End of an Age: Awakenings

End of an Age: Awakenings
Date of Scene:	18 February 2013
Location:	Earth-776
Synopsis:	The Union hears of an important figure in Garou lore being found... and in danger from an ancient foe long thought defeated. They rush to the scene to help... but what price must be paid to defeat it? (NOTE: Some Radio chatter has been included from Laine's perspective, which may say 'you' instead of giving her name)
Cast of Characters:	383, 178, 134, Crys Gattz, 109, 331, 92, 253, 301, 2, 416, 385, Alexis Maaka, Seras Victoria, Kimiko Shinobu, 209, 255
Tinyplot:	End of an Age

---

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<!-Scene-Hooks> Laine |Earth-776 sure has had a lot of problems! All the other chaos is suddenly added to with what appears to be a massive storm system, swirling and black and choking with smog from nowhere! Smog is not that strange over the US, but such a storm of it in what is essentially wilderness, some distance away from any actual urban settlement, is very strange.

Laine (383) has posed:
The actual location arrival is not hard. With the amount of spiritual energy here, and the target location, Laine actually just has everyone dash to a nearby spot in the woods and... well. Moon Bridge time. Not the Null Zone this time, but a much cheaper, simpler path that has people walking a few steps in sparkling light and then dumped out at the end result.

Said end result is RIGHT under the Storm, swirling above and thundering up high. It looks like, from the faded markings and rocks, that the group is atop a blunted mesa in the middle of nowhere that holds some kind of American Indian ritual site. This should come as no surprise to people who know where Laine gets her power. She's in Crinos form, the half-wolf form, and shaking her head with a sniff. "Is very bad. Ready for coming Umbra?"

Elliana Fairchild (92) has posed:
A certain priestess happened to be visiting HoH on this fateful day, and she's here now, the wind whipping her hair about. The sword at her side is in a secure grip at the hilt by her hand, and she's stepped out of the bridge to stare upward with a frown. "Now this. This is not pleasant. This is what I expect the Union to fight. Whatever it is. Also, hello again, Dame Shoutan."

Psyber (253) has posed:
"Ah God, not the fuckin' Umbra. Please? Can't I deal with this in like...not the Umbra? I hate my Umbra forms, they're both such tools." Psyber is practically pleading with Laine as he adjusts the long jacket he wears and rubs his face in a tired motion, "Like. Man. No." He's actually, legitimately, pleading with the wolf for there to be a way he does not have to enter the Umbra.

After a couple moments, though, he sighs, "Fine. Yeah. I'm ready." He finally submits to the Garou, looking over at her.

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
At least, with the armor on Tony hasn't got to worry about the wind lashing his face and hair. Not that windswept isn't a good look for him but -- /not the time, Stark/. "You said, in the Umbra we look like... our real selves?" he questions Laine uncertainly. Not uncertain about going in; he said he'd help and he's determined to do that. But he'd be lying if he said he wasn't trepidatious.

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
"No, I am not," Homura creeps in from behind in her usual wasn't there five seconds ago fashion, already transformed and wielding her jeweled black bow, sans arrows. "But now is as good a time as any to figure out if I can keep the bloody thing in my Soul Gem at the very least." She figures if she just thinks hard enough at it she can at least keep her Daemon from taking over. Keep it quiet, probably not, but better it be talking from her Soul Gem than her mouth.

Himei (331) has posed:
"Relax, Stark," Himei says. "You're basically a normal human under there. I didn't change much and I doubt you will." She looks over at Jack, then frowns, glaring at Elliana. "No funny business, Fairchild. I know you're still a sealing evil sort, but we seriously don't want anything messy here. If you weren't so useful right now I'd ask Psyber to kick you out, but someone with your power might be nice."

Himei herself draws a shining sword from her side, one that looks incredibly well-made, and readies it. "All right, Laine, I'm ready if they are..."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
"Basically," Tony agrees with a wry smile audible if not visible.

Jack (416) has posed:
Jack the Ripper is here. She was not here a moment ago. The Assassin Class Servant simply seeming to manifest at Himei's side without so much as a warning nor a hint of transition, in her Assassin garb. Perched on her toes in a crouch, legs hugged comfortably to her chest as she plants her chin to rest on one knee.

"We are here."

That's the extent she announces her presence, in a quiet and soft voice. Well, she said she was with Himei, after all.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Himei says, "Think you've got it under control, Homura?"
<Union-IC> [2] Homura Akemi says, "Maybe if Stark can lend me some of his overconfidence I'll say yes."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "I'm approving Jack for Tac-Band Access."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "She shouldbe linking up now."
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack clicky. "Yep yep."
<Union-IC> [2] Tony Stark chuckles. "Hey, if you're nervous I can hold your hand."
<Union-IC> [2] Homura Akemi says, "... I think I'll be fine."
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "You can hold ourr hand if you really want one, Mister Stark."
<Union-IC> [2] Tony Stark says, "Okay, well, the offer's open. Uh... no thanks, I'm good."

Laine (383) has posed:
Hearing as much assent as she'll get, Laine wrinkles her nose at Elliana, but doesn't argue. She sniffs at Tony for being so Weaver-oriented, yet she knows he's a good guy so she ignores it for now and just nods to the others. "Is time. Hold..."

Hold?

The actual transition doesn't even need a mirror or anything, at Laine's current level of skill. Just a ripple of /something/ passing over everyone reveals the Penumbra, like a veil being torn off. There's some brief clasping of some kind of chill at everyone, and the sensation of violence, of resistance, but here the Gauntlet is so thin that there's no danger. It's the same geographical location, but everything looks more vibrant, more /real/ here, and the starry sky is burning with lights, not to mention the half moon hanging in the sky looks so incredibly close and burns with a silvery light.

Speaking of burning...

The holy spot the group is gathered upon has a shining light piercing the sky, and in the distance to the west are several more similar lights. It should be obvious to those with any knowledge of sealing or binding magics that this is one point in some sort of ward, and what it's meant to hold is... well, we'll get to that.

The important part is the air around the group, the entire sky, is FULL of spirits. Flame spirits, plant spirits, wind spirits... they're easy to identify in a vague fashion, because they're flaming or swirling. And they're all in a massive battle, like an aerial war, with greenish, /wrong/-looking and twisted beings. The spirits are at war here, already, while in the distance below another battle is fought.

A small group of a dozen Garou in their war-forms is half-running, half fighting from what looks like a veritable horde of twisted and howling, gibbering werewolves. Silver blades are flashing, blood flying everywhere, but the Garou are defending valiantly while trying to carry one tiny burden toward the spot the group is standing.

