Inside the tunnel, all was quiet. As Ellie took a few steps inside, she heard the sound of first Jess, then Inago, dropping into the tunnel behind her. Silently, the trio advanced through the dank tunnel.
After almost 15 minutes of walking, the tunnel began to open out and signs of occupation could be seen ahead. Being extra silent now, Jess motioned for the two to hold back a moment and faded from sight, turning herself invisible so she could safely check the area ahead.
A few moments later, Jess reappeared and spoke in hushed tones, Theres a group of 4 Crey about 50 yards ahead, and 2 Malta operatives, one of them a sapper.
Inago narrowed his eyes, Any quantum weapons?
Not that I could sense.
Inago thought for a moment as he considered different tactics, Jess-Chan Ellie-Chan and I can take this group easily enough; can you scout ahead and try to locate Jo-Chan?
Jess considered this for a moment, Are you sure?
Inago nodded, explaining that with that many opponents, three of them fighting in such close quarters would be a mistake.
Reluctantly agreeing, Jess hugged the two of them, pausing to kiss Ellie on the cheek, then stepped back and disappeared from view once more. Good luck, give me two minutes to get clear, OK?
As the two nodded, Jess slipped further up the tunnel, her magic softening her footfalls into inaudibility. Once she reached the group of villains, she held her breath and slipped through a gap between two of the Crey agents, and moved around the corner and into the base proper.
********************************
Ellie and Inago meanwhile, were preparing themselves for battle. Taking a deep breath, Ellie focused her energies to increase her defensive powers, and a shield bubble flickered into view around her. It had been awhile since shed done this
Inago was busy stretching his legs, making sure he was loose enough so that he didnt suffer any strain and mess up the entire fight. After a moment, he nodded to Ellie and they both moved slowly down the tunnel.
Stopping just short of the corner around which their foe lay in wait, Ellie glanced at Inago and mouthed a single word, Now!
With a yell, the both sprang around the corner and charged the surprised agents.
Heading straight for the soldier with the sapper rifle, Ellie leapt into the air in front of him, and brought both fists down in a punishing blow to the head, knocking the man senseless. As he dropped his rifle, she slammed her foot into it and smashed it to pieces; then she delivered a crippling punch to his sternum and he dropped to the ground, gasping for breath and out of the fight.
Inago meanwhile, had charged straight into two Crey agents, taking one out with a vicious kick to the crotch. As he landed and rounded on the other, the agent pulled a handgun from his holster and started to draw a bead on the young hero. Swiftly leaping up, Inago performed a perfect backwards somersault and his toe hit the agent in the chin, knocking him out cold before he could fire his weapon.
As the second Crey agent dropped, Ellie was finishing the other Malta operative, firing a burst of energy directly into his chest and stunning him to unconsciousness. Pivoting on her heel, she stood next to Inago and they both faced their next two opponents, a Crisis Unit, and a Power Tank.
In unison, the two leapt at the Crey agents, Inago going for the Crisis Unit whilst Ellie tackled the Tank. Leaping again into the air, Ellie formed her hands into a pile driver and, with energy coruscating around her, slammed her fists into the Tanks armour, cracking it open. Staggering back, he raised his hand and fired a powerful blast of energy direct at Ellies Head.
Ellie didnt have time to duck and the blast caught her straight in the face. Her shield blocked most of the blast, but what got through blasted her off her feet and into the cave wall; she went down, her head smoking from the blast.
As the power tank walked over to her still form, ready to deliver a final killing blast, Ellie leapt back up. With an almost animal like snarl in her throat, she smashed into the Tanks armour, her energy claws fully extended. Scant seconds later, the form of the tank flew down the tunnel and smashed into the wall 20 feet away. With a groan, he slumped to the ground, not moving.
Meanwhile, Inago was having his own difficulties. The crisis unit he faced had managed to unholster his grenade launcher and had loosed a shot. As the mini-grenade flew at him, Inago threw himself to the floor, sweeping his assailants legs out from under him. With a yelp, the crisis unit clattered to the ground and swiftly Inago delivered a kick to the side of his head, knocking him cold.
