Mobley Eats
Consume. Smother your doubts. Be fulfilled.
Original poster
LURKER MEMBER
FOLKLORE MEMBER
- Posting Speed
- 1-3 posts per day
- One post per day
- 1-3 posts per week
- One post per week
- Writing Levels
- Intermediate
- Adept
- Advanced
- Preferred Character Gender
- Male
- Female
- Transgender
- Primarily Prefer Female
- No Preferences
- Genres
- Modern, Romance, Fantasy, Scifi, Drama, Action.
Leviticus Recreational Center, Trent City
March 23rd, 2110
1:45 PM
Unit 10 - 537 Clifford Ave, Black Van | Agent Higarashi, Agent Coleman, Agent Delgado | Outside of Leviticus Recreational Center
A burst of static. Crackling. Then a dull voice cut through the Master Station, reaching the ears of each operative scouring Leviticus grounds.
"This is Tech Higarashi, Coleman, and Delgado of Unit 10 cueing in to all operatives present." Tadashi's fingers flew across the keyboard, tired eyes taking in the full array of monitors presented before him. The feed from the building's security cameras steadily rolled in. Well, most of it. He had left getting visual on the indoor playground, sports equipment room, and art gallery up to his fellow Techs.
Another wall of the same contraptions were installed behind him, where Agent Coleman manned her own station. Though her area was… overflowing with a whirlwind of her projects. The rest of the spacious van was reserved for Inez, who manned the wheel and also had her fair share of "big boom in the making" decorating the poor vehicle's floor.
"Units 4, 7, and 8--do you have sufficient sighting of the Chairman and Chief Wilhem on stage? Y'all better have your shit togetha," Tadashi said.
Z snap.
Not really. He was on the job.
However, Tadashi's brow furrowed when a glitch flickered across his screens, dancing in front of Inez and Thea's eyes as well. Weird. "Uh…" He spun in his chair to glance at the others. "Anybody wanna check that?" It was likely the monitors' shitty condition kicking into high gear, which was just terrible timing.
He placed his attention back on the monitors, fingers resting on the keys and twitching ever so slightly with phantom ticks; all this typing was starting to mess with his nerves, he just knew it. A hint of annoyance toiled in his gut. Archery didn't favor an unsteady hand--
Wait…
Catching something in his peripherals, he now shuffled towards the front of the van with Inez and pointed towards the entrance of Leviticus. Civilians had long since spilled into the building, leaving the premises and parking lot empty of life.
Except for one individual.
The gender was impossible to note through the thick overcoat and fedora, features hidden behind a flipped up collar. They came to a stop at the twin doors, refusing to go in and simply staring up at the structure.
"...Who the hell is that," Tadashi muttered, his voice tight.
Unit 4 - Stage | Gymnasium | Agent Flores, Agent Roscoe, Agent Alvarado, Chairman Creed, Chief Wilhem
A thick sea of bodies filled the gym from wall to wall. It was a miracle in itself that Chairman Creed and Chief Wilhem were capable of squeezing through the mass towards center stage; even with a handful of operatives guiding citizens aside to make room, it wasn't much.
"Keep all hands to yourself, please," one agent grumbled, his arm forming a bar against the excitable inhabitants of Trent City while his other hand hovered near the figureheads protectively. "Don't make us repeat ourselves! Stand aside!"
Wilhem, who'd been dusting off his hat and popping it free of any pesky dents, placed it over his head. Brow pinched, he leaned over and whispered stealthily to Creed, "Are your men always this fatalistic? They're people just like you and me."
"..." At first, there was no response. The silence radiating from Creed posed as both empty and stifling all at once before, finally, he slowly pulled off his shades. Then stuffed them into his breast pocket. His gaze never once flickered in Wilhem's direction. "With all due respect, Chief Wilhem, protocol and precaution exist for a reason. This isn't a 'rules are meant to be broken' situation," he drawled.
"We live to serve and protect, Mr. Creed." Wilhem's brow furrowed. "But I'm sure you'll always keep that in mind."
Not a suggestion, but an affirmation. Creed was far too familiar with this dance, but he wouldn't pick now to start a petty squabble. Instead, a soft scoff rolled under his breath. As they reached a short staircase leading up to the stage, he stepped aside and swung his arm out politely.