And one more thing. From out of the earth, chunks of dirt and rock tumbling off of its hide, a massive, wormlike dragon is starting to rise, tearing its way free of the earth in a sluggish but ominous fashion.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Himei says, "What the..."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Well this is..."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Who wants to call dips on the dragon?"
<Union-IC> [A] Laine says, "Eater-of-Souls"
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber dibs*
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Himei says, "Right uh."
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "Mother. Orders."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Himei says, "I'm going to set up a supplemental so we can coordinate with Fairchild."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Right."
<Union-IC> [A] Aaron Smith says, "It came before. It came again. There are no Middle Brothers left to sacrifice. Endless hunger, eternally craving, never satiated, never satisfied."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
"...Whoa," is Stark's erudite first impression. "Jarvis," he murmurs, "are you getting this?"

"My sensors are having difficulty with the visual translation," the AI replies calmly; "but I am compensating."

Iron Man -- who really does look about the same, albeit his armor seems to be a bit darker color -- turns in a slow circle, taking in the whole of the scene. "This is... like, what's all around us all the time, only we can't see it?" he muses. "Creepy. Like looking at your skin through a microscope for the first time...

"I'm gonna assume that big dragon thing is our bad guy, huh?"

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [A] Laine says, "Is not yet."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Jack, you hungry?"
<Union-IC> [A] Aaron Smith says, "Soon."
<1X-Supplemental> Jack says, "We have room for snacking."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Chow down."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber also totally called her Assassin.
<1X-Supplemental> Assassin: Jack says, "Nomz."
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Okay, someone should help those werewolves."
<1X-Supplemental> Tony Stark says, "What is it they're carrying?"
<1X-Supplemental> Laine says, "Perfect Metis."
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Okay then, that's just become our new top priority. Forget the dragon."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Moving to escort."
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Actually, Elliana, you think you can try to hold off that thing?"
<1X-Supplemental> Assassin: Jack says, "We will follow Psyber. Nom on anything that gets close."
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "I'll help her. And keep an eye on her. Maybe not in that order."
<1X-Supplemental> Assassin: Jack says, "Good luck Auntie Homura."
<1X-Supplemental> Tony Stark says, "Get the package to the top of the hill. Got it. Just like on Playstation Live."

Elliana Fairchild (92) has posed:
It's... stunning, even for Elliana. Her eyes go wide as she whips about, looking all around with a startled expression. And unlike some, Elliana's appearance has changed a fair bit. While she looks the same in her human form, there's an addition to it... a twisted, purplish, snakelike presence that twines its way up her legs and around her torso, its head slumbering on her shoulder next to hers. Painful-looking binds of barbed, silvery cord are wrapped all around to tightly leash the creature to her... and its body in many places intersects with hers, wrapping around her internals in spots.

Her attention is quickly caught by the other details, including Himei's request. Wings split out from her shoulders as the priestess flexes them, a tail sprouting from behind. "Hmm. Well, not what I expected to be doing today, but I suppose I can lend my aid, Dame Shoutan."

Kicking off into the air, she gathers power and swoops in to first zip around the giant wyrm beast, to guage its power and wakefulness.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "I will take a look at it."

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
"Ha! Magical girl Homura-chan, reportiiiiing~. Wait. Hey, why am I in the Soul Gem this time? This is too mean, you know," echoes Homura's Soul Gem.
"Eat shit and die," echoes Homura with a very slight smirk.

The Puella Magi takes a good long look around the area, mostly to take in the sights of the spirits and what the fuck is that even okay giant dragon Wyrm thing, great.

"All things considered you've got more chance of dying than me right now, you probably shouldn't be so harsh~."
"If I die you die, now quiet down and just... I don't know, be my soul quietly and stop being louder than me."

Good enough, really.

"Now come on, we're going dragon-slaying."

She's not confident at all she can handle the giant thing, not even with one of the allegedly more powerful Confederates helping her. But she's used to fighting huge things and it's not like her powers are much use evacuating people.

Angelic white wings sprout out of Homura's back, and she takes off towards the dragon, though not even remotely at the same speed Elliana can. Her wings are less for speed and more for convenience.

Psyber (253) has posed:
"Don't split in the Umbra. You are a divine being crafted by the hand of a flawless creator. Your form is perfect and to change it is disgrace to your origin." Psyber says to himself, as if trying to deliberately keep himself in his singular form instead of letting even more people see his deliberate Umbra form. He wills this so hard that, as it changes to the Umbra, his form flickers for a moment and then he seems to re-solidify as his normal self.

He opens his eyes slowly and looks around, "Well damn. They went and started the party without us. How rude." He comments in a tired tone, running a hand through his hair, "What weapon to use. Guns don't feel strong enough. The artifact sword might screw with the Umbra. I guess that just leaves..."

He holds out his hands and focuses, a swift cut of blue flame appearing and then materializing the grand goremaul from Annu into his hands, "Erinyes. You carry my sins from one universe. Hopefully the weight of that will help me protect another."

He grits his teeth and swings the hammer, a massive rocket sprouting from the back and sending him spinning towards the gibbering horde chasing after the Garou, "Go. I'll deal with this horde. Protect the Metis." He says to the fleeing ones.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "You got it, Stark. I'm going to see about helping Elliana and Homura with the dragon."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "I'm gonna hit the horde hard."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "We should also get someone skybound and helping those spirits."

Himei (331) has posed:
Wings of light spread out from Himei's back as well, her skirt materializing around her. The Magical Girl is in the air in an instant, unable to fly as fast as Elliana but keeping up with Homura in short order. "Monstrous being that can only be beaten against all odds, fate of the world in our hands... just like old times, huh?" She says that in a grim tone to her friend while the others are running down below.

Since she can't go as fast as Elliana, Himei turns her attention upward and starts sending short bolts of light toward some of the evil-looking spirits, to distract or destroy them if she can.

Also, Himei looks mostly the same in the Umbra.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "Mother. We will be using some of your power."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Himei says, "All right."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
Mission assigned, Iron Man first checks to see that his suit is in working order by firing a few test pulses from his repulsor transmitters; satisfied (and not a little smug at the reliability of his engineering) he leaps from the height of the mesa and sweeps down the steep hillside after Psyber. His focus is less on attacking the oncoming horde than in running defense for the home team; he fires deterring blasts into the ground at the feet of the raving beasts and bodychecks one in what would be a fairly good tryout for NFL linebacker if he weren't far too old for that nonsense.

Jack (416) has posed:
It is precisely just before the entry into the Umbra that Servant Assassin... Vanishes. A slight shift on her toes and it's as if she slides aroun a corner that isn't there, disappearing from sight, eliminating any trace of her existence entirely.

