View source for 5430/Competitive Survival Training - Aka, Beach Time

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2017/08/08
|Location=The Great Ocean
|Synopsis=Nicky goes through her final crucible to join Talon, after weeks of training as a recruit. Twelve walk in, Four come out.

Also, Beach scene!
|Cast of Characters=1115, 1117, 968
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The sand is white and soft as powdered sugar, too thin to build castles, too loose to allow much traction. Punctuated here and there by the coarse sea-orange coral spines waiting the unwary foot to snag and trip. The waters are warm and bright blue, flowing off to a deep green as the beach drops away - while in the other direction, roaming vines from the untamed jungle curls along the edge of the sand, leading one deeper into the sweltering, dark place. Rocky formations create natural arcs, caves, plateaus and other such vistas, while here and there ancient stone structures intermingle with modern construction - all abandoned, all boarded up. This is a place for adventure - this is a place for excitement.<br><br>But most importantly, this is a place to survive.<br><br>Five talon transports stir up the water into froth as they zip down low to avoid radar detection by a matter of course; Reflective panels keeping their profile to nothing more than a faint shimmer. In each transport is a screen, save for one. THAT one has Reaper. One hand over his head as he grips the holds, the rest of the cargo filled with Talon Recruits. Youth, some of them masked, roused from bed and allowed to grab whatever they could get their hands on as they're being herded out. A few are in nothing more than undersuits. Nicky is among their number, if she choose to stay at the Talon barracks - given free reign to come and go as she pleased, thanks to her 'status'. If she didn't choose to stay, then a special trip was taken to pick her up, without word given as to why.<br><br>The transports lift into the air as Reaper speaks, the entire machine shuddering as his voice is repeated.<br><br>"Recruits. Welcome to competetive survival training." He growls, his raspy throat rattling with some alien machination. "As the name suggests.. not all of you will make it. Below us is Garner's Isle, an abandoned archaelogical site and briefly a military forward point. Hidden in the isle itself are four relics - there are twelve of you."<br>He pauses to let that sink in. "Your job is two fold; Recover and secure -a- relic, then signal for exfil. And survive the natural hazards - and the unnatural hazards. Only those with relics will be given transport off the island, the rest will be considered unrecoverable. There are no other rules."<br><br>The doors to the transport swing open, air whipping inside and stirring up Reaper's cowl. "Secure your fast drop cables, -now-. This transport is going vertical in thirty seconds." A clawed hand pointing towards jingling climber's gear connected to winches, hanging from the side of the open doors on either side of the transports.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, if a beach isn't good enough for building castles, then it's good for something else, right?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Out of one of the transports another Talon agent exits, clad for the lighter weather in shorts, tops and with sunglasses on. Because she sure as heck isn't going into the forest herself, no. Her job is to monitor and keep an eye on them, and with the tech that each recruit has been fitted with, she can do that from here. So Sombra walks out with a parasol, a beach chair and sets it all down before getting comfortable. Pardon her, if she's going to monitor all these new people, she might as well be comfortable, right? Right.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As she sips a drink she brings up screens, one for each of the recruits, along with the vital monitoring. There, now this should be easy.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She will let Reaper explain all of it however.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>While Nicky might have some status, keeping a flat costs money - and between the training there is little to no chance to go freelance. However, Nicky is not among those that trust easily, especially not those prospect recruits, and thus slept with a knife under the pillow. After all, some of those might be uncultivated testosterone bags and search for a chance to vent. Precautions stack, so while she had little more than the knife and the standard issiue training usiform with her, she was at possibly far better of than the redhead in his undies clinging to the handle right next to her.<br><br>The mission briefing speaking of 'not all will make it' made Nicky look around the transport chamber, silently pulling out the blade from its sheeth as she moved backwards and towards the still closed, left door. A glance goes back to the two others still watching the briefing with all attention, then her eyes focus on the rattling winches and with a quick row of swipes, all of the lines are severed. If it is just out, she won't need them - and she earns the big, panicked eyes of the redhead as the two turn around to see their rapelling lines in pretty bad shape.<br><br>"See you later... or not." Nicky said as she threw herself out of the swooping down transport, having grabbed one of the harnesses and the attatched piece of severed line with her right as the knife was still in her left.<br><br>Gravity got the young woman, pulling her down mercylessly while from the other transports the rest started to disembark on the ropes. Wind tugged at her clothing as she sped ahead of some of most others, forcing the knife back into its sheeth against the drag. Only some five meters above ground her form vanished in a cloud that continiued to move downwards the moment it existed, before collapsing into a sand colored fox immitation with huge ears. A Vulpes Zerda stuffie... or Fennec. Impacting on the soft sand, it bounced up twice, the eyes wincing, but at least it was softening the impact down... and there were no bones to break. Still, it was disorienting a moment.<br><br>As Nicky got back all her senses she immideately plopped back into a cloud and then her human self again, getting to her feet and slipping the rapellign harness over. It only took two seconds but she managed to finish just before the first one was touching down. One glance over the beach, then she moved for the shoreline, where the waves kept the sand wet and compacted, as fast as it allowed. Her path was to get to the rocks that lined out to the sea, hopefully speeding up her way away from the others and towards one of the buildings.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>When Nicky begins making her way towards the rappeling lines, the Reaper doesn't halt his litany of instructions - in point of fact, he doesn't even acknowledge that she moved while the other two are listening and fidgeting. The red head with the pajama suit, doing his best to try and keep his hands at his side and ignore the fact he was caught - almost literally - with his pants down. His eye twitching occasionally as he keeps siddling glances at the girl that was on the transport with them - the one with 'Sharaseth' written over her heart. Busy smearing boot polish under her eyes, even as she listens with the grim intent of a young woman who intends to be -the- survivor. The name tag over his own breast read 'Finbar' - no last name. No rank, only the faintest hint of the Talon insignia at the shoulders. Finbar sucks in another breath, looking to the side as the ship opens - just to watch Nicky leap out after slicing all the lines. Behind her comes a shout of disbelief and youthful anger..<br><br>The touch down isn't as smooth as it would've been with the hot-drop lines, but Nicky had practice on those before enough - not to mention the soft powder and lack of bones makes her descent speed a lot quicker. Always given special compensation, always in the 'special' spot. In the Reaper's eye socket, as it were. Hell, she even got paid a modest fee for her 'participation', as did all the recuits. Provided they could hack it through the pressure boiler of Talon training. Only the best.<br>ONLY the best. Physical and mental and willful.<br><br>Other groups touch down as well, and it's already clear that some cliches are forming. Youth landing in formation, already triangling off against the other groups. Some lone wolves following Nicky's suit and running headlong and away from the small fights breaking out on the beach. A scream of panic from above, and a -thud- as a body hits the sand - moaning. Someone else had Nicky's idea too, on that flight. Thirty seconds to the dot, the transports above flip themselves sideways, turning their floors into walls - two more youth fall out of Nicky's flight. Thud.<br>Thud. The second one crawling back to her feet, glaring towards Nicky as she wipes blood from her mouth. Shouting unheard over the whine of engines powering up before stealth technology kicks in - the rustle of wind as they rise up and depart. Somoene's got a revenge to take.<br><br>"Sombra." Comes Reaper's voice over the comms, as his own transport rights itself and he's able to release his grip on the roof handle. "Are the cameras online? I'll need coords on the injured.. " He snarls. How disparate, to see the young woman curling up on the beach, while nearby youth thud and blood splatters the wet sand. "And -focus-."<br><br>The building that Nicky runs towards is another run-down sand stone house of some sort, bland in its geometry. But modern carpentry shows in the door hinges drilled through some ancient ancestor's hard work, though the wooden door itself has started to rot with the ocean spray. Sun-blocking slant-tents flutter in the salty breeze, the interior almost too dark to make out - save for a hollow in the middle, made with modern tools, roughly carved into the stone floor and into the hill itself. Is it worth taking time to root within?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky had not the strength in numbers. She didn't had the equipment advantage either, as she thought to have seen at least one firearm in the left group that triangulated the beach before going into the fight. Could have been a Bo or polearm though, as she made her best to clear the immediate area. Moving up the slope, she tied the piece of rope she had taken with her into a short belt, keeping her path on harder terrrain whenever possible. Less tracks and faster pace.<br><br>As she reached the archaeological site - at least it looked like one - she stopped to listen to the sounds around, holding the breath and eying the path she came. Only as she couldn't spot an immediate follower, she leaned against the door, testing its strength and makeup before kicking into it. Not at the lock, but about a quarter of the door's width on the lock side, to allow the wood to break, before slipping in and checking if there was an artifact here... This was not the time to set up base, this was tiem to quickly scan and run. There was a whole island to scout - before others found their items.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sombra leans back as she hears Reaper's voice on the comms, sighing as she taps the screens. "Of course they are online. I have the island outfitted with cameras all over, there is nowhere they can go without me knowing where they are," she responds calmly. "Injured at 23, 65. 24, 59. 31, 42..."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Another sip of her drink, and Sombra stretches. "And I /am/ focusing, Gabe. I can relax while working, so...? Relajate, I'm not unfocused. You should get down here later, some sun might be good for you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>The sound of the three youth immediatly put out of commission is barely heard over the rising wind as the sound of the transports dies away. And then that same sound is torn and staggered by the swell of the ocean. The whisper of the wind across the ancient stone hut, scraping slowly away at it with sand driven teeth while the universe about turns in silent witness. The door splinters easily beneath Nicky's blow, though it does leave a white scratch along her pants - definitely have to watch for splinters and infections, considering. The interior is still -muggy-, but at least there is some temperature drop with the shade. The hollow spot dug into the floor seems to have been a stash - rotting cots hanging from rotting wooden frames. Obviously designed so that whoever was here could sleep without their profile being easily seen from outside. There's also a small, square metal can in the corner, and the faint smell of petrol hanging about it.<br>Either lighter fluid or gasoline, about two soup cans worth.<br><br>The faint sound of voices again, slowly getting closer. Nicky had been -solid- about covering her tracks, so either it's unlucky or it's opportunity.<br><br>"My name - is Reaper."<br>Comes Reaper's voice over the comm again, with a growl, before he continues. "Let me know when the majority have cleared the beach. We'll collect them after dusk - if they survive the evening." A pause as he checks something on his end, before continuing. "Counter measures ready? You never did tell me what you 'borrowed' from our last mission.."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Voices are no good. Maybe coincidence or did the other team pack a tracker of some kind? Did she have been too loud? In any way, a fuel source was something welcome. Actually handy in more ways than just cooking a meal. Starting a fire was one way to send a signal after all or to fight of the night's cold.