Scene #5459: A Deadly Game of Hide and Seek

Owner	Pose
Sombra	Leave her toys at home? Hardly. Sombra meets up at the coordinates that she's been given by her superior, slightly more awake and less bored than she was while she was going over intel that didn't seem to hold anything interesting. What did Reaper mean by a rabbit hunt scenario anyway? Either way she's about to find out she guesses, stepping calmly into the large, abandoned warehouse that has obviously seen better days. Windows have been smashed in, and parts of the ceiling have collapsed. There are crates and old machinery over most of the floor, as if the place was left during the middle of a work day. Rats skitter around the corners, some crows have taken up residence up on the beams in the ceiling. Most of the power is out on this place, with only a few lamps flickering here and there. It's a dump, really. So what kind of training can be done in this place, she wonders? Sombra sits down on a crate, pulls up a screen and idly works on something as she waits for Reaper to show himself. Chances are he's most likely here, waiting to make a dramatic entrance.
Nicky	Being the low in the hacking order wasn't easy, being in training neither, but it had its benefits if one kept on toes. As Sombra had left for her 'mission', she hadn't been exactly alone, the shadows in the hallways seemingly moving at times. Or turnign into a human figure, just to mist away when it jumped into the next spot of shadow as Nicky... well shadowed on Sombra. Shadow to shadow, turning from Human to a various assortment of dark colored plushies as she hid in plain sight to some degree as she followed her superior. The warehouse door turned into a slight problem, but just a short time after Somba, a little, dark red bat plushie flung 'itself' through one of the open windows, tunbling into a stack of old crates, then rolling over the ground. Inside! Wait, what was the mission anyway?
Reaper	Rather than directly appear in his usual dramatic entrance, instead? Instead, the old warehouse speakers come live, crackling once or twice before Reaper's voice is heard. "Sombra." His rasping, growling voice begins, as the speakers hiss in a brief silence. "Welcome to rabbit hunt. The idea is simple; Your mission has gone wrong. And you are being hunted. This is a back-to-basics simulation - no optical camoflague, no translocator. And no hellfire shotguns. Just your wits versus my skill." There is a pause, a low rasping hiss as the hidden Reaper clicks what sounds like a few switches. Bars groan as the warehouse goes into lockdown mode, sliding over the exterior windows - and the door out. Luckily, it's a big, complicated warehouse with lots of separately walled sheds and catwalks. There was nothing stopping Sombra simply tossing her translocator out and escaping, of course - which is probably be design, considering the -last- time Reaper had her trapped in an enclosed area. There is a loud buzzing sound, followed by explosive pops. At least seven of them. ".. Your objective is to restore power to the area and make your way out. Mine is to find you and drag you back to the rabbit hutch.." A dark chuckle. ".. And you've got company. I don't know your precise location right now - the meetup was randomized. But I'll know it soon enough." "So here's the question, mortal; Are you good enough.. to escape Death?"
Sombra	It's cute, really. Nicky seems to be part of their little group now, and she's doing her best to not get noticed. But for somebody as paranoid as Sombra it's hard to not notice things. Though she doesn't point it out right now. For somebody who doesn't know that Nicky can turn into plushies it's a good trick. But it's something Sombra's seen before. As Reaper's voice can be heard Sombra looks up from her screen, though she does type out a few things before she brushes the scren away into a rain of pixels as it disappears. So... that's what he meant, huh? A slight frown crosses her lips, and she looks around as the bars come crashing down, locking this place down. Not that she can't get out, ever since /that/ incident she's made sure to leave a translocator behind. Hmmm, she could probably use her parkour skills to get out through the ceiling somehow. But still... it would be so satisfying to get out of here, to win this challenge. Restore power and get out... With Nicky in here she might serve as a distraction. It's easy to set up distractions to make up for the fact that Reaper can move quickly with his freaky powers. Sombra is already moving when Reaper is finishing up his dreary speech, giving her the challenge... quickly and silently she makes her way through the mountains of crates, making her way to the wall. If she needs to restore power, then it's easiest to follow the wires. All while being quiet and listening for any telltale signs of sinister black smoke, heavy footsteps and approaching death. Once Sombra makes it to the wall, she finds some old tech, then places her hand on it. Is this a breaker box? Is this one of the seven spots, or could it possibly be nearby?
Nicky	Nicky's spot on the stack is not exactly safe, and as Reaper speaks about 'company, she suspects that he knows... Possibly. But what team to play on? Help Sombra or the Reaper? Her superior or the Superior of her superior? Or... win alone? Tricky question. The red Bat-thing flaps forward twice, flinging itself over the edge to fall, turning mist and solid human only so long to shift again, landing on the ground as she solidifies into a plushie again. Knitted brown wool in different shades, slender arms and legs with huge claws, a tail that looks rather naked and then clothed in a knitted blue rag, it is clearly a rat...person...plushie. With four horns. And all in all about 4 feet tall. At least somewhat nimble and able to walk. And thus, the horned rat starts to stalk the silence... silently the 'clawed' feet touch the ground, silently it shuffles through a gap between a few boxes and gleams up to a box that is labeled flashlights, a few straps of duct tape and one container of glass... A grin on the face, the... ''it'' starts to apply the two together... Soon an odd flickering green light wanders the hallways, at times turning on, at times vanishing, at times there is the sound of metal hitting on the concrete ground... getting tugged over it... the sound of claws... and then there is the huge shadow of a horned rat wandering along the walls. The Skaven have come! (or... one. A knitted one...)