Yet she is still present. The small hand latched onto Himei's side proves that as Laine says to hold on to something.

Though she cannot be seen, blue eyes widen. It's a sight like the Servant has never seen before. A war of the spirits going on right over her very head, and the sight of Garou in frantic flight, and the great dragon...

Jack has seen unicorns before. But not dragons, nor werewolves.

But her decision is made. Like a phantom she stalks behind Psyber, the feeling of an absolutely tiny rider suddenly clinging piggyback and using him to close the distance. Fast. It's when Erinyes flares to life and the great rocket hammer is swing, she detaches, selecting her target.

An a thin layer of mist seems to spread amid the umbra. Cold and chilly, floating in a clinging, cloying fog that lingers and follows the psychotic werewolves.

Jack the Ripper is unseen. The first strike is hers. The first strike is vicious. Methodically choosing her target... A particularly wild and dangerous looking female werewolf.

It is night.
It is misty.
Her target is female...

"Maria the Ripper..."

It is with this declaration that she can no longer hide. Appearing from nowhere, an absolutely tiny little girl, frail and weak looking. Her dress is tattered and black. Though her clothes are ratty and she is barefoot, the child herself is clean, pristine and healthy looking save for five huge bloodstains marking her, with innocent blue eyes.

It is this decree that she invokes her Noble Phantasm. Four wickedly sick blades appearing in a flash before her briefly before they vanish.

And seek to re-appear INSIDE the werewolf and carve her apart from within, bursting outwards in a sickeningly violent display as Jack, the child, lands on her toes, drawing a bloodstained scalpel from seemingly nowhere.

Laine (383) has posed:
The team heading for the Garou below are all pretty fast. Stark and Psyber can fly at a good clip, while Jack is Jack. The hammer blasts the ground and takes several of the werewolves with it. They howl and screech, some of them more batlike than wolflike, and one of them with supernatural speed is leaping right toward Psyber with jaws agape, drooling some sort of sizzling poison. Another is sending out what looks like a /fireball/ of green flame, which just /feels/ wrong. Another is vivisected to the degree that not even Garou regeneration could handle it, tearing it apart with a screech of fury more than pain. Stark slams into one and manages to get the other Garou some breathing room... though two of them aren't running. One of the two is holding a massive silver blade, and is over nine feet tall. He offers a grunt to the group helping. The other is female, lean and athletic, and her /claws/ are silver, hissing and burning constantly. On top of that, her shoulders and the mane of hair atop her head appear to be on fire. She's just disembowling one when the others come to help, getting a startled look. "Nnf. Don't know who you are but not going to argue now."

The others are staggering toward the hill, and now everyone can glimpse the Perfect Metis. Gender is still indeterminate, but the little cub is peeking over the Garou's shoulder with a serene, sorrowful look. They look... about thirteen or fourteen, though in Crinos that still means over seven feet tall, just very lanky and capable of being carried.

Some of the spirits go down or disperse at Himei's shots. They aren't all that powerful, just minor Banes, there's just a ton of them. Meanwhile, the dragon is still stirring, and approaching him makes that /wrong/ feeling more strong. He's still waking up, but as Elliana approaches a bleary eye cracks open, focusing on the flying Nightmare-Girl. He's not sure what to make of her, given she carries a being that's so evil and malevolent within her. But the waking dragon starts to yawn, carelessly slurping in a screeching pair of fighting spirits without regard to which side they're on, swallowing them whole without any effort at all. As Himei and Homura approach, the beast stirs with greator energy, pushing itself partly upward... eyes are flicking between all three winged females now.

Laine is actually still just standing there, staring, taking no part in the battle at the moment. Anyone watching her might see her tremble a little, then taking a deeeeeep breath, ears laying flat as she murmurs something under her breath.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "So uh. Capabilities of this thing? Anyone?"
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "I'm working on that."
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "Laine called it the Eater of Souls. I believe it may eat souls."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Tony, are you familiar with a phalanx?"
<1X-Supplemental> Laine says, "It isn't supposed to be awake quite yet. The Eater of Souls is one third of the Wyrm itself, a manifestation of its need to consume. If we destroy it it will cripple the Wyrm, but that would also destroy any chance of forcing things into a natural balance."
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "Can we... I don't know, appease it? For a while?"
<1X-Supplemental> Laine hesitates. "Yes..."
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "Long enough to fix all the other stuff without it rampaging."
<1X-Supplemental> Laine says, "There is a price involved."
<1X-Supplemental> Tony Stark says, "Read about em in school, Psyber."
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "How's it looking down there?"
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "Can we appease it without feeding it may have been a better question."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Good, we're going to push these douchebags back and give that kid some room, Tony."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Apparently it's the Prophecized Chosen One."
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "An excellent reason to be saving it."
RADIO: You radio Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Himei with 'There is a Rite which can force it to slumber, if only for a little while.'
RADIO: Psyber radios Homura Akemi, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: What's that?
RADIO: You radio Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Himei with 'But we need to do it now.'
RADIO: Homura Akemi radios Psyber, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: We do need to add as much time to the clock as we can, so how?
RADIO: You radio Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Himei with 'A strong, opposing life force, similar to when the Croatan sacrificed their entire Tribe. That worked for centuries.'
RADIO: Psyber radios Homura Akemi, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: So one of us has to give up their life?
<1X-Supplemental> Tony Stark says, "Gotcha."
RADIO: Homura Akemi radios Psyber, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: We don't have an entire tribe to sacrifice, ignoring the correctness of that.
RADIO: Psyber radios Homura Akemi, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: Or worse, we all might have to.
RADIO: You radio Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Himei with 'The one you call Fairchild is too twisted to be of that use.'
RADIO: You radio Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Himei with 'You save the child, I will do it.'
RADIO: Tony Stark radios Homura Akemi, Psyber, Himei, and Laine: Is all of us gonna be enough? We're not exactly a tribe. I don't need to tell you I'm not so hot on the idea of sacrificing people.
RADIO: You radio Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Himei with 'I should give us a number of months, I hope.'
RADIO: Himei radios Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Laine: No, no way. We need you here to tell us what's going on.
RADIO: Homura Akemi radios Psyber, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: I'm not killing one of us for the sake of natural balance, I'd rather just kill IT at this point and deal with it that way. Besides, we need you to figure this out.
RADIO: Psyber radios Homura Akemi, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: I'm not keen on the idea of any of us dying either. /No, Laine/. You can't die, you're too vital. I'll do it.
RADIO: Tony Stark radios Homura Akemi, Psyber, Himei, and Laine: Laine, you can't sacrifice /yourself/, we need you-- *stops, as other people chime in with exactly the same thing*

Psyber (253) has posed:
"I'm that kid's Guardian Goddamn Angel." Psyber says, looking up and behind him, "Watch out for the wings, Jack. They're coming out." And as he said that, a pair of massive black wings come out of his back and flap, giving him enough leverage to fly up and away from the drooling jaws. It nicks his arm, though, and the sizzling poison burns at the skin and the blood, Psyber hissing in pain and his arm goes lip for a moment.

