Kokuin didn't hesitate to respond to White Masque's question, almost panic stricken he said "Because we don't know what else is here. These things may suck, but I feel much worse coming. We need to be prepared for whatever comes. As for your other question, what happens if we rush in and end up punching that bomb out?" Kokuin closed his eyes and calmed himself "I just don't want to be surprised." Lokuin said in a more collected tone. "They're fun in a birthday party, but not for crippled bases."
[ QUOTE ]
"I just don't want to be surprised." Lokuin said in a more collected tone. "They're fun in a birthday party, but not for crippled bases."
[/ QUOTE ]
"You can say that again, though please don't," Techtro groaned. "But if anyone cares waht I think, perhaps a direct change of scenery might be in order? As our icy friend has pointed out, these enemies are hardly powerhouses. Why else would they have been deployed except to keep us here and keep us busy?"
He looking around at the others watching him and his face flushed red under his helmet and visor. "Just a thought," he muttered.
Mortanis swore under his breath while they discussed tactics. If they moved in turtle formation, there was no way his undead would reach those weakest to them. The tankers would beat them like a sock full of pennies. Another thing which worried him was this Masque character. The binoculars picked him up fine, but to the insects, he was invisible. Very hard to track if he goes solo
Mortanis was now certain there was someone else there, one not-so-hero-friendly. You survive two years in the Zig without learning a few things, and the brief ghosts he saw on the feeds were more than a hunch. Now the game of chess became timed.
Are they after the heroes too? If so, I will lose my commission and reputation. If not, why are they there? Can they be considered for an alliance for a small cut of the profit? If so, will they betray me?
As he was about to give up on questions, an idea popped up in his cranium. He smiled at the possibility. Temporarily abandoning his post, Mortanis entered the streets of Faultline. He was certain there would be some Hellions around somewhere.
Yes! Leave already! Ceus imagined knocking that Ice headed tank's shell into a wall, if anything just to drive her point home. Going back to the Zig was not an option and the idea of going back to the Isles in defeat was something her pride was not going to let her do.
Infinity
Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
Masque was about to reply when he noticed that everything was too calm. Normally he could detect anything nearby, but now...
'He's still recovering outside the city limits.' White Masque thought to himself. It made him uncomfortable not being able to truely see everything around him. But he could work with the tools he was given...
"Professor, could you do us a favor and perform a mind-scan or whatnot on the surrounding area? We can confirm if the place is cleared or not and then move on or engage." He suggested.
A thought tugged at the back of Thectro's mind, just a tiny voice, nothing to worry about, thought Techtro. Not after waht I've been through. The fact that the epathic mental boost was wearing off never occured to him.
Lord Voltarr sat cross-legged on a dias in a massive chamber. The whole place was pitch dark, except for a three small flood lights that were trained on the dias, illuminating a small swath around him. His pale, nearly tranparent skin normally glowed faintly in the sunlight. Now, it practically burned, as if some ghastly white fire was consuming him. Personally, he couldn't see why so many villains preferred the dark. If the victums can't see you coming, you won't be able to enjoy their screams.
His ears picked up footsteps coming out of the darkness toward him. He waited, his eyes closed. The sounds of footfall stopped several yards outside of the light. Soon, a deep voice intoned respectively. "My lord, the heroes have defeated the Arachnos. We seemed to have discovered a third-party; a villain working for Arachnos. We know nothing more about the villain's idenity or wherabouts. The villainess you hired has not yet secured the assassin." The voice was tinged with a shade of pleasure as he spoke the last words.
Lord Voltarr sat as if he hadn't spoken. The silence grew as the minutes passed. Then the warlord spoke, eyes still shut. "Jelous of my newest appropriation, this Ceus, Khan?"
Khan replied hastily, but remained reverant. "Of course not, my lord. How could you think such a thing of me? If my decades of loyal service do not put me above a mere hatchling to time, I accept it fully."
"Have you served all those years blind, my most loyal of followers, that you cannot guess my reasons? Then I shall explain with small words and short sentances. I need her there. I need you here. You, here; she, there. That is not so hard to grasp, is it? Your services are not best suited to, shall we say, interrupting? This Ceus has underestimated my prowress, thinking she could twist time without my knowledge. I wouldn't have thought she would have made that mistake, and therefore overestimated her. See? You make a mistake, she makes a mistake, I make a mistake, we are all imperfect. Only I aim to change that trivial yet annoying factor. Now go, prepare."
"Yes, my liege." The footsteps retreated, leaving the warlord to the shadow and silence around him. "Yes," he mused, "All make mistakes. But who will make the next, fatal one?"
