Combined Reserves Meeting, The Library, Friday Afternoon

[glacial_queen]

A special emergency meeting of the Reserves had been called. There were no snacks today, both to underscore the seriousness of the meeting and because they were meeting in the library and no one had wanted to risk the librarian’s wrath. Or the books’.

“Thanks to everyone who came,” Karla said. “If you listened to radio last night--” or were even marginally observant “--you probably already know that something’s going on. People are vanishing, falling into holes that open up at their feet. Whole buildings are gone, too. Where’s they’re going, no one knows. But other...things are slipping through to this side, too. Dangerous things. Stuff like this? This was why the Reserves were founded. So here we are.”

“The first thing we need if information and lots of it. What do we know? What don’t we know? What can we guess and what can we find out? We need to pool together what folks have already figured out, find patterns, see if we can tell what’s wrong and what needs to be fixed. Researchers are probably our best asset right now, because without them, the rest of us have no idea what to do.”

“But there are other tasks at hand as well. We need to figure out what parts of town have vanished and which are still there. We need to set up medical stations and staff them for those who are injured. We need people with combat capabilities who are willing to serve as escorts. We need people to gather food and water so that as more things vanish, we’re not stranded without supplies. And we need more ideas about what we need, so we don’t forget anything vital.”

Kennedy, thumbs hooked into her belt loops and her expression dead serious, nodded. “We want to keep the dorms and cabins a safe space, but let’s not forget about the rest of the town, too. Fighter-types who want to volunteer for escort duty, speak up; that goes for any of you guys who want to patrol the school grounds or the town, too. People are disappearing-- we gotta know where you’re at. Anyone heading in or out, report in with one of us so you’re accounted for. And keep a cell phone on you if you have one. If you don’t, check in with me; I got a few spares.”

She paused, trying to think of other useful stuff they’d need to know. “Intel’s good, too. Who’s had any run-ins with the nasties out there? Tell us what you know, so we know how to deal with ‘em.”

Jak wasn’t anywhere near front and center; he was lurking near the back, one shoulder pressed against the wall. “And bring guns,” he tossed in, suddenly. “Whatever is running amok out there isn’t going to stand around and wait for you to swing a bat or a sword or something at it.” A beat. “Though if that makes any of you squeamish, I’ll do the shooting for you.” Very helpful, Jak.

Raven's face was pale and drawn as she sat in a chair near Karla, but she was doing her best to not let the pain she was feeling affect her too badly. Fortunately, concern for others gave her something to focus on and distract her. "I intend to send my Soul-Self over the island to see what is affected from above," she said. "If there are any with the skill of flight who wish to join me, we can do this much more quickly and efficiently." She paused a moment, then added, "And if you think you might be suffering any sort of physical effect due to what has been happening to the island and our friends, I should like to speak to you as well."

Tara shot Raven a concerned glance from her own seat beside Kennedy. There were other things to worry about, but she still didn’t like the idea this was causing her friend so much physical pain. “Witches, I know some of us aren’t really fighters, but ... th-this is a time when we have to be. I took some books about combat magic and demonology from the shop yesterday. Hopefully we’ll find some kind of spell that will help ... fix this. All of this.”

There wasn’t much confidence in her voice. But she was trying.

“I have potions,” Zack’s sword was in his hand as he spoke. He was still entirely too shaken from Ino vanishing into thin air to feel remotely comfortable just letting it sit on his back, so he had it resting on his shoulder, hand closed around it so tightly that his knuckles were white under his gloves. “At least enough for everyone left to take one. It’s a one-time quick fix if anyone gets too hurt to make it back to the clinic, and I’d like it if people took a few, just in case. If people need armor, I have a few bangles and armbands. They don’t seem like much, but they have a bit of magic to them, they’ll make you at least a little harder to hurt while you wear them. Don’t think for a moment that potions and armor make you invincible. They won’t, but they might keep you alive. If anyone else has anything they can spare to offer to help protect people the same way, please, do.”

"I have compiled a list from what I heard on the radio," Raven said, "of those who were taken away or believed missing. If you have seen any of those people since last night, please remove them from the list." She'd already taken off Zack's name since he was here in the library with them, which was one good sign at least. "Or if you know of anyone else who is missing, please add their name." She would tape the list to a wall in a moment.

“One last thing?” Karla added. “Keep an ear out for animals--normal ones. And if you know of anyone who has vanished and has pets, let us know. It’s really hot out here and if people’s pets have been unexpectedly left on their own, we should try to take care of them as best we can. It may not seem like much compared to our other problems but in this heat? Without water, animals can die in a matter of a few days. The last thing we want is to get this fixed and have people come home to something like that.”

She looked around at everyone who'd shown up and offered them all a brief smile. "Thank you, every one of you, for showing up and agreeing to help. We can do this. We can keep everything here together and then bring our friends home again. Now let's move."