He moves to land near the Garou so fiercely in battle. He tilts his head to the side and flares out his wings, "I will block them here at all costs. The Metis must be saved if this world is going to survive. I know Garou are untrusting, but you will be better served with him than dying in battle. You and your friend should go."

And then Psyber swings the hammer up again and brings it down, trying to fissure the ground to delay the encroaching horde, staring them down.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
RADIO: You radio Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Himei with 'I have the Rite ready, but...'
RADIO: Over the radio (to Homura Akemi, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine), Psyber transmits the falling of a hammer, "God damnit, I'll be over in a second to die, okay? Just gimme a minute to clear this out."
RADIO: Homura Akemi radios Psyber, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: But nothing! We'll just have to kill it. Screw balance, screw the universe. We'll deal with this the non-one-of-us-dies way.
RADIO: Himei radios Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Laine: How long do we have?
RADIO: You radio Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Himei with 'Minutes. A little more if you can hurt it.'
RADIO: Himei radios Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Laine: All right, we'll figure this out. Just hold on, okay?
RADIO: Homura Akemi radios Psyber, Tony Stark, Himei, and Laine: Fine. It's as good as dead, then. Come on, Himei.
RADIO: Himei radios Homura Akemi, Psyber, Tony Stark, and Laine: Right behind you...

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
Tony's suit could certainly handle the weight and unwieldiness of one or two of the Garou if it did come to carrying them, but he hesitates to go leaping forward with that plan, unsure whether he as an outsider ought to be... you know... touching the package. "Stark," he replies succinctly to the big female as he thrusts a palm outward and blasts another of the oncoming horrorwolves square in the gaping jaws. "Looked like you could use a hand."

And then, as his radio buzzes with a flurry of transmissions, and Psyber slams the ground, he drops to a knee for stability and loads one of the palladium cartridges into his laser emitter. A searing line of crimson light lances out, beneath the feet of the flying angel, at the milling hordes across the fissure. "Go on, get your people up the hill!"

Elliana Fairchild (92) has posed:
Elliana doesn't bother with her sword. Instead, she lets loose a few of the silvery bindings, sending the snakelike being's shadowy presence outward for a quick strike. It hisses downward, a plume of purple energy coming out to blast at the dragon waking below, while Elliana still stares at it. "There is some sort of binding upon it already... I see. A powerful one... mmf."

The Nightmare Queen darts aside, using her sword this time to split an errant spirit that wandered near, then she narrows her eyes at the bestial presence. She's still trying to analyze the binding, to perhaps reinforce it.

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
"Don't joke about that, Himei. This thing's a Storm in the first place and pretty much bringing back all the bad memories. Striking a bit close to home there," Homura says between wing flaps, letting loose a few idle arrows of light here and there without much aim-- towards whatever spirits might try to get too close to them, if anything.

"At least it's not laughing at us and hurling fire around."
Yet. Ugh.

"We'll give us some time and reduce that thing to shreds. This shouldn't be any harder than--" Fuck, bad example, that was hard. "Whatever."

Homura stops in front of the Eater of Souls, raising her bow and drawing a large, magical pink-purple arrow onto the equally magical string. "HEY! You want food? Come on, try me! Show me that throat of yours!"

She's trying to gaud it into opening its mouth to her, really. She knows where she wants to shoot a dragon if ever she has to. Of course, the purifying arrow isn't the only thing that'll fly. A few dozen RPGs just appear out of nowhere all around the Puella Magi, like a wall of rockets just popping up and rushing in.

Tony's equipment is probably going to detect the temporal anomaly without much trouble there. To say he's operating with only the best of the best equipment is an understatement. Doesn't mean Jarvis' clock might not suddenly be a few minutes late all of a sudden, though.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "There is already a Binding here."
<1X-Supplemental> Laine says, "The Croatan."
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Laine are you all right? You're talking clearly again."

Jack (416) has posed:
Assassin is not made for direct confrontation. Assassin was not made for battle. That one, vicious, stroke was probably the best thing Jack the Ripper could possibly provide in this wild and open blitz of blood and fury. But even if it was just one target rendered incapable of being able to fight further, than she has done something.

She doesn't particularly need to watch her head when Psyber's wings flare free, being so small that the black plumaged appendages end up going over her head, as does Stark's pimp laser of doom, anyway, as she crouches, close and low. "Uncle Psyber we can't help here." She whispers apologetically. There would be no way she could possibly help hold the line, and she can't vanish again now that she is engaged.

"We are helping." She does reply to the female. "We will try and protect."

And with that she turns on her heel, making to follow after the Garou on the run for the hill.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Laine says, "It's a strain. Too much of my mind is scattered about. But I can do this much."
<1X-Supplemental> Tony Stark says, "--what the hell just happened, I just lost about three minutes. I didn't black out did I? Jarvis--" "You did not, sir."
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Probably an Umbra thing."
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "Huh, that's me, sorry."
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "I suggest using an external clock while near me."

Himei (331) has posed:
The brief radio conversation distracts Himei for a moment, causing her to lag behind. A brilliant silver beam blasts out from the Sailor Hope flying behind Homura, lending a bright holy beam to the barrage of rockets. It's... very brief, though. Very very brief. Homura, after the rockets fade, will hear a faint and distant, "Sorry..."

Because she's already darting back to dive at full speed downward, even if it jars her on impact when she lands next to Laine, panting. "What do I need to do, Laine?"

Laine (383) has posed:
The Garou next to the Iron Man and Angel just grunt, snarling softly, "It is our duty to defend her. If it means we have strange comrades... so be it." The female chuckles, kicking one of the pursuing horde aside, but the horde has thinned dramatically and does one last surge forward, pouncing at the feathered wings and their owner with a roar, claws trying to peel off alloyed armor, and the big guy taking a deep gash in the arm.

There are only a handful staggering toward the mesa, and the one holding the Metis itself - who turns out to be a girl, by the way - staggers and stumbles, bleeding badly from an earlier wound. It's already festering and /rotting/ from whatever hurt her, and the Metis is looking worried now. Also trembling, joints popping and her height now a little smaller. She's going through her First Change. Like... RIGHT NOW. The one holding her growls, "Get her... away..." To Jack, because Jack is a model of helpfulness. Probably to one of the other wounded and dying Garou, actually. Though they're all bleeding horribly.

