The Hunt Begins (Dark Data)

[Celestia]

This battle was not off to a good start. That they had found their quarry, and that was about all Celestia had gone positive since they entered the basement chamber. It was perhaps more accurate to say that their target had found them, and had made preparations.

First was the gas. What was initially thought to be simply a drainage grate suddenly released a foul-smelling chemical into the air, and it didn't take long for the primes to start feeling its effects. Increased heart rate, rapid breathing, increased perception of things as threatening, it had been a long time since Celestia had felt panic like this. Her history proved to be a mixed blessing, as on the one hoof she was experienced managing fear in a crisis situation, while on the other it had been some time since she'd had to deal with actual, personal panic.

Then Kanda went down. The attack came suddenly, from an enemy outside the coverage of Celestia's ball of light, and interrupting the exorcist mid sentence. For all his bravado, apparently Yu Kanda had been in worse shape than he either realized or admitted. And if he went down so easily, than the rest of them could- no! Celestia couldn't let herself think like that! They would have to settle the issue of what happened to Kanda later, but as callous as it seemed for the moment they couldn't focus on such things.

Such as whatever horrible creature was attacking them from the shadows. While Celestia could still tell friend from foe easily, the gas was agitating her mind, and the effects would undoubtedly only get worse as time went on. She grew increasingly focused on a single task. “Got to find him...” she mumbled, largely to herself, “...can't let this continue...” She ranged her light out ahead of her into the darkness, and followed behind it as quick as she dared, ears twitching and pilfered hammer at the ready.