srwuga_mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
srwuga_mods) wrote2012-11-05 09:26 pm
srwuga_mods) wrote2012-11-05 09:26 pm
Mission 126: "Walking My Own Path"
cubey@aol.pl has been invited. 9:00 pm
cubey@aol.pl has entered the room. 9:00 pm
wyverncakes 9:02 pm
(9:02:00 PM): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFCU68Gim3o
taoofcrime has entered the room. 9:03 pm
wyverncakes 9:03 pm
(9:03:34 PM): It had been a relatively quiet night onboard the Chalice, even with the arrival of Professor Himesaki earlier in the day
wyverncakes 9:04 pm
(9:04:06 PM): She'd been busy discussing things with Ayame, and Gucun itself seemed free of trouble with the departure of Wang Ding Bang and his supporters
(9:04:41 PM): But then this peace is broken though. Not by the Chalice suddenly coming under attack, but rather by alarms blaring on the ship.
(9:05:01 PM): For most of you, Dan very quickly appears in front of you looking very serious!
(9:05:21 PM): Dan: "... Sorry, I gotta keep this quick because I've got work to do with Maxene still... but we had an intruder just now!"
(9:05:43 PM): An image appears next to him of a man in a magician's outfit!
Mister Giggles 9:06 pm
(9:06:09 PM): Casshern was still in the infirmary, staring up at the severely distorted picture of Luna they pulled from his hard drive, and looks at Dan, blinking in surprise.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:06 pm
(9:06:16 PM): "He has quite a…unique fashion sense, doesn't he..."
HyprKnux 1 9:06 pm
(9:06:36 PM): Hana: "Wha...?"
wyverncakes 9:06 pm
(9:06:37 PM): Dan: "It was this guy named Graf... he tried to do something weird with Mad... but we chased him off. Professor Himesaki also said that he was a follower of DUNE... maybe he's trying to get revenge for us beating his boss!"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:06 pm
(9:06:53 PM): "…Define weird. Now, please."
Alan Bunting 9:06 pm
(9:06:58 PM): Sora: "An intruder... wait, and he's with DUNE!? Okay, this is bad."
Doc S 9:07 pm
(9:07:13 PM): Eri quietly moved to the hangar. Clearly it was go-time.
Tenebrae Luna 9:07 pm
(9:07:22 PM): In the shadows of the hall, dark yellow eyes stare at the image.
VJockey 9:07 pm
(9:07:47 PM): Mad: [Was in the cockpit of a Zaku-II F2 and lounging on the pilot seat. She takes a deep breath and sighs. Old news. She was there.]
wyverncakes 9:07 pm
(9:07:48 PM): The hologram near Yui responds to the question quickly. "The professor said... like brainwashing! Trying to turn her against us!"
Mister Giggles 9:07 pm
(9:07:52 PM): Casshern's eyes lower. He sees where this is going, even though the last thing he wants right now is to fight someone and potentially have his Berserker Mode trigger while on the ship. Imagine the Hulk on the SHIELD Helicarrier and you can imagine what that might be like.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:08 pm
(9:08:31 PM): "Ah." Yui's face stays blank for a bit, and then breaks into a perfect imitation of Hayato's smile. "Well, we can't just let that slide, now can we?"
griefgathering has entered the room. 9:08 pm
wyverncakes 9:08 pm
(9:08:36 PM): And then Ayame's voice booms on the loudspeaker. "Dan, we can coordinate from here. Keep checking the security footage with Maxene. Make sure he didn't do anything else here."
Tenebrae Luna 9:08 pm
(9:08:50 PM): The Desu Ellen stands up and is ready to launch.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:08 pm
(9:08:51 PM): And she's off towards the hangar as well, picking up her VFX modulator along the way.
Doc S 9:08 pm
(9:08:57 PM): Somewhere Tony Stark sneezed at the reference.
wyverncakes 9:09 pm
(9:09:45 PM): Ayame: "We're also running the scanners at full tilt. And I think we've almost got- We've got him. Twenty clicks from the Chalice... no doubt running scared now that his cover's blown."
Doc S 9:10 pm
(9:10:03 PM): Eri scoffed at that. Graf, running scared? Not his style.
ultimatesalsa has left the room. 9:10 pm
wyverncakes 9:10 pm
(9:10:31 PM): Ayame: "A man who can just waltz into the Chalice like he did without even alerting Maxene... I don't want a man like that still in the world. Hunt down the bastard and kill him. Professor, anything you think we should know?"
ultimatesalsa has been invited. 9:10 pm
ultimatesalsa has entered the room. 9:10 pm
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:10 pm
(9:10:45 PM): Drones are summoned, and Yui hops aboard hers. It's a bit chilly out…ah well, it'll be refreshing. There's a chance for a hunt.
ultimatesalsa has left the room. 9:11 pm
Mister Giggles 9:11 pm
(9:11:30 PM): Casshern sighs. "Okay. I'll... I'll do it. But whatever happens..." grabbing his helmet, and putting it on. "I'm sorry."
ultimatesalsa has entered the room. 9:11 pm
wyverncakes 9:11 pm
(9:11:43 PM): It's then that an older voice comes on the comm. It's Professor Himesaki, Mad and Hana's grandmother and the administrator of Fairy Park.
Doc S 9:12 pm
(9:12:04 PM): Pausing, Eri pressed a couple of buttons on a floating page before heading out. Just in case.
wyverncakes 9:12 pm
(9:12:06 PM): Professor: "... I wouldnt say 'running scared'. More like regrouping more than anything else."
VJockey 9:12 pm
(9:12:20 PM): Mad: [Loads up the Zaku with every weapon it could carry and soon launches. She's taking deep breaths in regular intervals. Calm. She needed to be calm...]
wyverncakes 9:12 pm
(9:12:37 PM): Ayame: "All the more reason to not give him the chance to strike back. Chase him down, but be careful. We don't know what he's got backing him up."
Alan Bunting 9:12 pm
(9:12:43 PM): Sora looks at the AI, muttering under her breath, "give the order, give the order..."
HyprKnux 1 9:13 pm
(9:13:06 PM): Hana nodded a bit... "...we'll be careful..."
wyverncakes 9:13 pm
(9:13:30 PM): At any rate, you're all cleared to launch!
(9:13:46 PM): And those of you going on foot are welcome to hitch rides on anyone willing to lend a hand, shoulder, or cockpit to share.
Alan Bunting 9:14 pm
(9:14:04 PM): And at Ayame's instruction, she bolts, headed for the hangar and setting up in record time. "Sora Myoudouin, Desu Itsuki, launching!" Without further fanfare she's off, though she'll wait just long enough for a companion if need be.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:14 pm
(9:14:06 PM): And launch Yui does! She's fine puttering along on her drones.
HyprKnux 1 9:14 pm
(9:14:48 PM): With that, Hana launches in the Tsubomi Mk-II, determined on making sure this Graf person doesn't get any further in his plans.
Doc S 9:15 pm
(9:15:06 PM): Eri's heads out of the hangar. She's grimly quiet as she turns a few dials up. "Guys, I'm linking our comms. Just to make sure he knows we're coming." And she turns up something really loud
Tenebrae Luna 9:15 pm
(9:15:16 PM): Once all the other units have launched, the Ellen follows in the back of the team.
Mister Giggles 9:15 pm
(9:15:26 PM): Casshern frowns when he hears 'be careful.' Seriously, they couldn't have picked a worse person to hunt this guy down. "I'll try." And then, he's off.
cubey@aol.pl 9:16 pm
(9:16:00 PM): "You didn't leave Gucun's territory yet and more trouble is brewing already." A well-armored machine awaits outside and joins the group. "It's my responsibility to handle it."
