View source for 4608/Season of Pain 2 - War Pigs

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2016/09/27
|Location=The Commonwealth <TC>
|Synopsis=Season of Pain 2 - The Final Battle. Drowning Doom arrives on the Commonwealth to finish what the bombs didn't; The death of all life. Via DEATH CLAWS.
|Cast of Characters=981, 673, 7, 975, 1023, 903, 982
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>With the situation in the West end of Cambridge mostly stabilized, for the time being, it leave some time for performing the original mission. Namely, scouting the environs and pushing back against the various horrors of the Commonwealth, wherever they may be found. The Institute has emerged as public enemy number one, but despite having the obvious lead of the former C.I.T. campus, no one has actually seen anyone enter or leave, according to travelers that frequent the area. It leaves quite the mystery! For this reason, Paladin Danse has set off, with whatever Elite assistance he can muster, into the central part of Boston's sister across the river. This is a mixing pot of sorts between various threats, and it's hard to predict what they may even encounter. He even would have admitted as such.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What he did not expect to find, though, was a functioning street corner cafe. A Mr. Handy model robot maneuvers deftly between the various tables and seated patrons, completely skeletonized of course, and still dressed in the rags of the clothes they were wearing when they were flash-killed by a nuclear strike. The Mr. Handy, whether willfully or by programming, seems to still regard them as current customers, though the triad of optical sensors do regard the power-armored footsteps of the approaching Paladin with curiosity. "Oh, if it isn't one of our service boys," he proclaims cheerfully in the pre-installed, default British butler personality? "I hope the homefront is treating you well, sir! Please, have a seat. I will inform security to not disturb you and your party."<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With that, the reason the cafe likely remained undisturbed makes itself known, as from out of the side alley, a far bulkier and tread-wheeled Sentrybot rolls out and makes its presence known. After briefly scanning with the single red eye fixed behind an armored cage, it appears satisfied, and continues on its patrol. "In the last days," Danse remarks, "Every business tightened security, mostly against rioters and looters. Don't believe any idyllic pre-war photographs you might see. It was a facade." Meanwhile, over a still functional radio, 'Maybe' by the Ink Spots plays from the nearby Diamond City. The Mr. Handy has gone on to set a coffee pot onto a hot plate, just inside the half-collapsed shop's interior.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:673|Rory White (673)}} has posed:'''<br>"Another day in boston. Another heaping helping of macabre and disturbing." Sayeth a blue-haired girl in white robes, affecting an exasperated tone full of sarcasm a bit better than usual. She's been practicing, it seems. But her eyes are full of distaste, frustration, and sadness... having come to understand that the Mr. Handy series is fully self-aware'ish, but just hardcoded enough that they fall into patterns and go CRAZY when unable to fulfill their duty, would have her weeping if she were capable of it!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Instead she can only approach and find a seat. She seems to have no qualms seating herself next to a skeleton though. That doesn't bother her, even as her Muse privately points out that to her that it would bother most humans.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Good day! You've done well staying intact without official maintenance for... far too many decades. How has business been?" She can't possibly be thinking of establishing trade with this one too, could she?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:'''<br>Flesh Doll? Kotone had an idea of where she came formnow and it was nightmare fuel, yet that was over for her right? Maaka had run Flesh Doll down and hopefully gone for good. She'd been healed or repaired depending from how you looked at it and was here in Boston helping out where she could in what was a Boston tht never seemed to get out of the 1950s cultrally well until the bombs fell. Thankfully that is a long ago but things like this were a bit creepy still she fell in along side Rory. <br><br> "Greetings, it's a bit of a shock to see a cafe of any sort intact...." <br><br> Also she hears maybe playing and it takes her a moment to place the song, dang that was old even on her world.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:975|Drowned Ophelia (975)}} has posed:'''<br>The Commonwealth; A place of refuge. Not safety, perhaps, and certainly not sanity, but refuge none the less. Where the dirt is -not quite- poisonous enough to kill off life. Where one can eek out a living, a form of survival, and - yes - even a sense of civilization. It is a testament to the will of a species that -will not fucking die-, no matter how many times they've been bombarded, poisoned, burnt, ripped, torn, shot, stabbed or asphyxiated. It was said that cockroaches were the ultimate survivors - whoever said that had never seen humanity pushed to the brink. Because despite being royally fucked over in every possible way imaginable - from super predators to mutations - humanity wasn't only surviving, they were -coming back-, working their way back up the food chain.<br><br>Someone needs to remind these fuckers when to stay buried.<br><br>And so it comes; The western sky had been slowly darkening as a storm rolls in, crackling flashes of lightning that leap forward, clean white instead of the impure green of rad-storms. At the Cafe, a few drops of rain patter across broken streets and down ancient skeletons, torn and faded umbrellas doing little to protect the patrons from the sprinkling rain. But there's more to it as the storm seems to pick up speed, curling forward like blackened fingers clawing greedily at the blue sky. For as the lightning crackles forward, one can see the fat cigar shape of a - zeppelin? But oddly shaped - the fins sharpened like stabbing daggers, a massive and cruel point to the nose. It sweeps low across the storm tattered sky, engines roaring, black talbards hanging from either side like some massive livery; A quarter mile to the south and moving slowly, but steadily, towards the center of Cambridge proper. <br>Lightning crackles again, in time to - cymbals? Massive speakers thudding as the bass kicks in, another flash of lightning illuminating the sides of the massive air-ship; The livery being a falling raven, with an updside down Anhk. Carrying a massive metal box beneath, chains straining against the weight. Distant air-raid sirens to go off as the METAL grows, the atmosphere twisted by the distant echoes of a power alien to this world. The thrumming engines of the Zeppelin pull in full reverse, almost directly over Coldham's Common, the entire structure slowing to a halt as search lights snap out. Sweeping the ground directly beneath the the Zeppelin, then further out and up, lights flashing along the storm clouds above as well. And still the METAL plays on, a sure sign..<br>That the DROWNING DOOM HAS ARRIVED.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1023|Steven Universe (1023)}} has posed:'''<br>And as the storm of lightning, thunder, rain and METAL invades, lo does another sound echo across the almost-barren wasteland... A ROAR, ferocious and powerful enough to open a hole in space, a portal through which dashes a magnificently regal pink Lion, on his back a young boy in shorts and red t-shirt emblazoned with a star. The pair make for a spot of color in the sepia-soaked land, bright and visible as a day-glow target.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Wow, this place is... kind of a dump. Did you really bring me to where Ophelia is? Because I didn't really mean it Lion, she's scary..." Scary yes, but there's something about her... He wants to help her, as he wants to help everybody, even if she is scary. Also, there was something intoxicating about playing Shooting Star, maybe the special effects or the power? But he does kinda want to play it again...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lion peers right and left, noting the local fauna and even some flora here and there, and the glowing water areas. Seeing the storm pouring in over a section of city, he maps a route toward it avoiding all of the glowing waters and local fauna as best he can along the way. This is a cat with a purpose, though what that might be is anyone's guess...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:903|Ebon Ribbon (903)}} has posed:'''<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the air raid sirens sound from the zepplin, there is a lightning strike atop the massive metal crate, and just after the strike several ribbons of neon purple energy lash out, somehow glowing with blackness. When the smoke clears, there is...a pony? A dark-looking unicorn who's usual short-styled mane and curled tail have been let out especially for this. Instead, her mane is as long as she is tall, and her tail seems even longer, both flowing out behind her like dark clouds with streaks of neon pink, adding a sinister grace to her appearance. And as the first few measures of the harder hit base play, she produces a microphone in one forehoof and steps to the edge of the crate before her beautiful voice fills the air like a taunting spectre <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <span style="color:xterm90">o/` Generals gather in their masseeeeeeees! <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Just like Witches at black massee-eeeeees! <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Evil minds that plot destructiooooooon! <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sorcerors of Death's constructioooooon. