Scene #6933: Searching for Santa Claus-3

Owner	Pose
Big Boss	OUTSIDE SANTA'S WORKSHOP IT'S HARD TO TELL THE TIME WITH ALL THIS SNOW The Metal Gear Geola staging area has been set up outside, in a rudimentary training field made of iron, steel, blood, and sweat. The machine is not finished, but is close to it. It's massive, about fifteen meters tall, but has clear open and visible spots, needing to be finished by Christmas. It's a bipedal dragonlike red-and-white design, two massive legs, two arms, and a stocky upper half, fit for three pilots, just barely. A pair of even larger jet thrusters, firing off pink energy using designs from Nanoha Takamachi, allowing it to lift off the ground. It has a conical maw, toothy and larger than the rest of the body, with a cannon built in - it's been firing at targets at /extremely/ far distances to make sure it can fire off the presents needed precisely. The test pilot would be an Outer Heaven soldier, though Mikoto Shimizu has been given piloting tests as well when she's had the time to do so, because Big Boss makes mistakes. The workshop has not been visited today. Everyone's been too busy outside. When the group finally enters, three floors of pulleys, lifts, and workshop that was bigger on the inside, Thimble is nowhere to be found at clear-visibility. There's a big present, in a red-and-green box with a bow, waiting on the dining room table. It's unopened. A surprise from Thimble, most likely. Big Boss is entering as well, and as he does, he speaks to the group. "Targeting machines have been mostly repaired, and just need some extra focus - ideas on how to make it accurate. After that, we need to get the present factory into order. Design presents for the children." He spots the present, and gestures to someone to check it, if they feel like it.
Ritsuka Fujimaru	"What is it with you and accuracy? If you fire enough of the presents at every house, then you're bound to get some of them in!" Jeanne snaps at Big Boss while following him inside, taking off her hat and ribbon to cool down a bit from all that tinkering and testing. She's still donning that dark-Christmasy outfit of hers, looking almost like a normally dressed person in Christmas gear if she wasn't wearing almost all black and navy. The ribbon's green and red, at least. Once inside, though, her gaze falls right on that big, suspicious package. "Is this some kind of joke or...? Well, whoever sent it had better not be hiding in there unles they want to get stabbed!" She approaches the package with some exaggerated stomps to make sure that if someone's inside, they'll hear it. She waits another moment, then scoffs and moves on to opening the thing. "There. That was't so hard. Now what do we have in here?"
Staren	Staren's not wearing armor for once. Although his clothes aren't enough to deal with the cold, he has magic as well. He flies in on his hovercycle, flies all around the mecha examining it, and then finally enters the workshop. "I bet you could use some sort of... like, using the conceptual tie between the present and the person it's meant to, to physically guide the present? I'm sure there are multiple types of magic across the Multiverse that could do this." "...On the more mundane side, I've got some designs for self-guided bullets made of smart materials we could scale up to a sort of sabot." He watches Jeanne open the present.
Sumiko	Mikoto has made time to be here when she can, though more careful after the whole thing with something falling from the sky and her boss is somewhat at fault for the whole situation. Still, it was...an adventure! Of course, she doesn't have a lot of skill in actually driving a robot, but it isn't the worst choice for it. She does have two functioning eyes, two functioning hands, and two functioning feet after all! So there is that at least. Right now, Mikoto shows up as more objectives are put down. Thinking for a moment, Mikoto considers the logistical problem of trying to get the accuracy of the cannons more pat. "Well, we could try putting something up really high, like in orbit, and attempt to help direct accuracy. Using the Naughty/nice list to aid accuracy." To the other problem, she considers this a bit more deeply. She does this while slowly trying to peel the paper off the present. Ok she's not really, she's focusing on opening the gift on the table.
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz has not always been the most noticeable Concord operative out there, still from time to time, she would appear to deal with something of importance and this is a serious one. She was looking a bit on the cold side even in the combat suit she was wearing. The one-eyed pointed eared woman would take a moment to look over the Metal Gear Geola for a moment before she'll turn her one good violet eye to Big Boss. She had become aware Santa was on a well-desved vacation and help was needed so here she was. She looks to Staren thinking for a moment as he speaks of that. "Maybe we could find some teleporters as well?" She looks to Big Boss after that though she suspects that idea likely has been floated already. She then looks to Mikoto humming for a moment at her fellow Concord member's idea.
C	Whistling a foreign winter tune, 'Trapper Crow' inspects the ultra-cute Santa they have helping them today. Well, she seemed the kind to kill him if he said anything about her, but he could appreciate her fashion sense greatly. Then again, he supposed he had a thing for witches. Rolling his shoulders, his terrible Christmas Sweater was on full display, along with fuzzy antlers sticking out of his bandana. "I'm pretty sure we're going to blast holes in peoples houses anyway. C'mon, turn those frowns upside down, we're here to save Christmas!"
Rean Schwarzer	"Whoa." Rean looks up at the Christmas Wyvern, amazed at how much progress got made. He's got on a festive scarf, and the same duffel jacket he's had on every time he's shown up. He hasn't been here much, trying to avoid a certain merc leader and his people in case he did something he'd regret later. The fact that Crow of all people is here too isn't helping. He sighs, shaking his head. No need to drag all of that stuff up, it's Christmas! May as well finish what he started, right? Speaking of, that giant present on the table looked interesting. Rean walks up to the present and experimentally pokes it a few times from the other side of the box as the others show up to help open it.