(9:16:38 PM): Footage from inside its cockpit reveals that the pilot is, indeed, Devon. Though it wasn't liek her to pilot anything before.
wyverncakes 9:17 pm
(9:17:21 PM): Ayame: "Maybe so. But we brought this trouble in with us. You'll have to forgive us for tagging along."
Mister Giggles 9:17 pm
(9:17:33 PM): Casshern's coasting along with his hip-mounted boosters, though they aren't meant for sustained flight.
VJockey 9:18 pm
(9:18:08 PM): Mad: "And it wouldn'tve been a better idea to ..I dunno...surprise him?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:18 pm
(9:18:38 PM): "…A case could be made that way, yes."
Doc S 9:18 pm
(9:18:42 PM): Eri: "Graf doesn't get scared."
(9:18:53 PM): Eri: "Or runs. Without a plan."
wyverncakes 9:19 pm
(9:19:01 PM): At any rate, all of you with some kind of sensor data get fed Graf's location, and you're all very quickly closing the gap.
Alan Bunting 9:19 pm
(9:19:19 PM): Sora: "Yeah. I don't like this. At all."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:19 pm
(9:19:42 PM): Yui begins drumming her fingers on the drone's black metal frame. Soon, soon...
wyverncakes 9:19 pm
(9:19:46 PM): And finally, you reach a very craggy span of ground, complete with a single, somewhat damaged spire of rock pocking up from the ground.
(9:20:07 PM): And standing on top of it for the sake of theatrics is none other than Graf.
VJockey 9:20 pm
(9:20:30 PM): Mad: "Well someone's overcompensating for his wounded pride... and junk"
Doc S 9:20 pm
(9:20:31 PM): Eri: See? Plan.
wyverncakes 9:20 pm
(9:20:36 PM): Graf: "... And so the Chalice and the Professor finally marshall their forces to come after me."
HyprKnux 1 9:20 pm
(9:20:36 PM): Hana: "It's him...!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:20 pm
(9:20:37 PM): Nu Wa isn't very speedy, what with the four shield-like turrets seriously slowing it down. But Devon has the home terrain advantage, knowing which way to go for her Combat Frame to avoid rubble and other difficult-to-cross terrain.
Alan Bunting 9:20 pm
(9:20:52 PM): Sora: "Well, at least he saved us the trouble of finding him again."
Mister Giggles 9:21 pm
(9:21:27 PM): Casshern remains silent. This pose is disturbingly similar to the one Lyuze had in the Ruin.
wyverncakes 9:21 pm
(9:21:27 PM): Graf: "I must admit, I am at somewhat of a disadvantage. A certain girl refused an offer of power."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:21 pm
(9:21:28 PM): "…Hm. Ambush, then." This is less fun...
wyverncakes 9:21 pm
(9:21:51 PM): His eyes lock onto the Zaku. "But at least she is present, so as I can pay her back a ten thousand fold for the insult she gave me."
(9:22:08 PM): Yeah, he's still smarting a little bit from her hit. Not by a lot though.
HyprKnux 1 9:22 pm
(9:22:18 PM): Hana: "...I won't let you touch her!"
Alan Bunting 9:22 pm
(9:22:30 PM): Sora: "Who would take an offer of anything from you?"
VJockey 9:22 pm
(9:22:31 PM): Mad: "Hey! I can defend my own damn honor just fine!"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:22 pm
(9:22:51 PM): "…Alright. But call me if you need me."
wyverncakes 9:22 pm
(9:22:58 PM): A private line opens up to Tsubomi. Hana, it's your grandmother calling to tell you to play nice.
cubey@aol.pl 9:23 pm
(9:23:25 PM): "Power given by others isn't worth anything. It's something you must reach for yourself." Devon gives the magician a suspicious look. Another on-foot combatant?
wyverncakes 9:23 pm
(9:23:40 PM): Professor: "Hana... at this point in time, Mad doesn't need us smothering her with protection. Support and help her, don't fight her battles for her."
cubey@aol.pl 9:23 pm
(9:23:41 PM): "Remove yourself from State of Gucun territory. You are not welcome here."
VJockey 9:23 pm
(9:23:49 PM): Mad: *Graf, Mad's swinging a bazooka your way and pulls the trigger! Incoming bazooka round!+
HyprKnux 1 9:24 pm
(9:24:03 PM): Hana: "...alright..."
wyverncakes 9:25 pm
(9:25:11 PM): [Mad] Graf was about to respond to Devon coolly... but Mad's bazooka round took precedence! And as it hurtles towards him the man simply swings his cane forward and it crashes into the projectile, exploding it prematurely!
Mister Giggles 9:25 pm
(9:25:35 PM): Casshern: ... He deflected an ordinance round with a cane?
Doc S 9:25 pm
(9:25:48 PM): Eri: He isn't known as DUNE's High General for nothing.
wyverncakes 9:25 pm
(9:25:55 PM): But the smoke that gets kicked up in the aftermatch is... much, much more than said bazooka shell should produce, and suddenly a large smokescreen fills the battlefield!
(9:25:57 PM): And then...
(9:25:59 PM): BEAMSPAM!
cubey@aol.pl 9:26 pm
(9:26:41 PM): Devon: "Just like old times..." Her half-smirk disappears just as rapidly as it appeared, thanks to the enemy beam attacks.
wyverncakes 9:26 pm
(9:26:46 PM): Suddenly, tearing through the fog comes countless beams of energy, all at mecha-level elevation and with focused accuracy, aiming at all of you!
(9:26:51 PM): (React: Everyone)
Doc S 9:27 pm
(9:27:15 PM): *Eri's going to pull into a high speed evasion, bringing up a shield that shimmered with brilliant light.+
HyprKnux 1 9:27 pm
(9:27:26 PM): Hana: "WOAH!" *and she's quick to bring up one of her barriers to deflect the shots aimed at her+
Alan Bunting 9:27 pm
(9:27:41 PM): *Sora hops in front of anyone not equipped with convenient shielding technologies. "I'll cover us...! Itsuki Aegis!" And a nice, big sunflower pops up to protect her.+
Tenebrae Luna 9:27 pm
(9:27:52 PM): The Ellen evades backwards to dodge the beams with extreme speed.+
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:27 pm
(9:27:53 PM): *Yui has her drone squad drop in altitude, letting gravity take them over to get out of the way.+
VJockey 9:28 pm
(9:28:16 PM): Mad: "Tch! We'll he'll be several generals by the time I'm done with him- oh FUCK." *Mad throttles it and does her best to evade as best as possible. The Zaku wasn't as tough as Ares Gear (HA) or as fast as Maria... but damn if she was going to be taken down so quickly!+
Mister Giggles 9:28 pm
(9:28:56 PM): Casshern is, well, much smaller than a mecha and really is on par with the size of an average human, so dodging beams aimed at that elevation with his speed is kind of a cakewalk. So... flash-stepping dodges while keeping low to the ground.
cubey@aol.pl 9:28 pm
(9:28:57 PM): *Nu Wa blocks, the two massive shields on its arms serving as a double-layered protective barrier, covered in anti-beam coating to that.+
(9:29:56 PM): Devon: "This Heavenly Wall will protect everyone! As trite as that may sound..."
wyverncakes 9:30 pm
(9:30:14 PM): [Everyone] Thre three-Desu barrier effort helps ward off the worst of the assault, with Ellen, Yui, Mad, and Casshern having a nice safe zone to work with! Nu Wa does come under fire though... but that heavenly wall lives up to its reputation!
