"Kommandant," A higher ranking Steel Trooper started speaking. "The Lightning Mages, and the Fire Mages are lined up in a trench the Earth Mages constructed. The Earth Mages used the soil from the trench to fortify the Town Centers lower walls, incase of bombing." Thuel stood up from the steps wich he had been sitting on, "Great," He began in a sarcastic tone. "Id suggest makeing a wall, about three feet thick, and five feet tall, to provide cover." Thuel orderd.
The Steel Trooper orderd the Earth Mages to gather around him. "Build us a wall right here, three feet thick, five feet high." He pointed on his map "Here, here, and here." He started talking again "Use some trees, quick-crete, soil, also put some shap sticks faceing outward out of them, and maybe some bricks from the houses." The Earth Mages looked around seeing only a few trees, lots of soil, no quick-crete, though there had to be some in the basement of the Town Hall, and a brick house next to the town hall. "Mages, get started on that wall!" The head Earth Mage spoke.
An hour later there were 4 new walls errected around the city, to protect it from any attackers, Steel Troopers stationed around it, the one platoon, broke up into many patrols, the city had 10 patrolls instead of 5. The patrols patroled around the city, keeping watch for anything or anyone. Scavenger units hidden inside of the walls, ready to pop out at unsuspecting attackers.
The twins rushed into the warehouse. Looking frantically for a place to lay low while the soldier's bodies where disocvered. Quickly looking at an odd assortment of crates piled up they found a hatch that was locked from the inside.
"Well isn't this great?" Darean commented.
"Shh, quiet brother, do you hear that?" Damien asked,
Straining his ears Darean didn't hear anything strange, until the explosions went off.
"Dammit Damien, you lead us into a war zone!!"
"Me, your the one who said lets hide in here."
"Dammit the hatch is moving!!"
"Great just freakin fantasic."
Darean quickly drew his bow at the hatch. Damien conjured some fire in his hands.
"Let's give them a warm welcome." Damien said.
OOC: Gonna have to ask for another posting pause while I get my bearings and read stuff. I just got back an hour ago and shall have a response up to various things shortly.
Actually, more like an hour. You people wrote a LOT.
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
"What is it now?" Archlich sighed as he turned away from the window as his throne room door was pushed open.
The purple robed official froze for a second as he beheld the Overmagus for perhaps the first time of his life and then scurried forward to stand and bow in the standard location. Waving his hand to hurry up, the lich walked back over to his throne and sat down, leaning his jawbone on hand as he listened.
"Reports have reached us of a possible meta-human incursion in Paragon City, milord Overmagus," the man said with a remarkable lack of nervous stammering. "The Army of Life has already arrived on the scene and estimates capture within the hour."
"Hmm..." was all Archlich said as he thought. "Very well. Inform the commander of the forces there that he shall recieve my personnal thanks as well as the standard bounty for capturing any non-Empire meta-human. That should motivate him quite effectively."
"By your will, Overmagus," the man said with another bow. "Also, the Blessed One in command of the Army of Death force in Paragon would like your permission to assist the Army of Life."
"Inform Demitri that he does not need my permission," Archlich said with a heavy note of exasperation in his voice. "He needs to remember that one does not always need to ask me for permission. Sycophantic idiot."
Pretending that he hadn't heard that last bit, the official bowed again and then backed away a few steps before exiting the throne room.
"Odd," Archlich said to the air.
*************************************************
But the golems didn't really have a will to be overwhelmed, thus rendering Schizo's attack fairly useless. The golem stepped forward and appeared ready to swat the pink and purple man out of the air when it suddenly hesitated and went after Hal instead. It's compatriot golem was dragging itself along the ground toward the illusionist as well, intent on nothing but destruction.
Oddly enough, the Steel Troopers also ceased fire on Schizo, choosing instead to pull back away from the sword wielding man that was approaching.
"Hello class!" the man shouted up at Schizo. "My name is Mr. Stegall and I shall be your teacher for today!"
There was a shimmer around the demented school teacher and suddenly he was mere feet from Schizo.
"Let the first lesson begin!" he laughed as he dashed forward in an attempt to cut Schizo in half. His sword glowed with red energy as it whipped through the air. This probably meant that it would hurt extra hard.
***********************************************
"The Ivory Engine is not a ninja," Engine said as the door flew past, now chopped cleanly into two halves. "It is an assassin. An assassin that shall carry out its objective and slay you and your officers."
Reaching up with one hand, the robot pulled the dagger out of its neck and hurled it at Cortianna before jumping through the air and slashing downward at Rosie.