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the fields the bodies burniiiiiing! <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As the war machine keeps turniiiiiing. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Death and Hatred to Mankii-iiiind! <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Poisoning their brainwashed mii-iiiiinds. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh lord yeah~ o/`</span> <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The hauntingly beautiful voice gives way to harder guitar and drum hits, and no doubt plenty more lighting, allowing the message to sink in to any who might be within earshot of the zepplin.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>"Of course, miss," the Mr. Handy boasts in response to Rory, "General Atomics constructs the finest and longest-lasting robots on the market!" With his shameless plug routine having been fulfilled, the Mr. Handy brings the steaming hot pot of coffee back out front, and pours some into a (surprisingly clean, if a little chipped and weathered) tea cup, for both Kotone and Rory. "Oh, the old shop HAS seen better days. The maintenance crew is just over two-hundred and ten years overdue! But on my honor, I must do the best I can to keep things running. To see the smiles on the faces of our patrons keeps me going!" Well, they can't help but smile, since they're skeletons and all.<br> <br> <br>

:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>"Of course, miss," the Mr. Handy boasts in response to Rory, "General Atomics constructs the finest and longest-lasting robots on the market!" With his shameless plug routine having been fulfilled, the Mr. Handy brings the steaming hot pot of coffee back out front, and pours some into a (surprisingly clean, if a little chipped and weathered) tea cup, for both Kotone and Rory. "Oh, the old shop HAS seen better days. The maintenance crew is just over two-hundred and ten years overdue! But on my honor, I must do the best I can to keep things running. To see the smiles on the faces of our patrons keeps me going!" Well, they can't help but smile, since they're skeletons and all.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As for Danse, sitting on one of the chairs in power armor is probably a bad idea, and he's officially on duty, so while he'll allow those two to engage the Mr. Handy in idle convesation, he himself busies on the perimeter, taking measurements that are being radioed with telemetry right back to the Cambridge Police Headquarters. "Haylen, are you getting a clear reading?" A female voice rises over a moment of static, "Loud and clear! I've not noticed any of those short broadband bursts yet, though. Part of the trouble of having to rely on a transient phenomenon and all." "Affirmative. Let me know if you notice any, and we'll get started on the triangulation." Short radio bursts and pulses, huh...Rory might remember something on that.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unfortunately, it's going to be hard to get a good reading above the noise of that gathering storm to the West. Lightning and thunder isn't anything new to the Commonwealth, but there's something noticably different about this one. The Glowing Sea that Rory would have scouted long before? It infrequently isn't content to just sit in that sterile dust bowl to the Southwest, irradiating only the few life forms that can actually exist there, and instead blows across the Commonwealth, itself, covering everything in a sickly green as the thunder rolls take on a distinctive, and oddly *metallic* reverb. Something's different this time, though. It's not green, for one thing. "Haylen. Something's come up. Are you seeing this?" "Yeah, we see it. Is that--" The radio seems to cut out shortly after, overwhelmed by interference.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The shape coming out of the storm causes Paladin Danse to pause for a moment. There's only one known current operator of a vehicle like that in the Eastern US, as of this time and date. "The Prydwen?" Yet, as its featues resolve, it's clearly a case of mistaken identity, "No... That looks like something some Raiders would put together. How on Earth..." They can scarcely weld together something resembling body armor. As the dire dirigible makes its way closer, the Mr. Handy seems rather upset with the turn of events, though mostly at the horrible racket. "Good heavens," it complains, peeved, turning one optical sensor skyward as it hovers, even while its two remaining thruster arms busy serving customers. "What is that cacophonous EYESORE doing disturbing the peace of our cafe? The NERVE! Securiteh!" The Sentrybot rolls back closer to the shop front, a deep and menacing, and completely emotionless, voice confirming, "Commencing security operations. Civilians, stand clear."<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's likely that the sound will attract other attention from nearby, in short order. For one thing, anyone that can sense seismic activity suddenly notices the very ground shaking, as though it's an extremely minor earthquake. It seems to be out of phase with the music, which is...odd. For another, the epicenter isn't in only one place. It seems to be moving. Faultlines don't really do that on these timescales.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;While Danse is checking his fire, for the moment, the Sentrybot has no such restraint, and immediately opens fire with one of the miniguns it has instead of hands, aimed up at the Zeppelin.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:982|Mitsu Mirage (982)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Staying quiet and still is kind of a pain for the Rabbit of the TSAB, standing near one of the chains, leaning against it as she listens to the METAL and the amazing singing coming from a pony of all things... Well, there was the times she tried stealing Nightsong, but that's another story. "Hmm, might have to join the band one day." she smirks, peering over the edge, "Kratzenfaust, as soon as this shit drops, let's add to that lightning storm, shall we?" she smiled.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&lt;<span style="color:red">Understood. Stand by, ready. Shocker Shield.</span>&gt; comes the german voice from the device, a white shimmer overtakes the Mage and soon, she's in her barrier jacket and surrounded in a lightning ball. She slowly walks towards one edge of the crate... and upon hearing anything about dropping the box, she's running towards the other edge and she LEAPS off! "Shocker Breaker!" comes a loud, echoed voice in a thundercrack from above, a large ball of lightning magic forms in between the twin claw gauntlets, throwing it down towards the ground.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It was always her favorite opening. The large ball of electric magic hurdles towards the ground, and upon contact with it, it explodes into a large dome of crackling electricity, arcing off to find flesh or anything it can shock to hell. As for Mitsu and her plummeting? She lets the Shocker Shield bounce her off the ground a few times before dispelling it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"HI!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:673|Rory White (673)}} has posed:'''<br>Rory's about to politely decline the coffee, for her Synth body cannot process it, when... the distant storm gives her pause. Several of her thought threads focus that direction, senses moving out through a Saucer hovering high in the air and some tiny cameras mounted atop a nearby crumbling building. She sees the storm, the dirigible... but that symbol sends a chill through her neurals.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Upside-down Ankh. They must mean to convey Death..." A raucous cacaphony of death metal. The upside-down Ankh... and black. Oh so much black. The pattern's instantly recognized. "Ophelia and her hordes..."<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;What she DOESN'T have a clue about is Steven on his pink lion! THAT has no place here in this desolate, ruined hellhole. "Who...?!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Cameras in the sky are watching you, kid!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rory stands up, offering an apologetic look to the Cafe Handy!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"A horde of monsters straight out of mythology and nightmares will be here soon. One Security unit won't stand a chance! I'm recommending you take shelter until they leave, if your directives allow it." Rory advises the Handy quickly.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Knowing these models though, the answer is probably 'they don't.'<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She does, however, move QUICKLY away from the Sentrybot, lest she provoke its twitchy and impatient programming!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hopefully she won't have to repair the thing later...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then... the ground's shaking?! She looks around... "Molerats? Radscorpions?!