--- Last Time ---
*The monks words trailed off into nothing as the medic wandered into the room. Huxian’s expression was grim, but, glancing at the girls in the room, he knew that it wasn’t the best time to continue talking about it. They were scared enough by their discovery of the supernatural. Best not to worry them more.*
Huxian: We’ll just have to wait until she’s awake to find out, I suppose.
Ghost: My thought exactly.
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*The day had slowly but surely turned to night and the girls began to settle down in one of the many allocated rooms, restless from their endeavour with the undead.*
Girl 1:...I can’t get a signal.
Girl 2: Me neither… Do you think we’ll get better signal outside? I’m worried about my family.
Girl 3: Same. It shouldn't be a problem, right? Plus we’re safe now, right? Those things are gone, so there’s nothing stopping us from just waltzing out of here.
Girl 4: Yeah, but what about that little girl? We should take her with us. This ‘Pandora’ thing still feels kind of sketchy.
Girl 2: I know what you mean. Blindly believing whatever that player guy was saying…? Well, it’s a little hard to believe….
Girl 3: Yeah, but you saw those things out there…. I don’t believe…. No, I didn't believe in all the ghost stories my grandma used to tell, but…maybe there is something to this supernatural thing after all. As much as I’m worried about our families…. I think the safest bet is for us to stay put.
Girl 4: That agent guy - oh, not the player type, the flirty one.
Girl 2: Yeah, the one who called the other guy a sex machine?
Girl 4: Yeah, him. When he was bringing us here, he said that the city was being evacuated into shelters? I think it’s probably best for us to stay put… at least for now. If we run into hell blind, we may cause more harm than good. At the end of the day, we need to keep our heads, and brace for impact.
Girl 1: … I’M GOING! THEY’RE EVACUATING THE CITY AND WERE STILL HERE?!!!
Girl 2: Jesus! What wrong with you?! You’ve been acting strange for a while now.
Girl 1: All of this is crazy! I want to go home! I want to go home!! I WANT TO GO HOME!
Girl 3: *SLAP* Calm down!
Girl 1: Y-you slapped me….
Girl 3: And I’ll do it again if you don't chill the fuck out! You think you acting out like that is going to change our predicament? You think that throwing a tantrum is going to stop the hell scape that is the undead? Believe it or not, we’re in a horror movie and the safest place for our families and us is with them! Now sit down and shut the fuck up if you wanna live past tomorrow.
Girl 1: ….I’m leav-
Voice: If you leave, all you’ll be doing is condemning your friends and yourself, maybe even your families to death.
*During the argument between the girls, unnoticed, Huxian had been approaching with trays of food. However, his face, rather than to flippant one he had wrn before, was entirely serious, his amber eyes fixed on the girls as he placed the trays down and crossed his arms.*
Huxian: Is that what you want? To get yourself killed? When we’ve already promised you we’re doing everything in our power to keep all of you, and your families safe? Or is your life truly that meaningless to you?
Girl 1: The Fuck do you know about-
Huxian: I don’t need to know anything about you to know you’re scared. Only people who are scared or complete idiots would want to ruin the only chance they have at getting home by throwing their lives away, especially when the help is already being given.
*His eyes narrow further*
Huxian: Similarly, what do you know about me? Why do you think most people who are here are even in Pandora in the first place? Many of us lost people - friends, family, important people in our lives because of creatures like those Jiangshi out there. We know how it feels to lose everything. Why do you think we try so hard to make sure the same doesn’t happen to everyone else?
Girl 1: *Brakes down* I… I…. I just want to go home…. I want to know if they’re ok…. Everything was normal a little while ago, so why…? Why are those monsters here now…? If this is what the mystic is, then…shouldn't they all just disappear back to whatever hell they crawled out of?
Huxian: So what, all humans are the same as every bad person in this world too? Don’t be speciesist. The mystic are just like people in the fact that there are many good ones out there, it’s just that the bad ones tend to be ‘louder’, so to speak. Besides, many of those mystics inhabited the world far longer than humans. In a way, it’s humans who are the interlopers in the world. But many are willing to live and let live. Well, assuming you don’t accidentally slight them. Some of the mystics tend to hold slightly different standards in morals.
As for Jiangshi….The thing with them is that they can’t exist without being conjured in the first place. More often than not, those that conjure are human themselves. In this case, it’s like any murderer or criminal out there - there are laws about what they can and can’t do and the idiot who started this is breaking them - both mortal and mystic laws. Believe me, once we’re through with them, they’ll wish they could just crawl back into the shadows.
