COLLABORATION POST: GM, Idan, Kiana, Tokui, Moon-Knight, Luer, Anri
As Idan is carried further and further away from the metallic monster into the white-warm light, his struggling stops, his heartrate slows, and his breathing returns to normal. He mutters in relief, "Thank fuckin' Zion. I thou-"
However, his words stop as he shivers at a sudden drop in the temperature. He curses under his breath, before craning his neck up to see the darkness above. With exasperation in his voice, he exclaims. "We're not outta'tha fuckin' woods yet!? Really?"
As he hears the sounds of chanting, war, and the slight buzz of electricity(?) - from in front of him, where neck can't crane - he taps along the sides of the clone-ninja carrying him. "Can ya let me down now? This is startin' to cramp."
-
The knight would put Luer down once they seemed to be in safety. With three doorways to choose from, the most obvious candidate in his mind was the one that was already here before the other two opened up.
But that didn't exactly mean it wouldn't be a trap of some kind. "Anyone have a flair gun or can shoot a fire ball?" He asked the group suddenly.
-
"I mean, if somebody-" Idan wriggles in his grasp. "-would put me down. I could probably make somethin' like that." He tries to reach for his pack before suddenly wincing in pain and grabbing his arm. "Shite! Scratch that. Fire lass-" He nods his head towards the woman mentioned. "-over here's probably your best bet."
-
As if the terrible worm of metal wasn't a problem by itself, what followed was a similarly peculiar situation; a much colder room, with three pathways waiting, each making strange sounds. Dusting herself down, Kiana rolled her shoulders and shook her head to get herself back in gear. Once Idan's voice called her way after the Moon Knight's request, Kiana's expression became firm as embers began to form around her hands.
"I've plenty of fire to spare, where do we need it?" She simply asked, eyeing every doorway that seemed to lead only to total darkness, pitch black that could not be parsed at all without light, the question was; which path to take?
-
"Can you shoot something down each of these?" He asked her, pointed to the three passages. He wanted to see what was inside them, how far they went, and if anything was waiting down there to ambush them.
Each was so dark, they couldn't make out anything past a few feet.
-
"Gotcha." Kiana replied as the embers formed into brilliant flames in her palms and with three swift motions, she'd throw fireballs down each pathway, so that they would land someway inside each of them, providing small sources of light. She wasn't finished though, as with a raise of her hand and a few more embers surged from her hands, the fireballs would brighten further still, illuminating the passages ahead of them just a little more.
-
The unusual darkness of this place struck once more, as while Kiana's fire illuminated the passages greatly, they would each reach a distance of twenty feet before they blew out. Not because of the cold around them, or lack of oxygen.
But instead, like the darkness' ate' the fire. Still, from the short time they could see, the passages were circular and smooth looking, unaffected by the shifting blocks that phased through and changed the stations topography like previously. And the sounds each made didn't disappear by the sounds of the fire, remaining as is.
-
"Shit." Moon Knight muttered under his breathe.
-
Kiana let out a small grunt of frustration as she lowered her hands. "I'm so sick of these shadows." She spoke harshly, then looked to Moon Knight. "Ever seen anything like this?"
-
"Nothing like this," he answered her. "Attacks light, leaves everything else intact."
-
Luer was far from feeling content. The last thing he needed was picked up again after throwing up earlier. Once he was put down he simply slumped on the floor and groaned. He did not have anything more to throw up even if he wanted to. "I said it before… I will say it again… please… do not ever do that again…" He said in a whine. He knew carrying him could not be helped after he threw up, but it did little to settle this feeling at all after he was yanked into the air the first time.
He took a moment to rub his head as he heard Idan, taking slow breaths to try and help calm his body down. No, he did not feel any better. He gestured towards Tokui to drop Idan near him. "I can take care of that arm…" He commented. All he really wanted to sleep… and drink something to get that vile taste out of his mouth. But he could not ignore their situation, and as useless as he was right now, healing was about all he was good for at the moment. That did not require he move much.
