Multiverse Crisis MUSH - User contributions [en]

Secret of Stalliongrad

2014-06-30T02:23:39Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2014/06/29 |Location=Divided Equestria |Synopsis=Hints and clues have lead to the knowledge that something big is happening in Stalliongrad. Invest..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2014/06/29
|Location=Divided Equestria
|Synopsis=Hints and clues have lead to the knowledge that something big is happening in Stalliongrad. Investigation happens!
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=2, 75, 189, 239, 264, 369, 470, 475
|Tinyplot=
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' Whatever reasons people have for coming to Stalliongrad today, Union and Unaffiliated parties will find /reaching/ the city rather easy. It is a large city well behind the 'lines,' and thus not one of the Fortress cities. There are a number of guards however... in the form of patrolling troops of regimented unicorn soldiers circling the city outskirts. Easy enough to slip by for an experienced group of Elites, but obviously meant to keep riffraff out... or possibly in, given the state of the city. Stalliongrad is quite industrialized for the tech level of the world. Factories are here, large ones that take regular shipments of steel and some sort of crystal. The citizens look ragged and tired, for the most part, but not all unhappy. Many still stand with pride as they away the carriage that runs to the suburbs, while others hold their head high. Usually in pony form, as that's the easiest to walk long distances in. But not all is grand. For one, the city is rather /dirty/, industry growing like an industrial revolution of sorts. Smog is fairly common, and the number of pegasi working to keep it clear is... too small by far. Most of the citizens appear to be unicorns, who make a very clumsy attempt at keeping the smog under control, but it really isn't what their magic is for. Earth Ponies are here as well, but many of them appear more bedraggled and much less enthused. In fact, shift has just ended at one of the larger factories, a whistle blowing and several Earth Ponies staggering out, most in pony form, and looking exhausted. It's a familiar sight to anyone familiar with the idea of a sweatshop or pre-Union factory work. The factory itself has a large cart being loaded with what appear to be segmented metal plates inlaid with some kind of crystal, and it is the second such cart. The first is headed toward a larger, newer-looking factory toward the west side of the city, one that sports numerous armored guards stoically watching the gates. 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' After the meeting in Saint Trottersburg yesterday, Ness's leads had directed him to Stalliongrad for answers. Perhaps answers to questions he was not yet asking, knowing the shadowy nature of back-alley information sources. Still, the information had been impossible for him not to investigate with Homura. He owed it to her to take her along as one of the only people he could trust on this matter. Getting into the city had been easy enough. Careful observation of speech patterns, personality aspects, in-depth personal profiling, days of research... actually, it was just the one radio conversation, but it had produced a successful strategy for entrance into the city by the suit-wearing, jacket-clad, hat-adorned Federal Agent: "Huh? I'm sure the Archmagister just forgot to mention I was coming. She was talking about her research and said I *must* visit and see for myself." No need to sneak in when you've used the front gates, so to speak. And so Ness is wandering Stalliongrad's streets with a cigarette in his mouth. Being tired of harassment, he has sewn (Had his wife sew) a patch onto the outside of jacket that appears to be a silver badge with a holder. If asked, he'd say his name was 'Government Agent', which sounds legit enough. 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' Ezio didn't take long to get here either. Still in his suit from the last time, patched up and spotless from its prior damage, he wades through the crowd. That one radio conversation had gotten his curiosity, and he couldn't let the other UNionites arriving go there alone if that assassin came back to plague them. Send an assassin to kill an assassin, what better way to get rid of such a feat? Not that he'd be broadcasting his status as such to these 'fine' people. He takes note of the technology, the people, the culture in hints he picks up off idle chatter. Nothing is above notice to the assassin mentor. He nods to Agent Ness, but stops himself from greeting the man properly by name. Undercover and all that. If people ask, he'll just introduce himself as 'The Bodyguard.' 

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:''' Government Agent is of course accompanied by Helpful Secretary. She looks about sixteen, going towards seventeen, with a formal black skirt, white dress shirt, and a black slightly more feminine than usual jacket over that. She is carrying a briefcase, because what sort of official agent would carry his own weight when he can have a cute little secretary to do it for him. There is a badge sewn on her clothes as well, which would appear to be shaped after a clipboard with pen and all. Hair loose and hiding her ears, though she's also got a nice black hat on. Homura pushes her glasses up, mumbling something under her breath about 'having to be the secretary'. She was fine with prior arrangements! Well, whatever, really. 

:'''{{#var:189|Pegasus (189)}} has posed:''' There's no way Pegasus can come in here without looking a LITTLE conspicuous, so she just tries to minimize it. The robotic pegasus is trotting alongside in full pony form, with wings tucked tightly at her side. She has a cloak thrown over her, a pony cloak like Zecora sometimes uses, which covers her almost completely. The metallic shimmer of her hooves and chassis still comes through now and then, though, and she looks hunchbacked thanks to the small jet engines that assist her flight tucked behind the wings. As for why she was here, Ariel has been looking into this place, and her niece was someone she wanted to protect from darker things. So the cheerful pegasus was, for the moment, undercover and watching the factory. She'll have to meet up with the others shortly, once she notices Homura and Ezio. 

:'''{{#var:239|Polite Words (239)}} has posed:''' Polite Words is not going by an alias. In fact, she's here for completely legitimate purposes, but seems to go unnoticed by most of those around as she walks through the city. She's wearing a nice suit jacket, and dress shirt, but the skirt that goes with it looks a bit frayed and she's barefoot today. She's got a suitcase with her, rather large, and is openly carrying two pistols. It's a bit hard to really notice the pistols. The eyes seem to just.. slide over them. An elite might manage, of course. She actually feels rather at home in this city, mostly because the Sidereal is from Detroit and this is marginally cleaner but otherwise close enough. More ponies, though. Regardless, she purposefully makes her way in, the red-speckled eyed woman raising a hand in momentary greeting to the guards at the gate. 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' In ordinary cases, Shizune would take advantage of the tendency for people of all types to not look up and go over the rooftops. In a world where pegasi soar through the skies, however, that's not nearly as much an option. However, a particularly agile girl with a good bit of situational awareness and a mild disregard for the laws of gravity can still pull off some impressive feats of infiltration. So the martial artist walks the streets of Stalliongrad in a loose, flowing dress, carefully weaving her way towards the factory where the cart is being loaded with metal plates. She still hasn't finished catching up on what all is going on in this world - but the reports have been increasingly worrying, and she's met enough Union ponies she respects that she's not missing a chance to step in and offer what help she can. Even if it means going by 'Harmony Circle' and leading people to think she's a pony in human form. 

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:''' Cough! Cough cough! The smog just doesn't do well for the lungs of the proletariat in Stalliongrad. Or would that be ponytariat? Indeed, one of the locals seems to be a bit short of breath. Covering her mouth to hack up a particularly nasty glob of something brackish and dark that says she's been here way too long, is an Earth Pony-woman. Dosey Dotes looks to be in her early twenties, blonde hair and youthful features caked in sweat, grime, and dirt. It looks like she just got out of the bar and is getting ready to go on for the next shift, decked out in a dirty old work shirt, heavy gloves, boots, and overalls. And a neckerchief. The flower in her hair looks pretty dead by now thanks to the local atmosphere but that doesn't seem to stop her from walking right by the older factories like she completely has a purpose and making her way for that new looking one. 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' The snappy woman in the suit gets accosted as she approaches the factory, but is quickly let through after a bit of paper-checking. Dosey Dotes, however, is stopped with a hoof held up by the pony-form unicorn guard. "Do you have reason to be here? Move along." The guard looks pretty serious, though bored about it, and the other guard is trotting up to welcome the incoming shipment from the other factory heading toward the main gate. All the others? A few get curious glances, but they aren't getting questioned. It's becoming pretty apparent that people Know Better than to ask questions in this town, giving wide berth to anything unusual. Shizune doesn't even get a second glance, while Pegasus gets a few pitying looks. Ness and his entourage are given plenty of space though, the government look getting most to stay well away. But even Ness is halted before the main factory. "Sorry, what is your business here? No passage without express permission." He looks a little bored, but not exactly lazy. 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' Getting a quick look at the factory the metal plates came from is her first priority. At the very least, getting some sense of what it looks like and what it might be making is important. But it's only a passing look, because the place that shipment is headed TO demands much more attention, if only for the massive troop presence. So Shizune takes a quick look at the lesser factory, and then moves on. There's no way she's getting in there through bluster or bravado. She has no cover story. And just joining up with Government Agent's entourage would look far too suspicious, particularly with him right in front of a guard. Instead, she takes a look around. Mentally marking the positions of the guards. Their movements. Likely fields of vision. Both on the ground and in the air. Looking for any gap she can see that her agility would let her take advantage of. 

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:''' A tired sigh says that this is something Dosey seems used to. Tugging off her had to fidget and crumple it in her hands. "S-Sorry sir, I left my ID back at my quarters, but. W-well I'm a new shift transfer from factory 23 and it's my first day. If I'm late the supervisor said he's have my hide and use it to make a new jacket- and use the rest of me for glue!" She pleads. 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' Ezio gets a faint nod, but not much acknowledgement otherwise. No sense breaking cover or arousing suspicion, so he leaves it at that. Ness does take Homura along with him while he walks, since she is part of his cover story. When he's stopped, which he expected to happen, he does what anyone in Government Agent's position would do: Get indignant. "Are we really going to waste eachother's time like this?" His tone is bored and incredulous. It's meant to emulate the tone of a man whom has had this exact conversation a dozen times before, "I'm supposed to make sure the tests are coming along. And to take research back to Headquarters." He squints and inspects the man, taking off his hat, "It's a hassle, but they didn't tell the gate guards I was coming. You've heard about the Assassinations, right?" He recalls something Twilight said, "They're having Celestial Inquisitors move around clandestinely now to search for weaknesses. You do NOT wanna hold up this operation. It'd be considered treason against House Moon and Star." 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' The plates in the briefing beforehand seem to be a priority to find here. Ezio notes Shizune sneaking off to find another entrance, and he takes off after her quietly. He might as well, this is what he does for a living in reality. He does allow a smirk at Ness, 'Agent' when he overhears the G-Man's performance before he goes. But business before entertainment, of course. There's no point in delaying with the stakes here. His eyes glance about, looking for guard postings and entrances, mapping out patrols in his head, even a way to get inside the factory stealthily. "What do you see?" He whsipers to Shizune after a moment of searching, knowing she's been doing the same. 

:'''{{#var:239|Polite Words (239)}} has posed:''' Polite Words will make her way into the building without saying a word to anyone, beyond the explanation to the guards. Which takes a slight bit of doing, but she has some most excellent paperwork. At this point, she goes off camera for the moment, where she is undoubtedly doing nefarious things. Possibly this even includes peanut butter and banana sandwiches. You will never know. 

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:''' "Not to mention," Homura says, not skipping a bit or looking out of place, "That if you hold us up here we'll be late for our next appointment too. I wonder how heavier a personal record gets when several investigations are slowed down by one person." Helpful Secretary adjusts her glasses to glare at the guard rather sternly. If he's glaring back at the then odds of him spotting anything weird going on elsewhere are lower! She has to admit though, Ness is pretty bold. Or just... into his role. Is this the sort of work he does normally? She never asked. 