Meanwhile, at the Wyrm. The dragon-being grunts as it's slammed by Elliana's attack, rolling over with a flinch. It isn't indestructible, as the mass of rockets that impacts a moment later reveals, combined with that lance of holy energy. A writhing shriek lifts out from it, and more earth slides away, yet it also flinches and shuts an eye. It's not fully awake yet... they could kill it now.

Except Himei is at Laine, and Laine is looking at her uncertainly. After a moment the werewolf rests a hand on Himei's sternum, where that blue mark of the Emperor's still burns, and finishes her Rite with a few strokes of the claw making faint, glowing embers of the mystic rite she started minutes ago appear on Himei's body. "Let it win."

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Assassin: Jack says, "She is a girl."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Assassin, be the bodyguard."
<1X-Supplemental> Assassin: Jack says, "None shall pass, none shall pass."
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "Dame Shoutan, where did you go?"
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Taking care of something."
<1X-Supplemental> Assassin: Jack eh?
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Oh you better not be."
<1X-Supplemental> Tony Stark says, "You're not doing something stupid up there are you?"
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "She's behind m-- ... she is not behind me."
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Sorry."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "I am serious! You better not be doing what I think you- *cry of pain*- a-are!"
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "You got a better idea?"
<1X-Supplemental> Assassin: Jack says, "Idea?"
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "No but that doesn't mean you have to do THAT!"
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "Let me do it! I'll be up there in a-"
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber cries out in pain.
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Assassin, make sure Psyber stays to help the Metis."
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "What are you doing, Dame Shoutan?"
<1X-Supplemental> Assassin: Jack says, "Mo- Ma-. What. Why?"

Psyber (253) has posed:
Psyber looks over his shoulder to see one of the guardians collapse. Psyber stops and looks over at Tony as the Garou close in on them. Psyber folds his wings over himself, jaws digging deep into his wings, spreading feathers and blood onto the battlefield as they gnaw through his protective wings. Psyber winces back the pain as it runs through his appendages.

"Tony. I need you to go help Jack and protect the Metis." Psyber says in an almost eerily calm done. His form briefly flickers and then he reasserts single-minded dedication, "You're way more fitting to be a Big Damn Hero than I am, so save that damsel in distress."

There's a bloody spray as he pushes back and wades into the horde of enemies that, while thinning, is still quite enough of a threat, "I'm going to need to hold them, but some will get through to the Metis and she MUST be sa-" He suddenly stops and turns towards Himei's location, red eyes widening as he says, "Oh she better no-"

And then the horde is upon him, jaws digging into his shoulders and wait keeping him in place. He's thrashing out, reaching with hands and snapping necks, crushing skulls where he can. But he's locked down by the gaggle of monsters he just waded into. Vainly, he shouts, "HIMEI NO!"

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "You'll just have to trust me on this one, Assassin. Ah... hold on."

Himei (331) has posed:
"Thanks, Laine. I won't... I mean... thanks," Himei mutters awkwardly. Boy, she thought she'd have more to say for that. The wings spread and she grips her sword more tightly, the Sailor leaping into the air again, flapping the mystic wings to take to the air again. She blasts an errant Bane on the way, then streaks toward the dragon being again, to rejoin Homura and Elliana. "Hey. Sorry, Homura. I screwed up a universe once. I'm not really wanting to be a part of doing it again, and I don't think you do either."

Thing is, she isn't stopping to shoot. She's heading directly toward the Eater of Souls, sword in hand.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "Shut up! I've screwed up my universe a hundred times over for one person, what's one more time? I don't bend over for natural balance or for the universe's whims, you should know that by now! You think I want to watch you do that?!"
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "Dame Sh- Himei you-"
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild apparently putting two and two together.
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "Psyber, do you trust me?"

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
"Psyber!" is Tony's first reflex to shout, and he very nearly leaps into the fray after him. But he's right, of course. The child has to be the first priority. Not that he particularly understands all of this spiritual chesswork, but it seems a pretty straightforward messianic symbol. With a cry of frustration, he turns and blasts back up the hill, discharging the spent palladium cartridge with a angry pump of his fist.

As he roars up the hillside, his HUD is picking out the glowing silhouettes of those creatures that did manage to get past his and Psyber's defense, and plumes of smoke explode from his shoulders as mini-missiles streak out in tandem with each lock.

Nothing he can do to save Himei now. That's what he tells himself, anyway, to assuage his conscience. That, and if it kills him, that cub is getting out /safe/.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber says, "I..."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber sighs, "Yeah, Elliana. I'll trust you."
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "Clear me an area to land!"
<1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "Homura, keep that Dragon busy."
<1X-Supplemental> Psyber violent throwing noises, "Get off me you fucking mutts."

Jack (416) has posed:
Finally Jack catches up with the Garou. the sight of their wounds is not promising, and now she's amid them to help protect the Metis like a good little serial murdering bodyguard. She is, in fact, a model of helpfulness when she reaches for the pouch at her hip. Though her technique is over a hundred years old, it is bolstered by prana, strengthened with magic as her hands work in a blitz. Though they said to get the Metis and go, she's quick in stabilizing as many of the Garou as she can into better running condition.

She's kind of big. And Jack is small. So very very small, but the commotion elsewhere gets Jack Shoutan's attention glancing back as she makes to heft the changing young Garou over her shoulder with surprising strength. Glancing back towards Himei.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "I WILL NOT KEEP THAT DRAGON BUSY! I will not watch someone throw themselves to their death for the sake of universal balance! I didn't have any of that years ago and I will not now!"

Elliana Fairchild (92) has posed:
As soon as Elliana hears what's going on, and sees Himei streak past her, she curses to herself and is darting backward in midair, weaving through the hellstorm of enemies and making her way toward Psyber. And in midair, she's chanting.

"With Eyes that See You..."

A sword slice takes care of a Spirit, and then she's above the position, waiting for an opening to land as soon as Psyber can make it. It's a chant he probably recognizes.

"With a Mind that understands you..."

She lands roughly, breathing heavily, and the serpent within her is writhing madly now. She huffs, "This will need timed just so. I don't have the strength for more, but..."

Breathe in. "With a Heart that knows you..."

