DEADLINE 14,36 (mission)

[Takahashi Aki]

The Steward paced back and forth. He did this when he was thinking hard about a particular topic. He paused mid stride and checked the sling in arm was in. The doctor told him to make sure that his broken arm remained in a particular position for it to heal properly. Well, that was the idea. The truth was that parts of his arm were indeed shattered. He doubted the decisions his doctor had made. It wasn't exactly the absolute worst, but Tia would have given him a more frank opinion. Unfortunately Tia was nowhere to be found.

The Steward awaited for his employees to gather. Indeed. He had hired a couple of individuals to go on a sort of gathering mission for him. Well, it was a gathering mission on the surface. Nights before he had seen a falling star crash upon the surface. It was an exciting development and one that the the Steward wanted to go on the surface himself to investigate. He had prepared lengthily for such a journey with Chou. It pained him to no end that all of his preparations were for naught. He had to alter his plans and so he did accordingly. He merely hoped that the alternate plans would coincide accordingly with the unfolding of events.

The Steward looked down at his watch. It was 8:27am. His employees still had three minutes to arrive. He hoped they would arrive on time and not prepared. The latter was a minor concern of the Steward as he had repurposed his preparations for surface travel. It wasn't that the elevator worked, merely it was the Steward's attempt to combat exposure to the diamond sand on the surface.

 

[Kumiko]

It was a normal work day for any regularly scheduled shinobi. Much like any other shinobi, Kumiko made her way down to headquarters at the crack of dawn. Unlike her brother, the female Uchiha took her duties seriously. She wasn't the type of person to do anything half assed. And low and behold! The receptionist handed her a different mission scroll than usual. Her onyx eyes opened slightly larger than normal. Half expecting some menial D rank mission the scroll indicated something very different. Seeing as it was already 7:30 am upon receiving her mission brief this still gave Kumiko plenty of time to collect her gear.

Once she returned home, hearing no sound of her brother anywhere, Kumiko headed to her room to change. She adorned her normal clothing, black short shorts, her Suna head protector serving as a belt, a bikini top and long sleeved hooded black trench coat over top emblazoned with the Uchiha symbol on the back, and black converse knee high boots. As for gear Kumiko needed very little. Of course she strapped her katana in place on her back and placed her head set within one ear. Her belt pouch then contained everything else. Looking over at her clock the time now read 8:15 am. Feeling she possessed everything she may need Kumiko set off towards the great lift, entrance and exit of Sunagakure.

By 8:28 Kumiko approached the Steward of Suna. " Good Morning Sousuke Sama. " Her black pig tailed head bowed slightly in respect towards him as she spoke. She vaguely wondered who would be placed on this mission with her but knew such curiosity was meaningless. It mattered very little who she teamed up with. The mission would be completed either way.

 

[Hoshirei]

Kimi was ready for the day. She had her medical supplies all packed and she headed over to the Tower, only to find that she was being sent on a special mission. Her normal MiT uniform could go back in her closet for a little while. She dashed home and repacked what was in her bag. She may not be completely ready for what might happen, but she sure as hell was not going to be caught completely unaware.
She ran back out the door to the Kazekage Tower only to be redirected to the great lift. She raced over to the lift, Katsu and Kora bounding along side her. The lift came into view and the trio slowed slightly. Kimi's walk changed to her normal cat-like saunter, a smile on her lips.
"Hello, Sousuke-san, Kumiko-chan." "Hi mister." "No Kitchy today, mister?"
Her smile fell when she saw his arm in a sling. She wanted to go over there and check up on her family friend. Her body even jerked forward, concern flashing through her eyes. Kimi bit her lip to keep herself from asking about it. Sousuke was a private man. If he wanted to say anything, he would after seeing her concern.

 

[Kagai]

It had been a long while since the herald of Kojin had been out on a mission, or at least a mission sanctioned by the village. While he knew it was his duty to perform when asked, as far as volunteering for such things came second in his priority list. First and foremost he is to spread the word of Kojin to those whom would hear it. He had received his notice not too long ago, which caused him to sigh slightly. He was well aware that missions of this caliber paid decently, but money wasn't something that he needed or wanted, it was just another means to an end.

