View source for 3117/Knives and Shields

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/09/29
|Location=Techno Urbania
|Synopsis=Yari Takane attempts to assassinate a company board of directors for selling deadly medication. Gawain of the Round Table comes to arrest them. The pair clash over the lives of those guilty, ideals put to the test. No one walks away happy.
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|Cast of Characters=533, 691
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Deltech Holdings, located in the heart of Techno Urbania, is one of many megacorps supplying medicines and other such things to the Multiverse at large. They're not particularly choosey on matters of the war, either, offering them to anyone who's willing to pay their prices. <br /><br /> The Confederacy made a contract, meds were distributed to a few villages, and three weeks later half of their population fell ill or died. And it's not just Confederate assets. Quite a few other places met the same fate, enough that the Union's information network would pick up on it. <br /><br /> It's enough that the Union could arrest the board of directors. The Confederacy isn't interested in mere arrests. <br /><br /> The Deltech's head office is about as generic as it comes, all steel and glass in a high-rise with a logo and a parking garage right next to it. The front doors are the rotating variety, and inside there's two metal detectors and four bored looking security guards with cyberarms and standard issue sidearms. <br /><br /> Yari has a long coat over trim business casual blouse and slacks, a 'Xenogen IT Consulting' logo on the shirt. The hood is pulled up, if only to keep out the rain, and she has a briefcase with her. Pushing back the hood, she barely gets an odd look. There's people of all kinds here. <br /><br /> She flashes a forged ID as one of the guards approaches her. <br /><br /> "Hey. Here to see about the server issues on the top floor." There's a quick check, one of the security guards nodding. Yari passes through the metal detector without issue, the insulated briefcase keeping her 'cargo' well hidden. <br /><br /> They don't even ask to check inside of it. <br /><br /> One elevator ride later, and she's at her destination. Lines of spacious offices alongside a few utility closets and a big board room area make up much of the top floor where the company higher-ups do their work. Five targets in total to be arrested or killed.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:533|Sir Gawain (533)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>The Union's moving in today, knowing that if they delay to act, their window of opportunity could vanish completely. Which is why Sir Gawain emerges from a Union transport van, a group of men with guns holding their position around it. His mission is to get in, get to the board of directors, and nonlethally retrieve them. His armor is already manifested, his sword at his side, as he eyes the security. They don't look like too much of a threat, though backup is here incase he needs it. "Golden Eagle, going on, over!" Gawain says to pretty much nobody, just feeling like saying it, because OFFICIAL OPERATION.<br /><br />And then, with a dash of his feet, Gawain /zooms/. Blade in hand, he's moving straight at the security guards inside, dashing through the doors...before knocking the blunt part into one on one side of him, and his empty hand into the chest of another, giving just enough force to nonlethally knock them back and hopefully out of his way. And as soon as he does that, he swivels to react, a genuine smile appearing on his face as he faces the other two guards. "Hello there! Can you point me to the board of directors?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Yari ducks into the ladies room, looking around. Empty. She hides in a stall, opening her briefcase, and assembling the silenced autopistol, then sneaks the concealable down down the back of her shirt. Adjusting her coat, making sure they're not visible, she then sets back out towards the office of her first target. <br /><br /> It's generally empty right now, a large meeting going down below, leaving mostly the targets. But there's one rushing intern that nearly hits Yari. She frowns. <br /><br /> "Oh, hi! You're with Consulting, right? Here, I'll show you to the IT closet!" <br /><br /> A delay. Yari forces a smile and nods. <br /><br /> "Lead the way." <br /><br /> "Uhh...been doing this long? Nice scales by the way! Maybe we should go out for a drink some time..." the intern relentlessly flirts as she's lead to the IT closet. Close to her objective, but it's a delay. <br /><br /> The two guards go flat to the ground as Gawain smashes the blunt of his blade into one, and a swat to the other guard's chest! One crashes through a lovely receptionist's desk, while the other ends up amidst a potted plant. <br /><br /> The other guards, wide eyed, look at each other. <br /><br /> "Elevator, top floor. Uhh. We don't have anything to do with it." <br /><br /> The guard will walk Gawain to the elevator, and should his backup secure the building, they'll not have any resistance. <br /><br /> The guard opens the elevator and slots a card, and leaves Gawain for the ride with tinny, annoying elevator music. <br /><br /> It opens just as a flash of coat and tail walks out of a wiring closet, shuts the door, and rounds a corner towards an office. All of the offices have big golden nametags on them, but it looks like Gawain will have to catch up to that figure first.