<br><br>She estimated to have maybe a half minute at best before the followers would get here, and rushing in, she grabbed the can, then dashed for the stash. With a low PLOPP she misted away, the can vanishing with her human shape and moments later she condensed into a dark grey rhinoceros stuffie, rolling over the floor twice before she let herself fall into the stash-pit, hoping to fool the others that the dirty and slightly moldy plushie had been here for some time already.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You keep on saying that, expecting things to change..." Sombra chuckles, glancing over the screens. "Most of them are off the beach now, and I will ensure that they don't stray back here, yes. As for what I borrowed...? Can't a girl keep her secrets now?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her eyes study the screens, how the recruits are doing... well, not too bad. Nicky ought to be promising in this training, if she's right.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"..way."<br>Comes a familiar whispered voice. Sharaseth. The young woman, her lower face bruised from her subsequent tumble from the transport, is leading two other talon recruits. They've got an odd procession going on, with each one keeping an eye on the other as well as the area around them. They don't meander; They move, slipping from cover to cover, as if expecting something to open up fire at any moment despite the 'paradise' surrounding them. Sharaseth must be the luckiest person in the multiverse to miss any major injuries from that fall. One of the other recruits has a name over his breast as well - Wesley. Faint scars surrounding his knuckles and face above the breath mask despite his age, refusing to let anyone move behind him - always bringing up the tail. The second is Florian, with a pronounced limp. Yet despite this, they're keeping fairly good control over their horizon.<br><br>"She wouldn't be stupid enough to stay near the drop point. We need to stop wasting time and go find three relics - one for each of us."<br>"Or we can just destroy them all. I'm telling you, it's a test."<br>Sharaseth the Betrayed raises a hand, halting the advance as the two Talon boys drop into cover again. Scanning the stone hut for a moment. Their search of it is fast and precise; One slips in, squatting to squint into the hole, before they all move on again. Combing forward, as the girl keeps speaking. "You know -he's- got his eye on her. I bet she -starts- with a relic." "Maybe we're on the wrong side." "Why else.." Her voice is taken as they continue forward.<br><br>"Everything changes; For example.. in time, you'll all be dead."<br>Comes the Lord of the Edge's growled retort over the radio, before he falls silent for a moment. Likely taking in the feed for himself before he speaks again. "Impress me."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>The moment the lighting in the hut changes, when someone gets into the door, Nicky does her best to stay still and silent. Out of sight. And while the scout of Sharaseth's group very well might see her, she luckily is taken for just an discarded object, as planned. Only when the sounds of them ebb away, she plopps back, climbing out of the hole at once. The fuel can, she stores in one of her leg pockets, then she tries to figure out which treck her persuers took - to take a different path. Better not to enforce a confrontation, if you lack firepower.<br><br>And again, off she went, parcouring through the rocky forest towards what looked like another arcaeological site... hopefully one with a relic. Would be nice to start with one like Sharaseth claimed... but no gifts here. Just because she had brought a knife... jeze...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Something that all the recruits should know is that somebody is listening to them all the time. As Sharaseth voices her theory, Sombra's calm voice speaks on the radio to the group as it travels through the area. "Now where would the fun be in that? Besides, if Mr. Reaper has his eye on somebody, it's usually much harder for them..." Gabe, playing favourites and making it /easy/ for them to win? HAH! As if. If he did something like that then she would take it as a sign that whatever had affected his face had spread inwards to his brains.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Well, some of the recruits are doing quite well, aren't they? It's going to be fun to see if there is a confrontation later on, she figures. But forcing it right now wouldn't do. Let's be a little nice and only set things up if they need to test the abilities of the recruits further.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>The Betrayed girl pauses, touching at her walkie when Sombra's voice crackles over it. She frowns, but doesn't respond other than to turn the radio down to a whisper. Can't have THAT one giving her away. The other two look at each other, faint frowns crossing their features before they shake it off and move on towards the caves..<br>The trip to the next -obvious- dig site takes a ways, but fortunately Nicky's endurance training - the simple gym work that's the basis of everything to come - seems to be paying off. Though the sun has creeped further across the sky by the time she's made it to a much larger temple, with the same style shanties and lean-tos put in place - holes flapping loosely in the hot breeze, a sweltering heat that little offers refuge from. Even in the shade! Nicky's journey inside reveals a few prints of boots disturbing the dust; Someone had already been here. There's even a much more modern backpack setup just inside the door, with a small mouse-trap set in the flap. Well, rat-trap - designed to break the unwary finger that slides beneath the flap to check the contents. Which is a white, sealed can labeled 'Pure Water' and a survival pack of MRE. There are even a few old crossbow bolts tucked into a corner.<br>But no youth to which the backpack belongs. Which is when the distant, paniced screaming starts.<br><br><br>Smoke coalesces; Writhes in the hot beach sun, bubbling as it forms The Reaper. His heavy boots digging channels in the surf as he walks towards Sombra's beach-side location, the cowl on his head keeping the sun from his gaze. If the heat bothers him, he isn't showing it. Metal gauntlets flex, creaking, as the sterile white mask takes in Sombra's current layout. Sprawled in a beach chair, with the screens around her. And then his head turns up slowly at the distant, echoing scream.<br>"Mm. Red dogs are out earlier than usual." He growls, before his gaze turns back to Sombra. ".. Status of the recruits?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Strangely enough, Sharaseth will find that Sombra's volume goes back up again. And when she speaks again, Sombra sound vaguely amused. "Nice try, chica." All of the tech on the island is under her control at the moment. When Sombra speaks, she will be heard. Make no mistake.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It's easy enough to hear Reaper arriving with the heavy footsteps in the sand. Lazing languidly, Sombra appears to be enjoying the warm weather, even amidst all the sounds and video images on the screens in front of her. Might be because she's closed her eyes. Several of the screens in front of her have gone black by now, which might answer Reaper's question. Even so, Sombra stretches a bit and shifts her legs as she responds. "Three fatalities so far, Gabe." Opening her eyes, she glances at the other screens. "Some injured, but if they are good enough they will pull through it. Your little favorito is sneaky, managed to avoid a group of three, she's just gotten to the temple. Another recruit is nearby and in trouble, so if she's careful she might be able to get away from there with some loot." Her drink is picked up, and she holds it out towards him.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is nice, you know. A little mini vacation. Better than Volskaya industries," she asides with a smirk. Even if that trip was rather beneficial to her.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Extra supplies were always good, and so Nicky snatched the backpack before retreating outside, not even taking the time to asset the contents of the backpack, let alone sticking a hand into it. Just as she reached the entry again, scanning over the surroundings for the possible owner, the sounds disturbed the heat of the day. Great, back on the move - better away from the sound, ad better upwards. Crossbow bolts were a good start... if she could find or make a decent weapon to fire them they would be useful against wildlife. And this was just like when her homeless career started: on the run from Purifiers... well, this time it was talon Trainees, but the rules stayed the same: snatch what you can, stay out of sight, find shelter where you are alone.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"This isn't a vacation."<br>Snarls Reaper, crossing his arms as he moves beside Sombra to review the screens as well. Crossing his arms, feet placed shoulder width apart as he considers before speaking. ".. Six gone. Dead, or too injured to continue. Our training program is not -living- up to my expectations." He growls again, the faint creak of metal gauntlets flexing. "I'll have to speak to the station masters. Repeatedly. And at range." Six out of twelve before the sun has set? Either their pool of potential recruits was going dry, someone wasn't minding the profile they looked for, or the training itself was failing the youth. Reaper? Reaper took -that- personally. That meant he was going too easy on them, failing their ability to survive his missions. Although he does take a moment to say: ".. and my name.. is Reaper."<br>Finallly he taps at the screen that shows Nicky making her way up through the foilage, looking to get high and dry. "She hasn't broken a sweat yet; See if you can light a fire underneath her. I want to see where she breaks." He growls, instinctively accepting the drink before he knows what he's doing. Sterile white mask turns towards it, and then towards Sombra. The can crinkles slightly as the low growl works its way through his throat, before he proffers it back - slightly worse for wear. And then his attention turns towards the island as a whole, crossing his arms again as she mentions the industry.<br>"Yes. The failure to catch a simple politician off guard. .. I remember." Curiously, he doesn't snarl this time.<br><br><br>Nicky finds herself up high on a tree bough, nicely situated between her climbing harness, backpack, water, food, fuel and the beginning of a weapon. But curiously enough, the sun has sunk even lower towards the horizon - it hadn't been THAT long, has it? The distant screams slowly fade away, replaced with a curious, mournful hooting sound that echoes through the dense jungle between the upthrust 'stone sites'. And, from her vantage, she's got a pretty good view of what's left. The obvious sites? There's six of them - laid in a haphazard circle along the edges of the island, as if no one wanted to go towards the middle. Small clusters of stone houses, a small temple or two. From this distant and from the haze of evaporation she can't make out too fine details, but she could probably make another site if she gave up on preparing for the evening. Especially as quickly as the sun appears to be moving across the sky. Is that normal for this part of the multiversal plane?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>Of course, there are still caves hidden in the tree lines - and whatever the jungle itself holds. LIke Reaper said - this isn't a vacation. And it isn't the city, where at least the dangers are predictable.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Not a vacation? "We're on a beach," Sombra points out. "I have a drink." Now take a sip.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Six out of twelve... well, not too bad. "If would have been worse if nobody had died so far too, though. Then we would have gone too easy on them. It's not like we can accept just any riff raff, right? Besides, the remaining will be more motivated to do proper work if they see the consequences of failing. Relajate, when they are done they will be stronger." Reaching out with her free hand, she moves to tap her index finger to Reaper's nose. Or where it would be on his mask. "Boop!" When will he get the hint that when it's just the two of them, then he's always Gabe?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oh yes, Nicky seems to be doing well, doesn't she? The hacker smirks. "As you wish~" is her reply to Reaper's request, and well, since he took her drink, she has both hands free so she can type. "It tastes good, try it," she urges as she works, focus behind those sunglasses. With him commenting on Volskaya industries and their 'failure' there, she sighs. "She's got a lot of guards. Or did that knock to the head make you forget that?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As she makes her way through the trees, Nicky might notice something however... there's a strange sound coming from behind her, all along with a strange smell in the air. What's more unnerving might be the fact that the wildlife suddenly react. Birds take flight, and critters rush along the ground and along the branches, not even taking notice of Nicky.