He began to make his way towards the meeting area, dressed in some apparel he had not worn since he had first joined the ANBU, that being the typical garb of a Shinobi. A black, sleeveless shirt with a grey vest over that, along with forearm guards and plated gloves. Below the waist, he was wearing a pair of formfitting pants which were tied at the pant leg, and a pair of sandals. It was truly a strange feeling for the young herald to wear such garb, but it felt good despite the weirdness. Kagai carried no weapons, his hands were his weapons. Lord Kojin had decreed onto him that the use of anything other than ones own hands to slay their enemy was a most horrific sin, and takes away most of the pleasure of battle.

As he arrived, he had no clue what time it was. He would arrive just when he was suppose to arrive, and no sooner or later. He knew that the current Steward, whom was apparently heading this mission, would probably enjoy punctuality, but Kagai recognized that he was just a man, nothing more, and wasn't about to go out of his way to be in the good graces of his Steward. He had sworn to obey his lord Kazekage when he was sworn in as an ANBU, and would do so until Kojin called him away, or he stood in the way of Kojin, whichever came first, though neither seemed to be in the near future as far as Kagai was concerned.

When Kagai had arrived, he noticed that a couple people had arrived before him. Both appeared to be females, and he believed he recognized both of them, but their names and the places he met them were escaping him at the moment...."Good morning, Lord Kazekage." Kagai would say, giving him a reverent bow to show his respect, and then a nod of his head to what he presumed to be the group, or at least part of the group, he would be working with in this mission.

 

[Honma Kotone]

One of the participants chosen for this mission was Yamazaki Ikkadan, a 5'6 boy dressed in an odd style. He looked a bit different compared to his latter appearance, now throwing away his 'initial' appearance. He had grown his hair, which often seemed messy, yet it was styled to look as such. His eyes, those orange tinted brown hues, were something that he prized himself over; he really did like his eyes.

Ikkadan lay sprawled out upon his bed, eyes wide open from the continual cluttering from inside his head. The noise of another's voice crawling along, going back and forward, never seeming to have a moments rest was causing Ikkadan to have many sleepless nights. No longer could he look forward to venturing into his bed, wrapping himself like a lynx sausage and allowing sleep to embrace him like the child he was. Oh, the sweet release of a good nights sleep. It was quite amusing how often people took for granted the kind gesture of sleep, something that this boy was all too aware of now. Ikka would nuzzle his face into the pillow, closing his eyes, but only to remain awake and stay stationary. And yes, Ikkadan was too thinking about the mission that he was to go on in only a short amount of time - he was worried, which didn't really help his sleeplessness recover.

The sleepless Ikkadan would toss and turn frivolousness, only to awaken himself more and more with each toss and turn. However, in this case, that was a really good thing. Ikka had managed to catch a glimpse of his alarm, which wasn't set to wake him up at a proper time, and the time on the alarm caused the boy to jolt out of bed; revealing his nakedness to the room's innocence. He would immediately jump into his en-suite, using his hand as he swung around the corner and into the en-suite with a less-than-impressive skid across the titled flooring. Ikka would then proceed to take one hot shower, which seemed to last for about 5 minutes, and then dressing himself in his outfit; grabbing the letter of importance (which essentially informed him that he was going to be going on a mission with the Steward-kage) before heading out the door.

Where was it he was going anyway? Ikkadan would roam the streets, having speedily left his house, eyes intently examining the letter for any bluntly obvious indications as to where he was suppose to go. Goddamnit, it was too early in the morning! Having roamed, and I mean roamed, Ikkadan was directed by friendly market stall owners to the Kazekage Tower. But, of course, that wasn't where he was suppose to be going, oh no. After being re-directed away from the Tower, Ikka would then be told to head straight for the Maw (which was effectively the village gates, although he never quite understood that one).

"Finally", Ikka muttered under his breath as he arrived to the scene, noticing his friends Kimi, Kora and Katsu. He waved to the young girl and her fateful companions, which was odd before he even addressed the Kazekage. Oh, now he just seemed rude and ignorant. The joy. "Kazekage-sama, thank you for having me." He would address the statured man with a smile, not really making eye contact - or really any contact - before catching a glimpse of the other two participants. "Hi."

[Awful post, gah, sorry.]

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Everyone assembled before half past the hour. First came Kumiko who referred to the Steward on a more casual level. First name basis. Nothing wrong with that. Perhaps the Sunahoshi would not have accepted anything less than Kazekage-sama, but Sousuke was no Sunahoshi. He was a Takahashi. He was of the Steward line. "Good morning Kumiko."<i></i> He greeted in an all too monotone voice. The Steward was somewhat put aback by Kumiko's choice in clothing. The youth of today weren't exactly modest. He wouldn't say anything at the present time, but she would certainly be ... well clothed by the time things were underway.

