Who: Vincent Valentine, Kail Nurah, Irvine Kinneas, Sandra (Shiva).
Where: Vincent's Office, 3rd Floor of Balamb Garden.
Why: Some RP that leads up to the sludge creature plot, I had withheld it from the log page for a bit due to some other information that comes out toward the end.
Date of Log:  8/13/00

Vincent had been about to look over the list again, for all that it had been read to him. The SeeD leaves, Kail and Irvine enter... Vincent looks up. "Yes?" He gestures briefly, a dismissal of the need for formalities. The phrase of the day is 'to the point'. "At ease." he adds, in case the gesture is not immediately understood. "What have you to report?" Vincent fixes his attention on Kail after a glance at Irvine, noting the injuries but waiting for the man to speak again.

Kail drops the salute and slips into a chair with a wince. "You've gotten word that certain of the guests as well as the SeeD have vanished?" he says, although he knows the answer is of course yes. "The rumors of a dragon-girl in the Atrium are totally true, although Irvine and I happened to be the only ones around to see it. Everyone else cleared out from the sheer stench." He shakes his head. "It was Moja, but she was covered in an odd sort of black goop, she didn't seem to recognize me, and she was very feral."

Glancing at Kail, Irvine's demeanor noticably darkens. He's come to a totally different conclusion. Thusly, he adds, "These disappearances didn't start until after her arrival at Balamb." He's heard the rumors of 'zombies' and all the 'Night of the Living Dead' baloney. But, Moja makes a nice scapegoat for him, especially since he's not all that familiar with her. Glancing at Vincent, he's actually too concerned for Selphie to bother being afraid of the other gunman. "We found her in the north atrium, black slime all over her. Choking stench. We tried to subdue her, she attacked both of us. Kail's injuries are resultant. It's the same slime I found at the back of the stage in the Quad the night Selphie disappeared."

Vincent frowns slightly, listening to both men. "Do you know if she is the cause of the disappearances?" he asks Kail now. Oddly, there is no anger or guilt in Vincent's tone of voice. It's a question seeking fact, not theory - all that he has been hearing since he got back. But... he can understand the loss of control to ferality. Even so, it's a tight effort to restrain himself to such objectivity. His words following are stilted on such a note. "We do not have confirmed dates for all the disappearances, yet." Is his following comment.

Kail shakes his head. "No. I want to, but I don't think we can rule her out, just because the timing is right. But..." He shakes his head. "In the black goop...I don't think Moja is the cause, sir, not one bit. She's the victim." A variety of thoughts hit him as he decides on this, including the question that has plagued him since he saw her first covered in goop...is it reversable?

Well, Irvine doesn't know when everyone started disappearing, he only knows when -Selphie- disappeared, after all, he'd seen her that night, and the next day she was MIA. However, at the moment, the marksman isn't given to completely rational thought. His fists clench and unclench, his stance tense enough to be noticable, and highly unusual for someone who's normally rather relaxed. He keeps his mouth shut, thankfully, thoroughly unconvinced by Kail's notion that Moja is somehow a victim. How the hell can black slime make you turn and attack your friends, after all? And if Moja's been seen, where the -hell- is Selphie?

Vincent nods once, his attention sliding to Irvine, "And you believe Moja is the cause." it's nearly a statement, token in double checking. Isn't it obvious what Irvine is thinking? The lack of control remains as uncommented upon as his own guilt in the slight possibility that Moja is the culprit. He was, after all, the one who let her in. If Irvine's suspicions are true...

Kail stands up, with trouble, but he stands, whirling on Irvine. "You never met her," he snaps. "I did. She's one of the nicest souls I've ever met, and I'll be damned if she'd have blamed you or Selphie in her place. I'm sorry you're so -blind-," he half-spits, "And you can blasted well tell him the story yourself, if you're so determined to cast guilt. I'll tell you my side later, Captain. Myself." He storms out, pained but furious.