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:'''<br>Kotone Yamakawa will take the cup of coffee, caffeine is one of the few pleasures of the flesh that she's not lost in her conversion and darn it she's going to get her fuel as it were. She will give it a check to make sure theres no real rad content in the drink, well that was her intent to drink it when someone else is going on. She listens to the radio comm chatter for a moment and then comes a storm and she narrows her eyes. <br><br> "That doesn't look good, wait is that? Oh no...why are they here?" <br><br> Kotone looks honestly /scared/. She was unaware of Steven's arrival and while she'd know what Ebon Ribbon is but not whom she is. The fact the Tear Drinkers are here has clearly /scared/ the hell out of Kotone. <br><br> Things are just getting worse as more and more pile in. Kotone didn't come unarmed but she didn't bring heavy. <br><br> "We'll deal with this." <br><br> She notes to the robots while she pulls her pistol, why didn't she pack more heat here when she came here?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:975|Drowned Ophelia (975)}} has posed:'''<br>Tracer fire rips upwards from a SentryBot, screaming shells of high velocity shells tumbling at super sonic vectors towards the MASSIVE DEADELIN - whose massive speakers hammer harder, the very air shuddering beneath their sonic onslaught. Tracer file suddenly wobbles, twisting aside and off as they hit the NOISE; The aspect of ORMOGEDDON that SHATTERED the skies with his THUNDEROUS DEATH CRY. Some of it strikes true - sparks riddling along the chains even as Ebon sings her pony-sized heart out in tribute to the METAL. THE BEAUTIFUL FUCKING METAL.<br>And then the chains squeak, metal tortourosly twisted - and release. The crate -PLUMMETS-, those atop without their own way having rapel cables attached. For dramatic entries of course.<br>There is a pause in the thunderous METAL as the crate plummets, a whistling sound of air being forced aside. It eclipses the LIGHTNING ORB Mitsu released as it SLAMS into the ground. Electricity arcing along and up it, mad fingers touching the bloated sky even as said sky stabs downwards. A war between EARTH and STORM.<br>And then explosions ripple up the sides, before the sides fall away with THUDS, flattening anything adjacent to the metal crate. And within? A STAGE! YES! A MOTHERFUCKING STAGE, DOOM BELL RINGING. Spotlights from the DEADELIN swing downwards, highlighting the figure at the center, who looks up towards the swirling sky. And, hopefully, Ebon dropping down to take her rightful place. "Hello BOSTON! ARE YOUR READY TO DIE?!<br>Arms swing up. Knees bend in.<br>"MUSTA! KRAKESH!"<br>The first hammer hit of guitar. The first WHAM of hammer. The cymbals crash, and Drowned Ophelia - SUMMONS THE DETH CLAWS.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>"Abandon my post?" The Mr. Handy actually seems to consider to Rory and Kotone, for a moment, before whatever deep-rooted programming General Atomics installed takes over, "I wouldn't think of it! Not while the safety of our cafe and customers is endangered." The Mr. Handy accordingly moves straight out onto the street, where it calculates that Mitsu Mirage will land, buzzsaw and clasper arms at the ready! Unfortunately, its conditioning and the data available do not cover people that can blast spherical shells of lightning at the ground, and while its defense is noble and well-intentioned, it clearly gets off to the wrong foot...hover jet. "Come down and face me--! Eeyargh," it has only a moment to yelp, before the electrical arcs overwhelm its circuitry. The units made for civilian service aren't particularly well shielded, alas. The Mr. Handy ragdolls across the pavement, before coming to a stop against a long-broken parking meter. At least their chassis is otherwise durable.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Sentrybot, on the other hand, has no such trouble. It does pause in its firing for only a moment, as failsafes and extra parity checks are enabled in its software. For what it's worth, at least it isn't attacking Rory as he had worried about, since she and Kotone have been added to the customers registry. The Sentrybot, not merely a ranged attacker, lets its fusion cores vent for a moment, before suddenly barreling forward, intending to use its mass, easily equal to the average pickup truck, to try and intercept the enormous crate that had been jarred loose. Instead, it is forced backward by the blast wave of the combined landings, its triple set of treads keeping it steady as it regains its 'footing'.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sounds, whether supernaturally alluring or 'oh god please make it stop', conjure up one of the worst threats that this particular post-apocalyptic United States has to offer. Those seismic vibrations finally reveal themselves, moving ever closer to the surface, before forgotten sewer access plates, drainage culvert grates, and even large pieces of pavement are ripped and thrown clear, with a crowd of roars. Emerging from the depths where they nominally make their home, bipedal, reptilian-looking creatures that are fairly close to humanoid howl their protests, and immediately begin charging almost anything within reach. Their jagged teeth and horns look dangerous enough, but they seem most intent on using those enormous talons on their powerfully built hands, if their posture is any indication!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:903|Ebon Ribbon (903)}} has posed:'''<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ebon Ribbon of course knew the crate was going to be dropped eventually, and when it is finally cut loose her purple energy ribbons lash out, linking her to the zepplin. What follows is a pony bungee jumping from the bottom of the blimp, her mane and tail flowing out behind her once again in dramatic fashion, the pink streaks looking more like lightning with the mane and tail fluttering in the heavy winds of a free-fall dive. The pony holds out a forehoof and folds the other legs as if she is flying downward leaving streamers of energy in her wake. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; When she reaches the limit of her streamers' reach, Ebon Ribbon dismisses them in a shower of dark purple sparkles which follow her down to the ground before she deploys new streamers that strike toward the ground like lightning and form a lattice to slow her fall. The streamers swirl and writhe as she lowers down with slow, deliberate grace to take up a spot beside the figure already on stage. Those streamers of energy continue to lash and swirl about, adding to the dramatic scene about them. She gives her mane a haughty toss with one forehoof, then smirks. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "RIIIIIIIISE!" <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; With a thrust of that forehoof into the air, Ebon adds her voice to the roars of the Deathclaws and the scream of her stage partner.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1023|Steven Universe (1023)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well... that's different..." Steven seems a little less scared by sudden monstrosities and crimes against nature, with his extensive experience fighting corrupted gem fragments. These actually kinda remind him of a few of them. The Singing pony who seems to be on Ophelia's side gives him a little more pause, as does the massive ball lightning strike ahead of him that just... keeps... crackling.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He raises his arm and a rose-themed shield appears. Lion roars with a powerful cry, not opening a portal but simply trying to blow away any lightning or projectiles in the way, and skids to a stop near the diner, notably not too close to the Sentrybot.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hey, Kotone, is she causing you trouble again? And what the heck are those monster things?" He flings his shield at one in a move that would do Captain America proud if Steven even knew who Cap was. Lion deposits him on the ground, roars again opening another hole in space, and bravely vanishes into it.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:'''<br>The Tear Drinkers are here, they have Death Claws? She'd heard only a little about them from Danse yet? Seeing the, they were big as a light IFV and looked like they could bend steel bars. How does one even pull off making a creature like these things? Or how does something mutate into /that/? She had no idea but it's very clear they are made of pain, the Mr. Handy is down, maybe Rory and her can do something for the chap when this is over. For now they need to focus on keeping from being spare parts themselves. <br><br> The Sentry bot is still in the fight however and she's thankful for the firepower it's brining, at the very least? It's something for the attackers to worry about. <br><br> As she's getting her pistol ready to fgo she sees Steven show up and she blinks for a moment. 5R<br> "Steven?! What are you doing here? Yes she's causing trouble I think those things are called Death Claws I'd have to ask a local about them more..." <br><br> Kotone acts on reflex now and moves to postion herself in a way she can help guard Steven, she has her pistol ready and is going to have to hink hard about how to handle these things. <br><br> "Rory! Can you get a tac net up?" <br><br> She turns her attention to Steven. <br><br> "Just keep with me, this isn't a word to go wandering alone for anyone. <br><br> "Ophelia... we are not ready to die, I think it's time your band ... broke up." <br><br> She makes ready with her weapon now and she's going to have to act smart to fight the Tear Drinkers.