[ Today is May 17, 2091 in Red New York City. Well, it's 5/17/91 everywhere, really. Welcome to Box City, the most democratic and awesome homeless community in human history. Zoom in one one of the 'boxes', currently in a state of dishabile, or more accurately disassembly as its owner, Mad Hettie, preps to leave. ] [ Sitting outside, having just spoke with her, is one Zak Krogstad. He has a lot on his mind, not the least of which is Hettie's pronouncement that things are going to get worse before they get better. On the other hand, who is that rounding the bend but his sister, with a very disoriented-looking Xavier Aurin in tow! ] [ Whatever will they have to say to each other? Let's find out! ] (Also: http://www.chaoticblue.com/play/atcg/ is new and entirely up to date, Ard, as is the wiki.) * Zak happens to be looking that direction as Roch appears, so she can probably see his expression change from a sort of grim acceptance to a Zak-like goofy smirk. "Hey, sis." * Rochelle wavesish. "Hey. What's up?" [ Xavier isn't talking; he's looking around with that same distracted air that he had after leaving Kat's apartment, as if he can't 100% trust wat he's seeing. ] (wat -> what, jesus) * Zak holds up his stone between thumb and forefinger. "Found what I was looking for." (WAT) (WAK) * Rochelle blinks. "That's yours?" She moves closer to get a better look at it. * Zak nods. "Tres scanny, isn't it? Dayglo, even."' [ The stone is a marbled pale yellow and light green; it certainly is recognizable as being very similar to the ones Rochelle is familiar with. ] What'd she say you are? Firefly. Don't have a clue what that is, but I guess it makes sort of sense. * Rochelle shrugs. "I'm a cat. Kat's a dog. It's kinda funny." She looks to Xavier, to make sure he's not wandering off or anything. [ "O' course it do," booms a voice from inside the box Zak is sitting next to, and indeed it heralds the reappearance of Mad Hettie in all her glory; she walks up to Rochelle with arms extended, clearly happy to see her. "Ach, my lass, ye came back. C'mere, my gel." ] * Rochelle gives Hettie one of her little grins and goes to give her a hug. * Zak pauses for a moment, like something's just come to him. "Hey, Hettie. Why'd you give me a *fire*fly, when I make ice?" [ Awww, hugs! :D Hettie pats Rochelle on the back. "I ne'er thought fer a second ye'd be away too long, bonnie lass." Stepping away, she pauses and waves a hand at Zak. "It be a symbol, lad. It's nae as if this sister yourn been a real cat, ken?" Unexpectedly, this statement causes Xavier -- who's been turned away, looking at Box City -- to laugh lightly. ] * Rochelle grins, sort of, and glances at Xavier. Yeah, he totally knows. (You can't prove anything!) * Zak looks at Xavier, and rubs his head. "I guess. Speaking of, where'd you stash Kat?" (* Kat peeks out of Roch's shirt. "Hello.") Think she's at her apartment. Some chick came by that wanted to talk to her, maybe about a job or something, but... um. * Rochelle scratches at the back of her head. "She kinda reminded me of the sniper." So I didn't really want to stick around her, but Kat did, I guess. * Zak runs his hand through his hair, which bristles in all its icy glory. "That's the Wolf for you. Part of your daily balanced fuckin' outland psycho, no slammin'." [ "Ach, she'll be here soon, tha' be a fact," Hettie says, comment about the sniper going uncommented upon. "Which be remindin' me, I better be warnin' the bairns. Ye catch up fer a bit, ye and yer... guest." Before that can be responded too, the old woman is hobbling off toward a group of men conversing off toward the center of Box City. ] * Rochelle watches Hettie go, then turns back to Zak. "So... have a good talk?" (Cham, can you invite Dicey, BTW? We will be needing him this evening.) * Dicesuke has joined #atc * Zak nods, slowly. "Unshway. But stuff that needed to be posted, you know?" Yeah. [ After Hettie's walked away, Xavier turns back and looks at the Krogstad siblings for a moment before asking, "...whozat?" ] * Zak looks at Xavier, and, totally deadpan, says "Sleythin opera diva." [ That gets a full and total >_>a expression. The boy's confused enough. ] (AFK a min or two) She is. Also was next door when I lived here. [ Xavier's head tilts somewhat. "You lived... here?" He pauses, then looks around. "Visited. Bagels." ] 2d6-7 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Yue (2d6-7) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 1. