Pandemonium

[Gwendolyn Fisk]

Gwen approaches the Watchtower with a sigh. I was a lonely trek, and the hovercraft and wailing of a muttation was not helping matters. Maybe I made a mistake. I'm not good at this whole "following my heart thing" that Cal and Wren seem to have down. I should just... 

As Gwen contemplates turning around until she spots some familiar figures in the distance.

Is that?

Gwen starts walking towards the trio. As she gets closer her walk turns into a jog, which turns into a full on run when she sees a familiar shade of blue. Laughter bubbles up inside her and she lets it out as she all but tackles Val to the ground. "It's so good to see you, guys! I know it's only been one day, but shit. A lot has happened. What happened over at the Market?" 

After a long hug with Val, Gwen gives one each in turn to Holly and Syd, before turning back to Val and giving another to her as well as a kiss. She finally turns towards the newest threat to their existence, slipping her hand into Val's.

"So... what do we do now? Fearless leader?" Gwen grins over at Holly, "Please tell me one of you has a nice shiny weapon to destroy that muttation with." 

[Holly Edison]

Holly waited for Gwen to greet everyone, she was grateful for the warm welcome. Nice change of pace.

"Fearless? Leader? I guess I have stumbled into leading in some ways. Fearless, though... I don't know about that." She gestured out the window to the hover craft looming above them.

"The Market was complicated. Nelson didn't make it. That venomous bitch Harlie shot him after we saved her ass. Seeing all the pods we all worked together, even Peacekeepers. Except her. That bitch shot on Wallace and Nelson. She managed to off Nelson, he was in bad shape when we arrived and I think Wallace may not live to see tomorrow. She ran to the Armory, and if we make it another two days I think she'll be coming for us and she'll be armed if she can be. There's no reasoning with her. She's blinded by the Capitol to her core." Holly scowled at the memory. "I was attacked by the Peacekeeper still roaming there, he got one good punch in but otherwise I'm fine." Holly gestured at Val standing beside Gwen and continued, "Your girl here saved us. She basically took out both pods almost entirely on her own, Syd came in and Hacked the last one I think. I was barely of any use. I want to know what happened at the hospital too, where is Cal and Wren?"

[Gwendolyn Fisk]

Gwen laughed, "Maybe a little fear is necessary in a leader. Keeps you level-headed and less likely to do anything too reckless." She frowned at the news about Nelson. He was a good kid. Fun to tease. It would appear there was more than just Sharlot to worry about now.

Gwen beamed at Val, "Well, shit. It took three of us to finish things with the pods. Everything was pretty calm at the hospital otherwise. Reese really got under Wren's skin, though. She wouldn't stand for him bossing her around. He wouldn't trust her at first, even though she helped find the pods. I wonder how that's going since it appeared she decided to stay there," she grinned at the thought. "We know for sure she's a rebel, so hopefully that eases things a little. Cal and Wren both thought it best to have people stay at the hospital so we have more checkpoints covered. Thomas decided to stay as well. I thought Eloise was going to come with me, but she must have changed her mind. Reese was also supposed to go to the Depot, but I didn't see anyone leave after I did, so they must not have come to an agreement on who was going where." Gwen shrugged, "I just hope this thing gets over with soon. Can't seem to find food anywhere anymore."

[Holly Edison]

"I'm glad Reese can be trusted, even if she does rub people the wrong way. To be honest, she gets under my skin too. I'm not surprised Wren butted heads with her."

Holly looked over at the console monitoring tribute locations.

"Looks like Wallace and Lartius may be in danger in the Market. Minerva doesn't act without backup, with Sharlot there she may attack with her. There's a good chance one or both will die today if they've encountered more pods as well. They were both wounded. We can't do anything about that right now. As for the Hospital, I don't know anything about Anna, but even if she's a Peacekeeper, and she's on my list of suspects, she's very outnumbered and likely isn't much of a threat."

Holly stood and faced the other girls. "Clearly, this isn't the potential safe haven we thought it might be. But I am thrilled that for once in this awful fucking week we have no enemies around us and can focus on the tasks at hand. We need to establish who has strengths where, how injured each of us is and triage this situation. We need to compare skills, and delegate duties to take down everything - *we need to coordinate every second of the day*. I'm +1 at Spying, but otherwise I'm maxed. I lost 1 health yesterday, and I will not have enough food today."

"Gwen, either you or I need to hack, with no Peacekeepers it doesn't matter what we achieve - but we can't double up. Between us we can take 12 actions, but assuming we all sneak around this hovercraft once, and we all hit successfully on that Muttation running around, and one of us hacks. We'll have two shots are finding some usefuls items around here. We can free up two more actions by volunteering to take damage from that hovercraft and drawing it's fire."

[Valeria DeMasque]

A hovercraft whirred above their heads holding aloft a peacekeeper with a nasty looking gun and a growl emanating from somewhere within the tower didn't bode well either. "Did we make the right choice coming back to the tower," she thought to herself.