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>First a colorful horse, now a colorful lion. Today has to be a lie, right? He's going to wake up any moment now to Haylen shaking him out of a weird dream, brought on by drinking too much of the local water. For now, he has to make do with the reality he's been given, though, and if it's going to be absurd, he might as well take advantage to dream train against the weirdest the Multiverse has to offer. "The name's Danse," he remarks to the youth, Steven. "And they're called Deathclaws. I'm certain you can imagine why." After a moment of sizing up the avenues they're using to approach, as well as the apparent band leaders, he places his power armor's helmet on, just in time for the eddies of current still lingering from Mitsu's entrance to arc off his armor's plating, "I'll take the singing horse. Be careful of the Deathclaws. They can open a suit of power armor like a can opener, if they get the chance." <br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With this, he begins marching steadily foward, astride the Sentrybot at first. Adding to the hail of bullets from its minigun, as well as grenade launcher, that are being trained on any deathclaws that approach the perimeter of the cafe, Danse soon adds his own well-aimed laser bursts. When the sea of claws and teeth and leathery flesh parts for a moment, he instead begins squeezing off those shots at Ebon Ribbon, instead! No matter what this thing is, even if it looks like a Giddyup Buttercup brough to life, the singing and 'music' seems to be stirring up the Deathclaws, and while they remain the battlefield is far more dangerous and chaotic. "What the hell are you," Danse demands? "The Commonwealth sees enough trouble without outsiders bringing their own."<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Unless Mitsu proves to be a personal annoyance, he's not going there. He had his fill of her lightning nonsense and trickery at the fake Nazi hideout. ...it's a long story.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:673|Rory White (673)}} has posed:'''<br>Welp, there goes the Mr. Handy! Downed from a bolt from the blue, quite literally! Rory frowns, but offers little more visual sign for how she feels about the matter. Doubtless, upset, but she tends to go flatfaced when upset.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Due to EXTREME concentration and emotional discipline.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The AGI turns her head about, spotting Mitsu and others... and yanks out an odd-looking... weapon from her robes? It's two sections, split by a central grip and trigger, the front bridging section between the two components sporting a cerulean focusing crystal?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Kotone knows what this is. It's a Matter Manipulator. Not a weapon, per se, but if you've only got room to carry ONE THING... then it's perhaps the best thing to BE carrying.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Because Rory reacts swiftly to the threat presented by Deathclaws. Her TacNet goes live, courtesy of two Saucers hovering in the skies and three building-mounted cameras in the area.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Fighting the Deathclaws without cover is suicide. They're too mobile and strong. Ideally, lure them indoors and restrict their movements!" Which has her immediately checking which of the nearby buildings is the most suitable for such a fight.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Matter Manipulator's crystal flashes and engulfs Rory! With a few surges of ancient technology in action her white robes are replaced with sleek metamaterial battle armor. All on its own, her hair bunches up and binds itself into a ponytail. A handful of Transhuman weapons subsequently appear from the Matter Manipulator, mounting to hardpoints on the armor. Including what looks like a cluster micro-missile launcher strapped to Rory's back.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:975|Drowned Ophelia (975)}} has posed:'''<br>The Death Claw that Steven's shield snapped towards was CLUNKED, its head jerked aside just as it was getting ready to rip into the back of the Sentry Bot. Which quickly backhands the creature aside before the miniguns rip it apart. Target overload; Unable to properly place The Drowning Doom in their priority, it sets about clearing the target zone of all non-purchasing customers via the application of brutal ****'ing force. Bullets rip and whine overhead as it twists and turns, the street lit up in strobe lights, its red optic light swinging from side to side. Dead Death Claws thumping down around it, but it's not getting off scout free - slung here and there, crushed into cars and with deep gouges starting to wear on its heavy armor. <br>The avenue it cleared towards the Stage is still open - for the moment. Hulking monstrosities that leap and charge far faster than their size should allow. Frankly, it's not ****'ing fair. It's only the fact that most of them appear to have been driven into a frenzied run down other alley ways, chasing the scents of life and meat that has kept this -one area- from being overwhelmed. They were animals - most of them. Vicious and tricky and above all HUNGRY, but driven into something like a shark with blood scent by the POUNDING OF DEATH METAL. DEATH METAL FOR DEATH CLAWS.<br>So for the moment - for this brief point of time - there is a chance. A CHANCE to stop the madness, a CHANCE to halt this chaos before it grows to engulf all of CIT. OR perhaps even further, for who knows what the Drowning Doom are capable of where it not for the heroes who put themselves in harm's way to stop it?<br><br>And still Drowned Ophelia plays on, leaning back, her chin raised upwards as she -cackles-. Electricity flickering off the glowing strings and up her hair, stage lights swinging back and forth, pot fires rippling backwards and forewards in time to the rattling guitar riffs and high screams.<br>It's a DROWNING DOOM CONCERT. And the difference between that and a barbarian raid is only in the merch.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:903|Ebon Ribbon (903)}} has posed:'''<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ebon Ribbon wasn't expecting to be attacked directly at this distance, and a sharp cry escapes her as one of those laser bolts sears a path across her chest. She leaps to the side quickly as her streamers begin swirling around her like an energy vortex, deflecting and absorbing any follow-up fire. She gives her mane another toss as she stands there, letting the vortex of purple and black protect her. "I am Ebon Ribbon, and we just thought the survivors on this world might enjoy a nice heavy metal concert." she says with a smirk. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Then, she dashes right toward Danse, those ribbons that were swirling around her coming together to lash out as one swirling beam of negative energy. Except, if it hits, those ribbons try to wrap around Danse's armor, and he'd notice an immediate and steady drop in his armor's power levels. Seems whatever this creature is, she can pull the energy right out of her targets. Danse's helmet sensors might even see the flow of energy travelling down those ribbons and into the pony.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:982|Mitsu Mirage (982)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hmm, there's a couple going after the Deathclaws and one going after the pony. Wait, aren't these people familiar to her? OH YES, THEY FUCKING BLEW UP HER TANK! MItsu's eyes scowl a bit and her claws are encircled in lightning. She's not going to care what is caught in this as she hops up into the air and just wildly slashes at the air, throwing blades of lightning at everything within reach! "This is for blowing up that hovertank I wanted! I COULD HAVE USED THAT YOU JERKS!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once she lands, she moves to rush down the nearest person, kicking off the ground to make a flying, lightning imbued, claw punch at someone, "And this is for ambushing me earlier you stealthy jackass!" The crack of thunder is in the air and tries to make her strike, "Shocker Taser!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>"Whatever this is, it isn't a concert," comes Danse's protest. REAL music is what was playing over the radio just earlier. That radio, by the way, which was momentarily interrupted from the electrical currents that had been coursing through the air, but is back to weakly playing Diamond City Radio through its tinny and weathered loudspeaker, one that is easily drowned out by the other sounds in the environment. Regardless, the strange way those tendrils move, this creature is controlling them, then? Moreover, she isn't merely able to sing, but hold a conversation -- he'll assume she, from the tone of voice, but can he really even be certain, this far out of his element. His helmet visor momentarily turns back to look at the cafe and other nearby buildings, just to check the state of things, and man, is that sentrybot on a roll...but it won't last too many more wallops quite like that last one. <br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The thing about power armor is that it's crazy protective, especially against conventional projectiles and melee weapons. It is not particularly mobile, at least in a horizontal sense. Nonetheless, Danse was *trying* to shift out of the way, and there was that slim chance he might have succeeded, except the girl he was trying to avoid, Mitsu, lands right next to him and sends that current coursing right through the power armor. Most of it passes harmlessly over the outer hull of it, due to the electrical skin effect, and straight to ground. But enough still gets through to the servos, plus the suddenly awkward positioning, that it's the perfect opening for a ribbon wrapping. "Ergh!" Try as he might to yank free of it, Ebon Ribbon still gets a nice dose of fusion core through diffusion from the armor's internal conduits. It's probably a good thing that he installed a fresh core this every morning, at Haylen's advice.