Reaper	A single pulse along the wires shows Sombra what she wants - the power panels lighting up to her enhanced systems, laid out all over the warehouse. Three up above on the catwalks, in opposite corners. Four spread in almost a haphazard manner around the area, and only -one- on an exterior wall. The rest are attached to support poles in the middle of broad areas; One will have to really watch one's back, as it'll be exposed. Who ever said things were going to be easy? After all, Reaper has a fairly strong handle on Sombra's abilities, invariably he'd make things as difficult as it could be. Which is when the broken lights above her flick and shower out sparks with a faint popping sound. The old wiring taking the pulse of inquisitiveness and tried to draw amperage off it. Not harmful at all, but certainly loud and temporarily bright. AND LOOK THERE'S A GIANT SKAVEN SHADOW ON THE WALL WHAT THE HELL?! Nicky does seem to have a bad habit of getting herself into bad situations, doesn't she? And perhaps that's a fair point of the training - getting out of a really, -really- bad situation. As she flicks on the light and casts her 'huge' shadow upon the wall, there's a sudden pop and crash of sparks in an alcove nearby, behind a pile of broken and rotting crates. The ringing silence afterwards filled with a new noise - A whisper of sound, like metal filings pouring down a silken sheet.
Sombra	A frown settles on Sombra's face as she interacts quickly with the wires. At least she knows where the seven spots are, even if she can't know the total layout of the place with all these crates, machinery and junk strewn about. It's too risky to fix one of the spots in the open all in one go. Most likely she will have to work on them quickly and move on, never slowing down. Most likely Reaper knows where these spots are, and he will be most likely patrolling them as well. He knows how she thinks, at least partially... The moment the flickering lightshow begins above her, Sombra draws in a slight gasp, eyes wide as she looks around. Okay, that's something she needs to watch for. The shadows are her friends in many ways, even more so now. But she can't hear Reaper nearby her, so... let's get moving. The shadow cast on the other side of the large hall she does spot, and she makes sure to stay away from it, keeping low as she crouches around a large forklift. Okay, let's get the closest one here up partially. If she fixes them in a random manner it might be better. And better save the one near to a spot out for last. The hacker moves behind the pole, then puts her hand on it, getting to work. Let's rewire the power there... it gives off a faint purple light on the circuit box, so if Reaper is near he will see it. So she needs to be quick. Let's work for just a few seconds before moving on, this time towards one of the corridors. Maybe she can climb her way up to the catwalks from there.
Nicky	The Shadow cast by the horned red disappears, as Nicky shuffles through the gaps between boxes, the flashlight shut off. It takes the small Ratling time to move, but the faint purple glow of Sombra is a nice target for her. Only a minute after the circuit box is rewired, the 'Skaven' reaches it, the eyes liiking up to the box... and then a wicked rat grin moves over the face. CRACK. CKLING. The sound of bottleglass breaking resonates loudly through the warehouse as the 'warpstone scepter' is slammed into the breaker switch to force it open again, some of the glass getting jammed into the contacts, keeping it from being closed. And then the horned rat reappears as the shadow for a few moment, cast from the green light from the reworked flashlight, then it is gone in shadow again as Skavennicky hides heween a few close boxes again. Sombra will have to come back to this one.
Reaper	Sombra's curious luck holds as she moves away from the Skaven shadow, working on the power panel itself. The faint purple glow winking behind her as she leaves it to its own devices - and while there's no sign of Reaper yet save for that soft whisper of sound, there is a sudden and loud CRASH of glass behind her. That curious whispering grows louder, resounding in the thumps of metal boots upon the cracked and stained cement floor. A slow and quiet hiss of breath - heading in the OTHER direction. Reaper's not trying to be sneaky right now, so that's a plus. It'll probably get harder as each panel goes live - if she lasts that long. And sure enough, the coridor she picked does happen to have a rusted staircase going up, with only a few steps missing. Although there are wooden pallets piled up against the entrance she'll have to ease her way over. NICKY, meanwhile, isn't nearly as lucky. Black smoke coils rapidly along the floor, coiling upwards where the broken glass tinkles against the ground. Solidifying - forming - and then metal boots crunch the glass as gravity takes hold of the figure within. REAPER. The sterile whit mask turned towards the open break box, a low growl rasping through his throat before he begins looking towards the ground. Studying marks, and then begins a slow pace along the crates themselves. It's not like he has to worry about speed, just yet. Snarling as he goes. "Clumsy. I know you're still -here-.."
Sombra	The purple light dissolves once Sombra moves away from the circuit box, but it's enough of a sign for the other people inside the abandoned warehouse to know where the hacker has been. Luckily Sombra is quick and silent, so the odds aren't entirely against her. She just needs to be quicker than Reaper in all of this! Creeping through the hallway however she blinks, then frowns as she hears the noise coming from where she was and fixed the first circuit box. Damnit...! Nicky? This will have consequences for sure, she muses to herself, all while she creeps along. Unlike the heavy boots upon the floor, her own steps are near silent. Some might thing her footwear is ridiculous, but it certainly helps in going undetected. For now Sombra makes her way up the rusted staircase, then she carefully makes her way over the wooden pallets. Since Reaper is following Nicky's trail she can afford making a little sound. Though on the way up onto the catwalk she does look around for minor items. Rocks, rubble, pieces of concrete... anything she can pick up and later throw in order to serve as a distraction. Looking down below she does her best to spot Reaper, to keep an eye on him while she creeps towards the circuit box, only raising her hand on it once she's sure he's not looking in her general direction. Just focus on Nicky, Gabe... that's a good edgelord.
