Emergency Response

Who: Open to ALL.
When: Immediately after the scientists post.
Where: First the security level, mainly the FOYER.

Lina and Jason were still hanging out on the security level when the alarms damn near pierced their ear drums. Luckily, Lina was sitting at the desk anyway, and was able to shut the damn thing up in time. Though there wasn't actually any relief in getting a message like that. She had pushed back from the desk enough for Jason to read it to, but once she started reading the damn thing? It was a little hard to think of anything past 'oh FUCK.' Shit, shit, shit... "We need to get up there."

Jason had pushed his chair over to read the screen as well. "At least one person will have to stay here." he said. His mind wasn't really hitting 'oh fuck' stage, but then again, he wasn't in Katalina's position. And it was just him. He generally looked at things from a less overwhelmed point of view. "Ponchos and flares..." he frowned, then glanced to her. "Do we know if there are walkie sets anywhere? Because sending more people to tramp around the fucking woods in a storm is just asking for other people to get lost."

Lina jotted off a quick message to post to her journal, and got up to think that over. "Dave should stay, he's the doc and he might be needed. For walkies, we're just going to have to look. Can you round up all the ponchos, and meet me in the foyer?" They'd specifically named her to take charge, and... it was her job now. Nothing like breaking someone in easy.

Jason nodded. "The ponchos should be easier, they're just in the closet, I'll head out to the shed to grab the flare guns and flares, then head back on one of the four wheelers to cut down on time." he said, getting to his feet. "So see you in the foyer in ten?" He paused as he got closer to the elevator. "You might want to tell anyone who's got any physical disadvantages right now to just stay the fuck inside and help wait for word...the less walking liabilities we have the better." Namely Hannah.

"I'm not going to send everyone out, some people are going to be rounding up batteries and towels." Lina answered, not having to think twice on that one. She could think of a few people outside who'd just become a whole new emergency. She hit the elevator button, which was thankfully there, and pulled her jacket on as she hit the button for the first floor. "Sounds like a plan. You up to going out there alone with your knee?"

"Yeah. Might pay for it later, but it won't go out on me or anything." Jason replied. At least that was his working theory, and he was sticking to it. He really didn't think it would die on him, he'd just be a little sore later. Not exactly life threatening. "I'll be fine."

"Alright. Are you going to be up to leading a small group?" She'd rather assign that duty to people she, you know, trusted.

As they got to the first floor, he made a face, but sighed. "Yes." he said. Just because he didn't want the job didn't mean he couldn't do it, and he also wasn't going to be a bitch about it when she needed him not to be. "Whatever you need."

"I know you don't like the idea, but you're dependable." She also knew that he wasn't bitching either, so she didn't push it. The elevator dinged cheerfully, and Lina took a deep breath as she stepped off. "See you in ten."

Jason knocked off a salute and headed out. It was a bit of a trek to the shed, and it was of course, pissing down rain. But he was going to be back in ten, one way or another.

Natalie had started to get worried when she realized Greg had been gone for quite a while; just about the time she was getting dressed to go looking for him, the alarms went off. She felt the blood drain from her head as she read the information and without thinking further, she snatched her jacket and the note he'd left her and pelted downstairs to the foyer. "Greg's missing?" she demanded of the room the second she got there, barely pausing to even see who was there. "He left me a note; he said he was going to be back soon." She was ruthlessly suppressing everything but the coolheaded logic she'd need to get through this until he was found; now wasn't the time to give in to fear or go to pieces... despite the niggling feeling in the back of her mind that something about the alert didn't seem right.

Laila was right on Natalie's heels, pulling on a light sweater and carrying sturdy shoes. "I got the message," she announced, bending to tie her laces. "What do you need me to do?"

"I don't know any more than you do." Lina replied, vaguely remembering Natalie from the time bits of Eris had needed to be cleaned up. She looked over to Laila and considered that for a moment. "Kales is getting the shit from the shed, go up to the maintenance on the fourth floor and bring down as many flashlights as you can carry, and all the ponchos they mentioned. It's going to suck out there."

"Sure thing," Laila said, turning around and heading right back up to the fourth floor, thanking the powers above that she was in good shape. She returned a few minutes later, ponchos stacked in her arms and one twisted into a sling shape, into which she'd loaded all the flashlights she could find, as well as a few packs of batteries. "There are more batteries up there," she said, starting to lay out her haul, "but this is all that I could carry at once."

"Don't worry about that," Lina said, shaking her head. She had raided the kitchen drawers for what few flashlights and batteries were downstairs. "I'm keeping some people here in the house, they're going to have to gather shit up in case we need it later." She remembered what Everett had said earlier, but for now, Laila was capable and she was going to go with that. "We're going to form small parties and start with the trails, and some people are going to stay behind to get shit that the parties need." she announced, for the few people that were starting to trickle in. "Everyone do what you need to be ready in five minutes."