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky frowns a moment, as the sun already goes down slowly, but then climbs down to the , peering out to the stone relics of other days. How many might still be out there fighting? Carefully she leaned back against a branch, lifting the flap of the backpack upwards with her knife to keep nasty surprises to a minimum. The rat trap makes her smile a moment as it slams on the knife with a loud clang, and then she finds the water... good heist. Shouldering the backpack, she goes back tothe ground, speeding up to the fourth citadel, counting her current position at the first.<br><br>As the hike through the darkening night goes on, she shudders as the sound starts to stay there... and the critters run. THAT was not good. Speeding up, she tries to keep up with the wildlife, to not be left behind - which very very unlikely will be the case as most critters were much faster than humans. But it could grant her time. To maybe reach the safer area around one of the citadels... or some other, easier defensible position. The heat gathered droplets of sweat on her frehead, and she did keep the knife out in her run. She wasn't even taking precautions to stay silent - life over silence. This reminded her of...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Several years ago, just weeks after fleeing from home, she had crossed through a small township, where she hoped to hitch a ride to the city... what she didn't expect was, that it was filled with Purifiers. And that they would hunt her down in the forrest. Or at least try to. Running and evading their bulldogs kept her up for.. the better part of three days... what was the persuer this time?!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"So are the MEKOs."<br><br>Retorts Reaper with a snarl, back to his usual state of speaking as he glances back to Sombra - just in time for his mask to be booped. Faint wisps of smoke coil away from his shoulders and cowl, peeling away as if the man were slowly burning. The glass holding the drink creaking a bit more, a few more spider-lines running across it. But the growling subsides as he moves his gaze back across the floating screens, answering the question of the drink as he does.<br><br>"It will turn to ash. Whatever manages to not drop through.. always tastes like ash. Ash and filth. Only the souls of the living can quench Death, now."<br><br>The delicate glass shatters at last, but Reaper doesn't seem to notice it as he considers the problems of precisely how hard to push recruits. Murmuring with a rasp as he does: "I recall. I walked among their number upon the factory floor, and reaped." A faint tap his heavy boot into the sand, before he growls again.<br>"Remember to mark them at night. We wouldn't want them getting any rest."<br><br><br>More importantly, as Nicky ran she was passed up - but rather large, red colored babboons. The hooting, screaming creatures - all teeth and fang - swing past and by her, some of them stained a -different- red. Fresh. Wet. Still, beyond a crazed and yellow eyed glance at her, they power past. The Red Dogs spooked by something even worse than they are, driven out of their hunting grounds - albeit temporarily. As Nicky runs headlong in an attempt to keep herself safe, whatever it is behind her grows louder just in time for her to come up against a fence. A literal, rusted spike-bar fence, a small pocket sanctuary roughly the size of two suburban homes. Manning platforms stand at all four corners, with rotted shade flapping in low tatters - the jungle had eaten away at this place long ago, so the sun rarely touched it. A heavy metal gate sits balanced upon runners, with a thick bar across the inside. It'd be useless to keep humans out, but it'll do for wildlife. And in the middle is a sturdy building made of brickwork from local stone and a few pig-iron supports. Narrow arrow-slit windows and a half-broken ring along the top show this was likely a small canon emplacement; a small basement door nearby with a winch supports the theory, since there's a rusted half-rail leading towards another winch and a ladder.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The hacker glances at Reaper as he talks, arching an eyebrow. "You know, I'm sure somebody in the Concord could help you with that. There are many medical people there. I mean, surely you have to miss tasting stuff." She would. Nothing is better than a good drink now and then, especially while lounging on the beach. As she spies the lines in the glass she does reach out to take the drink. No sense letting it go to waste if he's going to be so damn /tense/... but no, too late. It shatters, and Sombra sighs heavily. "You owe me a new drink, Gabe." Good thing she brought a cooler, and she points to it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the reminder she can't help but roll her eyes. "You honestly think I'd forget that? Have /some/ faith in me!" Like she would forget a fun part like that.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Nicky runs up towards the fence, she will notice something if she looks behind her... what the wildlife are feeling from, the sweet smell getting even stronger. A thick, purplish fog that creeps along the ground, rising towards the tree tops.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky can't do much more but dash around the compound for the gate, trying to slam it close behind her and do her best to block it in that position. Next she dashws for the tower, trying to get in - and atop it. Hight advantage and maybe a chance to get stuff that might be actually usefull now - when getting chased by growly huge things. Or if the others come. Or maybe, maybe, if she was really lucky, there might be an artifact. "Comeon, comeon...."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"The pain helps me focus. Remember.. what shape I am."<br>Growls Reaper nonchalantly, because he couldn't possibly get more edgier, right?! Her commentary about him owing her a drink brings about a surprising, rasping answer from his growled voice: "Winners get drinks. Win, first. Then we'll go to Pandora again." A place where 'drink' was a suggestion for the alchohol level. It's like all the bad, fun parts of the Overwatch world rolled, concentrated, then baked into a planet.<br>At the sight of the purple gas, Reaper's arms cross once more as he considers it. "Mm. Acidic? She doesn't need to breath in her.. alternative form." He couldn't bring himself to say plushie. He really couldn't. There were tactical advantages to the 'alternative' form that needed more respect than the word 'plushie' derived.<br><br><br>Into the fence Nicky goes, the gate slamming behind her with the loud 'clunk' of the catch bar falling across again. It'll keep the animals out - at least, those who can't climb or leap over. The grass is overgrown here, almost up to her waist, but at least it's a clear spot. The purple, thick gas clinging to the metal bars as it squeezes through, too thick to really be seen. But while it builds up as it piles upon itself, it doesn't -seem- to go as high as the top of the building she found. For now. Although, as if destiny - or a dice app - were laughing at her, she does happen to find something like a relic! A curious stone iconography, vague geometric shapes with a small tracker spot-welded and heavily braced into the side with tight metal bands.<br><br>Held in the arms of another Talon recruit, her wild blue gaze turning from the purple gas towards Nicky as she clambers up. And out comes a knife of her own (the second saboteur?) as she crouches near the edge. Lips a thin line as she waits -<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No offense Gabe, but I think you're unable to forget how edgy and brooding you are even if you decided to wear pink clothing or something," Sombra points out, then narrows her eyes when he doesn't get the hint. "I meant, get a drink from the cooler for me. It's warm, and I'm thirsty." And if he doesn't comply? Well, then Reaper will have to deal with Sombra leaning over him to reach over to the cooler box, opening it as she yanks out a can with what looks like a mojito.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Besides, I always win, you should know that by now."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Once done she leans back in her beach chair, getting comfy again as she looks over the screens again while she opens the can of alcoholic drink. "Of course it's acidic, though it's slow working." Fortunately for Nicky it appears that the gas stops near the gate, as if the danger was just there to force people to bump into each other at this spot.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A grin spreads on Sombra's lips, and she points at the screen before she increases its size for Reaper to see. "Hey, there... there's the little chica now. Man, makes me wish I had popcorn for this." Instead she sips her drink, watching intently as she waits for the fighting to start.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky spots her opponent up on the tower, and while still wielding the knife, she makes her was inside and up. Better to get out of the purple for now - before it might do whatever it does. If it means confrontation, so be it. It might hurt... but it might solve the task given at once. But priority was the purple mist.<br><br>REaching the top, former cannon ring, Nicky stopped, almost expecting a knife to be held into her direction, or being thrust at her, maybe even thrown. Instead of going into an assault now... she lifted her hands to be visible, just the one knife in her left. "I did not come here for the idol." Nicky claimed - and truth on that part, she did't come for it, but she would take it, if the chance presented itself. Her knife she held in the typical dagger grip, blade downwards. "But I'm not going down into the mist."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"You haven't found my Knievel outfit? Hm. I thought you were the best surveilance talent in the world.."<br><br>States Reaper. Was he.. was he teasing her, in his growling, rasping voice? Talon!Dad keeps his focus on the screens, however, the moment passing like a mirage on the side of the highway as he nods sharply at the confrontation building. After a moment his metal claws flex, reaching down to pop a mojito; Clawed fingers puncture the top, and it's passed over. There's no one about. He can relax - slightly. "Hm. Did you drive the other recruit there first? That's.. " He pauses, metal claws flexing slowly. "Astrafel. Slit the harness of another recruit coming out of hot drop. We'll need to review that later to find out why - it may be a flaw. Just like Nicky's..." Nothing was perfect. But things could be -honed-. That was the point of training until breaking, to leave only the best on the field. Although he just hisses in response to Sombra's comment about popcorn, sterile bone white mask tilting slowly. "Focus on the mission." He reminds her..<br><br><br>Astrafel, declares the name tag over this woman's suit. She, like Nicky, seemed to be fully dressed. And she'd kept the harness as well, using it to transport rope. Not hers, as the very end has the fray of being cut, but someone else's. No telling where that person is now. The young woman's eyes flit to the purple as it halts at the split-bars, then back to Nicky. Never keeping her eyes off her opponent for more than a few moments, the knife still held underhand and ready for a forward thrust. Defensive.<br><br>"Bullshit." Comes the response, the thin lipped youth shifting into a bit better position. Remaining warily opposite of Nicky for now, minding her step with careful presses of her toes before she squats down. Settling on her heels, lowering her center of gravity - preparing for a rush before she licks her lips. ". .Fair enough. But when the poison goes, you're going to go find your own. This one's mine. And I -will- kill the first, second, and third person who tries to take it from me."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>"Unless the baboons kill you first. Or Sharaseth and her group. They plan to gank all and then loot the bodies." Nicky replies, keeping a roughly low stance, not low enough to jump into an attack, but to keep a low silhouette. Not to make Astrafel ''friendly'', but more to lull her in safety. She wasn't below taking a chance when it offered itself... but it must present itself first, and a fight was a risk too much... at least without an advantage. "How you know there is no fourth to come?"<br><br>Should the other girl react with a strike... Nicky knew a way to get out of the way - and possibly have her test that mist for her at the same time: Plushie small.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Orange and pink are hardly the same colour," Sombra responds calmly, though there's a glint of amusement in her eyes, especially when he does as asked and hands her the mojito. "Gracias." Sipping the cold drink she watches the screen while Reaper comments on the other recruit. As she lowers the can she nods, then brings up another screen, showing the other recruit's status. "Teamwork is necessary..." she muses quietly. Sure, Reaper and Widowmaker aren't the most social people, but Sombra knows that they aren't going to stab her in the back. Nor would she stab them in the back, even if she's not hesitant to use them to her own means in the end.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I /am/ focusing on the mission. I just don't see why I can't enjoy the entertainment, verdad?"<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Now let's see what the two girls end up doing...