Nicky	Ohhhh, the Reaper is here for the rat, for the horned rat. But can the reaper sneak down into the half foot wide gap? into the Darkness? Stuck in the darkness is the Ratthing, no movement. Just another dead object in the darkness. It was a gambit. Might she have vanished? Might she have dissolved to mist? Or was she hiding? She didn't make sound, the hand taped to the flashlight scepter still. One plastic eye turned left and right, then the brown face grinned as she slowly let herself mist away: the gap she stuck in wasn't quite perfectly straight, the bacj side was a bit wider... and misting would go the easieast way. Just in time the former rat crowd turned into Nicky squatting behind the stack, the modified flashlight still taped to the hand. Biting her lips, the young mutant pulled the tape free as good and silent she could, then lobbed the light to the left of her, over into a different pile of boxes, inhaling only as she heard the contact and the green light turned on. Forward to the right she dashed, misting away again to turn into a small black mouse stuffie, the tiny paws catapulting her forward silently. Where did she go from here? To the west? To the north? No, the future was in the east. Behind the yellow shipping container.
Reaper	The heavy footfalls pause when the light goes clattering off to the left and flicks on; But the Reaper doesn't go -that- way. No, he goes the opposite, towards the more obvious source of where the light was thrown - heavy thuds giving way to a soft whisper of sound, black smoke coiling -through- a few pallets as he quickly eats up ground - alas, in the wrong direction still. It gives Nicky the moment she needs to slip away on a perpendicular course over the yellow containers, tiny plush paws eating up the space between her and safety. She's gotten away for the moment, the sifting of metal down silk disappearing behind her after an annoyed growl that echoes in the depressing silence of the warehouse. But where will she go next?! There's "no way out" until the power comes back online, and she's rigged at least one power pole to make sure it'll take extra work. Especially clearing the glass out of the breaker. Sombra finds quite a few small things she can throw about; Bits of broken off pallets, a few bolts that have worked their way loose over the years. And she even notes Reaper flitting in the -opposite- direction of the clatter of a flashlight, obviously quite used to that trick. It was a gamble, of course - he was assuming any noise made was designed to distract him, rather than an actual mistake on the part of his opponents. The coils of smoke curling about containers and through pallets, disappearing into the unlit gloom. And it looks like she's going to have the catwalk to herself, especially if Mr. Gloom The Doom Edge My Lord is busy chasing dolls through the open space. At least, until thick coils of smoke begin to rise through the grill behind her. There's some debris up here, but the catwalk was never designed to be an easy place to hide on. Only moments until he 'solidifies'...!
Sombra	There we go... continue in that direction, Gabe. Follow Nicky so she can make her way towards the breaker box she sees not too far away from here...! But that's when she hears a familiar sound behind her, and she winces. Shit...! With few spaces to actually hide up here, Sombra thinks quickly as she grabs onto the edge of the catwalk, then quickly swings herself underneath it, grabbing onto the framework underneath as she presses herself up between them, using her arms and legs. Hopefully it's too dark here for him to notice her... if not, then she guesses she will just have to begin running. But hopefully hiding right underneath his nose will work, perhaps he will be too occupied looking ahead and at the more obvious hiding spots around here... the shadows are her friends and allies, and hopefully now more than ever.
Reaper	The smoke curls upwards, swirling as it forms the cowled figure - the catwalk suddenly groaning as it takes his weight. The slow, rasping breath from that bone white mask heard as the figure takes a few steps towards where Sombra was but a moment ago; Rust-dust knocked loose with each thud of his boots, metal ringing as his gauntlets grip the busted safety rail. Leaning forward, slowly, his hissing breath only growing louder as he gets closer to the hidden latina- And there he pauses, air slowly hissing in and out of that mask by habit rather than necessity, before trickles of his coiling shadow can be seen dripping over the edge. Another faint groan as his weight disperses, tendrils of his darkness disappearing once more among the crates. A close call; Especially since he's turned to an objective based search. After all, he knew where she -had- to go - it was just a matter of figuring out where she'd start first.
Sombra	Holding her breath, Sombra keeps still as she uses her arms and legs as leverage on the underside of the catwalk, closing her eyes as the dust loosens with the heavy foot steps above her. It might just be for the best too, then she doesn't have to see the heavy figure as he leans forward, searching with that sinister hissing sound... Nothing happens, no sinister chuckling, no clawed hands reaching down underneath the catwalk to grab at her. Slowly she opens her eyes, seeing the trickling blackness as the Reaper moves on. Waiting a few seconds, Sombra breathes slowly as she moves her arms, then her legs to pull herself up over the side of the catwalk again, trying to be as silent as possible to not alert him. Okay, that went as planned. Trust Gabe to miss what's right underneath his nose...! Onwards Sombra creeps, moving to place her hand on the circuit box once she gets to it. While she does so she looks down below, trying to follow Reaper with her eyes. Once this box is done she moves on towards the next box up on the catwalk... But should she notice that Reaper is making his way back up, then well... she has to get down again. It all depends on him whether she can get another box done up here, but if it's too risky, then the stealthy hacker will lower herself down to land on top of some crates before she quickly descends them and drops down into the shadows. Perhaps Reaper will hear something from it, and and so she looks back and forth... let's hurry to the left and towards a series of corridors. There's another circuit box towards there!
Reaper	The hacker latina's first victory comes while the Reaper's grim form is lost to the dull, dusty darkness of the warehouse; The small box slowly beginning to hum and warm up while she 'corrects' the problem inside until - with a click - the lever switch falls into position. Sparks leap and crackle, a low hum vibrating upwards along the cable. Dim yellow bulbs flicker to life, a few popping as they give up life after so long rusting in this decrepid place. Which is inevitably a spot of light in the middle of the darkness, assured to draw the hunting wraith's wrath. Having lowered herself to some crates and slipped off into another corridor, she can hear the faint 'clump' of heavy boots along the catwalk she just vacated. For the moment she's ahead of the Reaper- But there's no more interference from Nicky either. Nothing else to draw and distract her shade of a killer, either caught or laying low for this 'rabbit hunt'. Probably the latter, if she's smart. Just wait for Sombra to fix everything then slip out victorious. It certainly was a smart thing to do, although that depended on precisely what the victory conditions were. Only one out? Two? Everyone in, everyone out? Hard to know precisely how hard Reaper and Sombra 'train'. The powerbox at the end of that corridor in a blind end, with only a forklift and a near-empty 'straw boss' corner office. Complete with door and glassless window.
