I'm gonna shake up the system

[heismymission]

Who: Bucky, Steve, Fortuna, and Diarmuid.
Where: The building across from the welcome center and into the underground tunnels
When: January 9th, in the dark hours of the morning
Summary: It's time for a rescue mission.
Warnings: ???

After Zeloph sent him and Steve the map of the underground tunnels, Bucky had been reminded of the predicament the priestess had been in while he'd been sitting around feeling sorry for himself. He cursed internally over the lack of focus and almost immediately began to plan on how he would help the priestess, going over all the information he'd acquired in the past few months that would help. It was easy enough to figure out the other two key holders the mysterious figure was referring to with a little process of elimination, and he'd visited Fortuna and Diarmuid before the day was over, discussing plans with them and what they might expect.

When he returned and asked Steve to accompany them, they'd had an argument about the kid's presence, but Bucky had placated him by saying he'd already tried to suggest Diarmuid stay home, and that the boy had been adamant in joining them. It didn't make Steve happy about it, but it was enough to let them move on and start to prepare.

He had several weapons now, even if it wasn't nearly as close to his old arsenal in size, and that reassured him somewhat. A pistol he'd save for emergencies, several knives, and something else he'd acquired in case Burnie got involved. He'd stick with hand-to-hand and the knives if he could, as much as he wanted to use the gun. The strange bag that was larger than it seemed was also taken in case they found something they needed to store and bring back with them, but he left the medallion key in one of his normal pockets for easy access.

It was early enough in the morning that it was still about as dark as it could get when he arrived, wearing the armor HYDRA gave him--though he left the mask and goggles so he could easily communicate with the others--in addition to his leather jacket to help conceal his arm. He had no need to conceal his face when he didn't plan to be seen anyway, and even if he did wear them and was spotted, he doubted it would hide his identity.

All that was left now was to retrieve Rhea and Mai.

Bucky stood near the door to the building, wondering if he might have to break in to enter--the palm reader the elemental had used was still there, but he thought it unlikely it would accept his hand print, and even if it did, he didn't want to leave a definite trace of his presence. Giving Burnie any more obvious clues as to what he's been doing probably wouldn't be a good idea.

Comments

[shadowsgambit]

[The drones don't actually share her heat vision, false color thermography is too jarring when combined with her natural vision, but the footsteps are picked up by their mics, of course, and she moves them out of the way, to hide where Diarmuid is.

She whispers to Bucky.]

If we're lucky, they'll never know who summoned that spirit.

[heismymission]

[He watches the screen and strains his ears, frowning in frustration.

This is one thing he'll always miss from working primarily on his own--he never had to rely on the skills of others in order to complete the mission. Supplies and transportation, yes, skills no. He hates sitting and waiting, but he knows trying to get in there where Diarmuid is now would only make those inside aware of their presence.]

[noparachute]

[The sound of footsteps isn't really a good sign, but if he tries to break the door down now, they'll probably alert even more people. Hopefully that invisible cloak Diarmuid is wearing will keep him in hidden. However, he pulls the mic and backs away from the door, just in case if someone tries to check the outside.

If the situation's right, maybe he can even knock out the person, but he's not about to risk it if there's too many of them.]

[rekindlenpcs]

[When the guard opens the door, he spies the two droids moving behind the crates.]

"What the-? Who let 'ese in here?"

[Though as he approaches, he catches sight of the young woman standing in the middle of the magicked circle. At first he doesn't seem to recognize the woman, but as he takes out a tonfa, the glow around her hands tips him off.]

"You're a--"

Sorry old man, your shift ends here.

[The Elemental laughs softly, before moving her hands as though plucking the strings of a harp.]

O' bound unto night, faded within sight...
[As the siren sings, her voice carries beyond the window as a spell casts. Any (whether they be horsebird or metahuman) who hear will find themselves smaller than a toy doll...]

Bound fast unto fate afoul... as the winds howl...