Next came the Nekozuka and her canine duo. The Steward was once again greeted in a casual fashion. "Ah. Good morning. No. Not Kitchenzilla today... well, that is to say ..."<i></i> He paused mid sentence. "Hrmp. Yes and no. You'll see what I mean of course in due time."<i></i> The Steward was being somewhat mysterious. He knelt down to pet the tigers, but as he did so he winced slightly due to his injury. "Perhaps another time."<i></i> He muttered to himself. He turned to see Kimi's face drop a little. The Steward merely nodded his head. Indeed people would show their concern for him in one way or another. The Steward weighed on his options. He would await for the other two members to arrive before explaining his predicament, which was one of the side focuses of the mission.

Next on the list came Kagai, followed by Ikkadan. The Steward coughed. "Steward, but good morning Priest Kagai and Ikkadan."<i></i> Both of them addressed him as Kazekage. He was the Steward-Kazekage, but he always considered himself the Steward more so. It was a small issue that Sousuke found himself correcting people on from time to time. "I apologize for not making it to your sermon this week... I was indisposed."<i></i> His eyes traced over to Kimi and then over to Kumiko. What next Sousuke was going to say was well rehearsed. One wouldn't think that the Steward would have to rehearse given his monotone and constant neutral nature, but he did. "As you can see I've injured myself. I was running a few tests with one of my armours. I was base jumping at the time, and the armour failed to manifest properly in time to break my fall, which was most awkward. My doctor advises me that I should go into bone grafting - which I disagree with since that will put me out of action for some time. I have elected the option of a bone replacement."<i></i> The Steward paused. "That's the boring part. You're running an errand for me... but what is more exciting is the nature of this errand."<i></i>

The Steward searched his white coat for a disk. He held the disk out before throwing it on the ground. Images began to surface from the disk. What manifested first was the surface. As usual it was under siege by the diamond sands. An orb appeared in what was deemed to be the sky. The orb rapidly descended and hit the surface. "A meteor had hit the surface ... exactly sixty-eight hours ago. Location on the surface is 14, 36. It landed in the area known as Deadline. Famed for ... well in olden times ... most technology's power was fairly limited out there. It could be something underneath the sands that caused equipment to malfunction, we're not entirely sure. I greatly desire that meteor. It contains materials that ... well mythically the First Men built their weapons, armours, and some of their puppets from the heart of a dying star. I wish to do the same to further enhance ourselves in whatever means we can. I also wish to build myself a replacement bone for the one that is shattered in my arm from the meteor. If you're wondering, yes if my treatment is a success, part of the meteor's material will be donated for medical research. At least thirty-five percent. Another twenty-five will be allotted to R&D and the rest will be put on reserve for further research."<i></i> The Steward paused for some time to let everyone digest what he was asking of them. "I'm not going to blindly send you in of course. You will be armed, you will be given specialist equipment. Tell me, what do you know of the surface though?"<i></i>

 

[Kumiko]

Kumiko, herself, didn't always know the proper way of addressing Sousuke. He was always so friendly with everyone as well as being a Steward and/or kazekage. It was only recent her dealings with him had increased. Mainly due to the lecture she sat in on and the Christmas event held within the Kage tower. However it appeared her choice for this was was not appropriate. she'd have to make a mental note of that.

She had been the first to arrive shortly followed by Kimi and her tigers, who she remembered from the Christmas event, Kagai, who she definitively remembered from the almost street fight between him and her brother, and Ikkadan, someone she was not too familiar with. It was regretful she'd have to work with kagai but beggars couldn't be choosers. She would stay professional she could only hope he would. " Kimi Chan. " She nodded in her direction as well as the two tigers, whose names she couldn't quite remember.

During his explanation of his condition and the circumstances leading up to said condition Kumiko remained impassive. Perhaps if they were in another environment she'd be a little more concern, considering as ANBU she was tasked with this mans safety...base jumping isn't something she remembered him doing...which was odd. However she, once again, remained professional and listened to it all , including the mission debriefing. The mission itself was interesting enough though she doubted it was so straight forward. There had to be a catch in there somewhere or it wouldn't be a normal C rank mission. " I have been to the surface only a couple times. Mostly patrol missions and such. It's very ... harsh up there if not accustom to the weather. "

 

[Hoshirei]

