Nightmare Laboratory

It had been a long flight. First catching it in the early afternoon and now reaching the city as the sun was closing it's tired eyes. The city wasn't a stranger to Hollow or surprisingly active spirits. It was because of that the woman had made this her current home. She led him here and he'd followed her. How long was he planning on following this woman whom he liked and disliked at once? He was looking for a reason behind her actions? Some lingering attachment towards him? Some need that he could repay her with...But she didn't have anything. Nothing at all for him.

On the way she would have asked him about where he came from. What his life was before being chased by Hollows, while in a disheveled mess, and what his plans and goals were. She wanted to get to know him, but she asked for specific details on just how he got here. She seemed very interested in the link between his world and her own. She would never explain why she was interested and, in fact, it probably wasn't because of the reason he thought, if he even cared to wonder. It was simply curiosity; that was all. Curious in his home, his past and him specifically. If he didn't ask anything about her she wouldn't explain it. It was really easier that way. If he knew little to nothing about her it couldn't come back upon her or harbor him.

Having traveled from bright city Tokyo all the way to Karakura town, the differences were clear. This town wasn't as lively or as big as Tokyo, but it was still something extraordinary. Here there was a different sort of luminance that lit up the early evening dusk. There were many energies that spanned out as far as the mind could read and more than a few of them were far above normal. In this town, energy thrived and the supernatural was closer to the natural than many other places in all the world. It was here that she had brought him, though not here where they stayed.

As of now, the two were in a long, tinted-window vehicle that had just stopped infront of an enormous laboratory. One that looked almost like a hospital, but there weren't any nearby buildings and it lacked clear doors to get in. The land around it was completely barren. There wasn't a brush or even a patch of grass within sight. It was just flat, hard brown dirt. They came in through a 14foot high wall with cameras on each corner and barbed wire at the flat top. There had been a single old man at the gate that brought up a thin little hazard-bar to let them through. That old man had quite a bit of spiritual power on him. His power was nothing too major, but enough to see spirits, ghosts, and monsters quite easily. The empty, lonely building was a soft tan and gray with metal blue silver at the corners. The metal blue ran up each corner and at the front and back only created a bar straight across the highest story. The building had been completed only two months ago and, since then, it has had more than enough activity. This building had to be only 3 stories and it has a surprisingly flat and square body with windows only on the highest floor.

Rose thought a moment, looking over at Zanshin, before she gave him a soft smile. Though she still wore that white labcoat, her clothes were different. She had a soft brown with brown freckles skirt and a black t-shirt with brown stripes at her top. This time around she had very light-toned pantyhose and brown, black and gold heels. She had changed just after getting off the plane, even smelling different as if she had showered. She had something in her hand. It was a...A sliver horseshoe? That horseshoe stood out from the classy doctor's expensive looking garb.

Now that they were here she had gotten him far. But, she realized that this situation and her own business were not completely related. What was in that lab had nothing to do with him and, if she could help it, wouldn't. "I'll be back," She would say, implying that she was going to leave him there. Her hands slipped to her free hair, which she tied back quickly.
It wasn't safe inside. It was never safe inside. The things in there were things that could very well put the sheltered and fearful humans against her. That was why it was so far out of the actual town, guarded by an empty wall and without any clear indications on what it was for or who it belonged too. Rose opened her door and, one smooth leg after the other, stepped out.

Was Zanshin going to just wait in the car like a good little boy?
For some reason, Rose had hoped he would. This wasn't the time for his curiosity, which he lacked the entire way down here, to spark up. He was still free to leave anytime he wanted. There wasn't anything holding him back.

It had been a long trip, or rather it had been a long trip for Zanshin, he really did not like flying on a plane, it felt really weird, even the car felt wrong, he had no control over the situation himself, it was probably the reason why he did not like it.
During their trip Rose had asked him about his home, he was not hiding anything, he told her about how the shinigami are the law around there, and they can be pretty dangerous, how the outer city was controlled by bandits, that Zan had been forced to work for many times before, the only things he did not go into, was the only nice person he had meet in rukongai, that memory still haunted him, and he kept it to himself.

He was looking as they passed by woods and grasslands, he had not changed clothes since they were in Tokyo, he had no other cloths on him, he was still wondering a little where his knife and old clothes were, maybe if he left the artificial body Rose mentioned, he would get them back.
No that was probably not it, it seemed too far fetched, but again how did he get so clean, he had been asleep all the time. Zan began thinking back, did Rose clean him while he was out? Then that would mean that she had seen him... and changed his clothes.
Zan built up a slight blush, he then shook his head, this dull scenery was making him think too much of what had happened, he need to be thinking of something else, but every time he attempted it, his thoughts fell back to that, until the scenery changed allot.