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maybe we should put them through something different next time. I'm sure I could come up with an interesting concept for a gauntlet," she suggests to Reaper in a conversational tone, as if they hadn't just put recruits into a dangerous test where people have already lost their lives.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"If I could have finished the mission on my own, I would have a long, long time ago - and been done with this mortal world."<br><br>Snarls Reaper in agreement, before his sterile bone white mask bobs again. "Let's make sure they're worth having as her teammates.. she's come a long way. She's got a lot longer to go. When is her next CQC training scheduled?" He states, though his gaze drifts back to the other floating screens. Even as the sunlight above begins to burn from yellow to burdundy - and then sink to deep reds and bruised purple. Although he straightens up, his gaze once more turning to the jungle itself. And slowly lifts a hand, pushing his fist into it - letting the long, slow 'crack' of knuckles be heard.<br><br>"Darkness falls. Time to reap the dying... Waste not, want not." Better it was a quick end, anyways, than a prolonged suffering. "Write up your proposal; I'll review it, and we'll go over the briefing. I might take it to the Count as well, to get input from a .. multiversal viewpoint." AS if he wasn't just talking about eating the dead; His form beginning to melt once again as stars scatter across the cloudless sky..<br><br><br>"We all plan that. Four relics, four ways off this island." She begins, her frame still tight with anticipation. But it seems that the 'truce' is holding for now, her eyes slitting as she considers the group already formed. ".. What are you proposing, then?" She finally asks, lips still thin. She's not offering much in the way of opportunities to 'relieve' her of the artifact - you don't make it this far into Talon training without some sense of self preservation. Nicky's was just finer honed due to her childhood. Which is precisely - <br><br>When the relic begins to glow. And I do mean -glow-, as the sun sinks. Bright as a camp fire, brilliantly lighting up the surroundings. The young woman hisses in surprise, her attention drawn down as she quickly scrambles to find something to cover it up with.<br><br>Elsewhere in the jungle? Three other places begin to glow, brightly. Anyone with even a little bit of elevation above the canopy could spot precisely where those relics are.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A light chuckle leaves the hacker, and she cants her head at Reaper. "But you can't... that's why you have friends like me and Araña, no?" she points out. Their goals are the same for now, and well... she likes those two far better than the other Talon members.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Next training... "This weekend is the initial date. Though we could move it if something happens."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Night is approaching, and it appears that Reaper is ready for the next stage of the plan. This doesn't seem to bother her none, though she does look curious. "Is that a new trick you picked up, by the way?" Didn't he use to feast on souls?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But fine, she'll work on something as she has a good idea on how to do it. It will require some resources, but... it will be worth it. Heck, maybe even Reaper might enjoy going through it.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As darkness falls across the island and the relics light up like beacons in the night, the recruits and Gabe might hear it... the faint humming across their comms, an obvious lullaby being sung in Spanish, partially hummed in parts.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XUK3wkY45OM<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Let's see how these recruits react... Reaper should know where the injured ones are and deal with them. Just how will Nicky and her new 'friend' deal with this now that they're a beacon to the others...?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>"I suggest we make sure to secure one of the other targets... before Sharaseth comes to us. With that beacon, That won't be long... just have to wait out the mist." Nicky replies, trying to estimate how close the other targets are without leaving the other girl out of the eyes too long.<br><br>Then the lullaby starts to sing, making Nicky frown. "Great... not only a beacon, but also loud. Let's drop the comms... and then make a run for the next. maybe we can soften the glow with the backpack."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>The Reaper pauses mid-way through his shadow step, his essence already curling out along the dying sands like a shadow of the damned. His cowled head turning back towards Sombra for a moment, his voice growling lowly. "It's a brand new dimension, Sombra - Even Death can evolve." Which means whatever strange mechanism, whatever curious disease has eaten his - for politeness sake, we'll call it a 'body' - is changing too. And then he's gone, a swirling mass of dark smoke slipping into the tree line.<br><br>He'll have to have a chat with her about the lullaby, though. Too close to home.<br><br><br>Astrafel's eyes narrow once more at the mention of keeping the artifact in the backpack - oh, and look! Only Nicky has a backpack! - before she simply nods her head. She peels off her climbing harness, keeping a wary eye on Nicky - a return of distrust - before she wraps it again and again about the relic, using up the rope where she must, tying off the bundle. The knife is, as always, forever close to her hand; It's not much, but it at least dims it from 'roaring campfire' to 'nightlight'. Although the lullaby continues, muffled for now.<br><br>Nicky hasn't got much of a view, seeing as this small 'fort' is below the canopy, but she can at least see the other hazy glowing 'auras' and get a general sense of direction. Most of the glows snuff out quickly, evidence that they're already in possession of someone. One remains, off to her west, while two glows - close to one another - were snuffed out to her northeast.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>As if on cue, the swirling, thick mass of purple slowly begins to disperse. Or, at the very least, to bubble and swirl upon the ground. It'll still be about in low spots, as if the gas were very heavy. And where it had passed, one can see the score marks. Leaves withered and melted, tree trunks scoured, and so forth.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Luckily for Nicky and Astrafel, the cloud seems to have drifted off. "Ok... seems like... we need to move. Fast. Northeast there is the last 'free', the other two... might be in the hands of Sharaseth... or two others not too far from each other, and their closeness to each other will be what makes Sharaseth and her group trying to get them." And with that, Nicky takes a slow turn to move down. "Oh... and maybe we... leave a scorched earth. Maybe it makes them look for the thing here..."<br><br>Stopping on the ground floor, Nicky waits for her sudden 'partner' to clear the building before she pulls out the fuel can, pouring some on the rotten wood floor before setting it alight with a good strike with the knife's pommel against the wall, drawing sparks. Fire... Better... Get away now. "Ok, move it!"<br><br>and with that, she tries her best to get to the other spot while also not getting stabbed by Astrafel.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>On the cameras monitoring the 'fatally injured', a swirling black cloud shifts into view. Bubbling and rising, wisps of its dark essence boiling away like a miniature hurricane. The heft and point of a shotgun - the silent, brutal flash of light. And, curiously enough, something from the quivering remains drawn back -into- the shadowy mass. Hurt people to heal - and you thought there was an END to the EDGE. The smoke dissipates and flits away again, only to reappear on the next camera. And the next, after that, until there -are- no fatally injured left...<br><br><br>'Astrafel' gives Nicky a flat eyed stare at she mentions having to move fast, but outside of a snort doesn't contradict her. She -has- her relic, and if Nicky's going after someone else's, well - all the better. "You're the one who cut her line. She's the one who let you cut her line. I don't see what business that is of mine; But if she's got a group of four, then they'll be after my relic too." And that's pretty much the only reason she's even considering this curious team-up. And why she agrees to slip into the building first, because then she can keep an eye on Nicky in the doorway. While she's got all sorts of exits from this worn down micro-bunker. But whatever loot was in this place was either taken by Astra, or already gone. Either way, the fire begins to flicker and grow as it climbs up the walls - and then follows Nicky's lead towards the west, where the lone light still glows. Leaving behind them a glow all their own. And somewhere up ahead? The Red Dogs mourful hooting can be heard - briefly silenced by sudden, explosive BOOMS. Three of them, to be precise, staggered a few minutes apart. Shotgun fire. After a while, even the echoes of that noise fades away, and the night sounds rise once more....<br><br><br>Shadowy tendrils slither from the jungle, like ink thrown across the moon-bleached sand. Coiling and bubbling as they thicken, Reaper rising from the grasp of shadows like an over-dramatic center forward entrance on the stage. His clawed hands turned upwards, dark laughter slowly rasping from his throat. Someone's feeling better. Metal gauntlets flex as he squeezes, before his sterile mask turns back towards the jungle. And pauses.<br>".. Five glowing spots?" He asks, his white mask turning back towards Sombra. Heavy boots striding through the sand again, dark coat matching the dark places between the stars above. "How many relics have been found so far?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;There's some idle curiousity there as Reaper feasts on the fallen, those who will not rise up again. Sure, she's seen him fight several times, but it's surely something else to see just what the man formerly known as Gabriel Reyes has become. Sombra's eyes narrow slightly as she leans forwawrd, increasing one of the videos to get a closer look. Though her attention quickly moves to the area where Nicky and Astrafel are moving towards. Burning down the place... well, that's a strategy that often works, so why not?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Reaper returns Sombra turns her head to glance up at him before she retuns to her screens, typing up something on her holovid keyboard. "3 have been found. Though I assume that they will not share nicely, as the trio seem intent on making sure the others do not pass. At least we can't fault them for lacking ambition and drive, no?" she states calmly. "Two Red Dogs are down... it's going to be costly to replace them." It's a good thing Talon doesn't lack funds.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her expression looks pensive. "I /could/ unleash La Urraca...?" she suggests, looking over to Reaper as if asking for his opinion. It's up to him if he wants to up the ante on the test or not, to change the focus of the recruits.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky just stares back a moment. "She has others with her. And their goal is total annihilation." She remarks on Astrafel's burst. "And they might have picked up another. That makes her our enemy." And on the road they are.<br><br>The sounds of the shotgun make Nicky halt in place half a second, biting her lips as she tries to make out the direction it came from, then shaking her head as she continiues the search. "''Someone'' got a gun. That complicates things a little." Is all her comment, but the unbalanced weapon situation worries her. A lot. Come on Nicky... Safety is some dash away - and possibly one or two more hours. What was the condition for exfiltration again?<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"Ambition is good; As long as it can be turned towards purpose and not meaningless power grabbing." Snarls the Reaper, even as he crosses his arms. Still feeling a little feisty from the feast, his heavy boots slowly pacing back and forth as he considers the next problem, flitting a hand. "Mph. Red Dogs were a mistake from the beginning. Soldiers need a brain; Anything can scream and run forward. Only soldiers hold the line. They're useless except as training fodder anyways." A faint dismissive growl - one of Talon's early attempts after seeing the 'success' of the Lunar Colony genetic protocols on the great apes. With lesser success, but better control.<br><br>And then Sombra mentions IT. La Urraca - the Magpie. There is a long, drawn out hiss of breath as he considers the question. That he doesn't just jump to -yes- shows how dangerous this thing is. Before he nods, pointing once at the screen where Nicky and her erstwhile ally are running towards the final glowing spot. Even as a group of four survivors wind their way towards the fire left behind, with the Betrayed in the lead. By virtue of being the one able to hold them together, between viciousness and turning their self interest towards her own ends.<br><br>"Unleash it." He finally states, with a growl. "Work her into a panic. See how she handles it. We need to know when she breaks - where the other flaws are."