"After you."
A brief pause… Then Wilhem nodded and ascended with Creed following close behind. The moment their forms appeared on stage, the bustling whispers and chatter grew into a roaring cheer. News reporters flashed their cameras and started rolling the footage, zooming in on the stoic visages of Trent City's protectors.
Slapping on a professional smile, Creed shot Wilhem a look from his peripherals before approaching the podium, his posture tall and proud. The smooth Irish gravel of his voice echoed throughout the whole of Leviticus.
"It is a proud and empowering day for the people of Trent City. As you all know, the safety of our citizens will forever be…" He glanced over his shoulder at Wilhem, who matched his gaze without falter. A slow smile graced the Chairman's face and he directed attention to the crowd once more. "... Our top priority. And that priority, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Pure Bloods Agency and TCPD are officially joining forces."
Meanwhile, a trio of agents stood a short ways towards the back of the stage, remaining vigilant. One of them, Agent Lucien Alvarado, was stationed next to Agent Flores. "I'll keep visual on the east half of the crowd. You'll take the west."
Then he looked up, taking note of several more agents located a floor above and peering over the rails of the track. They seemed as alert as ever.
Agent Alvarado then glanced at Agent Roscoe standing to the opposite side of him. The hesitation was clear on his visage and rang through even further with his shift of tone. Something about the energetic redhead unsettled him, though it was not to say that Flores didn't disturb him as well… Alright, a handful of his fellow Pure Bloods bothered him. On a spiritual level.
"I will promise you, people of Trent City!" It was slim, barely a tinge of change, but the resolution that coated Chairman Creed's words threatened to steal the audience's breath away. Fire danced in his eyes, fingers curling tightly around the edge of the podium. "No more--no more will Mutants pump fear into our hearts. No more will Mutants treat us like prey. No more will they roam our streets! They will be! No! More!"
A thunderous cheer.
Creed bestowed Wilhem with a triumphant smirk and all the decorated officer could do was harden his mouth into an unreadable, thin line.
An attention hog to the bitter end--
Pop!
A series of crackling and snaps. One by one, fluorescent lights exploded overhead, showering the screaming citizens in shards and sparks. Only the rays of outside filtered into the building, providing the bare minimum of vision as the crowd exploded into an uproar.
Instantly, they turned tail and stampeded the door, trapping operatives within a writhing ocean of bodies.
"What the shit," Agent Alvarado growled under his breath. "Secure Creed!" However, as he reached for his Stinger at his hip, something ominous drew his attention.
They were spread out, almost impossible to initially notice in the chaos. Men of eerily similar visages remained stockstill in the crowd, before seizing up and twitching erratically in unison.
The sickening noise of snapping joints and shifting bone and squirming skin pierced the screams, until their torsos and necks bulged. Horrendous screeches and gurgles ripped from their throats before the growths did as well, pulling themselves free and hitting the floor with wet thuds. The pieces of flesh contorted into the shape of faceless, humanoid creatures but with limbs reminiscent of elongated four-pronged fingers.
Like bullets from a chamber, the little monsters skittered between the legs of terrified citizens and dashed directly towards the stage, while its hosts pounced on the nearest individual with their slobbering maws parted wide like a snake.
"Manus--It's a Manus!" Alvarado yelled. He whipped out his Stinger and aimed at the first monster crawling on stage. Two rounds unloaded, low grade bursts of electricity spindling around the bullets.
However, the Mutant dodged the attacks deftly, swerved around smoking craters, and rocketed into the agent's chest with enough force to throw him onto his back. Two more immediately swarmed and dragged him off backstage.
His pained hollers barely lasted a few seconds.
The rest then turned their sights on Agent Flores and Agent Roscoe, unleashing a gut-wrenching hiss.
Unit 8 - Main Lobby | Agent Queene, Agent Crowley
"Read you loud and clear, Sugar Taddy. Stage is in view," Lars said with a finger pressed to his Comm. His free hand rested on his hip, where a Stinger was holstered and fully loaded. Several Field Agents and police officers were dispersed throughout the massive crowd of civilians, their expressions hardened and senses on full alert. Today marked a historic event.
The joining of Pure Bloods with the Trent City Police Department.