Big Boss	Inside the present (which looks and feels entirely safe) is an orange plush fox, holding a revolver. It's got a goofy rictus grin and beady eyes. It stares at the group for several seconds. Then, it explodes, violently. The table is /totalled/. Everyone in blast radius is hit by shrapnel, possibly sent flying back, and possibly covered in burns. Big Boss, sent backwards into the wall, groans, his beret tilting slightly off his head. The windows nearest are blown out as well, allowing the cold snow to blow in. In the aftermath, a letter falls from where it was trapped in the ceiling, forced out by the blast. It simply says, in printed text, "IF YOU WANT TO FIND THE ELF, STOP PLAYING YOUR GAMES".
Sumiko	Mikoto blinks when the present is finally opened. Tilting her head she stares down at the strange plushy. "Huh...weird, but sort of cute in its own way?" She says, trying to be fair. After all, sometimes it's the thought that counts, and it might be like this because well...Big Boss was a mercenary lord or something. She doesn't even see the explosion coming. One moment she's right next to the thing, the next she's across the room smashed against a wall with a deal of shrapnel in her chest, arms, legs, and face. She can't even cry out in pain, because she's caught by utter surprised and had the air knocked out of her. She takes a few moments to even register the pain, so quick that it came on. Finally crying out in pain once she realizes that she's injured.
John Rizzo	"I'm your guy, Boss," tiredly says a heavily bandaged man in dark, dark goggles. He shakes his head at Jeanne's criticism, but offers no verbal retort. Boss' command of intel would nevertheless tell him that this is likely John Rizzo. He wears a trench coat, but it doesn't seem very winter-friendly. In fact, his outfit (barring the heavy gauze) seems more fit for a city than the middle of all the snow. His clothes hang off of him loosely, as if to suggest he's malnourished. Despite all that, he doesn't seem bothered, though his movement is lethargic. Adjusting his hat with a bandaged hand, Rizzo peers at the Metal Gear. He has no idea how it works or what it's made of, and has no background whatsoever in engineering. Most vampires would simply accept that and help some other way. "Gonna get a load of Metal Gear," says Rizzo to Big Boss, jerking a thumb towards the joint handiwork of several talented minds. "See what the wire is on your delivery problem." He simply concentrates on the machine, waiting for Malkav's gift to take hold of him. Soon, his mind is racing with images, messages, thoughts and feelings hidden behind the veil of reality. Through the oppressive daylight, he pushes through the distractions to focus on his problem. He imagines the weapon firing. The gift soars through the air. It misses the chimney of the house he imagines. The gift strikes the roof, knocking off a clump of snow. An owl hoots its displeasure and takes off, flying into the night. John follows it, captivated by the beat of its wings. He watches it land--watches how the bird stops itself, wings flapping... John turns. "You ask me, we need something that opens up," says the Malkavian with arms spread wide. His coat briefly looks like the wings of some gangly winter bird, until he lowers his arms. "The presents fly so far, then... fwoosh. Timed parachutes, or wings or some kinda fancy dingus that'll stop 'em without giving 'em the Broderick." Being so fixated on his plan and the resultant explanation, he is unprepared for the explosion. It throws him off of his feet. His hat is knocked askew, revealing a few bright orange tufts of hair poking out from the gaps in his gauze. His back hits the ground just as the sunlight from outside touches his revealed scalp. There is a brief moment wherein his head catches fire. With unnatural, determined speed, he scoops up a load of snow from outside and quickly dumps it on his head. The hat is firmly placed back atop it, once he takes a moment to chill out. He pats himself down to make sure his wrapping is still in place. A few spots on his body bleed from shrapnel--but the bleeding seems to stop very quickly for a man so seemingly frail.
Ritsuka Fujimaru	A present gun with homing bullets? Hm. I might be surprised if you actually pull that off and not just talk about it." Jeanne sneers at Staren, chuckling for a moment before shrugging at Mikoto. "If it means less aiming, maybe it could work. But apartm-" And then there's a little fox thing. Raising an eyebrow, she reaches for it, and it explodes. Being so close to the thing, Jeanne does't really have much choice but to facetank the sharpnel head on, and she's already cursing up a storm by the time she shakes off the shell-shock and gets backup. "WHO? Oh, that damn elf is going to-" She pauses, peering at the letter as it flutters down, then drawing her sword out of thin air. "Oh, we're going to stop playing games, alright... Did anyone see who left this box here?!" She shouts at nobody in particular, although she stares directly at Crow, Crys, and Rizzo from a lack of recognizing any of them. "When did you three get here? Are you the ones responsible for this?" Her sword's already catching on fire. "Just say 'yes.' I just want to talk." She is most definitely not just wanting to talk.
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz looks as the gift is opened, there's a plushie fox it's kind of cute and she wonders about it. Then it explodes and Crys it caught totally off guard by the blast. She is saved by the photon armour she almost always wears. Though it doesn't stop all the shrapnel and is sent flying back wad slamming into the ground and groans she's a bit toasty as well. "What...what happened?" The Newman looks dazed as she slowly gets up and she'll move to aid anyone who is injured who will let her try to heal their injuries at least somewhat. "Is anyone seriously injured?"
