Trapped in Madness: Part Two

[omnomspecimens]

Who: Szayel Aporro, Shikamaru, Ishida, and Nill, with guest star appearance by Celes
When: 1/21; night time
Where: SERO Headquarters
Summary: Szayel begins his plans from SERO Headquarters. Ishida and Nill throw a wrench in his plans.
Warnings: Angst, Szayel being a bastard, character death.

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[omnomspecimens]

Szayel's head jerked up from his computer as a familiar reiatsu suddenly flared into focus, along with another he did not recognize. Son of a... why the hell did he have to show up now?

"Dammit..." he swore under his breath, typing faster. He needed to at least start the upload before Ishida burst through the door.

"Shikamaru-kun, do not fire on the Quincy. I don't care what you do to whoever he's with."

[underachieves]

The Quincy? Uryuu was here? Shikamaru was grateful for that order, at least, although it wasn't a surprise that Szayel would want Uryuu undamaged. Of course any number of horrible scenarios could arise anyway, and Shikamaru would have to bear witness to them all.

The cyborg raised an arm and prepared to fire on whoever Uryuu's accomplices might be, waiting for the door to open. Meanwhile, Shikamaru was praying to no one who would hear: Let him be faster. Let him kill me before he even knows.

[sequincy]

Yes, he knew Szayel was already inside. He was prepared for that.

They're at the door in less than a second. Uryuu sets Nill down gingerly and draws his bow, slim and silver, at his side. He steels himself.

"Stay behind me. ...I would prefer it that you didn't come in at all, but I won't keep you out." It would be a dishonor, when she'd been the one to alert him to Shikamaru's presence in the first place, and the will it must have taken for her to come this far inside already. "If I fall, you have to get out and get word. It's imperative you remember that. For Shikamaru's sake."

With that said, he suddenly burst through the doors, throwing a ginto tube at the ground and causing a towering, vision-obscuring explosion of energy.

[reassures]

"I'm sorry, Uryuu. I think you might need me for this."

But the way she narrowed her eyes implied that even if she wasn't needed, she intended to go anyway. There were no nulls inside, and although she couldn't be sure she could do things perfectly - she was sure that she could at least keep herself hidden. She refused to get in the way.

Nill already knew what had happened to Shika, at least to some extent. And she wasn't sure that Uryuu would be able to do what needed to be done without her there. ...But if Uryuu couldn't bring himself to do it at all, then-- she would. Somehow.

She darts into the room after Uryuu, using his eyes to guide her, and she makes sure that she stays close behind him. All she had with her for protection was a hand gun, but it's all she would need if it came down to it.

It takes more effort than she's used to exerting, but she's sure that neither Shika or Szayel should be able to see her.

"Shika. Shika-- I'm sorry. I don't know if he can do it without finding out."

[omnomspecimens]

Szayel just got a glimpse of the upload screen popping up, just as the door burst open. He caught sight of Ishida, and opened his mouth to say something, when the room suddenly exploded in light.

He swore at that, tossing his hands up. Dammit, this was not what he expected!