***********************************************
Rebels fleeing toward the exits and escape hatches would suddenly find their progress blocked by a wall of seething shadows. Odd chittering noises almost like laughter issued from the wall, sometimes echoing eerily from itself. The walls heaved as though they breathed and occasionally things pressed against the other side, making odd slithery bulges that were gone almost as soon as they showed.
One rebel hesitantly stepped forward and prodded the wall with a sword. The tip sunk in easily and nothing much seemed to change. The man stabbed a few other portions of the wall before he backed away and motioned for a buddy. The power armored man passed his less armored friend a high powered assault rifle. The two took aim at the wall, not trusting the dark magic, and waited for some more reinforcements to arrive.
The sword, now completely black from where the shadow stuff had covered it, writhed and shot upward, stabbing cleanly through the unarmored man's jaw and up through the top of his head. The other rebel didn't even have enough time to shout out before four heavily muscled arms reached through the wall of darkness and pulled him in.
The Army of Death had declared the rebel base a 'quaratine zone'.
OOC: Anyone I'm forgetting?
Statesman said let there be heroes, and there were heroes.
Lord Recluse said let there be villains, and there were villains.
NCsoft said let there be nothing, and there was nothing.
[ QUOTE ]
Midas looked to the Stone, afraid. "Maybe I should...." he muttered.
"Then perhaps I could have the power to protect you." he said to Essex.
[/ QUOTE ]
"Grrrrron't be an idiot." Tam told Midas. "If you do that then it won't be you protecting her now would it and the arrogant blowhard in the rock has already shown he dosen't care about Essie so he won't do it so you basically kill yourself for nothing!"
[ QUOTE ]
"Halt in the name of the great and powerful Overmagus!"
[/ QUOTE ]
Keegan's flash of light preceeded a loud roar as Tam surged for the first soldier, her system shrugging off the light. Claws extended, she crashed into the first soldier.
---------
Seeing the dagger, Cortianna broght her arm up, flinching as the blade sunk into her limb. It was painful, but far from fatal. She lashed out with her mind, attempting to hold the Engine's limbs in place with her telekinesis.
Pinnacle
Heroes
When in danger, or in doubt; Run in circles, scream and shout.
Midas let out a scream as the soldiers burst in. It hurt to know that his home had been found. And his was still entirely confused about why it had been found! Just earlier today he had been perfectly inconspicuous, able to walk the city and remain that way, and now he had met a little girl that had led him into a series of event that had him a wanted criminal for harboring metahumans! Damn it all!
The scientist grabbed the Stone and shoved it in his pocket, having no desire for the enemy to get it, no matter how mean it was to him. He may need it later, anyway. He already had an idea, but he wasnt sure if he could pull it off.
Come! Midas said as he scooped up Essex again, blanket and all, and sprinted to the back hatch. He climbed the ladder and began tapping the keyboard at the top, throwing in the password, and turned a few dials for good measure. He had more security in place on these hatches than Fort Knox.
The hatch swung open and immediately the bottom side began spewing forth a thick black smoke, covering the area, hiding the archer from view as the scientist pulled himself and Essex out with one arm. The robots at the bottom of the ladder were able to jump out using just the power in their legs, landing in a line behind the scientist.
Are you ready? Midas asked Essex, who couldnt see him through the smoke, but knew from his breath on her face that he face staring right at her. Fly now!
A counter on the hatch appeared, showing a large glowing 30.
29
.
"Yes sir!" Essex said, though her voice shook.
Odd, I feel as if that's something I say a lot.
Quickly, she swung herself around so her arms hung around Midas' shoulders, clinging around his neck.
Now how did I...
The emblem on her forehead flashed brilliantly as she concentrated, and Midas felt his feet leave the ground once again.
---------------------------------------------------
"Same [censored] difference." Rosalind growled as she dodged the slash. Hearing Cortianna's grunt of pain angered her even further, and distracted her momentarily.
"Corti, get the troops OUT of here." Rosalind snapped, and then yelped as a well-placed slash lashed across her chest, throwing the were-human's blood to the walls.
"Use the Hallowed Halls." she said, her voice tinged with pain. "I [censored] warded them myself with the strongest spells I could manage. There's no telling what the Overmagus knows about this place now. It's not safe to take the standard exits."
With that, she lunged for the Ivory Engine, claws glowing with the strength of her determination as she moved in to 'disable' the assassin bot the best way she knew how.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
Keegan hesitated only a few seconds at Acid's scolding before he he turned and went for the ladder. As he reached the top step of the ladder, the smoke had cleared and there he saw the archer with his arrow and another. The first thought into his head was enemy and before any human would have time toreact , the thought arose in his mind,
Thearrow.....removethearrow...
