664/PokeSPLICE

PokeSPLICE
Date of Scene:	23 September 2014
Location:	Pokemon Islands - Miscellaneous Islands
Synopsis:	Styraco and Tesla enact their plan to steal DNA data from the Pokemon Excadrill, but Bahamut has other plans!
Cast of Characters:	114, 368, Bahamut

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Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Victory Road - a massive hilly area, with roads connecting to tunnels that weave in and out of the mountainside like holes in swiss cheese. A handful of young Pokemon trainers trundle about at the foot of the hill, chatting, laughing and looking for some of the weaker POkemon who call the base of the mountain their home.

They however, don't climb the mountain itself, as there have been reports of new creatures appearing i the area that cannot be captured via a pokeball. Birdlike creatures the size of a man, who are stealthy and skilled. thankfully, nobody has been killed by these beasts, but a high level trainer did get seriously injured after taking a bad fall off a cliff while engaged with one of these beasts.

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
The Tyrano Velociraptor clones go buy a bunch of names, but the one they are most referred to is "Legion" - this is because they share a single consciousness that keeps them psychically linked, creating a highly coordinated troop. However, the link weakens over distance, and the more velociraptors in the area, the more difficult it is for them to remain focused. For now, there are about a dozen scouring the mountainside, looking for samples from the Pokemon Exadrill. Thus far the best they have found are a few Drillburs and Zoobats.

A deep hissing voice that seems to be made up of multiple voices crackles over the Confederate broadband, "The evolved ones are low in the mountain and dug in. We suggest water to drive them to the surface. Do we have a way to flood this place?"

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
Despite the creepy one-mind nature the Tyrano Raptors had Tesla Armadia felt no less comfortable around them. Probably because she was use to things talking to her in a legion-like manner, a lot of machines do it too. That or because it is hardly the first time she has worked around them. Or on them. You should see the tricked out versions Styraco and her made together. But those were saved for special occasions, not some mere creature hunting such as this.

"Makes sense," she remarks to the nearest raptor, though that means speaking to all of them. "They would hide deeper, where only the strongest and more challenging trainers could find them. Fortunately, science is wonderful for shortcuts when we don't want to wander aimlessly around cavern mazes." Did this have something to do with what looked like a water tank she was carrying like a backpack?

Kind of.

Tesla took the water tank off and set it on the rock floor, then took a few steps back as her eyes started to glow from her technopathic powers. When the activation command was given the device began to unfold from itself and shift, the 'tank' becoming the center of a body rising to a conical arrow-headed point, while out of the base unfurled flexible alloy lengths with augered ends and tubes running through them, making them look like some mad cross between a drill and fire hoses. Digital lens somewhere over the mass flare to red life, mimicing eyes.

Said tendrils stretched out to bore into the walls and floor of the cavern to find the deepered crevases, and then started pumping the water from its tank into them. "I was feeling thematic for the occasion." Tesla chuckled to herself as she adjusted her glasses. "Say hello to the Kalimarauder"

Bahamut has posed:
     If the trainers are looking for weaker creatures, they may be a bit freaked out by the creature that flies in overhead. In his classic style, a series of runed magic circles appear in the sky before Bahamut, the King of Dragons, flies down through them, shattering them as he goes and releasing a powerful roar. Although this isn't a major emergency or anything of the like, he figured it couldn't hurt to investigate, since these birds are apparently not native to Pokemon Island.

     With his eagle-like vision, Bahamut has no problems picking out the forms of the trainers down below and the velociraptor clones milling about. One he recognizes as non-threatening, but the other seems obviously not from here, so the large dragon dives down toward them. And then that machine is deployed, making Bahamut grin. This should prove...challenging. He continues his dive, barely arresting his momentum before landing on the ledge with all the dinos and the drilling machine. His landing sends out a cloud of dust and debris, then he stands at his full height and crosses his arms over his broad chest, grinning. "You folks do not seem to be from this neck of the woods."

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Styraco's voice is heard from a speaker inside one of the Velociraptors' helmets, "Oh, that's quite nice, Commander. Where do you get such wonderful toys?"

As Bahamut lands, the three velociraptors nearest to Tesla & the robot, spread their feathers in a warning posture, mouths opening and emitting a loud screech, their eyes hidden behind armored visors attached to helmets. Three more Raptors that were plainly visible when Bahamut arrived, disappear without so much as a swirl of dust.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
"I make them, of course," Tesla replies as she turns her head to the raptor Styraco spoke from. "I've had a lot of time to plan for this, after a little research. Ground types are weak to Water attacks. Most Water types are aquatic in appearance. Needed a means to both burrow and deliver large volumes of water at high pressure, and the rest just sort of falls into place as you go--oh?"

