens.]

Comments

[ex_elude798]

He accepts the keys, stealing a quick glance at the creature - Catherine - still rushing their way. There's enough time to say it, and so he does.

"I'm a soldier, I should be the one to stay here," Suzaku can't avoid pointing this out. He won't sacrifice a grandmother to save himself. Whatever skills she has, what she's up against is still inhuman. It isn't her job - isn't her responsibility.

However, she is still his senior. She still makes the call, this is her family.

"I'll do what you ask, but I won't leave you behind. Agreed?"

[seriallylucky]

By this time, Fred's fairly close to the car. Not quite there yet, but close enough to ask what are you doing?

"W-"

If he had enough breath, of course. He tries his healing power - the others will see a brief glimmer of yellow sparkles moving up through him - but it doesn't seem to make a difference. Oh, well. The car is safety, or the best ticket to it he's got at the moment. He makes for that. Maybe one of the doors will be open when he gets there?

[unwakingwaters]

"Agreed! Now, if you'd -- "

Catherine's too close to them now. Maya steps in front of Fred, holding out her wooden saber in a block, about to start telling her niece to stand down, when something surges through her, a feeling like being caught up in a breaking wave, and all at once a bubble of shimmering translucent hexagons surrounds Fred, Suzaku, and herself. The monster-Catherine slams into it full force, and is forced back a few feet by the blow.

Maya blinks, but at this point isn't questioning it. She focuses on that feeling of breaking waves and holds the barrier. Somehow, she knows...

"If I move, it'll break," she says. "But you should be able to pass through it from the inside to the outside. Head to the car, I'll hold her off with this and then catch up."

[ex_elude798]

For an instant, all Suzaku can do is stare.

It's not just the shield that pops up like some kind of magic in the MMOs he plays. That, by itself, is strange enough. But for a moment, something flickers through his mind. A woman who isn't herself, a gunshot, crushing despair. Where did that come from? Unsure, he shakes his head to clear his thoughts and grabs Fred's arm.

"Let's hurry-" He doesn't know what this thing is, but at the same time, it's better not to test its longevity. Whatever leapt through his mind, it can wait. There are more immediate concerns.

Suzaku moves at a brisk pace toward the car, using the buttons on the keyholder to unlock the doors along the way. While he doesn't usually drive a car, it's straightforward enough.

[seriallylucky]

Fred is more than willing to be hurried along. More than anything right now he wants to be out of here, and figure out how to deal with the whole situation once he's - they're - safe.

He heads for the backseat, not really thinking about anything beyond that it would have more space to collapse on. It's a little awkward to open the door and get in while fleeing - he hasn't fully processed Maya's barrier - but he manages.

Once he's in, he has a bit of trouble relaxing, though, which may have something to do with the sword that has just appeared lying across his lap.

[unwakingwaters]

Maya holds the barrier for a second longer, then pushes just a little, knocking Catherine off her feet.

With that, she turns and runs towards the car as quickly as she can. She keeps in shape, so she's surprisingly quick on her feet for a woman her age. In a few seconds, she's in the driver's seat, with Catherine hot on her heels.

"SEATBELTS, EVERYONE."

[ex_elude798]

It's an order, and Suzaku is quick to obey it. He ignores the unpleasant pressure of the kendo sword between him and the passenger seat, attention fixed instead on the creature outside of the car.

While there's semblance of humanity there, it doesn't seem to him that there's much more than that. "Catherine" doesn't appear to remember the people she's attacking, and even the attacks themselves are heedless of self-inflicted damage.

That's the way it looks as Suzaku watches her.