Taken aback by Kail's furious onslaught, Irvine actually takes a step back. At first, he narrows his eyes, watching Kail storm toward the elevator. But, afterwards he gets a little thoughtful, perhaps a little guilt slipping in amongst the turmoil of Selphie's vanishing. It's been a rather difficult four days, and so far he's snapped at Farrell and Logan too. Great, if this ever ends he'll have lots of patching up to do. Looking back to Vincent again, he just kinda stands there, uncertain what to say after that.

Vincent is silent as well, having focused his attention on Kail, and then upon the hall outside once the young student is out of sight. Thus, he doesn't know when Irvine in turn regards him. The fact that, for a moment, Vincent's right hand is griped so tight that the knuckles stand out painfully clear against the backdrop of black leather clad palm might be seen. The grip relaxes, and Vincent takes a deep breath, his gaze shifting to Irvine now. "I need a report of the incident. Proceed." he says curtly. He doesn't have time, simply enough, to chase Kail down an reprimand him for reacting so poorly in a crisis, when others are just as troubled. Nor would it be a good idea, with Vincent close to snapping. Still...

Irvine forces himself back into the present, removing himself from the Panicked Boyfriend Mode (tm). Blue gaze flickering over Vincent, he does, in fact, notice the tense moment and though he's been behaving the exact same way (albeit without realizing it), his mouth quirks slightly to the left. Interesting, so the other gunman does have an emotional side. "Kail and I noticed Moja headed toward the parking lot. As said, she was covered in black ooze. We confronted her, she displayed hostility toward us, and then attacked when we attempted to question her further. She... breathed a fireball at us, to be specific. We subdued her, or thought we had, called for help over the comlink and then she disarmed me, breathing fire at Kail again. Kail was struck, I had to choose between him and following Moja." Obviously since Moja got away, the choice was with Kail.

Clasping his hands before him, Vincent listens calmly to the report. "Besides the odor, was there anything that struck you about this black slime?" Typical questions, but then, routine has known to be a way to calm the nerves, to focus on what needs to be done, rather than worry.

Irvine shakes his head, he hadn't -touched- it after all. "Other then it appeared to be the same stuff I found behind the stage in the Quad." The night Selphie disappeared and his private form of hell began. "Oh, and it was everywhere. She left a nice slime trail behind her and every action she made sent it flying." Luckily, being a sharpshooter meant a certain distance from your targets. "Kail got smacked with some of it, I assume it was cleaned off of him when I got him to the infirmary."

Vincent closes his eyes now. What else to ask.... Nothing, really. He presses a piece of paper forward, the very list the unnamed messenger was reading before Irvine and Kail entered. "This is a list of the persons currently unaccounted for, after two searches." Squall, Terra, Moja, Lucrecia, Selphie, among a few general students are on the list. "Have you seen any of these people, besides Moja in the last three days?" he questions. Almost, he sounds weary.

Irvine shakes his head, suddenly finding his boots to be rather interesting, the brim of his hat covering half his face suddenly. "No, I've been looking for Selphie since she vanished... but I haven't seen her." Then, it dawns on him that Squall's name was on the list and he suddenly looks up sharply. "Squall's missing?" That's -really- bad. He's the fearless leader, after all.

Vincent nods slightly, "Yes, he is." The words again are stilted and abrupt. One of two people on that list that specifically worry Vincent. And not just because Squall is fearless leader either. "There seems to be some connection with the floor ventiliation shafts that lead to the lower levels." he states shortly, "We are attempting to trace the trails of slime left behind to their source." He doesn't elaborate on the potential dangers of such an endeavor. Such as, if the trackers were to find the creatures attacking them. About to speak again, Vincent is stopped by a knock on the doorframe. A young woman in SeeD uniform quickly salutes, and then starts into what she interupted about, "Sorry, sir. But there is someone at the gate who wishes to see you. The guard reports that she calls herself Sandra, and has claimed to have passwords that are several days old." a pause, "And she is dressed in clothing that she just shouldn't be able to survive in, in this weather. She seems pretty bad off, sir." Vincent attention is caught by the statement about halfway through, and at the end, frowns before replying. "Send someone to scan her. Bring the woman in, under escort, if she knows the passwords."
"And does not seem a threat." Orders received, the SeeD turns and leaves again.