"I can take a group if you need me to," Laila volunteered, zipping up her hooded sweater and nabbing a rain poncho and a flashlight for herself. "I run those trails daily; I know them damn well by now."

~*~

Jason was true to his word. About ten minutes after he'd left the house in the first place, he was walking back in. He had a backpack slung over his shoulder, two others gripped in his hand. He was soaked to the bone, but he was there, and with supplies. He headed to Katalina to drop the bags down next to her, though he kept one. He leaned close to her and spoke to her. "Got all the flares and flare guns and flashlights with batteries, anyone with a backpack should get one to carry shit, and there should be a first aid kit with each group." he said, before he caught sight of Emma. "I'll be back in a second." he added, and moved over to the tiny blonde. "You're not going." he said first.

Emma had read the notice, and promptly tried not to freak out as she put warm clothes on, got Bubbles in a safe place, and hauled ass downstairs. The sounds of the helicopters had nearly made her puke with anxiety, though she wasn't able to say why. She was trying to look calmer than she felt when she spotted Jason. Looking up at him, her brow furrowed. "What?" she asked, a bit disbelieving. "Of course I am!"

Jason dragged his fingers through his hair to get the wet strands out of his eyes, and took her by the arm to take her over closer to the door and less near the gathered people. "No, you're not." he said. "I know your ribs still aren't completely healed, and the less you have to go wandering around the woods in a situation like this, the better." he said. His voice was quiet but un-arguable. He looked down into her eyes. "Stay here, help with whatever needs doing here just in case. But you're not going out there."

Emma wanted to dismiss the rib excuse immediately, but for the most part tried not to scowl at him. "You're going out there," she pointed out, "And that's not a good idea on your knee." His other reason... well... she couldn't really say much about that. Her expression turned just plain worried and bothered as a whole, as she looked down. "I need to be doing something." she said. "I don't want to stay here wondering and imagining the worst." Not to mention scared shitless.

"Look, Emma," he started, looking out towards the rain for a moment then back to her. Don't make me say this in the way that'll hurt the most. "Don't fight me on this." he said. "You shouldn't be out there, and you know why. Stay here, there'll be things that need doing here anyhow. I'll be fine, you know I can take care of myself."

Emma didn't say anything for a moment, fidgeting a bit as she looked out the window. I need to be out there! I need to be doing something. She didn't argue with him though, she knew why he didn't want her out there and she knew he was only trying to protect her. For a moment she wondered if this was what it had been like the last time, but she wasn't about to ask. She wasn't sure she wanted to know. She didn't say anything, just nodded a bit.

He sighed, relieved that she wasn't going to put up a huge fight, though knowing that this was going to turn into a discussion later. Because they didn't already have enough bullshit to discuss today or anything. Damn, today was just a bad day in general. He kissed her forehead, then turned her back towards the room and started forward. "We've got to get moving."

She nodded slightly again, and headed back to the group with him. "Just be careful, Jason." she replied, softly. They both knew she'd be worried.

~*~

Dorian was still sleeping when the alarms began going off. He'd been having some nice sorts of dreams and he was honestly a bit irked about being ripped from them. He could feel Janie still beside him and smiled vaguely as he rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. The sirens were ringing in his ears and he lifted his head up to stare at his computer, the source of the noise.

Janie's hand jolted when the sirens went off, and she looked irritatedly over at the computer as well. Not that she could actually see it, mind. The world was a mess of blurry things. "...t'fuck?" she mumbled, looking confusedly towards Dorian as if he might know more what was going on.

"Iono," Dorian murmured back, leaning over her to retrieve her glasses for her. He handed her her own glasses, then pushed the blanket off of him, shoved himself to his feet, and strode to his computer. Frowning at it, he clicked the flashing box and scanned it quickly. "Someone's gone missing," he croaked, his voice still full of sleepiness.

Janie put her glasses on then got up and wandered up behind him, leaning over his chair to read the words for herself. "...that's disconcerting." she said. Then she frowned. "Okay...search parties..." she glanced outside to the storm they'd been sleeping through. "This'll be fun. C'mon." she said, stretching and she rubbed at her eyes. "Let's go looking for Dude."

Dorian groaned. Not because he didn't want to go and help, but because he could. He fell back onto his bed and closed one eye, keeping the other on Janie. "But sleeping sounds like more fun," he said, a trace of a smile on his face.

