TITAL 2: Why did It Take Me So Long To Do This?

Rekoka: You're displaying immaturity and borderline sociopathy by not toning it down a little to stop this poor girl from going into shock. *Her voice takes on a slight edge* If you don't either cut it out or leave, I'll have to throw you outside.

I: Fine. -he slowly alights on the floor and releases his magic- Sorry big sister.

N: Uhhh... It... it's okay.

Rekoka: *Expression lightens up again* Was that so hard? Sorry, I just can't let it slide when stuff like this happens. I'm sure the master of the castle would agree.
>Rexial: ...<

I: But... it makes me feel like... I'm trying too hard when I'm like this.

N: Well... Maybe you could try a new take on it? Or something?

Rekoka: I'm not the one who has a problem with your bearing, Ienzo. If Nicole is alright with it, so am I. *Tapping her foot* ...Where's Blake? He should be back by now. The kitchen isn't all THAT far...

Blake: -now back, holding a bunch of Jack's Links jerky- We have regular, teriyaki, sweet and hot, and, for the brave and/or cocky, siracha.

Rekoka: *Shakes her head* I know we bought easily preserved food en masse, but why did we buy a brand name...? Ah, well. Come to think of it, shouldn't there be canned food as well? No matter. Nicole, what flavor do you want? (It's also strange that there were flavors to choose from. I guess if we're going to stock unnecessary food, we might as well have some variety.)
>Rexial: That's true. I mean, we ARE trying to figure out how to grow our own food down here... who knows? Maybe we'll discover new kinds of edible plant life. Such is a worthy cause!<
Rekoka: *Rolls her eyes* >No need to be a spazz about it, Rex. Aren't you supposed to be napping?<
>Rexial: Well, I noticed you trying to play matchmaker and thought I'd observe.<
Rekoka: >Just playing host, m'dear! You'd have done the same, just... you would suck at it, being a darkness-obsessed creeper with violent tendencies and wit that could cut warm butter.<
>Rexial: ...Shut up, I'm going back to sleep...<
Rekoka: *Giggles to herself quietly, then a little louder when she realizes how confused the others might be if they were paying attention to her mannerisms*

I: You're either remembering something amusing, are a telepath, or are completely psychotic. In any of those cases, I think my interest in this place is... at it's highest (mustn't utilize my extensive vocabulary), and... I think I want to stay longer.

N: Teriyaki, please.

Blake: -gives Nicole a package of teriyaki jerky- And what would Rekoka and the small child like?

<He wasn't there when Ienzo appeared, smart one.>

<He wasn't? Well shit. My bad. XD>

<Uh, Edgar? Yes, he WAS. He was there when Ienzo showed up. Then he went off to get food, and now he's back. What are you talking about? At most, he was spaced out and failed to notice Ienzo.>

Rekoka: I'll just have it plain. Ienzo, you want some? You're a guest, now, too.

<Pardon my faulty memory, we only get replies in the main threads only every... how often, again?>

I: Uh... sweet and hot, please.

<Not often enough.>
Blake- -gives Rekoka her package, and Ienzo his- Ummm... You ok, Nicole?

Xavier stepped out of the inn that they had transported into and took a breath of the air of Nibelheim. It was winter and a thin layer of snow blanketed the ground. With a slight bit of paranoia showing on his face, he drew his bo staff and tapped it on the ground awakening the serpent witch within.

"The hell do you want?" The snake woman complained as Xavier turned the rod so she was facing him.

"Vector scan. Give me a blueprint of the surrounding area. Hostile signatures and the like are all I really need. I already know this place like the back of my hand." Xavier explained.

The staff hummed as several black arrows shot from it and snaked only the ground, "On it. I should have a full detail report ready for you in about 5 minutes. Give or take some time for security issues."

rJulie landed on a nearby building, a large grin growing greatly.
"That was amazing..." She said this quietly and gleefully. She then crouched, reducing her profile. She heard a small beeping. It was Will.
"Julie, can you give a sitrep on where you are?"
"I'm on the rooftops, about... 15 minutes from you guys, going at 30 MPH."
"Any hostiles?"
"I see five." She looked at her sniper rifle. "No supressor on my guns."
"Ok.... Can you remember how to make a blade-like object?"
"That's a negative. Did I use that right?"
"Yes. Now listen; I need you to find something to use as an impromptu weapon. Something heavy and blunt, or something sharp." He said this as his power rod descended from the skies, gently sliding into its master's grip.
"On it." She then looked around, scouring for something, anything to use.
<What is the enemy armed with?>