Kimi couldn't help but smile through Sousuke's wince of pain, especially since he was petting the girls. Their appreciative yet concerned purrs echoed out. She heard and smelled two more people come closer. She noticed both of their smells. Kagai was first, with his slight smell of ash tinged with his natural scent. She nodded to the man as she had met him once before. When Ikkadan got close enough to smell, Kimi turned toward him and went to smile before her whiskered cheeks went a little red. She had figured that he was built well, but with his new outfit, it made it very apparent. Trying to not make her cheeks any more obvious, she turned back toward Sousuke and focused on non-embarrassing things. She listened to the Steward-Kazekage.
Base jumping? Seriously? Not that she didn't believe it, but that was more dumb than she realized the man could be. However, if he was left with just a shattered arm, then it must not have been a very tall building. He wanted to make a bone out of space metal to replace it? That would take quite the crafting, not to mention the ever vigilant watch to make sure his body didn't start to reject it. Her medic mind was racing trying to figure out if that was even possible. Sure, it could be done, but who know what type of bacteria might be on it that would have to be completely wiped out. What if that bacteria was resistant to cleaning agents?
If anyone in the room was looking at her, they would be met with eyes that showed how fast her mind was working on the solution. They would finally sparkle with intrigue and a good idea of how the procedure would work. She hardly heard Kumiko saying that she had been to the surface a few times.
"I have been in and out of the diamond sands at least a couple times a year. My father sends me up there to find certain plants that are helpful to our pregnant felines."

 

[Kagai]

Kagai had failed to notice before, but the Steward-Kazekage had indeed seemed to have injured himself..."I will pray to Lord Kojin for your speedy recovery, Lord Steward-Kazekage." He would say, bowing his head once again while mumbling a prayer. His crimson locks would cascade over his golden orange eyes as he lifted his head up once more, noticing that they had at least one more to add to their little rag-tag group. He would give a simple nod as the guy greeted him...."...Kumiko..." He thought for a moment. The name was ringing a bell, but he would have to worry about it later as he would give his full attention to the Steward-Kazekage as he explained their mission.

Apparently a meteor had fallen from the sky. Falling stars were quite commonplace, as Kagai had been taught, but seeing as they always lived underground, seeing them fall was a rarity. Even if one was up on the surface it'd be hard to witness such an event with the perpetual storm that raged above that threatened to tear your flesh from bone if you gave it a chance. His interest was peaked, to say the least. Meteors, falling stars, and stars themselves all could be signs from Lord Kojin. They could be warnings or blessings, but Kagai would have to see this fallen star to be sure...."I am glad you chose to have me accompany this mission, Lord Steward-Kazekage. Fallen stars and things of that nature are common tools used by Lord Kojin to either bless or warn us...We should make haste and retrieve this artifact." Kagai would say, his voice a bit more elevated as his interest in this mission quickly grew.

"I have been to the surface many times, so I am well versed in what to expect up there. No need to worry about me." He would say as he brushed his hair out from his eyes, taking another glancing look over the team. Two girls, one dressed like a harlot whom would be slashed to ribbons by the diamond-esque sand particles that blew around at great speeds above them, and another whom had two big cats with her. He had never met the other guy before, though at first glance, he didn't give Kagai any reason to trust in his abilities.

With a heavy sigh, and a mental reminder that Lord Kojin worked in mysterious ways, he would await further instruction from the Steward-Kazekage. He had mentioned that they would be armed, so hopefully they would have some decent gear. They would need it if they expected to survive up above.

 

[Honma Kotone]

Ikkadan stayed at the back of any interaction, as it didn't appear that Kimi hadn't really recognized him or even acknowledged him. He would simply dip his head and give the girl an awkward smile, towering his sight away from the girl and the other two; who's names he did not quite know. In truth, Ikka felt quite awkward but refrained from actually revealing this through conscious ticks, tweaks and tugs. However, may his awkwardness be tinged with nerves, after all he hadn't met the Kazekage before and never knew anything about him. There were only short words spoken about the man in question, and even then, these words were overheard by the boy from passerbyers on the street; not exactly a great source of information. Regardless, Ikka's perception of injury would fall on the blind side as he failed to notice an obvious affliction that cursed the Kazekage, "Oh..." He would exclaim quietly from the back with a slightly conflicted expression.