Mortanis found what he was looking for a couple of blocks from the hero base. Nearly a dozen Hellions bunched in an alleyway around several flaming barrels, lighters, cards, and cigarettes littering the floor. All eyes turned to him, glints of steel and flashes of pistols bouncing off the dim light. Most backed down as a big fellow walked up to Mortanis. He was over 6 feet, and shaped like a football player. Flames engulfed his hands, now fists, and as he raised them he spoke "Give me one reason why I shudn't squish you right now, little man."
Mortanis's eyes, usually cat-like and yellow, began to spout flames of their own, but green. "Because, my good man, I can get you what you want."
The Hellion lowered his fists slightly.
"And what iz it I want?"
Mortanis called his elite into the material realm, the lich's own height equal to the Hellion's. "You want to take out those heroes at the base. I know how. All you have to do is get two of your boys to start a little ruckus. Mugging, purse snatching, whatever. They come out, you and I move in, and you get a new place to crash instead of this lovely alley."
The Hellion pulled out a large cigar and lit it with his finger, the smoke clouding his already dirty face. He kept his eyes on the undead but spoke to Mortanis "How do I know ya won't scram when it gets hot?"
Mortanis pulled out some bills."This is for your agreement. When the job's done, you get 60% get whatever you find there, and keep half of this. The other half I will want back."
With a deep chuckle the Hellion grabbed Mortanis's hand and shook. He turned to his crew.
"Boys, grab your gear. We gonna eat well tonight!"
((Jebus >.> Don't bother waiting up now...))
Asuki's body melded away, sneering as the weakling tried to deflect her blow, only to take it head-on, literally. She hadn't caught what the person before had said, wanting to get outta there before someone paid too much attention to her. She now sat, not 60meters from the group of heroes, hiding in her shadows, cursing herself for missing her prey.
As the group assembled, Blood leapt into the hole, making sure all was clear, using his vampiric vision to peer as far as he could down the cavern, "Blasted things.." He scowled, before looking up, then back into the depths of the cavern, "This HAS to lead to an Arachnos sub-base, or at least factory." He mumbled to himself, before hover up and out of the pit, joining him teamates outside, "Well, it seems all is well... for now." He said in a slightly happier voice.
Kokuin cracked a smile. "Regardless of our safety now, we still need to get out of this place. I've felt like that ceiling is going to collapse on us ever since I arrived here. I'm not quite ready to become a fossil just yet. I hope you all agree with me on that, so we need to get out of here."
Kokuin's attention turned towards the hole, Kokuin's instinct almost screamed to him "It's going to be a trap." which was only backed up by the presence he sensed radiating from deep within the passageway. He kept his hunch to himself though. The group was already in a bind, no need to add useless hysteria to the equation.
[ QUOTE ]
"Professor, could you do us a favor and perform a mind-scan or whatnot on the surrounding area? We can confirm if the place is cleared or not and then move on or engage." He suggested.
[/ QUOTE ]
Professor IQ smiled again and replied, "Already ahead of you sir. And I would also suggest we move as a unit as already said, but no matter what, we must get to a better tactical position."
Using his mind he scanned the building as far as his concentration would allow, but it was his gut that bothered him, he sensed something far worse and said to everyone in a pretty good Yoda voice, "Disturbance in the Force I sense, pinpoint it I cannot. Trouble we are in my friends. Wisdom we need. Protect each other we should." He chuckled a bit to break the tension and continued in his normal voice, "I am not getting alot here. What in the name of King Solomon's Temple is going on here?"
Amid the bustle of everyday sounds in Faultline, the cars, the phones, the people, a lady begins to scream...
"Help! Help! Somebody please! They took my purse!"
Several young men, covered in orange clothing lined with flames, run through the busy sidewalk. Outpacing the woman, but not using their full potential, the men make sure to run past the known hero hotspot. They have their orders, after all.
Mortanis watched the scene unfold on a rooftop overlooking the street. Around the corner of the building waited the full force of the Hellion gang, complete with machine guns, shotguns, knives, mauls, and bats. And of course, the supernatural flame thrower of a man leading the pack. Mortanis began to call forth his own minions from the Netherworld, strengthening them with his own darkness. He wanted to get his hands on just one of those do-gooders so bad...
He muttered to himself "Two sides of the same coin; Alpha and Omega; good and evil. Time to see which is stronger."
"Ok. Right. Collapsing building, annoying weak enemies, and now unseen crouching death freaks. I need some air." White Masque said almost disgustedly, leaving the building. To see the woman being robbed of her purse.
