Working With Phantoms

Monsters Both Internal and External

Madran ran up to the next door in her way in order to get to Jimenez, with Elia, Lance, and Zelenin joining her at it.

"Well, Fwoosh, any tricks for this one?"

"Thank you for mentioning that, Lance. Observe, brute force!"

Madran then pointed at the center of the door, with Dharma putting her hand through it, as she had done before. However, as she did so, Madran noticed that part of the metal had cut Dharma's hand, which caused a similar cut to appear on Madran's hand.

"Oh, goodness, is everything ok?"

"Um... maybe, I dunno."

Zelenin then summoned a Power, who tapped Madran's hand with his spear. This activated what looked to be a Diarama, which caused the cut to vanish from both her and Dharma's hand.

"Wow, thank you. Anyways, as I was saying..."

Dharma slipped both of her hands on the middle pair of arms into the door and pulled them apart, which opened the door.

"Ok, we got company on the other side! Jury, if you would, go at 'em!"

Elia then summoned Phoenix, who slipped through the opening created by Dharma and attacked the guards on the other side with a Triple Down, with Dharma fully opening the door, allowing the group passage. Madran then saw that there were five soldiers, all of which were in some degree of unconscious.

"Did... did you kill them?"

Elia looked at Zelenin and shook her head. Phoenix then turned back to Zelenin.

"It may be hard for you humans to simply shoot to disadvantage, but with me, all Jury has to do is give a simple order."

"But, all I heard her say was shout your name."

"Remember, I am a part of her, so I can hear her thoughts. She didn't want me to kill them, so I didn't."

"I..."

"Zelenin, you don't have to be so touchy. I do only as Jury commands."

"I'm not in the mood to kill five people all because they were in the way, so, look."

Elia lifted one of the soldiers up, who was knocked out but without any bullet holes.

"No bullets holes, so no injury, aside from an attack on his psyche. Let's move."

"An attack on his psyche?"

"Phoenix's attack caused them to be knocked out, end of story, let's get moving!"

Madran then went ahead of everyone, with Elia quickly catching up.

"Goodness, Zelenin may just be as annoying as Jimenez..."

"Fwoosh, please, she's right there."

Zelenin and Lance then caught up with Madran and Elia.

"Hey, how close are we?"

"Let's see... right through here!"

Madran then walked up to another door, with Phoenix holding her arm out to stop Dharma from advancing on it. Then, Phoenix pressed a button on the side of the door, which caused it to open.

"Wait, was that the same for the other doors?"

"Maybe. Let's enter."

Madran, Elia, Zelenin, and Lance then walked into the room to see that it was oddly dark, with only dim blue lights illuminating the floors. Then, as Madran stepped forwards and brought Dharma around to the front, the area lit up, with bright lights flashing on, requiring Madran to shield her eyes. While her eyesight adjusted, she heard both Lance and Zelenin say something in a surprised tone.