[...and the shrunken guard finds a sudden gust of wind slams him into the ceiling.]

Hm... Perhaps I had overdone it.

[heismymission]

[Due to his concentration on listening, Bucky (unfortunately) manages to hear the siren's song, and in the space of a blink, he finds his surroundings have changed completely. Due to not being Ant Man, it takes him a while to make his way through the shock and trepidation to realize that the only difference is size, but it's different enough that he has to pause for several moments to collect himself. He's too disoriented by the transformation to regain his focus.]

[smallspot]

Diarmuid should be more scared than he is, but instead of being scared, he can't help but excitedly watch from his hiding spot as the guard enters. For a moment, his excitement shifts to worry when the guard sees the drones and then the Avatar starts singing. That causes him to forget everything but the song. It is so beautiful and it reminds him of something his father would sing.

When the sing ends, though, something...unexpected happens. Diarmuid finds the world changing around him. Maybe it is because he is so small naturally or maybe it is all the tales he was brought up on, but he figures out pretty quickly what is going on.

"I've been shrunk!" The boy can't help but giggle when he hears his squeaky voice. It takes much longer for him to move from behind the box than it did before, but once he makes it, he runs up to the Avatar and looks up at her. Way up at her...

"I'm a mouse! Squeak!" He runs around in a circle to make sure he gets her attention before continuing, "Did you mean to make me bittier too, Lady, or did you oops?"

[shadowsgambit]

Of course Fortuna hears, she's hearing through her drones. So, suddenly? She doesn't have quite the same problem with her height she normally runs into.

"What the hell?"

Fortuna looks over to see Violet has shrunk, too. Birds have good hearing, after all.

"Uh...well...at least we can fit through the window now?"

She grasps at the blade of grass in front of her, her mind still reeling. This is so weird...

[rekindlenpcs]

The avatar looks down to the small(er) child, placing a hand on the back of Her neck. T'would be the latter, young one... and judging by the shout outside, you were not the only one.

The guard continues to dangle from the ceiling...

[smallspot]

Diarmuid spares a moment to look at the dangling guard, but soon his attention returns to the Avatar, "My friends got changed too? How long will we stay like this? Oh!" His eyes suddenly get really wide, "If they are small, they can come in the window now! I won't have to go open the door alone!"

His expression becomes pleading, "Can you go to the window and help them come in before the spell wears off?"

[heismymission]

Bucky shakes off his shock a few moments later, getting to his feet and doing his best to ignore the strangeness of the situation or its implications. They have an objective that needs to be completed.

He tries not to think about his state except to account for Fortuna's statement. With nothing more than a glance in the troll's direction to acknowledge it, he turns to head towards said window as quickly as he can.

[noparachute]

Seeing that no one's coming out of the door, Steve cautiously steps back to his original position. Should he try and break it down now? He hasn't heard anything from Bucky or Fortuna either and it's somewhat worrying. It's time like these that he really misses having a communication device in his ear, having contact with all his comrades.

For now, he puts the mic back on the door, trying to listen on anything that might've occurred now.

[shadowsgambit]

For her part, Fortuna was wishing they had radios now, herself, leading Violet along towards the open window. Violet could just fly down and carry Bucky with her, but she'd have a harder time of it, herself...not that her body wouldn't probably protect her, but all the same...

A little help would probably be appreciated. Give her something to do that isn't realizing how utterly bizarre it is that she's suddenly the size of an action figure...

[rekindlenpcs]

Not long... About thirty seconds at most. The Elemental states, before looking toward the window. If they do not mind...

Not all appreciate being handled by a siren, after all. She walks--or to be more accurate, hovers--toward the window, holding out a pale white hand as though it were a platform.

My apologies... It has been ages since I last spread my wings. Would you like me to give you both and your feathered companion a hand?

