Room 307

[vostok-n2o4.livejournal.com]

It was just starting to mist rain as the cosmonaut reached the side door of the East Wing.

The front door was far too obvious. Volgin lingered there, near the offices, never doing anything more productive than brooding and scowling at the houseplants.

The Fury cursed at the weather as he stepped into the deserted hallway; nature was a spiteful bitch, an entire hour of his day was wasted polishing his helmet, ruined by water spots and streaks.

It was almost enough to ruin his entire day, and even the good mood he found himself in after pointless banter earlier with the Fear.

Raining, again. Miserable.

Maybe the Sorrow finally realized Voyevoda had come home…

In an unexpected gesture of good nature that surprised even himself, The Fury allowed a guard to pass on the other side of the narrow stairway with only a glare. There were more important things to worry about than harassing common soldiers… like the fact that Voyevoda had finally come home, or the troubling lack of orders she left them with.

Voices echoed through the deserted building, and the cosmonaut stopped for a moment, content to listen. Dull murmurs, distorted by the cavernous hallway. Granin and Volgin. Nothing of importance.

Shaking his head, he continued on to the makeshift laboratory he claimed as his own.

Granin. What a fucking lunatic. It was impossible to respect a man who searched for hope in the bottoms of vodka bottles.

In spite of his mood, the Fury smirked as he turned on the light and surveyed the scene -- the damaged hovercraft near the window, parts and tools strewn around haphazardly, papers and books heaping in piles on the floor.

Organization had never been his forte, but the cluttered laboratory was a welcome and familiar sight. No one would bother him here, except for Krasnogorje soldiers coming in for repairs, and those like-minded men were never a bother.

It was the red scarf coiled in a crumpled heap on the heavy metal desk near the far corner of that made him smile as he removed his helmet and slipped the heavy jet pack from his shoulders, easing it to the floor.

The lunatic wasn’t quite sure what to think of its owner, but as he set to work repairing the damaged craft, he almost hoped the Ocelot Senior Lieutenant would be along soon to collect his scarf.

It seemed out of place amidst the scattered papers and blueprints. The scarf was far too cheerful. Too flammable.

The kid was interesting to talk to, at least. He didn’t cower away like the rest of them, and didn’t give in to his temper, even when provoked.

And hell, the cosmonaut mused, pulling scorched wires free of the hover craft’s interior, even Raikov would have made better diversion than agonizing over the possible details of The Joy’s secret mission.

Comments

[capt-kasya.livejournal.com]

Kassian's eyes followed Isaev's to the walkway bridge. Even from this angle, he could see line-of-sight to the doorway that Isaev had indicated was where the trouble had occurred. The cosmonaut's office, most likely, but he did not waste time with questions.

He nodded, and was gone.

Down the hall and to the bridge. He ducked under the barrier and readied his rifle in a matter of seconds, then gave Isaev the clear sign. It occurred to him again in a small, idle part of his mind that Isaev would make a good spotter.

He'd only guessed at it before, but now he knew he'd been right.

Isaev had a good eye for cover, which was expected, but it was his skill at instantly finding a good sniper perch that had impressed him more.

He realized he'd never had any doubt about Isaev's ability to handle himself in the field. Some men had the strength or technical skill in training, but in actual combat, they hesitated. It was the first time he and Isaev had the opportunity to work together like this, in a potential combat situation, but there had been no indecisiveness in the lieutenant's eyes, only a clear, cognizant purpose.

It hadn't surprised him, knowing Isaev as he did, albeit for such a short time. But what they lacked in quantity, they made up for in quality, and Kassian knew the predator's mind that lurked beneath pretty-boy face and long hair.

It was, he thought, a matter of both knowledge and trust.

He and Isaev had both.

Kassian leaned forward, waiting, pointing his rifle just over Isaev's left shoulder, aiming it at the door.

[andrei-isaev.livejournal.com]

Andrei stood and listened, hearing nothing but the low tones of conversation from the room beyond.

Whether it was threatening or not, he couldn't discern. For that matter, it could just as easily have been the cosmonaut talking to himself while Ocelot bled on the floor.

After a moment he decided he couldn't in good conscience stay outside and play the waiting game.

If Ocelot was fine, no harm done- he never admonished them for watching his back, no matter how proactive their efforts, though occasionally he grumbled like a schoolboy- and if he wasn't all right..well, then he and Irinarhov had a duty to protect their CO at all costs.

Even the Fury would understand that, Andrei thought, suddenly, as it occurred to him that the man may have been psychotic, but seemed to have an inherent respect for loyalty and military honor.

He could hope he was right.

And after all, he'd only come for his fetching red scarf.

...

Ilya's scarf.

Isaev turned and flashed a barely perceptible sign to Irinarhov. He didn't bother making it grandiose; he knew the sniper's eyes had never left him since he'd settled in to roost on the skybridge, and that he would be watching every second unfailingly until they cleared the situation.

There was no reason to assume anything, he reminded himself. The cosmonaut was expecting him, in any case, so best to go with that assumption.

Andrei straightened his beret and knocked on the door.

[capt-kasya.livejournal.com]

Kassian caught Isaev's sign and returned the slightest of nods. He had good line of sight from his position to whoever opened the door, though would not have a clear view of everyone in the room.

If it turned out to be some sort of ambush, he would have to trust Isaev to get out of the way and hopefully draw out his attackers so Kassian could take them down.

He didn't question the potential threat here in such a seemingly innocuous hall. Though Kassian had not been here long, he'd already learned that Groznyj Grad was a strange place.

Expect the unexpected, as they said, but Kassian didn't have that much imagination. Rather, he simply believed in being prepared for anything, and as a consequence, lining up a shot here in the East Wing did not make him hesitate at all.

[imre-nico.livejournal.com]

(continued at the parent thread: see below)