Twenty-First PSI

[a_gentle_boy]

[filtered and whatever]
[The voice that speaks into the phone is strangely calm.  After having suffered a severe shock and half-believing he had been transported back to Westport, Lucas wisely decided to remain at home.]

Please listen, everyone.  There are some things you should know about these people.

We called them the hazmat men when they first showed up in Westport.  They started off pretty slow and they weren't much of a threat, but as the days passed, they became much faster, stronger, and smarter.  I don't know how they'll behave now, but to be on the safe side, you should assume that they're at full power.

If you have to fight them, you should know that there's nothing underneath the suits.  Blunt force won't do anything and they won't react to getting hit.  What you need to do to break through -- stabbing or piercing or shooting works.  When the suit is opened, they release a lot of poison gas that can kill you if you're too close.  If you touch them or if you inhale any of it, the chemicals will burn you badly.  Some people died from the gas alone.

They attack with axes and they carry gas sprays with them.  Don't let them touch you.  The best thing to do if they're chasing you is to run.  They're not too fast.

Comments

[not-oflegend.livejournal.com]

It's really good of you to tell everyone the details, Lucas.

how are you holding up?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Memories of Westport . . . Hiding in the car with Alice, waiting for anyone who had been injured to happen by . . . Lucas sounds a bit subdued, but calm.]

I'm alright. . . . We'll get through this.

[Even if . . . he wasn't here anymore.]

There's been worse.

[hound-of-war.livejournal.com]

Oh? So they can be defeated, then.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Uh-huh. It's like deflating a balloon made of poison gas. You shouldn't try it unless you have to, though.

[snackaholictank.livejournal.com]

Why did they have to come here...?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

It sounds like Lucy is the one who controls them . . .

[smileandshoot.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the advice.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. But don't think they're easy to defeat or anything . . . A lot of people were killed last time.

[catslooklikeme.livejournal.com]

...thanks for the heads up. I appreciate it.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Everyone needs to know how dangerous these things are.

[godisachild.livejournal.com]

......

Thanks.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . .

You're welcome.

[armywithcountry.livejournal.com]

Shoot or stab them. Got it. Thanks, kid. [What is running away.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . Shooting is best.

[A flash of memory -- Lucas, Kororo, and Flora fleeing from the radio, despairing of escape when England's shots had rang out.]

[knowsitsname.livejournal.com]

...I see. Thank you for the advice.

[Not that he'd stand much of a chance if he ever did face those things, he thinks.]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Even still, it's best not to have to fight at all . . .

[sting-like-a.livejournal.com]

Stabbing, hmmm? I can do that~ Thanks for the tip!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

If you do, make sure you don't breathe in the gas.

[This voice is vaguely familiar. As is the tilde.]

[crazyclownwoman.livejournal.com]

....why are those things here! ....Ugh I hate them!

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . I do, too. It sounds as if Lucy has sent them to help find the Russian man.

[bluecapboy.livejournal.com]

I don't get it, why are they working for Grady now?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I don't think they are. I think they work for Lucy.

. . . Luke. Make sure you're careful . . .

[weaponsparked.livejournal.com]

... They're joking. They're not here.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I-I know, Mr. Sideswipe. I can't believe it, either. But everyone's saying it, and . . . I think I saw some when I was on my way to school.

[tsundorapettan.livejournal.com]

S-so they're that dangerous, huh... I guess we're gonna have to be really careful.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Make sure you don't touch them at all. It . . . burns. A lot.

[rapier-ex.livejournal.com]

Shooting. Got it.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

. . . Um. Try not to shoot them unless you really have to, still.

[thief-of-truth.livejournal.com]

I can't believe they're back again...

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

It'll be OK, Kay.

[Coming from the boy who just finished an angstfest of large proportions, this is perhaps a hollow sentiment. However, the confidence with which he speaks rings true. It appears that the greater the degree of danger he is in, the more strongly Lucas responds.]

We're all together this time. We've got places to stay. Even if they do attack . . . we know how to react.

[hasyourbeats.livejournal.com]

...Thank you for the information.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Pleas try to be careful.

[rivercrossed.livejournal.com]

So I can't just bash 'em with a stick or frying pan? Damn.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Everyone should have a knife, at least, from the kitchen. That should be OK.

[nameofexorcist.livejournal.com]

These hazmat men are just walking gas?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I guess so. I never thought about it that way, but . . . they're very dangerous containers of poison gas.

[numanstan.livejournal.com]

Lucas? Do me a favor, yeah? Just sorta... sit this one out.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Mr. Vince . . . You know I can't do that.

[The boy seems to have recovered from his terrible depression of only a few days ago. The discovery of what the Netherlands had left behind, the danger that they had been thrust into, the knowledge that his skills could be needed . . . Lucas had nearly returned to his former self again. The worse things were, the more strength he exuded.]

People will need someone to help them if they get hurt.

[stephen-owling.livejournal.com]

...It never takes long for the real enemies to show themselves.

Thank you for telling us this, young man.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure if they're our 'real enemies' or not, but they definitely aren't our allies. Please be careful, mister.

[kleptophile.livejournal.com]

Sounds like my kinda advice, but...there's a hell of a lot of 'em. Where're we supposed to run to?

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Last time, they sometimes just stopped. If you can get a good distance away, they'll probably stop chasing you.

[likeahex.livejournal.com]

.....great.

Thanks for the info kid.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Please . . . still be careful, though.