(9:30:31 PM): But just then... black and white figures suddenly burst from the smokescreen!
(9:30:48 PM): ???: "Eri, you tried to protect them rather than me?!?"
HyprKnux 1 9:30 pm
(9:30:54 PM): Hana: "Wha...?"
wyverncakes 9:31 pm
(9:31:05 PM): ??? 2: "Hana! Thanks for coming front and center for me to get to!"
Doc S 9:31 pm
(9:31:20 PM): Eri: Christ...
Alan Bunting 9:31 pm
(9:31:29 PM): Sora: This is bad...!
wyverncakes 9:31 pm
(9:31:32 PM): And suddenly Tsubomi and Erika are FLOORED by punches from... the Blanc and Noir?!?
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:31 pm
(9:31:45 PM): "…Ah. He brought friends…"
wyverncakes 9:31 pm
(9:31:46 PM): Ayame: "What in the-"
(9:31:58 PM): "Professor! You said Fairy Park destroyed those goddamn machines!"
HyprKnux 1 9:31 pm
(9:31:59 PM): Hana grunts as the Tsubomi's pummeled by the machines, crashing to the ground.
(9:32:17 PM): Hana: "...I... I thought they were, too...!"
Alan Bunting 9:32 pm
(9:32:23 PM): Sora opens her mouth but Ayame's one step ahead of her.
Doc S 9:32 pm
(9:32:35 PM): Eri flies back, deflecting as much as possible. "Fast...!"
wyverncakes 9:33 pm
(9:33:04 PM): Professor Himesaki seems certainly shaken by this, but Graf's laughter seems to take precedence though!
VJockey 9:33 pm
(9:33:37 PM): Mad:.... [Felt ice water practically flood through her veins. Blanc. Blanc is here-] "The hell..."
wyverncakes 9:33 pm
(9:33:44 PM): The dust settles, showing the man standing between the two machines, his cane twirling leasurely. "Oh... they were dismantled. Crushed. Melted down. It was quite a thorough job to say the least."
(9:34:12 PM): "But DUNE's energy made them hardier than you all thought. And when that... rather fortunate worlwide alien attack happened, Fairy Park came under fire as well."
(9:34:38 PM): "It was easy enough from that point on to just channel and focus the energy inside of the slagged remnants. Reconstitute it so they were entirely whole."
Mister Giggles 9:34 pm
(9:34:42 PM): Casshern looks worried all of a sudden. Berserker Mode is now more or less inevitable.
wyverncakes 9:35 pm
(9:35:02 PM): Graf: "They even came with shadows of their former pilots to use them!"
(9:35:21 PM): And at that, you are suddenly greeted by two somewhat familiar faces on the viewscreens
Alan Bunting 9:35 pm
(9:35:25 PM): Sora stares. "Wha... what the hell... they're...!"
VJockey 9:35 pm
(9:35:28 PM): Mad:... [That twisting feeling and chill that was starting to form in her? It was starting to become more than fear.] "Fortunate?"
wyverncakes 9:35 pm
(9:35:29 PM): They look like Hana and Eri... somewhat
HyprKnux 1 9:35 pm
(9:35:33 PM): Hana: "It's me! Me and Eri!"
wyverncakes 9:35 pm
(9:35:36 PM): (http://www.zerochan.net/493619 The middle two)
Doc S 9:35 pm
(9:35:59 PM): Eri: I... yeah... it's us.
wyverncakes 9:36 pm
(9:36:01 PM): Hana?: "No silly! I'm the you who remembered to put herself first!"
(9:36:19 PM): Ayame: "... Son of a..."
Tenebrae Luna 9:36 pm
(9:36:42 PM): A phantom smirk appears. 'Interesting.'
wyverncakes 9:36 pm
(9:36:52 PM): "Professor, it seems we'll have to clean up yet another mess you couldn't fix yourself. Everyone. Destroy those goddamn things for good and kill Graf while you're at it."
HyprKnux 1 9:36 pm
(9:36:58 PM): Hana: "The me who...? B-But that... that was long ago!"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:37 pm
(9:37:06 PM): "Aaaah…That I can do."
VJockey 9:37 pm
(9:37:09 PM): Mad: [There was a chuckle.... then a laugh. A loud one. It wasn't very nice though.]
cubey@aol.pl 9:37 pm
(9:37:33 PM): Devon: "Shadows from the past return to haunt us all."
wyverncakes 9:37 pm
(9:37:35 PM): (Lineup: Hana, Mad, Eri, Sora, Casshern, Devon, Yui, Momo)
(9:37:45 PM): (Hana, Momo)
frifreeman has entered the room. 9:37 pm
Mister Giggles 9:37 pm
(9:37:58 PM): Casshern: Everyone... whatever happens... I'm sorry.
VJockey 9:38 pm
(9:38:02 PM): Mad: "Hey.... Hana's screwed up copy is in the Blanc... right?"
wyverncakes 9:38 pm
(9:38:06 PM): And while you're in shock, Hana, Noir's just gonna lean over and huggle Blanc.
(9:38:28 PM): Eri?: "That was too long ago! I missed the old you, Hana! But now she's right here with me!"
(9:38:37 PM): (Enemy lineup: Graf, BLanc, Noir)
(9:39:02 PM): (Hana, Mad)
HyprKnux 1 9:39 pm
(9:39:06 PM): And Hana's going to blink at that action. "B-But..." she shakes her head. "Y-Yes... I think mine is in the Blanc."
(9:39:54 PM): Hana: "...but, I've changed! I've changed for the better!" *With that, she charges forward, intending on launching a rapid fire of punches at the Endless+
VJockey 9:41 pm
(9:41:11 PM): Mad: "Good. I'd be pissed if I got it mixed up." *Mad charges and throws several Cracker Grenades at the Blanc - drawing the Zaku's machinegun as well as its heat hawk&
wyverncakes 9:42 pm
(9:42:47 PM): [Hana and Mad] And the Blanc is suddenly charging forward as well! But it's faster and stronger than Tsubomi even with its upgrades! Mad's crackers do manage to cause it to be knocked off-point for a moment and Tsubomi's fists crash into it, but Blanc responds brutally back with all its strength, pounding a fist into the other Desu's stomach before chopping down at the machine with an energized hand!
(9:42:54 PM): (React/Continue: Hana and Mad)
Mister Giggles 9:43 pm
(9:43:05 PM): In other news, Casshern's thankful none of them said anything particularly threatening and haven't tried to shoot at him yet besides that beamspam.
wyverncakes 9:43 pm
(9:43:09 PM): (Eri and Sora)
Doc S 9:43 pm
(9:43:30 PM): Eri sighed as she looked up. "COFFRET set power to 150%. We're going in."
HyprKnux 1 9:44 pm
(9:44:40 PM): *Hana grunts as the fist pounds into her stomach, barely reaching out to catch the hand as it came down. "...I won't back down... not here not this far..." And she reacts by returning the punch to the stomach to knock her away+
Doc S 9:44 pm
(9:44:46 PM): *Noir was hers. She saw the look in her others eye as she floated up towards it, both hands drawing fleurets. Gripping the energy tightly, she blasted forward, slashing in a complex pattern in order to score hits on the shoulders, arms and legs.+
wyverncakes 9:44 pm
(9:44:51 PM): Eri?: "Oooh... going in are you? But I'm not going to let you hurt MY Hana! She's better than yours!"