And, as fate would have it, the building DID collapse right then. Starting with the entrance and working its way back, nobody else would be following White Masque out the entrance, and would probably miss the Hellion gang as a result. Possibly. Possibly really not at all, but sometimes for the sake of drama, certain things happened or didn't happen.
White Masque, being the hero that he was, drew his icy blade and calmy approached the gang and their victim. "Feeling better already." He said gleefully.
It had been so long since she'd done a psy-ward, Ceus wasn't sure the old enchantment was still holding, but if anything it just proved how superior the old magicks were.
Priorities: Get the hell out of Dodge, Find sneaky sneaky assassin, Get back home.
One of the heroes walked out, and that's when it all went to hell. Whoever made this overly complicated trap for a random assortment of heroes obviously didn't plan for derilict buildings to start collapsing because as soon as the ground starting shaking explosives started going off.
Cascades of fire started billowing up, and Ceus floated away from her cover, her cloak fading out of existance as her concentration faltered. Staring at the six heroes, Ceus changed her plans, what better way to get out unscathed than to have the heroes help her out?
"We have to get out of here! This whole place is going to blow!"
Infinity
Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
As the building was collapsing around him, Agent Techtro didn't waste his breath with words. He leapt down the hole in the floor in a freefall, hoping that the others would follow or find a better way out. Within seconds he could sense the bottom approaching, and twisted into an upright position. He landed on the floor as gracefully as if he had just hopped of a bus. He was relieved that his legs seemed not to have accumulated any damage. He was glad he had oiled them the day before.
He heard the sound of another one of his homemade bombs detonating. Even with his inhuman reflexes, he barely managed to dodge the falling masonary. The crashed into the floor, and as he watched the tiled floor of the base buckled and collapsed. But instead of hearing the dull thud of concrete hitting the ground, he heard a splash. He glanced down the jagged pit and saw greenish water flowing far below. Part of an abandoned sewer line.
He called out, hoping that someone would hear. "Guys! I think I found our exit!"
The building was collapsing all around them, Kokuin saw the only way oput and ran towards it, he glimpsed back to see everyone rushing into the hole as he was. He only stopped for a brief second to mumble "Told ya so."
Kokuin heard Techtro yell that he had found the exit. As Kokuin ran down the hole and without giving it much thought, leapt straight into the sewers. He landed in the abandonded sewer system head first on the concrete, but his head was tough and the pipes slightly slanted angle broke his fall. As Kokuin got up from the floor and the room had stopped spinning, Kokuin looked around in amazement and shouted to the others. "Hey guys, I think I know where we are!"
[ QUOTE ]
He called out, hoping that someone would hear. "Guys! I think I found our exit!"
[/ QUOTE ]
Professor IQ yelled out, "Let's go gang! Time waits for no one! Get out together! Leave no one behind! Watch each other's back!" He stood there trying to direct his new found allies as everything was going to hell in a handbasket around him. He slowly made his way to where Techtro had indicated he wanted the "Tanks" to continue holding the fort until all the less tough heroes could get out. Finally, knowing his own limitations, gave the "Tanks" a boost of density increase and speed boost and then got out with the rest of the heroes...
Techblaze had been catching his breath after the fight died down. He wasn't as young as many of the other heroes and didn't have any innate gifts of his own. He listened to the conversation carefully and was about to offer his own suggestions when the walls began to shudder. The sounds of creaking metal filled the air and it didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what was about to happen next. Bits and pieces began to rain down as the building's death throes took hold. His fellow heroes began scrambling for the hole but, for the moment, Techbalze wasn't in dange himself.
"Get in! Get in!" he cried, shoving someone towards the exit. The moment he had enough room to avoid causing friends serious injury, he cranked his shields to full. Angry flames that had been too long suppressed by his armour systems surged forth, scorching the floor. His gauntlets hummed as he deflected a large piece of debris, scattering broken pieces of ceiling around him. He felt a surge of power as the Professor's parting gift flowed over him, but it would prove a fruitless gesture. A chunk of building the size of a buick tore away from the ceiling with a wretched screech and plummetted towards the blazing hero.
"Bloody hell," he managed before the metal and plaster crashed around him.
With a groan he pushed his way out of the rubble. His armour was damaged, though it would repair itself in time.
"This is too much for me, mate," he called to Blood Owman. "I'll see you below."
As he leapt into the gap he once again toggled his armour to manage the heat. With a shower of sparks his system shorted and the whole thing shut down. He managed a terse "bugger me" before crashing to the ground in a heap.
"I'm getting too old for this rot," he mumbled from a prone position.
((OOC: Sorry it took so long to post. I got a Wii yesterday!))