Big Boss	As Big Boss rises, bleeding from cuts and shrapnel imbedded in his suit, he does react to Jeanne immediately. "That's Trapper Crow and John Rizzo. It wasn't them." Big Boss points towards them, but doesn't exonerate Crys. Even though he feels he knows exactly who did this.
C	Crow's expression falls briefly upon noticing Rean before he forcefully puts it back up, sauntering towards the table. "Well, it sure is nice of whoever sent us this to have done so, right? I wonder what could be in such a big package." Almost as if a form of come-uppance for opening his mouth, Crow finds himself blown to the floor, one of his fluffy antlers destroyed and his own festive outfit otherwise rendered singed and torn. At least he was only left with relative flesh wounds rather than finding himself a slurry of human remains scattered around the workshop. That didn't stop him from getting cranky as he scrapes himself off the ground. "What the hell?! So now we've got a missing elf and a bomber on our hands. Isn't that great.." Even though he was grumbling, he was already pulling out his orbal revolver to begin firing at the busted windows, covering them in a sheet of ice to temporarily block out the harsh winter winds. "Hey, chill out. I came here to save Christmas, or something like that. I'm not your enemy, pinky promise." He finalizes his plea of innocence to Jeanne with a wink.
Staren	Another assassination attempt. Staren is possibly saved by having had his coat closed against the wind, and the luck of no shrapnel going through his brain. He struggles to get up from where he's been thrown, trying to draw his pistol for the presumed fight, slow for precious seconds before the medichines can release drugs into his system. No fight comes. He glances around, then rushes to Mikoto's side to offer healing potions and nanobandages so she can conserve her magic. "Let my guard down... stupid. So who wants to stop Christmas NOW? Some idealist with a complex because Santa didn't give him the present he wanted when he was six?"
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz hearing Mikoto's groaning in pain, it doesn't take her long to reach Mikoto. She'll take a quick moment to look her over. "Hold on this should help, it's not perfect but it should help." She'll mutter something causing green energy to flow over Mikoto's body. Sharpnel will be ejected minor wounds will start to rapidly heal up and nasty burns will start to heal, it should be enough to noticeably reduce Mikoto's injuries.
John Rizzo	"Sister, fire and me don't mix," says John to Jeanne quietly. It might be hard to gauge his expression, hidden beyond that gauze, but his tone at least sounds more concerned than threatening. He slowly stands up, edging away from Jeanne's sword. He wipes himself off, and nods at Big Boss in gratitude for clearing him before it became an issue. He further adds, "You want me in a Chicago overcoat, there's a safer way to do it." He takes a look around, then responds to Staren. "Doesn't size up as a button man. If they wanted to stop it, they'd have sent a bigger bomb. They wanna slow it down--or make it happen on their terms." After providing that guess, Rizzo picks up the nearest piece of shrapnel that doesn't also have someone's blood on it. He takes it in both hands, carries it over to a corner. With his back to the sun and his hands in the shade of his own body, Rizzo slowly unwraps the gauze on one hand. He touches his bare skin to the shrapnel, and attempts to get a psychic reading on it. He expects it will be difficult, given that the explosion might have altered the impressions upon it--but any information is good information at this point.
Rean Schwarzer	And the present is...A fox with a revolver? "The heck?" Rean asks. It's cute but kinda threatening. And then... Boom Unsurprisingly the box explodes, launching Rean across the room and setting his festive scarf and hair on fire. "Ow...." He slowly pats himself out, finding that some bruises from a week ago are starting to hurt again. He's other wise fine, though, laying there for a second. Mikoto sounds pretty damn hurt, though it looks like someone he doesn't quite recognize is tending to her. HE eventually gets up, dropping a quick healing art on himself. "...Where's his Majesty?" Rean asks, noticing a lack of obnoxious laughter. "He's probably not the one who did this, but it's kind of weird he's missing." He then turns his attention to his (former?) classmate. "...Trapper Crow, huh?" Rean says, trying to not sound at least slightly bitter.
Ritsuka Fujimaru	"Hm. So you know those two, at least." Jeanne glances at Big Boss as he identifies Crow and Rizzo, the former still getting a suspicious stare and narrowing of the eyes. It's probably the wink. "... Hmph. Can't be you. Even an idiot wouldn't be that-" She looks him over, outfit and all beefore waving her free hand dismissively. "... /That/. And you." She looks over at Rizzo, raising one eyebrow while picking bits of bloody shrapnel out of her outfit and her face. "The hell is a Broderick supposed to be?" That just leaves Crys. Jeanne keeps her flaming sword in hand as she approaches the... She's not sure what she's looking at, actually. "You, though. You haven't convinced me you're not responsible for this, though. So tell me... Why shouldn't I cut you down right now?"
C	Rubbing the back of his head with his free hand, Crow gives Rean something resembling an apologetic look. "Everyone in the club gets a moniker, I didn't pick it. But it does sound cool, right?" As per his usual style, he makes light of it and moves on by laughing in response to Jeanne. "Admit it, I make this work, don't I? Ah, whatever. It probably wasn't that guy either, if I had to guess...but I'm sure trenchcoat and Boss already have a good idea of what's up, so why don't we cut to the chase?" Crow stuffs his weapon back inside his sweater before crossing his arms expectantly.