Sombra	The sound of heavy footsteps, now that is an incentive to move even faster. Sombra swallows as she lets herself drop down, then turns left toward the series of corridors. It's not like he can accuse her of goofing off now, hah! For now Sombra creeps towards the corner office, ignoring the circuit box for now as she focuses on just hiding. Perhaps Reaper is bound to drift near here, and then she can't be out in the open! Finding herself some rubble, Sombra drops down and slides underneath it. Sure, she's going to be dusty like this, but if she can get through this training exercise the fact that she will be able to lord it over him... it will be worth it. Now it's the waiting game, listening and looking out towards the office and the corridor, whether she can hear his heavy footsteps or see the smoke...
Reaper	As sure as rain falls, the heavy boots clump down the corridor - Gabe's cowl-jacket thing sweeping on either side of him as he keeps a loping pace that would eat up miles without taking his breath away. At least, back when he was alive. Pausing before the powerbox, his clawed hands briefly resting atop it as he feels for heat or vibration; Not worked on. With a snarl, his heavy boots begin thudding away again - a single fist swinging out to send a wooden pallet bouncing down the narrow corridor with a snarl, wood splintering. Someone's got a temper tantrum~ -- this is going to be sweet, isn't it? And then silence, the ringing after the wooden pallets shatter uninterrupted by sound. It remains that way for a good, long set of minutes, the dusty air pregnant with pause as if waiting for Reaper to come storming back, hunting his wily prey. But ..? But he's still there. Silent as a ghost, in the corner, the sterile white mask watching the office, the slow coil of smoke rising from his shoulders - depressingly, frighteningly still. No hissing breath through his mask, no creaking of metal gauntlets, still as a statue. Watching. Waiting. As if he knew that smashing sound would cover his own shadowstep back. Someone's getting clever~
Sombra	And there he comes... there's no mistaking that sound of his footsteps. And well, it sounds like he's having a temper tantrum as he hasn't spotted her yet. Good, perhaps he will continue patrolling now, which would suit her just fine... Waiting a minute after the wooden pallet is sent flying down the corridor and causing one hell of a ruckus, Sombra finally begins pulling herself out from underneath the rubble, not even bothering to brush off the dust that's covering her hair and clothes. This will mute her bright colours, after all, and help making her harder to spot. Once she's done with this she can shower and clean up, after all! Carefully Sombra peeks out through the window, okay, she can't hear him, so hopefully he's out there searching, stalking... perhaps he's chasing Nicky, maybe... It's when Sombra is halfway through the window that she turns her head towards the corner, spotting the smoke as her eyes go wide in shock and horror... and then she vaults, ignoring the circuit box as she rushes forwards across the hallway and into the room there. The ceiling had caved in there, and she quickly runs towards the wall, kicking off it as she launches herself up towards the hole there, pulling herself up with a slight grunt before she scurries quickly to her feet and then slides underneath a desk towards a nearby vent. She has to loose him! And the next time she has to be be ready that he might try to hide in wait, damnit...!
Reaper	Dark laughter echoes out of the corner - the sudden heavy thump of metal boots pounding the ground behind her, the hissing breath of his mask explosively loud as he chases down the smaller Talon agent. When Sombra wall-kicks and slides, there is a whisper of sound - metal down silk. And from the broken hole rises a wraith, its shadowy form billowing outwards like some dark bird, glowing spots where the eyes once lay. Rising and falling once more, as if gravity had almost lost its grip on the dark mist.. It solidifies, reams of coiling smoke forming the flared cowl, the too-real arms, the sterile white mask. Hiding the glowing.. eye points once more. What the hell was that anyways?! There is no hurry in the Reaper's stance as he strides, eating up distance where the dust settles upon the catwalk. He pauses near the desk, heavy boots turning towards it. Metal claws click along the surface- A distant, faint PANG echoes somewhere off to the right. The heavy boots turn, the lurking figure quickly taking off once more, the sound of his thumping feet quickly fading away to a soft whisper..
Sombra	By now Sombra knows that sound all too well, with how the wraithly form of her superior shifts into an alternate state of being, being able to move through the air quickly and near silently. It's a good thing that Sombra is even more quiet, and she halts when she hears those heavy boots coming towards her, holding her breath... is it time to hurry into the vent? He's too big to fit in there, but if he hasn't seen her then it would only make undue noise! The pang makes Sombra nearly jump, though she manages to keep quiet. The clicking of claws cease, and Reaper rushes off /away/ from her. Man, what luck. Exhaling softly, the latina waits a few seconds, then she peeks carefully out in the direction of where Reaper ran off to. And if it's clear, then she will drop back down the hole with as much stealth as she can manage, all before she creeps back out to the corridor and the circuit box she was going to fix in the first place. Let's see if she can get this done, and then hurry off towards the catwalk again!
Reaper	One circuit box down; four more to go. Neither the faint whisper of noise nor the heavy thump of boots interrupts Sombra when she aims for the next one - The Reaper obviously busy chasing down the lucky noise. And sometimes that happens, the person looking to chase you down and do horrible things to you just gets distracted. None the less, Sombra earned that next box and - with a crash of electric sparks and flickering lights - it comes to life. A few bulbs popping overhead like celebratory confetti. Albeit, confetti made of glass. Of course, now there's a new problem as Sombra makes her way to the catwalk; Namely, with each circuit box that goes live, the warehouse has a bit more light. Especially around where she's already made her repairs, the darkness dimly lit by shuddering, glowing bulbs. At least, those that are left. When she approaches the catwalk, however, she'll see HIM. The Reaper. Slowly surveying his domain, hunting movement - lights - noises.