<br><br><br>Weapon disadvantage or no, Nicky manages to make her way towards the final glow - with Astra at her side, and as of yet unstabbed. Although, as always, Astra makes sure to keep a good reaction distance, her knife already in palm where possible. As they approach the glowing site, the tree-line thins out and finally gives way to a gorge. Not a very big on, maybe ten or twenty feet down, but filled with sharp side projections. And the faint gurgling sound of water swelling in and out of holes from the ocean's crash. The glow itself is from somewhere below the shelf, likely tucked into a semi-flooded cave. In point of fact, as the water gurgling grows louder, one can see the light take on a 'wavery' quality as it bounces and reflects off the wet tan stone.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Amibition is indeed important... it's something that Sombra has lots of, which Reaper should know well enough by now. At least she works well enough with them, not about to directly make things difficult for them. "They have their uses, sí... distractions, for one," Sombra responds calmly, raising her can to sip at her drink some more as she thinks. While Reaper considers her suggestion she's quiet, fingers tapping away at the keys. Glancing at the screen that Reaper points at, she gives him a curious look. Why isn't it a huge surprise that he doesn't go easy on the poor recruits who have found themselves caught in Talon's web?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A slightly amused snort leaves Sombra, and she opens up another screen that she begins adding information to. "It's the best way to see whether she can stand the pressure indeed..." A few more command inputs, and Sombra smirks. "She's on her way."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As the remaining recruits make their way towards the gorge and the last remaining light, they aren't alone. The first warning is a sound that echoes from the distance, a rumble that approaches... The winds pick up next, the trees rustling even more... all before something swoops over the tree tops, taking a large turn before it heads back towards the gorge. Something large, birdlike... and not exactly what one might expect to friendly. Black and white feathers cover a ten foot long body, an enormous wingspan and elongated neck. Black eyes peer down at the people there, all before a sharp and crooked beak opens to let out a /shriek/ before it descends down towards the other group, claws extended as it seeks to grab one of them!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>The two fight their way through the jungle, past occasional rock piles that bear marks of the former owners of the island - original and archaeological alike. But for now, Nicky wasn't to stop until the light was to come into vision. Apparently her ruse had worked well enough to give them an edge to gain the place.<br><br>"I... don't like that." Nicky responds, then looks back to where they came from, then to Astrafel, then again down. "I can go grab it. But there's no place to hide around here, I mean, to dim them away more and then move on. We can seperate, if you want, or we can stay together and use the advantage of numbers. They might be three, they might be four, they might even have picked up more and will settle the score among themselves in the end... I can't tell you that. I know, That down there is as much my ticket out as you have yours." That is, when the sound of wing grows louder and the shadow of the figure appears over the treeline. Nicky moves slowly backwards, still eying Astrafel for her reaction until she stops at the edge of the open cut in the land, her combat boots just an inch or two away from the edge. Perfect to push her down, right?<br><br>The shriek of the birdlike creature give Nicky shivers in a really bad way. Letting her body fall backwards with a forced smile on the lips, she once again descends down, past the very first jagged edge before letting go of the pent up concentration she had used just to stay as she was. Never she had immagined that loosing control sometimes might be a benefit under very small circumstances...<br><br>Plopping away into mist and recondensing, it was a foot long, bright white Shark-stuffie that fell down, bouncing over some of the ragged walls relatively harmlessly, receiving a slash on a particular sharp rock along the hind fin and finally hitting the water, only to slowly submerge halfway as it was thrown around by the waves.<br><br>It took at least a few seconds before the plushie Shark hauled over, belly to the sky, and misted away to condense back to Nicky, a long cut along her right shin. Gritting her teeth, she turned around to try to swim against the current towards the origin of the glow, through the maelstrom of turbulent waves and jagged cliffs and - at the edges - foaming water.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>It's Florian who gets nabbed first, as the bird swoops down - the four 'partners' having been caught completely off guard by the sudden appearance of a MONSTER BIRD on their relatively normal island. That'll teach them about mission expectations. While they'd done an admiral job forming a tight circle, with two holding relics - and one of those relics belonging to Sha herself. The only way to ensure their loyalty was to toy with their self interest, after all. Two down, two to go.<br>But as they're clamboring over the fence towards the burnt out shack - mostly as a way to -get the hell out of open air- - one of them is snagged as he leaps. Florian. He screams, pulling a broken spear point out of his pocket and doing his best to cut through the hardened claws of The Magpie. The other three take one look, and grimly move to get under cover. They simply haven't got weapons that would take something of that size down. Red Dogs can be fooled, or killed one on many if you were careful to surround it. This thing was an entirely different matter.<br>An entirely different -LEVEL- of bad. Reaper watching the screens passively, even as he tilts his death mask again. "Will it give up the hunt now, or have they worked on its aggression level since last I checked?" A shift of his attention, and a growl of annoyance. "Rope and climbing harness, and she decides to leap. Mm.." It actually may have been the best idea. Especially with a partner you can't trust to remain... professional. Back to pacing again, not nervous - simply burning off excess energy without having anything to occupy his hands. Like murder. "Update the current list of 'acceptable' ex-fil communications to be broad-band radio burst as well as typical signal. They're getting close to the comm-tower. They weren't trained on our dead drops yet.." And you can't expect recruits to figure -that- out on the fly, even if you are putting them through metaphorical hell and highwater. Well, literally on the last part.<br><br>"What's to like? This whole situation is screwed up. Like.." She pauses, her eyes narrowing dangerously. ".. Like a mission gone wrong. Mm. Just get your relic, and we'll figure out a way to signal the transports. Did.. Did you get any other instructions on how to do that?" And then Astrafel -hits the ground- when the bird swoops past, putting the relic beneath her. Gritting her teeth until she can hear it run off, her attention back on NIcky - just for Nicky to go over the edge. Swearing softly under her breath, she scrambles forward to watch Ni-uh.. hm. Where did Nicky go? OH, there she is. In the water. How the he-Nevermind. Time for that later. The knife is out, jammed into the loamy ground and dug hard. Astrafel's muscles quivering as she digs as fast as she can at the soft earth, trying to make something of a hole to bury her own relic in. At least to dim the -light-. And then to start unwinding both the rope and the harnes..<br>It's like Nicky said. Four on one is bad odds. Four on two is survivable. Four on another while she's running is perfect. <br><br>The crash of the ocean drags at Nicky when she swims forward - lucky for those endurance training, hm? It's being put to the test now, as the ripping under current keeps trying to drag the young mutant out into the water to drown. Or at least become very, very soggy if she switches back to plush mode. Even from here she can see it - a natural cove cut into the side of the small clif, with lots of bubbled caves waiting explortaion. Salt stings and tugs at the tear in her skin, but at last her toes hit wet beach - it slides out from beneath her a few times, and the going is both slow and exhuasting, but she can tug herself into that cover. Where the relic sits, with a clip-chain holding it against the wall to keep it from floating off. The cave is low enough to force Nicky to squat-walk - and worse, a big wave could fill it to the brim before retreating again. It's not going to be easy.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The large predator bird lets out a screech of triump as it digs its talons into Florian. It doesn't seem like the stabbing of the spear point does much besides irritate it, and it snaps its beak at the youth. Within seconds it's taken to the air again, but only briefly. It sets it course back towards the gorge, then swoops down... and lets poor Florian plummet down towards the cliff side. Then it follows, landing on top of Florian as it cocks its head curiously... and then begins its meal.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"They say it has been starved the last days, so... it's as aggressive as can be, it looks like..." Considering it's decided to /eat/ one of the recruits. "Not to mention I assume it will want to grab the shiny things, it does like treasures from what we've seen." It's a bird that lives up to its name, all right.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Regarding Nicky's choice... well, that's a fun one. "Leaping is quicker," Sombra responds calmly to Reaper, albeit with an amused grin crossing her lips. "I would have done the same, really." The order from Reaper is heard, and the hacker nods as she begins updating the list.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Gritting her teth, Nicky has only one way to go to get the item. Getting the backpack off, she pushes it in front of her as she works her way into the small cave to unclip the idol from the chain that holds it. That was the easy part: getting the idol and tucking it into the backpack. The tricky part is getting out again without being drowned, as the waves behind her come in, starting to flood the cave.<br><br>Panic starts to creep up along her spine as the water drags at her feet, pulling just enough to make her fear to loose the unstable footing in the low crawlspace. But then again, she has the item she came for. Securing the latch of the backpack and making sure it was well closed, she preses the bag to her chest. She can't tell that Astrafel decided to start to follow her, but getting out was mattering more now. Better without getting drowned. And PLOPP, gone she is again, counting on the fact that a wet and soggy plushie will be dragged out of the cave.<br><br>As the neon green mist settles, it is a likewise colored chipmunk that is pulled out by the waves, into the open, bright but not shiny - and the artifact vanished off the radar the same time.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"You have a translocator. I'm dead."<br><br>Retorts Reaper to Sombra's comment about it being faster, but he doesn't otherwise argue as his attention shifts back to the screens again. No reaction to watching Florian be dragged up into the air and taken near the gorge of the last relic - bird food. He knew from the start only a third of the recruits would make it through this trial. There are times when more are taken in - mostly when someone's intelligence or burgeoning tactical sense is too good to let go to something a simple as a lack of physical and mental toughness - but those moments were rare and far between. Or if they were tricky enough to get off on their own. The only rules were - if you had a relic, you got to leave by transport. IF you could contact the transport. Anyone without a relic was a lost cause and on their own.<br><br>It still irks him that six were downed in the first few 'hours' of daylight. "Slow the day rotation as well. Keep it.. -dark-. Real time count." He growls, metal claws flexing again. "If it likes shiney things, lets make sure four shiney things are waiting to snatch its attention. Pluck hope from the air, one.. feather.. at a time. Let the panic settle in. If they survive this... there'll be little in the multiverse that could rattle them." Evil Dad. Tough love taken to the extreme, for his potential soldiers. What's a gun pointed at you when you just faced down life-or-death odds against a giant bird, meat eating killer baboons, starvation, acidic gas, cliff diving and watching nine of your fellow recruits be murdered over shiney trinkets? It's laughable, that's what it is. And you wonder why so many Black Watch agents were full of snark - as are a lot of Talon agents, now-a-days.<br><br><br>Astra ties off the rope, tossing the empty harness down towards the crashing foam in the gorge. Something for Nicky to get a hold of and start hauling herself up - if she trusts the person at top. Who, if Nicky was successful, no longer has a reason to murder the mutant. Both would have relics, and you don't get more 'points' for more relics.<br>Although there are always those occasional over achievers.