Although whispers of the agreement had been floating about HQ from mouth to mouth and ear to ear, it was nothing more than speculation. Most operatives and mentors approved of this development, seeing the practical improvements and benefits it would grant, while a scant few held some doubt. Regardless, Chairman Creed had the final say and going against his calls was nothing short of stupidity on an operative's part.
Lars let his shaded gaze roam the lobby. Eh… he doubted there would be much of an issue. Like, yeah, it was a huge gathering of people in one place, which posed as a buffet for most Mutants, but every exit, window, and several miles beyond the property were patented down with Scanners. Any Mutant who dared to step an inch past that barrier would be put down on the spot, whether it be via 1,000 volts of electricity frying them to a crisp, a sniper bullet between the eyes, or flash frozen into a popsicle.
Thus, Lars just enjoyed the smiling and excited faces spilling inside. The people were mostly composed of… the people. Families. Mothers and fathers and children with their siblings. Grandparents hobbling up to aunts and uncles. The whole shabang.
Lars was stationed at the entry into Unit 4's territory, where the stage was already set up. From his vantage point, Lars had a decent view of Creed and Wilhem, though it could stand to be better. The same could be said for his partner, Agent Crowley.
But in all honesty… Lars just wanted some beer, man.
"Gooooootta get smashed after thiiiiis," he sang under his voice, though he also shot a devious smile Crowley's way. "You down for that? Cuz I am. Oh--you know what?" Lars tuned back into the Comms. "Hey, hey guys! How about after all this, we get a drink at Martin's, yeah? Best damn bar around." Only the best because he hadn't been kicked out of that one--yet.
All harmless jokes aside, Lars was getting pretty damn bored already, and the Conference just started. Yeesh--he would keel over and fall asleep on the tiles at this rate. Just as his foot started to tap out of habit, he cast another glance towards the lobby entrance.
A single person stood outside. From this distance, Lars couldn't make out their face, but they were definitely looking at him and Crowley.
"Err…" Lars glanced at Crowley from his peripherals, then back to the mystery figure. "Think they're lost or something--"
"Manus! Manus!!!"
"Aah!! Wha--whazzit?!" Lars's natural reaction to a scream was to do the same immediately after, nearly jumping out of his own skin in the process. The lights above shattered and citizens started spilling out into the lobby like mad.
However, they couldn't get far.
The stranger slowly extended both arms. Their palms shuddered and writhed, until their pores expanded and tore themselves free, allowing several more Manus to hit the floor and flood the double doors. The swarm continued to crawl forth from the Mutant's hands, multiplying more and more by the second.
Lars gulped. "Oh… Oh dude, this fucking sucks!"
Unit 3 - Swimming Pool | Miscellaneous Agents
Despite the swimming pool's closed off space, operatives could still feel the floors shake with cheers before they actually heard it. They didn't allow themselves to dawdle for long, however, and kept circling the massive pool.
A long row of windows lined the upper level of one wall, stretching from one end to the other, while the opposite wall only held a few that granted vision of the Conference occurring next door.
"Visual on Wilhem and Creed, confirmed," One agent murmured into her Comms. At the rate things were going, the Pure Bloods expected a headache-free operation and drinking themselves senseless until dawn.
The lights shattered.
Then came the screams of horror.
At first, the agents fell still with shock, until a pair shook out of their reverie and started sprinting around the perimeter of the pool towards the door.
None of them were aware of the water's surface rippling before it was too late. A formless blob emerged and towered over them like a rising tsunami, tendrils peeling from the sides to form fluid arms.
"Calling all units! We require back--Ah!"
Water wrapped around both of their heads and mouths like a slippery lasso, then violently yanked them back into the pool. They thrashed fruitlessly against the intangible hold.
"Jesus!" The lone agent who remained standing found himself between a rock and a hard place. His gaze switched back and forth between his drowning compatriots and Manus ransacking the gym full of innocent people.
Unit 1 & 2 - Indoor Playground | Agent Mortemer & Miscellaneous Agents
Manus crawled into the Indoor Playground, hissing in glee as their absent gazes landed on their next meal. The children's cries and sobs of horror echoed throughout the Nemo-themed space, before climbing the net to the top of the playplace. They huddled themselves flat against the back wall, shaking with terror.