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:533|Sir Gawain (533)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Cooperative guards! You don't get much of those. Sir Gawain salutes the guard, skipping along to the elevator. Right as the elevator leaves, the Union forces are moving upwards to secure the building, as Gawain hums to elevator music. "The Golden Eagle has landed. No sign of the board of directors inside this elevator, over." He chuckles to himself, as the doors open...and he spots the reptilian tail...oh? What was that?<br /><br />The Knight dashes forward, needing to check if that creature he saw will be a threat or not! He rounds the corner, blade at his side, as he speaks up. "Hey, wait! Stop right there, this is the...well, I'm not actually the police, but stop!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> After that flash of tail and coat goes Gawain, and he'd find a particularly familiar figure owning them. Yari Takane stands just in front of one of those golden-nametagged offices. Recognition dawns in her eyes even as she lights a smokebomb, mid-toss as she realizes just who's come to stop her. <br /><br /> But it's only for a moment, and she chucks the ball of gas, the thing threatening to fill the area with blinding smoke and generally get in Gawain's way! <br /><br /> Yari's quick to act, slamming into the first office bodily. But there's resistance as it opens right into her face, and a portly man in a business stumbles back. The two look at each other, but Yari reacts quicker, throwing herself at the man. She hasn't even drawn a real weapon yet, caught off guard as she is by Gawain's intrusion. There's the sound of a struggle inside the office!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:533|Sir Gawain (533)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>As Gawain recognizes Yari, he stumbles for a second. He knew (maybe?) that she was a Confederate, but he was definitely not expecting her here today! As such, the smoke has plenty of time to cover the room, as Gawain's sight is blocked. He lights his sword in an attempt to burn the smoke away, but as soon as the struggle begins, he's on the move, following the sound to find the office and barge in.<br /><br />The door is knocked off its hinges as Gawain stumbles inside, stopping to point his blade at Yari as he is inside. He grins, though there's a hint of both confusion and disappointment in it. "Yari Takane! Hands off the businessman! Businessman, you're under arrest, by order of the Union! Yari Takane, you might also be under arrest! Come quietly...I would prefer not to have to fight!" Despite this, however, Gawain /is/ readying a defensive position, his blade ready to strike should he need to.<br /><br />"And if we must...I will not hold back!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> The ninja is definitely on edge. The last person she thought she'd fight was Gawain. She'd never think any member of the round table weak, even if the man comes across as a bit of a dork. <br /><br /> The way he holds himself, that sword of his, there's no way he's faking any of it. There's a sad smile to Yari. <br /><br /> "...If I had my way, that's how this would end. But I have orders, and the only way this is ending without violence is if one of us backs down. I'm not going to insult you by trying to get you to stand down. Besides. You obviously know these men are guilty." <br /><br /> The rotund businessman, apparently trying to seize the opportunity, swings a chair at Yari. She gasps, ducks at the last moment, and swings a foot at the man's arm. The impact as she does a tumble in the air breaks the limb, and he goes flying against a wall, before Yari lands. IN that same instant, she draws a kunai, aiming to cut the businessman's throat. <br /><br /> But this leaves Gawain enough time to try to take her down, or grab the businessman! <br /><br /> "I'm not here for you anyway Mister Gawain."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:533|Sir Gawain (533)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Gawain sighs, before flinching as Yari is attacked. And then, he moves. Within his rapid movement, he extinguishes his blade, as he speaks quickly. "Even if they are guilty, that does not merit death! Everybody should have a chance to repent for their crimes, even them!" He almost wants to say 'even you', but for once, he stops himself. It's not the best time, and he doesn't battle psychologically.