<br>Still, when the bird swoops in to land, Astrafel quickly slips back under the brush. Getting down on her belly, and working her way under cover slowly and carefully. Cussing softly under her breath the whole time; Sorry, Nicky. Looks like you're on your own for the moment!<br>The sweep out of the cave is a sudden rush of water when the next big wave fills it like an overflowing cup, sending the green chipmunk spinning back into the open waters. As the waves begin the slow process of sweeping her out. She's got a while - low mass and weight means there's not a lot of surface tension to tug her along - she can see the sillouette of The Magpie. Not able to quite make out the whole bird-beast, its neck curving down again and again only to twist and yank up. -Feasting-. Did Astrafel get caught?! There's no tell-tale glow to be seen from her prior position near the gorge.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I guess that's true..." she muses, giving Reaper a cheeky grin. "Still, Nicky is tough in her more... cutesy form." Seriously, a shark plushie. And now a chipmunk that gets dragged out by the tide. "Setting rotation to real time," Sombra confirms, turning a knob on her virtual keyboard, all before she stretches out again, closing her eyes as La Urraca feasts, the poor recruit long gone at this point.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As a matter of fact the giant bird is gone eating by now, and it flaps its massive wings again, taking to the sky as it peers about, trying to find its next course of today's meal. Who will be the lucky one...?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It looks towards where it snatched Florian from, then to the brightest source of light nearby...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>The part of getting pulled out into the open was giving Nicky some advancement as planned - the Magpie however was so not planned. The world aroud Nicky spun as the tiny chipmunk was flung over the waves, but the swinging line with the harness on the lower end was kind of tempting. Even if... The Bird might have got Astrafel - or was it one of the follower group as it swooped earlier? Could it get down the kind of narrow cliff? Could it get out again? Could she even... use it as a lift? It would... be risky. REALLY risky, but maybe... maybe...<br><br>Biting her mental teeth together, and counting on at least some luck, Nicky braced herself for the salty sting of the ocean again as she plopped back to her human shape. Only a moment she had to inhale deeply, then she sunk under the surface from the added weight of the artifact, and in the silent underwater fight with the currents she did her best to get the backpack where it belonged. Fighting her way up to the surface with burning lungs, panic came back like a creeping snake.<br>In the last moment, she broke the surface, taking a mouthfull of the sweet air, her backpack shining like a patchy nightlight at the sides while the upper part, where the flap lay over the pulled tight opening, was dark. Fighting the waves, she finally managed to grab for the swaying harness that Astrafel left her, taking it as a welome chance to catch breath. Hopefully the bird wouldn't go for her, but even then... she might use that to her advantage still...<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>The brightest source of light right now? The fire still sputtering out in the 'mini-fortress', with the broken ring of the former canon emplacement poking upwards like a bent halo in the flickering flames. But a bird isn't really interested in fires, is it? No, it's the faint glows that'll catch a Magpie's attention. That, and a chance to eat. The real question is - which team was better at hiding their relic from the peering eyes of a massive bird beast?<br>Quick as shadows, the remains of Sha's team - all three together - slip back over the fence while the Magpie is busy, moving once more into the jungle itself. Heading towards where the glow of the last relic had suddenly been snipped out - and, coincidentally, where the massive bird beast had been. Even as the cold, uncaring stars twinkle overhead. Where, O Where, will that bird go next?<br>The rope snags secure as Nicky grabs hold of it, easily able to support her weight even after being up top once; After all, that was its purpose. However, as she hangs there, no one comes to pull her up. Then again, no one comes to drop rocks on her head or cut the line itself, so that's a plus. From her vantage, with the faint trace of moonlight now beginning to creep in with the surpression of the relic's burning glow, she can see dark smears trekking down the gorge's tanned stone. The faint smell of copper. And, as it were, a single shoe floating lonesomly nearby - the mouth of it frayed open by a beak sharper than a sword and three times as deadly. Downy feathers join the deitrus where the massive thing had been so very eager to take its first meal in days.<br><br><br>"Alternative form." Corrects Reaper idly, watching the screens again. "I'm assuming the form itself is either subconscious. There may be a way to control it in the future - something less... cutesy." The last word growled as if it were painful. "At the end of the day, function over form. If she maintains her immunities, what she looks like doesn't matter." The sterile white mask turned back towards the distant profile of the massive bird; Even this far away, Reaper could almost make out the shape. "Amatuer hour. Give me a HALO team and a shotgun; I'll do more work than a half-mad giant raptor could do any day of the week."<br>Someone is NOT a fan of the bio-engineering team, are they? But then again, Reaper always did have a 'pro-human' stance - even if it was more along the lines of =HIS= humans than it was other people's humans. They were fodder, his were soldiers and special ops.<br><br>".. We'll need to settle on callsigns. If they survive."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;La Urraca turns towards the fire, then lets out a airshaking bellow that sounds through the area. Then it sets its sights towards where Sha's team is headed, though it has problems keeping up with them due to them not being out in the open. That doesn't stop the bird from trying to get to them though! With every heavy flap of its wings, the monster bird tries to knock them over, all while it extends its legs, talons grabbing for them. It proves to be difficult however, and the creature lets out another sound, one of frustration.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What's wrong with cutesy?" Sombra inquires. "She can blend in easily. Few people are concerned about stuffed animals and plushies. I mean, if you were to infiltrate a toy store... it wouldn't do, Gabe." Nobody would ever belive he belongs in there. "You need more imagination, anciano..." Sombra's eyes nearly glitter with mischievousness. "As for callsigns... how about Fluffy? Mullido? Doll might not fit, I mean, she turns into plushies, not dolls... Hmmmm."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>The shoe being flung at her makes the young mutant gulp, but cling to her lifeline. This was the way up. She doesn't feel it in her to swim back to the beach. As the bird finally roars up and flies away, Nicky sighs with relief, pulling herself up on the harness enough to hook her own in. Climbing up the sharp wall took a lot of time though, especially with the hurting leg, unless Astrafel would come to an aid. Two versus three, if Astra was still alife. And her against four if not. In the later case... find a way to extract? The beach maybe... She had seen Sombra taking a 'camp' there.<br><br>Pulling herself over the edge finally, she drags herself onto the ground, all over wet, the right trouser painted red from salty blood - and the backpack lightly glowing. So far survived with one knife, one bottle of water, some arrows, a backpack, a little bit of petrol and the harness... as well as Astrafel's.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"La Cuchilla."<br><br>Growls Reaper, with a simple shrug of the shoulders. "Cold as a knife to cut the other hot-drop lines while they were distracted.. by me." He doesn't apologize for it, of course. Anyone who wasn't paying attention when they were talking life and death - and your opponent is on the shuttle with you? That person deserves to get their life lines cut and a fall to the sand below. And then the bone white mask is turned for Sombra, a low, rumbling snarl. But before he can comment something stupid like 'I don't infiltrate toy stores edgy edgy edgy' he instead pauses. Considers the comment. Then turns his attention back to the screens.<br>"... Fair point. I would not be a good candidate to hide in a -toy store-." He growls. He watches the trio - Sha and her two compatriots - duck and weave into the thicker part of the jungle. They had to leave some supplies behind to pick up speed - or, in one girl's point, because it was snagged by a ripping talon - but otherwise they've managed to get to safety. Reaper tilts his head slowly at a thought.<br><br>"Four relics. Five survivors so far. ... Turn the relics up brighter."<br><br><br>When Nicky drags her battered, soaking wet form over the edge of the gorge - she'll find her arm gripped by Astrafel. The young woman's eyes are narrow slits, as she considers whether or not to take this opportunity to gut the mutant. But at the faint glow from Nicky's backpack, she relents and helps drag Nicky back onto solid land. Her gaze turned up towards the sky as she watches the bird beast hound someone else. Someone rapidly moving -this- way, even as she's drawing the rope back up. And - if Nicky doesn't stop her - taking back the harness as well. So she can start digging her own relic out of the soft, loamy earth with both hands, taking time to keep it covered first.<br><br>"How many do you think are left?" She asks, softly, before her hard gaze falls on Nicky again. Thin lips turned into a frown. "Your the 'special' one. Fessing time. What did he give you for ex-fil? How do we signal the transports?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>"Me? Nothing. If anything, he had me snatched fromthe bunks first to be extra tired. But... I saw Sombra on the beach. Some tower was over on the mountain side, maybe a com one. I heard Sharaseth had some walkies - maybe the one that was snatched too." Nicky replies as she works her way up to her feet, glaring into the darkness where the others should come from, judging from the bird. "To the beach has no cover, to the tower has som but it is pretty dark and the last option is clear confrontation. Do you have yours?"<br><br>She wasn't going to grab the climbing gear of the sudden ally - she couldn't carry too much more anyway, not without a rest and her leg being fixed some. Which... actually. "Astrafel, how rested are you? You think you could make a run for the beach or the tower with... almost no load at all? I mean, if there would be a way to reduce the load to close to nothing, could you manage that run with some water?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A snort leaves Sombra, and she looks increduosly up at Reaper. "Seriously...?" And yes, she does have a point. A Talon agent needs to be able to infiltrate places, to go incognito. And as it happens to be, Sombra is the one who looks the most normal of their trio. "Just imagine... a teddy bear left behind. Nobody pays attention to it, and it can move about without drawing notice. And you never know, maybe we need to infiltrate a house where there are toys to blend in with... or she could be a gift we could hand over, only for her to make her way back out."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Let's make those things shine brightly then... "As you wish, Gabe." With a twist of her hand Sombra turns the button, and the relics begin emitting a much stronger light, making them even more visible to La Urraca.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The big bird becomes even more obsessed it seems, and it manages to knock over a few trees as it lunges forward with its long neck, grabbing one of the recruits holding one of the relics!<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>Astrafel frowns at the question, but doesn't give an immediate answer. Rather, she takes a moment to rub the palm of her hand in one eye and then the other. Open her mouth wide, as if waiting for a yawn. Feel along her own arms and legs, as she squats in the foilage. Taking -assessment- of her physical capability, before she shakes her head. "I snatched one from the idiot who's line I snipped. Mine got wet. It's transmitting, but no one's responding on the other side. I just heard that lady .. Sombra. Once or twice." And then she looks down along the climb towards the beach, considering the question carefully, before she gives Nicky a side-long glance. And a low, deadpan statement.<br>"Yes... but I'm not giving you my relic. This is my ticket back to Talon base afterwards-"<br><br>And then the relics start putting out -more- light. Turning backpack from nightlight into small fire, and the light shining through the gaps in rope/harness into a disco-ball.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>The youth who gets snatched up by Big Bird of Death screams - his holler echoing out across the still night air as he struggles to clear his pack from the snapping beak of the monster before it kills him too. The third one - the one without a relic - pausing to turn around, to try and help. "Throw it! Throw the relic! I'll lead it off!"