Doc S 9:45 pm
(9:45:04 PM): Eri: We'll see about that. Hana's strong.
cubey@aol.pl 9:46 pm
(9:46:14 PM): Devon: "Selfish brats... you are only embodiements of the past left behind."
VJockey 9:46 pm
(9:46:24 PM): Mad: *Mad's reaction? Flank the Endless while Hana was attempting to push it back and smash the heat hawk into it - as well as fire some close shots with the machinegun to be sure+ [She's frowning at Hana's words though.] "Stop talking and just do it"
Alan Bunting 9:46 pm
(9:46:36 PM): *"So strong...! Okay, looks like we'll have to do this together! Let's go...!" And she brings Itsuki to bear; the battle around Blanc was a little heated, but she could get a hand on Graf for now. And she leaves Noir to Eri, headed over to the masked threat and running in for melee, making a grab at him to throw him to the ground!+
Tenebrae Luna 9:46 pm
(9:46:39 PM): #
wyverncakes 9:47 pm
(9:47:08 PM): [Eri] And Noir's already responding as well! "Not gonna work on me... I'm you... your shadow!" And Noir begins to spin around, dodging and parrying those strikes before an elbow blow catches Erika in the neck! "I know all your moves even before you can even make them!"
(9:47:11 PM): (Approved)
Doc S 9:47 pm
(9:47:42 PM): Eri coughed, backing up a bit. "So what? That doesn't make you better than me. And you hit about as hard as a little GIRL!"
Tenebrae Luna 9:49 pm
(9:49:02 PM): A smile appears as one sentence fills the air. "I'll cover you guys." That is the only thing anywhere near a warning you all get before barrages of Ellen Sonic fly at you all. Some of them glow and explode when within range.+
wyverncakes 9:49 pm
(9:49:03 PM): [Sora] And as you charge forward, Graf springs back in response! He knows how much of an advantage size provides... but as your hand reaches out his cane comes smashing down, knocking the limb away and actually denting its armor somewhat! "And you..." Graf snorted as suddenly a horde of mooks streamed out of the shadow of the rocky spire, all of them clawing at Itsuki from behind! "Are not even worth my attention!"
(9:49:06 PM): (React: Sora)
(9:50:35 PM): [Mad and Hana] The punch to the gut you return doesn't really phase Blanc that much... and Hana? just laughs! "You're not gonna beat me just by mimicking everything I do! I'm better than you... and so I'll always win out that-" Aaaaand then the Heat Hawk crashes into the machine's back... and she suddenly screams out in panic! "H-hey! No fair!"
(9:50:37 PM): BUT!
Alan Bunting 9:51 pm
(9:51:12 PM): *"Oh, what the hell? Where did all these reinforcements come from...!?" She does her best to keep in the fray, but without a real weapon she's not going to last long, and she backs off.+
wyverncakes 9:51 pm
(9:51:32 PM): [Everyone except Sora] Oh snap, Momo's attacking you with those snoic explosive things! Everyone, dodge again on top of that!
(9:51:45 PM): (React: everyone sans Sora)
Doc S 9:52 pm
(9:52:07 PM): *Eri snaps up a barrier, her eyes narrowed. "Momo what the hell are you doing?!"+
wyverncakes 9:52 pm
(9:52:12 PM): (Updated enemy lineup: Graf, Blanc, Noir, Union x 14, Ellen?)
(9:52:29 PM): (Union: http://i48.tinypic.com/dczb43.jpg)
cubey@aol.pl 9:52 pm
(9:52:47 PM): "I had enough treason for one day!" *Devon makes Nu Wa cautiously step back and around where she foresees the exploding shots to hit, not letting its guard down.+
HyprKnux 1 9:52 pm
(9:52:49 PM): *And Hana pushes away from the Blanc trying to dodge the blasts by Ellen+ "Momo, easy!"
Tenebrae Luna 9:53 pm
(9:53:15 PM): The Ellen just looks at Eri. "I'm simply following orders." The words come out unusually cold.
wyverncakes 9:53 pm
(9:53:37 PM): [Sora] You fall back from the assault as best you can... but GODDAMN there's quite a few mooks thrashing at you, and one of them manages to land a crushing swipe that tears across Itsuki's chest!
Mister Giggles 9:53 pm
(9:53:54 PM): Casshern frantically tries to dodge again. Because crap. That's... that's a lot of guys, though not quite as huge as that horde of Ruin Zombies he fought before. He's trying to keep his distance. But... well...
wyverncakes 9:53 pm
(9:53:54 PM): Graf: "Indeed Seiren is..."
VJockey 9:54 pm
(9:54:10 PM): Mad: "Momo! What the hell?!" *Mad's does her best to shove the Blanc in the path of the explosions before pulling away+ "You-...."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:54 pm
(9:54:24 PM): *Yui's at least a back line unit, but she's had enough of this. She jumps off the drones. That shield thing makes her just fine with fall damage…sonic barrages? Less so. Her drones hold their ground, like the moronic robots they are.+
Alan Bunting 9:54 pm
(9:54:41 PM): Sora's too far away for the Ellen to readily target, but she can turn back with half her attention and feel her blood run cold. Which is also more than enough distraction for her not to be able to get out of the way of the Unions, and she screams as she's hit. "Aaaaah...!"
wyverncakes 9:54 pm
(9:54:57 PM): "My little venture on the Chalice wasn't entirely fruitless. I at the very least was able to free one of DUNE's only remaining supporters!"
Doc S 9:55 pm
(9:55:03 PM): Eri: Seiren... I see what's going on here... yes, it all fits now. You brought her back, just for this!
wyverncakes 9:55 pm
(9:55:15 PM): (Casshern, Devon)
HyprKnux 1 9:55 pm
(9:55:17 PM): Hana: "A trap... we've just walked into one..."
wyverncakes 9:56 pm
(9:56:02 PM): Graf: "You act like the trap wasn't coming with you in the first place!"
(9:56:20 PM): [Eri, Devon] Your barriers do manage to repel the blasts for the most part, although you might be a little shaken up.
Doc S 9:56 pm
(9:56:57 PM): Eri: No, it's got to be more than just a simple trap...
wyverncakes 9:56 pm
(9:56:59 PM): [Casshern and Yui] You both manage to evade to safer territory... but quite a few of Yui's drones are torn apart by the blasts!
Tenebrae Luna 9:57 pm
(9:57:08 PM): "It was always the plan. Spy on you all and when the time was right, I'd give everything I knew about you Desus to Graf so that we could kill you and your project."
Doc S 9:57 pm
(9:57:11 PM): Eri: Something else. Something else...!
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:57 pm
(9:57:58 PM): Oh well, such is life. Yui goes and hides in the shadow of a rock. "I take it we are not to kill the traitor?"
Alan Bunting 9:58 pm
(9:58:20 PM): Sora: "You... this... this whole time...!!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:58 pm
(9:58:20 PM): *Nu Wa's dual chest chainguns open fire, blasting at the Unions. All the while, Devon makes the machine maneuver around a pile of rubble... and while she's out of sight, the back-carried Heavenly Wall turrets are removed, not to be seen when the Combat Frame reappears, still firing!&
Mister Giggles 9:58 pm
(9:58:25 PM): +Casshern recovers after his rather impromptu and spontaneous series of dodges... but, well, at this point, his Berserker Mode is going to trigger for sure, if he has to do something like that again. Remembering what Dan had told him, he tries to move away from the others, and... charges headfirst into a group of Unions, hoping they'll be enough to keep his completely unpredictable and extremely dangerous AI subroutine occupied. &
wyverncakes 9:58 pm
(9:58:38 PM): Ayame: "... Beat her into submission. Killing her as it stands would kill Momo as well... though I'm sure Maxene could handle this properly.]