And, again, in all honesty (yes, he was being internally honest today) Ikkadan didn't really care about the 'First Men' or whatever they were called. It's not that he was completely uninterested by the history of the land, but rather he was more mind-set on getting on with whatever it was they needed to do.It would take the boy a moment to actually process what the Kazekage was asking of the three, and even then, he was still a little confused. So, the Kazekage wanted the three shinobi to leech forward into the sands of the surface and retrieve a meteor? And what would they be armed with? Obviously the mention of being armed hinted towards there being some kind of need for defense, or rather offense. Or was he just the worried, yet paranoid mind of Ikka flaring up oh-so innocently at the worry of running into something too strong, and mysterious.

After all, they were going after a meteor...

"I've only been once..." He would comment in reference to being on the surface of Suna, "So I won't be much help." Of course he referred to his use as in terms of directions and what not. He wasn't entirely useless, just a little hesitant and self-detrimental towards his own abilities.

After that, he would await further instructions from their Kage.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

Fallen stars being a good sign? The Steward wondered about that. The Steward wasn't a deeply religious man, but he appreciated the concepts it gave people. Still though, he wondered if the fallen stars were more so an omen or good news. The weapon of the One King was made from the heart of a dying star. He perished ultimately, but he did defeat both Fuujin and Homura.

At the very least it seemed that everyone had some limited experience on the surface. In each case none of the members experienced a dangerous exposure to the diamond sands. Kagai's statement gave the Steward pause. How exactly would he break it? That the surface wasn't truly so safe. The Steward made a hand gesture and the image of the disk shifted. The shape it formed was ill shaped. It looked humanoid, but it had additional features. The image was distorted and poor at best. The humanoid form appeared to have a sort of carapace and spikes. In addition the form had a tail that closely resembling a scorpion tail. The fingers were long and hooked at the end. "I do not doubt the faith or the will... but does he allot for such twisted forms? Perhaps a design that is outside of the maker's will?"<i></i> The Steward's eyes narrowed as he focused upon the image intently. "Surveillance long range detectors have picked up this form. It is of no known bloodline or descendent of the First Men. I doubt that anything of that shape could come down here undetected by those with ... gifted eye techniques."<i></i>

The Steward turned his hand around and the image began to turn around in a full circle. "What I'm trying to say is ... do be careful out there. There is a reason why my great grandfather called the area you're going to the Deadline. Our power is limited out there, so who knows exactly what lurks in the desert sands."<i></i> The Steward again made another hand seal and the image changed yet again. The form it now created was less humanoid and more bestial, it was bipedal but the form looking almost like a primate. The form was more rigid and angular. The form had an extended back which jutted out a series stalagmites. "Again. Poor quality image, but you have a basic idea. There are things on the surface we do not know about. Life evolves, or is this the work of something else? I would like to examine these forms closers, but due to my injuries I would lack the capacity to defend myself should they grow ... hostile."<i></i> The Steward for a fleeting moment seemed upset with himself, but it was hard to tell since his facial expression failed to showcase such anger. He did make a fist though with his working hand. The Steward as usual could not express himself properly, and as usual he seemed to be cool and calm.

"Now. A major concern of mine is exposure to diamond sand for long amounts of time. To combat this I had developed skinsuits. A sort of armour if you would. Not bulky or anything, and it won't get in the way of your motions. The original design was meant to augment my own armour, but I found flaws in the integral excel structure. Therefore I made skinsuits a sort of ... standalone option for the common person."<i></i> The Steward motioned for something in the back to come forward. Kitchenzilla came forward pushing forward a very large case. Once nearing the crowd. Sousuke would walk towards the case and open it revealing four of these skinsuits. At first glance they looked like normal clothing, but a closer look would reveal and intricate wire grid pattern. Each suit was black, and each had its own full helmet. "You would wear the skinsuit like you would normal clothing. It'll cover up the entire body and ... each has thermal check to make sure that exposure won't set in. That is to say ... they're made for almost any extreme environmental condition save that of a level nine volcano. The helmets will put you in mid range contact with each other, and myself. Once you're in the Deadline ... contact with myself may be limited. To what extent I'm not sure."<i></i> The Steward made a simple shrug gesture with his working shoulder. "Time to suit up. Once you're near the meteor I want you to jam a hook in and attach this line to it. Kitchenzilla will remain outside of the Deadline so give it a tug. Once done, she'll begin to pull the meteor out of the Deadline. Once it is out of the Deadline ... and escort her back to the elevator."<i></i> The Steward nodded his head. "I hope we've reached a full comprehension of the mission at hand, and what you may face on the surface. I do authorize the use of deadly force should hostilities arise... which may be a strong possibility."<i></i>

 

[Kumiko]

At least the others also shared experience top side. As for Sousuke wanting to create a new arm from this meteor, well, that was his business not hers. It did remind her once more of his lecture. The parts about his bloodline being adept with puppets as well as the topic of human puppets. Was there a possibility the two were connected?