If un-warded, the arrow would vanish and, if it had alreayd een fired, would reappear in the rib cage of the Army of Life soldier nearest to the ladder.
Lets go then! Midas yelled, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He shot through the air and toward the most convenient window. Convenient in the fact that it was easy to break through, as it was cracked terribly. He threw his side against it. The pane shattered easily, showering bits of glass on the sidewalk below as he burst through.
I hate to say it, but were running instead of fighting! Fracas told the other robots. Follow the boss!
Affirmative. Imbroglio said emotionlessly.
After our esteemed Lord Midas, let his divine path lead us to salvation! Kibitzer agreed as the three began rushing forward, jumping through the same window, hitting the ground, and then leaping to the rooftops, following Midas from atop the buildings.
That was wholly conspicuous, you pathetic idiot! Well be caught in a second! the Stone shouted at Midas.
Shut up! Midas growled. Im going to get the girl out of here! Trust in me, Essex!
The scientist was suddenly illuminated by a spotlight from above. The helicopter could be heard drawing closer, following them. Voices were yelling at him, but he just commanded himself to keep going as fast as he could, skimming the rooftops, his robots following several buildings behind, arms laden with supplies.
If youre going to do something, Acid, youd better hurry up! Midas thought with a scowl.
"I trust you, sir..." Essex said, clinging tightly to Midas. As they broke through the window and the searchlights focused on them, she shivered in fear, hiding her face in the crook of the scientist's neck.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
The advancing soldiers were thrown back by the force, but the remaining fired with both laser and projectile weapons. The cacophony of weaponry echoed in the space.
Tams attack launched one soldier to his back. While her claws ripped his uniform quiet easily, the nails had a harder time slicing threw his heavy helmet and body armor. He screamed and tried to ram his gun into her rib cage, hoping to either scare her off or finish her with a quick burst to the torso.
-----------------------
The commander watched as Essex, Midas and the robots ran across the rooftops. He dispatched two more helicopters to follow the menagerie. The two larger attack helicopters caught up to the fleeing people, raking the line up and down with machine gun fire.
Seeing Midas and Essex flee from the commotion shocked Darean. Where had he seen that little girl before? He knew he should have known.
Damien stood there dumbstuck too. Seeing Midas again triggered a flood of memories. Unable to stop his mind from going a thousand miles per hour, he just stood there as the robots, Midas and the little girl flew away.
When a second person emerged from the hatch, both brothers knew that these people had to be running from the authorities. Moments later the helicopter's spotlight convinced them.
20...
Unsure of what to do Damien covered himself and his brother in smoke.
"We have to get out of here." Damien said.
"No, we have to help them." Darean replied.
"Dammit brother, we need to leave besides thats Midas Phillis!"
"The little girl?"
"No the guy."
"How do you know him?"
"I don't."
"You just said you did."
"Whatever I dont care, can we get out of here?"
"Yeah follow me." Darean said as he leaped through a ground story window pane, right into a gaggle of soldiers.
10...
"Hi boys" Darean said his fist glowing with energy. A split second later Damien landed beside his brother.
"You get the big ones, I'll take the other one." Damien said while his became balls of fire.
Alright, I'm done, That whole idea went down the drain right there.
Stretching out his right arm, Acid projected a barrier of energy across the room's span, covering Tam, himself, and anyone else still in it.
Even as the barrier still expanded, he was already talking to his watch again, "I'll need a ride."
With the dampening field the soldiers had brought, he couldn't naturally teleport. But the fiktive transmitter was under no such limiation.
"Alright, gimme a sec." came the reply, a woman's voice, "Gotta find...nevermind, got 'em."
An instant later, Acid threw a grenade at the solders' feet, the canister insstantly hissing out a layer of super-heated smoke aimed at scrambling nomal eyesight, night vision, and even thermals.
Tam was already enshrouded as she vanished. Experiment was next. One after another, the fiktive transmitter locked on and pulled them through, following with Essex, Midas, his bots, and even Damien and Darian.
And lastly, of course, Acid himself...
---------------------
Drop Bay 2 suddenly became a hotbed of activity as the fiktive transmitter started spitting out its charges. The metal sphere with the rainbow-colored lens rematerialized what it had scooped up almost at once, only milliseconds separating the apperance of each infidividual on the metal floor.