Janie arched an eyebrow at him. "What, more fun than going out in probably freezing rain to wander around the woods right before it gets dark?" she asked in mock-shock. "I'm surprised at you. Where's your sense of adventure? Besides, there could be mutant werewolves out there, and if we didn't go, then we'd never get to see one. And then what would we write our 'what I did on summer vacation' essays about, hmm?" she asked. Okay so it made no sense. She leaned over to poke him in the stomach. "Get movin, bucko." she said with a smile. "Walter's staying here though, I don't want him getting sick. Or eaten by mutant werewolves."

"Well, if there's going to be mutant werewolves..." Dorian said, grinning and getting up, before sneaking in a poke of his own, right on her side. He opened a drawer and took out a few hoodies, figuring he'd need two and she'd need two, even if he was wearing a long-sleeved shirt. He also dug out two pairs of jeans (a tighter pair of his for Janie), a belt for Janie, a few hats, and a few pairs of gloves. "You'd better not get sick again," he mock-warned Janie as he stuffed his legs into his jeans. "Walter might not be able to handle it."

Janie tugged on one of the hoodies, even yanking up the hood, and she changed into the offered clothes. Sure, she could go to her room but if he was going to just be handing things over, why not. "I'll try not to." she said wryly. "But hey, at least this time it wouldn't be my own fault." she offered. "It's someone else's stupidity that's to blame, not mine." When it looked like they were properly geared up, she headed for the door.

Laughing, Dorian followed her and shut the door behind them, waving good-bye to Walter as he did so. "My clothes are a little too big for you," he said cheerfully as they headed down the corridor. "But that's okay. You look cute." He grinned, rather cheekily for him, but it was his attempt at being cute.

Funny how now Janie was wondering if he was flirting with her again and hadn't wondered the whole time he was snuggling. Likely due to the flirting. "I look cute because they're big on me, or I look cute cuz they're your clothes?" Janie asked curiously as she bounded down the steps, taking them two at a time. She was aware of the whole urgency of the matter, after all.

"Um... both?" he said, more of a question than an answer. He quickened his pace to catch up to her going down the stairs. "Has anyone ever gone missing before this? Or is this a first-time thing?"

"Earlier in the year there was a girl who was kidnapped from the house and murdered in the woods." Janie said, in her Janie-way. Which meant she could have been telling him that one day everyone woke up to fluffy bunnies. "And there's been other random lameness. I don't specifically remember anyone going missing." She shrugged. "First time for everything. At least you missed the suicides. ...so far."

Dorian blinked at her. "Suicides?" he asked. Some heavy shit must have gone down here... he thought as they reached the bottom of the second set of stairs, which led them into the foyer. And someone being murdered in the woods? He was much less enthusiastic about letting Janie go into the woods to go searching. He grabbed her gloved hand with his. "We're going to be in the same search party," he said firmly.

~*~

Hannah had already been rather warmly dressed, as she'd been outside earlier. When the sirens went off, she was first irritated - because those bitches were loud - and then faced with a growing curiosity. She wondered how many others were actually going to show up for someone they probably barely knew. That was enough for her to grab Anubis and head downstairs, if only to have a front-row seat for what was sure to be chaos. So with the dog in the lead, she made her way to the elevator and took it to the ground floor. Stepping out, she listened for anyone she knew.

Devon had taken the stairs, pretty much running down them. He didn't know Greg really well, but the guy was his neighbor and he'd had several conversations with him; no way would he not respond to a call for help. He paused at the foot of the stairs, seeing Hannah and Anubis approaching from the hall. Of course, the elevator opened out in the living room, he thought. "Hey, Hannah," he said, not sure if she'd remember him. They'd only actually had one conversation, after all.

"Yo," Hannah answered, though it took her a minute to place the voice. "Devon. What's up? Here for the party?" Her tone was dry, sarcastic.

"Yeah," Devon said after a brief hesitation; he just didn't know how to take Hannah, really. "The search party." He wanted to ask her why she was down here, since she obviously wouldn't be going out in the rain to look for Greg, but no, he couldn't ask that.

~*~

Cara saw the message and sighed in quiet disgust. Dear God, how she hated house meetings. They were always filled with so many people she couldn't understand anything that was going on. However, with the message from the scientists, she believed it would've been in her best interest to go anyway. Just in case, she put on her warm boots and coat, and gathered up Cira who was rather hoping for a bite to eat rather then anything she wouldn't like, and she went to the foyer. Which was all of outside her door, so it wasn't very far.

When Lina saw Cara, she dropped what she was doing and headed over. "Cara, you said Cira can hunt." she said, jumping straight into it. She still remembered to be careful to speak directly to Cara, and slowly enough for her to understand it all. "Could she track Greg, if she had something of his to get his scent?"

