"ii diidn't have enough tiime two break the fiile code2 to 2ee the nature of theiir expiirement2 though, 2o ii won't be able two tell you what two expect once we fiind them. 2tiill, iit'2 better than goiing completely bliind….."
"ALRIGHT, EVERYONE HEARD HIM. THERE ARE OTHER ESCAPEES LIKE US THAT ARE PROBABLY USED TO LIVING OUTSIDE THE FACILITY, SO WHAT WE'RE GOING TO IS THIS: FIRST, WE DIVIDE INTO GROUPS AND KEEP SEARCHING FOR A SHELTER TO USE AS OUR BASE OF COMMANDS. SECONDLY, WE REST FOR THE NIGHT EVEN YOU DON'T NEED TO. WE SHOULD BE AT OUR BEST TOMORROW IN CASE THOSE BRUTISH FUCKTARDS THROW SOMETHING AFTER US. LASTLY, WE NEED TO DECIDE WHERE TO GO AFTER TONIGHT."
Karkat wandered to the right slightly and then bent over to pick up a long stick that he dragged along the ground to form three directional arrows and make a large 'X' at the converging point. Two of the arrows curved towards the 'X' and formed a globe shape, while the third went directly towards it between the other two.
"ROSE, KANAYA, AND ERIDAN TAKE THE LEFT ROUTE. CIRCLE AROUND AND MEET UP HERE," Karkat gestured with the stick to the 'X', "TEREZI, DAVE, ARADIA, AND FEFERI- TAKE THE LEFT AND GO ALONG THE BEACH. STAY IN THE WOODLINE AND DON'T BE IDOTIC BULGE-MUNCHERS. SOLLUX AND TAVROS ARE GOING UP THROUGH THE MIDDLE WITH ME. WE WILL ALL MEET UP ABOUT FIVE MILES NORTHWEST OF HERE."
He paused to let everyone form into their groups, vaguely surprised that they were all still following his orders and listening intently. The two seers got into the two flanking groups where Karkat had placed them in to act as communicators. Most of time, the others didn't think much of him as a leader. He had an issue with his temper if he was annoyed or losing at something, but when it came to preparation, Karkat was truly a brilliant strategist…aside from his pride. He used every available opportunity to hold the advantage and left little to chance or luck except when victory was all but certain, which is typically when some counter-attack would present itself and leave him helpless.
At least, he had done so in the battle-simulator countless times….
"ONE LAST THING: IF ANY OF YOU RUN INTO TROUBLE, OR FIND A SHELTER, USE TEREZI AND ROSE TO SIGNAL US. STAY OUT OF SIGHT AND DON'T BE STUPID."
With that, the three groups dispersed and all casually began walking their assigned directions. The weather was getting more humid, and the fog that hid their arrival was starting to dissipate with the sun's ascent. Within minutes, the charcoal grey sweatshirt became too uncomfortable and he was forced to pull it up over his head and tie it around his waist. Sollux just stared at Karkat blankly while Tavros blushed and his eyes widened, before he quickly walked ahead to scan the path.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS UP WITH YOU TWO? ALL I DID WAS TAKE OFF MY SWEATER. WHY ARE YOU ASS-FONDLERS STARING AT ME LIKE THAT?" asked Karkat, blushing fiercely.
"Well, Tav ii2 riidiiculou2ly iinnocent about that 2ort of thing," Sollux replied, snidely adding " and ii ju2t love two make you feel iin2ecure. iit's fun two watch you try two be all macho when you're blu2hiing a2 badly a2 Kanaya when Ro2e ii2 around."
"WHATEVER ASSHAT, I AM NOT BLUSHING. THIS IS JUST A SUN-BURN. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT I CARE WHAT YOU NOOK-SUCKERS THINK ABOUT MY BODY? OH, THAT'S RIGHT: NOTHING." Karkat said loudly as he stomped up the path, quickening his pace. Sollux was easily able to catch up and match the speed, while Tavros was still ahead of them. Trees and shrubs passed by, but there was no sign of any real structure.
"You'd better be careful, KK. Wiith that type of attitude, Ampora wiill start chasiing after you." The lispy hacker paused a moment to think before correcting himself.
"Actually, go ahead and keep the attiitude. Don't worry at all about 2ome 2ort of fii2hy 2talker comiing after you iin2tead of me from now on."
"OH MY GOG, FUCK YOU SOLLUX FOR EVEN TRYING TO DUMP ERIDAN ON ME. YOU DESERVE HIM, YOU PESSIMISTIC LISPY DOUCHEBAG."
"You know you love me, KK." Replied Sollux, mimicking the boy's distinctive v's and w's with a teasing smirk. He went quiet and they walked in silence for a few moments, the electromancer letting his eyes drop to watch the ground go by beneath them. Karkat was perfectly fine to let the conversation go as he bustled along in a huff of annoyance.
After passing yet another copse of saplings sprouting beneath the larger conifers and oaks, Sollux spoke up again without moving his gaze from the earth, his tone low:
"…What are we goiing to do about the other four, KK? We can't ju2t go along by our2elve2 for two long; people wiill report a bunch of homele22 kiiid2 iin theiir neighborhood becau2e they'll thiink we're there two cau2e trouble…. ii thiink that we 2hould fiind the other2 and a2k for theiir help, even iif iit'2 only for a liittle whiile. ii know how much you dii2liike a2kiing people for help, but we don't know what two expect out here iin the real world and they're the one2 that do."