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not having much else to do, he swings the entrapped arm's elbow to try and place some space between himself and Mitsu, while firing at Ebon Ribbon and her...well, ribbon, with his laser. If that doesn't do the job of separating it, he'll take off in a sprint straight at the latter. While side to side movement isn't great, an actual charge in power armor certainly is.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:673|Rory White (673)}} has posed:'''<br>use the Cafe's PA for speakers, huh?! Rory hops over the counter and into the cafe, as it's the best cover available for now! She does indeed start hunting for anything that looks like an interface for the establishment's spekaers, if it has any, but then another idea strikes her.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This establishment has a bloody SENTRYBOT!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So she ducks under the counter and cues up some hacking. RobCo protocol adapters load into her wireless systems and she immediately begins assaulting the SentryBot's wifi with some spoofed data, attempts to establish credentials.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She has some new orders to add to its directives list! A radio frequency to tune into... and to broadcast it while it's fighting as loud as it possibly can...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But she peeks over the counter too, spotting Ebon Ribbon and Mitsu Mirage again... she can only hope Kotone's smart enough to not fight fairly this time around!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:903|Ebon Ribbon (903)}} has posed:'''<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Freight trains are hard to stop, but easy to avoid. And so with a graceful sidestep Ebon does just that. The targeted ribbon does indeed snap from the laser and dissolve into sparkles, And perhaps others do as well. But, she can always make more! <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unfortunately, Ebon didn't learn from the last time she encountered something that could throw a truck. When the ribbons suddenly go taut as Danse barrels past, Ebon is yanked along and ends up skiiing on her hooves behind Danse. The energy drain remains constant on his armor, and it might become clear that this pony doesn't hold much in the way of life-threatening attacks. Killing isn't usually necessary where she comes from. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Rather than shriek or otherwise seem worried by being dragged along, Ebon Ribbon actually grins and steadily tries to further wrap Danse and his armor. The ribbons wouldn't be hard to break...one at a time, but even power armor might have trouble if they are able to layer up on him. "It most certainly was music! My lovely voice made it so, even if you do not care for the genre!" <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The dark unicorn gets a few more searing injuries from the powerful laser weapon, but so far she seems to have plenty of energy left. "And besides that, are you not worried about the citizens of the town and the monstrous creatures that are currently trying to turn everyone into cold cuts?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1023|Steven Universe (1023)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And what a concert it is already! Explosions, lightning, laser lights and monsters galore! Reassured that the scary looking things are in fact monsters, Steven takes a defensive position next to Kotone. All he really has is his shield and bubbles, who knows where Lion went, but Kotone probably has weapons and Steven has some experience being shieldmaiden, so to speak.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If you can shoot stuff, I'll keep us out of trouble. At least the music's pretty-" a ROAR cuts him off as a portal agains opens and expels Lion, with a tall teenager with olive skin and a BIG PINK SWORD! Connie looks startled at the chaos, but quickly finds Steven and takes a stance next to him and Kotone.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Are these corrupted gems? What's going on?"Connie questions Steven, fending off a claw swipe with the BIG PINK SWORD.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The monster things are monsters, and I think the singing pony is attacking with Ophelia, the lady with the guitar with the candles on it! Let's fuse, this place is too dangerous with all these death claw things running around!" He offers a hand to Connie who nods, accepts it, twirls and dips him, and they two become one in a shining light... Stevonnie takes a stance next to Kotone, sword and shield in hand, looking extra heroic!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:'''<br>There is insanity, there is carnage there is Metal and she wants it all to stop. She's trying to make it to the stage Drowned Ophelia is the root of this madness if she can be driven off they can stop. She's not intending to fight fairly at all. It would be stupid and Ophelia cares not about fair. She's moving in now and trying to be sneaky as she can in the chaos, she keeps to cover when she can as she moves forward. <br><br> "That I can do!" <br><br> She notes to Steven she looks to Connie and doesn't know her but if Lion brought her? She's a friend of Stevens. <br><br> "No they are something else! They are called the Tear drink...." <br><br> Kotone trails off as Connie and Steven /fuse/. She can take a moment to be surprised and also confused for a moment Stevoonie is unexpected and stunning. <br><br> "Okay that's new, let's move! Err You got a name while you two are like that?" <br><br> She asks then then pauses. <br><br> "Kotone's mine." <br><br> With that she's going to press forward with Stevonnie and will be using her pistol to try and handle things at ranged, she's going for crippling shots on things like going for Death Claw eyes. <br><br> "If you have any ideas about how to close faster I'm open to it." <br><br> Kotone was fast but she didn't know how fast this fusion being was. She didn't want to risk being the slower or the faster one they needed to keep together.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1023|Steven Universe (1023)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Stevonnie hops onto the Lion, looking regal as all get out, and offers a hand that moments ago held a shield to Kotone. "We're Stevonnie! Need a ride?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:'''<br>Kotone Yamakawa says "That will work...Stevonnie." <br><br> She notes as she hops on with Stevonnie's help. It doesn't take long for the cyborg to get aboard the Lion Express!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>His laser blasts find purchase, especially since it seems as the ribbons restrict his movements, they also remain physically tethered to Ebon Ribbon, herself. The thing is they don't seem to do much harm, and gauging from the flow of energy, according to the power armor's diagnostics, they're flowing straight over there. "Power drain, huh..." Rory, via internal comms, had suggested it was a magical effect. Whatever it is, with how rapidly it's deleting the fusion core, he has to resolve this quickly, or it'll be down to the suit's better shielded, but far less potent, auxiliary assist systems, and he'll be left about as mobile as a tree trunk.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Holstering the laser cannon for a moment as he slides to a stop, kicking up dust as he does so. The ribbons threaten even the fusion cells the laser rifle uses, so perhaps some chemical potential is what's best, especially with the never-ending torrent of drain ribbons that simply replace the previous ones. Instead, he withdraws a conventional fragmentation grenade, and tosses it in the pony's direction. This was mostly to buy him a little bit of time and space, though, as with his good and free arm, he retrieves a long knife -- or, no. That's a bit too thick to be a cutting blade, directly.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With the rev of a miniaturized internal combustion motor, the sawtoothed chain around the perimeter of the business end of the Ripper comes to live. Danse once again moves in, after the grenade goes off one way or another. The swipe of an errant Deathclaw's talons rakes across his power armor's left pauldron, leaving it rattling precariously from the attachment points, but if anything that only serves as a reminder that they need to finish this quickly. As the T-60 races forward, brandishing the chainsaw knife, something peculiar happens alongside. With everything else that's going on, something he'd normally find ridiculous, but for now makes as much sense as anything:<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The loudspeaker on the power armor's helmet's volume cranks up, and begins to blast out Diamond City Radio. The song that's currently on is none other than The Wanderer. This had better work, Rory, because this is silly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:673|Rory White (673)}} has posed:'''<br>Unfortunately for Rory White's efforts, the SentryBot - a far simpler AI than the Handies it seems, a combat AI optimized for fighting and not much in there for personal interaction - proves to actually be too hardcoded to accept the directive as given. Not through the authorization channel that Rory used. However...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She gains access to its firmware upload feature!