"Yes. Even in weather such as this, she can track him. I cannot guarantee that she will not try to start nipping his ankles and calves in order to herd him if she gets too excited, however." Cara said apologetically, blinking.

Lina actually managed a small, humorless smile. Nothing about this situation was amusing. "In that case, can I borrow her? I don't want you going out there, I thought maybe you could stay in the kitchen in case anyone needed anything."

Cara hesitated. It probably would be for the best, considering the weather, but all the same? This was important. "Cira responds best to me, but if you believe that it would better not for me not to go, I shall not argue. I will get Cira's leash and whistle, and show you the correct hand signals."

Lina hated to ask to swipe her dog, but leading the deaf woman out to chase a dog and possibly get hit by lightning? Not high on Lina's list. "It's nothing personal." she assured her. "But it'll be rough out there, and people will be spread thin. If you're willing, I think you'd be safer here." She wouldn't force it though. It was Cara's dog, after all. Her service dog, at that.

Cara smiled slightly. It didn't quite reach her eyes, those were too busy being filled with worry, but she gave it a shot. "I will get her leash and show you the hand signals, if you are willing to wait." She gave Cira the signal to lay down, and the dog did it right over Lina's feet, immediately, flipping her tail only once and looked eager and attentative. Then she went back to her room to get the seldom used leash and the spare whistle.

While Cara went to get Cira's things, Lina scanned the room for Natalie and headed over. This felt more than a little weird. She would have barely known that Natalie and Greg knew each other, were it not for the fabulous video feeds the fucking scientists had shown everyone. After three days, shit like that was hard to miss. "Natalie," she said quietly, "Cira can track if we can get Greg's scent. Can you get something of his for her to grab it off?"

Natalie nodded, keeping herself firmly in 'logic' mode until the crisis was resolved. She just had to keep telling herself that they would find Greg, and that he'd be all right. There was no other option. She held out the note he'd written her in the meantime. "I'll be right back," she said, sprinting up the stairs to the third floor. Greg had clothes in her room just as she had a few things in his; it was a natural part of cohabitation. Pulling a t-shirt from the drawer, she was back downstairs within moments. "He wore this to bed last night," she said, handing it out. "It hasn't been washed yet."

Lina looked over the note, not liking this at all. The scientists were lying bastards, that was nothing new. But Greg's note definitely didn't match up with their story. Fuck. Things had just gotten a good ten times worse, hadn't they? She nodded when Natalie got back, thinking that would probably be perfect. "That'll do. Cara's going to teach me the signals in a minute. Do you want to go on one of the search groups?" The worried girlfriend shouldn't be out there, but she wasn't going to refuse to give her the option.

"Yes," Natalie said immediately. She was worried, but nowhere close to hysterical - her determination to find Greg was helping to keep her focused. "I'm probably one of the best suited to finding him," she said. "I'm fairly sure I knew him best out of everyone here."

Lina nodded slightly, figuring it'd be something like that. "Okay." she said. She wasn't going to fight her on it. "I'm splitting everyone up into smaller groups, I'm going to have Ev lead one - he actually has experience in this shit. Do you want to go with him, or do you want to go with me and Cira?"

"Wherever you need me most," Natalie said, willing to let those in charge organize this, despite the desire to shout Hurry up! at everyone in the foyer. "I'd just prefer I'm with someone I know."

"Then I'll have you go with Ev." Lina said. "While I figure out the groups, get yourself a backpack and a poncho, I'm gonna get everyone out of here ASAP." She could probably get Dave or Zoe to locate first aid kits, that would save on time. They actually knew where the damn things were.

Natalie just nodded; additional conversation was unnecessary, and the sooner they split to take care of their respective duties, the sooner they could be out searching. So she went to grab some gear and get suited up (so to speak) while she waited for Everett and whoever else would be going with them.

~*~

Sirens, warning notes, missing person. Greg, who was a pretty good guy, as far as Stef could tell. They'd been trapped upstairs together. He headed out of his room and down the stairs to the foyer, still dressed in the only set of clothing he currently had.

Torlin had only arrived a minute or so before, and was wringing her hands in the midst of the milling people. She'd only met Greg once or twice in passing, but he seemed all right, and with the storm and all ... "Stef!" she said, once her roaming eyes caught him. She elbowed her way over there and promptly clung to his arm.

Stef instantly pulled her to one side, so they wouldn't get trampled. "You all right?" he asked her. "I didn't hear back from you... I was lookin' for you at the luau thing." This wasn't the time to go into what had happened or the fact that he hadn't been in his room the previous night at all. Definitely not the time.