Big Boss	As everyone settles from the blast, Big Boss grabs the letter after Jeanne reads it, looking over it finely. He says, to the group, evenly, "I have no idea who this could be." And then, he starts looking around. "Despite that, it's clear they were not trying to kill us. The payload was too small, too direct. It was a message. They have Thimble. They couldn't have gotten far. Fan out and find him. We want them alive." Big Boss grabs his pistol, shaking to his feet, and moves to check on the Metal Gear project to make sure nobody uses this as an ambush opportunity (because he would). He directs everyone to go elsewhere, as he responds to Crow. "It was not King Gilgamesh. This is outside of his M.O. If he wanted us dead, we would know it." AREAS TO EXPLORE: UPSTAIRS, THE MACHINES, THE NAUGHTY AND NICE ROOM, THE EMPTY REINDEER PEN
Sumiko	Before Mikoto realizes her life is in danger, Staren and Crys are already on her trying to heal her body. Shrapnel starts slowly sliding out of her body, causing her to wince in pain as Staren uses potions and nano bandages to help close more dangerous looking injuries. Between the two of them, she's in no danger and back on her feet in a bit of time and mending. She smiles to the two of them, "Thank you, I was afraid I was going to have to use up the last of this seed." She says and takes a few tentative steps. She's fine, just a bit sore now and mostly healed. A little bit of magic is used to make sure she can contribute because now SHE'S going to find who did this. She's mad. "I'm going out to the pen," She says, and already moves to leave, turning towards Jean, "Crys is with me," Mikoto says, making sure to keep suspicion off of someone who just saved their life, and is also fellow concord.
Staren	Jeanne accuses Crys. "Because she's with the Concord and she knows what Priscilla did to the LAST guy to try to kill me. Also I'm her best chance at a long life." Staren points out. He applies additional layers of armor to himself, orange-sized globs of material that spread out over his body in additional layers, and a space helmet. He then readies drones. Sending them to EVERY location, both to keep an eye on anyone and to get a look at any locations noone goes to. He physically follows Crys and Mikoto, but his attention is divided.
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz sees that with Staren's help Mikoto is back on her feet agian and pissed off. Let's be honest she's pissed off about this as well. When Mikoto tells her to come with her the Newman nods once. "Gotcha." She will then fall in line with Mikoto and summons a pistol of some sort from her subspace trap. She will have her one eye darting as they make for the empty reindeer pen.
Ritsuka Fujimaru	It takes some convincing on Mikoto's and Rizzo's parts, but Jeanne eventually relents. She still stares daggers at Crys, but at least that sword gets tossed back into the ether where it had been pulled out of. That leaves her hands free to ball into fists, the temptation to throw them violently in Crow's general direction growing when he tries to get a laugh out of her. She laughs. It's not a nice laugh, but it's a laugh! "If you're going for the idiot look, maybe. Really, who would even wear a reindeer outfit...?" Shaking her head, she refocuses on PRIORITIES. Without much else to work with just yet, Jeanne heads up the stairs. That's where Thimble had been the first time, so maybe she'll get lucky and he'll be up there again.
Rean Schwarzer	"It does, I guess." Rean murmurs. Well, at least Mikoto is doing ok for now, and he sighs in relief. Since upstairs is covered, Rean heads over to the machines.
John Rizzo	"On it," says Rizzo with a nod. "Heading to the Naughty and Nice Room." He pauses, after taking his first step. "Don't forget this holiday's about goodwill and peace on earth," he announces to everyone in earshot. He then lumbers over to the Naughty and Nice Room. It's a little hard for him to see with those protective goggles on, and his gait is tired and slow. Despite that, he presses on. "Thimble?" he calls. "Gimme a shout if you can." He's not sure if the elf is here or not--but even as he's calling, he's making use of his senses and his training. Rizzo searches for the elf, or failing that, anything in the room that looks out of place or tampered with.
C	Crow smiles to himself as Jeanne departs with a little huff. He was content with the reaction he got, although, he still felt like Rean was upset with him. Well, he thought to himself, that was still better than he initially surmised. He'd prefer this over a total breakdown of communications any day. Making towards the only place a Reindeer belongs, Crow took to the empty pens to investigate. More helpfully, it was because he believed it was an optimal way for someone to sneak in and out of the building, and so it might have a couple of clues for someone perceptive enough to look for them.
Big Boss	The reindeer pen has no reindeer. What it has is a pair of straw bales, two in fact, placed in the corner, acting mighty suspicious and pokeable. Otherwise, the only /visible/ trap is a literal beartrap hidden, that might catch someone's foot in it if they're not looking where they're going. Jeanne heads upstairs. The elves' floor of the second floor is booby-trapped. Mines, bear traps, all sorts of things that could just slow down anyone searching up here. The third floor, though...Santa's bedroom is still locked closed. If one moves towards the door, though... An improvised device beings slinging marbles at them. They're fired like bullets, trying to put a hole in Jeanne if she's not fast. Rean investigates the machines. There's a little wire, which he can avoid carefully. Trailing it to the source finds nothing. And then, if he turns around from there, a motion sensor would go off, trying to send a giant, 100 pound ball falling on top of him off the pulley system, moving to crush into him and sling him into a wall if he's not fast. The Naughty or Nice Room seems safe, at first. The Naughty List, however, has a new edit. Big Boss was already on it, but he's been propelled straight to the top. Hmm. Oh, and if Rizzo approaches the computer, a proximity mine, low-payload, will explode to send him backwards, without damaging the bulky machines.