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... And that will simply have to do. "Well. RobCo systems are at least simple..." She's had plenty of time by now to study most of the robotics around the region and pick apart their firmwares in her spare time. So one thought-thread hits INSANE FOCUS and rapidly patches together one of her in-development AIs with the RobCo hardware drivers.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The SentryBot comes to a screeching halt in the middle of the street, powering down for a brief few seconds. Then it boots up again with a series of buzzes and blips, its limbs all jerking wildly. The process repeats twice, with a few herky-jerky motions... then finally...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Finally, the ominous crimson red returns to its 'face' and the SentryBot rises to its full height, weapons priming!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And from its speakers...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ooooooooh well I'm the type of guy who will never settle down,"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;RATATATATATATATAT!! Bullets whizz from the miniguns, strafing for Mitsu!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It zooms off on its motorized legs at freakish speeds, for many of its limiters have been REMOVED! The wear and tear it's going to suffer today is tremendous but its specs just got truly scary.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Where pretty girls are well, you know that I'm around. I kiss 'em and I love 'em cause to me they're all the same!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WHOOOSH! Missiles fly from its launcher, right for Mitsu.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;This is some pretty tough love....<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:975|Drowned Ophelia (975)}} has posed:'''<br>The torrent of Electric Rage unleashed by Mitsu do not go unnoticed - point of fact, the blades almost get folded INTO the reality bending nature of the Drowning Doom Concert as bass thumps manage to hit and crackling guitar follows the sweep of each massive arc of energy flying about. The sky itself seems to break, torrents of water pouring outwards, sweeping across the ground - hissing from hot metal and bringing steam from the fanged maws of roaring, screaming Death Claws. If seen from above, the leather flesh and sweeping claws could almost - almost - be some sort of incredibly dangerous MOSH PIT. A DEATH CLAW METAL MOST PIT.<br><br>Which is when someone starts playing the fucking WANDERER. Gentry Bot bobbing, T-60 crooning, even the broken and busted PA systems crackling out that old do-wap classic. One can almost -see- the pain in Drowned Ophelia's face as her lips peel upwards, nose crinkling. The next rippling guitar riff trips her clawed fingers, and she has to bare down. Letting the Six Stringed Guitar dip low, low between her knees as she curls over it, swaying back and forth to the hammer of AWAKEN. Rock may have been the birth of METAL, but METAL was it's mother****'ing ASCENSION. Her hair tumbled in front of her, swaying back and forth in shuddering time to the hard drum line. The very air vibrating beneath the METAL - but it's now competing with OLD SCHOOL SWAY. The Death Claws halt their deritivative run down alleyways, noses up. Smelling -weakness-.<br><br>When Ko and Stevonnie arrive via Lion, Drowned Ophelia's features appear strained. But she's -smiling-. White teeth behind black lips, clawed fingers a blurr on the Six Stringed Sorrow, smoking rising as it burns her. Hurts her. Blue wake candles flaring and dancing.<br>"Hello, children - did you come to drown with me?" She giggles, lost in the ecstasy of her misery. Obviously not recognizing Steven U in his current form~<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:903|Ebon Ribbon (903)}} has posed:'''<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Grenade!!! Ebon Ribbon releases Danse instantly and dashes away moments before the explosion sends her sprawling across the dusty ground. Then, she is being charged again, and this time by a chainsaw knife! Ebon hasn't actually seen a chainsaw before, but it is clearly a knife. "Honestly, lethal attacks are a bit over the top, are they not? I have caused no harm to you, have I?" she says. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The pony's ears perk at the change in music, but to her it is just a curiousity. She isn't affected by simple genre changes! However, she does notice that Ophelia herself seems to be affected. Unfortunately, Ebon can't do much about it at the moment. There's a power-armored psycho trying to kill her! The pony's ribbons all swirl around her again before lashing out once more. But, rather than trying to wrap up Danse, the ribbons target a spot in his path to Ebon. They all converge on it, and seem to penetrate right through reality. Five ribbons converge, forming a warp in space-time before with a deep bass throb... <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Danse finds himself charging right toward a black hole! It draws him in, and puts a severe drain on any energy source within its reach. But, that isn't the worst part. The worst part is...after about 5 seconds of draining energy and drawing in matter, it detonates like a mini-nuke. A powerful star-like explosion that, while it dissapates quickly after about 10 meters, causes quite a bit of damage to anything in its blast radius and leaves a small crater in the ground.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1023|Steven Universe (1023)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Lion leaps onto the stage, Stevonnie resummons her shield and hops off his back. She lands lightly like a gymnast on bare feet, BIG PINK SWORD and rose-themed shield sparkling in the stage lighting as she flicks her thick curly hair over one shoulder.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Hey, Ophelia! Can't we just jam without fighting? I've got some new song ideas, and I kinda wanna play Shooting Star some more!" Clearly Stevonnie hasn't even considered the possibility that Drowned Ophelia might not recognize her in this form. She also doesn't look to be fighting just yet, though she is at least equipped for the possibility.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile Lion carries Kotone as long as she stays on his back, but he seems to have some sort of instinct as to when to let her off and will happily oblige, seeming entirely unconcerned with the situation, though paying attention one may note his eyes track all threats in the area with inscrutable dispassion.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:982|Mitsu Mirage (982)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mitsu perks slightly, listening to the voice from some speakers, "Hmm?" she questions, turning around from her whole 'let's punch anything in sight' and 'let's shock anything in sight' mentality... only to focus on the RobCo robot that's speaking. "Eh?" she blinks in surprise, &lt;#-1 FUNCTION (+ANSI) NOT FOUND&gt; comes Kratzenfaust's own chime. The jerking motions are noticed and she laughs, "Warning? Why?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;That's... when the miniguns start firing and THERE ARE MISSILES! "Why is it always the missiles!" she cries out, pulling out her Lost Logia, a black hole starts forming as it sucks up those missiles... and redirects them back towards something else, preferably where Mitsu is /not/. Like, maybe at Danse!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The bullets, however, clip the Rabbit's bodysuit, and dent and smash into Kratzenfaust... "Damn, gotta bounce from this area... keep it moving..." she starts running towards the side, one black hole following her, the other holding in mid air, facing towards Danse's direction and a building... "Hey, shoot me more, I want to test out the Rabbit Hole some more!"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Bouncing up into the air off some wreckage, she launches a small ball of electricity towards the bot, maybe it'll have more effect than it did on Danse, "Shock Blast!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>"What part of drawing Deathclaws to the surface with your noise isn't harmful," Danse wonders in resonse, though his voice comes spaced between and slightly dubbed across the crooning sounds of the local radio station's music? The Brotherhood of Steel doesn't typically make shows of force only to intimidate; when your weapon is hot, they're likely intent on using it, or expecting to. The fact that Ebon Ribbon would be regarded as cute by some worlds' standards doesn't factor in to a trained soldier's decision making. Whether she's the cause of the Deathclaw riot or not, she's definitely on the side of those that did. Once the dust clears and he is closing the distance, he responds to an earlier point, as well, "The Wastelanders might have their faults, but they're tough enough to take hits, and always come back!"<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For as often as Rory and some other visiting Elites had marvelled at the degree this world had managed to downscale both fission and fusion technology, not to mention carrying tube valve-based electronics to insane limits, it does have its downsides. The parked and seemingly dead automobiles are one such example, but the compact fusion core has some hazards of its own. For one thing, while they're encased in a hard shell, if they're damaged persistently enough, they can go unstable from an overload. It's the same kind of hazard lights that flash on the heads up display, as that strange rip in the fabric of reality forms and begins collecting power that wasn't meant to be harnessed this way, all the while the fusion core drains to low enough levels that it trips yet another warning beep.