Sombra	There. Sombra quickly runs away, her eyes scanning the area ahead as she leaves the corridor, then begins her ascent of the stairs to get up towards the catwalk. Ugh, it just got lighter in here. Not good for her at all. Reaper will have an easier time spotting her like this. And speak of the devil... A frown crosses her face as she sees him, then narrows her eyes. So he's already on the catwalk, now is he? She needs to draw him away from there. Let's try something tricky. Looking around, Sombra spots a bit of hefty machinery, let's see if she can distract him. Lifting it up with only some difficulty, she moves towards the staircase... and then throws it down. Most likely Reaper will know it's a distraction, but it might help. Either way, she needs to get out of there, so Sombra ducks into the next hallway, keeping low as she moves as quickly as she can, making sure to duck behind various crates on the way. Maybe she can move to the other side of the warehouse and get onto the catwalk to fix the circuit box there.
Nicky	Hidden under a large stack of old, rotting wood paletes was the plushie mouse as the chase around the warehouse went on. Staying in hiding sometimes was the best valid tactic, but as the turning on of all the extra switches illuminated the warehouse more and more, she squeezed out under the wooden stack to try to look for a better cover and maybe cause a bit more mayham by flipping another switch. However, sinormation is key, and the box she moved on was one of those that hadn't yet been tampered with. Plushie paws hit stale concrete, a small shadow on the grey coarse material. Just watching the shadow gave the illusion of the mouse suddenly being crushed by something large, which happened to be a standard issiue combat boot, but actually there had been the split moment in which the mouse had turned into the wearer of the boot, marching along much less quiet but also much faster. Around the next corner she ducked and did a small jump roll to keep a low profile, then back to the low run she was. Above her the catwalks swung and swayed lightly under the changed weight, creaking under age and the hunt going on there. And there suddenly was the box. Her change of motion to get to it wasn't low profile, it wasn't silent, it was more akin to a flashy parcours move. She redirected her movements up by trampling onto few stacks of old oil barrels and then threw herself up into an upwards reaching metal girder, grabbing it with the gloved hands and then using one hand over the other to scale it in a rapid manner. Reaching the breaker box, she didn't give it too much thought about the layout and just used the old lever switch. The Telltale loud CHACK came together with the Frankensteinian humm as parts of the old wiring got back their power... While Nicky did let go of the girder and switch just as fast as she had grabbed for it, letting herself fall down into the still existing darkness, misting away into something red and white and condensing as a Red Panda.
Reaper	Sombra's luck seems to run out when the Reaper's sterile white mask turns - not for the staircase itself, but immediately in the opposite direction. Just innate specialist training, looking for the inobvious first, then look for the obvious. Especially in a situation where you know an enemy combatant is in the area. There was always a risk that the noise was real, but usually one can tell the difference between things being knocked loose and someone throwing a distraction. Things being knocked loose starts with a surrussus of fall, after all, as it slides and makes contact. Subtle differences. But then there's another -CRACK- of electricity from the direction Reaper was peering in, a flicker of light as one of the heavy levers is pulled down and immediately released. Not nearly enough for the circuit to complete - that'd take a while. That dark chuckle echoes from the wraith as he slips up and over the railing, falling to the ground below.. His heavy boots never strike the ground, just that faint whispering. Metal filings down silk as he chases someone who can ghost almost as well as he can..
Sombra	Okay, seems like he let himself distract by something else... that dark chuckle is something she's heard many times before. And if Reaper is heading down, then Sombra will sneak out onto the catwalk again to finish up the circuit there. Almost done...! Quickly she sneaks along, then places her hand on the circuitry, working on it as she peers down to the floor below, trying to track where Reaper is going. Slowly but surely it gets worked on, and overhead more lights come to life, bathing the area as the lights are low, casting long shadows. This will be tricky, that's for sure... Sombra hurries back into the hallway, heading back towards the other point on the catwalk. Though with few places left to check, then it's going to be hard to do this without being found... Maybe Nicky can get the last one if she's lucky. But now Sombra is moving as quietly as she can, focused, intent as she listens for any telltale sign of Reaper's approach. At least there are a few things to duck and hide behind and underneath in this old and forlorn place, so there's that.
Nicky	With a low thuck the plushie panda impacts the ground next to the barrels, the lever above it not fully closed but close enough to occasionally have the light flicker. Maybe a hard thrown object might change that to either state, but for now it was not her thing. Like she couldn't make anything right today, right? But then again, she wasn't making this a cooperative task. It was more... a trifold one: Reaper versus Sombra... and Nicky messing with both of them at once, using just her own agenda for judgement. And now, this judgement was to pull her red plushie body under the wood holding up a few oil bins to try to get out of either operation field.