Jumping back to his feet, Inago dashed over to Ellie, where smoke was still rising from her hair, Are you OK?
Ellie turned to look at him, energy flaring in her eyes, and answered in a distant, almost cold voice, I am fine Inago, do not concern yourself over me.
Inago stopped, puzzled at the sudden change that had come over her, Ellie-Chan? Whats wrong?
Ellie turned away from him and started to move further into the base, Nothing Inago; come, we must hurry.
Inago paused for a moment, looking at Ellie with a worried expression on his face, before moving to follow.
********************************
Jess, meanwhile, had managed to penetrate to the heart of the installation. As she approached the control centre, she heard angry voices ahead. Slipping quietly to just outside the entrance, she paused for a moment to listen.
Dammit Langdon, I told you not to harm her! We needed her intact you bloody fool!
We had no choice Harding! As soon as we revealed ourselves, the alien attacked; two of my men went down straight away! If we hadnt had those quantum weapons, we would have had a problem.
The man referred to as Harding grumbled something inaudible to Jess, before raising his voice again, There was no need to overdo it, you damned idiot! Driving the parasite out of Mathers was the last thing we needed. Now she might be useless to us!
Langdon seemed to mutter something under his breath, but too quietly to hear. Then his voice grew louder as Jess heard him approaching the entrance to the control room, and her hiding position. Oh shell be useful to us; I can guarantee you of that! Time to let some of the men have a little fun with her I think, soften her up a bit
Jesss eyes widened as she realised Langdons implication, the man had just sealed his own fate. Dropping her invisibility field, she set herself, and stepped into the doorway. Not if Ive got anything to say about it!
At those words, she raised her hand and cast a spell. Instantly, the man called Langdon was lifted into the air and thrown into his colleague in a jumbled tangle of arms and legs, a curse on his lips. Grimly, Jess stepped further into the room, slivers of her fiery armour manifesting themselves at her shoulders.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Inside the tunnel, all was quiet. As Ellie took a few steps inside, she heard the sound of first Jess, then Inago, dropping into the tunnel behind her. Silently, the trio advanced through the dank tunnel.
After almost 15 minutes of walking, the tunnel began to open out and signs of occupation could be seen ahead. Being extra silent now, Jess motioned for the two to hold back a moment and faded from sight, turning herself invisible so she could safely check the area ahead.
A few moments later, Jess reappeared and spoke in hushed tones, Theres a group of 4 Crey about 50 yards ahead, and 2 Malta operatives, one of them a sapper.
Inago narrowed his eyes, Any quantum weapons?
Not that I could sense.
Inago thought for a moment as he considered different tactics, Jess-Chan Ellie-Chan and I can take this group easily enough; can you scout ahead and try to locate Jo-Chan?
Jess considered this for a moment, Are you sure?
Inago nodded, explaining that with that many opponents, three of them fighting in such close quarters would be a mistake.
Reluctantly agreeing, Jess hugged the two of them, pausing to kiss Ellie on the cheek, then stepped back and disappeared from view once more. Good luck, give me two minutes to get clear, OK?
As the two nodded, Jess slipped further up the tunnel, her magic softening her footfalls into inaudibility. Once she reached the group of villains, she held her breath and slipped through a gap between two of the Crey agents, and moved around the corner and into the base proper.
********************************
Ellie and Inago meanwhile, were preparing themselves for battle. Taking a deep breath, Ellie focused her energies to increase her defensive powers, and a shield bubble flickered into view around her. It had been awhile since shed done this
Inago was busy stretching his legs, making sure he was loose enough so that he didnt suffer any strain and mess up the entire fight. After a moment, he nodded to Ellie and they both moved slowly down the tunnel.
Stopping just short of the corner around which their foe lay in wait, Ellie glanced at Inago and mouthed a single word, Now!
With a yell, the both sprang around the corner and charged the surprised agents.
