The First Cut [Flashback]

[attr="class","castleonthehill"]Kitai adjusted the strap of her quiver. She had no ill intention for what was about to happen, and while she might have been fairly naive about many things in this world, deception was not something she was unfamiliar with. Deception and cheating. It wasn't about enemies; this was about punishment to a grave mistake. If anyone had told Kitai that the World Government could protect those that were harming others purposefully, she wouldn't have believed it at first. She did not agree with doing things behind closed doors. Slit their throats as they sleep. They should have been brought out into the light so that they could atone for their sins and better themselves.

'That's not how it always works in this world..' She closed her eyes, frowned, then leaned back on a stone wall to watch the others. Did any of them want what was best for all? Not just themselves or their immediate friends and family? It was such a sad thing to think about.. Her frown deepened, and she turned to tie her long white hair into a tight ponytail - it would be unfortunate if it got in the way when a fight broke out. She turned to Zernebog as he spoke; his words were not exactly uplifting. "Come now, we will not fail here, Brother." The woman smiled as she spoke. "A 'criminal' still has chance to atone for their sins, do they not?" Her jade eyes turned up toward the building they were readying to infiltrate. "I still do not understand why you do not expose them for their misdeeds to the other admirals? Why do we do this in the dark?"

There was no malice in her voice, only question and concern. If they attacked their superiors, even if their superiors were doing wrong to citizens, was their way any better than the corrupt leaders'? Kitai crossed her arms and leaned against a nearby wall, eyes never leaving Zernebog. She expected nothing less than a direct answer.

[attr="class","castleonthehill"]Kitai watched the captain with an even look. She only blinked or even moved when she did not understand a word, or phrase maybe. Stalwart? head honcho? And didn't unsavory have something to do with flavors? It somewhat muddled her understanding of what he was trying to say, but there was enough that she was able to piece it all together. In truth, Kitai was only trying to be sure that he was sure of his own decision. None of the others around seemed to have an issue with what he was explaining either, so Kitai chucked those words up to ask about later in case she came across them again. But action was necessary before explanation. As long as he had explored other paths to take than this, then Kitai would follow his lead. She only wondered if there were any other paths they could take - one that did not involve taking a knife to a throat.

She examined him as he rubbed the back of his neck. 'So then are you embarrassed taking this action?' She would not question him again for now. It made sense that, if the leaders of this division was doing wrong, they would do everything within their power to prevent from losing it - in this world. It was disturbing just how many people would rather hurt than help others. Zernebog had never seemed the type to gravely harm others without purpose. If this was not met with force, it seemed, it would not diminish at all. So why was he embarrassed by it?

The woman shifted her weight. "Many. But if action is more necessary than words, then we should move before a patrol spots us.." It would be unfortunate if anyone came along and sounded the alarm before they could take the action necessary to take back the base.

[attr="class","castleonthehill"]If this were forest with trees, these things would be quite a bit easier for Kitai to climb up. And quieter, too. But the cold metal of, well, everything stung at her bare hands as she climbed up the fire escape. It was the only thing that kept her from climbing up a little bit more easily. She silently prayed thanks when she got to the top and gathered around with the others of Zernebog's little group. A bird's eye view was exactly what Kitai liked. The art of surprise was an easy advantage to take from above, and with a bow. So silent, and very few expected a ranged weapon that had no audible sound like a gun did. She could only imagine the man would want her to immobilize any guards that might fall in their path, little to her own pleasure.

She followed the man's gesture to a building - the one they would be breaking into. Guards were at their posts; lazily, it seemed. Did they lack respect for their duties? She frowned. Very few seemed to be at attention and a couple even seemed to be playing some card game at their station. Her eyes scanned across the buildings between their current location and their target's, and she couldn't say she was surprised when Zernebog jumped from their building to the next. It would be the fastest route, and it wasn't as if they could just walk in the front door.

The flatness of the roofs proved an unusual surface for her once she landed across the first. She slid further than she wanted on the sleek surface where she was used to uneven footing to help catch her landing, but she bent to catch herself on one hand so that she wouldn't slip again on the next. She was still in good standing when their leader stopped, and she surveyed the rest of the team. They seemed more out of breath, so this likely wasn't their normal mode of travel. Bounding across tree branches had prepared Kitai's lungs for this type of movement. While she was not entirely worn out or out of breath, a short rest was always good to have before getting into a battle. They all would need their strengths if they wanted to sneak in an do their duties quickly.

She flexed and checked her hand; the hard stone was rubbing it in an unusual way that it wasn't used to. Flexing and testing and she was sure it would not impede her accuracy much if at all when the time came. She took in a deep breath and let it pass out, slowly. The rest of her body seemed to be in good shape still. The cold was being held back by the leather armor she'd adorned, made specially to help protect her chest and arms from the bowstring during usage. Her legs were the only limbs that were suffering much under the cold desert night. She brushed it away and looked out toward their destination as she stepped close to Zernebog.

