Day 60: Cafeteria

[gald_digger]

Anise had been lying snug in bed, only vaguely aware that she was awake, when her rest was disturbed by the one sound in the world she'd never wanted to hear again.

"Good morning, everyone!"

The girl's eyes shot open and she immediately sat up straight. There was no doubt about it. That was the Head Doctor, that bastard, and he was back! Now that

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[bastard_sadi]

The world had shifted in the span of a blink and the Courtyard melted into the sight of a familiar ceiling, joined by a voice Daemon hadn't heard since reawakening. And could have done without for even longer. He didn't even need to look to know his Jewels were gone once more, able to feel them vanish in that moment where everything had shut down and dawn had woken. It filled him with a speechless rage that took several moments to leash back under control once more, but it was a futile emotion with the punch of power that normally fueled it

[spandexorgtfo]

He was in the air, mind distracted by the overwhelming instinct to destroy anything that came near. It was all very easy, almost too easy, and yet they kept coming in waves, and so he had continued through most of the night, aimlessly doing what he did best.

But then suddenly, everything had gone still and quiet. Kratos had frowned--the silence was jarring--and then realized in a flash that the familiar, month-old veil had descended again over his senses before he fell out of the sky. He was too busy struggling with the sudden sensory deprivation to realize that he would be meeting a messy end at the hands of gravity, but before reality could remind him, he woke up.

It was almost like coming out of a dream. The feeling of power numbing his very being had been so vivid only seconds before, and now he could only grasp at it as he lay in bed for another moment, chest heaving.

"Am I glad to be back!" Wonderful. He knew that voice. Kratos sat up and sighed as he looked down at the familiar smiley face that once again was on his chest.

[bastard_sadi]

Daemon's expression was still faintly amused as he watched Renji and Sora's reunion play out across the room, the sight helping to leash some of the temper that still smoldered beneath the surface. When someone sat down across from him, he spared the unfamiliar male a glance, returning to his meal before the other man spoke

[spandexorgtfo]

"Mm." Kratos chewed slowly on his bite of waffle as his gaze drifted out toward the rest of the cafeteria again. He didn't really know why he was doing that, considering he had no one to look for. Maybe it was the shock of seeing the old uniforms again.

"To be honest, I didn't expect much to come of last night other than more chaos than usual, and there was indeed more, so you could say that my expectations were met," he remarked, eyes now fixed on some stranger who had also joined the waffle celebration. "I did try to break that force field, though." He sighed as he turned back to cut off some more of his waffle. "There was an obligation to at least try."

He would have rather not tried such a foolish thing, though. He would have rather stormed up to wherever Aguilar was and forced the man to tell him how he'd managed to seize control of time and space while he still had the power to be an actual threat. Ah, wasted time: his familiar companion by now.

[bastard_sadi]

"Pity about the barrier," Daemon agreed, the words an understatement. "I think many did. I was hoping to find my way into the upper floors for some more information, but everything was locked down tight. Nothing even dented it, and I witnessed some considerable force being used against it."

His lips quirked wryly and the thought drew his gaze back to Renji for a moment, just in time to see the redhead scoop up a girl who looked to be the same age as Sora and treat her to the same greeting. The sight warmed him and he couldn't help but laugh softly, shaking his head in amusement as he took another bite of waffles. Despite the fact that this was the last place he wished Renji to be, it was nice to have a familiar face here once more, to ease the feeling of isolation and loneliness.

"Still, last night's chaos served its purpose, for what it's worth," Daemon continued after he'd swallowed again. "Although it raises some interesting questions about how they're doing it and if it can be done again."

[spandexorgtfo]

Kratos' eyebrow raised at the other man's last comment. "Really." Well, it certainly proved that there was some way of regaining their powers, yes, although he had sensed the possibility since the night before, when the idea of a certain device had been somehow implanted in his mind. "I'm sure answers will be swiftly forthcoming. Transparency has ever been the administration's strong point."

And Landel's return only added to the mystery. He had not been reinstated with Aguilar's blessing, that much was evident, but the rest of the story was not as readily apparent.

"It would be nice to have some forewarning, if it were to happen again," he added wryly. While the return of his powers had been appreciated, despite the briefness, the sudden physiological transformation did require substantial mental preparation.

[bastard_sadi]

"No, I suppose not. It has some, but I wouldn't list that among it," Daemon drawled, lips quirking faintly as he took another bite of his breakfast. "There was more going on last night than a simple blip in their management skills, however. It seems the general's forces weren't all they seemed. A few rebels seemed to have infiltrated his people. Rather high up, as well. They were responsible for... whatever it was that occurred last night. I admit, I understand very little about this world's technology sometimes."

He paused for another bite, enjoying the real food as he gave what explanations he had. it would be best to get the news spread throughout the institute. perhaps it would give hope, that they weren't all struggling futilely in here alone.

"I'm not sure how they repaired whatever it was, but I'm guessing the return of our dear Head Doctor had something to do with it."

[spandexorgtfo]

"I see." Shocking. And here he was, thinking that all the rebels were good for were occasional motivational speeches. "Are we to assume that their identities were compromised, then?" That would make the events of last night their parting gift, although it hadn't done much good: all that had come about was the exchange of one dictator for another. Kratos personally saw no difference, aside from superficial things like the uniform.