They were getting closer to a barren area, it was like something had brought withering plaque over the area, it was hard to spot any life in the surrounding area, it was like the entire place was dead.
They approached a big dull building, yet there was something scary about it, he just could not place his finger on it at first glance.
The car stopped, he directed his focus to Rose, looking a bit questioning, but she told him, that she would be back, clearly she wanted him to stay in the car, but what was it, that was inside that building.
Zanshin sat back in the seat an saw Rose walk towards the building, it was bothring like nothing before, what was it that she had to do in there.
It is none of my business, ill just wait here" he thought to himself *come on, just go in there and have a look, it will be fun. you could also make a run for it, leave her in the past, just like everything else, just keep running from yourself* Zan felt anoyed by them talking to him like that, he was not running from everything, he made sure Rose to wait until Rose could not hear him "I am not running from myself, I am not running from anything" *yea keep talling yourself that* the voice was sounding really arrogant, really pushing him.
"Shut up!" Zan got out of the car, Rose was nearly gone, and he decided to follow after her from a distance, she did tell him she would be back, so she probably would not be too happy about him just following her.

Rosery laid her hand flat on a small indent that was flat on the wall. It didn't stand out all that much. However, shortly after her hand was placed a beeping was sounded and a few clicks were heard before she removed her hand.

Access Granted. Welcome back, Ms. Valentine
Rose didn't pay the feminine robotic acceptance any mind and, strangely, seemed highly focused on where she was going. She didn't look back once to even make sure that Zan had taken her advice. She was engulfed in the dark shadow of the building and to Zan it would have looked like she was swallowed up whole by the mouth of this strange hospital. That short door was all he needed to get through in order to slip right into that darkness after her.

Rose walked through an extremely dark hallway. The lights were out? That wasn't a huge surprise. Especially considering what she was dealing with. She could see a number of flashlights in the distance and she decided to get all this settled as quickly as possible. There wasn't any reason to prolong something that was just a waste of resources at this point.

"Miss Valentine!"
A few men walked over to her, one of which was in a dirty labcoat. He looked like he had been rolling around in dirt. The others with him looked like security guards, though they lacked any weapons on them other than their handy long, steel flashlights.
"Miss Valentine! I am so glad that you received my message!" He was frantic.
"Honestly," Rose started, her hands moving to her hips, "Which was it?" Rose had a slightly irritated tone to her voice.
"D.I.A.N.A was given to start the initial processing. We were planning on building the chemical organization of the body to better react to Tera...But, Professor Traton..."
"So absolutely incompetent. Really. You were all given something so easy to do, yet you failed. Failed to the point that 17 Scientists were killed and 34 support. Letting my subjects escape and run rampant in the locked basement as well just shows how absolutely stupid you all were. I shouldn't have left it all so laxed. I should have known better," Rose scolded herself, moving a hand to her forehead.
"Well, you see...Miss Valentine-" He started, looking down as he started to play with his fingers nervously.
"Don't try and make excuses. There isn't excuse for being so absurdly irresponsible. I can't believe that you, the Head Director, couldn't handle something this basic. You are so terribly useless. What were you thinking?" She asked, swinging her arm as her voice started to get sharper.
"...R.."
"What was that?" Rose asked, crossing her hand, the silver horseshoe in her hand still.
"Professor Traton used a triple dose of C.R.I.M.S.O.N-R and it caused a massive mutation in section Delta to the point that they completely broke through Protocol 2-7."
"..." Rose's anger started to settle and become something else. It was a mix of curiosity and anxiousness. That much C.R.I.M.S.O.N-R in a D.I.A.N.A subject? That would be like giving a shot of adrenaline to a hyper-active boy. The only differences was that these were not boys that were given the adrenaline.

"Where the fuck is Professor Traton?" The anger returned and her eyes stared lasers into the Director. However, he wasn't of his own mind anymore. Rose's spiritual energy jumped, quite a ways too, and it could be seen boiling in her eyes. Her focused, concentrated gaze stabbed straight into Traton mixing him with a number of feelings and thoughts. "You should answer me, Director."
"Y-Yes," He said, though the fear in his voice was gone. He was completely calm now. "Traton sealed off the lower level and started up a number of machines that drew the entire hospitals power too them. He's in room R-12."