:'''{{#var:189|Pegasus (189)}} has posed:''' Metal plates with crystal inlay on a cart. Heading into the main factory. Pegasus is not a stealthy sort by nature, which means she doesn't have a way to backflip in over any fences or whatever, and she can't bluff her way past. Perhaps if she'd brought some cupcakes she could bribe her way in, but that isn't happening. That's when she gets an idea. Her cloak is tossed aside in an instant, and as the cart trundles past she hops right onto the back, tucking herself between two plates to lower her head and... sit absolutely still. A metallic pegasus with jet turbines, looking entirely like a machine here. Only a small twitch betrays, for a moment, that this is actually tough for her. She really doesn't like unicorns, after all. 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' It would be a lot more difficult to get in if infiltration of this sort were common. As things are, the guard looks hesitant at Dosey, but the other one snorts, "Ah, if she's lying the Forepony will take care of it pretty quick. He's keeping a tight ship in there today," he points out. The other guard looks over Ness a few times, warily, but balks when the Archmagister is mentioned. "Well she did say there was..." He muses. "But this is a restricted area. One moment." Fortunately one of the other guards points out, "We were told a human would be investigating murders. I don't remember them being given permission to coem into the factory." "Well it's not like he's going to tell House Stormwing, right?" "Good point. Move on in." So Ness & company get in too! Pegasus isn't given more than a second glance. She IS given a second glance, because that's an unusual construct, but it must match up well enough with something else that it isn't a surprise. In fact, the only remarkable thing is that one of the guards throws a blanket over Pegasus, muttering something about 'sloppy...' The other factory Shizune peeks in on looks to be a typical factory, cutting and shaping steel plates. It's not... /awful/ conditions. Looks like hard work, but it's not like they're literally slave-drivers. They are certainly less pleasant working conditions than would be allowed in the modern day, but historically they aren't so bad. It is of note that probably about 80% of the ponies working in there - in human form, usually - are Earth Ponies, though. It doesn't look like there's been any serious attempts to get into the factory in the middle though. Most of the citizens give it a wide berth. It should be easy to clamber up over one of the shorter wall sections and between guard patrols if she wanted. As for Polite Words, we'll get to her next pose. 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' 'Harmony Circle' watches. She waits. She times the guards' patrol, glancing briefly Ezio's way when she judges they're just about to have their window. Wait for it... wait for it... Shizune darts across the street, leaps up in a long, gliding vault, rebounds off a light pole to add to her height, and touches down on the top of the wall for just a brief second before dropping down to the other side. She'll dart to cover as quickly as she can, and then start stealthily making her way towards the factory. 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' "Thank you," Ness says to the guard, putting his hat back on again and then stepping past the guard, "I appreciate your understanding. Usually these kinds of things take much longer and get more complex." As he passes both guards, he takes out a pack of cigarettes (Camels, still. The only brand this world has that he recognizes) and offers them to either guard as he goes. No sense being rude, they were just doing their jobs and he was doing his, "I promise we'll be quick and won't make too much fuss for you." He pats Homura on the shoulder and then adds, "Take a note for the Archmagister that her guards are doing their jobs," He notes to her, starting to walk his way towards the most viable target: The factory everyone is avoiding. 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' Ezio takes a peek inside when Shizune does, furrowing his brow. Seems the Earth Ponies in this world are second class citizens for the most part, not quite slaves but they definitely could have it better. It's distressing, this power inequality gap. When he reaches the wall, Ezio stretches a moment before he walks back for a running start. Taking a running leap, he grabs onto the wall and begins to climb without complaint or distress, clambering his way the gap when Shizune takes off as well. "Impressive." He comments to the young lady's agility, just as he leaps down when the patrol gives him an opening to sneak through upon landing on the inside. He HOPES he won't have to start a fight here, but just in case, he still has his dagger, gauntlets, and his gunblade tucked under his coat. 

:'''{{#var:189|Pegasus (189)}} has posed:''' Once the cart is through the main doors, Pegasus is quick to wake up again and leap off, wrapping the blanket around her. She shifts to her humanoid form rather than the quadrupedal, for this, and edges her way further into the factory to see where they're taking these supplies. 

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:''' "Thank you for your understanding," Homura notes, before she looks towards Ness, and nods. She pulls a small notepad out of a pocket inside her vest and scribbles something down. She didn't actually write what he asked her to, but rather wrote down House Stormwing. And probably a few doodles of the guards looking really dumb. Not that they would get the privilege of peeking on her notetaking. She does of course follow after him without delay. More privately to him, probably through telepathy if there are people within earshot, she muses: "I have to wonder if you could ask the Archmagister for an actual official badge if she thinks you're working in her best interest. Though right now I'm more curious about door number one over there and how 'big' of a secret project this is." 

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:''' And Dosey is giving the guard huge, sad, golden eyes. She's biting on her lip and everything, while waiting on an answer for wether or not she's getting turned into glue, casting seriously nervous sidelong glances at Government Agent, Helpful Secretary, and company. She almost sags with supreme relief when the guard decides to let the forepony handle it. "Th-thank you! Thank you! I won't be late again, I'll bring my transfer papers with me next time and everything." And just like that her hat's back on and she is scooting for the factory, trotting in quick time to not be late late late! And ducks aside rather than go in the entrance and deal with that Forepony... In fact, she almost seems to vanish when no one's looking, sliding around the side of the building for a side door. If it's locked... Well that's what she has a hairpin under that flower for. 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' The side door is locked, but not with anything major. Electronic locks and the like aren't invented yet, and while there are magical wards, the main entrance doesn't warrent them, nor does the major part of the building. Going into said building proves that it is in fact... a large housing area, for the most part. An unloading dock, or something? Large plates in the floor seem meant for a finished product of some sort, but most of the floor is taken up by plates being welded and fitted to be loaded on a large freight elevator(currently not here) while two smaller elevators are to accomodate the workers. The elevators are guarded, but more importantly are the people who are just heading into one of them. ARCHMAGISTER TWILIGHT is here, for those that know how to recognize her. A purple-haired woman with glowing mystical tattoos stands out, doesn't she? She has a wide-brimmed hat and looks extremely regal, as well as holding a flat, grim line of an unsmiling mouth. Next to her are two guards, silent and carrying short blades, with bandannas covering their mouths. They watch while Twilight greets the woman in a suit(Polite Words) "Ah, you've arrived. Just in time. I was inspecting the upcoming units built with a smattering of off-world devices... perhaps you would like to see what you will be helping us arm? I admit your weaponry is unfamiliar to me, shall we discuss the offer while I perform the inspection?" Twilight, Polite, and the guards are getting into one of the elevators, leaving only two stoic guards in humanoid form guarding the other one. These probably can't be bluffed. 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' "Perhaps I could, though I think if we get caught here, that might undermine it unless I can spin a fabrication to cover my presence," He admits to the small girl next to him in a hushed tone. As they walk, he raises his hands to adjust his tie and then brush off his suit a bit before placing his hands in his coat. He does turn away and obscure his face when he sees Twilight talking to someone, not wanting to draw attention to his presence for the above reasons. He's careful to move around with some discretion, not wanting attention to be drawn to himself. "We can either take the guards and follow or figure out another way in." He remarks to Homura. 

:'''{{#var:239|Polite Words (239)}} has posed:''' Polite nods her head, conversing seemingly without any kind of awkwardness on her own part, not even paying attention to the guards. She's in her saleswoman mode, as it happens, even if that is something of a hobby these days more than her end all, be all. "I've brought samples of a few of the more portable items, images and schematics of the others. Unfortunately many of them would be a bit destructive to use here even if I could bring them myself, but I believe I can clearly communicate their effectiveness and show how they'll meet your needs." She'll pat the suitcase. "You're welcome to keep the samples after, of course, no obligations attached." 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' Ezio was about to make for the lock with a pick, before he notices the door's already been opened. "...curious." He remarks, pocketing the lockpick before he gently works it open. "After you." says the gentleman assassin, letting Shizune in first before he follows her in. He notes the guards posted at the elevators, as well as how it's merely a housing area, unfinished but still intended for workers. He sees Polite and Twilight present, furrowing his brow as he keeps a low profile and tries to pick up conversation. 

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:''' "Yeah, that might change the gameplan for you," Homura remarks, before they are both hiding to watch as the Archmagister and her company appear, and then head deeper in. Whatever they are talking about sounds important, but is too vague to really make out. Helpful Secretary considers. They can keep going about, explore this level while other people get on that elevator, or... take big risks for big payoffs. She's unsure which of the two she prefers. There's a lot of them here. She opens her briefcase and shows Ness the contents. There's a few silenced firearms and two stun grenades, which he might have seen her use before. Silent, perfect for this sort of work. Just zaps people unconscious. At least, normal people. These guards might have tricks up their sleeves. "Up to you. You know this field of work better than me." 

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:''' Now that'll be a sight to come on. The blonde-haired and tailed pony woman crouched and working on the side lick. Dosey Dotes works away at the door, tongue poking out from the corner of her mouth. Not sketchy at all as she fiddles with tumblers and the cylinder with a level of finesse an ordinary factory worker shouldn't have. With a tiny ~pop~, she gets the lock and peeks the door open just enough to spy for any guards on the inside. And what she gets is the sight of the Archmagister herself and... Another woman she doesn't recognize? She's already a few step inside and sticking to a shadow when Ezio comes poking in behind her, Shizune not too far thereafter. ~Bleat~. One hand clasps over her mouth as Dosey Dotes sloooooowwwwwwly turns her head around to peek at the Assassino DIRECTLY BEHIND HER. "Aheh heh... Hehh... Got locked out while on smoke break..." She admits sheepishly. "Forepony'll probably turn me to glue if he catches me out here." She says pushing the door open wider. "Shhhh? I kinda need this job?" 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' Shizune frowns at the unlocked door. It's odd that they'd leave it unlocked, but it could easily be someone's forgetfulness, or simple trust in the perimeter guards. "Curious indeed," she replies. "But not quite worrying." So it's best to move on. The door opened, 'Harmony Circle' steps in, and after a quick glance around, murmurs to Ezio, "We should see if we can get into the elevator shaft. It would be the easiest way to go down unnoticed-" Oh crap that is one of the factory workers. Without missing a beat, Shizune responds in a hushed, "We're supposed to be down below ourselves, so we won't tell if you won't. Though would you happen to know a way to get back downstairs that wouldn't get us in trouble...?" She nods to the guards at the elevators, indicating her meaning. 

:'''{{#var:189|Pegasus (189)}} has posed:''' Pegasus eyes the exchange, and being what she is she immediately recognizes that it's a weapons exchange. Which means that there's something going on down below. The construct eyes the unicorn chatting for a few moments, but decides that if nobody else is making a ruckus she won't either. Besides, she sees another way down. Pegasus trots swiftly over to the freight elevator that has no elevator in it, and she leaps down the shaft, letting her wings slow her fall. She'll just head to the next area that way! 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' ! Ezio pauses as he sees Dosey. She immediately seems insanely sketchy, yet at the same time he's one to talk, being an assassin and all that. Shrug. Nodding in agreeemnt with Shizune, Ezio flashes 'Dosey' a look as he peeks out at the elevators. "We'd appreciate whatever help you can provide us on this if anything. Assist us, and we guarantee your safety." He promises. Probably not much word from him, but hey. 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' We'll cover what Peg sees once everyone else is down there. For now, Twilight is tapping her chin. "Something to surprise House Stormwing would be ideal. They do have the advantage in mobility, even with our new additions. Weapons suitable for a surprise attack would be best. But what is it you wish as payment?" 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' As for everyone else, there is ONE advantage that the rest have: the guards aren't leaving their posts. So that makes them predictable. What's more, the regular workers are doing their best to IGNORE everyone else, if anything shuffling away and keeping their distance from strangers. 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' Eliot Ness is smart enough to recognize a grenade. Even one that will be invented decades after his death. He shakes his head at Homura, "If we set off a grenade, the entire place will come running." He does look at the silenced firearms, considering the matter for a few moments. He rubs his chin and thinks, "If we kill the guards, that risks setting off other alarms when the bodies are found." "I don't suppose you can just do your teleporting power and get us in there?" 

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:''' "If you prefer the easy way that's always an option," Homura says, shutting the briefcase (quietly) and then holding out her free hand for Eliot to grab. For him and her, time stops, and everything turns maddeningly silent and greyscale-ish, with hints of color still remaining. "Don't let go, please." Or she'll just have to grab him again, really, so it's not as big an issue as she makes it out to be, but kind of a bother anyway. Since this pose would technically be happening in less than a second, we'll just go over the brief descriptions of what they can try doing: * Look for another way down first, because interacting with the elevator in stopped time is going to be a huge pain. * If that's a no go, burn extra magic and just force that elevator and its doors to comply. Find cover to unstop time in once downstairs. 

