[Silver_Stryker]

[From Command Center]

Stryker dashed into the area, much to the surprise of everyone within the library. "H-hey! do you keep the catalogue containging a list of everyone who has ever checked in the HQ lobby?!" Stryker asked, only to recieve a finger over the mouth of the Librarian along with a huge "SSSSHHHHH!"

"B-BUT!!!"

"SSSHHHH!!!"

Stryker raised a finger to show he had something to say, only for the librarian to give a cold glare. Stryker looked to his left and right, then leaned in closer. "Do you, have the list containing the names of those who have ever checked into the lobby of the HQ?" He asked again.

The librarian shook his head. "First off, The main lobby would hold information such as that, but anyways, that information is transfered tot he main computer and becomes encrypted every three years. We could pull it out, but its a major strain to do." He replied.

Stryker lowered his head in dispair. every three years was one thing, but he had been away for a long time. It'd be hell to fish out a single name from encrypted data; that he knew. With nothing more to ask, Stryker walked away...

[Silver Stryker to his quarters]

[JetZero]

[From the Hallways]

The attentive librarian noticed the movement of the opening doors as Avian stepped into the Library and seemed to immediately scowl. Somehow, just by the looks of this small Reploid, he judged her to be rowdy and, perhaps instinctively, put his left index finger to his closed lips and ushered a non-spoken 'shh' gesture at Avian, even though she didn't make any real calamity coming in. It was more of a warning than anything.

Barely noticing the warning, Avian was just glad to have gotten such quick attention. Without a single word, she moved to the side of the entryway and then started speaking in hand signals to the librarian, pointing to one of the many public computer stations. Avian then proceeded to signal a 7-digit time frame with her fingers. It's not likely Avian will even need all seven minutes, she just figured she's request that much in case she found something particularly interesting.

Even with all that precaution Avian made to be quiet, all the librarian gave in response was a raised eyebrow, followed by a 'come here' curling of a finger. Avian obediently did as she was asked.

Once Avian was in whisper earshot, the librarian pulled out a small tracking card with a computer number on it from a drawer in his massive desk, then put it flat out in front of him, where Avian can see it.

"Take this and use that machine over there." He whispered, pointing to a computer station nearby. "As long as you remain quiet and the place doesn't become too busy, you can barrow the machine for up to an hour. Just please return that tracking card when your done." Finished, the librarian began typing silently away on his desktop computer keyboard. Probably logging in the use of the computer she was about to use, Avian thought.

Giving the librarian a shallow nod and turning slowly, Avian picked up her card. She then started toward her designated study cubicle, well aware it was a spot the librarian could keep a close eye on her every move.

[Moving to Library Study Area]

[Moving back from Library Study Area]

Avian walks up to the front desk so stealthily that it startles the librarian. With a slight jump in his seat, he notices Avian and turns away from his computer. He must have gotten so bored keeping an eye on her during her studies, that he returned to his computer work.

"Done already huh?" The librarian whispered. Avian simply nodded and and handed him back the tracking card. The librarian accepted it and stored it back in the desk drawer he got it from. "Hope you found what you were after." He added this as he turned back to his computer.

Avian smirked and nodded once quickly, she too turning. Her direction was towards the exit.

"Have a nice day now." The librarian tried to get in one last word, but it fell to nothingness as it's intended recipient was already out the door.

[To Cafeteria]

[White-Jet]

[From Great Hall]

While on his way to the Cafeteria, Hajime becomes sidetracked by the mess that had occurred from the shockwave of the explosion. Most of the documents and data had been spilled out of the public shelves and there were few unnerved librarians cleaning up the place. He decides to help out, heading to the darkest corners of the library and using his wires to pick up and place the books and datafiles back on the shelves in the orders listed on the sides of the shelves.

The librarians were too busy with their own chosen sections to notice him, and he much prefered not to be seen, still worried about how the Hunters would react that a human outsider is wandering around their base while in the midst of a crisis.

[White-Jet]

After he finished cleaning up the sections that weren't taken by the librarians, Hajime leaves the library, heading back to the Great Hall to continue down to the cafeteria where the rec room is currently stationed at. He didn't want to disturb the librarians anymore than he'd want.

