Colin's posts

The one that was staring out the window... Azazel... shook a bit suddenly. He seemed to have been in his own little daydream, when it looked like something had snapped him back to reality... almost violently.

He took a small step back and winced a bit, looking at his body, and then looking around... noticing Jordan.

"Oh. You're here." he said.

"I thought you would have already left by now." he commented. "Guess you're stuck in here with the rest of us for now." he lamented with a small sigh, then looking at her camera.

"...oh, you snapped some pictures?" he asked.

"Guessing you wanted that 'natural candid' look, huh?"

Zeke just shrugged and laughed a little.

"That's true." he said.

"Anyway, let's see what Jordan wants to do." he told her.

"See what kind of shots she wants to take." he went on, as the two started to leave the room.

"And you'll be fine. I promise." he re-stated.

Zeke just sighed and made his way over, getting beside her and pulling her into a one-armed side hug.

"Don't worry." he said. "I'll protect both you and your mother from whatever may come." he assured her.

"We just need to try not to panic TOO much, and try and remain calm." he continued.

"Also, it's fair if you don't want your photo taken, but it might help distract you." he then reasoned with a shrug.

"Your choice."

"Ah, you didn't clearly hear it." Zeke commented.

"Welp, you're here for a bit." he told her. "Which is to say... we're ALL here for a while." he continued.

"Place has gone under the strictest lockdown we can muster." he informed her.

"Blood Red." he stated.

"No, I don't know WHY, and your mother has already gone to see if she can get any information." he continued.

"Basically, you now know all the relevant details I am able to provide. As I know little more now."

Zeke watched Angela go, and then sighed again.

"Really is." he said.

"Means some real serious shit has gone down." he told her.

"I just hope Angie can get some answers." he then mumbled, before heading to where Liv was and knocking on the door.

"Wanna have your pics taken by Jordan?" he asked.

Zeke just shook his head slightly.

"That's fair enough, Angela." he responded.

"This is... to say this is an awkward, unnerving, and confusing situation would be understating it." he then added.

"Also, sure, we can see if Liv wants to be in a few shots." he added with a shrug.

"That ok with YOU?" he asked Jordan.

The man that was with her just scowled.

"Damn it all." he cursed.

"It's THAT level of lockdown!?" he exclaimed, before looking at Jordan.

"It's a lockdown. Obviously." he told her. "But it's as strict as possible. It's... well, suffice to say, it's the worst case scenario that CAUSES this sort of thing." he continued further.

"Just... damn it." he muttered.

"At least Liv's here." he then said to the woman beside him.

"...which could be potentially seen as a bad thing OR a good thing." he muttered. "Or both." he added.

Hal just leaned forward, and covered his eyes with his hands.

"...no point in locking the door. It'll just get busted down." he mumbled to himself. "And there will be an automatic announcement when the lockdown takes effect." he continued, before taking the crystal and putting it out of sight, so it wouldn't be disturbed.

Sure enough, a couple of minutes later, an automatic voice blasted over the PA system.

"THIS BUILDING IS NOW UNDER CODE BLOOD RED. REPEAT: BLOOD RED." the automated voice declared.

"Damn you Vanessa." Hal snarled.

"Making me DO this... pushing it to THIS..." he went on.

"HOW!?" he then exclaimed in frustration.

"I will try." Hal responded.

"That's all I'll say." he told her.

"Now go. Before this fully takes effect." he said.

"I'll announce it once it happens. But for now... go." he repeated.

"And I hope you find out SOME information." he went on. "This... is just... I don't..." he then stammered, before sighing.

"I give up." he murmured.

"I want to say I'm scared, but... I'm not." he lamented.

Hal thought for a moment, before nodding.

"Yes." he replied.

He then reached into the safe again, and pulled out a special crystal. One that was exceptionally rare, as it was known for being able to hold copious amounts of frighteningly strong mana. It had all but disappeared from the world, as it did have its limits, and people found them. And broke them.

"Normally I wouldn't use this." he said.

"But again. Drastic times."

Hal nodded slowly in response.

Overall, the procedure took about 6-7 solid minutes, but they did it. The 'absolute lockdown' was now in effect, and Hal just leaned back in his chair.

"...it is done." he said.

"This building is now under the strictest level of lockdown possible." he told her.

"To think it's come to this..." he then mumbled.

"But... nothing to be done about it NOW..."

"...right." Hal responded, before making his way to the safe. He paused at it for a moment, before opening it. He then shifted through the contents, before finding what he was looking for, pulling the sealed envelope out.

"And here it is." he said, taking it back to the desk.

"This has never been used since the Unit was founded and created." he mumbled sorrowfully.

"But... drastic times require drastic measures, I suppose." he admitted.

Even though Vanessa's control was no longer there... she could see how the pieces of his soul that were missing were affecting his overall demeanour.

Hal paused and thought for a moment, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Hm." he mumbled.

"Complete and utter lockdown..." he said.

"I... wait..." he then muttered, thinking about it.

"I think I can do that, yeah." he confirmed.

"..." he was then silent, thinking about it.

"Yeah... it's... it's drastic, but it CAN be done." he repeated.

Hal just sighed again.

"Somehow, I'm not surprised." he said.

"I'm sorry I won't be any help to you." he apologised.

"But... what can I say? I have NO idea how she managed this." he told her. "Normally I have some reference point, but... I can't think of anything now." he admitted further.

"Seriously, I can't think of anything out of the ordinary. Or anything worth noting." he went on.

"..." he was then silent again, and just shook his head.