:'''{{#var:239|Polite Words (239)}} has posed:''' The brown haired woman in the suit will pause to consider her options. "For a surprise attack, aah? There's a few choices for that, depending on what you're looking for. I can get you some heavier anti-aerial weapons, as well, but you'll have to be happy with pictures and schematics of those. They're a bit heavy for me to carry around with me, even in my car." She won't explain where her car could possibly be, but presumably it's not close. "As for payment.. there are currencies and valuables I'll accept, of course. You could also pay in labor; there are things we could do within your present technology level to at least manufacture some ammunitions and the like. I'm very willing to extend a certain amount of credit." 

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:''' Ensure her safety? The confused look that crosses Dosey Dotes' face when faced with Ezio and Shizune says that what the Italian Stallion might have said came off as even sketchier than she was just a moment ago. "Huh? What're you talking about? Place is safe enough... -ish. Complies with most safety standards, anyway. I think?" There's a sideward peer, but then she glances in. The other factory workers are avoiding the others who should Obviously Not Be here. Soooo skeeeetch. But up comes a hand. "Okay look, just stay about ten steps behind me and don't make it look like you're following me. You don't know me at all, you didn't get these from me. If I lose this, my little sister isn't eating." That's when she reaches into her overall pouches and produces a set of work badges. She pins one to her chest and stuffs the others into Shizune and Ezio's hands before... Those guarded elevators for the workers. ... Obviously not the one Twilight and Polite Words went into. 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' Ezio raises an eyebrow as he's handed a badge, skeptical as to how she got ahold of /three/ of those so easily. Giving a look to Shizune, he shrugs and places the badge on before following along. There's no time to question it further, and time is short for the two if they're going to investigate this place further. Like the girl said, ten steps behind. Ezio keeps pace, making sure not to be too close or too far just in case. His eyes watch Dosey like a hawk, cautious just in case this turns more complicated than it needs to be. 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' Well, that's not suspicious in the least. But right now they're being pretty suspicious themselves, so they don't have a choice but to take suspicious help. She follows along with Ezio, keeping her head lowered a little as if she's another one of the downtrodden here. Though her eyes keep flicking upward now and then to watch Dosey Dotes. 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' The guards eye the badges that are produced with some uncertainty, but step aside after a moment of deliberation. "The Archmagister is on her way down there, already, you'd best hurry if you don't want her to see you're running late." They let the small group into the elevator, which gives Homura and Ness the perfect opportunity to /appear/ in the elevator, heading downward while... Twilight ponders the offer. "Anti-aerial would be best, that is what we will be facing. I can offer quite a few enchanted items... and perhaps, if one of the golems survives the assault, you can even take that in payment? Would you find one of these acceptable?" So everyone is arriving to see the construction floor. Twilight is gesturing to show Polite what they are working on right now, and the personal guards are stepping forward to flank the Archmagister. As for what they are working on: half a dozen nearly-finished constructs, each about 12 feet tall and vaguely humanoid, though with ears and muzzle like a pony. They are made out of plated steel and rivets, with some crystalline fibers running inside the exposed sections. One of them is somewhat operational, lowing with an unnatural light as it's being empowered by a cluster of four unicorns 'charging' it, but most importantly... several offworld jet engines are nearby, with mounts being constructed for both them and the fuel tanks. 

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:''' Homura and Ness do in fact just appear behind people in the elevator. Because that was insanely convenient. On the other hand now they're not split up and covering more ground, but oh well, strength in numbers, she supposes. They get to find cover and watch. Homura frowns a little bit. She does not really know enough about golem construction or the rituals involved to tell if these are dangerous and a threat, but then, the Archmagister wouldn't bother if they were going to turn out to be useless husks of metal, right? She'll voice her thoughts telepathically. Better not make a noise. 

:'''{{#var:239|Polite Words (239)}} has posed:''' "I do have quite a lot in that department. Enchanted items could be quite valuable to me, depending on what they do, precisely..." And she seems slightly hesitant, somehow, to respond about one of the golems. "One of them might be acceptable. They're a bit more... visible, let's say, than what I normally deal in, but I have an operation coming up myself where something like that could be useful." That's a bit vague, but it's meant to be. "I'd love to hear about your enchantments sometime, though. Mm, we could probably fit these out with some rockets?" She considers, stepping over towards the constructs, seeming to contemplate the possibilities. 

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:''' "Right right! Back to our posts for us!" Dosey Dotes chimes apologetically as she settles herself propped up against a wall, crossing one leg where she stands and folding her arms over her chest as she sets to wait for the ride down, newsboy cap tugged down to shade her eyes with a tiny sigh and... ~bleat~! There's Ness and Homura nearly making the earth-pony woman jump out of her skin, one hand clamping her hat down. She's looking a little nervous now, sweat beading down the side of her brow, but when the elevator opens up into the new level and spots Archmagister Twilight Sparkle and the offworld woman. Gripping the brim of her hat between thumb and forefinger she tugs it down lower, a dakr shadow shrouding her face as... "Excuse me folks~." Dosey Dotes suddenly takes off. Her speed is inhuman, and it kind of makes sense as she runs at the full out pace of a horse at full sprint. Any guards in her way, any workers milling around? She weaves through them in a practiced manner that Ezio and Ness might recognize before taking a -vaulting leap-. There are two, black, daggers in her grasp, and she is FLINGING herself on a collision course towards Twilight Sparkle. 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' Shizune is about to slip out of the elevator onto the hangar floor when Dosey Dotes launches herself full speed for the Magister. For a second or so she's completely dumbstruck. And then she remembers that she knows what the word 'opportunity' means, and also knows that things are about to go to hell in a handbasket, and decides to lunge out of the elevator and run for cover where she can more safely watch things unfold and figure out what to do next. 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' Travelling through a silent world of greyscale is an odd sensation for Eliot Ness, and as Homura takes him around he looks very confused by the situation. Still, by the time they reappear into the timeline proper he is calmly standing at the back of the group. Ness does not have much understanding of robots. And he is rather in awe of the technology he sees brought about in this place. But this awe is soon broken by the slightly familiar mad charge towards Twilight Sparkle. Eliot will let others react to that event. He intends to simply stand at the back of the elevator and smoke. Mostly to wait for the right moment for him to step in for his own benefit. 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' Ezio blinks just as 'Dosey' reveals her true nature, drawing daggers and sprinting at the Magister like a bat out of hell. Immediately, he dives for cover, drawing his gunblade after pulling the pieces from his coat and assembling the weapon. Like Shizune, he's content to watch for now, observing the scene with curiosity as to how this plays out. Really, this Twilight he has no love lost for. There's no real stake he has in preventing her assassination, unlike Shining Armor and Cadence. 

:'''{{#var:189|Pegasus (189)}} has posed:''' Pegasus is atop the freight elevatore now, and that's not a good place to be if it starts moving. Fortunately it is a great place to be for someone who sucks at stealth to remain relatively hidden, creeping to the edge to get a good look at what's going on. The construct flicks wings, tightening grip on the edge of the elevator roof. She doesn't like a lot of things about this. Her wings snap out and she sits up abruptly when an ASSASSINATION attempt is made though! TIme for her to reach for her lance. "Uh oh." 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' Twilight is busy answering the woman, "Of course, we can provide this or, perhaps, we can provide you with the aid of one of our agents, once we have secured a deal. I am sure I could spare one of our shape-" Shape? Shape what? She's interrupted by noticing /someone/ is there. Dosey is launching herself toward Twilight, and that prompts the interruption of the attack by the two silent bodyguards. The daggers land hits on one of them, both moving with strange 'afterimages' that look not quite natural. One of them takes the hit for Twilight, resulting in a splattering burst of disturbingly purple blood instead of the knives landing on Twilight herself. The other is doing an elbow jab against Dosey, intent on knocking her away and into the wall. Rather brutally, in fact. And what does Twilight say to this? "Dosey Dotes. Another pony who died, this one when Ponyville was flooded by House Stormwing. The dead have been paying me a strange amount of attention lately," she says quietly. 

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:''' The slrch of a successful stab doesn't make up for the fact that it was a fail in target. The bodyguard that takes the blow for Twilight results in a "Tch..." From the killer factory worker before the elbow to her gut sends Dosey Dotes FLYING. She hits a wall with enough force to crater it before she slumps to the floor with a wet cough that spits up blood. It might seem like she's out cold for a moment... Before Dosey Dotes begins to laugh. One hand clutching her bruised gut, the other covering her face. It is a rasping, hoarse whisper of guffawing. "Wow... The Archmagister's guards really are strong. I didn't see that one coming at all. I guess the joke's on me." Why is her hair pink now? It was blonde a second ago, but now it's a dull and lusterless, almost utterly grey shade of magenta, lank and stringy and covering her face as she pulls out a sinister smiling, almost faceless mask, and slides it into place. "The dead always have a nasty knack for haunting the guilty, don't they?" 

:'''{{#var:239|Polite Words (239)}} has posed:''' The businesswoman, meanwhile, seems utterly unconcerned with the sudden attack, not even touching her own weapons at first. Possibly, she's just curious to see what Twilight can do; alternatively, she doesn't want to get involved right now. Well, other than to chide the rudeness. "Miss, can you not see that we are having a meeting here? Some of us did go through the trouble to set up an appointment. Can you not do that, miss?" She asks, a hint of irritation in her voice. She'll look over at the Twilight that's speaking. "Oh. I'm afraid I'm no expert in the undead." 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' Ness is still not interfering. He will step out of the elevator during the exchange of blows and make his presence more known. Still not interfering, though. It's more him just milling about with a cigarette, being careful not to interfere with the fight. "Archmagister! Eliot Ness! Nice to finally meet you. You seem busy, though," He calls, raising a gloved hand to wave towards her. He's not making any motion to betray the presence of the others in hiding, just his own presence. He's still very careful to avoid the fighting. 

:'''{{#var:189|Pegasus (189)}} has posed:''' Pegasus is not interfering, but she's definitely paying attention. Actually, what she's doing is creeping closer to the edge to get a better look at the golems, to see if they're sapient or not. If she can even tell. 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' Ezio spots the golems, but aside from noting the scene he isn't in a hurry to join in on the chaos while he tries to inspect both the assassin and the Magister, eyes narrowed. Thankfully Ness is present to keep attention off of him while he continues to hide. 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' For the moment, Shizune is holding her position as well. She's missing too many pieces of the puzzle to act effectively for the moment; she'll have to simply extend her trust to those who know the situation better, and take her cues from them. 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' Twilight glances at Polite, "I apologize, I really haven't been having an assassination problem until recently." Well, none that actually got this close to her, anyway. She's coolly hiding how worried that makes her, horn glowing for a moment before Ness interrupts. This has her taking stock of everyone around, then back to the assassin. She thinks very carefully. "You have the wrong target, I'm afraid. It was Rainbow Dash who flooded Ponyville. Dosey Dotes was a tragic loss, but if you truly want vengeance for her, then you would be moving on Stormwing with me." She doesn't exactly /hold out her hand/ but she does leave the offer lingering there, implicitly. At the same time her own senses probe gently at Pinkamena, trying to figure out how the Earth Pony could disguise herself. The injured guard collapses, but one of the workers is quick to hurry over and tend to him. The other one takes his place beside Twilight, who otherwise is ignoring them. "Since you clearly have a mistaken judgement, I will let this attempt go. But remember, if my guard is crippled from this, it was your mistake," Twilight points out to Pinkamena. Then to Ness, "I would say it was nice to meet you, but... circumstances." 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' "And how!" Ness says to Twilight, seeming affable in spite of all the current circumstances. Perhaps this setup could be turned to benefit him. This seems like as good a time to make his move as any. He steps towards Twilight, "Now you're the Big Cheese around here, but if you will remember, I warned you that just this very thing may happen, Archmagister." Ness seems to put his hands in his coat pockets. He makes his first move to acknowledge the assassin head on when he tosses it towards her in an attempt to provoke her catch-reflexes and stumble her for a moment. He then turns back to Twilight, "Now I'm usually busy off world, but your security is simply atrocious. Now I warned you once and you didn't listen to me, I'm warning you again here and now. If you don't put someone up who can help you, and keep filling out with mooks, you're gonna get bumped off eventually." He smiles, "Please, let me help run your security detail at your sites. An off-world perspective may help prevent these..." He waves a hand towards the hostile assassin vaguely, "... oversights. You on the trolley?" 