[To Great Hall]

[Altie Gates]

{from Infirmary}
Re enters the Library and looks around. she sees the librarian and walks up to him. "E-excuse me.... I was wondering if I could use a computer for a while? I need to do some research." She asks quietly. The librarian raises an eyebrow at the reploid, wondering who she was. "On what?" He asks her. Re shuffles nervously, and tells him she just needs to look up some information on her history. I hope there is somthing.... The librarian nods and hands her a tracking card, gesturing to the computers. "Be sure to return that when you're finished." he requests. Re nods and takes the card, sitting down in front of a moniter. She turns the screen on and opens up a search prompt. Now what's that number again... She types it in and waits. Nothing comes up on the screen. She sits there for a moment, then types in "RE-ANIMATED" in front of the number.
At first, it seemed no match would be found, but then, something popped up.
-Mercury Incorporated suffers explosion-

Recently, a wealthy scientist by the name of Drake Mercury lost his entire research building in an explosion. The cause of this explosion is unknown to authorities. In an interview, Dr. Mercury says that many files and unfinished projects were lost in the event. He states, however, that the research building will be repaired and running up to standards in a short time.
-End of Article-

Re was confused as she read this. She's not sure what to make of it. What does this have to do with me? she wonders. She reads the article a few more times. Finally, she sighs, gets up, and turns the computer off. She returns the tracking card to the librarian and leaves the library.
{Exit Library}

[JetZero]

[Avian entering from Command Center Briefing Room]

Double doors parted ways to welcome the Hunter's premiere triple ace into vicinity. The librarian pulled his head out of his work from behind his desk computer monitor to observe who could be disturbing his serene tranquility. A scowl formed on his facial features as he noticed who it was; she had appeared in the Library before.

Avian saw the look he gave her and stopped quite abruptly in her tracks. What was it that this man had in for her? The last time she was in here she practiced orderly conduct, so it's not like he had much reason for such disdain towards her. Maybe he just didn't trust her rough-and-tumble look?

Whatever the cause, it wasn't going to stop her from her objective here. There wasn't much need to disturb the librarian or the hard-earned quiet of the area. All she was here for was to guide Kate to this destination; as soon as she arrived and was situated it was off to the Alcove.

With that thought in mind, the aviator leaned to the side of the entrance against the librarian's desk, arms crossed and optics keen for her company. The librarian had begun pointing to a 'No Loitering' sign hung up against the adjacent wall, but Avian's back was already turned, so she wouldn't notice. Not really wanting to start anything with the serious-looking Reploid leaning on his desk, the hard working man settled back behind his desk and got back to work, his mind a flurry of better-nots and skepticism.

[Gaijin Zero]

[Bane appearing from the Command Center Briefing room]

It wasn't long after Avian turned her back on the Clerk behind the desk that Bane stepped into the Library as well, and the moment he walked in was the moment that the Librarian's scowl deepened, though his face was hidden, his eyes were seething with a notch of anger due to having people being in here at the present moment, especially Bane. Tapping the "No Loitering" sign, he thought back to the Stealth Ops first arrival in here, and almost every arrival since... in one way or another, Bane managed to find a way to nearly "Fry his core"... what the Librarian thought to be the closest thing to what humans would call a "Heart Attack". While it was always unintentional, it made a very negative lasting impression on the guy, something that made him reel in anger when he saw that near trademark spiky hair.

Looking over to Avian, Bane simply just nodded and turned to wait for their person of interest to arrive so they could be out of here... the only reason Bane would ever stop into the Library was to access the more public archives on what his creator did for himself, which was quite surprising to Bane's eyes... the main interest that sparked him was that his creator was the first to create the fusion/fission core... something much different from the Solar cores of the modern Reploid, the Fusion/Fission core was a stroke of pure luck that the late Dr. Nogotaki, created to be a suitable side-by-side to the Solar Core, one to be utilized by Reploids that worked in areas where Solar energy wasn't very abundant, such as mining facilities, supplying them with nearly infinite energy due to the constant energy output from the reactions... however, his project was shot down after the first unit was made due to the high cost of manufacturing and liability of such energy falling into Maverick hands.

Thinking back to when he was created, Bane did remember hearing his loving creator saying something about putting such a core into his body, making him the only Reploid to possess such a core within his body, yet another way he was unique from the crowd even before the humanoid stealth bot.

Shaking his head a bit, he then focused on what was at hand and stood next to Avian, waiting patiently.

[Trip Dering]

Kate arrived shortly after, and nodded again to the two of them. Not bothering to speak, she simply took out a card and made her way to the archives. Her father's journal awaited.

[JetZero]

Content that her escort was a success, the female pilot nodded her head as if to say 'no problem' in reply to Kate's motion. Watching the young cyborg situate herself at one of the archive stations, Avian was now left with nothing but the thoughts that brought her here, minus the mind to detour. That, and the fantastic male specimen at her side.