Eager to do -anything- to help find Selphie, (and the others too, of course) Irvine is just about to offer any help he can be when the SeeD enters and he turns slightly, to listen. Sandra? Doesn't recognize the name, but he's not familiar with everyone in Garden, just most of the students... especially the females. As soon as she departs, he clears his throat to get back to the topic, "If any help is needed with this... I'm more then willing." Read: I want Selphie back, dammit.

Vincent's eyes narrow a little, but slowly, he nods, "I will need teams to descend into the lower levels once we have determined where." he responds quietly. "I understand that Squall had to take a team down to manually start the systems during the matter with the Sorceress. Were you with him at this time?"

"We are going to travel down into the MD Level. Perhaps a level below, depending on how far these trails lead." Vincent frowns, falling silent again, after issuing that warning, or statement. The cowboy won't be claustrophobic, hopefully.

No, Irvine's only 'phobia' is guardian forces. And that's problematic enough seeing as he's still attempting to become SeeD. No need to burden him further. He nods, undaunted. Hell, he'd probably even be willing to junction at this point if it meant helping him find Selphie and bring her back to safety. "The offer still stands. I want to help."

Entering now, the same messenger with a rolled tube of paper - blueprints. He pauses at the door, casting Irvine a faintly curious glance, before remembering himself to salute. "Sir, here are the maps of the MD level you wished. The teams are currently being assembled to find where the shafts lead to..." he trails off and edges into the room to set down the maps before being dismissed by another gesture from Vincent.

Shortly after the blueprints arrive, another visitor, under escort of a young, quiet woman with the rank of SeeD. The escort salutes as she raps politely on the doorframe and says, "Captain, this is Sandra, the visitor who wished to see you." Vincent is seated at the desk of the office that's just off this lobby. Not the headmaster's office, mind. The man is pale... Well, paler than normal - nearly white, and grim to boot. Neither are helped by his style of clothing, or the way his eyes burn. Nevertheless he is fully awake, and as he stands waiting for Sandra to enter, there is a strong measure of control over whatever concerns have left him in such a state. As he speaks, he is calm in greeting, "Good evening, Sandra. What do you wish to see me about?" There is no recognition of the woman before him, but then, there shouldn't be, should there? The escort steps outside, out of earshot but still present to be called back in should there be need of her.

Irvine turns slightly as Sandra is escorted in, looking at her with all the curiousity of a cat. He steps back once, wondering if he should be here for this, and thusly glances at Vincent, if he's at all paying attention to the fact that the cowboy is still here, lifting an eyebrow in askance. Grim seems to be the decor of the day, the cowboy looks tired, though not exhausted, blue eyes a stormy color.

Without asking the young woman avails herself of one of the chairs set aside for visitors. She sits down, leaning her head back for just a moment...perhaps to enjoy the sensation of not having to stand. Then her head rolls forward, to a straight position, fixing Vincent with her sapphire eyes. "You appear to have already had an unpleasant day. Perhaps the news I bring has preceded my coming. Concerning Squall Leonhart, perhaps?" She raises an eyebrow inquiringly, the snow-wet dip of her sleeves and bottom portion of her dress in no way mitigating the seriousness of her stare.
       
Slowly, Vincent's attention focuses on Sandra to further intent. Someone from outside has information on Squall? "What do you know?" Vincent's words are terse and almost dangerously quiet. Though he didn't mean for his tone to come out so demanding, he makes no effort to correct himself with a repetition, either. That there is more than one problem causing people to disappear from Balamb Garden...

Indeed, this is interesting news and the cowboy turns to fully regard this 'Sandra'. Remembering 'Serena', he gets a thought, and though the thought makes him exceptionally nervous, he doesn't outwardly reveal it. She -looks- human enough... or so Irvine keeps telling himself and he shoves whatever panic is there right back down where it came from. Besides, she mentioned Squall, remember. Squall's missing. Bad bad thing. He says nothing, one reddish colored brow arching into the brim of his hat.