:'''{{#var:239|Polite Words (239)}} has posed:''' "Well. I'd offer some of our personal level equipment, but you seem to have that well in hand, at least." Polite doesn't seem tremendously concerned with it, at the least, her hand going down to pat at one of her pistols as she says that much. She hadn't really paid much attention to the other pony worlds - who were remarkably less interested in purchasing heavy weaponry - so she'll miss out on some of the tragic interplay. On the other hand, she'll watch with some interest to see if the assassin will take up the offer of peace or go for fighting further. It's probably for the best that she's not actually a known Confederate ally, except by a very small number of people, given the present meeting might make that awkward. 

:'''{{#var:470|Pinkie (470)}} has posed:''' "Oh!" The masked assassin chirps, rising to her feet. Though she takes a sweeping little bow, she doesn't hide that she's got another pair of knives in her grasp. ... Actually four, which she begins to juggle, completely ignoring the trickle of blood creeping down the corner of her mask's grin. "Blame it on 'Force Commander' Rainbow Dash!" She begins giggling. "That's a riot... But okay! I'll let that be how history goes!" But then Ness steps in. "Whoop!" The coat lands on her, draping over head, face and... Just draping her entirely. Some catch reflexes, as her knives embed into the floor. However she is but one assassin. And she is surrounded by a lot of people. The coat seems to hang on her for a beat before it just... Rumples to the floor, empty. But not before one last hiss of a whisper hisses from the shadows. "Remember, Archmagister... The dead always laugh last..." 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' Only now does Shizune seem to consider it prudent to stand herself back up, straightening her dress a bit. Ness gets a glance, the retreating Pinkie - or at least, the spot she used to be - gets a long stare, Ezio gets a brief look as if to assure herself of the Assassin's wellbeing, and then finally her gaze settles on Homura, the most senior known Union member present, whom she's watching for cues. 

:'''{{#var:189|Pegasus (189)}} has posed:''' Pegasus has seen enough of this, she thinks. Unlike the others, she isn't revealing herself... she's going to move back and start climbing up the shaft of the freight elevator. It's not that she isn't interested... she has a lot to think about. Also, she'd rather that Twilight didn't know she existed quite yet... she has a feeling the unicorn wouldn't take well to her being a pegasus. 

:'''{{#var:2|Homura Akemi (2)}} has posed:''' Homura has been dreadfully silent. Probably more than she should have been. It's not until she is looked at that she actually kind of... shrugs. She doesn't know any more than the others here. Although... "I don't know, but I know I don't want to blanket trust the Archmagister. Or... anyone else, really, until we have the full picture. If Ness is comfortable offering her security, though, that's something to consider. Could be his way to get an inside look. Could be trust." This is a bit over her head. 

:'''{{#var:475|Magister Twilight (475)}} has posed:''' Twilight stares as the coat collapses. "A... no, that wasn't a teleport. What is she?" Muttered under her breath for a moment before she snaps her attention back to her guests. First, to Polite Words, "We can continue negotiations from the comfort of the much more secure Fortress in Canterlot, I think. Alone." Then to Ness and those who have made themselves known. "What an embarrassment. Clearly I will need to work on security training for my guards, after all. If you are willing to offer your services, I could compensate you well, Agent Ness. Some of us do not have Applejack's talent for seeing through deception." The others get a long look. "I would appreciate if you said nothing about what you saw here. Now get out. This is not for civilians." 

:'''{{#var:239|Polite Words (239)}} has posed:''' That gets the slightest nod out of Polite Words, who'll look out over at those who have made themselves visible silently, trying to remember their faces. She doesn't actually know any of them offhand, but that's probably not too surprising, really. Alone sounds better. Competition drives rates down, after all. 

:'''{{#var:264|Eliot Ness (264)}} has posed:''' Ness calmly walks over and picks up his jacket, carefully drawing a gun from a holster at his hip and aiming the revolver toward as he peels up an edge. Picking it up from the ground and satisfied that no one is under it, he holsters his revolver and then puts his coat back on carefully, adjusting the shoulders and sleeves a bit. "Of course," Ness says rather simply to Twilight, "Money isn't important to me." He hooks an arm under his stomach and bows at the waist, one hand taking off his hat to reveal the black hair and hazel eyes of the investigator, "Breaking the law is not the way one should protest the law. I do this because I swore to uphold those laws." He notes to her. "If I'm going to help, I need you to send me a few things to my office." He puts his hat back on his head, "Some sort of badge or Writ of Authority to allow me access to places. Otherwise I cannot appraise your security fully if I cannot get INTO them." He points out, "As well as an office to work out of would be nice. In Manehattan, if possible. Plus transportation. That will help me get started." They're actually pretty reasonable requests. The kind of thing a freelancer would ask for. "You can contact me at my offices when you make arrangements." He notes, pulling down the brim of his hat and turning to walk back towards the elevator. 

:'''{{#var:369|Shizune Nakamura (369)}} has posed:''' Shizune scratches the back of her head with something approaching embarrassment. "Ah, of course." Blustering ahead would require her to have some grain of truth or piece of information to base her bluster around, but she's got nothing. The safest bet is to accept the deal offered, so to speak. She turns to look Ezio's way again, with an expression that says 'At least we won't have to fight our way out?' 

:'''{{#var:75|Ezio Auditore (75)}} has posed:''' Ezio shrugs back to SHizune, before he notes Pinkie's disappearance. He can't say he knows the full story, but he does feel a bit grumpy he let her play him and Shizune like fiddles. But whatever, she has to have reasons to be holding a grudge this bad against Twilight. God knows he was the same way for the longest time. As he leaves, he keeps a wary glance at Twilight while sheathing his sword. 

}}

End of an Age: Awakenings

2014-06-30T01:19:05Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Log Header |Date of Scene=2013/02/18 |Location=Earth-776 |Synopsis=The Union hears of an important figure in Garou lore being found... and in danger from an ancient foe long..."

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2013/02/18
|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)
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=383,178,134,10,109,331,92,253,301,2,416,385,Alexis Maaka, Seras Victoria, Kimiko Shinobu,209,255
|Tinyplot=End of an Age
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:-1|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. 

:'''{{#var:383|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?" 

:'''{{#var:92|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." 

:'''{{#var:253|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. 

:'''{{#var:301|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. 

:'''{{#var:2|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. 

:'''{{#var:331|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..." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' "Basically," Tony agrees with a wry smile audible if not visible. 

:'''{{#var:416|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:383|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.

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:301|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?" 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:92|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. 

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

:'''{{#var:2|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. 

:'''{{#var:253|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:331|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:301|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. 

:'''{{#var:416|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. 

:'''{{#var:383|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.

:'''{{#var:-1|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* 

:'''{{#var:253|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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... 

:'''{{#var:301|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!" 

:'''{{#var:92|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. 

:'''{{#var:2|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:416|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:331|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?" 

:'''{{#var:383|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." 

:'''{{#var:-1|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?" 

:'''{{#var:253|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!" 

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

:'''{{#var:331|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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?" 

:'''{{#var:301|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/. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:416|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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!" 

:'''{{#var:92|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..." 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:2|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. 

:'''{{#var:253|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!" 

:'''{{#var:383|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. 

:'''{{#var:92|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. 

:'''{{#var:331|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. 

:'''{{#var:253|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. 

:'''{{#var:2|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. 

:'''{{#var:301|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. 

:'''{{#var:416|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." 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:383|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." 

:'''{{#var:-1|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." 

:'''{{#var:301|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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/" 

:'''{{#var:416|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. 

:'''{{#var:92|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. 

:'''{{#var:383|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. 

:'''{{#var:2|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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, "..." 

:'''{{#var:385|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. 

:'''{{#var:253|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|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. 

:'''{{#var:209|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. 

:'''{{#var:134|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. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [1] Yuna Kagurazaka | Elner transmits, "Not from Yuna." <Union-IC> [2] Homura Akemi says, "PSYBER! /LET GO OF ME/." <Union-IC> [4-Of] Zelgius says, "If it is within my power... I'll keep the gates open." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "NO GOD DAMNIT I AM CARRYING YOU OUT OF HERE." <Union-IC> [A] Laine says, "Homura, if we save the child, Himei won." 

:'''{{#var:416|Jack (416)}} has posed:''' Running. Running. Sobbing. Jack does not stop. The lighter load is an easier burden to carry as the arriving Unionites are witness to the sight of a small girl, with another girl in her arms, running at them at full tilt. Jack probably needs cover and protection while she books it. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [A] Adelaide Flowers says, "What's the target, those flying things?" <Union-IC> [5-Of] Lloyd Irving says, "... She...?" <Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka says amid heavy gunfire, "Everyone, cover them both!" <Union-IC> [2] Homura Akemi says, "I'm not leaving until every last one of these things is dead! You can handle the child, I'll just-- buy time until I can't fire another arrow, I can handle it!" <Union-IC> [A] Madoka Kaname says, "Homura..." <Union-IC> [A] Madoka Kaname says, "Do your best." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber grabbing noise, "I am carrying you the hell out of the Umbra NOW. I'm not losing two in one night, damnit." 

:'''{{#var:178|Noh (178)}} has posed:''' Noh doesn't know exactly where she's going. Nor does she _care_, because right now, she's following a request for help and she is someone who insists on helping when she can. She follows the rest answering to the SOS call; her glowing polearm-spoon in her hands, and her most FEIRCE expression on her face. This is SERIOUS TIME. As soon as she arrives upon the Mesa, her eyes light up slightly orange among the green, and her appearance becomes less the cute and more the True as she shifts that little, nigh constant bit of concentration away from keeping up the glamour and slides it instead into /celerity/. Her speed excelerates, and she launches into the creatures she can vaguely make out as they move - to, from, it doesn't matter, she can tell they are not natural, and at the moment they are the target no matter the amount of legs - and she, too: Moves for the Portal, willing to give aide. Despite its appearance, the pole-spoon is being used to swing into the creatures. This is her /SPOONSTICK/. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [5-Of] Lloyd Irving transmits a choke, then the sound of his radio being stabbed. Desync. 

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi (255)}} has posed:''' Kaminagi Setsuko is coming. There's no acknowledgement. No spoken word over the radio. It's just a gleaming blue light in the sky that comes hurtling down out of it at speeds that far exceed the safety tolerances of the hoverbike she's taken to using habitually as her means to get anywhere she needs to go. The thing is already groaning under protest as its engine starts to overheat from the constant redlining. It's fine; she wouldn't be able to fly it back out safely anyway. The grips have been pretty well crushed by her hands. The demigod would much prefer to go diving straight into that portal. Every instinct is screaming it. But before she gets there, long before an ordinary human would ever be able to, her superhuman eyes spot strange creatures working their way up the side of the mountain. Whatever they are, they're a problem. Answers can wait. It's pointless if no one keeps this side of the portal clear. And so Setsuko jumps. A blazing comet of bright blue skids across the top of the mesa as the hoverbike explodes against the side. The demigod has to dig her blade into the stone and carve out a gash along it just to kill her speed. She slides to a stop right on the edge of the mesa, still crouched, one hand on her blade, the other still holding the sheath. And then, calmly, the last Kaminagi stands and begins the job of keeping the mesa clear. In the most bloody, efficient, and most importantly /only/, way she knows how. 