C	Crow stares at the bear trap and the hay bales. It was so obvious that there had to be more to it, right? Raising his gaze from the trap on the ground, Crow sighed to himself. "Well, let's say I got my foot stuck in that, then..." That only left a few angles for something else to happen to him, right? Something from above...something to the sides, or something coming from in front of or behind him. Crow inspects their surroundings thoroughly, but if nothing else this confirmed that their catch had been through the area. Bending down by the bear trap, Crow attempts to disarm it so he could safely inspect the ground underneath it, since that would give a rough time frame of how long ago the trap was set.
Ritsuka Fujimaru	That sure is a lot of traps. Jeanne's pretty sure she didn't see all those traps around the last time she was here, and she starts laughing at the absurdity of it all while maneuvering past them easily with how not-moving they are. "Really? You think some mere traps are enough to stop the Dragon Witch?!" She veers close to the mines and bear traps, even nudging one of the bear traps and swinging her sword over it to tempt fate as she heads towards Santa's room. "Whoever you are, you've either got some massive balls, or you're a complete f-" And then she gets hit in the face with a marble. It wouldn't hurt so hard if it wasn't being shot at her like a bullet, and she curses loudly while stepping around to avoid the other marbles being sent her way. "Insolent jackass! Fine, if you're going to keep hiding, then I'll-" And then she steps on a land mine. One to three explosions and a bear trap later, and Jeanne has started just blasting the upstairs area with spears.
Sumiko	Mikoto looks at the obvious trap. She spins her sword into the air before puncturing the earth. A magical symbol appears after a hasty transformation. A spike shoots out to trigger the trap, but a second symbol takes shape. A phantasmal anaconda snakes it's a way around the outside of the pen until it starts hovering over the two hay bales so that when the trap goes it is ready to snatch whatever is in the hay bales and attempt to wrap up whatever is in there and start SQUEEZING.
Staren	Staren nearly steps in the trap, noticing just in time that Crow has stopped to disarm it. "Who sets up traps like this?" Perhaps dividing his attention so broadly wasn't really helpful here.
Rean Schwarzer	Rean steps over the wire, avoiding the very obvious booby trap. The person who sent the bomb was probably still around the. He opens his senses, trying to see if they're still around in here. He then follows the wire to the end, not finding anything. Suddenly, there's a sound of something rushing towards him. It's a freaking wrecking ball on a pulley. Rean jumps out of the way of the ball, rolling on the ground for a second before righting himself. "Crap that was close..." He says, getting back on his feet. He then proceeds to keep looking around the room, to see if there's anything else around.
Crys Gattz	The pen is empty as Crys expected it to be, after all, there were high odds his longest-running comrades were on a break too, right? She keeps her pistol at the ready as she glances about what could be out of place here? She neatly steps in the bear trap. Thankfully she avoids it at the last moment. She's about to go deal with the bales of hey when Mikoto does something far more creative. "I'm already starting to like your style." She will make ready to support Mikoto if it's needed in the meantime she sets off the bear trap so it won't be an issue by tossing a stone from her photon trap at the pressure plate.
John Rizzo	John snaps a picture of the Naughty List. "Boss," says the vampire over the radio. "Just got a load of the Naughty List. You're number one." It certainly tracks, but... what if the bomber also changed the list? He reaches out, as before, hiding from the sun if necessary. He touches a finger to the List. It's been tampered with. His tired, plodding stumble takes him to the computer, which he stares at, perplexed. These things might as well be Greek manuscripts. He has no idea how to use them, and doubts he ever will. One thing he does recognize, however, is the landmine. It isn't safe to just leave there. Someone could get hurt. He murmurs a brief prayer, then takes it upon himself top remove the mine... ...and is promptly thrown from the room by a loud explosion. He hits the floor in the previous room, getting up once more and dusting himself off. There is a pop as he forces his arm back into place, but the vampire is otherwise no worse for wear. He caught his hat this time. Well... since it's already gone--and the blast didn't seem to damage the computer... he might as well at least /try/ using it. This time, his Malkavian blood helps. He pulls up a chair and stares intently at the monitor. It's on a screensaver. He isn't even moving the mouse. A virtual labyrinth stretches out before John, generated by the screensaver. "I'm in a labyrinth," he concludes. It's a very shitty 90s screensaver. "No floors, no ceilings..." Because the computer hasn't generated any. "But what if I look up?" John moves the mouse up. The veil of reality would have him believe that this just made the screensaver go away--but he knows better. He knows that the real is also the metaphorical--that he has just cast away an illusion. The password screen blinks in front of him. "Password... password..." he taps his thumb. "Big Boss, top of the naughty list... trying to make a Nathan Hale out of him..." He shakes his head at the monitor. The blinking cursor begs an answer from him, but he has none. Who would kidnap an elf? Who would want to slow down Christmas or worse, stop it? Why are toys so expensive these days? "Robbing Peter to pay Paul," mutters Rizzo forlornly. The cursor blinks. "What if I look down?" He moves the mouse down. Nothing happens. "What if... I /look/ down?" He does so--and sees four keys, slightly misaligned. K, I, N, S. "Kin. Family. Kins. Two families? Two families..." Peterkins Hale. That gets him into the computer. He uses it, much in the same seemingly impossible manner, to try and track down who used it last.