<br> In a panic, Piotr does just as Jon suggests, throwing the relic down to him. He immediatly shoves the thing beneath his shirt, grinning wickedly, and takes off after his sister - Jon as well - and Sha. Even as Piotr is still screaming in a mix of panic and anger at his betrayal..<br><br>"Dead serious."<br>Comes Reaper's retort, in a raspy deadpan. TALON DAD JOKE. His mask turning back towards the jungle itself as the low light of glowing relics becomes far more visible - a collision preparing to happen. Inevitable. His slow, dark chuckles bubbling up from whatever it is he uses as a throat.<br><br>Covering them won't work well anymore - they've gotten too bright to look at directly anymore.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky nods slowly, as she opens the backpack, pulling out the water bottle to toss it to Astrafel. "Yes, it is your ticket. I am your ticket to redeem your ticket, while you are mine for the same. Might be silly, but you have to trust me here. I can lessen our load by two rock statues as well as their their glow. You just have to carry my other self. Fresh up... Neither of us can run fast enough to outrun the bird or Sharaseth and her group."<br><br>A moment or two Nicky fell silent, then she looked stern at Astrafel over the blinding light of the artifacts. "It's easy... I carry the artifacts... you carry me. I'm not kidding. That will lessen the load to... grams."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The bird claws at the glow, desperate to get to the relic. The moment it's thrown however, the bird lets out a rumbly squak... and drops Piotr against the ground, all before it takes off after the siblings with a chilling squak! Jon truly is leading it off, leaving Piotr bloodied, but still relatively okay on the ground.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;It crashes through the trees now, slowed down but unrelenting. And it aims to pluck at whoever of the siblings is the slowest runner.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;On the beach Sombra finishes her drink, rolling her eyes at the pun that Reaper delivers. "You really need to work on your comedy routine, you know that...?" Stretching her legs, the hacker rises from her seat. Might as well get ready. "At least La Urraca cleans up after itself..."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>Astrafel did not catch the water bottle - point of fact, she let it sail past her and hit the ground. Her eye slips between it and Nicky for a few moments, waiting for it to either explode or start emitting poisonous gas; Yes, these are the sort of things you get trained for. How to fight your body's natural inclincations and avoid the easy traps. 'Don't catch stuff tossed at you by an enemy' is pretty early in the regimen, right next too 'don't look at stuff throw up in the air by an enemy - focus on your aim'. A single eyebrow slowly ratchets up when Nicky explains that she'll be carrying - Nicky. And both relics. After a few heartbeats, she finally picks up the water, cracking the cap and sniffing it once. A finger dab on the water, to the tongue, then cap goes back on and the bottle is tucked away. There's only so far paranoia will get you, after all - and water is water, so long as a taste doesn't make her ill.<br><br>A few minutes later and she's pounding her way through the trees, a loping jog that's not fast but can be maintained for a -long- time, face strained in determination and teeth gritted. Apparently now a pack mule for a plushie as she speaks between her teeth. On the upstep, of course. "Where - is - the - tower?" The comms tower Nicky had mentioned.<br><br><br>Piotr, despite his dazement, has enough sense to crawl away from where the La Urraca dropped him initially. Best not to be there when the bird gets hungry and goes looking for a wounded meal. Although his own gaze is following the slow movement of lights into the thicker jungle, and the crashing of the massive bird behind them. After a few moments, one of the burning bright lights goes out-<br>The one closest to the monstrosity, in fact. The other moving off in a slow tangent direction, before it disappears. And the first one comes back to life, further along in the other direction. When you can't fight, and you can't out-run, perhaps you can out-clever by drawing the magpie from one spot to the other until it gets tired. It's not like the sibling are going to abandon one another; Jon the brother and Jon the sister have that as both flaw and strength.<br><br><br>"Afraid you'll die laughing?"<br>Can you guess which word Reaper emphasized? Although it's still delivered with that rasping, dead-pan voice, as if he wasn't even aware it was a joke. Arms uncross as Sombra's words, his sterile white mask turned from the distant crash of the monstrosity to the relatively diminutive form controlling such chaos and destruction. As usual. "Eventually. Now convince it to prioritize the mission over its own existence and I'll be more impressed with the bio-gen wing of research." One arm lifts, reaching under his cowl to tap the side of his mask - to get the transports hot and ready to drop at a moment's notice. Does it burn fuel? Yes. Does Reaper care? No. If he wanted to be in an organization that worried about money beyond its subscribed purpose, he would've joined an accountancy group.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky has a hard time answering - after all Stuffies are pretty mute for the most part, but the tiny stufy she had turned into - a white mouse with a loop on the head - tried her best to point into the right direction bewteen being shaken through like a... stuffie hanging from a backpack. Which she kind of was. She had thought about trying the beach, because the beach could mean 'home delivery' to Reaper and Sombra, but then again, they were asked to call for evac. And being shaken through still wasn't nice... even if you lacked a brain. It was disorienting.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;La Urraca is unrelenting as it follows the siblings, knocking over trees as it advances upon them. Sadly it's frenzied right now, and it soon catches up with one of the siblings. A scream rises throughout the forest, though it stops abruptly, followed by unnerving silence as the light of the relic dies down.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At least until a squak follows again, echoing as it resumes its persuit. The remaining sibling is its next target, and it kicks off the ground as it takes to the skies, massive wings beating it ever upwards... at least until it begins to dive, headed straight for the single lone light. It appears that it has forgotten Piotr right now as it seems to only target the relics now. Which means that it will go after Astrafel and Nicky after it's done with its current target.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sombra gets her beach chair all folded up, giving Reaper a glance over her shoulder. "Your sense of humour is pretty much dead, Gabe. So I think I'll be fine." He does have a point though, and the hacker gives him a cheeky smile as she finishes packing her items from her little evening at the beach. "That's why you keep me and Araña around, no?" They're far more dependable than some silly bird. Just to add to her point, Sombra reaches out to 'boop' Reaper on his mask as he calls in the transports. "I'm still looking for the day when you need me to go undercover at a fun party, you know. Why don't you ever give /me/ missions like that?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>Following the directions of a...stuffie... connected to her pack, Astrafel takes a moment to reflect upon the chain of events and decisions that led her to this point. Being chased by a giant bird-beaked beast through an island towards a comm tower, all in the service of getting glowing rocks to a terrorist organization for a test. And even then, it's only to advance to the next stage of training and integration.<br><br>It's been a wild ride.<br><br>As the screams from the forest behind them echo outwards, overshadowed by the crash and smash of the bird beast battering boldly, blithely before boughs, Astrafel finally leaps - tumbles - down a grassy knoll towards a squatting brick and mortar building. Crumbling? Absolutely, with half of it swallowed by a snap-growth of vines and a small tree. But a rusted comms tower still stands proudly upwards, the antennae cluster just barely toping the last wish-ruffled rush of the trees. It's an -old- comms tower, but it's better than flares, fire signals, or trying to swim for it, right? .. Probably. Astrafel's legs jerking as she slows her run-tumble (Trunble?), shoulder battering against the aged and rusted door. Dust popping from aged and rusted bolts. For a few moments, Nicky will have a reprieve.<br>Well, she should've. In a narrative sense, that would've been great. Instead, one can hear the mournful hooting of the Red Dogs somewhere nearby.<br><br><br>"Yes. That's why I prefer you both." A pause. ".. to remain alive."<br>Because far be it for Reaper to actually compliment someone without somehow turning it into a threat. His hand dropping away from his mask as he refocuses on Sombra, letting the chaos happening in the star-lit jungle work itself out as he chuckles darly. A slow, dripping laugh that's probably as divorced from 'light humor' as one could get.<br>"You would not like the 'parties' I get invited too." He states, before his growling voice grows more serious.<br>"Find something mission critical that happens at a party, first." Well, at least he's taking her words seriously. For his own detriment, probably.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>As they tumble into the building, Nicky turns mist once again, tumbling to the ground next to Astrafel, somewhat disoriented. Once she has cleared her vision from being shaken around - and still seeping a bit of blood from the leg wound that didn't got any treatment until now - Nicky darts to try to close and block the door in the harsh light provided by the backpack full of artifacts. "Let's just hope that this is a valid approach. Radio I mean. Otherwise: well done... cover them up if you can... I try to get the Radio going in a second."<br><br>After barring the door with a broken piece of table, Nicky sighs as she looks over the equipment, trying to figure it out. Can't be more complicated than an electic safe, dangit. First things first... Power. With long fingers, she looked for where the power lines came from, finding the dusty and moldy generator sitting in a corner under a sheet, but the fuel tank almost empty. Wincing, she sniffled at the tank inlet, then at the fuel can she had, shrugging before pouring it all into it. It should work... hopefully.<br><br>After a bit of tinkering and almost prayers, the roaring sound of the generator fills the hut, and some lights flicker on on the radio machine. But getting in some channel that might be listened on was not an easy task for the almost complete amateur, but in the end she tried to send something on 1414 MHz. "This is Talon one and two, requesting transportation. I repeat, Talon one and two requesting transportation."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I have no intention of dying yet. My brain wouldn't be useful to you if I did," Sombra states. "Just remember that the next time you think we need to talk..." Oh yeah, she still remembers. And hopefully he remembers just what she's able to do. Team Talon interactions can be hard and stressful at times.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I guess that means I will have to be on the lookout for some fun infiltration opportunities then... and well, I'm surprised if you do get invited to parties at all, Gabe. You're not that lively." He's the one who begun with the puns, so she will damn well drive them home.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Screams rise from the forest, though it's hard to tell what's going on among all the trees. Just where did La Urraca end up? Did the last sibling survive? There are no lights to be seen in the forest.. but something else lights up.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As Nicky powers up the lights in the old comm tower, silence reigns... until a terrifying squak rises from the trees, right before La Urraca does. With no relics to be seen it's drawn to the other light source in the night... Within seconds it has cleared the trees, and it swoops towards the tower. Soon it's there, and it lands on top of the tower, wings spread as its long neck arches down to peer into where the light is coming from...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Down the beach Sombra can't help but arch an eyebrow. "... you'd think they'd learn that it follows the light by now, no?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>As soon as the door is barred from the inside - the first metallic THUMP of a large body is heard, the entire table shuddering under the blow. Astrafel forces herself to lean into the blockage, yelling over her shoulder for Nicky to hurry it up! .. Especially when the mournful hooting becomes louder and shorter, turning more into howling as the faint patter of fists and claws against the metal door is heard. High pitched screams of the Red Dogs working themselves into a killing frenzy, the clunk and clutter of mortar above as they run across the roof. Looking for a way in - looking for a way to find the survivors.<br>The generator sputters and lights flicker, but it holds out enough for dimly lit comms channels to light up. The numbers on their dials have long ago worn out, but the needles still dance as Nicky speaks her ex-fil call into the darkness above. There is the silent crackle of static, filling the empty channel with nothing but the slow eclipse of hope..