:'''{{#var:109|Adelaide Flowers (109)}} has posed:''' Hesitate, no. Adelaide doesn't do much of that once orders are given; the former sailor scrambles through the portal and clears it quick. Storming a not-a-beach on another world, how's that for earning the naval-infantry badge! She drops to the dirt, while the massive black machinegun in her arms clanks as it's placed. "Someone cover my ass!" She needs a few seconds to get set up, and isn't very mobile - but the tripod-mounted M2HB .50 caliber belt-fed is a monster of firepower. The ammo box is mounted, the belt fed into the tray, the lid closed, and the handle racked back - and with a clunk sounding like a bank vault closing on the fate of their enemies, the bolt goes home. "What's the target, those flying things?" With a confirmation over the radio, Addie nods. And then the devil himself starts perfoming a drum solo, when that machine gun opens up a stream of tracers and explosive rounds on the flying creatures. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka says, "ADDIE, PULL YOUR SOCKS UP!" <Union-IC> [2] Homura Akemi says, "I--" Struggle struggle. "-- WILL YOU JUST LET GO OF ME?!" <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber sigh, "I don't have time for this argument, Akemi. I'm sorry." Karate-chop noise. <Union-IC> [A] BADADADADADADADADADADADAD Adelaide Flowers says, "the hell you say?" <Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka yells over bursts of fire, "COVERING!" <Union-IC> [2] Homura Akemi knocked out, apparently. 

:'''{{#var:10|Crys Gattz (10)}} has posed:''' There was a chill down the numan's spine as she prepared to deploy here. She'd picked her load out quickly chainsawed, mech pistols, Fal Claw and Ruby Bullet, She was already tech artillery the weapons would help if anything got close to her. Still memories surface of the Crimson Flames and Team Six when the ture form of Ragol had shown itself. She'd on edge to be sure but she's ready, there's no pretense at covering whom she is at this point. The Ruby bullet appears in her off hand as she summons the photon pistol and her right arm is enahsed up to the shoulder in the hulking mehanical working of the Fal Claw, the weapon was an oddity in a world where energy weapons had been the name of the game. A few older sorts like this existed the powerful sharp claws had a hydolic system that could be used to crush through the armor plate of a combat drone or light combat vechile if needed. It should do she thinks, it should do the Numan thinks. Sti,ll zshe had no idea just what she was getting into. She's one of the first ones out of the warp portal. Her weapon ready and she's looking about with her one good eye as she tries to size up the situation as she arrive upon the mesa. Her Mag seems skitish as heck as it hovers by her head and is panning about looking for trouble, there's also a crackle of flames about her body "RAFOIE!!!" And then the fire starts to rain into the things bursts of fire like explosives would be lighting up the region as Crys just unloads oddly she maintains enough control to not harm any ally. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber hoisting grunt, "Heading towards the exit." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Iron Man dives through the portal along with Jack, slightly disoriented as he finds himself back in the physical realm but by now the whole 'protect the girl' mantra is so thoroughly pounded into his head that all he can do is keep picking out targets and blast any that come too close. He does pause, briefly, for a, "Huh," as one of the hovering spider creatures simply disintegrates from the force of a repulsor beam, and quickly hypothesizes that the things are not nearly as nasty out here as they were in there. Leaping aloft to fly cover over Jack, he lets out a yell of cathartic /violence/ and unleashes hell on the swarm. It's like an umbrella of force over her that nothing can slip through. "Yeah! Keep goin' kid, I got you covered!" 

:'''{{#var:-1|Seras Victoria}} has posed:''' A union VTOL teleports in near the mesa, swooping down to it while the hatch opens, revealing... Seras Victoria. The thin young woman's body is burdened heavily, for strapped to her back are the twin ammo drums of the Harkonnen II. Its barrels both point out the hatch, and as the vehicle nears the mesa Seras simply hops out. Almost 400 kilograms of mass slams into the ground, supported impossibly by Seras' legs, kicking up a small cloud of dust. The police girl's expression is grim and focused, and she brings the weapons up swiftly. Then starts the yelling. And the shooting. A LOT of shooting. The twin cannons hurl projectiles almost as big as her arm, if the barrel size and rain of casings from the automatic cannons is any indication. 

:'''{{#var:-1|Kimiko Shinobu}} has posed:''' "Give me your bike." "What?" "And your helmet. No, nevermind, I have my own." "Who do you think you--FBI? But you look like you're thirtee--AUGH, STOP, STOP!" A short while later... Shinobu Kimiko was already on her way, and now she arrives. She is riding a motorcycle (specifically, an off-road Harley sportster), and the motor is redlining. It's been like that most of the way, and it's been rough going since she left the road, but somehow she's managing. She is, in fact, already transformed--she's even wearing her armor. Somewhat stranger is the fact that the vehicle under her is faintly warping, touched by the formless, magical aura surrounding her. A glancing strike against a rocky outcropping that should have sent her flying--doesn't, and the torn side-view mirror heals itself, the metal bending back into place, and even the shattered mirror returning to a mostly-functional state, though now the colors it reflects are muted. The mesa is just ahead of her, and from this approach angle, there's no way to avoid that she is running straight into a cliff. There isn't even time to stop--she doesn't have to glance at the dial to know that she is driving much, much too fast to even try to avoid getting splattered all over those rocks when she finally hits. So she grits her teeth, prays, tenses her shoulders, and lifts. Her aura spreads out behind her, and becomes solid. A pair of wings, solidly white and shockingly bright, spread out enormously behind her. She, and her vehicle, leap into the air. She tilts and comes in at the ground sideways, skidding in a long stop aimed just to the side of Jack. She has a back seat. "Jack." 

:'''{{#var:383|Laine (383)}} has posed:''' It's an overwhelming number of creatures... but they aren't prepared for the firepower they encounter. A huge number of Elites against manifested Banes? This close to a spiritually 'pure' zone? It doesn't matter that the Black Spiral Dancers that appear are helping them manifest, the appear... and they die. They die in droves, splattered by rockets, by bullets. Banes crawl and gibber, climbing over the edge of the Mesa only to find a demigod's sword ruthlessly cutting them down. Sacred fire from above. Chakra slicing them apart. Cannons chewing into them. Some of them just discorporate. Others actually take so much damage they disintegrate from loss of spiritual energy. It's actually a horrendous loss for the Wyrm, all told. This much power is a good portion of its forces manifesting here, and that must mean this child is important. And then people start materializing from the Umbra. Laine stumbles through, as does Iron Man and Jack, carrying a teenage girl now. A girl who is trembling, naked, and unconscious by now. Before Psyber gets there with Homura, two large forms stagger out, carrying their wounded. The massive werewolves collapse with grunts and heavy breathing, down to a mere five - three of them crippled - from their original dozen. They're greet by a motorcycle and an armored Puella Magi with an attitude. "Who... are you people?" 

:'''{{#var:92|Elliana Fairchild (92)}} has posed:''' You know who else staggers out of that portal? Elliana Fairchild. She takes one look at the Union response here, and then, her body still showing the wings and tail, she grunts and vanishes in a shower of purple magic, collapsing inward as she expends the last of her energy in a teleport to get the heck out of here. Not a healthy place for the lone Confederate betrayer to be. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [4-Of] Zelgius says, "I assume there is a reason she was here. No matter. Keep the door clear." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Fairchild... helped this mission." 

:'''{{#var:-1|Alexis Maaka}} has posed:''' The werewolf gets a single, terse response as Alex joins the conversation, amid still cutting down foe after foe without so much a blink. "We're the fucking calvary, ma'am." She says calmly, smashing one o a prone bane's legs off with a stomp of her boot, then pulls out a Five-SeveN to finish it off with a double tap to the head. With that, Alexis goes back to work with shredding baddie after baddie ruthlessly, burst-firing hot 7.62 rounds to cover the extraction. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [4-Of] Zelgius says, "Understood." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Jack." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack mnh? <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Hn. Passenger." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "I should have brought a bigger bike." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "We're both small." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "True." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Get on." <Union-IC> [A] Laine weakly, "Spirits hold. Caern strong again." <1X-Supplemental> Elliana Fairchild says, "I consider my debt to Dame Shoutan clear now." 

:'''{{#var:385|Yuna Kagurazaka (385)}} has posed:''' With the spiders (and any other nasties) being obliterated that quickly, Yuna runs out of targets in short order; either they're dead or they're running faster than she wants to pursue. Her aura subsides again within another second or so after she realizes the fight is basically over, and she lets the Matrix Divider disappear, turning to see who all is *here* and trying to get a better sense of what's going on. At least there are a lot of familiar faces ... But one is still missing. Yuna closes her eyes tightly, shaking her head a little as she walks over to join those who just escaped back into the real world - from the Umbra, apparently. 

:'''{{#var:209|Zelgius (209)}} has posed:''' Zelgius stands as close as he can to the Umbra, heedless of the personal danger, as he strikes everything in arms reach that doesn't look like a 'friendly' elite with his immense piece of metal some might call a 'sword' on a good day. He is not a subtle combatant, and his weapons are more battering devices with an edge then finely honed and balanced mastercrafts. The tide washes in, and then breaks upon the responder's fussilade of efforts. And Zelgius holds that line, between real world and Umbra, making /sure/ his vigil over their escape path does not wane. 

:'''{{#var:416|Jack (416)}} has posed:''' Jack doesn't stop. She will not stop even if the world itself were offered to her. Iron Man gallantly escorting her like a gentleman by viciously killing anything that ares get near her, there's a stumble now and then, but she keeps her balance, able to deftly hop onto the back of the motorcycle when Kimiko makes her dynamic entry. Jack clings. both to the trembling girl in her grasp that she was Commanded; that she gave her word she would protect, and to Kimiko, to hold on. Once through the portal, she's looking like her normal self again, which means she's a bit bigger, and surprisingly, less covered in blood. And she's quietly, biting her lip hard enough to bleed al the way for her ride out. 

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:''' "I'm sorry, Homura." Psyber says before he brings the hilt of his sword down square on the top of her head in a single, forceful strike. As she goes limp, Psyber moves forward with his injured right shoulder and hoists her up over it, "I can't lose two people in one night. Not like this." He murmurs a bit. And then he runs, jogging towards the portal at a slow, injured stance. He was a regenerator, but the Black Spiral Dancers have taken their toll. He was poisoned, weakened, clawed and bitten. Bleeding, and his right arm was motionless for the moment. He ran towards the exit to this hellhole with Homura over his right shoulder, his left sweeping behind him in wide arcs to send blasts of lightning at anything trying to follow him. Finally, he makes it to the portal and jumps through, tumbling out on the other end in a heap with Homura over his shoulder before collapsing facefirst onto the ground and wheezing a bit, blood pooling around him and making a red mud from his many injuries. 

:'''{{#var:109|Adelaide Flowers (109)}} has posed:''' Her firepower is certainly eclipsed by the insane cannon that Seras brought; the 30mm shells deafening and the destructiveness immense. And Seras brought /two/ of them. Y'know what, this vampire thing has its advantages, Addie decides. But she's busy right now, and there's still plenty more - so the heavy fifty caliber continues its work, sending its own bullets downrange. "Boss! Pull out, we'll hold until then!" She shouts to the angel, hoping he can hear her over the racket - which is tremendous. But it also has been working, and the strange things...start to fade out, as if they're running out of troops. Or backing off. The heavy machine gun goes nearly silent, short bursts at airborne targets, before finally coming to rest covering the new arrivals. Smoke curls from the barrel as Addie wonders what to do. "Friendlies?" Called to the others. If it's a 'No' it'll be simple enough to service those targets as well. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [A] BADADADADADADADADADADADAD Adelaide Flowers says, "Friendlies?" <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber collapsing noise, "Do not shoot... the Garou." <Union-IC> [A] off Adelaide Flowers says, "Aye aye." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "A..." <Heaven or Hell> Office Manager Psyber says, "Jack... You can... stay at the office for a while, if you want." 

:'''{{#var:134|Sakura Haruno (134)}} has posed:''' Sakura will stop as the group begins to materialize from the portal, not reacting quickly enough to indulge her own desire to stab Elliana somewhere extra-bleedy, and instead the obvious medic will look to the worst-injured immediately visable. Which is probably Psyber, once he's through, with the blood around him and all. And with Homura right there, too? Sakura will just get right to work, starting with Psyber, poking gently at his wounds as she kneels down in the mud next to him. Her scrubs were already bloody, anyway. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "A shirt... A dress... Jacket... Blanket." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "Someone... Give me one." 

