everyonelives | yes you made a little moment and you stirred a little mud

[They're lead down a dark hallway, a windowless stretch with low lights hanging above them so they can make it through without tripping. The space feels claustrophobic and Lydia does her best to keep close to the two men she's with and not catch the ire of any of the undead guards.

When they reach the end of the hallway, the space suddenly opens up above them. Greeted with the scent of unwashed bodies kept in tight spaces, they can look up and see each of the cage doors, and are greeted by glowing eyes as the contents of those cages step closer to get a better look at the new arrivals.

The guard nudges them forward. "Move to the door." They indicate what looks like a small elevator ahead of them.]

>> I need an assessment. I could take these two guards out now, or I could follow them down to their inner sanctum turned prison and free Lydia and Parrish after they stand down. If they stand down. >>

( As they're lead, Jackson grasps at the strong mental link between the group he trusts. His instincts say waste them here and now, but he doesn't know what alarm that could sound. Not to mention, Parrish and Lydia could both fight back, but Lydia's fight is more scream - and that is not quiet. )

[Malia's voice floats in from the bond: >> I'm still in the tunnels. But I can hear people moving around, so I don't think I'm far. >>

Lydia glances around as she slowly begins to make their way towards the elevator, before glancing back to Jackson.]

>> We need to at least see how they open the cages if we're going to let them all out. >>

>> Fine. Standing down.

( While working under Scott and then Allison's umbrella, Jackson familiarized himself with in-the-field vocabulary. He never went military - like he'd ever have the discipline - but he got out of his own way eventually. Almost.

Jackson stays close as they wait for the elevator to ascend. )

[They load into the rickety elevator and after punching a series of buttons, they rise up through the rows. As they cycle through they'll see cell after cell each labeled with the creature contained.

Once they arrive on the specified floor, they head towards an empty cage. One of the guards reaches for something on his belt and waves it in front of a console and the door unlatches and opens.]

( Jackson takes note and watches carefully, trying not to let his intake of breath be apparent. Deadpan and serious, he speaks. )

That means you get in.

[Lydia starts to move forward as prompted, letting the small vial up her coat sleeve shift into her palm. Thinking back to the telepathy web:]

>> Do we know if kanima venom works on zombies? >>

( Harvey chimes in

>> if it has a nervous system, even partially animated, it should paralyze the undead. it may not last

Jackson eyes the one closest to him. )

>> we need them out of commission
>> also, they'd burn easily. right?

( Heads up to the Hellhound for his part in it. Paralyze them, char them? Can hellhounds hell on command? Jackson's not familair. )

>> Probably. Human bodies aren't exactly fireproof. >>

[But okay, worth a shot. Lydia pours some of the kanima venom on her hand, and reaches over to brush against the bare skin between the creature's gloves and the sleeve of their coat. At first, it seems like nothing happens. But then the creature begins to struggle to move and then slowly start to drop to the ground.]

( >>let's stop talking about bodies being fireproof. >> it feels like a jinx.

but Jackson steps forward with Lydia, probably focusing too much on her hand movements (5, for trying to subtle not look like he is), but paralytics are a bitch, even to the undead. once he sees it taking affect, he lets go of Lydia, turns and releases his own talons. kanima venom straight from the source as he attempts to strike undead 2. (15 to strike) )

[The guard is too slow (7), and as the claws strike, they struggle to stay on their feet but also drop to the ground.

Lydia scrambles forward to get ahold of the keycard, and moves towards the nearest cage to begin to set them free. As she goes to wave the keycard, the creature inside reaches out and grabs her wrist to stop her.

"Why?"

Lydia doesn't know what to say at first, before deciding to come out with the truth.]

We're here to kill your captor. We thought you might want to help.

[Their eyes harden, and then her wrist is released, letting her get back to work.]

( Jackson finds the electronic key on the second guard and gets to work, starting to release the doors he sees.

Parrish keeps watch, and listens for any other sounds or guard movements. Also, if anybody in any cage becomes a problem, he's there too. )

[Lydia keeps moving through the various doors releasing the creatures out into freedom, but Parrish does pick up the sounds of disturbance coming from below. The sound of bodies being tossed around and a very familiar coyote snarl.]

( Is there anything more equivalent to 'that's my girl!'

Jackson mimics Lydia, her one one side, him on the other. One creature slithers out, another more humanesque form thanks him before dissolving in mist. )

[As they work through the cages and all the monsters are freed, there seem to be two camps: one, that just wants to escape, and the other that wants to follow through on that murder they were promised. Some of them are not up to doing anything but getting the hell out, so Lydia delegates:]

We'll help whoever wants to get outside. If you want Kirsanov, he's at the top of the tower.

[One of them nods, and begins to lead those looking for a fight up to the top of the tower. Lydia takes the hand of an older woman and starts to lead her towards the direction of the entrance.]

C'mon, let's get out of here.

( Parrish and Jackson make their respective arrangements, Parrish flanking Lydia and the escapees with Jackson accompanying the revengers, which, we can pause Jackson and then or break into two more paths? )

[Jackson can jump on the other thread when it's time - the monsters will arrive in 2 rounds.

Lydia will continue leading those not up for fighting out, and she glances back to Parrish:]

I don't know if there's going to be enough room in our cars to get everyone out to the train station. Can you see if they have any vehicles we can steal?

( he nods, going ahead and making a perception check to see if there are vehicles they can steal. (15) )

[There are! The guards may be dead, but there are vehicles for transport. They just might have to dig out the exit a little bit. As he wanders through, a coyote falls in step next to him, ears on a swivel just in case something else appears to threaten them.]

( well, then he focuses on digging the way out, first. he flames on - so to speak - raising his personal temperature as he works on that. (19, NATCH) )

[While he's melting down the snow, she wanders off to sniff around, until she finds a snow suit she can steal so that she can actually communicate. She puts herself back on two legs and gets zipped up before returning to the open door where Parrish is clearing out.]

That looks good. I found the keys.

( still in hellhound mode, he only nods, skin incinerating around him as he finishes his task. it's a menial use of his extensive power, but a necessary one. he will give her a kiss later.

also, please keep the snowsuit. snowsuit and nothing else underneath? antarctica scientist cosplay anyone? )

[She will 100% keep the snow suit, they can have fun with that later. But she will not comment on it and toss one set of keys to Lydia as she and the rest of the exiting cryptids catch up with them.]

Can any of the rest of you drive?

[A few hands go out and she passes out the keys to those capable and then moves to help start loading people into the vans.]

( he also helps anybody who needs it, and can take a vehicle if there's one more set of keys, and if he's needed. but for now, this is about escape. )

[The keys are passed around, the drivers determined, and they all pile into the vans, heading away from the tower. As they glance back, they can see flames starting to creep along the top.

Malia glances back and sees David and Ezra fleeing for their original vehicle with a small child in their arms. No sign of anyone else. She glances back to Parrish.]

One of us should make sure Jackson gets out.

[And ... sorry boyfriend, but you're the most durable. Especially since the top of the tower looks like it's on fire.]

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