Heading straight for the soldier with the sapper rifle, Ellie leapt into the air in front of him, and brought both fists down in a punishing blow to the head, knocking the man senseless. As he dropped his rifle, she slammed her foot into it and smashed it to pieces; then she delivered a crippling punch to his sternum and he dropped to the ground, gasping for breath and out of the fight.
Inago meanwhile, had charged straight into two Crey agents, taking one out with a vicious kick to the crotch. As he landed and rounded on the other, the agent pulled a handgun from his holster and started to draw a bead on the young hero. Swiftly leaping up, Inago performed a perfect backwards somersault and his toe hit the agent in the chin, knocking him out cold before he could fire his weapon.
As the second Crey agent dropped, Ellie was finishing the other Malta operative, firing a burst of energy directly into his chest and stunning him to unconsciousness. Pivoting on her heel, she stood next to Inago and they both faced their next two opponents, a Crisis Unit, and a Power Tank.
In unison, the two leapt at the Crey agents, Inago going for the Crisis Unit whilst Ellie tackled the Tank. Leaping again into the air, Ellie formed her hands into a pile driver and, with energy coruscating around her, slammed her fists into the Tanks armour, cracking it open. Staggering back, he raised his hand and fired a powerful blast of energy direct at Ellies Head.
Ellie didnt have time to duck and the blast caught her straight in the face. Her shield blocked most of the blast, but what got through blasted her off her feet and into the cave wall; she went down, her head smoking from the blast.
As the power tank walked over to her still form, ready to deliver a final killing blast, Ellie leapt back up. With an almost animal like snarl in her throat, she smashed into the Tanks armour, her energy claws fully extended. Scant seconds later, the form of the tank flew down the tunnel and smashed into the wall 20 feet away. With a groan, he slumped to the ground, not moving.
Meanwhile, Inago was having his own difficulties. The crisis unit he faced had managed to unholster his grenade launcher and had loosed a shot. As the mini-grenade flew at him, Inago threw himself to the floor, sweeping his assailants legs out from under him. With a yelp, the crisis unit clattered to the ground and swiftly Inago delivered a kick to the side of his head, knocking him cold.
Jumping back to his feet, Inago dashed over to Ellie, where smoke was still rising from her hair, Are you OK?
Ellie turned to look at him, energy flaring in her eyes, and answered in a distant, almost cold voice, I am fine Inago, do not concern yourself over me.
Inago stopped, puzzled at the sudden change that had come over her, Ellie-Chan? Whats wrong?
Ellie turned away from him and started to move further into the base, Nothing Inago; come, we must hurry.
Inago paused for a moment, looking at Ellie with a worried expression on his face, before moving to follow.
********************************
Jess, meanwhile, had managed to penetrate to the heart of the installation. As she approached the control centre, she heard angry voices ahead. Slipping quietly to just outside the entrance, she paused for a moment to listen.
Dammit Langdon, I told you not to harm her! We needed her intact you bloody fool!
We had no choice Harding! As soon as we revealed ourselves, the alien attacked; two of my men went down straight away! If we hadnt had those quantum weapons, we would have had a problem.
The man referred to as Harding grumbled something inaudible to Jess, before raising his voice again, There was no need to overdo it, you damned idiot! Driving the parasite out of Mathers was the last thing we needed. Now she might be useless to us!
Langdon seemed to mutter something under his breath, but too quietly to hear. Then his voice grew louder as Jess heard him approaching the entrance to the control room, and her hiding position. Oh shell be useful to us; I can guarantee you of that! Time to let some of the men have a little fun with her I think, soften her up a bit
Jesss eyes widened as she realised Langdons implication, the man had just sealed his own fate. Dropping her invisibility field, she set herself, and stepped into the doorway. Not if Ive got anything to say about it!
At those words, she raised her hand and cast a spell. Instantly, the man called Langdon was lifted into the air and thrown into his colleague in a jumbled tangle of arms and legs, a curse on his lips. Grimly, Jess stepped further into the room, slivers of her fiery armour manifesting themselves at her shoulders.
@FloatingFatMan
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.