Two other agents beside Agent Mortemer fired at the little monsters in a frenzy. One Manus managed to slip past an operative's defenses and started its venture up the net, hungry for human flesh.
Another blast decimated it on the spot, nothing but ash left…
Then the tiniest flicker of a flame sprouted.
"Shit," the agent cursed. Things just got a million times worse. He whipped around to face Agent Mortemer, "Handle the fire and keep an eye on the kids! We've got the Manus!" And yet, even as he said this, the numbers proved to be overwhelming.
Unit 5 & 7 - Art Gallery | Miscellaneous Agents
The entry into the Art Gallery stood as a pair of steel doors auto-operated by a lock system adhering to the building's open hours. With every arrival of an appreciator of the arts, the dial pad beside it emitted a confirmation beep and flashed green, then emitted a click every time it closed.
However, on this important day, only a handful of agents roamed the gallery. It was dimly lit, illuminated by a few tastefully placed neon lights hanging overhead. The area in itself was nothing short of a maze, a complex series of twists and turns that would unnerve any visitor. Fortunately, little signs with directions and arrows stood in some places, though they were nothing more than printed paper laminated and perched on poles--
The lights shattered, pitch darkness flooding the gallery.
Then screams shook the walls.
Immediately, the agents activated their Nightshades and made a mad dash for the double doors, but they refused to budge. The dial pad crackled once, twice, then shut down completely.
A low hiss slithered down the agents' backs like tar.
Scratching and skitters echoed.
Unit 6 - Indeed Office Tower | Agent Hayes & Agent Agate
"Just another day on the job…"
Oh yeah, for sure. Except for the fact that Agent Agate was stationed in some preppy office building. She couldn't even begin to count how many times a starstruck intern had stuck their head into their scouting spot and--
"Uh, hey? Steve here. Hate to interrupt but--"
Agent Agate sighed. "If this is what popularity is all about, then thank God I was a geek in highschool." Pulling back from the scope on her sniper rifle, she tossed a lazy look behind her.
Some fresh-faced intern stood at the door of an empty office, freckles as red hot as his short choppy hair decorating his visage. Wide glasses slid down his nose every five seconds.
"If you want an autograph, I sprained my hand last night. If you wanna chill with us, gimme like five minutes to make a Tik Tok account." Ha--as if. "Anything else? Refer to my social buddy here. But we're kinda on the clock here."
She patted Agent Hayes on the shoulder, who was positioned near the window next to hers. Leviticus Recreational Center stood several blocks away from the Indeed Office Tower; the company was more than happy to let Sniper Operatives take up posts on several floors.
But apparently, management failed to fill in their newbies on, say, not harassing the operatives with their endless list of questions. Steve was definitely one of the uninformed. "H-ha. Heh. That's funny," he giggled, voice shaky with nerves and palms sweaty, "Just wondering… Do you guys really sit here for hours?"
"Yep."
"And can do headshots like it's nothing? Call of Duty style?"
"Sure."
"A-and have bullets powerful enough to go through steel walls??"
"Don't know; I just shoot and leave it up to God." Whatever else Steve proceeded to babble about, Agent Agate tuned out the rest when she looked through the scope again, switching back to infrared settings. She highly doubt a Mutant signature would turn up, considering the scanners everywhere, but a little caution never hur--
… One… two… five, six, twelve, twenty. More and more filling the building. "Son… of a-Hayes! We gotta go. Now." Sniping from here wouldn't do any good; they were better off lending their man power closer to the premises. However, as she turned around, Steven was nowhere to be seen.
And the door was closed.
The floor underneath her feet rumbled, the dreadful sound of crumbling plaster and concrete hitting her ears. Was… Was that-- "Screaming," she breathed, looking back at Hayes. There wasn't a single Mutant in the codex that could dismantle buildings.
Not one.
March 23rd, 2110
1:45 PM
Unit 10 - 537 Clifford Ave, Black Van | Agent Higarashi, Agent Coleman, Agent Delgado | Outside of Leviticus Recreational Center
A burst of static. Crackling. Then a dull voice cut through the Master Station, reaching the ears of each operative scouring Leviticus grounds.