Lost in her own thoughts Val was oblivious to everything around her when suddenly a slight pressure in her hand yanked her back out into reality. She looked over to see Gwen beside her once more and all those worries seemed to fade away. "Jesus Gwen," she gushed, "I'm so glad to see you're alive."

Valeria put on a slightly sad smile, "After those pods appeared out of nowhere I didn't know if I'd...see you today."

"If we can get through the next two days we may actually pull this off," she added graciously accepting Gwen's hug.

"So," she continued, "Right now we have to worry about survival."

Val frowned at the circumstances, "Two of us are going to have to take a hit tomorrow and we need to conserve our actions. So, I think that the two of us with the best health at the moment should agree to grab the peacekeeper above's attention. Meanwhile I'm going to work on attacking that muttation over there unless one of you has a weapon they want to use on it first. In addition because we're all allies here only one of us needs to hack. Gwen and Holly how are you two at hacking and attacking? One of you is going to need to hack and the other is going to need to help me take down that muttation."

"I don't have a scratch on me," she said evenly, "so I'll be one of the ones to take a bullet tomorrow."

Valeria took a deep breath, "but I'm just rambling. Right now we just need to relax a bit after everything that has gone on yesterday."

She grinned, "There must be a room around here that's out of the Peacekeeper's view..."

[Holly Edison]

"Val is right. Like I said, triage. I believe Val and I are the best suited to survive and onslaught from those guys up there. Gwen, I'm very good and hacking and attacking so whichever you're weakest at - I'll try to take care of."

[Gwendolyn Fisk]

Gwen shrugged, "I'm better at hacking than I am at attacking, but if you need me to pick up the slack, I can give it my best."

[Valeria DeMasque]

"Then I guess its settled," Val grinned, "Gwen should spend one turn hacking the tower. Then everybody but me and Holly will try to hide from that hovercraft."

"Does anybody have a weapon right now," Valeria inquired, "if so they should attack the Muttation first. After that I'll do what I can to finish it off."

She sighed wanting to be done with all this planning, "after we have confirmed its dead I guess we should figure out if any of us need the Energy Pill or Gun."

[Sydney Gardiner]

Sydney had stumbled in with her emotions a little worse for wear than when she had left and she returned Gwen's hug, smiling sadly. "Well, I'm better at Attacking than anything else but to be honest with you...no one has a weapon."

[Gwendolyn Fisk]

Gwen took note of Val's sigh. She grinned and slipped an arm around her waist, "Chin up, Val. Once this is over I get to play nurse." She winked at her. "Has anyone tried attacking the muttation yet? I already hacked this place."

[Holly Edison]

Holly had slipped away quietly to surprise the Muttation if at all possible. She arrived back in the room, breathing heavily with bloodied knuckles.

"I got three solid hits in to that... thing. Someone will need to finish him off. A couple more blows should put it out of its misery."

Holly sat down on one of the spinning chairs heavily and rubbed the knuckles of her right hand. She could hear the humming of the hovercraft above them and smiling at the others said, "I guess the only thing left for me to do is run out and put on a show for our friends."

[Sydney Gardiner]

Sydney stood up and tossed her bag to the floor before strolling to where the Muttation was lurking. "I'll go finish this off the best I can."

[Valeria DeMasque]

Val grinned at the feel of Gwen's arm around her waist and pulled her in for a full hug, "Playing nurse? Are we not even trying to be subtle anymore?"

Valeria heard a loud "plop" from off to her side and turned to see a tired and slightly more bloodied Holly slumped down in a seat.

"Jesus," she said in shock, "are you alright?"

"I mean thanks though for getting some hits in on that thing," she continued, "attacking is the only thing I'm NOT a pro at by this point so if someone else wants to try to get some hits in that would be awesome so long as they take the time to hide from that peacekeeper above."

She grimaced slightly, "Holly and I are taking that bullet."

"If I have the opportunity I'm going to try to grab all the items," she ventured, "It could be useful in a pinch and I'm pretty much completely versatile at this point. And I'll just hand them out after I grab em"

Val was cut off by Sydney's sudden departure.  "Well," she shouted after her, "let me know if you need some help!"

[Holly Edison]

Holly was startled by Val addressing her.

"Oh, are we back on good terms then?" Holly smiled. "I didn't want to put you through that, I just... I just thought it was necessary."

Holly stretched her hand, testing it carefully.

"No worse for wear. Looks like it's Mutt-blood, not Holly-blood." Holly grinned again and leaned back closing her eyes, trying to clear her mind.

Not much longer. I'm not really looking forward to running into a maelstrom of bullets.

[Sydney Gardiner]

Sydney came back in and sat down with the group, exhaling deeply. A bruise was beginning to darken on her face where she had fallen trying to escape the beast's teeth. "I got one hit but I'm waiting for my chance to get that second strike because it sort of...you know...got big and there were teeth. Lots of teeth. So many teeth. I miss my bow and arrow so much."