She took up better stance and stood up from her lean, pivoting around to face Bane. She let out a sincere smile at him, again. She couldn't help herself. Every time she gazed into those crimson lenses, her pulse regulator skipped a beat. Her wires throbbed with intrigue at the sight of his dark robes and sharp groom. It was as if he was a black knight raised from a yonder year to bring justice to a wayward, corrupt world. The more time she spent with him the more he seemed like he was here to rescue her from this world. Her black knight.

That may be premature thinking, she realized. But it was a remarkable picture, something right out a romance novel. It may have been no business of a soldier to think in such a way, but it was that exact element that made this thought process possible. Her heart stirred for him because she knew he was out of her bounds, it was rebellious, against her code. That made it exciting. A meticulous goal to reach. A law to defy that she was whimmed to obey. She was dancing on the razor's edge with a double-bladed sword, and she wouldn't want it any other way.

The rapping sound of flesh on metal reverberated in her audio receivers. She turned from her stone stare to see the librarian's scowl and him tapping on the No Loitering sign more fervently now, very displeased at what's unfolding before him. He knew from his human experience what that look in Avian's eye meant, and where it could lead, and he wanted none of that in his pristine sanctuary. Reploids or no, he would not tolerate fornication -or the mechanical equivalent there of- in the Library!

Avian and this man weren't really thinking quite on the same page, but she thought she had the gist of what he was so unhappy about and had to chuckle at his level of understanding, or misunderstanding as this sample may be. Her shoulders shrugged in spasms as she tried to hold in her laughter. She chose to ignore the clerk's call for attention again, still finding Bane much more interesting. That was the other reason why she digged him. They had complimenting personalities and some traits alike: Even the apparent distrust of the librarian.

She thought it was best to move on from the area before the clerk saw it best to call security, so she attempted to converse in quiet.

A whisper began the conversation. "Now that our youthful tailgater is off and running, I recon it's best we trot to where we need to be too. I don't know about you, but I need to head back to my Alcove to secure my airfra-"

Her speech was cut at the throat. Her head jerked to the side in a quick jolt as if she just heard a crucial fact muttered behind her. Her eyes narrowed for a moment as she got the cause of her interruption. A marked message, sent directly from the Aqulio Project base commander, was just received in her personal internal inbox. A flashing icon marked 'urgent' blinked stubbornly in the corner of her vision, demanding to be attended. Unlike the librarian, this wasn't something that could be ignored.

Mentally, she opened the message code and deciphered it's contents. Commander Guy learned that she was to be transported back to her home base with the other Hunters for the looming mission, and that her armor was coming along. He needed the coordinates of her Jettegra in her Alcove so it could be beamed out directly into it's receptacle at the APB.

Simple enough. Avian didn't need to go back to her shaded nook to correspond the 06's location; it's coordinates were read to memory, as that was adapted precaution. These triangulated bits of code were relayed back immediately to Guy at his desk computer. Seconds later, she got a confirmation message saying that he got the coordinates, and that was the end of that brief exchange.

Another automatic alert shot through her digital senses. Her airframe was being transported via IT beam out of the Alcove; Guy was already on the ball and had his IT Bay transporter team hard at work. The smile that had previously slitted the aviator's facial features returned, a sign that she was happy with the efficiency of her superior officer. She acknowledged well her base brethren knew their stuff and her beloved armor would get home safe.

Now that was over with, she attempted to lock optics with Bane again. A metallic hand rose to toss a playful strand of red hair over her right shoulder. Her voice chirped again, the whisper more brisk.

"Sorry about that. I just got a message and a alert saying my Jettegra will be transported to the Aquilo Project and the act of it doing so respectively. I guess that means I don't have to go to my Alcove anymore."

She slunk her shoulders. Disappointment.

But her resolve was uplifted with another hope. "I don't suppose you have a reason to return to your quarters? If you need anything, it's best you retrieve it now. We're probably not going to see this place again for a while."

That was a play to get some alone time in with the fascinating Dark Hunter. She knew where they were going, it wasn't likely they were to going to have any real time just to the two of them. There were many eyes unblinking, many ears constantly tuned. She would have to warn Bane, and the other Hunters about that lack of privacy at first chance.

One last thing to add. "I also wanted time to ask you what you thought about this whole ordeal. From what you've told me at the bar, you've been with the Hunters for a very long time now; I'm guessing you'd have some valuable insight as to what I might have to expect contending against Sigma's forces."