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katherine (2d6) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 10. (I... am gonna wait for Roch to respond to that one) (Sorry, I was in the bathroom.) (HOW DARE YOU.) (I COULDN'T HELP IT!) (=_=) Uh. Thren did, yeah. [ One eye squints a little more shut than the other in concentration at that. "...who?" ] ... sis? This guy four-square? * Rochelle shrugs to Zak, then replies to Xavier, "Threnody. I think you're remembering stuff that happened to him." [ Xavier just looks confused at that, he clearly doesn't recognize the name. ] (Visual checks!) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (2d6) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 6. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rochelle (2d6-4) and gets a natural 11 for a result of 7. (DR1) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rochelle (2d6-4) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 1. (I made it!) (No on Mind) (GO TEAM DR) * Rochelle glances around. Guys? Everyone's going. .... going? [ Xavier frowns, and seems to think distractedly about that statement, but Zak beats him to the punch on confusion. ] Yeah. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rochelle (2d6-2) and gets a natural 11 for a result of 9. (DR2) 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rochelle (2d6-2) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 7. (Made, spot on.) * Rochelle spaces out for half a moment, then turns and starts walking off herself. * Zak grabs Xavier by the sleeve. "Let's go, Professor. Roch's made up her minds." He follows Roch, gently pulling X along. [ Numbly, Xavier stumbles after Zak, moving toward Rochelle. Sadly, at the same time, a man steps out in Rochelle's path, a few yards in front of her. He's actually quite dapper-looking, wearing a smart black suit with black shoes. His blond hair is slicked back from his face, and he is wearing a sort of dispassionate expression. ] Uh... hi? * Rochelle stops, too, and looks at him. [ The dappper man -- he's actually a little short, maybe only 5'7" or 5'8" -- quirks a faint smile at that greeting. "Afternoon." ] * Rochelle goes back to walking, trying to just step around him. [ "Ah..." the man says, waving a finger. In Rochelle's path -- far enough away not to hurt her, but close enough so that the heat is noticeable -- a trail of flame flares across the concrete. "It'd be easier on everyone if you'd stay put... ] (+") * Yue arrives in the distance behind the man, and connects the concept of burnt passerby and flames. She raises her rifle into sight to try taking the element of surprise. (How far away are we?) * Katherine walks into the scene in the distance, wearing her suit and with her gun drawn. Her suit looks towards the all of them, and the fire, and then glances at the untrustworthy woman beside her raising her rifle. "Right." * Zak raises his both his hands, now starting to swirl with ice. "Roch, take Professor X and run." ('Medium range'-ish.) (I was more wondering how fast I'd have to run to get into melee. But that works!) * Rochelle backs away from the fire, to where Zak and X are. She nods once to her brother, grabs X's arm, and dashes in the opposite direction. (We'll see if Xavier has the sense to RUN WITH ME.) ( I have no idea what's goin' on....) (He's in a state of permanent ._. right now.) (Okay, change in plans. I punch Xavier in the face to knock him out, then carry him out with me. >_<) (Haha, that series of body rolls will be an amusing way to use up your DRs.) (Okay lots of things going on at once now, so give me a sec.) [ A few things. One, Xavier is ._. like whoa but that works in Roch's benefit, as he's easily led. Zak can see, vaguely, Kat and Yue in the distance behind the flame-wielding man, whose grin on seeing Zak's ice becomes entirely predatory... his pupils shrinking somewhat as well. If anything, he doesn't seem to notice the other two, which gives Yue and Kat one chance to act before everything goes to hell. ] (That cut off?) (Nope, you got it.) (Okay, so Kat and Yue get one action then we'll do... something approximating init.) (I'll let Yue take the first shot!) (Also saka, re-point me at your sheet? Or something.) (Think I AIMed it atcha last time.) (Okay, thank you.) (Got it.) (Firing at the guy, I suppose. I think headshots aren't really the go here.) (You could! Called shots are fun!) (Well, you can try but there's a penalty that's reduced a bit 'cause you have Dead Eye.) * Yue takes a deeper breath as her eyes' pupils dilate. I swear there isn't a seed popping in the background there. Given that there might be some merit for information, she opts for regular shooting as she raises the rifle level to her eyes. Bang. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Yue (2d6-5) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 2. (Aaaaand my pizza shows. SUSPENSE!) * Katherine lets Yue take her shot as her suit's jets flare to life and she ground dashes straight forward, other gun coming out into her empty hand. Claws akimbo. She's holding her shot for after Yue's hits, though. 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-5) and gets a natural 11 for a result of 6. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-3) and gets a natural 3 for a result of 0. [ The water to the left of the black-suited man... explodes, the second Yue takes her shot. A massive form, a black blur, suddenly leaps into the path of the shot. It's revealed to be a man -- a LARGE man -- in an identical suit, now bleeding from the shoulder where Yue's bullet is currently lodged. "Nnn. That..." he starts, before bringing his hands around cracking his knuckles. Kat either has to stop or... well, hit him. "...stung." ] (Okay! Inits! This probably won't last long but it helps me keep track of the action.) 1d6+11 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katherine (1d6+11) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 17. d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rochelle (d6+5) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 9. 1d6+6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Yue (1d6+6) and gets a natural 1 for a result of 7. 2d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (2d6+5) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 12. (Er) d6+5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (d6+5) and gets a natural 2 for a result of 7. (Motherfucking dicey) (OWNED) (So... Kat is up first! How fortuitous!) (oh ncis, i am *eating*) (ha ha ha.) (It is messy) (I WOULDN'T KNOW NOT LOOKING ANYMORE) * Katherine has no problem with 'hit him', her stance shifting, her gauging his size, and then her grip on her right hand gun shifting, fist balling, as she brings it around to smash into his chest at high speed. Well, Kat was never nice. (Kinetic Punch.) (Thank you, Kinetic Man. What does that even do.) ( Hey, it's like the time I punched Thren when I was suited up. >.>) (It's in the suit section. 60 damage melee ammo. +10 for SS. +8 for ACV, for total 78.) (...roll it, one assumes.) (He said a gunshot stung!) (So she's gotta hit harder.) (Suited Kat is broke, btw.) (Also, please define a NON-kinetic punch for me.) (It's more BGC. Those impact things?) (roll it or we'll be here all night) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katherine (2d6-3) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 6. (Make by 2.) 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-5) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 3. [ Kat is in her suit. And she is moving EXTREMELY fast... sadly, however, so is the person she's trying to punch, who -- with reflexes that MUST be either 24-granted or cyber-boosted -- steps to the side; Kat's punch slams into the concrete walkway, exploding a lot of it in a cloud of dust. ] * Katherine says out her speakers, through the hail of dust and stone, "Knew you earned that." [ The fire-controlling man laughs lightly at that outcome, without turning around. "Careful, Brokkr... looks like they're out for blood. And I have my own... toys to play with!" One hand whips out, and a massive gout of fire so hot it's almost white explodes outwards towards Zak! ] (OMG DEFENSE ROLL?!) (NO) (I had things to explain!) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (2d6-4) and gets a natural 3 for a result of -1. * Zak throws up his arms and generates ice like his life depends on it to shield himself. In the process, the concrete around him starts to get rather hot. (I imagine that also makes quite a bit of steam.) (Indeed. Roch!) (Er, by which I mean it is your go) (Meanwhile, narration!) [ The lightshow Zak and the short man put out is impressive to say the least; steam and concrete shards spill off to the side until both forces coming from both combatants stop. The blond blinks in surprise. "How interesting," he says, bringing up his hands and tightening the black gloves he's wearing that are made noticable by the act. "I may need to revise tactics a bit." ] (Is there a pattern on the back of his black gloves?) (Moy Rustang, Flame Cyberneticist?) (Suddenly, Katherine turns into an apple, which is consumed whole by a passing elephant.) (ELEPHAPPLE) (Hm. Did we lose Ard to phonecall?) (I think I'm gonna say she is 'continuing to flee' with X in the interests of time.) (Yue/Zak!) (Good idea, yes. I'm on the phone.) (How much of a penalty would the head be? I'm thinkin' it might not be a bad idea at this rate.) (Oh lord, I forget.) (+4 (+1)) (Yeah, +1 since you have deadeye) (Here's hopin'.) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Yue (2d6-4) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 1. (Called shots to vitals become crits.) (Holding until Yue's done) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-3) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 3. * Yue is taking the fight to the grill, here. Kat, with her superior musclepower with her suit, can deal with the bruiser. Taking a bead on the dapper man, she bets it on her vision and steady aim as she fires for his head. "Target... locked." (I'm not getting the cumulative def penalty wrong, am I? 2 per extra defense?) (Oh. Haha, well ignore that roll because it's for the wrong person.) (I should've declared.) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-4) and gets -2, a CRITICAL SUCCESS!!! "I love the smell of a crit in the morning." (Oh come on!) (Dice haet u) [ With an almost casual movement, the dapper lad brings up one hand. The bullet is an excellent shot... and right before it would impact him, it becomes so much molten metal, dripping onto the ground between himself and Yue. Half-turning, he gives her a somewhat bland expression. "...oh, dear. It's the _other_ one." ] * Yue 's expression tightens as she returns, "Looks like I have words to shoot out of you." (To be fair you people are statistically absurd. Your villains must be equally absurd.) (And no, you were not getting the penalty wrong.) * Zak takes advantage of the moment to break his defensive stance, and fire a bolt of ice at the distracted Horrible Flame Man. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (2d6-4) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 3. (Oh, I'm not complaining.) (That'd be "Ice to Meet You") 2d6-1 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-1) and gets a natural 8 for a result of 7. [ Apparently, the man in question isn't very good at having eyes on both sides of his head. He turns just in time to see Zak toss off the ice bolt, but not in enough time to get away from it; the blast slams into his chest, frosting over and piercing his shoulder, in a cruel mimickry of his apparent partner's. ] [ In a hiss of steam, it dissolves... showing the wound underneath. "Our enmity seems foreordained," he grits out to Zak. ] (LOOKS LIKE I GAVE HIM THE COLD SHOULDER HA HA HA HA *shoots himself*) (...fired.) (...iced.) (Whichever.) (... do your powers run on puns?) (It runs on the suffering of humanity.) (So yes.) (He's right, puns are just an efficient extraction method.) (I'm up?) * Zak glares. "You're the scanny low-rez who picked a brawl." [ The big man -- who on better inspection is bald, and seems built slightly overscale for a human -- hmphs and grunts. "Nice of 'em to line up all pretty for us, eh, Eitri?" With that, however, he... stands there. If anything, his gaze suddenly becomes more intense on Kat and Yue, but that's about it. ] (Everyone make a 2d6 roll. Your target is the avg. of Body and Soul.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (2d6) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 9. (... motherfucker.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katherine (2d6) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 7. (Miss by 1.5.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Yue (2d6) and gets a natural 3 for a result of 3. (Whew!) [ Yue feels nothing. Kat and Zak, however, feel... a tugging. Not physical; more mental. Something is Wrong. It's not entirely certain what. ] (Kat!) * Katherine 's other hand, now empty of a gun, comes out and slashes at the big guy. Kat spins as this happens! And then her spin stops, big gun levelled at him as she takes a close range shot. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katherine (2d6-3) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 7. 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katherine (2d6-2) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 7. (Make by 1 on each.) 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-5) and gets a natural 6 for a result of 1. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-3) and gets a natural 3 for a result of 0. (23 and 28 damage respectively. Oh, the second was a make by 2, forgot accurate.) (Not that it'll matter, good lord dice.) [ How he's moving like that at that size is... not entirely clear. The claw is sidestepped; at the last second a hand grips out and yanks Kat's arm away so that the shot goes wide: specifically, up into the air harmlessly away. And that's COUNTING being in the suit. "Haha... cute, frakker. Real cute." ] [ The short one -- Eitri, apparently -- smirks at Zak. "How are you feeling?" he asks, conversationally... before bringing up both hands. Flame leaps upwards and off, not 'at' anybody but instead... into Box City. Most of the materials aren't immediately flammable, but some of the DunnoWood is... and in one case the flame appears to be so hot plastic *ignites* before melting. "Sure you're up to this?" ] (Oh gods, I only have one bullet left. Why did I restrict it such.) (The Buster Rifle this ain't.) (Still on the phone, Roch?) (Think that's a yes. Yue/Zak!) (I'll... aim, actually.) * Yue glances towards the taunting man of flames, and backpedals slightly as she goes down onto one knee to adopt a classic sniper's position. The crossfire on her rifle's dial begin scanning and finely adjusting her bead on the target. (Back, sorry.) * Zak narrows his eyes. "You're one of those bent mindwarps who goes after innoplebes when you can't take the heat. You'd fit right in with the scum of TC." He levels his hand at Eitri and fires another beam of ice. (Go ahead and act this round then, Ard. All go okay?) 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (2d6-4) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 3. (Hold on. ^_^) (Roll a Soul check first, Zak.) (Yeah, it went okay.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (2d6) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 5. (Make by 2) 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-3) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 6. [ Righteous indignation fuels Zak's powers! The blond whips out a hand, a gout of flame blazing away at the ice... it manages to deflect a good deal of the blow, but a bit of frosty power blasts right on through and smacks him directly in the chest. "Scum... like you, perhaps?" he asks conversationally... but through gritted teeth. ] * Zak lets out a brief hiccup of air... he looks disconcerted. "Even a pond dirty as TC has scum floating on it." 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Rochelle (2d6-2) and gets a natural 4 for a result of 2. (We'll be closing up-ish within the hour, as a heads up. I know many are tired.) * Rochelle keeps running, Xavier in tow. The fire's closing in on them, but she's not stopping for anything... she doesn't second guess herself or look back, choosing her path and avoiding obstacles instinctively. [ And obstacles there are. The fire is rapidly closing in, and more to the point it's sending debris down from some of the higher boxes as it climbs: pipes, boards, chunks of plastic. Xavier follows behind Rochelle mutely, looking like a stunned carp, but thankfully her skills keep them mostly free of harm. ] [ The big man, however, turns and watches them go, then frowns. "Nuh-uh," he says, quickly drawing a massive handgun and firing toward X and Roch, a series of quick shots. "Stop right there." ] 2d6-2 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-2) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 3. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-4) and gets a natural 5 for a result of 1. [ Interestingly enough, the following happens: ] [ The bullets scream across the distance, though something makes the big man jerk his hand in a weird direction right before he fires. Still, it's not enough to turn the shots into something far too inaccurate to hit... they scream across on a straight bead for Rochelle. What they meet... ] [ ...is a length of pipe, expertly wielded by, of all people, Xavier, who quite literally snags the detritus from the ground and slams it into the bullet with a deflection technique that is very, *very* distinctive. And his other hazel eye is now quite clearly blue. "Rochelle..." he says, in a confident tone he's never used before. "Stay behind me." ] (Kat!) * Katherine tracks the guy's shot, sees Xavier, and her entire posture shifts a moment. Silence, though, is all one hears from her before the jets blaze and her foot comes up in an arcing kick to try and smack the guy upside the head, then she lands the kick and follows up with the gun again. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katherine (2d6-3) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 7. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Katherine (2d6-3) and gets a natural 7 for a result of 4. (Make by 1 and 4. Finally an almost decent make.) 2d6-5 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-5) and gets a natural 4 for a result of -1. * Rochelle stops, even as Kat acts. "Thren?" she asks, before she can stop herself. 2d6-3 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Todd (2d6-3) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 7. [ *That* distracts both of the suited men... probably for Kat's benefit, too. The kick goes wild as the huge man suddenly turns and tries to dive to the side, but even he can't outrun a gunshot this time; it pelts into his side, causing him to grunt loudly. "This is a little off spec, Ei!" he shouts, staring down Kat and Yue. ] [ Eitri appears to agree; his eyes are locked on Xavier(?) and they narrow. "Agreed. I'm advising a strategic withdrawal... after all, his partner showed up and that wasn't on the sheet either." With that, he turns and fires off a massive flameburst not at Zak, but at Roch and Xavier... it comes screaming down out of the sky like a meteor! ] * Rochelle grabs Xavier and tries to make with the duck and dodge. Threnody or not, pipes are insufficient! (Am I making a roll for this?) (Maybe. Cham? You awake?) * Katherine lets a growl out of her speakers. "All that and now you're running?" * Zak curses rather dramatically, TC-style. "You cheating BASTARD!" He spins around and runs towards Rochelle/Xavier, spraying a wide arc of ice towards the falling flames. (Take a -2 reality warp bonus, Zak. XP) (Yue can also act ^_^) 2d6-8 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Zak (2d6-8) and gets a natural 9 for a result of 1. (What's the aim bonus? And he's still there, yeah?) (Aim's a -1, -2 with scope.) (They're both still there, yes.) (Full attack it!) (FULL ATTACK) (Full what?) (Take another -2. FINISH HIM) (If you full attack, you take a -2 to hit.) (But you get no defenses.) (So they'll auto-hit you if they attack and make.) (You can get another -2 if you forgo the rest of your actions this round, like defs) (Oh. Yeah, screw defense!) (Do I have a scope? I kinda do but I don't mechanically have one.) (Yeah you have a scope, why not.) (It's a sniper rifle.) (They're easy to get anyway. *armwiggle* badda bing enjoy your scope) * Zak leaps up onto the molten cooling wreckage of a DunnoPlasteel packing crate, his shoes sinking into the still-warm material(ish), holds both his hands out, and grimaces as he moves them in a wide arc. Red Tornado-style, a stream of ice erupts from his hands, forming a grooved channel which the fire can flow into, and away from Roch/X. (Um... -2 from Roch's thingie, -2 from aim, -2 from full attack, +1 to headshot.) 2d6-10 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Yue (2d6-10) and gets a natural 10 for a result of 0. (Man, good thing for all those bonuses, that roll sucked!) (I think Roch's thing was for Zak.) (Eh, she can have it, too.) (But even without it I'm sure you made.) (Now I'm out of reality warp.) (But it was used for a good cause.) [ Xavier isn't going to be dissuaded, apparently; he looks up at the incoming fire with narrowed eyes, clutching the pipe. Zak, however, makes the entire thing irrelevant with a fantastic display of icy might. But he DOES clearly adopt a covering posture over Roch, only moving aside when it's all over... and, afterwards, he gives a wan smile and answers her question: "...sort of." ] * Yue is definitely playing the sniper's game when she probably shouldn't, time being of the essence and all. She doesn't let burning Box City deter her as she coordinates with her rifle's final locking mechanism, and then her finger squeezes the trigger. Out comes a bullet with a reality-defying clap of thunder. (Who are you