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:58 pm
(9:58:47 PM): "Roger."
cubey@aol.pl 9:58 pm
(9:58:52 PM): "Don't worry." Devon reassures Sora. "I have your back."
wyverncakes 9:59 pm
(9:59:08 PM): [Hana] When you pull away however, suddenly you get tackled by the Noir! "Hey! Don't you DARE try to make MY Hana take hits for you!" And a burst of light tears through Tsubomi just below its shoulder, blowing a hole in the machine!
Doc S 9:59 pm
(9:59:25 PM): Eri clenched her fist. There was something here. Something that resounded too hard. Something was wrong here... something deadly wrong.
HyprKnux 1 9:59 pm
(9:59:48 PM): And as the blast strikes home, Hana let out a painful yelp as the machine fed back into her.
Doc S 10:00 pm
(10:00:02 PM): Eri: Hana! I'm your opponent, other me! Come and get me.
Alan Bunting 10:00 pm
(10:00:05 PM): Sora shakes her head, starting to shake a bit. "No, no, that's not it! She's... this whole time, I thought we were getting through, but... this whole time it's been her again!"
VJockey 10:00 pm
(10:00:29 PM): Mad:..... [She was grinding her teeth now.. anger. so much anger. Its burning her up inside as she grips her controls.] "You..." [Scream. Rage. Go wild... She could barely keep it back. Graf was pushing her anger to greater heights.]
wyverncakes 10:00 pm
(10:00:51 PM): [Mad] And Mad...? Well, you're gonna fall back... but as you do you might catch just as Graf's cane comes hurtling forward, smashing through your Zaku's head and destroying its main camera. And from your auxillery cameras you can see the man is holding onto it, using it as leverage to pull the machine's entire head off!
Doc S 10:01 pm
(10:01:08 PM): Eri: It's me you want. Come and get me. You and Seiren. Both of you, NOW. And she cuts the music into the air as a form of challenge.
wyverncakes 10:01 pm
(10:01:12 PM): Graf: "This is your own doing. No one else's. And as I said before... I will repay you for what you did to me!"
cubey@aol.pl 10:01 pm
(10:01:29 PM): Devon: "Compose yourselves! These lapdogs try to use your emotions against you!"
Doc S 10:01 pm
(10:01:58 PM): Oh Eri was composed. She was actually, for once, deadly calm.
HyprKnux 1 10:02 pm
(10:02:00 PM): Hana: "Eri...!
Doc S 10:02 pm
(10:02:16 PM): Eri: I got this. You handle your shadow, with Mad.
Alan Bunting 10:02 pm
(10:02:27 PM): Sora: "Eri...?"
wyverncakes 10:02 pm
(10:02:37 PM): [Devon] Nu Wa's dakka tears into their ranks, blowing out the upper parts of several of the Unions! But as you come out again... suddenly the still-inteact lower portions of the Unions closest to you leap up and slash at the Nu Wa!
(10:02:39 PM): (react: Devon)
HyprKnux 1 10:02 pm
(10:02:43 PM): Hana: "...alright..."
Doc S 10:03 pm
(10:03:21 PM): Eri floated back up to face Seiren and Noir. "I had a feeling. All this time. All the clues that I missed. Everything." She turned to face the Ellen. "Hello. Sister."
Tenebrae Luna 10:03 pm
(10:03:33 PM): Seiren laughs a little but it is a cold and dark one. "If you wish Kurumu. You can fight both of the shadows of your past."
Alan Bunting 10:03 pm
(10:03:39 PM): Sora: "What."
wyverncakes 10:03 pm
(10:03:43 PM): [Casshern] You do manage to smash through the lower portion of one Union very quickly... but shockingly the upper half is still fighting, just floating in the air before swinging its fist down on you!
VJockey 10:03 pm
(10:03:46 PM): Mad: !!! "FUCK! Get off of my Zaku you fucked up pansy CUNTFACE!!!"
HyprKnux 1 10:03 pm
(10:03:49 PM): Hana: "...sister?!"
wyverncakes 10:03 pm
(10:03:50 PM): (React: Casshern)
Doc S 10:03 pm
(10:03:51 PM): Eri: I intend to. Momo Kurumu, eldest ssiter of the Kurumu family.
wyverncakes 10:03 pm
(10:03:53 PM): (QUICK UPDATE!)
cubey@aol.pl 10:04 pm
(10:04:16 PM): *Nu Wa raises its fists. "Heh... come." And its chaingun knuckles activate, cross-countering the slashes with a punch of its own! Also to further disarray the Unions' attack, the two turrets left behind now open fire - eat a volley of multi-missiles and two large beam shots, mooks!+
wyverncakes 10:04 pm
(10:04:17 PM): (Upper part of a Union: http://i45.tinypic.com/21ju6xc.jpg)
(10:04:33 PM): (Lower part: http://i47.tinypic.com/2tp2d.jpg)
Tenebrae Luna 10:05 pm
(10:05:06 PM): Seiren smiles. "So you know. Are you prepared to kill your own sister Eri?"
Doc S 10:05 pm
(10:05:13 PM): Eri: Nope.
(10:05:21 PM): Eri: I'm going to beat you until my SISTER COMES OUT!
wyverncakes 10:05 pm
(10:05:58 PM): [Devon] The cross-counter works like a relative charm! The bulkier claws of the lower part of the Union still tears up the Nu Wa's arm a bit, but the punch still wins through... and those turrets do plenty more damage and finish it off!
Tenebrae Luna 10:06 pm
(10:06:27 PM): Seiren scoffs a little, amused. "Barbaric. I'll humor you then."
wyverncakes 10:06 pm
(10:06:32 PM): (Enemy lineup: Graf, Blanc, Noir, Complete Union x 11, Union Top x 1, Union Bottom x 1)
Doc S 10:06 pm
(10:06:55 PM): Eri: I always won wrestling matches.
wyverncakes 10:06 pm
(10:06:56 PM): Graf however, frowns as he sees the Nu Wa raze his forces once more like that
(10:07:16 PM): "... Something will have to be done about that machine..."
(10:07:25 PM): (Yui, Seiren)
Mister Giggles 10:08 pm
(10:08:09 PM): *Casshern's still pretty damn fast, and raises one arm to collide with the 'forearm' of the other creature while pivoting to the side. His other armraises upwards in an uppercut of sorts, fingers extending, to cume up right through the 'chin' of the Union, attempting to rip out its internal components in the head. Thankfully, he hasn't suffered any damage yet, so no Berserk Mode.
(10:08:11 PM): +
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:09 pm
(10:09:23 PM): *"…Summoning complete. Now touch this here, that there…firing solution is ready. Go." Yui's still just standing behind her rock, tapping away at her VFX modulator. But high above the fray of the battle, nine drones come into being, and proceed to lay into the Unions with tiny red lasers. Their aim is precise and careful, avoiding all friendlies.+
wyverncakes 10:10 pm
(10:10:02 PM): [Casshern] The Union Top still has quite the height advantage against you though! Your uppercut swings up, stabbing into the lowermost part of its body... but the size difference is just too much! Especially when its giant fist comes SMASHING down into your arm! And the strain's bad. Really bad as you're pretty much pounded into the ground underneath you!
Mister Giggles 10:11 pm
(10:11:07 PM): Casshern collapses. The damage to his arm is already slowly starting to repair itself, but he's laying there, for just a few seconds, his eyes wide. Suddenly, his face fixes into a... somewhat strange expression.