-
A shinobi must be plentiful and resourceful when it comes to strategies, Tokui thought, but kept said thought to himself as he held the man through his struggles. There were more pressing matters at hand than arguing with a civilian about their rescue. Said views on the person he was carrying changed a tad bit when he noticed he was crafting an explosive through the pain of a dislocated arm. Anri's Tokui, the true one, she was more cooperative. Motivating Tokui to answer when she asked if they were headed for the light "We are, yes."
Not long after, the young girl came with another question. "I will leave that part to those of us who at least know what this core talk m-" He cut himself off as one of the clones tailing the group saw the metallic monster deviate towards the explosion caused by the guy carried by him. There was no need for the extra clones to attempt a distraction again, good call on the injured's part.
Not much was left until they met the light, and the light radiated them with warmth. This lasted just a few moments, however. As the light faded away, along with the heat. Now in a colder area, they were met with a strange choice.
Five Tokuis scanned the area, until a passenger asked to be put down. "Right, apologies", then, just as he was about to let go, the archer indicated he could help with the arm. "Understood." He said, as he allowed the pyrotechnic artist to stand on his own next to the archer. "That goes for you as well. You have good aim." Another Tokui commented as he put down the one eyed shooter. He could see the empty socket through the hairs of her bangs, but they just met. There's a time and place.
The guy in white asked around if someone had a light source to likely use on the darkened paths. After a brief exchange with the fire lady, fire was shot... Achieving nothing. Tokui thought for a moment, wondering if he knew of something like this. "I could send clones, but they are frail. And my eyes can't pierce this darkness."
-
Idan groans as he's let off of the clone ninja's back. "Finally! Bein' held like a sack of potatoes by Oni Lee's long lost cousin isn't how I expected to spend my day."
He looks towards the the fiery girl. "I've actually knew a cape like this in the Bay. He was a Shaker, had this dark fog-like thing that fucked with light, radio signals, and shite like that. Did the petty cops-n-robber runaround with a group of his. Though this-" He gestures to the shadowy door ways. "-is on a way larger scale. Shaker 10 or 11. Capable of throwin' shite through the darkness. Easily an S-Class Threat. Same going for whoever tinker'd up this place."
Idan turns towards the sickly archer and beckons them forward with his good arm. "Alright. Come'on. I've been 'round the block with this before. Just get over here and shove the arm right. I won't cry."
-
"Thank you!", said Anri. "Captain Evelynn had me learn how to use this since Argus didn't wanna teach me.
She sat where she was for a moment to see what everyone else was doing. Some were trying to deal with the doors, while others were getting aid for their injuries. Anri, not paying attention to everything, as you do, only noticed the older man asking to get his arm popped back into place. Very painful experience, but effective for a while. She also noticed one of the ladies casting fire spells. It looks like the darkness is back, and now a real obstacle. Hm.
She gets curious, and moves towards one of the doorways. She doesn't enter any of them, obviously, but she does get close enough for a closer look.
"Hm."
Randomly, she took out one of her knives and threw them into the darkness, listening for any reaction.
-
The knife would go through, however, she wouldn't hear it hit anything, or even drop. It just disappeared.
-
"Ooh. Let's see…"
Anri proceeds to take out two more knives and throw them into the other two doors.
-
Luer nodded, though he frankly did not want to move. He took a breath and forced himself to his feet slowly, then made his way to Idan. He took his left hand glove off and handed it to the other man. "Here, bite." He stated, moving to wrap his arm left arm gently around the man's dislocated one.
Whether or not Idan chose to actually use the glove or not, Luer gave him a moment and when he was ready, he braced his right arm against Idan's body. With one quick motion, pushing against Idan with his right arm and pulling on the man's arm with his left, he popped the dislocated shoulder back in place with a rather loud 'POP'.