The image before them swiftly changed to something Kumiko had never seen. Then another. Sure many beasts roamed the surface, even the underground caverns, but these...what were these? Were they human or animal in nature? Kumiko took a few steps closer towards the projections, examining them very closely. " These are not something any sort of higher power would create. It's evolution. But what they evolved from ... " At this point she was more or less making observations to herself out loud. However her head would turn towards The Steward. " Do we know anything else about them. Do they produce chakra? " What ever these things were it was implied their team would be up against them or any other oddities roaming around. What ever information they could learn could mean the difference between life and death. " When you say examine these things closer...do you mean you want them brought back alive or dead?" This must be the catch to their mission, a sub task if you will.

Kitchenzilla, as she had heard him refer to his creation, pulling with it a large case with what she assumed to be this armour he spoke of. Out of all of it she was most thankful for the full helmet. Even with goggles using the Sharingan proved difficult within the diamond sands. Taking her own suit out from the case Kumiko would find a spot to change into it, away from prying eyes should they attempt. The head set she wore earlier was placed within her pouch which also held her large sealing scroll. The suit was tight, almost like a second skin, but sleek and agile. She liked it. Kumiko would then tie her hair up into a tight bun on top of her head so the helmet would be able to fit over the top and conceal her hair. With said helmet tucked under her arm she returned fully ready to start this mission. None of it unnerved her, which was to be expected of an ANBU member. Something she was sure the Steward was aware of. Anything he asked of her she would do.

 

[Hoshirei]

((I'm so sorry it's taken so long to reply guys. Been having a hard time motivating myself to write.))

Kimi wasn't surprised that everyone had at least a little experience on the surface. They were chosen for this mission, so it would only make sense to have people who had some experience where they were going. She watched the orb that shifted to show different shapes of creatures out on the surface. She had never been in the Deadline, so she was a little nervous about what they could meet up there. She very much agreed with Kumiko about how these creatures were not something that looks like nothing a divine entity would make.
Kora and Katsu heard Kitchenzilla come over and they rushed over to the mechanical dog. They wanted to play with it really bad, but they knew there was a different reason "Kitchy" was there. They had heard what Sousuke had said. They patiently sat by the chest waiting for Kimi. She chuckled and walked over. She found hers and the two suit sets that were better suited for the tigers. She also fetched Ikkadan's. As she and her girls made their way over to a secluded area to change, Kimi handed Ikka his suit and helmet with a smile.
"It's good to see you again, Ikkadan. Perhaps after this we can go get a treat. If we're all not to exhausted that is."
Once in her changing area, she quickly discovered that there was basically no way she could wear anything beneath it. With a sigh, she slid farther into the shadows and quickly changed into the suit. Before Katsu put her suit on, with Kimi's help, she changed into another version of Kimi and braided her hair into a circlet that laid close to her skull. Once they were all ready, they headed back out and took her spot next to Kumiko once more.

 

[Kagai]

"And what makes you think you have any idea of what the divines do, girl?" Kagai would ask Kumiko as she mentioned something about how no higher power would create whatever it was that Sousuke was speaking about..."All things exist for a reason, both concerning the grand design of Lord Kojin and the divines, and the beliefs of the purely scientific." Kagai listened as Sousuke began to describe these skinsuits he had constructed to make travel within the maelstrom above a little more tolerable.

A smile formed along Kagai's face as the steward authorized the use of deadly force should the need arise and a faint glimmer of excitement seemed to appear within his golden-red eyes..."Violence isn't really in my nature....But it is perfectly acceptable against monsters and heathens...I will try my best to bring back something for you to study should we run into any odd, hostile creatures up there." Kagai said, bowing his head once more towards the Steward...."I believe I understand...Shall we get underway?" He would ask, wondering if his fellow team mates understood what was expected of them. Kagai kind of ignored the automaton that Sousuke had brought forth as sort of an anchor to the meteor once they found it. He had little to no interest in such things, so he didn't pay them any mind...."Where would these skinsuits be, Steward-Kazekage?" He would ask, feeling a bit antsy and wanting to get this mission underway. So what if these monsters were able to produce chakra? How would Sousuke know if they could if he had never studied them anyways? These were pointless questions to ask about an enigmatic beast or beasts that dwelt within the maelstrom. There was only one thing for certain...If there were beasts that dwelt within the maelstrom, they would definitely be tough. They would probably be highly resistant to damage with having to live outside and be pelted with diamond sand constantly.