"Are we going to go in right over their heads, then?" She spoke quietly, cautious in case anyone not in their group near enough to hear. She turned her head to the other members as they slowly recovered from breathing. "Breathe deeply and it will be easier," she hissed to them. Didn't they know how to control their breathing at all? "Do you know of any guards to be aware of once we are inside?" She expected a few here and there on the inside, but the main supply of guards would be outside. If they were concentrated in one area, then it would be best to avoid as many as they could. She imagined everyone wanted to avoid a huge battle out in the open; and no one needed to remind them that if they were caught, then they could be labeled as traitors.

[attr="class","castleonthehill"]Kitai blinked at the man. He wanted to get in and get things done quietly and quickly, but.. also leave a trail for others to find? She was confused, and that spread to her face but crossed little more. She feared that asking any questions might cause her more confusion than necessary. But, for now, if he wanted to be found out - hopefully not before they wanted to be found out - then so be it. She nodded to the mad, but said nothing more.

The woman turned to skim across the other rooftop, peering at the building for any signs of a door; the bump of a flat trapdoor, or an output that may lead to a door. The others seemed to just leap without first looking - a mistake that could have costed many of their lives, but there were no guards stationed on the rooftop, and thankfully no defensive prods or anything else there. After today, there just might be.

She followed the captain in his bound across the way, this one a bit further than the other rooftops they had crossed thus far, but also their last. She turned to help another who followed her, holding his arm and pulling him forward and eyeing the remaining of their little group who had not followed yet - the ones who were still catching their breath. They would be fine for now; it was more useful for those who had already come over to find the door so they could begin the real fight as soon as they had all gathered.

Once those who were coming right then had safely jumped, she skimmed the roof. There was little to say where the door was. Much of the roof was very flat and very plain, but once Kitai had absorbed the platform, a light catching on something not quite as smooth as the rest of the surface caught her eye. The color was similar - likely to ward off intruders and make it seem like there was no door, but she pointed. With the moonlight, she was certain she couldn't have been the only one to be able to see it.

"There, in that corner," she said quietly, then stepped silently toward it. Some of the others gathered around where she had pointed to and gathered around it slowly. Kitai bent down to check the trap-like door, smoothing away some dust from the desert. She could not see inside through any cracks, but it seemed to be unlocked. "It does not look like this door is locked.. but it may be from the inside. I can see nothing from here." Kitai turned to Zerne as she said this, pressing here and there on the door. The hinges seemed worn and used - maybe for breaks the marines would come to the rooftop to sit or smoke - but the door was solid. She did not let the others who had gathered try to open the door. There could be a trap in place or a guard to alert others, and if they all were not ready for that occurence, then this attack could start far from being in their favor.

A look over told her that few were still left to jump over.

[attr="class","castleonthehill"]There was no need to turn or focus for Kitai to hear Zernebog's instruction. The door was smooth, save for the little bumps between each plank of wood that kept it together, and there seemed no obvious lock or handle that could be opened. She kept testing the door here and there, feeling and looking for weaknesses. It would not be an ideal situation to have to break the door open and cause a ruckus, alerting anyone close enough to hear them breaking in. But.. the one mistake was that the hinges were still on the outside.

It seemed the only way without making a big fuss.

Kitai pulled out one of her daggers and squatted next to the top hinge. She pointed to the other hinge and to one of the people surrounding her. "Pry the hinge open as quiet as you can." He pulled out his sword, but Kitai shook her head at him and took out her other dagger and offered him the hilt. He looked at the smaller blade and took it as the woman started working on her own hinge. She gently pried the blade between the head of the pin holding the the hinge pieces together. Rust had shut the pin to the hinges, and even a minute of working the blade this way did not move the pin as much as she wanted it to.

Before it was out all the way, she heard Zernebog's voice. "Well enough, I believe." Her eyes flashed to the other, who had been copying Kitai's actions. His was rusty, but not as much - he'd been able to pry the pin out. She focused back on her pin, shifting her weight so that she was half sitting and kicked the flat end of her blade. There was a small metallic pop. Kitai paused to move only after she was sure she did not sense any movement below them. Working the blade a little more, and the pin slid out with some resistance. Just to be sure, Kitai stuck her blade between the hinge pieces so that they were loose as well.

It should open from this end now." Her legs shifted so that she was squatting again to now pry the hinges apart and pull the door open. It creaked, and Kitai heard a chain snap - the lock, it seemed - as she handed the door off so that another could more quietly open it all the way. The room inside was dark and dusty with boxes and old equipment lining the walls. A ladder lead up to the trapdoor. The woman gave Zernebog a quick glance before easing herself over the edge and dropping down to the floor quietly.

She took a moment to check around the room for anyone in sight. She came back into the light of the moon before she whispered, "I do not see anyone - it should be safe for everyone to come down."