Tenebrae Luna 10:11 pm
(10:11:31 PM): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPOrQcFCn1M "Well then, I suppose I shouldn't hold back then." Black fog leaks out of Ellen, surrounding it, and changing Ellen. Soon before you stands not the Desu Ellen. In its' place is a dark female figure, still obviously a Desu, shrouded in a dark aura that seems to eat away at the air around. It one cruel yellow eye looks on as the right eye is closed and one single monstrous wing jets out of the left shoulder. Suddenly a shrill screech rings through the air, messing up communication and hurting your ears.+
wyverncakes 10:11 pm
(10:11:55 PM): [Yui] The Unions fall back, using their massive arms to protect their bodies... though those arms do get torn up a bit! But during all of this... you might not notice that the shadow of Graf is beginning to shift and grow as well. "... But that said... *you* are the most vulnerable person out here right now though, my dear."
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:12 pm
(10:12:51 PM): "Am I?"
wyverncakes 10:12 pm
(10:12:57 PM): [Yui cont.] The shadow shifts, grows... and ultimately gains a definite form. That of a gigantic black ox... twice the size of Mad's Zaku and now looming over you. And it's just going to lift up its foot and squish you. "Yes."
(10:13:02 PM): (Black ox: http://i45.tinypic.com/2vip5r9.jpg)
(10:13:04 PM): (React: mad)
Alan Bunting 10:13 pm
(10:13:20 PM): Sora's getting a good look at that machine... and then the horrible sound fills the air, and she groans. "This... what is this? What's that unit...!?"
wyverncakes 10:13 pm
(10:13:31 PM): (Seiren, you're doing this to Eri specifically, yes?)
Mister Giggles 10:13 pm
(10:13:49 PM): A few seconds later, Casshern is on his feet again, getting to his feet much more slowly than someone like him should be capable of. His face is lowered to the ground, while he's somewhat hunched over, his teeth grit. And then, he looks up at the Union. His mask then closes, and his eyes light up. It was only a matter of time, wasn't it?
Tenebrae Luna 10:13 pm
(10:13:50 PM): (it is an large aoe)
wyverncakes 10:14 pm
(10:14:02 PM): Alright
VJockey 10:14 pm
(10:14:37 PM): Mad: !!!!!!! *To say Mad absolutely FREAKED was an understatement. No words. Just action. Mad's charging that Ox in order to knock it away as hard as possible+
Doc S 10:15 pm
(10:15:15 PM): *Eri grit her teeth as she recalibrated some systems. "Melody of Sorrow huh? Nice. I shoulda known this would be done again."+
wyverncakes 10:15 pm
(10:15:36 PM): [Everyone] The sound rings out in the air, somewhat munging up your sensors and causing a few screens to go static! The effect isn't too bad though... but it's only the start of what this new machine can do!
(10:16:20 PM): (Actually meant for that to be react for Yui, but I figured Mad would support defend her. Ha ha boy do I suck and cut out the middleman.)
HyprKnux 1 10:16 pm
(10:16:26 PM): Hana: "Gah...!"
Mister Giggles 10:16 pm
(10:16:28 PM): ... Yeah, that's a very, very bad thing when Casshern's in berserk mode. Might as well just make him yellow right now.
cubey@aol.pl 10:16 pm
(10:16:51 PM): Devon: "Tch! Pretty loud for a traitor, aren't you?"
Tenebrae Luna 10:16 pm
(10:16:55 PM): Seiren nods. "Hmph. Nocturne could only have been in repair for so long after all."
Doc S 10:17 pm
(10:17:15 PM): Eri: Been a while since I saw this thing. Pity I didn't slag it years ago but hey, who's counting.
wyverncakes 10:18 pm
(10:18:26 PM): [Mad] At fourty meters in height, the black ox is barely knocked back by the Zaku. But there's also Graf himself to worry about as well! "Forgetting the real me, Nadeshiko?" the man asks before suddenly pulling a sword out of his cane and slashing down with it! Your Zaku's entire body is cut open, giving Graf easy access to your cockpit, which he then takes advantage of, charging in and stabbing with his rapier! "The first blow won't kill. I'm not that merciful, least of all to those who reject me!"
(10:18:28 PM): (React: Mad)
Alan Bunting 10:18 pm
(10:18:57 PM): # Mad?
wyverncakes 10:18 pm
(10:18:59 PM): (While we're at it, Hana can take her turn and Mad can move after her react)
(10:19:01 PM): (Approved!)
Alan Bunting 10:20 pm
(10:20:12 PM): *"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Sora's managed to get clear enough of the mooks that she can charge in with Desu Itsuki and do her best to get Mad clear before she gets run through like a kebab...!+
HyprKnux 1 10:21 pm
(10:21:15 PM): Hana: "Mad... E-Eri..." she looks between the two threatened people, but sees Sora heading for Mad, so that solves one problem. And Eri seems to be in control... so, she focuses on the Blanc. "You... I'm not like you, I'm better than you!" *creating other energy barrier, she drew back her fist, energy gathering in it. "TSUBOMI...SPIRAL IMPACT!" And punched into the barrier, firing a massive burst of energy at the Blanc+
VJockey 10:24 pm
(10:24:07 PM): Mad: !!! "Shi-" *not a lot of room to dodge in a cockpit, but she tries nonetheless as she slaps in a combination at a familiar looking keypad at her hip. -333- -Standing By- Of course as she's not controling the Zaku.. or what's left of it- its rapidly speeding towards the ground+
wyverncakes 10:24 pm
(10:24:21 PM): [Hana] "Bullshit!" Eri? shouts out as suddenly the Noir forms up with the Blanc. The Spiral Impact does shoot forth, but the two machines respond by joining hands together, with white and black energy suddenly crackling into being around them! "And even if you were..." The two machines thrust their hands out as Hana? takes over the verbal smackdown. "I've got my Eri right here!" The Spiral Impact is overwhelmed in an instant, the joint Endless assault surging towards Tsubomi!
HyprKnux 1 10:25 pm
(10:25:20 PM): And Hana's eyes go wide as the the attack heads towards her...
wyverncakes 10:25 pm
(10:25:27 PM): (React: Hana)
(10:25:29 PM): (Sorry about that)
Doc S 10:25 pm
(10:25:35 PM): #Hana
wyverncakes 10:25 pm
(10:25:40 PM): (Approved!)
cubey@aol.pl has entered the room. 9:00 pm
wyverncakes 9:02 pm
(9:02:00 PM): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFCU68Gim3o
taoofcrime has entered the room. 9:03 pm
wyverncakes 9:03 pm
(9:03:34 PM): It had been a relatively quiet night onboard the Chalice, even with the arrival of Professor Himesaki earlier in the day
wyverncakes 9:04 pm
(9:04:06 PM): She'd been busy discussing things with Ayame, and Gucun itself seemed free of trouble with the departure of Wang Ding Bang and his supporters
(9:04:41 PM): But then this peace is broken though. Not by the Chalice suddenly coming under attack, but rather by alarms blaring on the ship.
(9:05:01 PM): For most of you, Dan very quickly appears in front of you looking very serious!
(9:05:21 PM): Dan: "... Sorry, I gotta keep this quick because I've got work to do with Maxene still... but we had an intruder just now!"
(9:05:43 PM): An image appears next to him of a man in a magician's outfit!
Mister Giggles 9:06 pm
(9:06:09 PM): Casshern was still in the infirmary, staring up at the severely distorted picture of Luna they pulled from his hard drive, and looks at Dan, blinking in surprise.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:06 pm
(9:06:16 PM): "He has quite a…unique fashion sense, doesn't he..."