She looked a little surprised, since she'd mostly forgotten -- for the moment, anyway -- that he had a reason to be worried about her. Despite everything, and almost in an ashamed way, she felt a flash of warmth at the concern. "I spent the night with Kaylin," she filled him in. "I didn't go to the thing. I went to her room before you answered, I didn't get your reply until today ..."

So she hadn't come to his room. In this case that was a good thing. He wouldn't have been there, and knowing her she would have worried about him. "She could use a friend right now," he commented, because it was true. "So that's good." He glanced around at the assembling people, his gaze skittering away when it lit on Kat. He turned his eyes back to Tor, managing a half-smile.

Who was looking at him very raptly. "Are you okay?" she asked. Then frowned and reached up to brush very very light fingertips over his face. "That one's new," she said, indicating the fresh bruise amidst his yellowing ones. "What happened?" One hand moved into her pocket, where she was still carrying her three key-copies. One of them was supposed to go to him, but she wanted to know what was wrong first.

"I'm fine," Stef told her. "Got punched. No huge deal." He was more concerned about the fact that someone had locked him in the fucking mirror room than he was about Kales hitting him-- though there was a perverse part of him that wanted to tell Kat she needed to rein in her friend, since she was the law in the house now. Not that he'd do that, since there seemed to be a crisis at current, but it had been a fun thought. "Tell me what happened in your room. You said someone broke in and did somethin'?"

Torlin wanted to know who punched him, but he didn't seem keen on talking about it. She waved a hand as if in dismissal and shook her head. "Yeah, somebody hung this ... hogtied china doll over my bed. There was a note on it about locking my door. Here," she said, easily shifting the conversation. She pulled out the key and put it into his hand. "That's to my room, I give you permission to come in to check on me anytime. I keep having terrible visions of me passed out from a seizure with a head injury."

Stef scowled a little as he accepted the key and put it into his pocket. "Always lock it," he said unnecessarily, since he was sure she would now. He didn't say that someone could've hurt her. She'd know that already, and it wouldn't help anything. People thought he was fucked up? Shit. They had some serious psychos living in this damn place.

She nodded, paused, and then threw her arms around him in a tight hug. She didn't care who was around, who might be watching, and she wanted him to know that. Rising up on her toes, Tor planted a kiss on an unbruised part of his cheek, and then turned to pay attention to what was going on.

Stef hugged her back, not really caring who was watching or what they were thinking either. What did it matter right now? He stood beside her and waited for further instructions.

~*~

Jesse had had to force himself to emerge from his room, but he'd done it. It wasn't right for him to sit back and do nothing when somebody was missing, and as much as it wasn't easy for him, he knew intellectually that that wasn't a valid excuse. He was lurking on the edge of the foyer, not far from his door, when somebody came up behind him and put a hand on his arm.

He twitched, having to fight not to jerk out of their grasp... whoever it was. He stole a glance over his shoulder.

Jacie stood behind him, gazing around him at the commotion. She'd been in the kitchen when the alarms sounded, having dried herself off and changed clothes as soon as she'd gotten back inside the house. She hadn't run into anyone on her way upstairs, and she'd taken a short while to collect herself. "What's going on?" she asked Jesse; she was perfectly aware of who he was, of course.

Jesse wanted her to stop touching him, and it was hard for him to come up with coherent words when that was the only thought screaming through his brain. He shifted his weight, still watching her nervously, hoping to dislodge her. "S-s-someone's m-m-m..." He swallowed. "Missing. Th-there's gonna be. A search party." His words were halting, his voice a little husky, and he was acutely uncomfortable.

"Missing?" Jacie asked, her brow furrowing. "Who is it?" Her fingers slid further around Jesse's arm in its long-sleeved sweatshirt.

Jesse took a step away from her, finding that his voice had vapor-locked. He couldn't get words out. The girl didn't budge, and finally he managed to say, "G-g-guy named Greg. H-he went for a walk... a-and didn't--." Come back.

"I know him!" Jacie said, looking perplexed and stepping forward to close the distance he'd created between them. "That's terrible." She was perfectly aware that he wanted to get away from her, but she also didn't think he'd make a scene. Thus, she pretended not to believe anything was amiss.

Jesse's cheeks were red, and he endured her touch because he couldn't think of anything to do besides jerking away from her. He stared hopefully at the increasingly crowded lobby, hoping someone would happen along to rescue him, or distract her. One or the other, he didn't care which.

"Know who?" Matt asked, making a beeline for Jacie as he got downstairs and standing by her side. He looked from her to Jesse, who he knew only as the bloke who'd tried to kill himself when Janie hadn't tried to stop him - that particular scene would be forever burnt into his memory.