Ceus watched Techblaze fall and cursed. Can't heroes even escape a burning building without heroic sacrifice coming up? Sweet Rosy O'Grady!
She backtracked quickly, picking up the hero and tossing him over her shoulder. The backtrack was important, it let her send out a small sphere of psychic communication away from the other psychic hero
Asuki, Lord Voltarr has a job for you, if you survive, meet me by the Faultline entrance to Pocket D.
Her message sent, hopefully recieved, Ceus siphoned some speed off a fire and followed the heroes into the sewers.
Infinity
Sam Varden 50 MA/Reg Scrap
Doomtastic 50 SS/Inv Brute
Ceus 50 Eng/Kin Corr
Cinderstorm 50 Fire/Fire Blaster
There was no better way to describe the events which unfolded than a 'fiasco'. A mastermind usually copes with the knowledge that not all his plans will be perfect, and changes will occur, but this... this was simply inconceivable. Out of the seven heroes in there, only one emerged before the building tumbled. Not that Mortanis wasn't glad to see the home of Faultline's finest crumble, but there was the matter of his commission. Well, there goes my deal with the Hellions. On the other hand, it should be an easy task to find necessary bits and/or pieces to receive my pay. But first to matters at hand, this hero needs his welcoming gift.
Mortanis tossed down a rock to where the Hellions where hiding, giving them the signal that there was only 1 left. Despite being shaken and confused by the demolition, the eager thought of taking down a super warmed the gang's resolve.
The 13 individuals revealed themselves, each staring with contempt at there enemy. The leader's hands, then arms, began to illuminate with nature's purest creation.
"Time to die, hero!"
[OOC: Bwerp, have fun
]
OOC:
Talk to the decoy, he's gonna be the one having fun with this.
OOC:
"Pshaw, dying is a slap on the wrist." White Masque said easily in response. "And you need to cool it." He pointed his blade at the Damned and a bolt of ice shot at him.
"Dude," Techtro mumbled as he stared at the sewer around them. "I sure HOPE you know where we are, cause I don't think we're in Kansas any more Toto." He shrugged off the feeling that someone was talking to him. The voice was far too quiet to actually be coming from any of his new allies.
"Blood Owman! Professor! Are you coming or not, people?!" He yelled up the hole, hoping fervently that someone would answer.
[ QUOTE ]
"Pshaw, dying is a slap on the wrist." White Masque said easily in response. "And you need to cool it." He pointed his blade at the Damned and a bolt of ice shot at him.
[/ QUOTE ]
Mortanis leapt from the rooftop, slowing his descent until he remained a few inches off the ground. His undead crawled out of the shadows, forming a line between him and the ice-flinging assailant. "If you believe that to be true, hero, then you have not died before. Let me teach you how to now."
He didn't care about his temporary allegiance to the gang, it was only to get to his goal. The ends justify the means. To eliminate the stronghold and it's occupants, that was his priority. All else was devoted to achieving it.
The Damned took the hit, probably to show off to the newer recruits. Not to say it didn't hurt, which only fueled his rage. Soon, bullets and fire sprayed to the white one holding the sword. Back by Mortanis, wave upon wave of negative energy was thrust towards the individual while the 'meat shields' and useful grave knights closed the distance between them.
Blood groaned, letting the rock fall on him without much worry, a large ice shell encasing his body, before moving to follow the others, sighing softly. "I hate being last... yet too... what's the modern word... lazy? Yes, I believe that's it, to make myself move so much in such a short amount of time." He chuckled to himself, before hoping down the hole, landing in the sewage, which, around him, turned instantly to ice.
Asuki's head snapped up, hearing the message, she smirks, licking her lips, and charging her hand, blowing away the rock around her. She'd been under a shelf like spot to avoid rubble. Her eyes gleamed red as she hurried out, "Mmmm mmm.... I can't wait... the very name sounds like money to me." She chuckles, "Might be etable too!" She giggled, tonguing her fang absently.
((OOC: maybe we need a quick post to update where everyone is and what everyone is doing just so no one gets confused.
As For IQ he is heading the way that Techblaze indicated so what is everyone else's status??))
"Or how about we just do what comes natural?" White Masque said cheerfully, tapping his icy blade against the side of Kokuin's head in a playful manner. "Tactics is all well and good, but this is hardly a strike force of villains we're dealing with. These. Things. SUCK." He waved in the direction of the smashed/sliced/obliterated spiderlings.
"Or is there a bomb we're supposed to stop from going off? A macGuffin we're supposed to protect? Why should we not just start fanning out and dropping everything we see?"