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<1X-Supplemental> Himei says, "Homura..."
<1X-Supplemental> Homura Akemi says, "I'm still not okay with what Madoka did! Do you think I'm alright with you doing it too?!"
<Heaven or Hell> Office Manager Psyber over the sounds of fighting, "Himei, I feel a personal need to state my own objection."
<Heaven or Hell> IV: A New Hope Himei says, "I'm sorry."

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
So hey this went south awfully fast.

Homura's gone from nailing the dragon with all the artillery to dodging spirits, trying to stay clear of the dragon and the earth being split, and whatever other threats keep popping up. She's also trying to spot Himei-- and keep her eye on her, but with everything flying around, this is getting hard.

And emotions have swelled up so much...

"Why can't I just-- STOP, DAMNIT! WHY WON'T TIME STOP?!"

These are the complete opposite of ideal conditions, and she may end up keeping the dragon busy for Fairchild against her desire not to just by being in front of it and struggling to use her magic.

Psyber (253) has posed:
Psyber takes a moment to insert a second pose in here for the sake of literary convenience. The half-angel, despite being pretty consistently mauled and pinned in place, is killing as many of the twisted creatures as his hands can get purchase on. Crushing skulls with his bare hands, snapping necks. A combat knife comes out and starts severing throats with a silver-edged blade.

But when Elliana comes down, asking for a place to stand and chanting at him, Psyber pushes with his entire body and becomes a whirlwind of stabbing, crushing, and murder. His singular goal is to clear Elliana that spot she needs and give her the room to do her special ability. Bloody, wounded, bleeding and poisoned in several wounds, he shouts to Elliana, "NOW! DO IT NOW, FAIRCHILD!"

Laine (383) has posed:
For a brief moment, Tony manages to clear a path right up the ragged trail leading upward, toward where Laine is waiting and panting, her eyes unfocused. She's having a hard time doing... whatever she's doing, but Jack has plenty of space now, thanks to Iron Man's decimation of the werewolves. They're thinning out considerably, but there are a lot more Banes in the air, including some rather nasty spidery ones. One of which is heading right toward Homura, so hopefully she can dodge that weird, reality-manipulating strike that ripples through the air toward her.

Elliana gets a few close calls, but Psyber's murder barrage clears away most of the debris of Black Spiral Dancers with a shower of blood and gore, and it does clear enough of a space for Elliana to land.

Himei breaks free of the cloud of Banes just in front of the Eater of Souls, which is thrashing a little and grumpily looking upward at the glowing morsel. A morsel that it leaps for, roaring out in utter hunger and catching a Nexus Crawler in its maw on the way to strike Himei.

Elliana Fairchild (92) has posed:
Deep breath. Fairchild isn't sure exactly where Himei is right now, but Psyber is shouting so she's just going to have to take it. Her free hand yanks a knife from that priestess garb she wears, whipping it around and striking forward in a fierce lunge toward Psyber's shoulder. "Sorry. Not quite as unlike last time as I'd like but..."

"With this Blood, I Bind Thee."

The blood that erupts from Psyber's shoulder takes on a brilliant white glow immediately, swirling around him... but then shooting out sparkling lights that streak in an arc, wrapping chains around the writhing Dragon beast and vanishing inside.

Himei (331) has posed:
The Wyrm beast is leaping for her, and Himei is... diving straight into its maw. She takes a breath, muttering to herself. She thought she'd have more to say for goodbyes. But then... "Screw this. I'm Sailor Hope."

Memory blazes to life, a silvery white light against the darkness, visible through the crowd of spirits for an instant before she dives right into the dragon's maw.

Psyber (253) has posed:
"Look, for what it's worth? I don't blame you for how it all went down last time. Not happy about it, but..." He trails off. The knife is sheathed at his side and Psyber draws a 1911 out of his side-holster, "Do what you have to do right now." His tone is grim.

As she chants and prepares, Psyber's left hand is whipping around with the 1911, aiming silver rounds for the foreheads of the Black Spiral Dancers as he tries to keep the priestess covered while giving her a target to bind with.

However, when her knife digs into his shoulder, it erupts in a spray of blood. Blood which is drawn out of him, swirling and sparkling towards the dragon. All throughout this, Psyber lets out a scream of pain and buckles to one knee, the shoulder with the knife embedded into it throbbing and aching from blade.

He weakly raises his head in time to watch Himei fly straight into the dragon's maw, a sight that will haunt him as a failure for the rest of his life, more likely than not. And yet, "... must press on..." He states, the hand with the gun coming up to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye as he drops an empty clip out and reloads the gun from a clip up his sleeve with a calm motion.

"Fuckin' kid." He says through choked voice, "That was supposed to be me and you know it." His pistol levels itself on the Bane going for Homura, trying to cover the Puella currently in breakdown, even from such a distance. But it's hard to shoot through tears. Not that he's crying or anything. That's just a reaction to the pain and poison.

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
She's trying to talk to Himei here, damnit! Go away, angry spirits! Homura is very obviously shouting through private radio, but it's getting more incoherent and broken by the second.

When she finally raises her bow again, it's not to aim at the Banes, but at Himei. Homura's crying, yes, there's no way she can hide it right now. She draws a magical arrow, aiming it straight for the other magical girl-- before that damn spidery Bane slams into her, causing the her arrow to take off upward and towards absolutely nothing at all, before Psyber most likely obliterates the hell out of that thing.

DAMNIT SHE STILL HAS TIME. SHE STILL HAS TIME.

"I can still--"

No, she doesn't have time. Or the focus to even aim. That's not happening, no matter how much she wants it to, and she's still too conflicted to stop time right.

"HIMEI!"

There is apparently nothing else she can do.

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
Tony simply takes up position near Jack, firing repulsor blasts at any remaining werewolves that try to mount the hill after them. He has a distinct feeling that things are going Very Wrong with that dragon, but... someone has to protect the child.

Actually that looks like a pretty big burden for Jack to be carrying. "You want me to take her?" he offers, even as he throws another hostile off the path with a bolt of force.

Jack (416) has posed:
A little bit of space is all Jack needed. Now she just needs to get to safety while carrying a seven foot tall werewolf over her shoulder and trying to run. Though she has the strength for it, the sheer difference in size still make the Metis and awkward encumberance. One that she nearly drops when stumbling to a stop, mind a whirl in the last moments of telepathic communication with her Master and adoptive mother figure.

'Remember what I said about being a hero? That sometimes you have to do what's right even if you don't want to?'

'-What. Mother what are you doing?'

'I'm really proud of you, Jack. But that little girl needs someone. Take care of her, okay?'

Those blue eyes; those innocent, perfect, blue eyes widen. Locked, horrified, on the sight of Sailor Hope flinging herself into the beast's waiting maw.