Jacie let go of Jesse, sliding her hand off of his arm as if she hadn't realized she'd had it there, and leaned against Matt, glancing up at him, her expression troubled. "Greg," she said. "He seems to be missing." She blinked, her dark eyes fixing to Matt's. "In this rain. I got caught out in it earlier." It was a torrential downpour by this point, heard all throughout the house.

Jesse nodded to Matt and then moved a few feet away, incredibly relieved to be away from the dark-haired girl. Not because she'd done anything to him, but he just couldn't tolerate people casually touching him.

"Who the bloody hell goes out in this?" Matt asked, rolling his eyes. There was no love lost between him and Greg and he knew that Jacie knew that and he wasn't going to try and pretend otherwise - he simply didn't like the guy who had tried to force himself upon Jacie - or so Jacie had told the Englishman and so Matt honestly believed. That said, although Matt didn't like the guy (in fact it was much closer to 'hate') he was far from heartless - especially as he looked around at the number of people milling around, recalled the helicopters overhead and generally thought about the situation. "He's only been gone for a couple of hours, right?"

"I'm not sure," Jacie told him. "All I know is what he said--" She nodded toward Jesse, lowering her voice a little. "--and that wasn't much." It would be obvious, to Matt at least, that she despised Greg, but it wouldn't do to show a complete lack of concern for the man. "Said he'd gone for a walk, went missing, and a search party was being formed." She sighed and looked down at the tiled floor.

If it hadn't been for the helicopters and the frantic message from the scientists, Matt would have dismissed the whole thing out of hand and suggested that they simply leave it up to the rest of them to worry if they felt they had to. After all, really, what harm could a walk in the forest in the rain do to a guy? It wasn't like there was any suggestion that he'd fallen down a ravine or anything - or even that there was a ravine to fall down. Not like the scientists had put 'he was last seen heading towards that 100 foot drop - oh shit!' or anything. Except Matt remembered the last night they'd sent out the helicopters and the aftermath of that day. "Stupid bloody idiot," Matt mumbled under his breath. Now they were all going to have to get wet to go looking for the damn fool and the annoyance at the situation was clear in Matt's expression.

Jacie tucked herself beneath Matt's arm, her arms sliding around his waist. "He is that," she agreed, her tone a little dry. She frowned slightly, asking, "Does it seem cold in here to you? I just got dried off again... I was near the lake when the rain started. I didn't think it would be so soon, and I was about to come inside." She shivered a little, then glanced around at the people gathered farther into the lobby.

He rested an arm round her shoulder, pulling her to him. "No - it's not that cold at all," he said, frowning and looking down at her. "Did you get caught out in this? I hope you're not coming down with something - it's not so long since you were sick, for all they made you make a 'miraculous recovery'," he said with concern.

"It's my fault if I do," Jacie said, smiling faintly. "I love how the air feels right before it storms, and I wanted to see the lake." Her eyes were a little dreamy, though she wasn't thinking about the gathering tension of a thunderstorm. She was remembering how it had felt to watch the blood pour from Greg's neck, to smell it, to see that peculiar blankness in his eyes as he'd slumped over. Then the rain, pounding down on both of them, muddying the paths.

Matt reached up to feel her forehead. It felt normal, but then again, what did he know? "You shouldn't be going back out there - there are enough people to find him without you risking getting sick again by getting soaked to the skin. You should take it easy stay indoors. Come on - I'll get you something warm to drink, he said, looking towards the kitchen door.

"Maybe I could do something inside," Jacie said, her tone soothing. "We'll see, okay?" She gave him a squeeze and then let go. "We should probably wait and find out what's happening first."

Matt looked at her a moment longer, then relented. "Okay," he agreed, turning to see whether they were going to find out the plan any time soon.

~*~

When the sound of helicopters neared the house, Nic's stomach immediately turned. He'd read enough in the back journals to know that wasn't a good thing. It meant something had happened, otherwise the scientists wouldn't have let them anywhere near the house. He went to the window and watched, staring out towards the forest as the sun began to sink in the sky. Fifteen minutes later, it happened again. Whatever they were looking for, night was quickly hiding away. Nic tried to go back to reading, tried to play the piano for a bit, but his concentration was completely gone. There was a sense of foreboding in the air. By the time the alarms went off, he was almost expecting them. Immediately he rushed to his computer and read the message. Someone was lost in the woods. Greg. He hadn't met the man, but that didn't matter. He pulled on his boots, then a black hoodie over his long sleeve shirt. By the time he was dressed, Lina's message had been posted on the journals as well. Leaving his room, he locked the door behind him, then headed up to the attack, knocking twice on Dan's door before opening it. "You in?" he asked, looking around the room till he spotted Dan.

