Battle Plan

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine knocked on the door of Professor Hoodham's office, waiting for the deep "Come in".
Dressed in all her armour, she felt like such a weirdo waiting in the ornate hall outside the principal's office, but it was a meeting for anyone who wanted to come, and Madeleine felt that she really should.
However, she was slightly late, and guessed that everyone was already waiting in there.
After this morning's talks with Lee, Seamus and Lisle, Madeleine was starting to feel a little more nervous - the enormity of what she was about to do was finally hitting her. It wasn't good, because she was starting to worry about what might happen, instead of just going with the flow - something that Shaun, always the dreamer, had taught her. It was better to relax and wait to see how things turn out because worrying only uses up energy and time.
But Shaun never really came this close to possibly leading many people to their deaths. Madeleine was leading a relatively small army, and she was worried at how they'd be met.
"Come in," rang from inside the office.
She pushed open the door.

[Rachel Hymer]

Rachel stood silently Professor Hoodham's office gazing out the window of the opposite side of the room, behind his large desk. There was about six people there already, and she spotted the faces of some of them, one she rememberd was that boy she had to heal on the night of the dance. He was with her. He know's what they are like. She bit her bottem lip and waited for the headmaster to say something. She rememberd the notice that had been put of earlier Anyone who would like to help in the capturing of Macy Deltine, come to Professor Hoodham's office today. She was really wanted to help. She thought that Prof. Hoodham would tell her that her place was in the Hospital, but he just smiled when she arrived. It was slghtly past the hour and they should have begun by now. Then there was a knock on the door. A girl came in, dressed in her offical armour. So they were actually going to do this. Rachel whispered something to her the air around her, but she knew that it was to her protective spirits.
"Okay students, let's begin." The headmaster said, standing infront of his desk.

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Madeleine sat down beside a girl whom she vaguely recognised from the Academics group and waited.
Professor Hoodham turned to smile at her. "Well, Madeleine, are you ready?"
"And waiting," Madeleine replied, with a brightness she didn't feel. "The Warriors are all finishing preparing, and the Spies have already found out where Macy is. It's just a matter of fighting our way through to get her."
If only it were as simple as that.
"Any reinforcements would be welcome," she added, looking around at the others in the room. "Our army is small, I'm worried about being completely outnumbered by the enemy camp. The Spies think that we'll be fine, but I'd still like to be sure... And we'll need some Carers to be ready and waiting on the field. There will be injuries, and not all people can self-heal."

[Erin Rakal]

Erin opened the door silently, coming in as if she were floating. Her expression was so serious - she would do anything to get Macy out. Which was very strange to her.
Why did she feel some sort of connection between herself and a captured girl that she'd never met.
"I'm here to help get Macy back," she said. "I may not be able to control my powers, but I'll do my best."
She had terrible control when it came to actually making the heat around her into fire - it was oh-too easy to use too much and create uncontrollable flames, whereas too little energy and you won't even get a spark.
She shuddered, thinking of what she had become in a few weeks. From the timid girl who fought on the streets to the warrior fighting everyday on the battlefield. And what of her sickness? Her disease?
A shiver was sent up her spine as she realised that maybe she'd be able to help out more than she expected with this thing she usually called a curse.
For once in her life she felt like she belonged somewhere, and her sickness could be put into good use.
"I don't know why, but I'm going to fight with the warriors," she said with a breif nod of her head...

[Rachel Hymer]

Rachel, for some reason stuck up her hand. "Oh, I'm a Carer! I can heal minor cuts and bruises and stuff.." Professor Hoodham smiled.
"Yes, Miss Hymer, I also know of other ways that you can use your powers.." Rachel thought for a second, trying to work out what he meant. She came to the conclusion that it was maybe about her skills with time. Not very many people can control time, although it is a sought-after power.
"Yes, we are preparing for the freedom of one of our students. It isn't going to be easy, but we will do it. Now, if anyone wants to back out now, that it fine." Everyone looked round to see if anyone would leave, but no-one budged. "Now, in preparation, I want to take a few of you outside, to tell you what you must do seperatly." He stood up and a light whisper came over the room. "Now can Miss Baudelaire, Miss Hymer, Mr Anderson and Miss Norris please come with me?" Rachel stood up, wondering that on earth, they could be being asked. They followed the head-master out of his office, leaving the students with Professor Thandie to supervise. None of them said anything, and just followed him down the stairs, further than Rachel had gone, down into the deep Catacombs...

[Madeleine Baudelaire&Russ Ford]

Before Madeleine left the room, she smiled gratefully at the girl who had said that she would fight. "Thank you. If you go to the Assembly Hall, there's armour and weapons. We're meeting at nine, but if I'm late," she said, glancing at the backs of the people going with Professor Hoodham. "Find Levi Ryder and ask him what you should do."
Eugh. He owed her one.
She raced outside and followed the others down the stairs.

[Erin Rakal]

Erin waved her hand away dismissively.
"Yeah. I'd love to overheat in the 2 ton armor like you're wearing, but it turns out I run faster without anything weighing me down," she said. Here she gave a smile, but it was half-hearted.
She was nervous, only barely fighting down her urge to fidget around.
She rubbed her temples as she felt a pain in her mind - it was the sickness, her curse trying to take over. To make her kill. She knew that trying to explain to it wouldn't work - it was animalistic, it wouldn't listen.
"I've got all the weapons I need," she said. With that, she flicked her wrists. Blades came out from her fingerless gloves, one for each finger. "Trust me, my bones will break before these do," she said confidently.
She knew that when she went out to fight, she might never come back.
As much as Erin hated it...
...she'd have to let go over her control. It could mean the difference between life and death for her...and Macy...