:'''{{#var:301|Tony Stark (301)}} has posed:''' Tony Stark pulls himself up into a hover as the onslaught seems to disperse. He keeps Jack, the Metis and the girl with the motorcycle on his peripheral scanners but the remainder of his attention turns back to the portal, and those emerging. Counting. He waves an arm in a vague, beckoning arc to the reinforcements. "We have wounded here. Psyber, Homura... get those Garou patched up too, someone. They've been through hell." 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Heaven or Hell> Silence of the Lambs Jack says, "I... Someone needs to tell Mother's mother and father, but..." 

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi}} has posed:''' Setsuko's blade continues to flash left and right, the demigod not stopping until it's clear that these strange, tainted creatures are retreating. Only then does she fall still. Only then does she pause a moment to even assess the situation. She knows before she even looks that checking 'just to make sure' is an act of wishful thinking. Shoutan Himei isn't among the group. But she looks anyway. As she slowly brings herself up to standing again, Setsuko's aura is finally dying out; but even as she quietly returns her weapon to its sheath, the flowing, billowing blue storm cloud around her never quite disappears. Her face is a mask, eyes sweeping those present. There is nothing to be said - either explanations will be forthcoming, or they won't; they will have time to talk sooner or later, or not at all - and so she saves her breath, simply listening in silence. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Heaven or Hell> Doctor McNinja Sakura Haruno says, "...Aah." <Heaven or Hell> Mercury Lampe Suigintou says, "Medium. One of your own was lost?" <Heaven or Hell> Doctor McNinja Sakura Haruno says, "I can. I've had to do.. similar.. before. And I met them, once." <Heaven or Hell> Office Manager Psyber mutters something about failing again. 

:'''{{#var:-1|Seras Victoria}} has posed:''' Seras has really only one strategy in use righ tnow. 'Open fire.' Every Bane that appears she's fired upon, and fired upon some more, moving with insane speed considerinher her load. The 30mm shells whiz by with surgical precision despite split-second aiming... and at last, the Banes seem to be driven back. And poof, here comes all the people! With the THINGS driven back, Seras's cannons fall silent. Which is good. They are quite deafening this close up. "... What HAPPENED?" She finally asks, to nobody in particular... right about when Psyber hits solid ground. She rushes over to him first and sort of half leans, half crouches to check his wounds and turn him on his side so he doesn't drown in bloodied mud. 

:'''{{#var:-1|Kimiko Shinobu}} has posed:''' Kimiko is looked at, and she looks back. Her aura is still there, wings almost-but-not-quite real, looking one moment like you could touch them, and the next like you'd just be passing your fingers through mist. But they slowly flap and relax like real wings. This is new to her, too, but she's not one to let that show. "We're here to help." And that's all she has the time to say, because now Jack's aboard, along with the special important someone-or-other that she's going to think about later, and she's already turning and revving that so-abused motor hard--not that it's likely to break with her magic infusing it, even if you fired a cannon at it. The enemies may have been cleared out for the moment, but she's not in the mood to hang around and relax just because it /looks/ safe. She came here to get someone out, and to be sure an order was followed, and that is exactly what she is doing. She takes off for the same cliff she came up, because she at least knows that way is clear. The motorcycle, and its three riders, fall away over the edge, with just the briefest flash of her wings unfolding before she's out of view. She probably won't be able to relax any time soon. 

:'''{{#var:109|Adelaide Flowers (109)}} has posed:''' The Garou are allowed to continue existing, the heavy gun remaining silent. Addie keeps her thumbs off the paddle and lifts the gun to a safe position, keeping her eyes moving around the skies in case any more of those...things return. Pull back, regroup, and strike as hard as you can just before the enemy completely escapes. She gives a glance back over her shoulder when Seras' own guns stop firing. Seeing the angel laid out like that hurts her suddenly, - no, the blonde vampire is dealing with it. Fine. Hopefully she's a corpsman as well as a shooter, but if she's occupied with him then Addie's back on defense. 

:'''{{#var:178|Noh (178)}} has posed:''' To be honest, Noh is breifly distracted from killing things by giant werewolves suddenly appearing. Mostly because it's an instant feeling of, 'look, there are Garou, and you are _food_ to the Garou'. And Noh, despite her initial bravery, is not really interested in being someone's food. But, shaking her head, curling lips, she drives off the usual cowardice with a reminder that this is not the time to run. Instead she shakily returns back to swinging her weapon for the spider-like Banes, muttering a mumble of apology to her own Spider-God, different of those from this world. And then someone makes a request for clothes; and well if there's one thing Noh has, it's a surplus of clothes. She peels out of her ratty green jacket - but then pulls off a button up red sweater directly beneath it, before pulling the green one back on, and making a dance-like jerk in the direction of Jack real fast, throwing the sweater in her direction vaguely, before she whirls into the spider-like banes again-- finding them in retreat causes the little, determined Dhampir to draw strength in. Something about her neck flashes, and then she lets out a loud, groundshaking roar of noise in their wake. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Kimiko. Keep the Metis safe till we return her to the Garou. Take her to a Union Base." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Understood." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "I'll watch her." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "Mother... Told me to." 

:'''{{#var:255|Setsuko Kaminagi}} has posed:''' When Kimiko goes over the edge on her bike, she's followed shortly thereafter by a swordswoman wrapped in blue light. Setsuko may not have the bike, but she can still run fast enough to keep up with the motorcycle, at least on this terrain. If the girl is that important, the more bodyguards the better. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [PA] Noh says, "Here is sweater; do not worry about give it back, I have many more." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "...Setsuko." <Union-IC> [3-Of] Sakura Haruno, hesitantly. "...Jack. Is she really..?" <Union-IC> [A] Adelaide Flowers says, "Stow the chatter for now." 

:'''{{#var:416|Jack (416)}} has posed:''' Reflexes as sharp as a razor, the toss of that sweater doesn't go missed. Even at top speed on a motorcycle, one gloved hand snaps it out of the air. And Jack hefts the Metis to quickly slip it over the unconscious girl's head before she's off the cliff with Kimiko and Setsuko. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [LC] Jack mmph. 

:'''{{#var:383|Laine (383)}} has posed:''' Fortunately the Garou here are reasonable sorts, because Laine has collapsed from exhaustion. They are pretty badly-wounded, and both the ones who are conscious accept this for now. They're wary, naturally, especially when Kimiko drives off with the Perfect Metis. Not something they'd normally allow. But this is a friend to the one who just threw herself into the maw of the Wyrm to give them a little more time. They're willing to give the benefit of the doubt here. The female twitches and starts to look angry, but the big guy is the first to say something. "Thank you." 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [3-Of] Kaminagi Setsuko, softly, "I can keep up as long as you stay around... what was the speed... I think it's 40 miles per hour?" <Union-IC> [3-Of] Kaminagi Setsuko says, "I don't remember the conversion. But I'll be fine." 

:'''{{#var:-1|Alexis Maaka}} has posed:''' Alexis lowers her weapon when the monsters seemingly disappear, and she opens it up to take the belt out of cycling before locking the hood in place again. She slings the massive LMG over her shoulder and looks among the carnage and combatants both relieving and previously onsite, sighing to herself as she rests a hand on her hip. Whatever questions or comments she might have are kept to herself, they aren't needed. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber grunts in pain, "There's... a slim chance." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu nn. "There's hope." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Fairchild told me. There's a small chance Shoutan survived." <Union-IC> [3-Of] Sakura Haruno says, "...Survived being eaten..?" <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Eaten?" <Union-IC> [1] Yuna Kagurazaka says, ".. Is there anything we can do, besides praying and continuing?" <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber exhales heavily, "Fairchild, when she sealed the dragon. She tried to seal its Consumption." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "We'll... all we can do is wait right now..." <Union-IC> [PA] Noh says, "If he lives, we will rescue. We are Union, it is what we do." <Union-IC> [1] Yuna Kagurazaka says, "... So it would be unable to digest Himei?" <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Maybe. Right now I'd prefer we not wake it up and check." <Union-IC> [0] Seras Victoria says, "... Let's hope..." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Considering what we gave to put it down and what it means if we're wrong." <Union-IC> [3-Of] Sakura Haruno says, "Mm. Stay still." <Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka says, "She's the Sailor of Hope, right? Best we can do is exactly that." <Union-IC> [1] Yuna Kagurazaka says, "If all we can do for Himei right now is hope and pray for her well-being, then that's what I'll do ..." <Union-IC> [PA] Noh says, "Agree with Friend Kagurazaka." 

:'''{{#var:10|Crys Gattz (10)}} has posed:''' Crys Gattz lowers her weapons at this point as she looks around her ki reserves pretty much spent in that massive furry of pyrotechnis she looks about. She looks about. She still has her pistol and she'l put it to use where needed really and soon she finds there's no more tarkets the numab still doesn't like this what the hell just happened here othe than it was bad and needed support like this? Dark Days have certainly arrived here. She has some healing abilities and she'll put her healing abilities to work for any who might need it.

:'''{{#var:253|Psyber (253)}} has posed:''' Psyber lets out a sputtering cough as he's rolled over onto his back. For Sakura inspecting his wounds, several of them are bitemarks infected with strong poisons. One is a distinct and nasty magical dagger wound in his shoulder which seems to have immobilized the arm. Overall, his body is covered in bite and claw marks from the Black Spiral Dancers and he's groaning a bit. "'m fine, fine..." He complains, waving at Haruno as he motions to the Puella, "Soul gem. It needs to be purified." He murmurs, slowly trying to defy conventional medical advice and push himself to his feet. He staggers forward, giving a slow enough pace for the Mednin to keep up with him if she so desires. "You." He says as he firmly plants a hand on the back of one of the Garou... the big male one, "We'll arrange a meeting within a week. To decide where the Metis is safest." He states in a tired tone, "Is this acceptable?" 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "The contract is cut again. But... If there's a chance Mother will come back, I'll protect the girl until she tells me to stop." <Union-IC> [1] Yuna Kagurazaka says, "Jack, does somebody else need to contract with you until Himei returns?" <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Psyber. Later, tell me why she did this. Not now. I might be angry if you told me now." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "I'm still connected to Homura in a secondary cntract, but right now I will use my own prana until Homura recovers too. She used a lot." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Yeah... I will, Kimiko." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack said 'Auntie Homura' there. <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "For right now, I will believe it was necessary." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "It probably saved us all." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Good." <Union-IC> [5-SA] Psyber says, "Report will be up tomorrow." <Union-IC> [A] Alexis Maaka says, "Till then, let's clean up what we can." <Union-IC> [A] Adelaide Flowers says, "Looking forward to this one. We leaving then?" 

:'''{{#var:134|Sakura Haruno (134)}} has posed:''' Sakura looks up, a bit shocked as Psyber stands up. Especially given that she'd just told him to stay still and all. "You.. you know that there's absolutely no way that you can help do that in your condition, right?" Sakura asks, even as she climb up to her feet, brushing herself off. "Is there no chance at all it can at least wait until you're not poisoned?" Sakura sighs, and reaches into the pouch at her side, removing a single tiny griefcube. "This isn't much. But it should be able to buy her twelve hours of sleep, okay?" She says, moving over to tend to Homura. 

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "Jack. Tell me before your reserves become a problem. Just in case." 

:'''{{#var:178|Noh (178)}} has posed:''' And with the Banes bleeding off, Noh turns her attemtion now to the wounded. What can she do to help? Not much, she knows. She looks through the baubles about her neck, before rubbing one in her thumb and finger. She asks softly: "If need aid, I can offer small health boost. Is not much, but is better than nothing?" Weak smile. Because right now, even as she's thinking of Cure Drink, she's got her eyes on the really big Garou. Wary. This is a world in what she knows as 'Gehenna', after all. A time, she had been told, for many MANY years, that would mean her utter end, were she not careful, and hidden.