She turns her head in the other direction as the very large and elaborate looking dragon makes a very loud and dusty landing. The tails of her labcoat flutter a bit from the stirring, but otherwise she's relatively unphased. "And you could do better at minding your own business, whoever or whatever you may be."

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut gets a bad feeling when those three raptors disappear. It's hardly ever the enemy you see that causes the most trouble, after all. But, he keeps his eyes on Tesla, smirking at her comment. "Oh no. Am I intruding?" he says, obviously not caring at all that he is interrupting their plan. "I heard that trainers in this area were having trouble with non-native creatures. Are your friends those creatures? If not, I'm sure the local authorities would be interested in that machine of yours. I daresay it does not look like a mere scientific measuring device."

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
The flooding has it's desired intent, as Drillburs begin running from the open caves of Victory Road! The smaller unevolved pokemon seem more interested in getting away from the water than anything else. The cave raptors pay them no mind, they have their orders and they are seeking Exadrills, not Drillburs.

The three raptors closest to Bahamut skirt out in front of him, starting to circle the Dragon-God. They emit loud honks and bellows, a behaviour that calls back to their Creataceous ancestors.

Just then, the rock floor in front of Kalimarauder splits and a single mole-like beast pops out of the small hole. Mole-Like only really refers to its shape as it seems to be wearing a metal helmet and has massive metal claws attached to both arms. Red splotches on it's black fur make it look as though it's been injured. Additionally, it looks EXTREMELY pissed off.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
"Oh gee, what ever gave you that idea?" Tesla snarks right back. Yes, she's snarking off to a dragon god-man that towers like five times her height. Trust me, not the most bizarre thing she has ever had to deal with. "Kalimarauder." The machine turns at her command.. well more accurately it swivels the part of its frame above the mass of tendrils to bring it's lenses forward without stopping it's work.

But before she can issue farther command the ground pulls apart and bursts, actually causing the machine to teeter a bit before it digs another tendril in to brace itself. Tesla backs up a few steps herself. "Bingo." Styraco is likely right about the dragon, so it's time to work quickly. "Capture mode."

Much like the giant squid it is based on Kalimarauder has two much larger tentacles than the others, with numerous pneumatic suckers and a pair of grappler claws on the ends instead of drills. Those two it lashes at the emerging Exadrill to try and grab onto it.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut chuckles at Tesla's snarky replay. When that mole-like creature breaks through the ground, Bahamut moves into a defensive pose. That is, until those tendrils lash out at the creature. He roars before rushing the Kalimarauder, slashing at it with his large and sharp claws to try and sever those tendrils and a few others. Or send the machine flying, depending on how much power he is able to impart on the machine.

     After the attack, he rumbles deeply. "There will be no capturing today, I am afraid." he says, then starts toward Tesla.

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Excadrill sneers a bit as the tentacles reach out for it. (what a minute, Pokemon isn't a tentacle anime!) Before they wrap around him, he tucks down, his "helmet" slipping down over his face and claws merging with the pointed crown, turning him literally into the shape of a barbed bullet ... which launches itself at Kalimarauder with reckless abandon!

As Bahamut moves, the raptors leap at him, teeth reaching skin and scales, claws trying to rend flesh from bone. They may be much smaller than the dragon, but they have no concept of fear! In the darkness of the caves, slitted eyes look on, waiting for the moment to strike.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
Like a proper mastermind Tesla steps out off the direct line of fire when she sees the dragon wind up to attack. Nope, we're going to let the mechanized minions handle this one. Though now she's kind of wishing she had brought Shardcore along. But there was that whole trying to not be too obvious thing. For what good it did, of course.

Bahamut smashes the tendrils aside with his swing, leaving it wide open for the Exadrill to retaliate by slamming into the machine and sending it skidding across the rocky surface. Once it stops a few tendrils lift it off the ground, serving as legs of sorts. The others slither free again and lunge en masse at the Exadrill, trying to use their drill-like tips to get past that Steel 'shell' it posseses. If the raptors can keep Bahamut busy just long enough to find the proverbial kink in its armor...

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut is caught by the raptors, and it is likely only his thick metal scales that keep him from being shredded. He roars as they tear at him, then releases a burst of lightning magic against them, trying to dislodge the attackers while he thrashes and claws at them. But, he knows he is tough enough to take it, and so he focuses on protecting the Exadrill. He stomps his way forward, then charges up before firing a trio of explosive energy charges at the machine.

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
The Excadrill bounces backwards and unfolds, landing on it's feet. It places it's claws together, creating a blinding light in between the pointed digits. Apparently it's building up some sort of attack. Suddenly, a Raptor leaps from the darkness and slams the base of it's foot into Excadrill, who is flung off its feet and bounces roughly across the ground!

The Raptor clambors after the Excadrill, jaws snapping. Unfortunately, for the raptor, the Excadrill continued to power up it's blast i spite of being knocked around. As the raptor lunges for the Pokemon, the Excadrill unleashes a ball of energy directly into the raptor's mouth!