Dan had reacted much the same way Nic had - by the time the alarms had started, the petite blonde was half way organized. The helicopters overhead had suggested there was something happening outside and any fool could see that night was falling quickly. Ranged on the bed now was every flashlight Dan owned - which was in double figures, going from the stupidly small to the 'could double as a weapon'-sized and next to them was an open bag ready to be packed. The man himself was just lacing up his boots, having got changed, already half expecting the call when it came. He hadn't had a chance to check the computer yet and he looked up as Nic walked in. "You know what's going on?" he asked, all business, though he felt oh so much better to see Nic there and to know he wasn't the cause of all of this - a fear that he didn't even know he'd been harboring until it passed.

"Greg's gone missing in the woods. The scientists have instructed us to form search parties. Lina's called us all downstairs, I suspect to do just that," he said, stepping into the room and shutting the door behind him. Dan appeared to be one step ahead of him, gear set up on the bed. "Can I choose a flashlight?" he asked, seeing as how Dan had so many. He'd had one in his room, but he hadn't thought to grab it. Foolish on his part, but he'd been thinking in the moment, not towards the future. "We should grab some spare batteries," he noted, looking over at Dan.

"Already in the bag," Dan admitted. "And go for your life - not like I don't have spares," Dan told him, finishing up on his boots and pulling on a think jumper before grabbing his coat off the back of a chair - it was going to be cold outside.

"Thanks," Nic said, then took one of the larger flashlights. It was big enough to hit someone over the head and do some serious damage, and also put out a great deal of light. It wasn't the most convenient, for it wasn't going to fit in his pocket or anything, but he intended to be using it. Wandering out in the woods wasn't really high on his list of things to do, but this was an emergency. "I don't understand how things like this happen," he said. Dan was one of the few he'd express such an opinion to. Once they were with the group downstairs, he'd be more likely to shut his mouth and listen to orders.

Dan moved to start stuffing everything else in his bag, hanging the other large torch from a loop on his belt obviously designed for that purpose. He put another small one in the pocket of his trousers, along with a couple of batteries. "Because the scientists don't give a shit about what happens to anyone here - they just want to see our reaction to the 'stress'," he said, punctuating his rather cynical words with angry thrusts as he shoved everything into the bag. Packed, he pulled the zip round and hoisted it all up onto his shoulder and he turned. "Sorry," he said, immediately contrite. "I just..."

"Don't apologize," Nic said, a tiny smile curving up the side of his lips. It disappeared quickly with the thoughts that followed. "You're right. It's a test. But at the same time, someone's life could be in danger. Their cameras just don't happen to go out at the least convenient time. I wouldn't be surprised if they know exactly where Greg is and what's happened to him." Nic headed to the door, opening it for Dan once he had the bag all packed.
"The question is, what are they hiding?"

Dan walked out of the room, heading for the stairs. "Hiding?" he asked.

"The cameras only ever go out when they need them to. They're not telling us something," Nic said, realizing that this could be pure paranoia on his part. If it was, it was their own fault. They had done this to him. "Like with Jesse. How did they somehow missed that he'd cut himself open? If there was a camera error, then why did they later have the footage to broadcast all over the house? It's all bullshit is right. I can't help but feeling like we're walking into a trap of some sort."

Dan considered this as they started down the stairs. "Oh, I agree that there's far too much 'convenience' going on," he said, shaking his head. "But I don't know whether it's because they're actually hiding anything. personally, I'm more of a mind to call them sadistic bastards who can't be trusted as far as we can throw them. Individually. Possibly as far as, say, Zoe or Rebekah could throw them. But Maybe you're right about the trap. What can we do though? We can't exactly leave him out there..."

"In this case, we can't do anything about it, because Greg might really need us. If he's out there, and we don't bother to look... Well, I just hope he's not napping in the basement while we all take off into the woods." Because wouldn't that suck. Of course, if something had happened to Greg, a basement nap would be far better. "Notice how things like this only happen in storms? Why couldn't he get lost on a bright sunny day?"

"Because until a couple of days ago we were under a few foot of snow and even on a bright sunny day getting lost could be dangerous?" Dan suggested as they reached the second floor. "Oh, and just for the record, because I think under the circumstances it needs to be said - you go wandering off alone outside without me, or someone else, whilst we're here and I am going to throw such a fit you'll wish you'd never been born," he told Nic with a pleasant grin.

Nic laughed. "That's one thing you don't have to worry about with me. I'll never wander into the woods alone, especially with the risk of it getting dark. It just seems to be asking for trouble, you know?" Dan's comment left him smiling. "As for with someone else, there's no one else I'd like to get lost in the woods with." Maybe he was feeling a bit cheesy at the moment, but he didn't think it mattered. Dan had certainly heard him do worse.