Not looking fazed in the least by Vincent's dark eyes or dangerous tone, Sandra leans back in her chair a bit, crossing her legs and templing her fingertips together. She glances at Irvine, nods in acquiescence to his presence, and returns to Vincent, matching gaze for gaze. "You will not like what I have to say. I would....rather not go into actual details of the fight itself. But you may be aware that Squall took it into his head to do some...lone scouting of the area around Balamb town. How he was noticed I do not know, but not long after he arrived, Kefka quite skillfully snuck up on him, and accosted him. After a short but intense fight, Squall was put to Sleep and captured by Kefka. I do not pretend to know what else is going on, but I cannot help but think it has some bearing on your current problem. Also worth mentioning is the pair I evaded just outside Balamb Garden, today. One I do not know...an amalgamation of man and machine, a travesty of the natural order. The other...I do not remember his name, but I am sure he was a part of Shinra at some point. You would do well to ensure they do not find this place again."

A deep breath is drawn in, that, and Vincent's hands which are still on the desk, now clench tightly. "Forgive me." he says shortly, "But I must ask you to verify the accuracy of your information upon Squall Leonhart." His voice cold and detached, but the question one that was probably seen coming a mile away. But needed. Between Sandra's arrival, the situation in Garden - one cannot worry about a possible wild goose chase while there is another matter just as close to home. He glances toward Irvine briefly, then quickly back to Sandra.

Irvine blinks. Squall went off -alone- to scout? What kind of a foolish stunt was -that-? Well, not that the cowboy wouldn't have done something equally stupid on his own, but he's not the Commander of the Garden either. Shifting somewhat uncomfortably, he glances at Vincent's mention of 'verification'. If his already paranoid theory proves to be true... he doesn't want to look back. 'Concentrate on the flame, boy. Remember that.' His eyes grow distant a moment, staring more at the desk then at Vincent. Luckily he's gotten good at hiding his panic, and thusly it doesn't really show on his face.

A deeper frown crosses Sandra's face, as Vincent mentions verification, but she has an answer ready. She glances at Irvine's uncomfortable shifting impassively, saying nothing, and then looks down at her own clothing. After a moment of closed eyes and deep breathing, she looks at Vincent. "I can arrange verification. It will...exhaust me. Especially here, now, after spending so much time just to get here. But I suspect it is necessary." Her eyes harden again, almost to orbs of adamantium, as she stares right into Vincent's face, leaning forward and resting her chin on the backs of her hands. "I was there, Vincent Valentine, because I witnessed it through Squall's own eyes." And with that, she closes her eyes and concentrates fiercely. The tempertaure in the room starts dropping considerably...not to below zero, but definitely a good twenty degrees....chilly weather. As she concentrates, wisps of white, glittering vapor start to surround her, coming in from nowhere. From the corners of the room. From the ventilation shafts. They come, and obediently surround her in a cocoon of freezing wind. As that frozen air hardens into ice, it turns clear...and the being sitting in the chair is indeed Shiva, or at least a hell of a likeness. Her eyes open from within the ice, and it cracks and falls into tumbling ice shards around her. She leans back in her chair again, crossing her legs as she does so. "Are you staisfied, Vincent Valentine?"

Vincent seeks to meet Sandra's... no, Shiva's gaze with his own. "Yes. Thank you." The freezing wind probably effected him significantly despite heavy clothing, yet he's now so tense, not even the slightest shiver escaped the rigid control. "My apologies, Shiva. But we have another situation here in Garden. And we had thought Squall part of that." And then, slowly, he takes his seat again. If anything, even paler than before. Only then does he think to look toward Irvine for the student's reaction to Shiva's appearance. It's rather hard to recall others might not be so 'calm' at the appearance of a Guardian Force, when his own experience with Siren appearing commonly lends a certain immunity to surprise, at least.