firing at?) (Flame guy.) [ Whoever Eitri is, he's not as tough as his partner... and it shows. Yue puts a bullet through him with accuracy bordering on the supernatural, the shot coring clearly through something like a lung. He *literally* spirals through the air and slams into the ground, carried up and off by the power of the shot, making wet coughing sounds. His blood drips onto the scorch-marked concrete. ] [ The big man finds this... understandably upset. "S'called a tactical redeployment, frakkin' splicewench," he says to Kat. Then he gets that intensity to his eyes again... and everything goes black. This is a curiously familiar feeling for everyone but Yue. ] (And we out of combat, so pose away.) * Rochelle immediately grabs her head, because that feeling is the shittiness. But she's better prepared this time, and she doesn't completely freak out. Just sort of. * Yue slams the stock of her rifle on the ground as she tries to grit through the intensity. Her eyes are almost completely black from the effect of the shot. * Katherine throws herself forward with her empty hand, into the space where the guy was before the blackness, to put her claw through him. And perhaps fall over. * Zak clutches at his head. [ Kat can feel her claws swish through... something, but when the blackness fades and everyone's vision comes back, the scraps of black cloth on the ground suggest she only got his suit coat. The pair are obviously gone; there is no blood trail, only a small pool where the short one was before. Around you, Box City is burning. ] ... shit. ... SHIT! * Rochelle looks around. "Zak, it's... uh." Yeah, she's completely with it. * Zak tries to shake off the effects of the blindness, and goes about trying to quell flames. [ "Dinnae swear, boy, it not be as bad as all tha'," says a voice in the distance. On the concrete path, behind Yue and Kat, are Hettie and the residents of Box City; a few are armed with fire extinguishing nano-packs and other such tools. They file in behind and get to work, accompanied by Zak's powers as well. ] * Yue stares at the curiously prepared hobos. They are hobos, right? Hobos... with extinguishers! She shakes her head again with a low noise that doesn't seem commited to any one kind of expression, before staring at the others. Especially crazy pipe deflector there. (Box City hobos are... special hobos.) (Some of them are out of work university professors.) (Some used to work for major corps.) (In R&D, not shipping and receiving.) [ Xavier, for what it's worth, stares at the pipe in his hand for a second like he doesn't know what it is, before shaking his head and tossing it aside, where it lands on the concrete with a series of stacatto clanking sounds. When he looks up, it's to smile at Mad Hettie. "No poppyseed this time," he says in an apologetic tone. ] * Katherine tears off her helmet and mutters, "Fuck." She glances to Hettie, but really, she can't not then look towards Xavier, master of the pipe and stalk towards him, re-holstering her gun. * Rochelle looks at Xavier, then Hettie, then Xavier, then sighs and sits on the ground. She very much looks like she needs a drink. Or maybe a hug. (If you have it, the music for the end of this scene is "Missing You" from Disc 1 of the KH2 soundtrack.) (I do not.) [ Hettie gives one of her little cackles. "A shame, bairn. We could be toastin' 'em right now." A pause, as she looks at Kat, before waving a hand. "I'll leave ye children be. Stop tha' and pay attention to yuir bloody sister, Zak," she adds, smacking him in the shoulder as she walks by. ] (There we go.) * Katherine glances down to Roch, then back to Xavier and she says quietly, "Gotta wonder if it's really you. I can still hear myself think." * Zak squelches the last bit of a fire, and is hit by Hettie. "Alright, ma'am." He turns around and finally seems to notice Roch on the ground, then sits down beside her. "Hey, sis." * Rochelle replies dully, "Hey, bro." * Yue turns away from the reunion, and leans against the corner as she accesses her cellphone for a phonecall to the netherlands. No really. Red Nethers. [ Xavier turns to look at Kat, somewhat sideways. "I can't hear you think. So I wonder if it's really me, too," he says faintly. It IS Xavier's voice, not someone else's... but the tone is different. There's no apprehension, not uncertainty... none of the stuff that colored Xavier Aurin's words. ] * Zak runs his shoulder into Roch. "Hey, we're