Reaper	As Nicky holds tight under the hood, acting as distraction and environmental danger to both Reaper and Sombra - respectively - she'll heard the faint whisper of metal filings over silk. The tell tale sign of Reaper on approach in his smoke form, something she'll learn to take to heart if this ever becomes something more real than a training excercise. Small tendrils of that smoke coiling about and through those oil bins, practically close enough to touch. What can Reaper sense like this? Can he see without eyes? Feel without fingers? Precisely what's left of the grim wraith - when he's nothing but smoke and ash? A sudden, almost insect like jerk as the tendrils of smoke flex. Then whisper upwards, crawling along the oil bins and up along the ceiling... As Sombra slips quietly and securely along the hallway, she'll hear nothing but her own breath and the soft pat of her feet. And her own heartbeat, thumping away in her chest, so much more regular than the half-formed, occasional muddied sound that Reaper's made the last time Talon tried to give him a physical. And then only when he was paying attention; It didn't end well for anyone involved, if the recordings are anything to go by. The soft thump of her heart growing just a little louder- wait. That's not her heart. He drops from above. Reforming in midair, far enough up to keep that whisper of sound from being neatly heard. The flutter of his cowl snapping into existance, arms akimbo to balance, his metal boots absorbing the shock of landing with an explosive noise. Pants creaking as enhanced physique flexes, straightening upwards with a dark, vicious chuckle. "Not so clever now.." THEMESONG: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAp_40VdrAw
Sombra	Oh fuck. The moment she hears something forming behind her, the colourful hacker tenses, listening further as she turns her head to look over her shoulder. Just in time to see Reaper rising to his full height... Sombra's eyes widen, her pupils constricting, and then she's off running without a word. One can't deny that the hacker is slow, as she's quick and light on her feet, able to make her way to places many other people can't get to. While there's nothing supernatural about her, she's learned how to be capable in the field so that she's not helpless. True, Reaper is stronger than her and has that freaky ability of his, but hopefully she can lose him again! So Sombra vaults through a broken wall, quickly assessing the next room to see if she can hide, flee or use the room to her advantage. There, a barrel. Her right hand reaches out, grabbing it to throw it back, spilling slick oil on the floor behind her as she leaps over a desk, using it to get up towards the broken ceiling. If Nicki is useful then perhaps she can get some more gens done while she keeps Reaper busy!
Nicky	The sound of silk was bad - it reminded her of a different bit somewhat similar sound. The sound of synthetic fur rubbing over hard concrete. Of synthetic fur making contact with sharp edges. And not any fur: HER plushie body's fur. Luckily she didn't need to hold breath or she would have choked on her own fear, her teeth would have trembled. Instead, the small red panda plushie shivered almost silently under the pallet. Until it scurries away suddenly. Shocked, Nicky stays moments, maybe more. Now... which side... which side to play? Reaper? Sombra? As the decision forms in her head, combat sounds from above emerge. And so does the plushie. Pulling out of hiding, she mistifies again, dashing back along the path she had taken. Vaulting over bins and using the struts of the warehouse to redirect her jumps, she seems to be weightless at times. The truth though is pretty different: it is just clever applicatipon of her parcours skills, skills she has honed running from police and purifiers, skills that took about half her life to train - and which now allowed her to pass along at her top speed. Back along the path she had taken from the start. Backtracking. There it is... the very first lever. The one Nicky herself had manipulated with the glass bottle as the horned rat stuffie. And instead of slowing down, she jumps, her foot extended to hit it back in, crush the glass shard stuck in the old Frankensteinesque lever. Thump CRACHAK! Lightbulbs flare up as the contact closes again.
Reaper	"Don't bother; You'll only be tired at the end of your struggle." Comes the rasping, menacing timbre of the Reaper's voice when Sombra silently turns to flee. The hard boots pounding behind her, growing louder by the moment - she was smaller. His legs had the reach and the strength. In a flat out run, he'd overtake her. Luckily, Sombra's smarter than that. Vaulting over the broken wall buys her a little time, the larger killer having to pause and step over one leg at a time. When the barrel crashes and oil splashes along the floor? Reaper - simply chuckles and walks forward, his lower half disappearing, the change rippling all the way up his wraith-like form. The spots where his eyes would be briefly glowing as the dark smoke billows, somewhat maintaining his shape. Reforming on the other side, his metal gauntlets -just- missing the grab on Sombra's leg a she vaults into the ceiling. And then there's a loud crash of electricity from -thattaway-, the lights flickering on overhead. Hissing his annoyance, Reaper turns.. and disappears, smoke crawling along walls and ceiling, faster than one might think- -he can move. When Nicky lands after successfully kicking that second-to-last lever closed, and the lights come on, she'll see the smoke rising - from every single direction at once. Curling inwards, dripping from the ceiling, rising from the floor, a veritable cage of that strange material that is Gabriel Reyes. Or what's left of him. Metal filings down silk, shuffling and closing in, before it disappears with a hiss of sound. Clap. Clap. "You've been a pain in the neck tonight, Nicky; Let's end that." FROM BEHIND
Sombra	Well, normally more light is good considering that it means Nicky got another circuit box up and running. But then again, more light makes it hard to hide from Reaper who's hot on her trail! If this were an open space, then she would not have a chance. But after growing up on the streets of Mexico, dealing with gang activity and making her way around with various people chasing her, the latina has experience in using the environment to her full advantage. Reaper is big, not as light as she is, not to mention not half as agile. Still, she hears him right behind her, not affected by the overthrown barrel, and Sombra grits her teeth, not daring to look behind her as she leaps for the ceiling! Whew! That Nicky saved her hide there. Well, not that there's danger in this training, but still... parts of her want to win, damnit! So while Reaper is busy chasing Nicky, Sombra rushes to the spot on the catwalk where she hasn't been yet. Slamming her hand on it, the hacker works on getting it to work... Just one more left after this, and it's partially done even! They can do this! Even so, Sombra listens intently, all while she looks down to keep an eye on the area incase Reaper changes his mind and goes for her. Which he might when she finishes getting this power circuit set up.
Nicky	A pain in the neck?! Just the neck?! Nicky knows better than to stay, she knows etter than to confront somebody. But her muscles don't really budge. They shiver the sound of metal filings on silk gets the creep out of her, freezing her in space... PLOPP! And back is the mist, gone is Nicky. Mist inside mist, black mist of Nicky mingeling with Black mist of Reaper, the one condensing to a humanoid, the other seemingly vanishing from sight the same moment. She hasn't really. It's just, that Nicky is much much smaller now. In fact, just about as tall as a stuffed keychain item: A small, black sphere with a stitched on silver skull. No arms, no legs, no mouth, no ears. Just a black sphere with the iconic logo of the punisher on it - and a bit squished into the dirt, as it is "hiding" under the heavy boot of the Reaper.