"Why?" Rose looked away from the director, the security guards moving away to give her and the director space. Rose thought a moment, trying to think of what was in that room. There shouldn't have been anything of importance...When was the last time she went through this lab? "I will deal with this myself. Make sure nothing gets out of the front door. Only out." She said, not wanting them distracted and missing something.
"Yes Ma'am!" two of the guards said in unison as Rose passed them.

Rosery walked into the darkness again and turned around the corner to a stairwell. She put her hand on the doorknob and felt her heart-quicken. Something was wrong. Wrong with this situation. This was the sort of feeling someone received when they had eyes watching their backs or if they were in a dark alley and they felt someone was going to jump out. This slightly paranoid anxiety was spreading through her body like a plague.

I am here.
A sigh of relief came from Rose as she opened the door. She was being over cautious. Rose couldn't be afraid. She'd never been afraid. She swore she would never be afraid. This feeling was something because she didn't know what she was walking into. That was all. She was confused.
"I will not be toyed with by a human scientist..." She muttered as she quickly descended the stairs. The next flight of stairs would be the very section she needed. But what awaited her there?

------------------------

By the time Zanshin would have made it in he would see a scrawny man in a white labcoat with three security guards looming over him. The scrawny man had large glasses, a crooked nose, and the darkest eyes. He had a slight spiritual power about him, though it was nothing significant or noteworthy really. He was trembling on the ground. His hand simply would not stop. The two security guards were completely focused on him.

"I can't believe she just went down there. She doesn't know...Doesn't even know what is there. So much...There was so much...I didn't even know it looked like that-splattered against the walls and pieces everywhere." His hand went to his mouth as he held back a cry. The security guards looked at each other and shook their heads. They hadn't been down to the lower level. They didn't know what he was talking about, but they did know it was bad. You don't get chewed out by the big boss for nothing.

"We have to get out of here...Before it spreads. The entire lower level is beyond salvation. This place...Has to be destroyed. Burned to ashes. If it isn't...The entire city-Everything...It could be the end!" He was practically yelling, tears falling down his eyes. The scrawny man just started to cry, right then and there. Whatever he'd seen had shaken him to the core. He wasn't some lighthearted man either. He'd seen more than a few gruesome things. Blood shooting from a vein or someone talking and interacting with others just fine, but falling dead on their feet with their first step. However, out of all the things he'd seen in his long life, this had been enough to possibly shatter his mind to pieces.

"What are we gonna do?" One security guard said.
"Well...I heard of the stuff that goes on in the lower level...We should probably get out if it's gone out of hand..."
"To think...That Professor Traton managed to do all this."

Zanshin followed Rose at a distance, he was not sure what to expect once inside, he only managed to hear half of the entire conversation, but clearly Rose was taking a great risk by going down to the lower levels.
What could possible make her do something so reckless, and just what was all these names they kept mentioning, he knew he really should just leave it all be, but he wanted to know, curiosity was getting the best of him in this situation.
Now he had to slip by the guards, he was not really welcome here, they were only asked to guard people from coming out, so with a little luck they would not notice if he quickly slipped by them, he had been praised for his speed before, so it was not impossible to get by before they could do anything.

*stop hesitating and get moving or you will lose her, here let me help you!* the voice yelled in his head, Zan lost control of his body, he stepped out from his hiding, and began walking towards the guards with a smile on his face, on of the others was controlling him, they did not do that normally, which means this one was interested to learn about this place, what could his angle be, not that they all had it, some just wanted excitement, by seeing him in trouble.
He quickly used Bakudo 1: sai on the guards, so they could not stop him or get in the way.
Before proceeding Zan took a hold of the doctors collar "Old man tell me what is going on here, what is it that Miss Rose just went down to? I want some answers, and you better talk quick."
Zan did not resist the control, he wanted to see what was going on himself, and he could not argue that this would be the quickest way to get down to Rose without losing trace of her, and getting to know the situation.
Despite of what the answers were, as he did not have time to persuade the man
As he was at the stairs he regained control *see it was that easy, start acting according to your power instead of being such a wimp all the time, and in case you feel like running, I will come and take control again*

Zan knew the voice was not bluffing, it had happened before, he had some hate towards losing, even if it was not really his body to control, he was sounding really agitated too right now, it probably had something to do with the hollow Rose was talking about earlier.
He descended the stairs to follow Rose, but now was it really a good idea to have followed her so far?