However, the hangar-esque room was large enough, even with what were clearly armored crates of some sort lining the walls, often stacked up on top of one another and attached to inclined rials of some sort.
"Well, that was a mess." Acid commented as he turned to the others, a bit surprised at the sudden appearance of Damien and Darien. More to himself than anyone in particular, he mumbled, "Oh, great...hitchhikers..."
"If I had Force powers, vacuum or not my cape/clothes/hair would always be blowing in the Dramatic Wind." - Tenzhi
Characters
The soldiers rifle went off, the round tearing threw Tam in a violently messy burst that arched the cat beasts back and stilled her for a second. Then her eyes opened back up, an unholy green fire fickering within made all the more terrifiying with the low growl the accompanied it. Though neither could see, the hole in the girl closed at a visible pace.
Tam reached her hand back and shot it forward, the soldier had time enough to see the strange shimmering energy around it and think what he assumed was going to be his last thought.
This is gunna hurt...
Then she was gone.
Inside Drop Bay 2, Tam appeared and her strike connected with the floor.
CLANG!
Tam growled low, seeing her strike had been wasted on denting a metal floor and not shattering the man's skull.
Pinnacle
Heroes
When in danger, or in doubt; Run in circles, scream and shout.
All in seemingly the same moment, Keegan saw the two boys hesitateand then vanish into the smoke, the sound of the boys landing on the floor outside the building and the countdown now at 15.
"[censored]..."
The smoke cleared and he saw the window. At full speed he rushed toward it and jumped, headfirst, his arms spread wide open and he could feel himself start to hover before he just dissapeared.
The next instant he was in the hanger bay, suspended in mid air for a few moments before he noticed it and fell flat on his chest with a small thud, "Ow..." he said as he rolled onto his back and looked up at the others.
*Dodge* *Weave*
John was about to perform a roundhouse kick to the head of an officer, but was promptly teleported to... Well, he really didn't care where he was, as his kick had sent him spinning, slamming him head-first into the ground. He lay there for a second, contemplating the possibility he may have gone insane from all these changes, but then stood.
He dusted himself off, and sighed. "Okay people... All I have to say to that is... WHY THE HELL DO I KEEP TELEPORTING?!"
Elsewhere, in Central Europe...
"Kommandant, The patrol from New Mu is here, to pick up Boris for further interogation." A Steel Trooper spoke to Thuel. "I know, Ive been keeping a bead on them for quite sometime. Did you know that the commander of the patrol is a human in very thick armor to look like a robot? I saw his face when he went to get a drink." Thuel noted.
The patrol from New Mu arrived at the Town Hall, the commander got out of the transport craft, and approached Thuel who was now climbing up from the basement. "Senior Operative," He started "Commander Blackrose of The Steel Army 4th Core. We came here to secure a transport for an Underground member to New Mu for interogation." Thuel responded with a look, and walked down to the basement to get Boris. "Get up here, now." Thuel started, "Ill accompany you two clicks down the road to New Mu, then I will turn back."
Ready for a fight the twins launched at their weakest opponents only to be telported to some type of drop bay. Not really sure what to do the twins gathered close to each other.
[ QUOTE ]
"Oh, great...hitchhikers..."
[/ QUOTE ]
Even though it was mumbled in a low tone Darean still picked up on it.
"Oh great, We've been kidnapped." Damien said.
"And by some one who's rude." Darean added.
The twins stood there looking at their new friends or enemies.
(OOC- The twins are in Black Pants and comabt boots. Their shirts are a dark red/brown color. Both of them are wearing standard issue secret police enlisted trenchcoats. Darean has a bow and quiver on his back with a targeting reticle on his eye. Damien has a starburst tatoo on his left eye. They both have red hair and green eyes. They are indentical twins cept Damiens hair is the dreadlock look from coh (not real dreadlocks) and Dareans hair is the styled look. Damien smokes.)
As the two helicoptors began looming over Midas and Essex, the scientist began seriously wondering if he should have trusted himself at all. They were going breakneck speed, but there was no way they could outrace a helicoptor, and they would run out of energy before it ran out of gas!
Firing began, and the man let out a yelp, dodging to the left. It looked like it was mostly warning warning fire, but it still rattled him. It came faster and faster, getting closer as he refused to cease his retreat. He was sure that in seconds in would reach him. The two streams of gunfire appeared in front of him tangibly, and they formed together in a line he couldn't dodge as they began to move back for him. He almost stopped, but the resounding bang stopped him.