Reaper	The Reaper pauses, with no Nicky here to see - until he shifts his boot. Oh yes, he's seen -this- trick before. That metal gauntlet reaching down, plucking the small ball of Nicky right off the ground, bringing it level with his white sterile mask. And then pausing. .. How the hell do you cage a small plushie ball? Growling in annoyance, his attention is once more yanked aside as the last line of lights explodes into life. The plush ball tucked into a pocket on his tactical vest; Someone apparently doesn't understand -everything- about how Nicky works, or he would've found a much more secure location to keep her. Sombra's success is rewarded by another shower of sparks, lights throughout the warehouse suddenly crashing to life now that enough of the circuit is complete. There is a loud buzzing noise, the gates clanking and clunking as they go live. But they -haven't opened-. Apparently there's one more step involved in all this, and with the lights active once more the shadows of the warehouse are thrown aside, save in odd places here and there. If that wasn't bad enough? One can hear the thump of metal boots from below the catwalk, a steady tempo of a hard march, sterile bone white mask turned upwards. Her only safety right now is that he isn't in -wraithform-, or he'd be up there. Not that it stops him from neatly hoping atop a forklift, metal claws drawing sparks as he prepares to swing himself up and over the railing..
Sombra	There, finally! Sombra lets out a sigh of relief when the circuit finishes, and she rises to her feet. Well, appears that the gates are powered now, but they need to be opened. Well, that shouldn't be too hard. Now she just needs to avoid Reaper until then... in a fully lit building. Her eyes glance downwards, spotting him as he advances in that terrifying manner. Up on the forklift he goes, and Sombra quickly gets back to running, heading down the catwalk, moving closer towards the gate. This would be easier if she could use her tools.... WAIT. Reaching into her pocket, Sombra grabs something metallic that she picked up earlier... and then /hurls/ it towards one of the gates, all before she glances back over her shoulder. "You have to move faster than that, Gabe!" she declares, then jumps down over the railing of the catwalk and down towards the floors below, disappearing from sight as she falls behind some crates...
Nicky	Picked up, the tiny plushball doesn't move visibly. Or at all for until she is tucked into the pocket. Just tucked into a pocket? How silly of the Reaper. Tuck her into a tight container. Didn't he pay attention earlier? or... most likely he didn't notice. Slowly the tiny ball dissolves in the pocket, the black mist expanding, straining the pocket a tiny bit before it starts to pour over the edge of the pocket and then slowly cascading down along Reaper's form, somewhat hidden in his own mist, as he steps forward. Then, the cloud hits the ground just behind Reaper, rapidly expanding and reforming Nicky - the young woman giving her 'mentor' a scolding look as he steps onto the forklift. "Got to get up way earlier to catch me." she comments as she turns around to sprint back, towards the one lever she had turned on first. Maybe it was not closed right... the light it made was still flickering madly after all. Over crates she hurled herself, grabbing some bar from a low hanging catwalk strut in flight and with it redirecting her jump further up, right into the catwalks. Sports shoes hit the metal loudly as she sped up, then hurling herself over another railing over towards the beam that held the faulty switch. Clinging to it, she reached up, and slammed it tight finally. "Game over, Skullface."
Reaper	Faster than that? The Reaper's head snaps to the side when he feels the weight leaving his pocket; It was the only reason he hadn't moved to wraithform while carrying Nicky. He wasn't sure what it'd do to her, to be tangled in his quasi-dead form, somewhere between solid and not; And you don't waste talent on stupid gambles. The hissing breath escapes him, but he's free - at last - to do what he was built to do. Chase them around. Hound them out. Bring them down. "My name.." He snarls, as he -leaps- over the catwalk, that gaze locked on Sombra's form when she vaults it as well. The heavy figure rolling across the top of a storage container, the metal squealing like a wounded beast when the metal 'spine armor' scrapes across it. Not losing a bit of momentum as he's back up and springing forward again. It's a risk; A calculated one, as the lights are on and he's focused down. Intending to land -right- atop the smaller Latina as she jukes below, to pin her to ground with a clawed hand on the back of her neck and the other on her own arm. He was heavier and stronger; He just had to be a little clever to close this deal. "-is Reaper." He finishes in a menacing snarl.
Sombra	Please let her distraction work... make him think that she threw her translocator instead of a piece of scrap, that she's trying to get away from him in a complicated manner that he should know she's fond of doing by now... But alas, it seems her luck has run out by now. The sound of Reaper follow closely behind her makes Sombra grit her teeth, eyes darting to and fro as she looks around, trying to figure out where to go. Where to hide...?! But that's when a shadow falls over her, and against her better judgement she glances up behind her, just in time for Reaper to leap upon her from above. Before she can roll to the side he lands, his feet on either side of her as his hands find the back of her neck and her arm before she can escape. A startled cry leaves Sombra, at least before she screams, struggling underneath him in an attempt to get free. "Let go of me!" she demands, trying to kick back at him, even if she knows she's in no danger. But she /does/ look pretty annoyed that her trick didn't work... and that she didn't succeed in this training exercise. Heck, the Spanish phrases that leave her mouth sound rather angry, which Reaper can attest to. It's a good thing that Nicky doesn't speak Spanish.
