Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nadia reached the end of the hallway and turned the corner cautiously, examining the stairs and area surrounding them for movement. This could be the hardest part; they would be exposed without any cover for several precious seconds and assuming they did arrive at the bottom unnoticed, they had no idea of what lay before them, excluding information they could derive from the map of course. She pursed her lips. It was now or never. She bolted silently from their hiding spot, reached the stairs and rushed down them quietly, keeping as low as she could to avoid being seen. She trusted Robert was behind her and didn’t bother to glance over her shoulder for fear it would slow her down. She saw movement out of the corner of her vision heading towards the bottom of the stairs; the night guard she realized. “Crap,” she muttered, then whispered into her mic, “Robert we’ve got company, hurry it up, there’s some potted plants at the bottom.” She continued as fast as her need for silence would allow, slipping between the fake palms at the bottom and praying Robert would make it in time.

Shizuka looked around in the darkness feeling her adrenaline pump faster as she shifted around waiting. "Nadia, how are you guys doing?" She questioned. Looking down she saw a guard. "Aw jeez, guys company is coming up the stairs, what do I do?!" she begged in a shrill whisper. Instinctively, Shizuka grabbed Jojo and dragged him into the corner behind a display on the staircase. The marble stand had a painted vase that rested on a cloth. Shizuka breathed faster as she prayed they wouldn't be seen.

Nadia breathed a sigh of relief, “That was too close.” She quickly followed Robert down the next hallway, hoping that the other group was all right; it was most likely them that had made the noise that saved her and Robert. They reached the security room and she stopped abruptly outside the door, reaching into her utility belt and removing the lock pick and wrench, repeating what she had done with the skylight lock, a little annoyed to find this lock wasn’t any more of a challenge. She pushed open the door and glancing right and left down the hallway ducked inside.

((i g2g, post tomorrow))

Jojo almost yelped when Shizuka pulled him behind the display case. He crouched low to the floor, and peered around the display to see where the guard was headed. The guard walked closer to their hiding spot, but wasn't looking in their direction. The guard pointed the light at the paintings on the wall as he walked by them, perhaps to make sure that they were all present and accounted for. Jojo put a finger to his lips, signaling Shizuka to be very quiet. The guard could hear a pin drop in this hallway, so if either of them made a peep he would surely hear them!

Jojo watched the security camera carefully, and when the time was right he made a dash for the room. He slid under the rope, and rolled behind the column opposite to Rio. He studied the room carefully, making sure that there weren't any other cameras pointed in his direciton. He peered around the column, and whispered to Rio "Very resourceful of you. Thanks!" Jojo stayed low, and watched for Shizuka to make her attempt to get to the room.

"It'll take them a second to get organized. First they'll just think it's a glitch, and then finally they'll act." Rober actually smiled. "We'll be long gone by then."

Shizuka tumbled through the door and was crouched on the ground examining the room. One guard was in there, and he did not look like her was in the mood for negotiating. Shizuka held her hand back as a signal for the guys to stay there. Creeping around the columns, Shizuka advanced her way towards the guards position. Weaseling her way behind him, she snatched the guards arms and thrusted her knee into his back while pulling his arms. He fell limp and then she brushed her hands off while flashing a thumbs up to the guys.