:'''{{#var:-1|RADIO CHATTER}} has posed:''' <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "I'll be fine. I'll be fine. I won't use my Noble Phantasms for a while." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack says, "I'll start... Using... My christmas gifts..." <Union-IC> [LC] Jack hic. <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "..." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu says, "You're a good girl, Jack." <Union-IC> [A] Kimiko Shinobu might be headpatting. Hard to tell over motorcycle noises. <Union-IC> [LC] Jack mmph. <Heaven or Hell> Doctor McNinja Sakura Haruno says, "...Aah. I may need a couple of days." <Heaven or Hell> Office Manager Psyber says, "Take all the time you need, Haruno." <Heaven or Hell> Tsurupettan Adelaide Flowers says, "Same goes for you, Psyber." <Heaven or Hell> Mercury Lampe Suigintou says, "I suppose I can refrain from drawing on you for a while." <Heaven or Hell> Doctor McNinja Sakura Haruno says, "I don't want to.. spoil Jack's hope. Watch out for her, okay?" <Heaven or Hell> Tsurupettan Adelaide Flowers says, "We'll take good care of her." <Heaven or Hell> Office Manager Psyber says, "I already invited Jack to stay here." <Heaven or Hell> Doctor McNinja Sakura Haruno says, "She can use my room for the next bit, if she needs." <1X-Supplemental> Noh lets out a hiss of air through clenched fangs: "Is safe to drop speed again? Or should I keep it up?" 

:'''{{#var:383|Laine (383)}} has posed:''' The big Garou shrinks down to human form, though he's still pretty buff. And fortunately clothed. He grunts, "We don't have the power to protect her right now. But she's going through First Change. Someone who knows the Garou ways should speak with her." He sighs and supports the injured. "But she's alive thanks to all of you. Perhaps this is Gaia's will." Awful philosophical for a Get. 

}}

Where Are They Now? (Laine)

2014-06-20T05:42:27Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2013/04/21 |Location=Earth-776 |Synopsis=After the world is remade, the major players go their own ways. |Thanks= |Cast of Characters=383 |Tin..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2013/04/21
|Location=Earth-776
|Synopsis=After the world is remade, the major players go their own ways.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=383
|Tinyplot=End of an Age
}}
Albrecht, King of the Garou Nation, vanished after the assault on Malfeas. It is known that he was not among the massive casualties the Garou took, and as many of the werewolves chose to become spirits, including GolGol Fangs First from the assault, it is presumed he has ascended into some spiritual entity. It is known that Messenger did this.

Zhyzhak, having gained most of her powers from corruption, was severely crippled during the rewrite of Reality, but has begun to gather surviving former Garou to found an organization intended to watch humanity and keep it in balance. Unlike the Impergium of old, this society is public and accountable.

Lucifer and most of the Fallen Angels have vanished, though a few remain, as mortals. Lucifer himself is still alive, but none seem to know where he has gone(OOC: future possible scenage)

Allison Fernandez settled into the Wandering Islands to formally found the Redeemers.

The various Vampires, being corruptions, mostly died. Those with high Humanity, or very thin blood, revert to a mortal form.

Czar Vargo and his fleet became the bootstrap for the new transportation system amongst the Wandering Islands.

Speaking of the Wandering Islands, that is where MESSIAH ended up, renamed to WARDEN as a more appropriate title, and is also the location of the first discovered Warp Gate in the new land.

Parting of Ways? (Laine)

2014-06-20T05:40:55Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2013/04/20 |Location=Somewhere on Earth-776 |Synopsis=Caine, the accursed first murderer, discusses the new world with a man named Beckett |Th..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2013/04/20
|Location=Somewhere on Earth-776
|Synopsis=Caine, the accursed first murderer, discusses the new world with a man named Beckett
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=383
|Tinyplot=End of an Age
}}
Two men look out from a sheltered cave, water pouring down beside them from above. The verdant landscape was pristine. Newly-made, shining with a magic not seen in centuries. All new as the rising of the second sun lit it up.

This day. The day the world changed.

The first man lights up a cigarette, one of the last on this ravaged world. The tip glows in an ember as he steps out from the shade, blinking in the light that seems alien to him.

His companion steps out after, arms crossed and a vague smile on his lips. "Heh. Told you they could do it." He shades his eyes, tsking softly. "Well, Beckett. It's been fun, but I guess it's time for me to wander alone for now, once more."

The other man, the man known as Beckett, opens his mouth... then closes it again. The fresh scent of the wilds, the heart beating in his chest, the vague sense of time passing, of his life ebbing away. He felt it all. He knew his companion was right.

"Will I see you again, Caine?"

The infamous murderer brushes aside his hair and shrugs, already starting to trudge down the narrow trail. A casual wave behind is all he would grant most, but this one... he can afford an answer. "Who knows? It's a whole new world out there. Endless possibilities."

Caine, the first murderer, the cursed one, has a smile as he glances over his shoulder at the former vampire he'd known for centuries. One quick wink, easy to miss, and he adds, "Stay out of trouble, hey?"

The former Gangrel vampire watches, shaking his head, then starts down the other direction toward his new life. "See you around."

Prophecy (Laine)

2014-06-20T05:37:50Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2013/04/16 |Location=The Deep Umbra, Earth-776 |Synopsis=Whole once again, Laine speaks with the Owl and Phoenix about the prophecy of the Apo..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2013/04/16
|Location=The Deep Umbra, Earth-776
|Synopsis=Whole once again, Laine speaks with the Owl and Phoenix about the prophecy of the Apocalypse.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=383
|Tinyplot=End of an Age
}}
Again, the journey is made. Alone. A lone wolf lopes through the Deep Umbra, riding along the shuddering bridge formed from the Anchorhead. No shortcut through the Null Zone this time... Strides-in-Starlight is making the journey the long way, despite the treacherous nature of Moon Bridges in the current state of the world.

Finally, the lean wolf steps out onto that solitary rock in the Umbra, the spirit of the Owl looming before her. Respectfully, she steps forward, then sits to wait until the dozing spirit awakens and addresses her. It takes... some time, as much as time passes this far out in the Umbra. She waits... and waits.

The old Owl stirs. Eyes crack open, peering at the waiting wolf... but already knowing why she is here. "You are complete again. Whole, and ready. Are you prepared to guide these strangers as needed? Are you prepared to teach them what must be taught?"

Strides-in-Starlight, the Garou, she who was known as Laine by so many, tucks her head with a respectful bow. Quietly, she gives her answer.

"No."

The Owl pauses, wings fluffing lightly. With a wheezing hoot, he asks, "No?"

Laine lifts her head and speaks, "I know many things. Old Garou now. Older than should be. Knowing not teaching. I knew... new Pack taught. My new Pack is not of Garou, yet... protect. Help. Not let any stop."

She turns slightly to look into the Umbra beyond, the swirling tapestry of worlds and concepts. Then she speaks again, softly.

"And the seventh Sign I glimpsed, though I could not look on it in full. But its heat I could feel.

"The Apocalypse. The final days of the world. The Moon was swallowed by the Sun, and it burned in his belly. Unholy fires fell to the ground, burning us all, twisting us and making us vomit blood. The Wyrm had made itself manifest in the towers and the rivers and the air and the Land, and everywhere its children ran rampant, devouring, destroying, calling down curses of every kind. And the Herd ran in fear. And the Dark Ones, Children of the Wyrm, crawled from their caves and walked the streets in daylight.

"I turned my head from the sight. Phoenix told me: 'This is as it shall be, but not as it should.'"

Laine felt it then. The heat of flames, the powerful presence behind her. She turns, without fear, to confront the Phoenix, pure and vibrant next to the Owl. The Owl appeared... smug. Relieved? Yet Phoenix looked down imperiously, challenging.

The tiny wolf meets those eyes, and speaks.

"I... no."

"We reject your prophecy. It shall not be as you have seen. Nor shall it be as you have thought it should. The spirits are wise. Wise and old. But now is not the time to listen to the spirits... not you, not Owl. None."

Laine turns, and the gate opens once more. She pauses at the entrance, waiting for the burning fire or anger, of an assault for her insolence... only too see, her head turning back, a quiet and uncertain gaze from the Phoenix, and a tired but content expression upon the Owl. So... she says her final piece.

"Now. It is time. To teach you."

Neither Incarna stops her as she steps onto the Bridge again to begin the long trek back.

In the Summer Country (Laine)

2014-06-20T05:33:46Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2013/04/11 |Location=The Summer Country, Earth-776 |Synopsis=After her friends search far and wide for her missing pieces, Laine finds herself..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2013/04/11
|Location=The Summer Country, Earth-776
|Synopsis=After her friends search far and wide for her missing pieces, Laine finds herself in the perfect world.
|Thanks=[[Heaven or Hell]]
|Cast of Characters=383
|Tinyplot=End of an Age
}}
Clear. Everything was clear.

For the first time in ages, the Garou known as Strides-in-Starlight could lift her head and truly SEE the world as one was meant to. The air was pure. Crisp. The land rose above her in jagged spires of rock lush with vegetation, with clouds and birds scudding across the blue sky. The temperature was comfortably warm without beating down upon her. Everything felt...

Right.

But where was her pack? The wolf sniffed, glanced around, and let out a small whine before the answer was found.

"Relax, Strides-in-Starlight. You will see your companions again," the 'voice' said from behind her. It wasn't words, but impressions she felt... and spinning about she saw a silver-flecked white wolf, one of the pure breed Silver Fangs. One who appeared sane, even. The Silver Fang bowed her head. "Walk with me a while. We have much to discuss."

Strides-in-Starlight rose, padding after with a puzzled expression. It was odd to be using that name so much... though now she could remember why she chose the other. A random, meaningless word... which was all she could comprehend at the time, with her mind a storm of raging thoughts and concepts, difficult to grasp and hold for any length of time. "Where am I, then?"

Amusement. "A pure land. Untouched by the taint. Only reachable through love."

Sniff. The younger/older wolf, simultaneously both ages, began to walk alongside the silver one... finally guessing. "The Summer Country?" It was a myth. Paradise for the Garou. The one place untouched by the Wyrm's madness... a place of healing and perfection of Gaia.

The way things should have been.

But she knew what that also meant. "I cannot stay here, can I?"

Sadness from the other. "You can. But you will not. Such a selfish thought could never stay upon the heart of one who reached this place. But we have some time... and important matters to discuss. But for now..."

The other wolf stops, just in front of a boundless field of waving grass. Her smile is mental as she tosses her head in a gesture outward. "Play."

She couldn't stay. Strides-in-Starlight knew that. But here, in this place, just for a while...

Everything was all right.

Midnight Encounter (Laine)

2014-06-20T05:29:47Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2013/03/31 |Location=Los Angeles, Earth-776 |Synopsis=The man in white encounters an old enemy... or is it? |Thanks= |Cast of Characters=383 |..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2013/03/31
|Location=Los Angeles, Earth-776
|Synopsis=The man in white encounters an old enemy... or is it?
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=383
|Tinyplot=End of an Age
}}
The office was closed, but even someone as important as the man in the white suit couldn't just hop in a car with the gas shortage. So... he walked. He walked toward his loft apartment. And that's how the other man was able to find him.

This one was dark-haired as well. Asian, by the look of him. Well, Asian-American, or at least spoke in flawless American English. He fell into step without comment at first, allowing the man in white to speak.

"Finally found me, hm?"

"Too many clues," the stranger replied. He kept walking, but made no move that could be hostile.

The man in white allowed this for a time, eventually deciding that he wasn't going to be smacked or assaulted. Quietly, "So. You trust noir4 and I both?"

A shrug. "He's certainly done something. Him and the others." He tucked his hands in his pockets. "But things have gotten worse. Are you going to be a problem for me? For /us?/"

Chuckle. The man in white continues walking. "No. No, as the Lord said, the meek shall inherit the Earth. Actually He didn't say that, and you and your... friends... are far from meek, but you get my point. It's your world now. Let's see what you make of it." He slows as he approaches the building.

"As for noir4..." the man in white murmurs. "He and his friends lost someone dear to them. I'd advise you to stay out of their way. Not because you may agree with them entirely but simply... well..."

He looks over his shoulder. "Better to ride the wave than be crushed beneath it, as they say. I'm throwing my lot in. How about you? "

The door closed, and the other man, the stranger with the dark hair, stood and stared quietly. It was a long time before he pulled out his phone... an expensive satellite model, since most of the cell networks had trouble reaching out of the region. As he walked away, he dialed.

