Taking Moments

[nothito]

Day 1: Lost Time

Dorothy was silent in the face of Shera's joking attitude. The younger woman knew that this was just Shera's way of trying to lighten the situation, but it wasn't going to help. Things were different now. The two of them could no longer hang out like they used to, what with Shera not only being old and frail, but sickly to boot. Dorothy would do her best, but there was no way things could be like they used to.

When Shera paused, seemingly at a loss for words, the usually cheerful exorcist filled the gap for her. "Shera...you don't need to put on a brave face for me. We both know this sucks, unimaginably so. The costs of yours and Dilan's defeat can't be just wished away, but maybe me and Saï can fix it," Dorothy sighed, before the effect of her last sentence hit her. The trademark grin returned to the brunette's face as an idea hit her.

"Maybe, just maybe, if we defeat whatever timeless beat you guys, we can recover your lost time! Yeah! I mean, there's gotta be a way to get back stolen time! Don't you worry Sher-bear, me and Puppy will fix you!" Dorothy grinned cheerily, hope in her eyes as she locked gazes with Shera.

"I promise. We'll help you guys out."

Saï, just in the other room, heard his young associates words and sighed. It was impossible. Or rather, no way had been discovered thus far for getting stolen time back from the Timeless. The Timeless, in essence, were demons that had been plaguing mortals for ages. They were monsters that traded on people's 'time', generally trading a random wish in exchange for a portion of the person's 'time'. However, the monster they were dealing with was not exactly like the weaker Timeless. Powerful Timeless like their current target could essentially steal a person's time against their will. It was actually unknown where exactly the 'time' stolen by the Timeless went, but right now it was a generally accepted fact that once it was taken, one could not retrieve it.

The guardian however, had bigger fish to fry then quashing the dreams of the neophyte exorcist. She would see for herself when they defeated the target. There was no miracle cure. Just the destruction of the Timeless.

As Dilan removed his sunglasses, Saï couldn't help but notice his right pupil. The sign of failure in a guardian. There was a unique bond between an exorcist and a guardian once they were officially assigned to each other. The effect of 'time' being stolen from an exorcist, while not having a direct effect on the guardian, caused the hourglass shaped pupil to appear on guardians. One hourglass for some 'time' being stolen. Two hourglasses for all 'time' being stolen, AKA the exorcist dying. Saï shook his head.

Pathetic.

"Of course," Saï replied in response to Dilan's assumption that he read the file for subject 32C. What good guardian wouldn't check all details pertaining to their mission? Of course, he HADN'T been informed of any details being taken out. Saï scowled to himself. Why would the Organization leave out an important mission detail? Especially considering the power of a Mussorgsky-class Timeless.

Besides the scowl, Saï betrayed no emotion about the situation, lest Dorothy glance over and sense something was amiss. "I'm assuming deadly force has been authorized in light of your failure?" Saï questioned, keeping his voice down to keep Dorothy from hearing. The exorcist wouldn't like this. Any authorization of deadly force essentially meant that any civilian casualties would be overlooked. Usually any civilian deaths caused by the guardian or exorcists would be met with a tribunal to determine whether punishment should be enacted, but in the case of powerful Timeless, such penalties were removed.

"Dorothy won't like this," the guardian muttered softly.

[/blockquote]

[Beaver Dude]

Day One: Lost Time

“…”

Dilan put on his sunglasses again. Light reflected off the lenses, hiding his eyes behind the glare. Shera looked down into her lap. Started to tremble.

The Timeless were ranked based on age, power, and ability. It was a tricky calculation that took some of finest mystics and supercomputers in the world. There were algorithms compounded upon algorithms that were dedicated to maintaining the careful balance that humanity had wrought with its standstill, endless fight with the Timeless.

Anything of Mussorgsky class was more than a major tactical oversight. It was something that could shift the very balance of the world back into Darkness. Dilan's eyes, hidden behind their glasses, betrayed none of these thoughts, however. For now, he'd keep his suspicions to himself. If the Office was compromised... anyone could be a foe.

And he'd keep Shera safe. Always.

“The Office has yet to confirm Triple-A status for 32C." He hesitated. Everyone knew the rules off by heart. But. "Rules of engagement still require that 32C and bystanders to be kept alive.”

[nothito]

Day 1: Lost Time

Dorothy's head tilted as Shera looked into her lap and trembled. The exorcist placed a gentle hand on the older woman's shoulder and leaned down to try to catch Shera's gaze. "Did I say something wrong?" the innocent girl questioned simply. The exorcist hoped that Shera would look at her again. Dorothy could always tell if Shera was lying to her based upon her eyes. It wasn't that Dorothy didn't trust Shera, it was more that the older woman generally tried to spare the younger girl's feelings.

Saï saved his sigh of relief. The guardian knew that the order would likely come eventually. The agency was able to see view virtually everything that went on during a mission. If things started looking grim, he would get authorization, and knowing his abilities, things would get blood fast. For now though, his young associate's innocence could be preserved. If only for a short while longer.

Standing, VII glared down at the long haired elder member. Despite the difference in number between himself and III, he knew that HE was the superior one. Not this fallen warrior. The less time he had to spend around him, the better, lest his failure rub off on VII.

"Anything else I need to be informed of? If not, I request that you return to your recon and report back to me via the communicators when you've found 32C. We'll wait here until we recieve your transmission."

[/blockquote]

[Beaver Dude]

Day ONE: LOST Time

Shera shook her head, trying to say no but all that came out were muffled sobs that didn’t quite translate very well in any language and yet translated all too well in every.

Finally she stopped, sniffed. “Allergies.” She croaked, face an expression of serene seriousness. “Terrible things.”

She started to laugh, weak, hiccoughing things that racked her small frame almost like sobs. The waning sunlight filtered through the blinds, crisscrossing her torso with light and dark. What was illuminated looked old and wrinkled, but in the shade she could have almost been mistaken for young. It was very nearly poetic.

Xaldin stared at the scene, looking vaguely conflicted. Vaguely, because whatever a Guardian was, emotions could never be worn on their sleeves. It was part of the aura and the mystique that made them who they were. Professionalism was sacrosanct. Even at times like these.

He turned back to Seven, shaking his head indicating that he had more to say.

“About that. We do have a contact inside the local police department.” He took a datapad out of his breast pocket and handed it to the blue-haired guardian: it’d present him with a list of names and codewords. It’d be terribly small, but such was the usual in small towns such as this one.

“Arrangements can be made. I have nothing more to add. As the briefing is over, you now tactical control over the mission. Team three is at your disposal.”

____________________________

What are your orders?