Dan could see that Nic wasn't taking the comment as seriously as he'd meant it, but that was fine - he didn't intend the man to do so. Probably best not to push that at the moment, or betray how worried he'd be if that was... not anywhere he was going, or thinking about. Just the thought of this emergency having anything at all to do with Nic, just the possibility made his blood run cold. Not happening - it couldn't and it took all his strength not to reach out and touch the other man just with the thought. Instead, he quickened his pace as they headed down to the ground floor, not trusting himself to reply.

Dan's silence was word enough. Before they made it completely to the ground floor, Nic stopped on the stairs, grabbing Dan's hand to halt him as well. "I wouldn't," he said, now quite serious. "There are too many 'accidents' that happen around here. I would never wander off into the woods alone. You don't need to worry about that." He wouldn't push on the second comment because there were a few people he'd trust to take walks with, but it needed to be said that this kind of a search should never be for him. If he was out there, alone, it was because someone forced him into it, or dragged him, kicking and screaming.

Dan reflexively looked down as Nic took hold of his hand, before his eyes returned to Nic's and he squeezed the hand and let it go. "Me neither," he promised. The words weren't enough, he felt, but what else was there to say? "Come on, we should get down there," he said, because there really wasn't anything else. Except he knew that there was no way Nic was going back to his room tonight. With something like this, Dan couldn't let him, that much was clear - he wouldn't sleep a wink if he tried to.

He wasn't sure if what he'd said had helped, but there really wasn't anything else he could say. Dan had to trust him on this one. Nodding, Nic led the way down the rest of the stairs, going to join the group that had congregated on the first floor.

~*~

Once it seemed like most people had showed up, and before she went aside with Cara again, Lina whistled for attention. "I'm gonna do groups of four or five people! Every group will need a backpack, at least one flare gun, a first aid kit, and everybody takes a flashlight and extra batteries! Zoe, can you round up all the first aid kits? I know there's at least seven. I'm keeping some of the girls back here to have shit ready if we need it! Anyone who has a backpack to volunteer, go get one now so we can get on the move!" That done, she stepped back to try and figure out the groups.

Zoe nodded, not saying anything, just dashing off to get all the first aid kits she could find, even running to the shed and back with the first aid kit from there. In total, there turned out to be eleven, and she piled them carefully beside the staircase where no one could trip over them but where in easy reach, too. Then she just stood and waited for Lina to ask her to do something else.

"Okay! Listen up; with Lina's permission, there are a few basic safety tips I'm going to give you!" Rain called, pulling on her warm coat, and over that a waterproof rainslicker. "The glaringly obvious - you can get hypothermia in this weather, so leave your damn hats on! If you don't have one, get one! Second of all, do not every let your group members out of your sight, there's one person missing, we don't need a second! Third, if you come across a creek, river, slough, angelic pool of youth, whatever, don't go within three meters of it! With this rainfall, there can and likely will be flash flooding, and you cannot get out of the way fast enough once you see it coming! That is all!" And Rain pulled her toque on, and then pulled the hood over it.

After getting the names of the people she didn't know, Lina spent a few minutes learning Cira's hand signals, and after figuring out groups that all had at least one responsible person, she stood up on a coffee table and whistled again. "Okay, here's how it's gonna be!" she announced. "I've divided everyone six groups for search parties! Each group is going to have a leader, try not to give them shit! Everett's going to take Natalie, Ren, and Sally. Kales is taking Cortez, Jesse, Nic, and Dan. Graham's got Dorian, Janie, Gavin, and Zania. Laila's got Devon, Stefan, and Torlin. Erich, if you can, take Matt, Jacie, and Kaylin. Gwil, Zhen, Rain, and Cerise? You're all coming with me, and Cara has loaned us Cira, who's going to try and track Greg's scent! Cara has kitchen duty - if any of you start to feel sick, or get symptoms of hypothermia, come back and see Dave! Emma, the flashlights we don't take, I want you to make sure have fresh batteries just in case someone needs a trade-in. Hannah, go to the public bathrooms and stock up on clean towels, people are going to be soaked when they get back! Otherwise, everyone just help Dave and Zoe, and Cara too, however they need it. If you have not been assigned to a group, do not go out there! Do not leave your group without telling your group leader! Do not go out there without proper clothing, and either a slicker or a poncho! Group leaders, Zoe has made up backpacks of first aid kits, extra batteries, a flare gun, and emergency supplies - make sure you grab one for your group! If anyone shoots off a flare, everyone make way to that spot! Are there any questions?"