-
Idan bites into the offered glove and closes his eyes. He winces in pain, as he feels the archer wrap one of their arms around his dislocated one. Knowing what's about to come next, Idan steady himself as the archer braces against him, planting both his feet firmly against the ground. Inside his mind, he begins egging himself on. 'Come'on. Ya fuckin' go-' However, his thoughts are interrupted by a flash of pain and the sound of a loud 'POP!'
Surprisingly, Idan manages to keep his groan of pain rather minimum, only unleashing a short grunt before spitting out the glove and muttering a rapid, "Thanks..." as he starts to work his arm around.
-
The same thing happens to the second door, but interestingly, the third door seems to do something to the knife. The one that hums with electricity, as the knife passes through, right before it disappears into darkness, Anri would see small electrical sparks fly off it.
-
"Ooh! They're not just sounds!"
Anri giggled in celebration for the little victory. She pointed to the Right entrance and said, "This one's dangerous."
She then pointed to the left entrance. "This one sounds sorta like a church or even a cult."
Finally, she pointed at the central doorway. "This one looks sounds like an active battle."
-
"Wonder why." The Knight wondered aloud. Seemed like a strange trick for a trap if whoever was doing this wanted to kill them.
-
Idan chuckles incredulously. "Wonderin' now of all times? Aft'ah the worm 'nd the darkness, and the whole tinker tech base miles wide, I'd say lets give up on askin' why 'til we meet someone with some damned answers."
Idan looks down each the doorways, listening for their respective sounds. After listening, he gestures towards the left entrance. "I'd rather not go at all, but we're kinda screwed if that meltdown shite doesn't get repaired. So if we gotta head forward, I'd say we're best takin' our chances with the cult soundin' folk." He points at the central pathway, emitting the sounds of chaotic warfare. "An active battlefield in this day 'n age would mean largescale capeshite, either somewhere in Africa or an Endbringer attack." He points towards the pathway on the left, with the small hum of electricity. "And I forgot to pack my rubber gloves today, and I ain't riskin' gettin' shocked to death."
Idan turns towards the girl who threw the knives. "Smart move, kid. Tossin' somethin' in there to test 'em. Say, you know how'ta handle explosives?"
-
"It's not a meltdown," The Knight quickly told Idan.
-
Idan shakes his head. "I'm pretty sure I heard somethin' 'bout the station bein' compromised, 'nd a core meltdown being impendent." He begins to noticeably scrutinize the cape figure. "Or are you sayin' it's somethin' else? If so, how didya find it out?"
-
"It'll still compromise the stations structure if we don't stop it. So if you want to play 20 questions still, we can either find it before it kills us, or we're sucked out into space once it spreads to the rest of the place."
-
Idan puts his hands up defensively as his face turns into a deliberately neutral expression. "Fine. Keep your secrets. Thanks for the warnin'."
He quickly turns away from the white-caped figure and begins rummaging through his bag, pulling out a well ear-marked, tanned-paged book, labeled 'The Anarchist Cookbook, by William Powell'. Without even opening it's pages, Idan begins muttering under his breath as he pulls out a few aerosol deodorant and a long, green, and ashy-covered cord. Quickly, he begins to pop off the tops of the aerosol cans.
His mutters become louder, audible, but not addressed to anyone in particular. "Fuckin' hell... AI... Space... Bullshite... How the fuck did I get involved in this capeshit?"
He rips off three lengths of the green cord with his teeth and tries to fit each of them inside of the openings of the aerosol cans.
-
Luer shook his head. It was all nonsense to him, quite frankly. He sighed heavily and swatted at Moon Knight. "Not helping. Do we take our chances with the cult or not?" He asked. Yes, he still felt sick thanks to this guy. He glanced to Idan at his muttering and shook his head to that too. "You will never get an answer. Not one that makes sense much less truly is an answer.
With that said, he glanced to the others around. "I am in agreement with our ill tempered arsonist. The cult is likely to be the least dangerous- or at best the most manageable of the threats."
-
"The others wouldn't want me to handle it again, but I know how!"