"This is Tech Higarashi, Coleman, and Delgado of Unit 10 cueing in to all operatives present." Tadashi's fingers flew across the keyboard, tired eyes taking in the full array of monitors presented before him. The feed from the building's security cameras steadily rolled in. Well, most of it. He had left getting visual on the indoor playground, sports equipment room, and art gallery up to his fellow Techs.
Another wall of the same contraptions were installed behind him, where Agent Coleman manned her own station. Though her area was… overflowing with a whirlwind of her projects. The rest of the spacious van was reserved for Inez, who manned the wheel and also had her fair share of "big boom in the making" decorating the poor vehicle's floor.
"Units 4, 7, and 8--do you have sufficient sighting of the Chairman and Chief Wilhem on stage? Y'all better have your shit togetha," Tadashi said.
Z snap.
Not really. He was on the job.
However, Tadashi's brow furrowed when a glitch flickered across his screens, dancing in front of Inez and Thea's eyes as well. Weird. "Uh…" He spun in his chair to glance at the others. "Anybody wanna check that?" It was likely the monitors' shitty condition kicking into high gear, which was just terrible timing.
He placed his attention back on the monitors, fingers resting on the keys and twitching ever so slightly with phantom ticks; all this typing was starting to mess with his nerves, he just knew it. A hint of annoyance toiled in his gut. Archery didn't favor an unsteady hand--
Wait…
Catching something in his peripherals, he now shuffled towards the front of the van with Inez and pointed towards the entrance of Leviticus. Civilians had long since spilled into the building, leaving the premises and parking lot empty of life.
Except for one individual.
The gender was impossible to note through the thick overcoat and fedora, features hidden behind a flipped up collar. They came to a stop at the twin doors, refusing to go in and simply staring up at the structure.
"...Who the hell is that," Tadashi muttered, his voice tight.
Unit 4 - Stage | Gymnasium | Agent Flores, Agent Roscoe, Agent Alvarado, Chairman Creed, Chief Wilhem
A thick sea of bodies filled the gym from wall to wall. It was a miracle in itself that Chairman Creed and Chief Wilhem were capable of squeezing through the mass towards center stage; even with a handful of operatives guiding citizens aside to make room, it wasn't much.
"Keep all hands to yourself, please," one agent grumbled, his arm forming a bar against the excitable inhabitants of Trent City while his other hand hovered near the figureheads protectively. "Don't make us repeat ourselves! Stand aside!"
Wilhem, who'd been dusting off his hat and popping it free of any pesky dents, placed it over his head. Brow pinched, he leaned over and whispered stealthily to Creed, "Are your men always this fatalistic? They're people just like you and me."
"..." At first, there was no response. The silence radiating from Creed posed as both empty and stifling all at once before, finally, he slowly pulled off his shades. Then stuffed them into his breast pocket. His gaze never once flickered in Wilhem's direction. "With all due respect, Chief Wilhem, protocol and precaution exist for a reason. This isn't a 'rules are meant to be broken' situation," he drawled.
"We live to serve and protect, Mr. Creed." Wilhem's brow furrowed. "But I'm sure you'll always keep that in mind."
Not a suggestion, but an affirmation. Creed was far too familiar with this dance, but he wouldn't pick now to start a petty squabble. Instead, a soft scoff rolled under his breath. As they reached a short staircase leading up to the stage, he stepped aside and swung his arm out politely.
"After you."
A brief pause… Then Wilhem nodded and ascended with Creed following close behind. The moment their forms appeared on stage, the bustling whispers and chatter grew into a roaring cheer. News reporters flashed their cameras and started rolling the footage, zooming in on the stoic visages of Trent City's protectors.
Slapping on a professional smile, Creed shot Wilhem a look from his peripherals before approaching the podium, his posture tall and proud. The smooth Irish gravel of his voice echoed throughout the whole of Leviticus.
"It is a proud and empowering day for the people of Trent City. As you all know, the safety of our citizens will forever be…" He glanced over his shoulder at Wilhem, who matched his gaze without falter. A slow smile graced the Chairman's face and he directed attention to the crowd once more. "... Our top priority. And that priority, ladies and gentlemen, is why the Pure Bloods Agency and TCPD are officially joining forces."