The Raptor's head explodes in a fountain of charred flesh and blood. It's lifeless body slumps to the ground, never to rise again. A chorus of high pitched cries erupt from the caves. Just how many raptors are in there?!?

The raptors on Bahamut are far more tenacious than one would think. As he claws and thrashes at them, they climb around nimbly on his body until he unleashes the lightning. One by one, they dislodge themselves and are flung from his body. Two land on their feet and shake their heads, trying to clear their minds, while the 3rd blackened and smoking, was dead before it hit the ground.

As Bahamut approaches the Excadrill, it turns on him, blind rage in its eyes, it dives straight THROUGH the ground, as if the rocky soil where water, then rises up beneath Bahamut's feet and slams him full force in the gut with its pointed head.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
Several tendrils smash into the ground just seconds after Exadrill 'dives'. That thing is surprisingly fast for how big and chunky it looks. Before Kalimarauder can compute a different course of action it is slammed by a trio of explosive blasts. The sound of shattering can be heard as the tank built into it's cone breaks open, spilling the remaining water onto the ground.

Okay, machine on the pokemon isn't working. Let's switch tactics, shall we? One of the benefits of being a technopath is being able to command her creations without saying a thing, doing so to give Kalimarauder a specific mental order.

The machine responds by digging several of its tendrils into the ground and splaying it's larger tentacles behind it at an angle, supporting itself as it tilts its entire body backwards. This brings the bottom of the machine up into view, where from admist the base of the tendrils a bulbous nozzle protrudes, and blasts a viscious black spray at the great dragon's face to try and blind it. Because shooting ink is something squids do, and Tesla is if nothing else thorough in her inspirations.

Speaking of the scientist, she's still edging around the fight, not really wanting to get underfoot. But while Bahamut is hopefully preoccupied still she activates one of her wrist guns and takes a shot at the Exadrill.

Thankfully not with an actual bullet. Rather she's trying to hit it with a genetic microprobe scanner.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut blinks as the Excadrill dives into the ground. Just dives, like it is water. Then, it surfaces under him and tosses him up into the air. The wind is knocked from him, but he is able to hover in the air in order to recover it. "I am not...your enemy." he pants out as he catches his breath. "I am here to help you against these dinosaurs and machines. We will have much more luck defeating them if you join me in fighting them." he says, staying calm as he talks. Then, to prove his point, he turns to attack the machine again. Only to have ink splash right in his face. He roars as he is blinded, and stays hovering where he is as he tries to clear his vision.

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
Being as it's in Kalimarauder's line of fire, black ink washes over the Excadrill and sends it reeling backwards, wiping at its face. As the Pokemon frantically rubs at its eyes with those big clumsy paws, Tesla's microbe dart pierces the fat rolls on Excadrill's neck. The Pokemon lets out a hiss of pain and spins around, now scrubbing at its eyes with one paw and clutching at its neck with another.

The two raptors start stalking around Bahamut again, they speak in unison and the voice echos all around him, "Why attack us, brother scale? You are one of us. Why protect this pitiful little mammal?"

The Excadrill clears its vision and turns its angry glare on the one who hurt it: Tesla Armadia.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
When Tesla said she came with contingency plans, she was not kidding. Typically one plan never makes it through full enemy contact. That's why we have a backup. And a backup after that. And so on.

Data starts flickering across the HUD on the back of her glasses as the probe finds its mark, but then the pokemon apparently noticed as it turned it's attention on her. "... Shit, that was suppose to be small enough it wouldn't be noticed." With a sigh she clenched her hand to fully activate one of her power gauntlets. "If I was you, I would just crawl back into your hole in the ground. You don't wanna piece of this."

The raptors, or the dino in control of them, can waste time trying to talk to the dragon. Kalimarauder pulls itself upright, and then uses the same expulsion method like a jet to launch itself at Bahamut while he's trying to clear his vision.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut has just barely cleared his vision when he is air tackled by the kalimarauder. He roars as he drops to the ground, landing hard on his legs in the midst of the raptors. As he claws at the Kalimarauder, he asks the raptors, "Why attack it? It was harming no one, and whatever you want from it I suspect is nothing noble."

     Then, he tries to grab the Kalimarauder and pull the main body around in front of him. He opens his mouth and takes a short time to charge before firing a controlled Mega-Flare attack. The blue-white energy explodes outward from Bahamut's open jaw, threatening to decimate anything in its path be it machine or raptor or mountain. But, he is careful not to be faicing toward the Excadrill.

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
The Excadrill tilts it's head down, glaring comes so naturally to the tiny pokemon that one must assume that's it's natural expression. It taps its claws together, and an energy ball begins to manifest there. The Pokemon appears to not want a piece of Tesla, it wants to send her a big glowy painful gift!