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But, it's not the fusion core itself causing the alert, but that anomalous zone, which seems to almost have a gravity of its own, so there's no sense trying to escape it, besides trying to stop clear. He doesn't quite manage that feat of fine power armor maneuvering, the nuclear energy causing a densely packed explosion practically right next to him. That's enough to finally jar that shoulder armor, and in fact sheer that whole side's arm and leg plating, right off. One of the lenses of the T-60's helmet is also lightly cracked. Yet, after momentarily taking a kneel to try to minimize his target profile, and though it's somewhat shakey, Danse still stands up.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hopefully...that shredded her ability to immediately conjure up new ribbons. Once the literal dust settles, he's already got the laser rifle perched in his now freed arm, adjusting a fine control knob on the back until he fights the optimal firing setting -- short bursts of multiple searing, red bolts. The loudspeaker still goes on, playing the music of metal's distant ancestors. Today is easily one of Danse's weirdest ever.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:'''<br>Kotone Yamakawa is now on the Lion Express with Stevonnie. So far so good they are making good time to catch up with Drowned Ophelia her eyes narrow for a moment as she looks at her. <br><br> "No I'm not here to drown with you. I'm here to shut this show down." <br><br> She keeps her pistol ready and the music is not enjoyable it's almost causing pain to Kotone as she stares it down. Steveonnie makes a pitch and honestly if the Drowned one goes for it? She'll back off fromt he fight, and she notices the Lion is paying attention to the fight? Clearly this is no normal Lion aside from it being pink. She waits for the moment to see if Steeonnie's offer is taken, but she's also ready to throw herself in the way if the Tear Drinker leader tries something...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:975|Drowned Ophelia (975)}} has posed:'''<br>"Shooting Star?"<br>The Queen of Tears frowns, black lips pulling downwards. Those eyes of her narrow. And then a slow, coiled smile that winds across her black lips like a serpent coming out of hiding. "Oh, I know that misery. You've been hiding things from me.~" And then her eyes flit to Kotone, and the pale blue chin rises once more as she -smiles-. And giggles, a broken and mad sound, the dark ichor beading along her forehead. Holding the METAL - playing it, driving it, pounding it - takes its toll. Her fingers will be scored for days after this, the pure -heat- from the glowing lines of the Six Stringed Sorrow.<br><br>"Aah. -You're- the one who stole Kotone's mind." White teeth flashed in a smirk, a narrowed gaze. "Naughty, naughty!" She singsongs, before she raises the neck of the guitar towards the heavens, raising his voice.<br>"You can't stop this; Nothing can. It is as inevitable as the end! Stop me now, and it'll just come -back-. This world deserves the peace of the grave - and I'm going to settle all the pretty little lights back to their bed of -fucking dirt-." The Black Tears rise like smoke around her, whirling about her form, flickering and pulling inwards. Thickening.<br><br>Which is when a super mutant atop a nearby building shouts to another "MUSIC HURT EAR! HURT MUSIC!"<br>"YAY" Shouts the other, before it levels a -fucking mini-nuke launcher- towards the Giant Deathelin.<br>BOOM. A rattling, crackling fire that rages up the cigar shape. A shuddering, metal groan as further minor explosions begin to rage. And the entire thing - begins going nose down. <br>Oh, did we mention it's on top of the stage? Because it's floating over the stage.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:673|Rory White (673)}} has posed:'''<br>It isn't just speaking! The robot is singing! Well... it's playing the radio. So it's a long-dead artist's voice. Probably isn't a good idea for the robot itself to sing, right?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The SentryBot pauses when missiles go through a PORTAL. because Rory's cameras catch where they exit, and that gets her flinching. DIRTY ROTTEN CHEATING MAGIC!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I hug 'em and I squeeze 'em they don't even know my name,"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"They call me the wandererer yeeeah the wanderer,"<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I roam aroooound aroooound aaaaround..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With some sassy sax and soothing acapella in the background, the RobCo Sentrybot lowers itself for EXTRA SPEED and zooms across the street at top speed the moment lightning's unleashed. Seems Rory's directions are far better than the typical combat routines! This thing DODGES. Well, it tries, anyways.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The lightning blast still gets it as it splashes into the ground and zorches everything around! The SentryBot jerks around, smoke and sparks flying from some of its joints... but it still angles its weapons and takes aim!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;MISSILES ARE LET FLY!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;... Except... not at Mitsu? Close to her, far too close. At the same time, its machinegun spins up and spits hot lead at her opposing side! Close, far too close. MUCH closer than the missiles.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's a herding manuever. Rory's clearly hoping that Mitsu will fall prey to biological instinct and move away from the CLOSER dangerous thing and towards the more dangerous one.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;BECAUSE KABOOM!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The missiles slam into a building... HEAVY CHUNKS OF WALL are dislodged from the dilapidated structure, sending a few tons of concrete, wood, drywall and steel toppling down on Mitsu. If she flies away from the Machinegun she'll just be even MORE in the thick of it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rory's guessing it'll be harder to portal 'a building falling on you.'<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1023|Steven Universe (1023)}} has posed:'''<br>Stevonnie was about to have a discussion with Ophelia, who clearly had something to say and of course talking is better than fighting... But then something Bad happened. Whatever it was that caused that HUGE explosion came from some... okay, she'll think it, *ugly* guys a ways away. Looking up she is just completely dumbstruck for a full two seconds as fiery jagged metal comes barrelling out of the sky, straight at them all. A bubble pops up around her, but that is NOT going to be enough.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lion looks up and in a flash is moving again, roaring. A portal pops up in front of him and he pounces the bubbled fusion girl, batting her through it like a cat toy before following. If Kotone remains seated, she will be carried into it as well... but to where? Of course, just about anywhere is better than being crushed under many many tons of flaming jagged metal!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:903|Ebon Ribbon (903)}} has posed:'''<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Danse might have been expecting a follow-up attack, but Ebon Ribbon really sees no reason to kill if it isn't necessary. So, when the dust and smoke from the Ebon Rift explosion -does- clear, she has slipped away, hiding in the shadows of some building or other in order to make her next attack harder to counter and her much less of an easy target. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; That is, until the Deathlin explodes from...what in the world are those creatures? And what did they just fire at the blimp? Whatever it is, that seems like it is her signal to exit stage right. "So...you are confident the wastelanders can care for themselves, yet you will still kill me simply for giving a concert that just happened to release these monstrous behemoths on the land? Tsk tsk. And I thought armored knights were supposed to be noble." Ebon's voice starts to get quieter at that point as she makes her getaway. She isn't about to stick around when that zepplin crashes and who knows what happens. She is much too pretty to be cut up by a chainknife. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "Fine, I will leave you to your wretched, uncultured land. I hope you enjoyed the concert!" she calls to Danse, who can likely see her galloping in the direction of the closest warp gate.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:7|Kotone Yamakawa (7)}} has posed:'''<br>Kotone did give Stevonnie Their chance to talk down Ophelia, she knew the odds were low but something felt wrongabout not letting them make thier attempt. Kotone herself as soon as the pain music come and the blast comes. Things are going pretty nuts here. Kotone is going to fire a shot or two at Ophelia for all the good it will do. <br><br> "I am not a clone! I don't know what you did but I am Kotone Yamakawa!" <br><br> Then comes Lion it's time to go she's bubbled and comes Lion she's able to thankfully be carried away. Who knows where they will end up and ko's also Dimly aware of the rad warning that showed up on her hudd, oh dear...