HyprKnux 1 9:06 pm
(9:06:36 PM): Hana: "Wha...?"
wyverncakes 9:06 pm
(9:06:37 PM): Dan: "It was this guy named Graf... he tried to do something weird with Mad... but we chased him off. Professor Himesaki also said that he was a follower of DUNE... maybe he's trying to get revenge for us beating his boss!"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:06 pm
(9:06:53 PM): "…Define weird. Now, please."
Alan Bunting 9:06 pm
(9:06:58 PM): Sora: "An intruder... wait, and he's with DUNE!? Okay, this is bad."
Doc S 9:07 pm
(9:07:13 PM): Eri quietly moved to the hangar. Clearly it was go-time.
Tenebrae Luna 9:07 pm
(9:07:22 PM): In the shadows of the hall, dark yellow eyes stare at the image.
VJockey 9:07 pm
(9:07:47 PM): Mad: [Was in the cockpit of a Zaku-II F2 and lounging on the pilot seat. She takes a deep breath and sighs. Old news. She was there.]
wyverncakes 9:07 pm
(9:07:48 PM): The hologram near Yui responds to the question quickly. "The professor said... like brainwashing! Trying to turn her against us!"
Mister Giggles 9:07 pm
(9:07:52 PM): Casshern's eyes lower. He sees where this is going, even though the last thing he wants right now is to fight someone and potentially have his Berserker Mode trigger while on the ship. Imagine the Hulk on the SHIELD Helicarrier and you can imagine what that might be like.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:08 pm
(9:08:31 PM): "Ah." Yui's face stays blank for a bit, and then breaks into a perfect imitation of Hayato's smile. "Well, we can't just let that slide, now can we?"
griefgathering has entered the room. 9:08 pm
wyverncakes 9:08 pm
(9:08:36 PM): And then Ayame's voice booms on the loudspeaker. "Dan, we can coordinate from here. Keep checking the security footage with Maxene. Make sure he didn't do anything else here."
Tenebrae Luna 9:08 pm
(9:08:50 PM): The Desu Ellen stands up and is ready to launch.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:08 pm
(9:08:51 PM): And she's off towards the hangar as well, picking up her VFX modulator along the way.
Doc S 9:08 pm
(9:08:57 PM): Somewhere Tony Stark sneezed at the reference.
wyverncakes 9:09 pm
(9:09:45 PM): Ayame: "We're also running the scanners at full tilt. And I think we've almost got- We've got him. Twenty clicks from the Chalice... no doubt running scared now that his cover's blown."
Doc S 9:10 pm
(9:10:03 PM): Eri scoffed at that. Graf, running scared? Not his style.
ultimatesalsa has left the room. 9:10 pm
wyverncakes 9:10 pm
(9:10:31 PM): Ayame: "A man who can just waltz into the Chalice like he did without even alerting Maxene... I don't want a man like that still in the world. Hunt down the bastard and kill him. Professor, anything you think we should know?"
ultimatesalsa has been invited. 9:10 pm
ultimatesalsa has entered the room. 9:10 pm
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:10 pm
(9:10:45 PM): Drones are summoned, and Yui hops aboard hers. It's a bit chilly out…ah well, it'll be refreshing. There's a chance for a hunt.
ultimatesalsa has left the room. 9:11 pm
Mister Giggles 9:11 pm
(9:11:30 PM): Casshern sighs. "Okay. I'll... I'll do it. But whatever happens..." grabbing his helmet, and putting it on. "I'm sorry."
ultimatesalsa has entered the room. 9:11 pm
wyverncakes 9:11 pm
(9:11:43 PM): It's then that an older voice comes on the comm. It's Professor Himesaki, Mad and Hana's grandmother and the administrator of Fairy Park.
Doc S 9:12 pm
(9:12:04 PM): Pausing, Eri pressed a couple of buttons on a floating page before heading out. Just in case.
wyverncakes 9:12 pm
(9:12:06 PM): Professor: "... I wouldnt say 'running scared'. More like regrouping more than anything else."
VJockey 9:12 pm
(9:12:20 PM): Mad: [Loads up the Zaku with every weapon it could carry and soon launches. She's taking deep breaths in regular intervals. Calm. She needed to be calm...]
wyverncakes 9:12 pm
(9:12:37 PM): Ayame: "All the more reason to not give him the chance to strike back. Chase him down, but be careful. We don't know what he's got backing him up."
Alan Bunting 9:12 pm
(9:12:43 PM): Sora looks at the AI, muttering under her breath, "give the order, give the order..."
HyprKnux 1 9:13 pm
(9:13:06 PM): Hana nodded a bit... "...we'll be careful..."
wyverncakes 9:13 pm
(9:13:30 PM): At any rate, you're all cleared to launch!
(9:13:46 PM): And those of you going on foot are welcome to hitch rides on anyone willing to lend a hand, shoulder, or cockpit to share.
Alan Bunting 9:14 pm
(9:14:04 PM): And at Ayame's instruction, she bolts, headed for the hangar and setting up in record time. "Sora Myoudouin, Desu Itsuki, launching!" Without further fanfare she's off, though she'll wait just long enough for a companion if need be.
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:14 pm
(9:14:06 PM): And launch Yui does! She's fine puttering along on her drones.
HyprKnux 1 9:14 pm
(9:14:48 PM): With that, Hana launches in the Tsubomi Mk-II, determined on making sure this Graf person doesn't get any further in his plans.
Doc S 9:15 pm
(9:15:06 PM): Eri's heads out of the hangar. She's grimly quiet as she turns a few dials up. "Guys, I'm linking our comms. Just to make sure he knows we're coming." And she turns up something really loud
Tenebrae Luna 9:15 pm
(9:15:16 PM): Once all the other units have launched, the Ellen follows in the back of the team.
Mister Giggles 9:15 pm
(9:15:26 PM): Casshern frowns when he hears 'be careful.' Seriously, they couldn't have picked a worse person to hunt this guy down. "I'll try." And then, he's off.
cubey@aol.pl 9:16 pm
(9:16:00 PM): "You didn't leave Gucun's territory yet and more trouble is brewing already." A well-armored machine awaits outside and joins the group. "It's my responsibility to handle it."
(9:16:38 PM): Footage from inside its cockpit reveals that the pilot is, indeed, Devon. Though it wasn't liek her to pilot anything before.
wyverncakes 9:17 pm
(9:17:21 PM): Ayame: "Maybe so. But we brought this trouble in with us. You'll have to forgive us for tagging along."
Mister Giggles 9:17 pm
(9:17:33 PM): Casshern's coasting along with his hip-mounted boosters, though they aren't meant for sustained flight.
VJockey 9:18 pm
(9:18:08 PM): Mad: "And it wouldn'tve been a better idea to ..I dunno...surprise him?"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:18 pm
(9:18:38 PM): "…A case could be made that way, yes."
Doc S 9:18 pm
(9:18:42 PM): Eri: "Graf doesn't get scared."
(9:18:53 PM): Eri: "Or runs. Without a plan."
wyverncakes 9:19 pm
(9:19:01 PM): At any rate, all of you with some kind of sensor data get fed Graf's location, and you're all very quickly closing the gap.
Alan Bunting 9:19 pm
(9:19:19 PM): Sora: "Yeah. I don't like this. At all."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:19 pm
(9:19:42 PM): Yui begins drumming her fingers on the drone's black metal frame. Soon, soon...
wyverncakes 9:19 pm
(9:19:46 PM): And finally, you reach a very craggy span of ground, complete with a single, somewhat damaged spire of rock pocking up from the ground.