Big Boss	Crow disarms the bear trap. It is in fact a bear trap. It was planted a few hours ago - enough time for the attacker to be theoretically gone. Mikoto and Crys activate the hay traps, with Staren nearby. One of them is not, actually, trapped, while the other suddenly ignites as the snake attacks, burning it, and threatening to burn the entire pen. Because of the snake, Mikoto has enough notice to put out the fire before it spreads. The other haybarrel has a hatch under it. It's old - it was always there. The dust has recently been cleared off - it's been used recently. A secret room, perhaps? However, if one approaches it, a remote receiver goes off, and from across the area, a bunch of explosive-tipped darts start firing at the group, trying to blow them up without destroying the hatch. Jeanne disarms every trap upstairs, gets the shit blown out of her, and finds that Thimble isn't up here. Rean nearly gets bowled over by a wrecking ball. It barely misses the important machinery, instead nearly crushing his body. Rizzo gets blown back, but manages to get into the computer. He finds the name of their attacker. It's a strange name, a codename, that was scanned when he changed it, because the list knows who is naughty and who is nice. Grinch Krampus.
Sumiko	Mikoto has the snake uses its body to try and snuff out the fire. Thankfully, it's just a fake snake, so it can effectively smother it very effectively. Approaching the other haybale, there is the door. "Well, there is something here!" of course this sets off the pressure plate, and causes Mikoto's head to turn towards the source. "Behind me!" She calls out, as she spins around and thrusts the blade into the ground once more. A wall of spikes springs up in front of her to try and brace against the assault of explosive tipped darts, to hopefully and harmlessly bounce off of the jade wall and shield her party and herself. She leaves the attacking the launches to other people, she focuses on full defense.
C	"A couple of hours ago, huh...well, shoot." He was hoping for more, but it didn't matter. Mikoto took care of the other traps in the area, it seemed, leaving him at a relative loss as he approached the hidden entrance with the intention of investigating it. His efforts are cut short as a trap is inadvertently triggered by one of them, leaving him scurrying for cover behind the magical girl. "Isn't this a litte bit much?! Ugh..." He trusted her to, if nothing else, be able to hold back the tide. She'd already shown herself to be capable during the ILF's last two attacks, after all. "ARCUS Activate." The pen darkens considerably as a pitch black spear suddenly erupts from the ground, emitting a ferocious miasma before blasting away at the various launchers with crimson lightning.
John Rizzo	"Huh." That was pretty easy. He was worried about nothing with this whole computer thing. It's like a typewriter that tells you secrets through metaphor. No wonder people like them so much. The vampire rises from his seat and pushes the chair in, just in time to hear the explosions from the darts. John makes an uncoordinated, sloppy dash towards the exit. He skids to a stop in the snow, drawing from his coat pocket a Colt Detective Special. The black snub nose is leveled. Taking aim at what he imagines is a weak spot on one of the dart launchers, Rizzo enhances his vision to see more clearly through his goggles. His finger squeezes the trigger, and immediately after making the shot he attempts to make a break for it, hoping that if he can't destroy it, he can at least draw its fire.
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz sees the bale burst into flames and will start to start to get behind Mikoto. She also brings up her photon shield in an attempt to intercept anything else that might get past Mikoto's rather powerful shield and she's got to wonder just about. What have they tripped over here she will brace herself and make ready to cast a healing spell again should it be needed. Crys wonders who had all the time to set these traps? "Faltz Spawn, who the heck does something like this?!"
Ritsuka Fujimaru	Jeanne lays there for a bit, panting as she finishes clearing all the traps out of the upstairs area. On the plus side, she no longer needs to worry about those damned bear traps and mines getting in the way thanks to exploding literally all of them with spear and flame. It just takes her a bit to get back up. Brushing some charcoal and dust off herself, she stands back up and takes a quick survey of the now-clear upstairs to realize that the elf isn't even there. "God dammit." She mutters to herself, kicking over a chair or whatever closest thing is nearby, then heads for the locked door to Santa's bedroom again. Surely the marbles aren't going to come flying at her again after all that! If she can't get it open by trying to open it like a regular person, then she'll have to resort to her preferred method of opening things. She's going to stab it with her sword a lot.
Staren	Moments after Staren nearly steps into a bear trap, darts are set off and narrowly stopped by Mikoto. "Good grief!" Staren considers the possibility of going out and raising some snowlems to be disposable trapspringers, but then has a faster idea: "Mikoto, can your magic summon a fake human or monkey or something that can go ahead of us and trigger any traps?" She can. But then he realizes, "Oh wait, that'd drain your grief seed, wouldn't it? Hang on." So he walks out into the snow for a couple of minutes and comes back with a rough humanoid made of snow. Once the hatch is open, he'll order it to climb down ahead of them.