"Yeah. It's me. LA. As many as you can spare. Something big's come up."

Late Night Discussion (Laine)

2014-06-20T05:26:04Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2013/03/31 |Location=Los Angeles, Earth-776 |Synopsis=Two mysterious men share memories and discuss the end of the world. |Thanks= |Cast of Ch..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2013/03/31
|Location=Los Angeles, Earth-776
|Synopsis=Two mysterious men share memories and discuss the end of the world.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=383
|Tinyplot=End of an Age
}}
11:00 pm, Los Angeles. Earth-776.

Looking over the half-lit city from his posh office, the man in white sips a drink and ponders, contemplating all that has happened. Sigh. He notices the presence that slips in behind him... the urge to strike, even as a traitor like he is, was almost overwhelming. He doesn't need to ask how the man got past his receptionist, even if he doesn't know the motive for being here. He simply makes an offer. "I have your favorite drink in the cooler. Help yourself before we talk. Or fight. Whichever it will be." He sips again. "It's time for that decision, isn't it?"

The dark-skinned man a moment later pulls up a chair, settling in to watch the lights flicker below as evacuation starts. He sloshes the dark liquid in his own glass, then takes a sip. "No, I decided a long time ago not to fight when this day came. It's up to the mortals, just as you said last time. But you... you're letting these outsiders interfere? Weren't you set upon having humanity decide its own fate?"

The lighter-haired man smiles. "Who says they won't, yet? Our world is part of a larger one now... I have no issue with letting a piece of that help. Or hinder. I think they might help, though. Humanity has a way of inspiring... and in this case, they've inspired others to fight for them. Is that so wrong? To ask for aid when you are weak?" He sets his own drink down. "Within a few weeks, we'll know the measure of mortal. I suspect you and I may find what is coming to be... interesting. Possibly painful."

The other scratches his chin. "Faith is on the rise. Your power grows, as does that of your Archdukes. Can you handle them?" He looks over with an amused smile. "And more importantly... do you think the strangers and their choice of ta king the Garou's manner of correcting matters is the right one?"

Fingers tangle together as the blonde settles back. "Right one? Tsk. The Garou are older than you, are they not? Have you ever wondered how that was even possible? The layers of reality that they work upon are more complex than humanity sees... and you should know what that means."

Again, the darker man shakes his head. "That isn't what I meant. If they succeed, it will... invalidate you. I suspect I will continue on in some fashion, but you...?"

A hand waves in the air in a dismissive motion. "Will I? Perhaps. If so, it will erase the mistake I made. If not... well, I am curious to see. What /will/ be the result of this, after it is all over? I cannot see it. Neither can you, I wager. You should remember... the Garou, and their helpers, have something neither of us have. Something that gives them the chance to turn all of this around and make it worthwhile."

The room is silent for a long while, and it's an unknown amount of time before the blonde feels the presence withdrawing with an understanding chuckle. Leaving one word behind. One word only.

"Mortality."

Forum Activity (Laine)

2014-06-20T05:21:45Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2013/03/18 |Location=The Internet - Earth-776 |Synopsis=Hunters of the supernatural discuss a recent surge in activity. |Thanks= |Cast of Char..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2013/03/18
|Location=The Internet - Earth-776
|Synopsis=Hunters of the supernatural discuss a recent surge in activity.
|Thanks=
|Cast of Characters=383
|Tinyplot=End of an Age
}}
((The following is ICly available to those PCs who have a Hunter.net account, as well))

mogulf66: Hello again, everyone.

fanfare81: mogulf! You vanished for a while, we were getting worried! You been hearing this big mess going on? What's your take on it?

teensy33: Your info on Possessed really helped me out man

mogulf66: I have. And I am glad to hear that. I have much news, but little time to tell. Something big is coming, very soon.

mogulf66: I have doubts that noir4 is an angel of any kind, at least not of our world. There are no angels left, none that would talk like that.

gentle5: You sound awfully certain.

mogulf66: I've done plenty of research. But that isn't important. I do think they may be an ally. What's more, I myself have found allies in the oddest of places. Many of the Possessed have come to help me, though many more remain dangerous to humanity. Continue to hunt them but exercise reasonable judgement, and be aware that they can be very persuasive and tricksters.

mogulf66: Garou are outside of my realm of expertise I'm afraid, but if they are truly allies we will need them.

bender88: I'm not a big fan of compromising our mission like that.

mogulf66: Right now your 'mission' should be survival. Very soon that will be all you need to worry about.

mogulf66: I am based in LA, and intend to keep it safe. It's possible the internet may fail very soon, if so here are some local servers 'donated' by an unwitting corporation which should continue running in the local network. Set your connection info to this [login.txt] should your ISP fail, and so long as your lines haven't broken we should be able to coordinate in LA.

vintage99: u serius? The whole net coming down?

mogulf66: It is a precaution. Call it a very bad feeling. Unfortunately prophecy is not one of my talents.

fanfare81: mogulf, with all the people 'coming out' i have to break rules and ask straight up ONE personal question.

fanfare81: are you human?

mogulf81: Astute observation. No, I am not human. Not exactly. I am more and less than a human. I am not undead, nor werewolf, nor warlock. I am unique. And I am, and always have been, a friend to humanity. I would like to see all of you survive this. Be careful, don't let your guard down, and most of all use that mind you were given to think for yourself.

mogulf66 has signed off.

Moonlit Ritual (Laine)

2014-06-20T05:15:28Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2012/08/01 |Location=Earth-776 |Synopsis=Still stinging from Viridian's death curse, Laine begins the long process of sharing the sorrow of a ..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2012/08/01
|Location=Earth-776
|Synopsis=Still stinging from Viridian's death curse, Laine begins the long process of sharing the sorrow of a dead world.
|Thanks=Viridian Sunrise
|Cast of Characters=383
|Tinyplot=Long Live the King
}}
The swirl of pestering spirits did not concern her at the moment, common as they were these days. The wolf was dedicated, limping up the narrow slope in a zigzag fashion that left her panting, even Laine's mystical stamina challenged between the lingering injuries and the arduous climb.

<<Little One, you could have taken a Bidge directly to the summit. We do not mind.>>

One of the wind spirits was pestering her again. Laine just snorted. She didn't bother with a straight answer, not this time. Climbing the metaphysical mountain was part of the Ordeal.

<<It will be easier in the coming moons. Every moon, I will be doing this again. Get used to it.>>

Her thoughts were clear, at the moment. A rarity, for her, but the young werewolf had to focus now. She had a task to do, and she was nearing the summit. The Penumbra of her world lay out before her, swirling with spirits and reflections of the physical world. The Spirit Realm was complex... not exactly something that was easy to comprehend, but the Penumbra was close enough that most could see the analogue in the physical realm. Laine simply saw more, that is all.

<<Every moon? Until when?>> The little elemental was curious, and perhaps uncertain if it wanted to see the Garou at the Caern every month like this. What was the purpose?

<<Until the stories are all told.>>

The top of the mountain swirled with Gnosis, spiritual power gathering up and condensing around Laine's body. The tiny wolf was already sitting, summoning up the power needed for this Ritual. She'd created it herself, while laying in the Heaven or Hell offices, waiting for her regeneration to heal the damage done in that final battle. Now she summoned up her focus, went through the mental rituals and preparations... and began to howl.

<<Beyeela Nade was born upon a small, arid world. Her parents were simple, poor folk who desired only to farm enough to live the next day, and perhaps enjoy some simple pleasures now and then. Her first year was difficult, as her health...>>

Laine was no Galliard, no storyteller, but she did not falter in the howl. Her power sent it out over miles, reverberating through the Penumbra and penetrating to the physical world, imbued with that touch of magic that let every being - beast, cryptic, or human - understand the meaning behind those mournful notes.

Just as others could understand the meaning when, distantly, another wolf picked up the howl of his sister and threw back his head, joining in to relay the story for another distance, to another pack.

One single story, one single life, in one night. A different one the next. Spreading across the wilderness at the speed of a howl.

Sorry... (Fate Testarossa)

2014-06-20T05:08:18Z

Mister Cat: Created page with "{{Cutscene Header |Date of Scene=2012/06/09 |Location=Somewhere |Synopsis=Fate knows this Nanoha is a fake. But she has to try to help her anyway. That doesn't mean she trusts..."

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2012/06/09
|Location=Somewhere
|Synopsis=Fate knows this Nanoha is a fake. But she has to try to help her anyway. That doesn't mean she trusts the false Nanoha completely though...
|Thanks=Nanoha Takamachi, Precia Testarossa, Himei
|Cast of Characters=282
|Tinyplot=The Dark Queen
}}
"I'm sorry, General."

Those were the words that Fate said when she took Nanoha's hand. But... t hey were hard to say. Was she sorry for Lloyd? A little. She had to defy orders. She couldn't NOT try to help Nanoha... even it if wasn't her Nanoha.

Her fingers mesh with the warmth of Nanoha-other's.

I'm sorry. General.

That was the other way to say it. An apology to this Nanoha... for lying to her. Did she trust her? Somewhat. She could tell this Nanoha wanted to keep he r happy. To be with her. But... it wasn't /her/ Nanoha. She still had to try... t o convince this one that what she was doing was wrong.

But if she couldn't. If she failed. She would have cost the Union its cha nce to capture her. A killer. A murderer, most likely.

I'm sorry.

Sorry, Nanoha. She trusted you, Nanoha... but not enough to keep Bardiche from emitting that steady, pulsing, encrypted tracking signal. If she failed... there had to be a way to find the Yamiko.

The Night After... (Fate Testarossa)

2014-06-20T05:04:01Z

Mister Cat: First cutscene

{{Cutscene Header
|Date of Scene=2011/05/27
|Location=Fate's Apartment, Uminari City
|Synopsis=Preparing to speak to her mother, Fate remembers her meeting with a blue-eyed girl.
|Thanks=Nanoha Takamachi, Precia Testarossa
|Cast of Characters=282
|Tinyplot=Jewel Seeds
}}
The apartment was large, luxuriously so, and well-appointed to boot. Too large, Fate thought. Times like this, all she could do was lay here, listening to the faint clicking of the clock across the room, watching the shifting patterns the fading sunlight made, filtered through the curtains behind her.

<Fate...>

The blonde absently reached over, brushing her fingers through her famili ar's warm pelt in a touch that was meant to be reassuring. She doubted Arf was fo oled at all, but the wolf knew when it was best not to press a matter. She knew w hat the linked beast wanted... and she wasn't willing to provide it. She couldn't rest, not now. Not with the flashing yellow of Bardiche telling her that somethi ng was happening. Something intense, strong enough that it could be another Jewel Seed.

"Let's go, Arf," she murmured softly, rolling off the sofa. She surpresse d the wince that followed, feeling pain flash through her shoulder, arm, and back again. The abraisions were already almost healed, but they still stung. That did n't stop her from staggering to her feet, though, nor did it stop the flare of he r cape splaying out and her Barrier Jacket coalescing about her.

She had a task to perform. Five of the Seeds were delivered now, but sixt een remained to be sealed and delivered. Five had not been enough... had not even been enough to earn a reward. More were needed. Until she had them all, the apar tment would stay empty but for her and her familiar. She couldn't afford distract ions.

Distractions like that blue-eyed mage girl.

Fate closed her eyes, remembering the trust and hurt in the other child's eyes. She hadn't lied... she really was sorry that she had been forced to attack the girl. Her intentions seemed so honest, so earnest... so pure. But that is ex actly what made her dangerous. She knew now that girl would never give up her own quest for the Seeds. If that made them rivals, enemies... so be it.

Without even realizing it, Fate lifted her hand to her eyes, rubbing away a trickle of tears that had snuck out when she wasn't paying attention. No... no crying. The lash marks on her back, over her shoulders and arms, hadn't brought tears to her eyes. Neither should this. She needed to be strong. Especially now. This is what she'd been trained to do from the start.

"Let's go," the soft-spoken blonde repeated. "Mother is waiting."