"Ahhhhh!" The man screamed noticing the guards weren't doing anything to assist him. "Alright! Alright!" He said, not wanting to fight this boy. He somehow locked up the guards. This director didn't want to know what else the boy could do. "We are Section D.I.A.N.A. We are charged with the D.I.A.N.A series and are supposed to implement the synchronization of the Tera. We use the C.R.I.M.S.O.N depressants and stimulants in order to change the metabolic cycle of the specific subjects and to make them "test ready" for the actual use of Tera. It is a controlled experiment, but not with ordinary subjects. All of them have successfully taken the first administration of Tera and showed signs of Physic Power. But, there was an incident with a certain Professor..." Started the man, but it was about that time Zan took his leave. He paused at that part anyway, not wanting to really go into detail on what had happened. It happened so fast.

The stairwell was completely black. So black that Zan wouldn't be able to even see his own hand infront of his face, nonetheless the stairs under his feet. It wasn't a long way to go. It was 12 steps forward, take a short right, then the remaining 12 steps to the lower level door. Zan would likely feel that he wasn't the only one in this room however. There was something more. Something high in this stairwell. Silent, cool, and stealthy it crawled across the walls towards Zan. It was hidden in the unfathomable darkness that went up the three stories and down one extra story. There were two basements in this hospital building? Zan could easily take the next steps to a lower level.

Just as Zan was reaching for the closed door that led to the first level of the basement something was sent stabbing straight for his right shoulder. It was something long, slim and thin like a pipe. Whatever this was that was attacking him was on his right side, attached to the wall, and it jabbed for him pretty quick.

Something went through his shoulder, something cold and hard, he turned quickly just before it connected, it was close way too close, all that time being paranoid really saved him here.
He always had a fear of being stabbed in the back, by someone suddenly, it had developed into a reflex for him, being able to feel a hit before it had even hit him.
It was way too dark in the small corridor, he could barely see anything, and he did not have anything to make light for him, it would be best not to encounter whatever it was he had meet, something was coming again, but he was in need of light.
He pointed at whatever it was, and send out a small white lightning, it would allow him to see what he was fighting, and hopefully stun long enough for him to escape trough the door.

Just what could Rose be doing down here, and why could he not just have been smart and wait outside, maybe Rose would be hurt, better not to think too much about it.
Zan saw his chance and tried opening the door, and closing it as soon as he was inside, there had to be some clue to where Rose was.

The lightning lit up the entire stairwell and what was at the end of that white lightning was a monstrosity. For the quick flash-bang that Zan had created he would have seen a human like creature upon the wall, though their head was upside down upon their body and their flesh was apparent. The red, twisted muscles that looked like they were braided together were dry and not dripping blood. It was lacking eyes and looked like a meatsack that was running along the walls on all fours like some monster. Where the spine sat was a raised lump with protruding spikes for each and every ligament on the spinal column.

The lightning struck it causing it to fly back and fall, flimsily, down to the next level of stairs. There was a dry hiss that came from that creature and, after only a few seconds of being down, it would be heard stomping it's way up the stairs at Zan's back.

Opening the door would bring him into yet a dimly lit hallway and, if he turned around to look behind him, he would see the raptor teeth of that four-legged creature as it quickly ran up the stairs enraged. A strange green substance, which resembled snot, ran from it's mouth in gooey, thick clumps. Closing the door or fighting or running for his life were probably the best ideas.

The hallway was long, lit by red lights that blinked to emphasize the critical emergency that the building was experiencing. There were bodies down here. Mangled, mutilated, eviscerated, and smashed bodies of so many men and woman. A rare few looked like they were scientists or security, but most were different. Very different. It was too hard to tell what they once looked like, but some had discolored flesh and others had way too many organs splashed over the floor and a few had bones that looked like they had holes in them. The amount of blood in this room was so much so that walking from one end to the other would mean walking through puddles. The smell of fresh blood and raw meat was an odor that was inescapable in this room. It looked like a tornado of swords ran over everything and left not a single body standing.

There were trashed rooms on each side. As Zan would pass them he would see a bed or a table or even chains in them. Most had once been closed, but they were all mostly thrown off their hinges by this point. Did these slaughtered folks come from inside those rooms? Looking at it and the way this hallway was designed, it almost seemed like a hospital. A few even had operating equipment for surgery and some had life support tech for someone that would have difficultly surviving on their own.

In any case, Rose wasn't visible at the moment. Had she gone down further? The hallway went straight for about 25 feet before splitting to the right and left where two additional hallways were. The shadows played tricks on the flesh piles all over. As the red lights flickered off and on certain things looked like they were moving and other things looked like they were hiding. It definitely did not feel safe in this building. Those shadows seemed to emphasize some sense that something was hiding. Something was watching Zan. Something that wanted to do to him what was done to all these many others. Was it above him? Behind him? In one of those rooms? Behind a corner? It could be one of these bodies...