<br><br>Until a voice comes back on. "This is Parrot Three. Copy One and two, ex-fil confirmed, southern beach. Watch for the green lightup. Repeat - this is Parrot Three. One and two, ex-fil confirmed, southern beach. Watch for the green lightup. Confirm relic? Repeat, confirm relic? Parrot Three, over."<br><br>"What's going on up there?" Hollers Astrafel as the door is slowly, achingly forced back. One quarter inch at a time, the screaming of the mad babboons louder and louder, the light from the relics shining out like a beacon to a world of hurt and hungry - until they suddenly depart. Gone. A hush falling over the comms tower - right up until the bird beast screams and hits it like the fall of god's hammer. The roof creaks and groans beneath the sudden load, mortar and large slabs of fill-crete collapsing downwards. It's a lot LOUDER in person that one might think!<br><br><br>Reaper merely growls to the 'next time you think we need to talk', metal gauntlets creaking as he flexes his hands. And then his sterile white mask turns towards Sombra again, before he drops the pun bomb.<br><br>"I always drop the beat."<br>And then his mask turns towards the jungle where the com lights are flickering weakly, just barely seen through their view of the comm tower. "There's no choice by hard choices. By design. We're going to have a very.. very small graduation ceremony this year." A dark chuckle, before he nods aside. "Set the green stain."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>"I confirm, repeat, confirming two relics!" Nicky yells into the comm, just as the shriek from the bird fills the air, and then the roof shivers. Startled, she clings to the comm, her face pale. Nodding to Astrafel, she dashes for the backpack, picking it up before hurling herself towards the door. "South beach. I guess we came from there. It's a walk, but we might wait for the bird to leave first. The no encumbrance way again? It might have come for the relics." she replies, only waiting for a short nod to transform into a small stuffie, snuffing out the light of the relics, and lessening the load to a small red panda.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;La Urraca is ferocious enough to scare off even the Red Dogs, it appears. It makes a weird cross between a rumble and a clucking sound at the back of its throat as it tilts its head to peer in through the windows. What's the light in there? Also... are there any edible things in there?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Honestly, Reaper's little 'talks' isn't much of a dialogue, now is it?<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"At least we know that these recruits are able to handle rough situations when they're done..." she muses, then nods at the order. It's quick for Sombra to open up a holoscreen, and she types in a few commands. In response sensors underneath the sand light up, shining through as the sand takes on a green hue for the survivors to see.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I trust you'll be able to handle La Urraca if she follows them here," she states calmly. She herself is glad she has a translocator ready on one of the transports.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;At the tower La Urraca blinks, then begins smashing its beak against the glass as it tries to get to both Nicky and Astrafel, willing to even destroy the tower itself to get at them and the relics.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"If it lives, -I- can kill it."<br><br>Hisses Reaper, his voice dripping through the mask as he reaches down to his waist. And slowly, almost lovingly, draws his hands upwards - revelling in the Hellfire Shotguns as they form from the darkness about him, woven by the very threads of his curse. Thick biceps curl, the shotguns resting across his own shoulders as he watches the jungle ahead. Before nodding aside.<br>"Yesss.. Very few will survive the regime I put forth to train them. Those who do will live to a ripe age before their inevitable doom, for nothing this multiverse can give to them will stop them; Death's Mercy." <br><br>Someone is feeling their oats!<br><br><br>Moments later, and far away, Astrafel is already pumping her arms and legs in a flat out run to the south - her flesh marred with green smears and rips where she'd been shoving through the forest, even as La Urraca continues to tear and rip into the comms tower. Lights flicker - die - as sparks ripple outwards from the decrepid thing. Whatever training group passes through here next time will have to find something else to signal the Talon ex-fil with. But why is Astrafel running flat out when the bird beast is distracted elsewhere? Why-<br>The Red Dogs are on her heels. Their mournful hoots taking over the night as they converge, after the meat left the vicinity of the massive, flying overlord of this place. The mournful hoots growing faster and faster as they close in. Astrafel shouting between steps - "Nicky! Do! Something!" She's out of ideas. Any good ideas besides 'run'. And sometimes that's the only idea you have left.<br>As they hit the spot where sand starts intermingling with the green tapered roots of the jungle - another group comes out of the bush to their left. The Two Jons. One of them having lost an arm, the tissue scorred with chemical heat to close off the wound. And dragging behind them all an old wooden chest. Light drift-wood composite, with bright light shining through along the sand as it's dragged forward as fast as the two can drag it.<br><br>Finally? Finally, there is a faint disturbance in the air as drop ships pass by the southern beach. Rapidly circling to the other side of the island before releasing FLARES. Bright, sparkling flares that jump and skitter in the air to hopefully draw the bird beast's attention off the landing point. Long enough for them to circle back around, optical camo flickering away.<br><br><br>As the disturbed air begins to blow sand about the green stained area - as they ripple along Reaper's cowl - the sterile white mask turns back to Sombra. "Handled." He growls. Killing the bird beast needlessly is a waste. And it didn't serve the mission. Although his mask turns back towards the approaching groups - coming in for a collision, in fact - with Astrafel having a pack of Red Dogs hot on her heels. And getting louder, angrier, and closer as they rush towards the ex-fil location.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1117|Sombra (1117)}} has posed:'''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As if on cue Reaper begins his edgy talk, and in reaction Sombra can't help but roll her eyes with an exaggerated sigh as she blows some of those coloured locks away from her face. "I swear... go one day without talking about death, and I'll go one week without calling you Gabe."<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With the two groups running along the beach, the Red Dogs hot on their heels, it's a dangerous situation. Sadly enough, the siblings haven't managed to completely block out the light from the relic...<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Back at the comm tower La Urraca perks its head up, and then it flaps its wings once and lets out a shuddering cry that carries across the sand and ocean. Then it's airborne again and joining in on the pursuit... At least until the bright flares rise skyward, catching its attention with another shriek. Off the monsterous bird goes, and it rides the winds with great urgency.<br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sombra in the meanwhile calmly watches the groups running towards them... with howling primates of doom right behind them. "Seriously, we need to teach them stealth, don't we?" she sighs as she shakes her head. How are they going to be able to pull off mission if they are this loud? The woman steps forward, already using her virtual keyboard to do something. The four recruits run across the greenlit sand, and the moment the Red Dogs approach the line... they howl out in pain, shuddering as they pull back, twitching as they grab at their heads. One of them is quickly slamming its hands into the ground, letting out angry roars. All while Sombra just glances at the Red Dogs... and turns a button on the keyboard, causing the primates to cry out again before they pull back. It doesn't appear they are a danger any more.<br><br><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You better have your relics... because it's time to leave," she announces.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>Nicky can't really do much, let alone answer, in her state, clinging to the chest of Astrafel as they dash through the djungle. She could of course turn back, turning into a heavy burdoned girl with a knife... but that would lower their survival chances as they surely would not reach the beach together. Luckily being light however is kind of enough, as they enter the greenlit zone, and the monkeys fall behind.<br><br>Almost with a glad smile on her face, Nicky plops back from her plushie self, ending up in a hug from Astrafel, as she fails to let her loose fast enough, but the backpack shines like a beacon still. "Mind... letting me go?" Nicky whispers to her 'partner', freeing herself of the arms and pointing to her backpack. "We have." she claims, but her left hand lingers on the heft of her blade, just in case Jon and Jon try something.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:1115|Reaper (1115)}} has posed:'''<br>"Promises."<br><br>Growls Reaper to Sombra, as the four hit the Green zone. "Survive when stealth fails. Survive when the mission is wrong. Survive when death walks - then work on stealth."<br>Safety - relatively speaking. The bird beast distracted, the lights in the relics dying away to nothing but seeming simple stone within the first step. Nothing to see but the faint glow of green from the stain below, and the dull, slow red strobe of the lights leading up to the ramp - all low key, to avoid attracting attention as much as possible while avoiding something as stupid as stubbing a toe on the edge of the ramp. Reaper's mask watching the Red Dogs as they approach, his metal gauntlets twitching with the thought of slaughter - and reasonable slaughter as well, well within mission parameters - before Sombra's tech does its job. As it always do. Someday, Reaper - someday it'll fail.<br><br>Growling once, he simply lets the guns drop to the sand. Where they begin evaporating, smoke curling away from the handles as he approaches all four recruits. Although, Jon the Sister seems particularly out of it, barely standing, her face gone pale with bloodloss. Jon the Brother having more than a few deep cuts across his side as well, cleaner than one would expect for a giant bird beast. Smaller too. Probably how he got the relic away from Sha - took the hit and kept running. Each Relic is studied in metal claws, turned slowly - before being passed off to the crew disembarking from the drop ship, securing this small section of beach. And dragging out six bodies - the other recruits. It's obvious who they are by the jumpsuits, pajamas, and what not they died in, but each cadaver is - emptied. Shriveled, as if it had been mummified in the space of only a few hours, more than a couple with exageratted holes in midsection. Laid out to the side, a 'relic' to their own failure. And then Reaper clasps his claws behind him, growling as he speaks to the recruits.<br><br>"Humanity is always being tested.." He begins, borrowing a line from Akande. "And those who fail? They will be forgotten. You will never have a statue built in your honor.." A soft snarl. "You will never be thanked. You will never be allowed to follow in ignorance. But.." Here, his voice lowers.<br><br>".. But you will be remembered. You will lead. You will make a difference, in this world and every world you touch. This was your crucible, your turning point. From here, you will grow stronger, faster, harder. There will be no enemy you cannot face, no matter how large, no matter how obligue. Today you are no longer a cog in a faceless mass - today, recruits, you are reborn. You are purpose, defined and distilled. And the worlds will learn to shudder at the shadow of your passing."<br><br>"Twelve came in. Four walked out. Welcome to Talon."<br><br>There is a click of palm to chest, two thumps; The salute of darkness, without risking exposing an officer or taking eyes off the goal of keeping the area safe. Reaper stepping aside, gesturing for the four to board the dropship. Even as - from the jungle - two more people come out. Sha and Piotr.<br><br>As the mournful hooting begins? Sha hisses, stabs Piotr in the leg with an arrow, and slips back into the wilderness. She'll just have to survive until the -next- batch of recruits - and four more relics.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:968|Nicky (968)}} has posed:'''<br>"A battle that you win cancels any other bad action of yours. In the same way, by losing one, all the good things worked by you before become vain." Nicky quips, looking along the beath, hand at the knife still and quoting the art of war. Machiavelli. Offering Astrafel a hand, she nods to the transport. "Let's get out of here... managed to come through without too much an injury..." she says, as she starts to limp towards the ramp and up, strapping into a seat.<br> <br>
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