Fracas held its entire load in one arm, using his cannon to fire at the helicoptors. One was hit and crashed into the other, throwing them both off course. They both nearly crashed, but the pilots managed to pull up quickly. One landed immediatly, having taken too much damage from the other's blades.
When the gunners turned their attention back to aiming, Midas was gone.
-------------------------------
Midas very nearly slammed into a wall as he appeared in the bay. He pulled up suddenly and violently, nearly throwing his limbs out of their sockets, and almost losing Essex, whom he grabbed as she flipped over his shoulders.
"I'm getting tired of perfect timing!" Midas spat as he landed, placing Essex next to him gently. "Next time, save me before I need saved!"
"You can hardly blame him..." the Stone announced from his pocket. "Your plan wasn't exactly a work of genius."
-------------------------------
1
Charges planted in compartments all throughout the bunker suddenly exploded, filling the bunker with flame and blowing out all the windows in the warehouse. The building set fire, and chunks of concrete crashed through the walls. The doors were thrown off their hinges and into the street, slamming into adjacent buildings.
Midas Phillis was well known for his overly zealous self-destruct mechanisms.
Essex let out a startled squeak as she was flung over Midas' shoulders, landing neatly in his arms from the front. As he put her down, she quietly skittered next to him, clinging to his leg, her bare feet making pattering noises on the steel floor.
The blanket lay discarded on the ground, as it was actually quite warm in the hangar - uncomfortably so. The girl looked around in quiet despondancy at the amazing technological advancements around her.
"Even Papa's lab wasn't this...techy." she said quietly. Her eyes rested on one device after another.
I know what that is.
And that.
And that.
But that one-...Wait, no, it's an astrascope.
....Wait...how do I...
"Or...Maybe it was?" she added, in unhappy confusion. Her eyes fell on all the members of the group in turn. Essex would have recoiled from the twins wearing the clothing of the Secret Police - but she had no way of identifying them as such.
"...Why are we here?" she asked quietly. "What is this place? ...I ...I wish my father were here." Essex's last words were punctuated with the motion of hiding just inside Midas' labcoat, the long garment draped over her like a tablecloth as she hid against the scientist's side.
Japancakes.
Art - Theme 005 - Seeking Solace
((Oooookay.
. . . I believe I have messed everything up! Moonscribe's Resistance is in Paragon, while Thule is in Europe. I don't really think this will work, we'll just say the mission is to rescue Rosalind and Cortianna, kthxbye.
And Khell, Animator is still supposed to organize this. Although I would gather you've been busy 
))
((Yes, we should definitely take stock of people's current locations. >.>
)
((Wahahahaha. XP
. . .Well, Rosie is important enough that Moonscribe might rescue her anyway. It's not that he COULDN'T, it's just that rescuing some guy called Boris on another continent who can't really do anything much is. . . yeah.))
"This isn't my room," Kefetasura grumbled the soldier led him inside the chamber, "The air's too dry, and it's too bright in here. And the man in the blue cloak is a liar. I can't prove it, but I know there's more to him than what he claims. . . Of course, he could be standing in front of you and be more than he claims!
"You know, don't you?" the demon said in a conspiratorial tone as he sat cross-legged on the thin straw mat. "I mean, he has to be, doesn't he? Trying to see another mind with him around is like trying to see a panther on the far side of a fire at night. It just can't be done!"
The soldier said nothing, his face plainly revealed his discomfort at being so close to this raving purple lunatic.
"Of course you don't," Kefetasura said, defeat evident in his voice, "Well, let me tell you some other things you don't know, Bradley!"
"How do you...?" the soldier said, shocked. His question was never finished. Kefetasura didn't give him the time to do so.
"When you were seven your father left home with another woman. Your mother only told you that he was chosen to serve in the Army of Life," the demon chuckled, "You see, I know all about lies. Now, I wonder; How do you feel knowing the truth, Bradley? All the resentment you felt through your life against the people who took your daddy away from you, totally unjustified. Your motivation to fight against them wiped away. How will this affect you tommorow?"
"The Overmagus is . . . ."
". . . Evil, and he needs to be blah, blah, blah. Lies. All of life is based on lies, Bradley. I wonder what your svadharma might have been if your mother wasn't a shameful coward?"
Bradley's face flushed with anger, and his jaw clenched, "You have your room," he said through gritted teeth, "And I have more important things to do than this."
Teeth ground against each other as Bradley stormed out of the room, closing Kefetasura in a bit more emphatically than was necessary.
The demon chuckled. He was getting a hold on the strands of this time and place in samsara; which was very difficult indeed, since the flow of the cycle had stopped and everywhen was happening all at once.