*The girl looked down, clenching her fists before releasing them once more, saying nothing.*
Huxian: Anyway, another reason why your previous plans were stupid - you remember Pandora was in charge of leading people to safe houses, right? What makes you think we can’t literally find out which your families are in and set up communication with them? True, regular cell phones wont get you far, but that’s the perks of the mystic world - there’s always ways to communicate.
*Girl 1 glared as the others sighed in relief.*
Girl 2: Thank heavens!
Girl 3: Brilliant! Can we call then now?
Huxian: Well, we need to check on which of the safe houses they’re in, but luckily, you’re in our main base at the moment, at least for this operation, so we can arrange it. Mind writing their names down? I’ll have our techies check up for you and set up a communication line. In the meantime, can I trust that you won’t go darting off somewhere? Last thing I want is to call up your families to tell them a Jiangshi ate you or something. I’ve brought you girls food as well.
*Most of the girls laugh, trying the fine some form of amusement in their current situation, Girl 1 silently take a pen to paper and begin to scribble down the names of each of her family members then shove the stationary in the direction of the next girl before laying at one of the available beds.
While Huxian had been annoyed at the girls before, he obviously wasn’t entirely cold. While the others were hurrying to write names, Huxian moved to the bed Girl 1 occupied, crouching down beside it in an effort not to appear looming and threatening, his voice soft*
Huxian: I’m sorry about this. But we’ll get you in contact with your family soon, I promise. And...I apologize for snapping at you. It’s been…..a long time since I lost the people I cared for, but even so, I still remember it. I’ll make sure that the same doesn’t happen here.
Girl 1: *Tears welling up, and a quiet tone* ...Thank you….
Huxian: *Small smile* Just call on one of us if you need anything.
*Gently patting the girl’s head in a soothing manner, Huxian stood once more, glancing over to see if the girls had finished the list of names. Seeing they were finished - looking over it there were certainly a long list! - Huxian took the notebook and left the girls to their meals. As he headed to their tech specialist, Huxian decided to check over the medical bay to their ‘sleeping beauty’, who seemed to be beginning to stir slightly. Unfortunately, it looked like the medic had stepped out. Cursing softly under his breath, Huxian moved into the room. As all field agents, Huxian did know enough about first aid to at least be able to give her a rudimentary assessment until the medic came back.*
Huxian: Hey. Are you awake?
*Carefully, he moved a bit closer, touching her hand to allow her to know someone was there, hopefully to help anchor her to reality a little better. Even so, he couldn’t help but frown a little. She seemed slightly chilled. Something to mention to the medic.*
Huxian: If you can hear me, try to squeeze my hand, ok?
*There was a flinch and squeeze from the girl. She moaned slightly. As exhausted as she was, she attempted to move, to sit up, only stopped by a warm masculin hand.*
Little Girl: MNN!!! But…. but… the girls… need to-
Huxian: Don’t sit up to fast yet. You’re still pretty weak after fighting those Jiangshi. But, thanks to you, I was able to get there in time. You and those girls you were protecting are safe.
Little Girl: *Sigh* Pandora? I need to get to her….
Huxian: You’re in luck. I’m Yin Huxian, Field Commander of Pandora. All of you are safe in our current base of operations. You did your job admirably.
Little Girl: Yin Hu… Ah!!! Grandpa's sword, was it received? Grandpa!-
*Worried the girl would throw herself off the bed in her panic, Huxian quickly, but gently, pressed her back to lie down again*
Huxian: You mean the Peach Wood Sword? Yes, one of the agents has it and is keeping it safe for now while we plan for-
Little Girl: No! Hu-gege has to have No agent!!!! Grandpa said!!!!!!
Huxian: He told me, don’t worry. I’ll be taking care of it soon. I was a little busy making sure you were all settled, but I’ll be sure to take care of the sword.
*He sat back a moment, eyeing the girl*
Huxian: ...What’s your name? The agent who delivered the blade didn’t seem to know, but he did recognise you when we brought you here.
Little Girl: No no no!!! Now get now!!! Wave big wave coming Hu-gege now!!! Yi can’t wait!!!
*For a moment, Huxian could only look at the girl, nonplussed, before stretching out his senses once again - and cursing. Not about to argue further, he nodded and stood*
Huxian: I’ll handle it. Stay here. No arguments.
*That said, Huxian moved to the door, just in time as he almost ran straight into the medic and another agent that were heading the other way*
Huxian: Good timing. The girl woke up, but I’ve got something to attend to. If the two of you could help keep an eye on this one and the others, I need to find a guy with a peach sword.
[END]
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