Boy oh boy, Irvine is -really- glad he's got that fully lined duster on. He notices the chill drop in temperature, breathing in sharply without turning around to look at what he knows must be standing there now. Heart beating with a terrible rhythm, he closes his eyes, the hat tipping forward of its own accord. 'Get a -grip- cowboy, it's not like you haven't junctioned before.' True, but the very definition of a phobia is an irrational fear of something. Outwardly, he looks a little pale, and the refusal to turn around and look at Shiva is suspect, but he's not trembling like he did with Siren. An improvement, perhaps. Or maybe he was prepared this time.

That freezing cold air almost...sucks in on itself, leaving the warm ari behind and being drawn right to the Esper as she closes her eyes again, legs still crossed, in a gesture of mild supplication. The shattered ice scattered over the ground simply begins to...flow towards the woman, first covering the ground underneath her, then creeping up with the strain of cracking ice in water, the sound popping throughout the room. It slowly stops as it covers her completely in another icy shell. The shell remains for a few moments, then another rush of cold air heralds Sandra's return, as all the ice converts back to cold air and disperses throughout the room. It remains cold, but not quite so bad as before. Sandra sits there, in the same pose as before, yet this time her dress is immaculate, her clothing without water-stains or clinginess to her form. She folds her hands back together, calmly, but there's a tremble in her hands that wasn't there before...and after but a few moments, she shakes and collapses a bit, sliding down from straight and tall in her seat. She groans a bit, and looks back at Vincent and Irvine. "That...takes much out of me. Especially here. It would have been easier outside, but...perhaps I should rest." She frowns again, displeased now at herself.

Vincent begins to stand again, aided by pushing against the desk with the flat of his hands. "I will see to your accomodations immediately." he begins, before glancing toward Irvine. He wouldn't... "Find Kail and bring him back here to give his report. We will need to know what Moja can do, if he is able to tell us." No, Vincent isn't about to assign Irvine the task of showing Sandra to a room. He now turns his attention back to the woman. "Is there any special consideration you need for your room? Food or refreshment?" The courtesy is there, but only in part. Understandably so, Vincent's mind is on other matters entirely. He begins to step around the desk.

The fact that Espers seem so human sometimes often eases the fear that eats away at Irvine when he comes face to face with a Guardian Force. He does finally lift his head, glancing over his shoulder to catch the last of her transformation back to the human guise. He frowns slightly, rather shamed by his reaction, yet knowing at the same time that he really can't seem to do anything to stop it. Ok, so, on to another topic... or back to a previous one, who cares, let's just forget that he's anywhere near a GF. He nods toward Vincent wordlessly, really doing his best not to rush out of the room like a frightened doe freed from the headlights of an oncoming car.

Mirroring Vincent, Sandra stands, though with none of the grace she showed before coming in here. She winces once, and then nods to him. "I will be fine...and more importantly, I will take care of my own special needs. Food I will have to deal with on my own, as well. I appreciate your concern, though I ask that...noone else offer me hot chocolate." She shuts her eyes. "If you were wondering why I have no intention of eating before tomorrow, wonder no longer. If there is extra room, you may wish to place me away from other students as well...for their own sake. But these are trifles compared with today's matters of import. Do not overly concern yourself with them." She glances sidelong at Irvine, whom she has been ignoring up until now. A quiet little smile finds its way onto her face, though she says nothing. She bows stiffly to both of you, and walks out to find her escort.

Vincent glances after Irvine's departure, but is of course moving after Sandra, to find that same escort. To the escort who was sitting on a bench near the elevator, "Take Sandra to the guest rooms, and find one that is available." He adds no indication that Sandra is an important guest - it's of his opinion that espers who spend the time wanting human guise, tend not to want their nature celebrated overtly. To Sandra he then turns, "I would like to speak with you tomorrow, after you are rested." he pauses, almost long enough to make one think that he would say no more. But finally, "I appreciate the effort you have made to bring us your information, Sandra." That, wholly meant, for all the pain that shows, for a moment, due to the nature of the news given. No smile from Vincent. He can hardly manage a neutral expression.