 

[Honma Kotone]

IKkadan listened in to what the Kazekage had to say, and truthfully, and emphatically, he had no idea why he was even chosen for this mission. The thought fighting these creatures was somewhat amusing, however, he didn't really want to hurt them. Although, given the chance could the same be said for those evolution's of life? Perhaps there was a misunderstanding and maybe they were friendly, no? Again, Ikkadan would remain relatively quiet and secluded at the back of the group, even when they all seeped over to the reveal of the protective suits: something that he found interesting, but not to the point where he was going to be first to grab a hold of the suits and inspect them with a curious gaze. What did he know about technology anyway?

However, the sight and sound of Kimi broke him free from a trance-like state. She greeted him, which made him smile and he bowed his head in respect to the young girl: "It's really good to see you too, Kimi. I'd really like that, and we'll bring Kora and Katsu too, yeah?" He would nod his head and slot his eyes with a smiling expression as he took a hold of the space-age suit with his soft fingers. "What do you make of these, eh?" He would jest, holding the suit up and inspecting it with a silly expression on his face; sub-consciously distracting himself from the dread of going on such a tediously important mission. Ikkadan didn't know whether to put on the gear right now, or later, but after seeing Kimi scrub up; he decided that maybe he should too

The boy stowed himself away in some other room until he was dressed. He made his way back into the briefing room, hicking up the tight-ass material that suffocated his skin with such ease. Why was this thing so damn tight anyway? Had Ikka taken the wrong suit, was the size wrong or maybe he had just gotten too fat. Somewhat embarrassed, the boy would have to accept that maybe that's how the suit was suppose to appear as: uncomfortable to look at, and to wear too. Jolly-well-good. Although, something distracted him much more than the suits, and that was the continual, well maybe not continual, words that the Deity-worshiper spouted out from his mouth.

Was he really going to talk about divine fairy tales the whole time? He reminded him of that idiot Ko.

 

[Takahashi Aki]

As everyone set off for a moment the Steward averted his sight. As they armoured up. He did too as he was going to go to the surface for a moment. Just a moment. He could risk the exposure. He stood there as his armour began to encase his fragile shell. His face plate locked in. His greaves. Everything save for his broken arm. The Steward started the elevator once everyone had come back to him. "I desire an adept description. Human visual memory usually caps out at about sixty-five percent. I merely ... wish for you to surpass that if possible. It should be easy for you Kumiko as you're an Uchiha. Read their movements. Read their skills. Replicate it for me at another date and time. This is not a top priority though."<i></i> The Steward watched the interactions between the team. He wondered if they could actually work together. "I do not know if they can produce chakra."<i></i>

Soon enough they would be at the surface and the hatch opened up. The surface as usual was under siege by the diamond sands. The grains bounced off of the Steward's armour.Kichenzilla exchanged what could be conceived as a concerned glance. The creature which was usually full of glee, would oftentimes wag her tail happily. That was not the case now. Instead the creature's massive tail simply remained still. The creature lowered her head and Sousuke patted her snout. "It's okay girl."<i></i> The Steward turned to his ground once more. "Start heading west. Should you need rest ... request it and Kitchenzilla will dispatch a force field. It will last for half an hour before it will need to recharge."<i></i> The Steward began to cough. The exposure was starting to set in. "I wish you the best of luck, and I will be in contact once I get to Keystone Prime."<i></i> The company along with Kitchenzilla would step off of the elevator, and the Steward would begin his descent back into the village.

Kitchenzilla would look at the company and nodded her head. The lumbering beast would begin heading west just as ordered. It was indeed time to set off.

 

[Kumiko]

Each team member drifted off towards their own little shadowy sanctuary to change into the skin suit The Steward had given them, even the tigers. As for Kagai's lecture of religion Kumiko simple ignored his ignorance to science. A small mind could only except small concepts. And for the sake of the mission Kumiko refrained from starting any trouble. Kimi came up to stand beside her, soon followed by Ikkidan. By the looks of things they were ready to be underway.