[Gwendolyn Fisk]

Gwen laughed, "Who needs subtly during the end of the world?" She looked over at Holly, "Holly, you really are amazing. Seriously. I don't know what we would do without you. Have you and Val not made up yet?" She looked back to Val, slightly scolding. Now was not the time to hold grudges. "You're amazing, too, Sydney. Take your time with attacking. We don't want any fatal accidents."

[Valeria DeMasque]

"We were never really..." she tried to find the word, "fighting. I was just worried and it came out sideways."

She grabbed wrapped her other arm around Gwen's waist and slightly squeezed her. "And yeah to hell with subtlety," she grinned, "you need to show me those "non bullet wound" dance moves of yours!"

[Sydney Gardiner]

Syd moved out to search for the beast quietly as not to worry anybody when she would go and try to take down the muttation. Those who were at the Market just lived through losing Nelson and to be honest, she wasn't sure she was ready to lose anybody else and she knew they weren't either.

Once the job was done, Sydney took a moment to take a deep breath as she attempted to slow down her heart rate. Maybe the relief she was feeling was a little bit of blind rage because everything Vester has done is only to protect the Capitol, not the people who lived in it or even those who fought for it...she walked back in and smiled.

"Job's done and I gotta tell you, it was quite the stress reliever if I do say so myself."

[Gwendolyn Fisk]

Gwen's gaze softened, "It's okay. What matters now is that it's in the past." She grinned, "Before you get your own bullet wound and become just as useless of a dancer I was?"

"Hooray for the hero of the day! Sydney!" Gwen scooped up Sydney in a hug. "Now we can relax. For a while at least." 

[Valeria DeMasque]

"No no of course not..." she tried to hide her grin, "I would never be that devious Gwen-do-lyn."

"But before we get to that," she added, "Let me go scrounge up some supplies and spy on one of our neighbors."

She turned around in the doorway, "I have that luxury due to the lovely and talented Miss Sydney and Holly"

Valeria laughed as she left the room, "I mean we need someone to go on a double date with. Might as well be those two war heroes!"

[Gwendolyn Fisk]

Gwen laughed and fought the urge to follow Val. Not now. She probably doesn't want to be disturbed while she's doing her thing. She glanced between Holly and Sydney and chuckled, "Is she trying to set you two up?"

[Valeria DeMasque]

Val strolled back in the room trying to look as confident as possible considering the fact that no matter what happened she'd be dead within the week.

She had had a lot of time to think about he situation while she was completing her tasks. Luckily she had been successful so at least she had that going for her.

"Is she trying to set you two up?"

Val laughed, "Was I that obvious?"  She grinned, "I mean considering the circumstances we might not get another chance at a double date so I think they can suck it up and play house for a day."

"So," she plopping down next to Gwen, "I was able to get info on Anna and I found an Energy Pill and a HK91 Rifle" "Does anyone want this?" she asked waving the gun around?

She leaned on Gwen slightly, "Now can I see your dance moves?"

"You can show me while they get ready for the date," she said with a smile.

[Gwendolyn Fisk]

"As obvious as that hovercraft right outside that window," Gwen grinned back. She got up and moved to the door, "Oh, I plan on giving you an entire lesson." She winked at Val as she disappeared into the hallway.

[Holly Edison]

Holly laughed. If Dante wasn't a Peacekeeper and Demetri was here this wouldn't feel any different from the Loading Docks a week ago. Holly shook her head in a near futile attempt to clear her mind and stood up. She walked over towards Sydney.

"Thanks, Gwen." She smiled at her, Gwen was nothing if not lighthearted and it always made her feel more at ease. "We're not the only heroes, Gwen. Your enthusiasm for life in the face of all of this is a huge boon to any of us. I don't think we'd be in as good shape without your carefree spirit keeping us light on our feet. Our friends have died, it's likely our families... Sorry. I just wanted to tell you, that you and Val have been as valuable to me and the rest of our group for your spirit as any of us have been with our weapons." She turned to Val and motioned for her to toss the rifle over. "I'm our best bet with that thing, I think. Hand it over, if I'm going down I'll pass it off to one of you."

Holly took a deep breath and smiled again in yet another effort to will herself to focus on the positive, Holly reach for Sydney's hand and spun her, dipped her low and winked.

"Looks like we've been set up, and those lovebirds can't go out without a proper date! It wouldn't be fair. Shall we indulge them? Sydney, my dear girl, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to... uh, this room for not dinner because we're basically out of food but at the least maybe some revelry and laughter?"

Holly laughed and brought Sydney back upright.

"Smooth, right? I only have so much to work with."

[Valeria DeMasque]

"Well, if you both want the gun," Val said to Syd and Holly, "You'll have to decide between yours-"

Suddenly Holly dipped Syd into a deep romantic spin. She was sure it was ninety percent a joke but it made her grin.

She turned to follow Gwen into the hallway, "Have fun you two! We'll deal with supplies later."

"See you at the double date," she yelled behind her as she disappeared.