Meanwhile, he quietly noted the comment about "this world's technology": he had a fellow alien here. That was slightly comforting, although even the people who were familiar with this world seemed to be in the dark about many things as well.

"It seems to have Landel's mark on it." Kratos frowned lightly. "His return was probably not the outcome the rebels were intending on achieving, unless he truly is the lesser of two evils."

[bastard_sadi]

"I believe so," Daemon answered with a slight inclination of his head, his fork pushing the last few bites of waffle around on his plate. "One of them was Harrington. He'd been one of Aguilar's soldiers. Rather high up, although I don't know the details or rankings of their military. He'd been in the chapel the night before, supposedly searching for information on a mole. I'd found him then, as the good General had been so kind as to point us in his direction over the speakers. He had a female with him last night, however. It seems she was the reason he was here, to get her out. Last I saw them, they were headed over the wall."

Deciding he was full, he set his fork down and leaned back in his chair, still looking thoughtful. "I think there was more to it than that. Aguilar, despite being in control, didn't have the power of this place. Harrington hinted that if this place is to be ended, it is Landel who must be taken down. He is the power behind it. And apparently he is not as normal as he pretends to be."

[spandexorgtfo]

Harrington...the name was vaguely familiar; it took Kratos a moment to realize that Harrington was in fact the one with the severe accent who had given the shift announcements several times over the past few days. Well. Never let it be said that the quality of a man's speech determined his intelligence. (His son could speak for that.)

He frowned. "Then we have taken a step back with his return." It came as no surprise that Landel was hardly an ordinary man; after all, what kind of ordinary man would have the command of the supernatural? What kind of man would be able to induce hallucinations and summon monsters? He was powerful, that much had always been clear.

Kratos took a few more seconds to ruminate over that fact and how little progress they'd actually all made over the past month before adding, "If you don't mind me asking, how exactly did you come to meet Harrington and his associate last night?"

[bastard_sadi]

"A step back, a step forward. For all we know, we're just going in circles anyway," Daemon answered dryly. Some days it certainly felt like that. Most days, in fact. His fingers drummed atop the table in absent thought. When the male asked him another question, his gaze flitted up to his face for a moment before returning to some distant point across the room.

"A friend and I were trying to find a way into the third floor, hoping that we might find some of the more important information or people there, considering they keep it so well guarded and locked down. With the barrier up, we were unable to find access inside, so we searched for a way onto the roof. Upstairs on the patio, we encountered them while they were making their escape. There were monsters in quite an abundance, so after meeting them and learning who they were and what they'd done, we assisted them down into the courtyard, then held the creatures at bay while they made it over the wall. That was the last we saw of them."

[spandexorgtfo]

"Ah." It seemed plausible. Fortunate that they were on the patio while he had been...wasting the night, it seemed. Kratos picked some more at his waffle and then ate another square. It would be interesting to see if any changes would be made in the coming days, if Landel would be more cautious and build even higher walls around himself. Not that any of those were desired. "You had good timing."

He might have felt a small tinge of envy then, but he pushed past it because such feelings were beside the point. They were both still stuck here.

[bastard_sadi]

Something tickled in the back of Daemon's throat and his lips twitched faintly at the reply. "I suppose we did. I'm not sure how useful it will be in the long run, but the knowledge may prove helpful. As is knowing that there are those outside the Institute working towards the same goal.Aside from the voices on the radio." Who he never knew who to trust or not. Perhaps trust was the wrong word, as there were very few people in this place he did trust. But even he could admit the hints and advice and clues they'd been given a time or two had been helpful in pointing someone in the right direction.

At the sight of his nurse approaching, Daemon gave a frustrated sigh and set his fork down on his empty plate. "It looks as if breakfast is over," he drawled, the only sign of his annoyance being the faint coolness in his golden gaze. He hesitated a moment longer, however, remembering he'd forgotten his manners. "I never caught your name, my apologies," he stated. "I am Daemon."

[spandexorgtfo]

"At the very least, one could consider it reassuring," Kratos said with a brief dip of his head. At the very least, they knew that they were not alone, as silly and clichéd as it sounded, and that there were people other than Marc who were trying to do things.

He laughed shortly as the other man finally introduced himself. "No need to apologize; I am guilty of forgetting as well. Daemon, is it? The name is familiar; I believe we spoke over the board not too long ago. I'm Kratos." Yes, he did remember: Daemon had asked about the whereabouts of some people that he was sure had not been within the Institute for several weeks.

"In any case, thank you for the information. It is always useful to at least have some idea of the going-ons of the administration here."

[bastard_sadi]

Daemon's gaze flickered faintly and he smiled at the man, inclining his head. "Ahh, yes, we did. It was nice to finally meet you, Kratos. And it was my pleasure. I'll let you know if I learn any more."

Which he hoped to as the day progressed, but he would have to wait and see. He rose as his nurse approached, inclining his head. "I hope the rest of your day is pleasant," he bid the man, although there was a definite note of wry humor there now, sarcasm tinting the words as he shot his new escort a look before gliding away to the next shift.