Meanwhile, a trio of agents stood a short ways towards the back of the stage, remaining vigilant. One of them, Agent Lucien Alvarado, was stationed next to Agent Flores. "I'll keep visual on the east half of the crowd. You'll take the west."
Then he looked up, taking note of several more agents located a floor above and peering over the rails of the track. They seemed as alert as ever.
Agent Alvarado then glanced at Agent Roscoe standing to the opposite side of him. The hesitation was clear on his visage and rang through even further with his shift of tone. Something about the energetic redhead unsettled him, though it was not to say that Flores didn't disturb him as well… Alright, a handful of his fellow Pure Bloods bothered him. On a spiritual level.
"I know this isn't your primary category… but we need all the manpower we can handle when it comes to the Chairman's safety." Agent Alvarado failed to mention Chief Wilhem and made no attempt to correct his mistake. "Anything happens, you stick to what you know best--staying out of our way and dipping paper in Mutant piss.""I will promise you, people of Trent City!" It was slim, barely a tinge of change, but the resolution that coated Chairman Creed's words threatened to steal the audience's breath away. Fire danced in his eyes, fingers curling tightly around the edge of the podium. "No more--no more will Mutants pump fear into our hearts. No more will Mutants treat us like prey. No more will they roam our streets! They will be! No! More!"
A thunderous cheer.
Creed bestowed Wilhem with a triumphant smirk and all the decorated officer could do was harden his mouth into an unreadable, thin line.
An attention hog to the bitter end--
Pop!
A series of crackling and snaps. One by one, fluorescent lights exploded overhead, showering the screaming citizens in shards and sparks. Only the rays of outside filtered into the building, providing the bare minimum of vision as the crowd exploded into an uproar.
Instantly, they turned tail and stampeded the door, trapping operatives within a writhing ocean of bodies.
"What the shit," Agent Alvarado growled under his breath. "Secure Creed!" However, as he reached for his Stinger at his hip, something ominous drew his attention.
They were spread out, almost impossible to initially notice in the chaos. Men of eerily similar visages remained stockstill in the crowd, before seizing up and twitching erratically in unison.
The sickening noise of snapping joints and shifting bone and squirming skin pierced the screams, until their torsos and necks bulged. Horrendous screeches and gurgles ripped from their throats before the growths did as well, pulling themselves free and hitting the floor with wet thuds. The pieces of flesh contorted into the shape of faceless, humanoid creatures but with limbs reminiscent of elongated four-pronged fingers.
Like bullets from a chamber, the little monsters skittered between the legs of terrified citizens and dashed directly towards the stage, while its hosts pounced on the nearest individual with their slobbering maws parted wide like a snake.
"Manus--It's a Manus!" Alvarado yelled. He whipped out his Stinger and aimed at the first monster crawling on stage. Two rounds unloaded, low grade bursts of electricity spindling around the bullets.
However, the Mutant dodged the attacks deftly, swerved around smoking craters, and rocketed into the agent's chest with enough force to throw him onto his back. Two more immediately swarmed and dragged him off backstage.
His pained hollers barely lasted a few seconds.
The rest then turned their sights on Agent Flores and Agent Roscoe, unleashing a gut-wrenching hiss.
Unit 8 - Main Lobby | Agent Queene, Agent Crowley
"Read you loud and clear, Sugar Taddy. Stage is in view," Lars said with a finger pressed to his Comm. His free hand rested on his hip, where a Stinger was holstered and fully loaded. Several Field Agents and police officers were dispersed throughout the massive crowd of civilians, their expressions hardened and senses on full alert. Today marked a historic event.
The joining of Pure Bloods with the Trent City Police Department.
Although whispers of the agreement had been floating about HQ from mouth to mouth and ear to ear, it was nothing more than speculation. Most operatives and mentors approved of this development, seeing the practical improvements and benefits it would grant, while a scant few held some doubt. Regardless, Chairman Creed had the final say and going against his calls was nothing short of stupidity on an operative's part.
Lars let his shaded gaze roam the lobby. Eh… he doubted there would be much of an issue. Like, yeah, it was a huge gathering of people in one place, which posed as a buffet for most Mutants, but every exit, window, and several miles beyond the property were patented down with Scanners. Any Mutant who dared to step an inch past that barrier would be put down on the spot, whether it be via 1,000 volts of electricity frying them to a crisp, a sniper bullet between the eyes, or flash frozen into a popsicle.