Rean Schwarzer	Well that was a harrowing encounter. The others sound like they're having a hard time in the stables based on the radio, so he carefully avoids the wire again, and heads into the stables.
Big Boss	The group attacks the launchers and smothers the fire. The darts are blocked by the wall. The launchers are destroyed, stopping more from being fired, and allowing the group to head DOWNWARDS. Santa Claus's basement is dusty. There's a big wine case, because Mrs. Claus is a lush, and there's a bunch of crates. They haven't been trapped, and contain old presents and mementos of the past. Stuff such as 'failed presents Santa liked' or 'wrestling trophies' or whatever. Down through the basement, it starts getting more trapped. Poison-tipped darts fire out as they hit proximity sensors, while shrapnel bombs detonate as well. The group can get past them, though. And reach Thimble. He's alive, tied to a chair, with a sword hanging over his head. It's symbolic. As the group moves to rescue him, another proximity sensor goes off, but this one doesn't explode. A holographic projector goes up. There's simply a logo of a fox with a gun. A male voice speaks up over it, older. "You know who we are. You know why we're here. You know what we want. Stop playing your games. Do they know what you've built? Do they know what a Metal Gear really is?" The voice coughs, before continuing. "That you've taken advantage of them. That after this is all done, you won't simply be decommissioning your machine, will you? Sure. You plan to fulfill this game to the rules set. But, have they asked?" "What happens when the Legendary Soldier, the Man Who Sold The World, is given a nuclear-capable armament? What does he plan for it?" "Can you trust him?" "Destroy the machine. Otherwise, it will be dealt with forcibly." The video syncs off, leaving Thimble just there, ragged and tired.
Sumiko	Mikoto watches as Frosty walks through the trap strewn basement, with Mikoto at its heals. She waits, letting the various traps go off and double-checking to make sure they don't double fire. When they finally show up to Thimble, she looks up as the screen fires. What a Metal Gear really is? She didn't really give it much thought, it was a robot-like Staren has. Of course, she realizes who this was addressed to. A nuclear-capable armament? Oh shit.
Staren	Frosty weathers the darts without harm, poison tips lodging in its body and having no biology to interact with. Shrapnel isn't a problem -- it just puts holes in Frosty -- but the shockwave IS; its body was a rush job after all, and is literally just snow. Frosty's body breaks apart into snowflakes, and shows no sign of reconstituting after that. But the traps are spent and Thimble is found. And the hologram poses a possibility that Staren had thought of -- that this Metal Gear could be misused -- but he'd come to the conclusion that none would dare besmirch Christmas so. If Big Boss tried he'd have a pile of heroes after him. Nothing in the Multiverse survives the hero dogpile. Staren sighs, and moves forward, pulling up a sleeve. The silver band on his wrist extrudes scalpel-like blades which swiftly cut the ropes. "I don't suppose you got a look at who did this?"
John Rizzo	"That's mean," John mutters quietly as he lumbers downstairs. Who is he talking to? He doesn't seem to look at anyone when he says it. Nevertheless, when he arrives, his attention is set squarely on the projection. "What do you think it means, kid?" asks Rizzo with a disappointed sigh. "Boss..." The next message is entirely telepathic. Boss will hear Rizzo's voice in his mind. 'Please don't use it to make war.' Again, with the gauze, it's hard to tell what his expression is. In this case, it doesn't matter. Boss can feel a profound pleading, and will know instinctively that it isn't his own mind's doing. It's Rizzo's emotions, being broadcast as part of his message. His eyes, behind those dark goggles, bore into Big Boss.
Ritsuka Fujimaru	With the door leading nowhere and Jeanne only scratching it up, the Avenger scoffs before heading back down the stairs. She's wasted enough time up here with little to show but knowing that nothing of value is upstairs, and her outfit is a bit of a mess after all those land mines. It's time to catch up with everyone else. She leaps down the stairs and follows their steps to the basement, arriving just in time to see... Booze. That draws a chuckle from Jeanne, and then she's back to hurrying just in time to see a decimated snowman, that freaky-looking elf with a sword hanging overhead, and an image of a fox as a disembodied voice speaks. "... Oh my. That's some interesting information, isn't it?" Jeanne's grin turns darker as she keeps listening, circling around the hologram and leaning on something nearby while peering at the fox image, at the rest of the group, and especially at the man in question himself. "Maybe, maybe not. What really matter isn't /if/ he's going to use it. It-" And the video shuts off. It takes her a moment to realize that this whole thing was just a video, and Jeanne's eye visibly twitches as she regains her bearings. At least it was't like she was talking directly to the video. She can salvage this! Jeanne smiles sweetly, but in that weird sort of way that mostly just looks deranged. Her usual smile, really. "It's who. Tell us, Big Boss. Who would you turn this on once we're finished? The unjust? The unholy? Those that simply stand against you?"