<br /><br />And then, his blade stops in front of the businessman's throat, trying to parry the kunai, as Gawain stops in front of Yari. The grin is still there, but much lessened, and there's a real determination in his eyes...a sad determination. He knows they have to fight, so he charges forward, hoping to get ground away from the man...and he slashes, though he aims to be nonlethal. If he can help it, absolutely no one will die here!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> "That's a fool's dream! Some people are too dangerous or hurt too many people to be allowed to live! Every second these men remain means they're a threat to innocent people who never took up a sword! I won't allow that even if it means going through you!" She counters back, eyes closing for that crucial moment as she tries to calm herself. Either she's trying to convince herself, or finally facing one of those she's come to think of as friends is almost too much for her resolve. <br /><br /> She'd been having too many doubts about the Confederacy as of late, and it shows. <br /><br /> That blade of Gawain's scratches across Yari's own, and the metal cracks against fairy-made materials. She's fast, but the swing and speed of Gawain has her flat footed. She dives towads the door, arm going up, and she's slashed across her should and chest. Landing into a rough roll, the agile ninja ends up on her foot and a knee, bleeding but not enough to be life threatening. She's watching Gawain far, far more closely now. <br /><br /> He's more dangerous than she imagined. <br /><br /> "...At least this won't be a boring fight." Her humor sounds hollow and forced even to her. She can barely enjoy this fight. <br /><br /> From her coat, she pulls out four shuriken, and tosses the quartet in arcing patterns towards Gawain and the businessman. Magic flows from the ninja, and after quick handseals, those four shuriken multiply, becoming a wave of at least forty of the things! The ones aimed at Gawain seem to target limbs and shoulders rather than anything vital, disabling shots, but the ones going for the businessman are far more malicious. Can Gawain save the cowering man?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:533|Sir Gawain (533)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Then a fool I am!" Sir Gawain may understand her words, but he doesn't ever want to be the kind of person who agrees with them. And for that, he'll always fight that ideal where he can. He takes a deep breath, and resolves himself to stop her here. He puts all of that into his strike, and he is not going to back down here.<br /><br />And then, she tosses her counter-attack. Gawain has only a split second to think, but his reaction is truly instinctual. He moves quickly...stopping in front of the businessman, ready to take the brunt of every shuriken. His armor should stop a fair amount of them, but he knows this is going to hurt. His blade moves quickly to hit any that may arc around and pierce the fat man. And once the kunai have all struck, he's taking another breath, and focusing his prana to continue fighting.<br /><br />And then, despite the pain, he dashes forward, igniting his blade in flame and striking at Yari's legs and arms rapidly, attempting to burn them and stop her from moving. Over his radio, he's telling the soldiers to move for the rest of the businessmen up there, and to avoid the office he's in.<br /><br />"I won't kill you, but I won't let you get away with this, either! I cannot in good conscience allow you to succeed!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Yari's already drawn another weapon as Gawain takes the blows of the sharp instruments, parrying those that dare slice towards the Businessman! By the time he's finished, the man has passed out, but he's otherwise unharmed. <br /><br /> The room, however, is covered in shuriken. Gawain might have to watch his feet. <br /><br /> That burning blade lashes out, and even Yari isn't fast enough to evade it all. That purpose gives fluidity that the ninja lacks for all her grace and quickness. A strike to her arm slices across her Magitek gauntlet, ripping it off as ceruleum leaks between the pair of them. The next strike sends sparks flying, her legs and tail burning, and she muffles a scream as she bites down on her own hand. Then she pulls it out, and aims a hard, hard kick towards the man's stomach. <br /><br /> "GET DOWN!" She howls to Gawain. She's tried to kick his armored form towards the relative safety of that heavy desk where the businessman has hid behind. <br /><br /> Then, the ceruleum motes catch flame, and resulting explosion sends Yari flying out the door into a crumpled heap. She coughs, gags, and there's definitely horrible burns from the unintended damage. But with a shaking limb, noting the incoming soldiers, she tosses something round at them! <br /><br /> A flashbang grenade! <br /><br /> "Rejoice! A better man that you'll ever be preserves your disgusting existance!" Screams the delirious ninja in spite at the cause of all this before she's shoving herself to her feet, leaving a trail of blood to follow her. By now, two of the executives have made tracks, leaving two unaccounted for. The mission's already a failure, but Yari is relentless in pursuit of her goals. <br /><br /> Pulling out her gun, she spies the shadow of a cowering businessman in the non-empty office three doors down, and simply starts pouring bullets into it in haste. Crude, but effective.