The raptors start, "There is none more noble than King Genghis of Reptilon ahhhhhhh ...." Their voices rise to pain filled shrieks as one of their number is incinerated by Bahamut's Megaflare. The unified voice create a cacophony of sound all around everyone in the area. It is piercing and disorienting to all who hear it.

The Excadrill releases it's energy ball clumsily as the screams knife into it's ears. The ball weaves in Tesla's direction as the Pokemon covers it's ears and falls to it's knees, it's own howls of pain joining the chorus!

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
Let's face it, Kalimarauder was not built to take that sort of punishment. It was just designed to flush out (ha ha ha oh that's terrible, TERRIBLE pun Tesla) the pokemon and try to capture them. The Mega Flare literally rips a hole through the center of the machine, doing nothing to stop the blast from obliverating any raptors as well as what remains of the construct goes limp and unmoving in Bahamut's claws.

Tesla brings her arm up in front of herself as Exadrill is charging its attack, extending the ablative riot shield plates from her power gauntlet. But when the screeching throws off the pokemon's direction the energy blast wobbles into the ground in front of her instead and explodes. The indirect blast is easier to weather, but the shockwave still shoves the scientist backwards.

She lowers the smoking gauntlet a moment later as the blasted paneling falls off of it, her own ears flecked back at the screeching and wishing she had worn her helmet as well. Crimney she knew they could do that and it's still annoying. She takes a look in their direction, and the broken remains of her machine. "Tch. Definately need to work on that design."

Then true to evil genius form, turns and makes a hasty depature from the conflict.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut lets out a powerful roar of his own as that shrieking pierces his ears, forcing him to a knee and making him drop the machine. When the screech fades, Bahamut looks toward the raptors. "I am sorry for the damage I have cause you, if you folk truly are noble, but terrorizing innocent people is hardly a proper way to display nobility." he says as he slowly gets back to his feet. With Tesla retreating, he turns to face the closest raptor, but does not attack. "If your leader is noble, I would very much like to meet him. To discuss this incident. Nobility does not skulk in darkness and hide its activities." he says, more than a little bit of a challenge in his tone and a grin on his face.

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
The raptors begin chanting in unison, their high pitched squeals echoing through the caverns of Victory Road, "WE ARE LEGION! CUT OFF ONE HEAD AND TWO WILL RISE! WE ARE LEGION! YOU CANNOT KILL WHAT CANNOT DIE! WE ARE LEGION! WE ARE LEGION! WE ARE LEGION!" It is impossible to judge how many raptors remain, their high pitched chanting reverberates through the caves and tunnels. The Pokemon of Victory Road flee in terror, flooding out of the tunnels in swarms, seeking refuge from the horrible chanting!

"WE ARE LEGION!"

Styraco broadcasts so that it can be plainly heard by Bahamut, "Best get out of there Tesla. I am activating the raptors' self destruct initiative. I'm having them converge on Bahamut's location. That place will be a crater in 60 or so seconds ..."

"WE ARE LEGION!"

Dead silence suddenly falls. The lone living raptor in sight just stares up at Bahamut, swaying back and forth, as if in a trance.

Tesla Armadia (368) has posed:
Conveniently Victory Road has these one way ledges you can hop over and slide down the slope, but not climb back up. Which is exactly what Tesla does, skidding down the ridges to get the heck out of here while the getting is good. No point in sticking around anyways. They didn't get the pokemon itself but she did get enough biological information from the microprobe to work with.

It's really hard to tell if that was just the backup plan to the backup plans, or what she was planning all along.

Bahamut has posed:
     Bahamut snorts derisively as the Legion starts chanting. "So, all of your talk is just that. Talk." he says. But, he is unsure how he could clear this area of these apparently explosive velociraptors before the become high velocity particals. He can only think of one thing to do, and that is warn anyone nearby. He spreads his wings, then starts flying around the area shouting, "Attention trainers! Clear out of this area! These creatures intend to detonate themselves and destroy the area!" He tries to count down seconds in his head. And, being that he is the Aeon of technology, that is pretty easy for him. He eliminates any raptor he sees, but he's sure there are dozens down in the caves.

Genghis Rex (114) has posed:
The lone raptor sways back and forth, staring at Bahamut then ... runs away, sliding down over a hill much like Tesla. There is no sudden convergence of raptory nonsense, no crater, no nothing. It was a bluff.

Bahamut has posed:
     60 seconds and...no explosion. Bahamut comes to a stop in mid-air, then...huffs before laughing quite loudly. "Well, I suppose I asked for that." he says, then follows the raptor along, making sure it and any of its bretheren actually depart the area. He won't destroy anymore so long as they give him no reason to, and once they reach the gate he heads back to ensure no one was hurt in the collateral damage.