The group beneath the Palace was able to proceed deep into the tunnel again, rounding a right turn at the back.  Then the darkness became absolute.  Halvorson flipped out his flashlight, sweeping it about the walls and ceiling.<br/><br/>He heard Chiro's reply and keyed his radio, stopping.  "I know, I know," he said.  "We ain't really happy for the wait either.  Just fifteen more minutes, over."<br/><br/>He let the radio hang and looked about for an exit.  "Nothing," he muttered.  "Shit.  Baz?"<br/><br/>Baz's ultrasonic squeaks could pick up a rusting grate in the ceiling, a couple dozen yards ahead... and a trip-wire in the way, leading to a hidden trap in the walls.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>The First Sergeant drew his hand back from Emiko's cheek.  "You know what you're up against," he stated matter-of-factly.  "If you're sure you want to keep going, then I'm with you."  He looked as the medic swabbed Jenten's bruise, and asked the medic, "He'll be okay?"  The medic nodded.  "Good.  Then... I'll get to checking everyone else."  He rose, feeling awkward at leaving Emiko there with one less hand, but lowered down the stairs slowly, stopping once to look at Emiko.  "When the fighting's over, be sure to get those chemicals to a scientist."  He disappeared into the building below.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>From the darkness around Karogen, rattling breathing was the only reply.  There was what sounded like a hoarse whisper, but nothing more.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Geena looked up at Dreamer, her eyes cold.  "Top floor," she muttered.<br/><br/>Inside the mansion, everything had been ransacked or damaged in some way.  A few humans lounged about on righted chairs and tables, eyeing the newcomers suspiciously.  The stairs to the top floor were littered with debris - most of which had blood on it.  Nothing was left to be seen of the housing staff.<br/><br/>As Dreamer remembered, the stairs led up to a small study on the one side of the third floor.  From there, glass doors opened out onto the balcony, and Maeve's living quarters were in the other half of the floor.  The glass of the doors had been shattered, but the doors across the patio were mostly intact... and shut, the curtains drawn across them.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>The medics took hold of Merelli as Iln regurgitated him.  He was a little wet, but to their astonishment, his wound was gone - replaced by a single, wide scale on his upper back, visible through the cut in his uniform.<br/><br/>His eyes slowly opened, and he saw Iln standing over him.  "That was not necessary, dear one," he said quietly, with a smirk on his face.  "But thank you."<br/><br/>He stood up on his own, trying to re-assess the battle.<br/><br/><br/>Janus, angered and perplexed by Heretic's actions, could nonetheless obey and latched his lips onto the blood pack, beginning to drink.  He felt the rage spike in satisfaction and greedily devoured all the contents of the pack.  Before he knew it, the pack was empty, and he looked about himself, the rage gone.<br/><br/>He cast an eye over his shoulder at Heretic.  "Uh... now what?" he said, trying for humor despite his new curse.  His mind tried to quell the realization that he had just consumed human blood willingly.