Nicky	The Mutant lets go of the pillar, letting herself fall freely before landing on her feet in a kneeling position. Doors were still closed? Odd... One more lever perhaps? but... where? Next to the door? Maybe. She speeds up her steps, eying for the door, the lever, her feet going much less noisy on the concrete than the catwalks she has tried earlier. The gate she reaches, the lever she finds... and pulling it down the old gears start to turn cranking loudly. Sombra? heh, she had had her game chance... and she was a pro, right? she knew better than to let herself being caught. Or likely knew a trick how to free herself. Ktchunk Ktchunk
Reaper	It was like holding on to an angry pussy cat, the way she howls and screams her frustration. Reaper shifting his knee up to press on her hip, keep her steady so he can get arms behind her as well. She was a Talon agent; Tossing her over a shoulder and hoping for the best wasn't going to work so well. Even as one of the two surviving members of the 'soldier enhancement program', Gabe knew that Sombra could do some serious damage if he left her hands loose or gave her legs leverage. After all- He's the one who trained her in close quarters murder. Building on the amateur style she learned from Los Muertos, from wild swings with force and hate to precise death with cold calculation. And unlike her, -he- could come back from the dead, so restraint wasn't necessary. Once he has her secured, it's time to grip her arms with one hand - and heft up her hips with the other, metal gauntlets squeezing. He was quite a bit larger than the latina hacker, once you got down to it. Broad shoulders hunched as he intends to place her neatly into a standing metal 'cabinet' of sorts. Probably used to house some bit of equipment or janitorial supplies, now used to store an angry, hissing hacker. "Stick around; I'm not done with you yet." He states, that dark menance in his voice before he locks the closet up. It'd take someone only a few moments to free her - but she's not going anywhere without her translocator. Although, in fairness to the -last- time he had her trapped in a metal container, there are big, obvious vents along the side. Lots of fresh air. At least, what can be expected in a place like this. And now those metal boots are clunking rapidly along the floor towards the door that Nicky is opening. The alarms beginning to buzz, warning nonexistant workers to mind their head; There might be a vehicle incoming. Lights flare and flash, strobing across the sterile white mask as he -runs- at Nicky, smoke billowing from his cowl. Then suddenly unsolid again, the clatter of his boots disappearing into a whisper of noise, his form melting into non-existence. Juuust in case she had any other little 'tricks' to slow him down. He won't be able to get to her in time before she can slip out - unless she doubles back to rescue Sombra.
Nicky	Who would double back to rescue someone who couldn't rescue herself? The mission was "get out", not "get everybody out". The door opens in front of Nicky, ever so slowly, loudly, the cloud closing in as time ticks down almost literally. Going back? Not an option. But waiting just a tad longer? That was ok. What did that hacker wait for?! The cloud comes closer, almost into the reach of an arm as Nicky stands there, one hand on the lever, holding it down despite the door being open for some seconds by now. The moment Reaper is about to get just close enough for a grab Nicky just makes a bold step over the warehouse edge, crossing the line into 'safety', into the area Reaper himself had declared out of bounds, her arms crossing over her chest as she stares back. "Told you, Game Over, Skullface."
Sombra	Hissing, spitting and cursing, Sombra certainly doesn't seem content with Reaper as he holds her down, and she doesn't give up even if his hands press her head and arm down, with his knee keeping her hip still. And it's not entirely easy to get her arms behind her back either, as she makes him damn well work for it as she kicks, flails and thrashes about. "<What the hell do you think you're doing?!>" she snaps, speaking quickly in Spanish. Sadly he's much larger and stronger than her, and with his training it's not hard for him to heft her up. Not that she doesn't squirm like an eel as he moves her towards a cabinet, and she does her best to stop him, swearing up a storm of Spanish insults as she moves her legs, attempting to brace one foot on each side of the door. It's not so neat as it looks... almost comical, but with enough persistence then Reaper will be able to stove his fellow Talon agent inside. Not that she's going to be quiet about it, far from it. "I'm not done with you either, cabron!!" she threatens, then begins banging on the inside of the locker, even as Reaper leaves her behind to hunt down Nicky. Crouching down, Sombra peers out of the vents. There has to be something she can do... And that's when she spots it... the nearby forklift. Well, it's worth a shot! The latina gestures her hand towards the forklift, narrows her eyes and begins focusing, moving her fingers as the purple lines extend from her gloves towards the machine... work, damnit!
Reaper	The smoke halts right before the crossing point, reforming into the Reaper again. The cowl fluttering down to cover his frame, his hooded head lowering to peer right towards the mutant. And then he lifts that hand, thumb held horizontally. "... for now." He hisses, drawing that sharp digit across his throat. One can actually -hear- the fabric ripping, coils of darkness slithering briefly out before he finishes the cut with a snap of his arm. The 'wound' knitting itself back together. Just how serious was he taking this 'game'? His cowled head turning; Nicky'd gotten free. He still had one more victim. The forklift sputters. It's lights flicker, shuddering to life. It turns towards the bound hacker, raising the lift, preparing to rip the container open enough for her to get loose - and to get her revenge. But before it can more more than a few inches, there is a sudden explosive BOOM that reverberates. Then another, and another, hellfire tearing through the paltry, rusted metal. The machine dies, leaking miscellaneous fluids, as the Reaper steps back into Sombra's field of vision. Arms lift. Hands open. The shotguns clatter down to the ground. Hey, if she was going to use her tech, he was going to use his~ .. Although to be fair, he's been cheating the whole time, going wraith and all. Allow the eye to draw back as he approaches the closet. And further back, almost to the ceiling, as his slow, dark laughter begins to bubble up. GAME. OVER.
Sombra	Yes...! There we go, now to steer it closer towards the locker, then she can make it ram through the gate or something... But alas, a rain of shotgun bullets tear her victory away from her, and Sombra cries out in frustration, slamming her hands into the wall of the locker. When Reaper leans in, he will see it, how Sombra is /glaring/ at him, looking akin to a petulant teenager as she /frowns/, a sour expression on her face. And perhaps a bit ironically, she snorts and crosses her arms, turning her face pointedly away. "Yeah yeah, gloat over a stupid training exercise, Gabe...!" she snaps. Just let her out of this locker already before she decides to mess with his computer or something. Heck, she might decide to do that anyway!