Luckily her surprise was hidden within the depths of the helmet she wore when The Steward too came out with a skin suit. He couldn't possibly be going up to the surface with them? Was that wise? Following Sousuke she positioned herself on the lift beside him, seeing as he addressed her concerning her task. He was right. With the Sharingan she possessed an almost perfect photographic memory. Combine that with her snap shot ANBU technique, which she was sure he knew about, he'd have a perfect replicate of these creatures. However, if she could, she planned to further exceed that expectation. That was what her large summoning scroll was for after all. Though normally it was used for such purposes within ANBU. " Yes Steward. I will do my best. "

The trip to the surface didn't take long. The instant the lift popped up the barrage of sand and diamonds struck them like a brick wall. But with these skin suits the difference was ... it was like night and day. Sousuke explained the task and in which direction they were to head, Kitchenzilla leading the way. " Kimi, you take the lead. You and your tigers should be able to pick up any scents coming our way. I'll back you up with my sharingan. I'll be about to pick up anything with chakra. Kagi you cover the flank. Ikkidan you cover the rear. Even if we aren't expecting trouble till the deadline the maelstorm is no safe place. We should stay on our guard. " Kumiko stated. Maybe she was being bossy, or maybe her ANBU training was kicking in. But Kumiko took missions, and the safety of her team members, very seriously.

 

[Hoshirei]

((Sorry it's taking so long for me to reply. Life is rough.))

Kimi smiled and nodded happily at Ikka's response. In complete truth, she had a bit of a crush on the boy, though she wouldn't be telling him that, not for a while at least. She really appreciated his reaction to what happened after their spar. It was really kind, and not to mention that it is good that he didn't try to perv or anything like that. "The suits are rather ingenious. Sousuke-san is a good inventor, especially when it comes to armor."
As they rode up the elevator, she slid her helmet on and made sure her skin was completely covered, after she checked her tigers suits. She was grateful that Sousuke had created these suits for them. Part of the reason they never came up top with her is because she didn't really have any protective equipment for them.
She listened as Sousuke explained where they should go. She gave him a smile when he comforted Kitchy, as her girls called the mech-dog. As the Steward descended, Kimi patted Kitchenzilla's head to reaffirm that it will be okay for her to be separated from him. "Remember girl, if anything happens, his ANBU will protect him, and any medics will help as well."
Kumiko immediately took charge and started setting up their formation. "Ano, Kumiko-chan. I know that it makes sense for me to be up front because of my sharp senses, I am also a medic in training. I am ready to follow your lead, I just wanted to tell you about my training."
The way the girl took charge, Kimi wouldn't be surprised if she at least had thought about becoming ANBU. Leadership skills were necessary within the corp. If Kumiko hadn't considered it, perhaps she should. She had discovered her grandfather's old armor and had goaded him until he told her what some of the necessary skills were. That was the final determination of her decision to go into the medical corp.

 

[Kagai]

Kagai wasn't a leader, or at least he didn't see himself as one. With his congregation, he felt he was more of a guide and was leading them to the path of redemption in the eyes of Lord Kojin, and in a sense, Lord Kojin was leading them through Kagai. It was a complicated ideology to be sure, but it made sense in Kagai's head. With this in mind, despite his growing dislike for this Kumiko female as his memory slowly began to return to him regarding her, he didn't argue. He couldn't think of any better position anyways. Taking the left side, he would follow his makeshift squad out into the maelstrom, which was as hectic and unforgiving as it had always been.

"May Kojin light the path ahead, and guide us safely there and back again." Kagai said, bowing his head reverently while proceeding in the direction of their target.

[Crappy post, but I couldn't think of much else to add to it, lol]

 

[Honma Kotone]

Gently keeping himself to himself, Ikkadan would comply with the order given to him by the Uchiha woman. He kept himself close to Kimi as they rode up on the elevator, careful not to speak at this time, due to other members of the team speaking. In truth, Ikkadan just wanted this mission to be over with already, he could tell that something was going to go wrong - nothing ever went right, really. And if something did go right, then by God, Ikkadan was going to kiss everyone on them team... Oh yeah, be aware...

"Kimi," Ikkadan would add softly as the elevator came to a stop, "I'll look out for you, okay?" well, in truth, he was suppose to be looking out for all of his team members but his heart only told him to seek the safety of his dear friend. After all, he couldn't live with himself if anything dire happened to her. And plus, he would really dread having to approach her father with some grave news: Kimi's in the hospital, she's hurt and I don't know what to do, things like that ran through his head during the ride up to the surface. Never-the-less, the boy followed with a keen eye from his chocolate hues on everything on the rear.

Hehe, 'rear'.

No, don't, no jokes!