<They are typical members of Shinra's Security Department. In other words, assault rifles/fully automatic machine guns and bowie/utility knives>

<And helicopter blades!>

<*Nod* And helicopter blades.
...Okay, not really. Only the Aerial Combatants did that, so unless they count as ordinary and basic - which they DO in my book, but in a military/security force, they don't - they do not. And I think the normal carry tonfas or clubs, too.>

Julie looked around. She was pretty sure that she was the only person this close to the enemy. She realized that she was the factor that would cause them to engage in combat. She noticed a rather large wrench. She picked it up, and walked to the building edge. She saw three walking away from the other two, and she assumed those three were higher-ups. Julie then jumped.

"Ugh, how much longer till I can go ho-" The soldier's words were cut short with a strike to the head, a loud crack! being heard, most likely his skull being cracked. She then threw the wrench at the other soldier with great speed, killing the other soldier.

Julie saw these words pop up in front of her. Se then reached Will on her communicator.

"Will..."

<I feel the need to point out that Shinra goons wear helmets. Striking the head wouldn't be the best way to stealth-kill one, since it would require an awful lot of force to break through, and somehow, I get the sense it would make much more noise impacting a metal or similarly hard surface with a metal wrench. Of course, Shinra's low-tier soldiers were never very good at their jobs, so even going Leeroy Jenkins on them wouldn't have been a problem. Thing is, those 'higher-ups' that just went by would likely hear the noise and send more soldiers to investigate.

I felt like pointing all of that out, but I really don't care if logic is applied to the situation right now. It IS TITAL, which isn't the most logical continuity. But, then, it's one of those serious situations where you can't just say 'f*ck it, I've got a Keyblade' and do whatever you want.

TL;DR: Shinra soldiers wear helmets.>

"My scans have detected a large concentration of human souls within the central hub of the facility. I feel like there may be some sort of intriguing scientific research going on within. How do you plan to proceed?" Medusa's chilling tone pierced Xavier's mind as he stood from where he had crouched waiting for the vector scan to complete.

The young man smirked as he transformed Medusa from a bo staff into a serpent sword, "With much caution, I'd presume." He leapt down to the side of the facility edging his way towards the fence that fringed its exterior.

Suddenly, with all the speed and time encompassed, Lei fell to the ground in THTNW's kitchen. Gasping for breath, he grasps at his stomach, coughing hard enough to spit out blood. His eyes begin to glow and burn him, turning a bright yellow. From his mouth pours steam as his body writhes on the floor, seizure-like, spasming utterly out of control.

In Rexial's castle, Ienzo grabs his head and begins screaming, soul-wrenching, blood-curdling cries that tear at the heartstrings of all who hear it. The child, though intelligent, feels his innocence being wrenched and twisted away from him, and he cries out not just from that but pain as his eyes turn a dark shade of red. He wails loudly, unable to control himself.

In Traverse Town, Aerith stops in her walk and leans against a nearby street lamp, her hand going immediately to her stomach as she struggles to keep her own cries of pain in check as she succumbs to tremors and immediately breaks out in a cold sweat. Trying her hardest, she barely manages to stand as she summons a Dark Corridor, and, holding her cloak tight, walks back to the house. Her own life force, as with Ienzo's and Lei's, resonates profoundly for great distances, with dark intents lingering with them.

And in the Basement, Zexion stand proudly, inhaling the combinative powers of the BEAST and his own pollen, feeling the power surge into himself. The gems he had placed inside of Lei, Ienzo and Aerith were taking effect, leeching pure life and kinetic energy from their cells. Finally, he would do as he originally intended.

And turn everyone in the House into Nobodies. Or kill them. Whichever occurred first.

Starblade's eyes widened to saucers as he sees Lei spasming on the floor, completely clueless on what to do with the boy. He looked to Aleri frantically. "Aleri, what's going on!?" He seemed rather frantic, panicking at the situation unfolding in front of him.

Riku paused then in his wanderings. Something smelled...off. Or just plain smelled. He recognized that scent. The house now reeked of darkness. He decided to head to its source, the kitchen.

There, he found Lei, on the ground and clearly in pain...with the golden eyes shared by Xehanort, as well as Ansem and Xemnas. No, that wasn't important, not right now. Riku held back the hateful memories of Ansem as he rushed over to Lei's side and knelt down.

"Hey, what's wrong, do you know?" he asked. Obviously a better question than "are you okay," but probably still not a great one. If he knew, he'd have done something about it, but there was nothing else to ask.