Thus, Lars just enjoyed the smiling and excited faces spilling inside. The people were mostly composed of… the people. Families. Mothers and fathers and children with their siblings. Grandparents hobbling up to aunts and uncles. The whole shabang.
Lars was stationed at the entry into Unit 4's territory, where the stage was already set up. From his vantage point, Lars had a decent view of Creed and Wilhem, though it could stand to be better. The same could be said for his partner, Agent Crowley.
But in all honesty… Lars just wanted some beer, man.
"Gooooootta get smashed after thiiiiis," he sang under his voice, though he also shot a devious smile Crowley's way. "You down for that? Cuz I am. Oh--you know what?" Lars tuned back into the Comms. "Hey, hey guys! How about after all this, we get a drink at Martin's, yeah? Best damn bar around." Only the best because he hadn't been kicked out of that one--yet.
All harmless jokes aside, Lars was getting pretty damn bored already, and the Conference just started. Yeesh--he would keel over and fall asleep on the tiles at this rate. Just as his foot started to tap out of habit, he cast another glance towards the lobby entrance.
A single person stood outside. From this distance, Lars couldn't make out their face, but they were definitely looking at him and Crowley.
"Err…" Lars glanced at Crowley from his peripherals, then back to the mystery figure. "Think they're lost or something--"
"Manus! Manus!!!"
"Aah!! Wha--whazzit?!" Lars's natural reaction to a scream was to do the same immediately after, nearly jumping out of his own skin in the process. The lights above shattered and citizens started spilling out into the lobby like mad.
However, they couldn't get far.
The stranger slowly extended both arms. Their palms shuddered and writhed, until their pores expanded and tore themselves free, allowing several more Manus to hit the floor and flood the double doors. The swarm continued to crawl forth from the Mutant's hands, multiplying more and more by the second.
Lars gulped. "Oh… Oh dude, this fucking sucks!"
Unit 3 - Swimming Pool | Miscellaneous Agents
Despite the swimming pool's closed off space, operatives could still feel the floors shake with cheers before they actually heard it. They didn't allow themselves to dawdle for long, however, and kept circling the massive pool.
A long row of windows lined the upper level of one wall, stretching from one end to the other, while the opposite wall only held a few that granted vision of the Conference occurring next door.
"Visual on Wilhem and Creed, confirmed," One agent murmured into her Comms. At the rate things were going, the Pure Bloods expected a headache-free operation and drinking themselves senseless until dawn.
The lights shattered.
Then came the screams of horror.
At first, the agents fell still with shock, until a pair shook out of their reverie and started sprinting around the perimeter of the pool towards the door.
None of them were aware of the water's surface rippling before it was too late. A formless blob emerged and towered over them like a rising tsunami, tendrils peeling from the sides to form fluid arms.
"Calling all units! We require back--Ah!"
Water wrapped around both of their heads and mouths like a slippery lasso, then violently yanked them back into the pool. They thrashed fruitlessly against the intangible hold.
"Jesus!" The lone agent who remained standing found himself between a rock and a hard place. His gaze switched back and forth between his drowning compatriots and Manus ransacking the gym full of innocent people.
Unit 1 & 2 - Indoor Playground | Agent Mortemer & Miscellaneous Agents
Manus crawled into the Indoor Playground, hissing in glee as their absent gazes landed on their next meal. The children's cries and sobs of horror echoed throughout the Nemo-themed space, before climbing the net to the top of the playplace. They huddled themselves flat against the back wall, shaking with terror.
Two other agents beside Agent Mortemer fired at the little monsters in a frenzy. One Manus managed to slip past an operative's defenses and started its venture up the net, hungry for human flesh.
Another blast decimated it on the spot, nothing but ash left…
Then the tiniest flicker of a flame sprouted.
"Shit," the agent cursed. Things just got a million times worse. He whipped around to face Agent Mortemer, "Handle the fire and keep an eye on the kids! We've got the Manus!" And yet, even as he said this, the numbers proved to be overwhelming.
Unit 5 & 7 - Art Gallery | Miscellaneous Agents
The entry into the Art Gallery stood as a pair of steel doors auto-operated by a lock system adhering to the building's open hours. With every arrival of an appreciator of the arts, the dial pad beside it emitted a confirmation beep and flashed green, then emitted a click every time it closed.