His monologue was broken by a small sigh as he looked to see Karkat not making any motion to signify comprehension. Then, more to himself than to their 'leader', he continued.
" Even though everyone ii2 beiing 2trong and exciited about fiinally gettiing out, they're 2cared two, KK. You put on the brave2t face of all ju2t two make 2ure nobody feel2 afraiid , becau2e iif they know that you beliieve iit wiill turn out okay, then they can beliieve that iit wiill two…..But we can't do thii2 by our2elve2, Karkat. You know that, and 2o do ii. Plea2e thiink about puttiing away your priide 2o that we can 2urviive."
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(Somewhere back underneath the island: )
Shadowy figures surround a table in the center of a room, dimly lit only by the electric glow of a large screen that was the room's fourth wall, currently displaying the interlocking letters MSM in old English font.
Those around the table were currently in a quiet, but heated, argument, broken up by energetic fists or palms occasionally slamming down on the table to emphasize a point. This went on some time before the screen abruptly brightened up and cast away some of the gloom to make the figures facial profiles more visible.
On one side of the table there was a bald, well-groomed man dressed in a blazing white suit and a felt-green bow-tie sitting perfectly poised with his hands steeped together next to a younger, less upright young lady with long black hair who continued to twiddle with a pencil while trying to look as bored as possible.
Across from them was a young man with short ginger hair and a determined scowl. He hardly seemed old enough to be in this sort of place, with large red dimples and bright amber eyes, but to combat that he had an aura of anger and determination that simply screamed genocide.
Next to him was another young gentleman, but this one had a much calmer aura and a face that gave away no emotions, but noted everything carefully behind a set of pointy triangle shades. His hair was a blonde that was almost white and was styled to seem permanently windswept. All in all, he would've made a perfect posterboy for either Japanese media, or an assassin's firm. At the end of the table opposite the screen sat a vacant chair, but it was well used.
From the screen came a flowing voice of perfect melody, projecting the qualities of youth, content, and precision.
"Soooooooo, we've had yet another 8reach of security, have we?"
"Yes, Marquise. It is being looked in to currently, but we have reason to suspect it is another attempt by Guardian Angel to delay our research. Apparently she broke several of our encryptions to allow data to feed into the electromancer's terminal. He assisted the group's escape and coordinated them to the emergency exit. From there, intelligence gathers that they employed project Aquarius who dropped them into a forest on the coastline." The man in whit reclined into the chair slightly before adding, "All in all an impressive feat. I would give them high marks in all except their method of transport, which, though flashy and beautiful, was inappropriate for a stealthy departure."
"Thank you, Doctor. Now does any8ody have any useful suggestions as to how we recapture them, or are we simply getting together for a peaceful cup of tea? No? Good. Seeing that Mister Makara is not present to o8ject, I suggest we employ the use of his son, project 8ard. 8ecause it is outside of the ur8an zone, there is little chance of any passer8y spotting the play of action. Make sure to have the area quarantined to all law enforcement and safety personnel, and declare a temporary no-fly zone for aircraft. I don't want the media flying over all this 8ecause I don't have the wish to silence them all once more."
"Yes Marquise. We will deploy project Bard as soon as the meeting is adjourned and ensure that your requested measures are taken. Is that all you require for now?"
"Yes….Wait, no. One more thing: In the event that the targets leave the quarantine, utilize project Spider's Eye to track them in cooperation with the Bard. How is my sister doing by the way?" The voice asked uncertainly, gaining a hint of interest.
"She didn't respond well to the mental stimulant, and we were forced to amputate her arm to prevent further flow of it into her mind. It strengthened her powers tremendously, but at a continued rate, it would've torn her body to shreds. She is currently being fit with a mechanical neuro-prosthetic from a private contractor to replace the lost limb."
"Peeeeeeeerrrrffectttt…" The voice replied with a hiss of sadistic pleasure. "Now send in the clown."
And with that, the screened darkened one more into an ambient glow and left the room cloaked in shadows.
If the Marquise had been there, she would have most certainly had a wide, violent grin on her face.
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"Hey Dave, look! It's a krillbox!" Feferi exclaimed happily, jumping around in a circle to broadcast her excitement and maybe transfer it through osmosis with the air. She pointed towards a squat grey building that sat shortly behind the wood-line and was gated off by an old fence. It had a heavy-looking, rust-coated metal door on one side and no windows to be see. From the roof, one long antenna connected to a wire that went down the side of the structure and into the ground.
"I don't 'sea' why that required a pun, but thanks for spotting." Dave said nonchalantly, smirking, before he started jogging towards it.
The others looked and began sprinting as well, and Terezi starting sending a telepathic signal to Rose and Tavros as they rushed to touch the flimsy fence and check the door. Aradia quickly volunteered to open up the building and pushed against the solid steel of the door but to no avail.
The other three quickly took place next to her, set their feet firmly and counted down.
"Alright, let's break open this shitty door like you'd break open a fresh can of kick-ass Strider smarts. Ready? Three. Two. One. Now push." Dave said, somehow making the last part not sound like the exclamation it should've been.
Relenting, the door gave way with a screech of metal dragging against the concrete floor and revealed the interior of the squat hut.
"Well guy's seeing that I was first inside, may I take the pleasure to welcome you to Chez Strider. Make yourself at home and try not to screw shit up worse than Eridan's love prospects."