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:533|Sir Gawain (533)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Gawain moves as he's kicked back, leaping behind the table. But as the gauntlet explodes, all he can do is cry out, "Yari!". This is wrong. This shouldn't be happening, but bad things happen all the time. The knight's eyes begin to get a bit wet, as he shakes his head and stands up, dashing right over the flashbang as it explodes, disorienting him as he stumbles out the door and into the wall across from it. He's signalling on his radio again, this time to surround the elevator. He doesn't expect Yari to take it, but it's still a worthwhile precaution.<br /><br />"Yari...stop fighting. If you surrender, you will be protected. ...If you try to flee, I won't chase you. But I will fight! This may be your job...it's mine too! As a knight, I protect the people! All of them, no matter how paradoxical that is! Even you!" Sir Gawain is flinching, bleeding, in pain, but he means his words. If she leaves, he'll let her. But if she fights, he will fight too. And to prove it, he dashes forward, going to slice at her arm holding the gun. The blade is no longer on fire, but it's still a powerful blade, and he just wants this over. He doesn't know how long he could hold this, or keep together, and he doesn't really know if he'd survive a long drawn-out battle with her. But he knows she doesn't want this either, and that's why he refuses to kill her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> As the men take point, they've got a majority of the businessmen covered! The only one truly in danger now is the one that Yari's putting her efforts into ending. And in desperation, she at least manages that much. A kicked open door, and as the man hesitates, she hucks a grenade in with her tail. Even Gawain's stumbling doesn't mean she can get away from him. <br /><br /> She tries to dance aside, but catches her ankle, and down GAwain's blade goes. Her gun is sliced apart, her wrist slashed, and her arm falls useless beside her. She trips, rolls towards the glass outer windows, and grows still for a moment. <br /><br /> "...I know. I can see it in your eyes. That's been your life's work, Saber's work. Protecting people." <br /><br /> She shakes her head. <br /><br /> "You're a shield, Gawain, to protect innocent people and to stand in the way of those who would take the lives of others. But just as you are a shield, there are knives seeking the backs of others. I'm that knife. Someone like me doesn't bring honor to themselves, they bring it to those they represent. All the little dirty work that keeps any kingdom or Empire running." <br /><br /> A deep, sad sigh. <br /><br /> "You can't protect me from my own nature. A knife's only use is cutting." <br /><br /> Then, with a deep breath as her vision wavers, she steels her nerves. A quick series of handseals, and she gets to work! <br /><br /> The veins in her face pulse, her eyes go bloodshot, and pure strength flows into her veins as she shoves magic into her weary muscles. Leaping backwards in a blurr of magic-fueled motion, she crashes from the skyscraper, beginning to fall towards the earth. <br /><br /> Even for her it'd be a fatal landing were she to somehow not save herself.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:533|Sir Gawain (533)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>As the grenade rolls, and Yari moves, Gawain dashes...but it's too late. She's already leaped, and as he realizes this, the grenade detonates him, knocking him to the ground, the businessman dead. The Knight just lies there for several minutes, before finally rising to his feet, and standing to look out the window. And then, he sadly parts, the mission a failure for both sides today.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:691|Yari Takane (691)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span> Whump! Yari lands. But not on the streets. A last minute grab from her coat, a light pneumatic hiss, and her grappling hook sends her flying towards another building. It's not a nice landing: she tumbles, cracks her head against the hard concrete, and lays there dazed. <br /><br /> She tries to tell herself that she's crying because of the pain, and not what occured tonight.<br> <br>


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