It wasn't part of the standard training in the Order, especially for younger members, but Anri had learned how to handle and use volatile substances. She can't remember where she learned it, but perhaps it was better that way…
-
Idan looks up from his work and nods. "That's good enough for me. Catch-" He tosses one of the fuse-attached aerosol cans to the little girl. "Spark up the end of that green cord, toss it towards whatever looks at you funny, and get far away from it." He chuckles. "Might need tah keep it handy if we're bustin' into a catholic church."
-
Anri catches the metal cylinder easily, and takes a moments to inspect it. It was very light for a bomb, but she wasn't going to question someone who's used these a lot. She placed it in one of her many pockets, such that it disappeared from normal sight.
"…oh!"
Anri had no sense of timing or urgency, even in dire situations such as this. As such when the thought came to her, she failed to realize that this may not not be the best time or place for introductions. That being said, she decided to make one anyway.
"My name is Anri! Templar from the Order of the Dawn Covenant."
-
At the girl's words, Idan thinks to himself. 'So she is a part of a cape group... Templars? Dawn Covenant? Sounds vaguely European...'
He shakes his head, breaking himself from musing. 'Can wonder 'bout that shite later. For now...'
Taking a cue from the little girl, he - now pocketing the other two IEDs - barks up. "Name's Idan. Just 'nother civilian of Boston's shittier cousin."
-
"Good for you," Was all Moon Knight said to her as she gave introductions, his tone very much brushing her off as just a child who will cause problems for them.
-
Luer eyed Moon Knight for a moment. Apparently he was worth less time than entertaining a child. He chortled, moving to give Anri and the others who might not know a bow… slowly. "Luer Lastez. Guard for hire." He offered. He would rather indulge the child with a weapon that threw herself at a threat ten times her size than the man that ignored a question relevant to their current situation. Idan seemed to agree as well, even as hot tempered as he seemed to be. He gave the man a nod before glancing to the doors. They were getting nowhere… he was tempted to take the risk and go through one himself. Hehe… Ryan would be displeased with me. I probably should not.
-
Tokui disregarded the fire lover's comment, it didn't seem productive to argue on who even is Oni Lee. Be it a compliment or otherwise. The young girl also gave checking the darkness a try, Tokui didn't perceive anything once the knives passed the dark veil. He remained observant and remaining a passive member of the talk about the passages. There was a slight leaning in the group towards going in the choir passage.
Anri made a small tangent out of introductions. Barring the figure in white, no one had a problem with that. Considering he may be looking at what could be allies for a while, but still keeping in mind he was being kept in the dark quite a bit by circumstance, he chimed in "I'm Dokuro, a wandering shinobi." Deciding to keep his real name off the table for now.
"As for the passages, I do have to agree on the choir one sounding the least troublesome. Although..." As he spoke, one of his clones approached the buzzing entrance, and stuck his hand inside the darkness.
-
The clone would feel a tingling sensation in his hand from the electricity, but besides that, it didn't shock him. The tunnel seemed to only react to metal of any kind.
-
Feeling no futher danger, the clone delved deeper into the darkness. Once his tools passed the entry point, though, a shock of electricity made him pop and vanish. The main body moved towards the electric path with the remaining clones, he took a deep breath, and entered with two of them. This time redirecting the electricity to himself properly, and turning it into chakra.
-
Not everyone had responded, but that was fine! They would probably do that later anyway. Still, without names to put the faces to, Anri didn't know if she could call them friends or even allies. People who don't introduce themselves tend to not stick around, so she never had a reason to consider them proper companions. Well, whatever the case, Anri had some names!
"Yay! From this moment until however long our friendship lasts, you're my allies!"
What absolutely none of them knew was that being considered an ally of Anri meant a lot more. It meant that they were essentially handed access to yet another tool and weapon. The only difference? This one is was a little girl with a lot of experience. All they needed was to give her an order. Too bad no one told them that, though.