C	Following after Mikoto and their frosty bodyguard, they all make it safely to the elf they came to rescue. Intentionally flubbing his name as he speaks to the others concerning the present situation, Crow sweats. Whoever did this clearly was out for more than just some holiday death match shenanigans, and more importantly, what they wanted wasn't in his best interests. Thankfully, it just took the time the others were using to argue amongst themselves for him to create a productive counter-argument after his initial attempt of dismissing the matter failed. "Y'know, it sure is coincidental that the guy who did all this presents the idea that it /could theoretically be misued/ to you all in way that sets you against the one person currently in our little group who would be least cooperative with placating you regardless of what his intentions are or aren't for the thingermajigger that /the person who's been trying to kill us/ wants to decomission. Geez. It's almost like we're being manipulated."
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz gets out from behind Mikoto and thanks to Staren? There is no need to be acting as a shield for others as he's created 'Frosty' to tank for them. She'll keep on the move and change her weapons the pistol vanishes as a large mechanical claw appears on one hand which armour going up to her shoulder with what appears to be some sort of brace. Her pistol is swapped to her free hand as they go. She's ready and then pauses as the nature of what a Metal Gear is. She narrows her one eye, this just got very messy.
Rean Schwarzer	Rean heads into the basement and....Here we go again. They found Thimble, but apparently he got kidnapped by someone who was suspicious of Boss' plans for it after the holiday. It was, to be blunt a weapon of war, repurposed for apparent good. Who was stopping /anyone/ from using it to blow up some city somewhere? The fact that Boss was being really cagey about the situation wasn't helping. Even Rean's suggestion that they'd blow it up later instead of now didn't stick. Currently, presently...did it matter? He didn't want to be /used/ like this! Ultimately, though... Rean lets out a long sigh. "Look, I don't want to destroy it before Christmas, not when we've come so far. So let's just find this guy and keep them from blowing it up now. We can work out what to do with it later."
Big Boss	Thimble is freed, and describes the man. He was in a tactical suit, mentioned 'FOXHOUND', and was called Grinch Krampus. He's safe, just shaken. Big Boss returns to the building. He expects to get a copy of what happened from Crow, while he speaks into a radio, briefly. And then, he sweeps the upstairs with his eyes. John Rizzo, if he's looking, will get a noncommital response to his message. It's unlikely it worked. The rest of the next few days will be spent building presents. Big Boss, against all odds, does not take Mikoto off the pilot list. He shouldn't trust her. But this isn't the first time he's made this mistake. And it might not be the last.
Ritsuka Fujimaru	Jeanne grimaces as she turns to Crow, sighing and rubbing her forehead before brushing off the remains of her hat. "Why did /you/ have to be the one that made that point? I feel dirty just for agreeing." She spits on the floor, then crosses her arms while cracking that grin again. "... But even if the voice was telling the truth, are you really going to disappoint all the children wishing for Santa to deliver their just rewards? And here I thought I was the evil one." And just to punctuate how thoroughly evil she is, Jeanne finally moves to check on Thimble by way of nudging him with her foot and offering a cookie. It's an old cookie that's probably been sitting in her jacket for a while now, but it's a food. After that, though, it's time to get to present-making. Jeanne has ideas. They are probably not good ideas.
C	Crow, not being well-acquianted with Thimble, leaves matters be, even after Jeanne equates him to dirt on the ground. After clapping Rean over the shoulders and doing his best to de-escalate tensions in the group as they head back to clean up and get to work, he has a good time making toys and spreading his own festive cheer in the work place. It was a nice reprieve considering how badly that could have gone, or how grim his report to Big Boss is in hindsight. But it didn't matter, it was time to save Christmas.
Staren	Staren leaves, and plots, and plans. There are many angles here. Opportunity, and symbolism, and PR, and ethics. Much must be considered. Would it reflect badly on the Concord, if they have Mikoto sneak in a bomb? As badly as if they do nothing and Big Boss takes it? Is the real big brain choice to rely on REAN to blow it up? Every thought leads to another possibility. But Staren knows one thing for certain: He is not in good shape after that bomb, and really needs to get to a healing vat before the drugs wear off.
Crys Gattz	Crys Gattz gets out from behind Mikoto and thanks to Staren? There is no need to be acting as a shield for others as he's created 'Frosty' to tank for them. She'll keep on the move and change her weapons the pistol vanishes as a large mechanical claw appears on one hand which armour going up to her shoulder with what appears to be some sort of brace. Her pistol is swapped to her free hand as they go. She's ready and then pauses as the nature of what a Metal Gear is. She narrows her one eye, this just got very messy. Then again it wouldn't be the holidays in the multiverse without something strange or messy happening she mused.
John Rizzo	"Yeah, well," says Rizzo to Crow, "It worked." He still doesn't trust Big Boss not to misuse the Metal Gear. Especially not after the misuse. But... Christmas is at stake. Rean's suggestion is reasonable. He assists in making toys, mainly by using his strength to move raw materials and heavy equipment in bulk. He keeps his mind on his work, but every so often, he disappears. Each time, he comes back, clutching a silver necklace and muttering to himself. He offers no explanation for his behavior, but the toys, at least, seem no worse for it.
Rean Schwarzer	Well, the situation was defused for now, though obviously the question of after all of this was done still remained. They were supposed to be making people happy with this, weren't they? That had to be enough for now, right? Anyway they had presents to build. Rean dutifully builds the presents, checking in on the others (Jeanne especially) to make sure that nobody puts anything particularly dangerous in the presents.