Every single move Jack the Ripper makes is burdened with hesitation. A sluggish unwillingness to move, not knowing what to do. She should be protecting the Metis. She should be dragging the Garou to safety. But everything inside her is screaming to drop the bitch and run back at the dragon in a full tilt, futile as it may be. She is fast. But simply not that fast. And in that last moment, she simply drops to her knees in weak defeat. She can't move. She can't do what's right.

"M-... Mother..."

"I'm sorry."

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Himei says, "Jack Angelica Shoutan I Command you to save that child!"
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "Wh-"
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "I... Will obey, Mother. I'm sorry. I'm sorry... I'm sorry."
<Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "...that's it. I'm heading to your last location."
<Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "I hope there's a way for me to find you once I'm there."

Laine (383) has posed:
As Himei dives in, and Elliana's spell wraps around the form of the elder beast, the dragon's jaws snap shut around the offered magical girl, cutting her off from everything in an instant. It pauses there for a long moment...

And then, with a massive groan, the entire body slams into the ground, already starting to sink downward. Like the dry earth was suddenly mud, it's sinking deeply, the earth itself swallowing its body.

The few remaining werewolves stop, stunned that this happened /again/... and then let out howls of frenzy all around, one of which is quickly cut off. Because stuff is still happening. And there's now a flood of not just Banes of your average variety, but Nexus Crawlers, reality-warping monsters that are swarming from where the dragon fell, all heading right toward that precious entrance to the real world that Laine's maintaining.

And Tony and Jack are almost there! She actually has an entrance ready, and panting, she announces, "Get her out. I've done... everything I can."

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Himei's voice is a little shaky. "Just stop it, guys. Do what you can. And don't worry about me. I'm Sailor Hope. Remember? See-*"
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Himei's signal flatlines.
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber takes a deep breath, "All Union forces."
<Union-IC> [3-Of] Sakura Haruno says, "...Wha.."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber shakily, "Requesting backup. Shoutan presumed dead. My right arm is useless. We're severely outnumbered."
<Union-IC> [1] Crys Gattz says, "On my way."
<Union-IC> [A] Adelaide Flowers says, "Shit. On my way boss."
<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "This is an SOS. We need.. backup immediately."
<Union-IC> [1] Yuna Kagurazaka says, "Eh - ?!"
<Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka | Taka says calmly, "We receive. Master?" Alexis says, "I'm already on the way!"
<Union-IC> [5-Of] Lloyd Irving says, "What just happened?"
<Union-IC> [1] Yuna Kagurazaka says, "I'm en route!"
<Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Way ahead of you."
<Union-IC> [0] Seras Victoria says, "I don't know sir, but... this is Seras Victoria! I'm on the way. Any suggestion for weapons loadout, Psyber?"

<Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber tchs, "Bring weaponry for large-number target elimination. We must... protect the Metis."
<Union-IC> [1] Crys Gattz says, "Understood."
<Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka says, "Copy that!"
<Union-IC> [A] Adelaide Flowers says, "Aye aye."
<Union-IC> [PA] Noh says, "I will come, if allowed, Mister Psyber. Do my best!"
<Union-IC> [0] Seras Victoria says, "Right. On the way!"
<Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka CA-CHAK!
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "W... We... I have her. I've got the Metis. I just... I'm going. Mother told me to go."
<Heaven or Hell> Tsurupettan Adelaide Flowers says, "Hall!"
<Heaven or Hell> Sphereless Nathan Hall says, "Yes?"
<Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Jack. Are you still connected?"
<Heaven or Hell> Tsurupettan Adelaide Flowers says, "Watch the building. Boss put out an SOS, I'm responding. Mind the store till we're back."
<Heaven or Hell> Doctor McNinja Sakura Haruno, desperately. "Get her body, Psyber. There's always a chance of being able to do something."
<Union-IC> [PA] Noh says, "Is okay, Friend Jack. Follow your orders, we will do the best we can to cover you, yes?"
<Heaven or Hell> Office Manager Psyber says, "No body. She got eaten."
<Heaven or Hell> Sphereless Nathan Hall says, "I will keep an eye on it."
<Heaven or Hell> Doctor McNinja Sakura Haruno says, "I'll be there as.."
<Heaven or Hell> Mercury Lampe Suigintou says, "Eaten?!"
<Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka says, "We got your back, kid, don't worry."
<Heaven or Hell> Office Tabby Cat Na`Sabal-Une Fang says, "Who?"
<Heaven or Hell> Tsurupettan Adelaide Flowers says, "Thanks. Back soon."
<Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka says, "Just keep the...thing safe and cover your ears."
<Heaven or Hell> Doctor McNinja Sakura Haruno says, "Then cut it out of whatever did it!"
<Heaven or Hell> Cybadorable Cas says, "... someone was eaten... ?"
<Heaven or Hell> Office Manager Psyber says, "/WE CAN'T/. It will screw up this universe."
<Heaven or Hell> Mercury Lampe Suigintou nngggh...
<Heaven or Hell> Office Tabby Cat Na`Sabal-Une Fang says, "Go into stomach, pull out body. Leave stomach."
<Heaven or Hell> Office Tabby Cat Na`Sabal-Une Fang as if that solves everything.
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "I..."
<Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "No."

Tony Stark (301) has posed:
"COME ON!" Stark bellows, throwing an arm around the wavering Jack to push her along the rest of the way. Whether she wants the help or not he's also slinging one of the Metis's arms over his shoulder to take on part of the weight. The end result probably looks like some horrifying patchwork three-legged race, and as he cries, "Flares!" and a blinding payload of fireworks explodes from his hip at the encroaching monsters, the utter chaos is probably complete.

If Jack STILL hesitates, he'll goddamn pick up her and the Metis both, and try plunge like a charging bull through the portal with them.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Okay. We'll work that out later. Jack? Don't worry about it right now."
<Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka says, "Stark, get them both out /now/"

Jack (416) has posed:
Commanded. Himei wielded a Command Seal. An absolute right of authority over a Servant which they must obey. Certainly a Servant with incredible willpower could be defiant. But Jack does not. Gritting her teeth as the magical imposition of the spell binds her to Himei's will and desire...

Jack does not hesitate anymore.

Even as tears start to stream down her face, she stumbles back onto her feet, the blade in one of her hands is tucked away in order to free it and better carry the Metis.

Jack the Ripper... Jack Angelica Shoutan is up and running as fast as bare feet can carry her towards the mesa and support, whispering 'I'm sorry' all the way along.

Elliana Fairchild (92) has posed:
The Binding, plus what she's about to do, has taken a lot out of Elliana. That being, she summons up everything she can and gestures, a wall of blazing hellfire leaping into existence between her, Psyber, and the others, and the swarm approaching. And as soon as she does that?