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:975|Drowned Ophelia (975)}} has posed:'''<br>Drowned Ophelia laughs - laughs! - at Kotone. "HOW ****'ING SURE ARE YOU?" She screams, before the explosions ripple on from above. She turns upwards, her stage lit by the falling hell-feast about to drop on her head. The brutal point of the slowly toppling monstrosity practically aimed right at her forehead. And she's playing. In point of fact, she puts a leg up on a stand, tilts her head back, and -cackles- as if welcoming the fiery end as the skeletal frame of the Deathelin comes crashing right down towards her. Faster and faster, the heat getting -incredibly- intense as she aims for the climax. Reaching higher and higher on the guitar's body, heading for the neck, closing her eyes and smiling something akin to peace. And there she holds that final, screaming note, letting it waver and grow loud enough to shatter glass-<br><br>Before the Deathelin crashes into her. Folds into her. Obliterates everything near her, swallowing the stage and everything aboard it in the sudden finality of flaming destruction. And it's still coming, metal rib after rib folding downwards like a falling stack of cards, the conflaguration growing higher and higher.<br><br>Until it explodes.<br>The tail end of the Deathlin sent spiraling with lazy power aside, folding over and into a few rooftops as it settles. The Death Claws - without the frenzy, without the blood lust, but with a definite air of survival - slipping back into the darkness as the fire blossoms and booms retort about.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:982|Mitsu Mirage (982)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Why is it singing a horrible tune, "Ophelia's music is so much better than this trash." she mutters to herself as the bot starts charging at her! "Well, shit." comes another low mutter as she starts charging at it herself, "Shocker shield." she comments, enveloping herself in that electric shield ball. "So, shall we play a bit up close!" she grins, ohgodmissile! And machinegun! Quick, .. think... "Eh, let's just go through. Ophelia will patch me up."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She jumps just as the missile explodes in front of her, using it as a launching pad to send her flying towards that SentryBot and soon... clings right to it like a magnet, the electric shield popping off as Mitsu punches at it, trying to dig those claws right into that metal flesh of it. "You know, bot, you're annoying. GO away."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She grins a bit and sparks fly off her claws... "Shocker Tazer!" she shouts, jamming the claws into the bot and letting loose a massive burst of lightning magic right into it! Though, what happens when you destroy a SentryBot... Mitsu hopes it just goes boom and send her flying away...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:981|Danse (981)}} has posed:'''<br>Pursuing a horse, as he's still calling her in his own mind, might have been possible, and he still felt like he had a score to settle with an out-of-town troublemaker. But as his shots only glance off the sides of the buildings she's taking shelter behind, another sound catches his ear, managing to briefly overpower even the so-called concert and their own counteractive radio playing. It's the distinctive high velocity whistle of a Mini Nuke arcing through the air, no doubt launched out of a former US Army prototype 'Fat Man' launcher. There are still a few of those floating around, most kept as trophies by Supermutant and Raider war band leaders...and it is always the height of danger. Accordingly, when Danse hears it, he ceases firing and immediately ducks behind cover, himself, on raw reflex and battlefield instinct. There's little time to actually try and see who it was aimed for, or by who.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Fortunately, it wasn't at anyone directly, but at the Zeppelin that had been camping out over the stage. And as if the nuclear blast itself wasn't fiery enough, the whole thing is soon in flames, and comes crashing down shortly after. It isn't the only hazard, though: The shockwave from the blast would also carry a burst of energetic radiation, the kind of particles that can really get into your innards and mess you up if you were to be standing too close. Fortunately for Danse, the power armor's frame is well designed for deflecting much of the most harmful particles -- hope everyone else is similarly prepared. The actual dose is thankfully also limited by the distance and dialed back yield of a Mini Nuke.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But, by the time the wreckage of the airship finally settles and Danse is able to get another look at Ebon Ribbon, she's already making her escape. The Deathclaws have similarly begun to go back to whatever it is Deathclaws do in their mostly subterranean and cavern lairs...probably snacking on settlers that wander in looking for treasure. And, of course, the music is finally dying out. Another stern lecture by Haylen about the repair job is about to follow, no doubt.<br> <br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In between the songs on Diamond City Radio, Travis Miles inserts some news, "So uhm...an airship. Is that right, an airship? Was spotted in Cambridge, a few minutes ago, at the spooky old CIT campus. Some kind of, loud noise was playing, and eyewitnesses described the scene as -- chaos. It's, alright now. Maybe? It just got blown up...oh wow, that was right across the river, isn't it... Aw, geez. Sure hope they, you know -- don't head here next."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:673|Rory White (673)}} has posed:'''<br>Rory's mentally scowling at the manuever Mitsu pulls, at first... but then Mitsu's flying AT the SentryBot?!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The robot's FAST, but it's not especially fast compared to a magic-propelled FLYING MAGE! It's tackled hard and goes roll-bouncing back along the pavement, impaled by the claws and FRIED NASTILY! Sparks and arcs of power fly from its body and its weapons half-melt and jam. Most of the optics blow out and its main headlamps are down. To say nothing of its power cores, which are now terribly overheated. panels on its back open to vent waste heat courtesy of huge jets of air vainly trying to cool it...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But Rory overrides this. The ailingg, ancient, SentryBot is in shambles. Its heavily damaged servos whine in protest... but heavier hydraulics win out. BOTH its weapon arms twist beyond their design parameters, wrenching themselves out of alignment to try and BEAR HUG MITSU!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's at that point one has to question if getting up close and personal with a nearly-destroyed SentryBot was REALLY a good idea.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Its torso rotates towards the nearby ruins of a car and it speeds towards it even as its legs are tearing themselves apart. The RobCo robust construction makes this a difficult machine to bring down head-on!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rory's well aware that this thing's driven by Fusion Cores. As awful as a design choice that might be for collateral damage, today it works - hopefully - in her favor.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Because the machine aims to EMBED ITSELF THROUGH the wreckage of a car to maximize and shape the explosion at its epicenter...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And the cores go critical.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;KRATHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blinding light assaults the eyes, thunderous noise the ears, and a brief flash of searing radiation go flying past, courtesy of the THICK MUSHROOM CLOUD that just burst up in the streets.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In Mitsu's face, unless she manages to break free!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:982|Mitsu Mirage (982)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mitsu's good at pissing people off when it comes to it, with reckless maneuvers, and this isn't the /first/ person she annoyed. But hey, there's something that's going on. With Kratzenfaust chiming with an energy increase, Mitsu blinks, "Oh... crap." the bear hug gets her and she's going with that Sentrybot!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Couldn't bring it down with a few shots and now it turns around and... wait, is that a car? That /IS/ a car! And she's going at high speed with this thing. "AUGH, Hey, let me go, this wasn't in the contract!" she shouts, banging her hands and claw gauntlets on it with ringing here and there!<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's a loud crash as she's embedded in the car and then under the machine... "Oh crap... no no no no no no!" there's that explosion... and she's unable to get free in time, "Shocker Shield!" a quick shielding barrier over her to help reduce radiation... and the barrier jacket helps as well. Thank whatever deity for being a mage, right?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:903|Ebon Ribbon (903)}} has posed:'''<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ebon Ribbon was almost home free, but then...one of her allies had to go and get smashed into a car and exploded in a nuclear core overload. She sighs, coming to a stop just before the warp gate, then turns around and heads back. She makes her way around the cafe carefully, trying to avoid being spotted, then when she gets close to Mitsu...those ribbons of hers lash out, wrapping Mitsu up and quickly pulling the downed mage to her. <br> <br> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Once she has Mitsu on her back, Ebon takes off again, again giving the cafe a wide berth as she makes her way to the warp gate and relative safety. "Some people have no common sense." she mutters to herself.<br> <br>
}}