alive. What's eatin' you?" * Rochelle shrugs, starting to pick at her fingernails. "That's Thren." * Katherine 's claw twitches at her side, and she smiles a little as she replies quietly, "If I weren't in suit, I'd probably slap you for--" She then balls her fist and glances down at Roch, then back to Xavier. "Sorry. Ain't the time." [ Roch's comment makes Xavier's eyes go hooded and his gaze fall, too. "No... no, this is still Xavier. I'm pretty sure of that. He's... sleeping, for lack of a better word." ] * Zak looks up at Xavier. Then down at Roch. Then up at Xavier. Then down at Roch. ".... sis, I know HE'S not four-square, but now you got me worrying about YOU. Professor X ain't pajamaboy." * Yue says softly, "Updates on both the target and McLachlane." * Rochelle just shakes her head. [ Behind you, under Hettie's direction, the fires are under control. The boxes are pretty much a mess, but none of the actual infrastructure was harmed... some rebuilding with have this place as good as Slightly Used in no time. ] (Woot, Slightly Used!) * Katherine snaps to Zak, "Listen to your damn sister." She looks back to Xavier and adds, quietly, "More than one person in his head now, huh?" (Well, New would just get negative buyer feedback for being an outright lie.) (You should all listen to me! Hasn't ATC2 taught you people anything?!) * Yue remarks with careful articulation, "Two 24-enhanced sorties, presumably from black ops. Pyrokinetic, and a physically strong psychic, negative on specifics... both unknown." * Zak looks back at Xavier. ".... really? Tres flippin schway, back from los muertos." [ That comment makes Xavier's face fall; he looks contemplative, but says nothing. ] * Yue responds, "The targets are connected to his disappearance. No further information. Their target was Parker's unit, not me." * Rochelle stands up again. "Hey, uh..." She digs in her pocket, then pulls out a smooth, powder blue stone. "I got your rock. Think that's what started this whole thing." * Katherine laughs weakly and then says quietly, "Dammit, Thren." She glances to Yue, then back to him as Roch hands him the stone. * Yue glances back for a moment, and then responds, "Target has shown an odd level of coordination uncharacteristic of his current physical state..." * Yue mutters, "I found out, yes. Rohay, over and out." Close. [ Tilting his head, X... Thren... whoever, picks up the stone and holds it in the palm of his hand for a moment. He closes his eyes and mutters, softly, "So this is what it's like... to think clearly..." After a pause, he glances over at Yue as she finishes her call, then back at everyone else. "Let's... leave. Can we? I don't want to be here right now." ] Where we headed? * Rochelle looks to Kat. * Katherine looks to the three, then yells back to Yue, "More oncoming threats, Yue?" * Yue walks towards the group and shifts the rifle out of sight, back into her coat. It's special that way. "Clear for now." (Once you decide where to go, we'll wrap this baby up.) (Sorry it went so long, was another plotty type thing.) * Katherine looks back to Thren. "Thren, Yue. Barely trustworthy. Let's head to Momo's. I don't have enough alcohol to shut Zak up." * Rochelle seems all for that. She starts walking for Momo's without any other confirmation. [ Xavier -- or 'Thren' as Kat just introduced him -- smiles faintly at Yue. "Momo's... haha. Full circle, hmm?" He watches Rochelle start marching off, then shakes his head. "Okay. Let's go." He starts to follow! Roch probably knows where Momo's is since she kinda WORKED there. ] * Zak gets up and follows Roch, giving Kat a Look. (Start making up drinks now for next session, I used up all my alcohol creativity in the first ep.) (Despite playing a bartender, I suck at making up drinks!) * Yue walks along with them. It's not like she doesn't have better alcohol elsewhere. * Katherine looks back at Zak, then mutters, "Don't underestimate the universe's crazy, Zak. It's never as fucking weird as it'll get." She looks after Xavierody for a long moment, before following after herself. X's not the only one looking a bit introspective. [ Box City... it's concrete and some cinders, now. But like the phoenix it will rise from those ashes again. It's trick that Hettie -- who watches the group leave -- seems to know somehow. Apparently, so does Xavier... or someone else inside him. For now, though, the answers will have to wait. To be continued...]