She sort of collapses, shakily, and mutters, "I did all that I could." She wavers, then tries to struggle up toward the opening.

Laine (383) has posed:
Actually, the Metis is feeling a lot lighter. Like, a teenage girl lighter. Naked, shivering, but otherwise okay.

For those who arrive on-site from the original location, it's an empty mesa with nothing interesting around, but for a few old markings that don't look like they've seen use in a long while. Yes, there is a hazy opening there, translucent and odd-looking. That's what the others are heading for.

And if anyone hesitates at all from leaping in, they'll see the strange spiderlike beings manifesting in the physical world, skittering up toward the mesa from the flat desert plain below. Just one at first, then two... then more and more, just materializing from nowhere.

Homura Akemi (2) has posed:
Ha... retreating...

At this point, Homura can't think straight anymore. Her Daemon has shut up, entirely, and completely. She's fallen back, sure. She's backed away towards the portal, between shouting fits and crying fits and everything inbetween. But if she's going to retreat, it will be last.

Her Soul Gem darkens.

"RAAAAAAAAH!"

Energy builds up like a colum of pink-purple link, and without Homura so much as moving an inch there is a rain of large, purifying magical arrows covering the entire battlefield, striking left and right with no concern for collateral, only for putting the biggest possible dent into the horde of Banes and Nexus-Crawlers.

And her Soul Gem darkens, ever faster.

But if this doesn't put a dent into the army, nothing will.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [2] Homura Akemi says, "She... this isn't... it shouldn't have..." Weakly, then, "Why this again..." And in contrast, with extreme vigor afterwards: "RAAAAAAAAH!" The next sound is just a virtually endless rain of energy projectiles.
<Union-IC> [5-Of] Lloyd Irving says, "..."

Yuna Kagurazaka (385) has posed:
When Yuna Kagurazaka comes through the portal, she does so more or less armed for war - she's only in her regular Light Suit, but the full Matrix of Light is with her, the little robo-faerie-like Elner flitting upwards to get a better overview of the situation, and all three of Yuna's android partners arriving in their true, armored, forms.

But to judge by the aura of raw, sacred radiance which emanates from Yuna's Light Suit as soon as she sets foot on the mesa and sees the spider-things, she hardly needs to combine with any of them right now. A ball of light explodes into being around Yuna, the Matrix Divider materializes in her hands, and with a scream of fury, she launches herself at the monsters, cutting through them like a sunbeam through shadows.

Psyber (253) has posed:
Psyber pushes himself back to his feet in a slow and shakey manner. He lifts the gun up and looks towards Elliana. Placing the gun in his teeth, Psyber uses his left hand to pull the knife out of his now-limp right arm and then tosses it to the ground at Elliana's feet. He stares at her hard, "Go now, or there's going to be a dozen Unionites here out for blood."

Seeing Elliana stagger towards the opening, Psyber hardens his gaze towards the approaching forces, "Well then. I guess I only have one choice at this point." He slowly walks forward, holstering the gun at his hip as he extends his hand, "Daniel 6:22 - My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths.." Psyber states, flourishing his hand as a blade appears in it.

"Time to do the Lord's work." Psyber says in a cold tone as he swings the sword with his left arm, sending a gale of lightning out towards the forces rushing towards Laine and the portal. He's slowly making his way towards the exit, but right now his primary priority is securing exit for those who were making their way towards it.

But there's still one he has to protect in all this. One who needs him. One whom he can still save. He pushes his way towards Homura through the forces and then slowly, weakly, he lifts his immobile right arm and puts it on Homura's shoulder, "We're getting out of here. She wouldn't want you to handle it this way."

And then, since one arm is holding a sword and the other is largely useless, he starts trying to hipcheck Homura towards the exit with his superior size and weight, knowing she can't time-jockey him as long as that hand is on her shoulder.

Alexis Maaka has posed:
The transmission's gotten just about every single Union Elite awake and active on high alert. The portal opens up and already hell begins to pour right out of it. One of their own is possibly KIA, or worse, none of the Union is going to take this lying down.

Hell, Alex probably one of the first through the gate and swinging, and she's only known the kid's name for about a month at the most, maybe a couple weeks. This is unusual for Miss "I work best on my own." herself, the cybernetically kitted out Lone Wolf with more guns and ammo than an action hero strapped to her body. In her hands is a massive weapon with a customized scope, a heavy barrel, bipod and foregrip combo, and all manner of other attachments. It's also not a sniper rifle either. It's a fucking MK 48 LMG.

Alex growls out as she shoulders the massive weapon, sighting down the first groupings of these unholy beasts she sees and squeezes the trigger in bursts, spitting out leaden death upon them with divine wrath prayer and fasting only hopes to accomplish.

Zelgius (209) has posed:
Location: Deserted Mesa
Objective: Escort Target, Hold Position

Zelgius felt old. It had been weighing on him for a while, in his solitary office, as his sole secretary punched away at the mountain of paperwork. So there he sat, scribbling at paperwork as he hears a terrible plea for aid. The need of another. And, sitting in his office, Zelgius, Earl of Khadol, General of Begnion smiles, ever so gently. It is not a happy smile. But he knows that someplace far away needs a soldier. Rising, he slides a brilliant silver sword into its sheath, before gripping another from the rack, this one dull and steel. Then, reaching for his belt, he grips a pouch of tiny golden grains, and tosses them up.

And then the general is gone - reappearing upon the mesa, fully armored in crimson plate, yellow cape billowing out as he strides forward.

It was a line to be held. A gate to be held open. A single point to which victory could be held. And so Zelgius charged, wordlessly, making for the gaping maw of the portal, to hold open that gate, or die trying, sending asunder any foul creature that dared think to impede him.

Sakura Haruno (134) has posed:
Sakura had not actually been at Heaven or Hell that evening; she still took shifts in medical on a regular basis, and she had been on one when the SOS had gone out. Luckily, there were no shortage of people to cover for her. Unluckily, it meant that unlike most of the others, she wasn't particularly prepared for combat; in fact, she's actually still wearing scrubs. Which are rather disconcertingly blood-spattered even as she takes a teleport in to the scene from other Union forces.

She looks only about half-focused on the world around her as she arrives, a chakra scalpel forming at her fingertips in place of the knives she did not bring, swiping out at any foes that come within arms reach, but heading for that portal. Either someone is going to come through it, or she is going to go get them if she can.

RADIO CHATTER has posed:
<Union-IC> [1] Yuna Kagurazaka