[Gaijin Zero]

Bane had to think for a second, and he shook his head, anything he needed was already on his person, outside of his Ride Chaser, but that could be brought at a later time as he looked into Avian's silvery gaze.

the constant tapping from the Librarian was getting to be an annoyance, and it did show in Bane's furrowed brow, but he at least remained calm when he stated "how about we talk about this somewhere a bit more comfortable?" as he took Avian's hand into his and smiled lightly. He only knew as much as his data banks would allow him to, but he wanted to at least try to give some knowledge of what it's like to deal with someone like Sigma... albeit the fact that Bane never actually fought the guy.

[Trip Dering]

Kate finished her work at the terminal and went to turn in her tracking card... when she caught sight of Bane and Avian. Suppressing a giggle, she couldn't help but blush as she walked over to them, and, with a whisper, said: "Uh... I'm f-finished with my work... c-can we go now?"

[JetZero]

Avian struggled to pull her stare away from Bane's captivating eyes to respond to Kate. It appeared the young cyborg was noticing the obvious attraction the two taller Hunters had to each other and reacted in a way expected of a youth, albeit in a responsible manner. The aviator was embarrassed to be caught in her fling, but didn't let that deter her communication.

"You go on ahead, Kate. Bane and I have something we need to discuss. We'll meet you at the I.T. Bay."

Bane's gentle touch grasped her attention again. Her tone was as warm as spun wool when she whispered to her male companion.
"Yeah, I think that would be a good idea. We'd better get out of here before the librarian blows a blood vessel. We can take a leisurely stroll on the way to the I.T. Bay, if it would suit you. Unless you had a more suitable place in mind?"

The look she gave Bane and the way she adjusted her balance on one foot was suggestible in that good kind of way, but she reeled in the temptation to make it dangerous. There was a time and a place for that.

[Trip Dering]

OOC: waited long enough. Zeke, I'm just going to post.

-----

Kate nodded, and quietly turned to leave the library, heading back toward the [Front Desk]

[Gaijin Zero]

OOC: sorry, I just needed a break from all of this... it's one thing when you're stressed out, it's another when you're over stressed.

IC: Bane looked over as Kate made her way out of the library and he turned back to Avian, the look in his eyes denoting mischief, but it would be best for them to focus on the task at hand as he nodded at her suggestion to make their way to the I.T Bay, smilingly pleasantly as he gently wrapped one of his arms over Avian's shoulders and simply pointed the way out, wanting to keep things silent within the library while still gathering a message about.

During the same time frame, he tried to bring up the logs about previous encounters with Sigma that have been related to archive via X and Zero, and he tried to make sure he had the best detailing of information he could relate to this current cycle of events.

[JetZero]

OOC: 'Tis alright, Zeke. I think we all need a break sometimes. Just nice to have you back with us. :)

=========================================

Avian followed Bane's glance and saw Kate leave the Library. She wondered if the youth had taken her advice and copied a copy of the HQ map to somewhere she can reference it on demand. This was a bad time to be lingering around the base without a clue where to go.

The darkness was everywhere now, with the base going completely black. Back behind the big desk, the librarian had started a kind of low-power usage protocol with the area, switching the computers to a stand-by mode and using the dim emergency lighting that comes on in such circumstances as a guide for his footing around the room. Avian spotted this movement with her night vision on, and was thankful the clerk had better things to focus his energy on then the two Reploids ogling each other.

Back to the handsome Hunter at her side. She caught the message in his eyes, almost alight enough to point the way all by themselves. The look enticed the female flier, and she bit back her lip to stifle a growl that she felt was coming. Easy girl, she fought back. Don't be so eager. It may be romantic and in his element with all the dim, but there is somewhere you need to be right now. The time is coming, don't you worry.

That kept her in check, for now. She couldn't refuse the invitation of his dark hold, so she went along with him as they made their way out of the room, even daring to return his gentleness with a touch of her own. She threw her left arm around the back of Bane's waist and let her slim fingers do some talking to his hip, erasing the need for any verbal words to be spoken.

She wouldn't keep that up for the entire walk to the IT bay, as she didn't want to be caught breaking any regulations that some straggler may notice making their way through the hallways. But she wanted her attractive cohort to know his gestures are not unfelt.

[Avian to Command Center Hallways]

[Gaijin Zero]

Bane shivered ever so lightly when Avian touched his hip, it was amusing, this non verbal game of dating scene cat and mouse they had going, but he knew they had someplace to be and he made his way after Avian, trying to keep her in his sights as he mentally bid farewell from the library.

[Bane to Command Center Hallways]