However, on this important day, only a handful of agents roamed the gallery. It was dimly lit, illuminated by a few tastefully placed neon lights hanging overhead. The area in itself was nothing short of a maze, a complex series of twists and turns that would unnerve any visitor. Fortunately, little signs with directions and arrows stood in some places, though they were nothing more than printed paper laminated and perched on poles--
The lights shattered, pitch darkness flooding the gallery.
Then screams shook the walls.
Immediately, the agents activated their Nightshades and made a mad dash for the double doors, but they refused to budge. The dial pad crackled once, twice, then shut down completely.
A low hiss slithered down the agents' backs like tar.
Scratching and skitters echoed.
Unit 6 - Indeed Office Tower | Agent Hayes & Agent Agate
"Just another day on the job…"
Oh yeah, for sure. Except for the fact that Agent Agate was stationed in some preppy office building. She couldn't even begin to count how many times a starstruck intern had stuck their head into their scouting spot and--
"Uh, hey? Steve here. Hate to interrupt but--"
Agent Agate sighed. "If this is what popularity is all about, then thank God I was a geek in highschool." Pulling back from the scope on her sniper rifle, she tossed a lazy look behind her.
Some fresh-faced intern stood at the door of an empty office, freckles as red hot as his short choppy hair decorating his visage. Wide glasses slid down his nose every five seconds.
"If you want an autograph, I sprained my hand last night. If you wanna chill with us, gimme like five minutes to make a Tik Tok account." Ha--as if. "Anything else? Refer to my social buddy here. But we're kinda on the clock here."
She patted Agent Hayes on the shoulder, who was positioned near the window next to hers. Leviticus Recreational Center stood several blocks away from the Indeed Office Tower; the company was more than happy to let Sniper Operatives take up posts on several floors.
But apparently, management failed to fill in their newbies on, say, not harassing the operatives with their endless list of questions. Steve was definitely one of the uninformed. "H-ha. Heh. That's funny," he giggled, voice shaky with nerves and palms sweaty, "Just wondering… Do you guys really sit here for hours?"
"Yep."
"And can do headshots like it's nothing? Call of Duty style?"
"Sure."
"A-and have bullets powerful enough to go through steel walls??"
"Don't know; I just shoot and leave it up to God." Whatever else Steve proceeded to babble about, Agent Agate tuned out the rest when she looked through the scope again, switching back to infrared settings. She highly doubt a Mutant signature would turn up, considering the scanners everywhere, but a little caution never hur--
… One… two… five, six, twelve, twenty. More and more filling the building. "Son… of a-Hayes! We gotta go. Now." Sniping from here wouldn't do any good; they were better off lending their man power closer to the premises. However, as she turned around, Steven was nowhere to be seen.
And the door was closed.
The floor underneath her feet rumbled, the dreadful sound of crumbling plaster and concrete hitting her ears. Was… Was that-- "Screaming," she breathed, looking back at Hayes. There wasn't a single Mutant in the codex that could dismantle buildings.
Not one.
OBJECTIVES
Disaster has unfolded at Leviticus Recreational Center and the Indeed Office Tower. Act fast and act smart, as innocent lives are at stake. These are your following objectives:
Unit 10 || Identify what caused the building's power to cut off and rectify the issue as quickly as possible. Afterwards, acquire the security cameras of the rest of the building and give directions to the agents in most need. (Notes will be DMed to you shortly) @Collapse @WingWong
Unit 4 || Protect Chairman Creed, Chief Wilhem, and the citizens from the Manus. Then lend aid to another unit of your choice--just choose wisely. Locate and save Agent Alvarado. @Elle Joyner @KatSea
Unit 8 || Exterminate the Manus and its host. Protect the citizens in the lobby and rally them outside to safety. @KatSea
Units 1 & 2 || Exterminate all Manus, secure the children, and contain the fire before it spreads. @Elle Joyner
Unit 6 || Escape the locked room and exterminate the Unknown Mutant. Exit the crumbling Indeed Office Tower with citizens and reach Leviticus Recreational Center via company Buick. (Notes will be DMed to you shortly) @WingWong
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