[heismymission]

While anyone who's been around Bucky long enough knows scowling is his default expression, right now he's clearly displeased to even them. He says nothing to the elemental once he's addressed; he only pauses briefly before stepping into her palm. It gets him inside--that's what he's deciding to focus on right now.

[shadowsgambit]

"Yeah, thanks." Fortuna steps into the elemental's palm, and Violet hesitates a little before flying down herself. She's still a little shy, after all, and suddenly being tiny isn't helping.

[rekindlenpcs]

The elemental smiles faintly, moving carefully as She carries the two inside. You may want to spread out a bit... The spell will wear off soon.

As she says this, the siren messenger slowly lowers her hand so that the two could easily jump off without injury.

[heismymission]

And jump off Bucky does, taking stock of the surroundings as well as he can. Though he says nothing, the reassurance that their predicament is temporary helps him lose the anger that comes with having his world view messed with. Goddamn magic.

He almost misses the incapacitated guard hanging from the ceiling, but after seeing him, things start to come into focus. The spell was clearly meant for him, and if it's going to wear off soon for them, it will for the intended victim as well. There's no telling how long he'll remain unconscious, so Bucky begins looking for anything they might restrain him with--it's a closet of some kind, so it should have some rope or something, right?

[shadowsgambit]

Fortuna jumps off a little before what would normally be a safe height, calling her drones near her and setting them to hold before disconnecting from them. It seemed the extra eyes weren't needed right now; they'd just be a distraction.

"Anyone else around here?" she asks quietly, keeping alert for the sound of any movement outside the door. Bucky was already on damage control for the guard, so she had to do something else useful - no sense in standing around doing nothing, and less sense in rushing in. Maybe if she was alone, but as part of a team she considered them too.

[smallspot]

When Diarmuid hears Fortuna's question, he shakes his head, "I don't think so. I think it's just us and him." He points up at the unconscious guard, "But who knows how long it will stay that way."

Diarmuid moves to stand by the boxes again so he is a little way away from the others for when the spell wears off and then gives them a curious look, "Steve didn't get shrunk?"

Looks like they still need to go to the door after all...

I am so sorry, Bucky

[rekindlenpcs]

If you have further need of my assistance, you need only ask.

For now, the elemental disappears into the aether...

As much as the Winter Soldier searches, the most he can find is giant crates and a few broken chain links. The guard remains unconscious, embedded into the plaster ceiling from the waist up.

[heismymission]

He supposes it makes sense that he can only see so much from this angle. Not knowing about Steve's status, he can only shake his head.

"We need to make sure he can't call anyone later," he says while looking at the guard again before turning to Fortuna. Perhaps her drones might be able to spot something before they return to normal.

[shadowsgambit]

"I guess that depends on what happens when he returns to normal," Fortuna says, connecting to the Sundowner again and maneuvering it to one of the crates to try to lift its lid off. "If there's something like a nail in there or something more solid than plaster between it and the next floor he might not be calling anyone again."

But then they'd have a body to get rid of. That's always trouble, plus, deaths have a tendency to make it much easier to justify lethal force in retaliation...

[rekindlenpcs]

The Sundowner successfully pulls the crate open, revealing that the crate is filled with cmmunication devices designed to fit inside the ear canals of all sizes. Unfortunately, it does not include anything that could be used to bind an individual.

[shadowsgambit]

"Nothing to hold him here, but we've got radios. I'll take one out to our friend outside."

And she does as she'd said, having the Sundowner take one into its storage compartment and maneuvering back out through the window to take the device to Steve. She's still watching the guard warily. What sort of position would he be in when he returns to normal? Hopefully it'll just wind up knocking him out longer or something; she's not seeing anything to hold someone.

[noparachute]

Steve was about ready to do something drastic when he noticed Sundowner flying towards him. Oh, that was one of Fortuna's machines... maybe it had some sort of message to deliver? He pulled away from the door and took the small communication device from the drone before placing it in his ear.

Radios. Definitely useful.

He waited a moment, trying to listen in on anything before he said something himself.