[Cowritten with the amazing trigons_child, life_inshadow, puppy_fair, brat_intraining, and unborn_renegade. Hold for BDE-worthy OCD, please! MOAR OCD THAN YOUR POST HAS ROOM FOR. It's up]

Comments

Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

Because there wasn't enough OCD already.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

Karla was there and looking exhausted when she wasn't trying to appear all resolute.

Stupid dreams.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[trigons_child]

"Are you all right?" Raven had to ask, laying a gentle hand on Karla's arm.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

"Just tired," Karla answered. "But you're not. I'm so sorry--I ended up rescuing kittens after 'Dite's place vanished yesterday. But I can still help you now, if you want."

It surprised Karla, how very-not-okay she was, seeing Raven in pain.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[trigons_child]

"Only if it will not cause you any undue strain," Raven said, shaking her head. "You must keep your strength up as well if we are to do any good here."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

Karla shook her head. "The strain is worth getting you back up to feeling better," she said. "You're the best Healer we have."

Raven may have been the embodiment of pride, but it cost Karla no little pride herself to admit that.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

"There are books at the Magic Box. Do you think we should check them out?" Dru asked.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

Karla thought for a moment and nodded. "There's not a lot here on real, practical magic anyway," she said. "At least, I don't think so. And not outside special collections."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[svetocha-blooms.livejournal.com]

"And from what I've heard about that, I'd just as soon avoid it," she replied. "There's a pretty extensive collection of books at the shop. I can't think of anything that immediately jumps to mind, but I don't think we should write off out of hand."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

"Even if there's nothing specifically about this problem, there may be useful information there anyway," Karla said with a nod. "Should we invite someone else along? If there a lot of books, having another person along to flip through and carry will be helpful, I think."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[gunandcoffee.livejournal.com]

Reese heard about this meeting and thought to stop by. She approached a familiar face. "Karla."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

"Officer Reese!" Karla said, sounding surprised. She only just stopped herself from saying 'I've been good, I swear!' "Is everything okay down at the station."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[gunandcoffee.livejournal.com]

"Detective," she replied automatically. "The station's busy, apparently more of those things we saw in the park have been spotted. Troopers are even sayin' more nasty things have appeared as well."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[glacial_queen]

Karla frowned. "What kind of nasty things?" she asked, automatically reaching for a pencil and paper. "Can you give descriptions? Areas of vulnerability would be amazing."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[trigons_child]

Raven was there, of course. With lists!

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[puppy_fair]

Zack was there, looking occasionally at Raven's list, his gaze traveling over his own crossed-out name, and then flicking back to Ino's name, half expecting that any moment, somebody would show up and cross it off, too.

It wasn't happening.

He was there for anyone who needed potions or armor, though, and for anything else that a guy with a giant sword could possibly provide.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

It was peculiar how she was glad she wasn't the only one left from her world who was mobile and able to fight.

Rosalind was glad, in a way, that Elena was safe, of course, but it was an oddity she did not care for to be operating without some form of orders.

Not that she ever really managed to listen to those orders all the way through.

Zack couldn't order her. But he was a familiar face. A small blessing, though she was far less bothered by the situation than most.

"Zack."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[puppy_fair]

Zack didn't know her very well, no, but it was good to see a face from home for him, too. Someone dressed in a uniform that, like his own, meant something to him.

"Rosalind. Here to lend a hand today, or do you need some potions?"

Or whatever else. He was a bit distracted, but he was trying like heck not to let it show.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"I've my own stock," she replied. And fully armed and equipped. "I was curious about who was still around."

And who would show up here. The information gathered was just different enough to be interesting to her.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[life_inshadow]

Tara looked near tears, but she was still there, chewing her nails to the nubs and racking her brains to try to find anything useful.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

Kennedy had learned one new thing today: seeing Tara like this kind of killed her a little bit inside, and there wasn't a damn thing she could think of to make it better. Silently, she reached over to put an arm around her. It wasn't going out to stop everything and everyone from disappearing, but it was something. Which was a hell of a lot better than doing nothing.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[life_inshadow]

"Sorry," Tara sighed, snuggling up as much as she could in public. "it's just ... really overwhelming. And, and ... I c-can't even tell where to start.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. Me neither," Kennedy admitted, leaning into her in hopes it'd make them both feel better. "It's freaky out there. I tried calling Constance but she's not picking up, and that's about all I've got for resources."

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[brat-intraining.livejournal.com]

Kennedy, who wasn't for the moment straying very far from Tara, had a backpack at her feet, a dozen or so prepaid cell phones visible through the half-open zipper, and a few new scratches and bruises to show for having gone to get them this morning. She had her crossbow cradled in the crook of one arm and two quivers of bolts attached to the harness of the SOLDIER sword slung across her back.

Every half minute or so she scanned the group, making sure everyone was still accounted for.

Re: Talk to the Leaders

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

Jak was there, but how long he would be was anyone's guess. He looked about ready to get out of there, Morph Gun switched to Vulcan and an impatient look on his face.

He just wanted a fight.