Colin's posts

Hal moved with purpose and stride, but looked back towards her.

"Shall I call Kaia to see you?" he asked.

"Yuki does not leave the dorm until the sun goes fully down." he said.

"But Kaia spends her time about this place, exploring and talking to her sister." he went on.

"Do you want to see her before resting?"

"We'll bring them back, alongside you, I promise." Hal told her.

"Come on, then." he said, making his way to the door.

"We need to find you a place to rest. And the dorms will provide that." he said further.

"Don't give up hope." he continued.

"Keep the faith alive, and keep your spirit strong."

"...." Hal was silent as he witnessed this, and her seeming obliviousness to the last one.

"I... see." he said.

"Well, regardless, I assure you we'll get you back here to this plane." he told her.

"For now, let's get you some rest." he suggested.

He knew it would do no good to get her to panic over this, but he felt he had to say SOMETHING, so he just sighed quietly, shook his head, and looked her right in her eyes, locking gazes with her.

"Just keep your wits about you." he said.

"Can you think of anyone that might be able to help you return home?" he asked.

Hal paused as she said that.

"Not actually here?" he asked.

"How do you mean?" he asked her.

"Do you mean to say you may be projecting in some way? Pushing your consciousness to this realm?" he inquired.

He had to admit, it was not entirely outside the realm of possibility, but it was a rather strong projection if that WAS the case. He swore she was solid. Surely Jake had 'smelled' mana on her.

This was completely uncharted territory right now.

"..." Hal was silent, before nodding.

"Yes." he said.

"We have dorms here. Yuki and Kaia are staying in one." he told her.

"We can easily have one for you right now." he assured her further, looking in a drawer and pulling a card key out.

"Come on." he said.

"Let's get you some rest."

"Please. Try and calm yourself." Hal responded, gently placing a hand atop one of hers.

"It's entirely possible you were not IN the Void, exactly, but very close to it." he told her.

"The fact you retain memory of it may be proof of that." he said further.

"But we will do what we can to bring them all back, as well as yourself." he promised her.

"You have my word."

Hal's eyes widened a little when he heard that.

"Dark... cold... empty? Without anything?" he asked.

"That... wait..." he muttered.

"I've heard of that." he told her. "Or, rather, I've heard tales and seen scribblings of a place like what you describe." he told her further.

"The realm between realms." he said.

"The Void."

Hal nodded in response.

"Yes. She is." he said.

"We're taking good care of her." he told her.

"And it's just... what?" he asked.

As he spoke, he was making note to send a team with supernatural experience, and some technology for this.

They needed to try and find out ANYTHING they could.

Hal just sighed quietly. This wasn't helping.

"I see." he said.

"Well, whatever is doing this has gotten most of your company." he told her.

"The only ones that have not yet been 'taken' are Kaia and Yuki, and they are here, seeking shelter and protection." he went on.

"And now we know for absolutely sure that you have been absconded to another plane." he continued.

"...but... a plane of pure blackness..." he then said further, thinking about that more intensely.

"...something is stealing people..." Hal mumbled.

"Damn it." he cursed.

"This sounds like something that's happened a long time ago, but it's not coming to me." he muttered.

"Can you tell if this is some sort of strange force that is all around, or is there a focal point?" he asked.

"Are we dealing with an individual... something... or is this more spread out?" he asked further.

"Have you found out ANYTHING since being forced to the other plane?"

"...good heavens." Hal mumbled.

"You're flicking in-between planes?" he asked.

"How and why?" he asked her.

"What has done this... IS doing this... to you?" he asked her further.

"If we know the source of this, then we can figure out how to stop it."

"It is." Hal responded.

"Come on." he told her, gesturing for her to follow, as the two stepped through the door.

"Tell me what's happening." he said.

"How can we help?" he asked her.

"...and is there anything we can do for YOU, right now?"

Jake wasn't sure what to say here, but nodded.

His tongue darted out from his mouth, and he then pressed a button.

"Sharp, get down here now. This is urgent." he said.

"On my way." Hal responded, before the line went dead.

"Best to get the boss down here and see you in person." Jake told her.

But before she could properly answer, the door inside opened, and Hal stepped out, pausing when he saw Vaeri.

"...already I can tell this is urgent." he said.

"......" Jake was silent for a prolonged moment, before clearing his throat.

"Ah, yes. Yes, it is." he confirmed.

"And... unless my vision is playing tricks on me, you seem like you are in dire need of assistance." he commented.

"What is it you need help with, exactly?" he asked.

"Or, rather, what is the issue, and do you know the cause?"