(9:20:07 PM): And standing on top of it for the sake of theatrics is none other than Graf.
VJockey 9:20 pm
(9:20:30 PM): Mad: "Well someone's overcompensating for his wounded pride... and junk"
Doc S 9:20 pm
(9:20:31 PM): Eri: See? Plan.
wyverncakes 9:20 pm
(9:20:36 PM): Graf: "... And so the Chalice and the Professor finally marshall their forces to come after me."
HyprKnux 1 9:20 pm
(9:20:36 PM): Hana: "It's him...!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:20 pm
(9:20:37 PM): Nu Wa isn't very speedy, what with the four shield-like turrets seriously slowing it down. But Devon has the home terrain advantage, knowing which way to go for her Combat Frame to avoid rubble and other difficult-to-cross terrain.
Alan Bunting 9:20 pm
(9:20:52 PM): Sora: "Well, at least he saved us the trouble of finding him again."
Mister Giggles 9:21 pm
(9:21:27 PM): Casshern remains silent. This pose is disturbingly similar to the one Lyuze had in the Ruin.
wyverncakes 9:21 pm
(9:21:27 PM): Graf: "I must admit, I am at somewhat of a disadvantage. A certain girl refused an offer of power."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:21 pm
(9:21:28 PM): "…Hm. Ambush, then." This is less fun...
wyverncakes 9:21 pm
(9:21:51 PM): His eyes lock onto the Zaku. "But at least she is present, so as I can pay her back a ten thousand fold for the insult she gave me."
(9:22:08 PM): Yeah, he's still smarting a little bit from her hit. Not by a lot though.
HyprKnux 1 9:22 pm
(9:22:18 PM): Hana: "...I won't let you touch her!"
Alan Bunting 9:22 pm
(9:22:30 PM): Sora: "Who would take an offer of anything from you?"
VJockey 9:22 pm
(9:22:31 PM): Mad: "Hey! I can defend my own damn honor just fine!"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:22 pm
(9:22:51 PM): "…Alright. But call me if you need me."
wyverncakes 9:22 pm
(9:22:58 PM): A private line opens up to Tsubomi. Hana, it's your grandmother calling to tell you to play nice.
cubey@aol.pl 9:23 pm
(9:23:25 PM): "Power given by others isn't worth anything. It's something you must reach for yourself." Devon gives the magician a suspicious look. Another on-foot combatant?
wyverncakes 9:23 pm
(9:23:40 PM): Professor: "Hana... at this point in time, Mad doesn't need us smothering her with protection. Support and help her, don't fight her battles for her."
cubey@aol.pl 9:23 pm
(9:23:41 PM): "Remove yourself from State of Gucun territory. You are not welcome here."
VJockey 9:23 pm
(9:23:49 PM): Mad: *Graf, Mad's swinging a bazooka your way and pulls the trigger! Incoming bazooka round!+
HyprKnux 1 9:24 pm
(9:24:03 PM): Hana: "...alright..."
wyverncakes 9:25 pm
(9:25:11 PM): [Mad] Graf was about to respond to Devon coolly... but Mad's bazooka round took precedence! And as it hurtles towards him the man simply swings his cane forward and it crashes into the projectile, exploding it prematurely!
Mister Giggles 9:25 pm
(9:25:35 PM): Casshern: ... He deflected an ordinance round with a cane?
Doc S 9:25 pm
(9:25:48 PM): Eri: He isn't known as DUNE's High General for nothing.
wyverncakes 9:25 pm
(9:25:55 PM): But the smoke that gets kicked up in the aftermatch is... much, much more than said bazooka shell should produce, and suddenly a large smokescreen fills the battlefield!
(9:25:57 PM): And then...
(9:25:59 PM): BEAMSPAM!
cubey@aol.pl 9:26 pm
(9:26:41 PM): Devon: "Just like old times..." Her half-smirk disappears just as rapidly as it appeared, thanks to the enemy beam attacks.
wyverncakes 9:26 pm
(9:26:46 PM): Suddenly, tearing through the fog comes countless beams of energy, all at mecha-level elevation and with focused accuracy, aiming at all of you!
(9:26:51 PM): (React: Everyone)
Doc S 9:27 pm
(9:27:15 PM): *Eri's going to pull into a high speed evasion, bringing up a shield that shimmered with brilliant light.+
HyprKnux 1 9:27 pm
(9:27:26 PM): Hana: "WOAH!" *and she's quick to bring up one of her barriers to deflect the shots aimed at her+
Alan Bunting 9:27 pm
(9:27:41 PM): *Sora hops in front of anyone not equipped with convenient shielding technologies. "I'll cover us...! Itsuki Aegis!" And a nice, big sunflower pops up to protect her.+
Tenebrae Luna 9:27 pm
(9:27:52 PM): The Ellen evades backwards to dodge the beams with extreme speed.+
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:27 pm
(9:27:53 PM): *Yui has her drone squad drop in altitude, letting gravity take them over to get out of the way.+
VJockey 9:28 pm
(9:28:16 PM): Mad: "Tch! We'll he'll be several generals by the time I'm done with him- oh FUCK." *Mad throttles it and does her best to evade as best as possible. The Zaku wasn't as tough as Ares Gear (HA) or as fast as Maria... but damn if she was going to be taken down so quickly!+
Mister Giggles 9:28 pm
(9:28:56 PM): Casshern is, well, much smaller than a mecha and really is on par with the size of an average human, so dodging beams aimed at that elevation with his speed is kind of a cakewalk. So... flash-stepping dodges while keeping low to the ground.
cubey@aol.pl 9:28 pm
(9:28:57 PM): *Nu Wa blocks, the two massive shields on its arms serving as a double-layered protective barrier, covered in anti-beam coating to that.+
(9:29:56 PM): Devon: "This Heavenly Wall will protect everyone! As trite as that may sound..."
wyverncakes 9:30 pm
(9:30:14 PM): [Everyone] Thre three-Desu barrier effort helps ward off the worst of the assault, with Ellen, Yui, Mad, and Casshern having a nice safe zone to work with! Nu Wa does come under fire though... but that heavenly wall lives up to its reputation!
(9:30:31 PM): But just then... black and white figures suddenly burst from the smokescreen!
(9:30:48 PM): ???: "Eri, you tried to protect them rather than me?!?"
HyprKnux 1 9:30 pm
(9:30:54 PM): Hana: "Wha...?"
wyverncakes 9:31 pm
(9:31:05 PM): ??? 2: "Hana! Thanks for coming front and center for me to get to!"
Doc S 9:31 pm
(9:31:20 PM): Eri: Christ...
Alan Bunting 9:31 pm
(9:31:29 PM): Sora: This is bad...!
wyverncakes 9:31 pm
(9:31:32 PM): And suddenly Tsubomi and Erika are FLOORED by punches from... the Blanc and Noir?!?
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:31 pm
(9:31:45 PM): "…Ah. He brought friends…"
wyverncakes 9:31 pm
(9:31:46 PM): Ayame: "What in the-"
(9:31:58 PM): "Professor! You said Fairy Park destroyed those goddamn machines!"
HyprKnux 1 9:31 pm
(9:31:59 PM): Hana grunts as the Tsubomi's pummeled by the machines, crashing to the ground.
(9:32:17 PM): Hana: "...I... I thought they were, too...!"
Alan Bunting 9:32 pm
(9:32:23 PM): Sora opens her mouth but Ayame's one step ahead of her.
Doc S 9:32 pm
(9:32:35 PM): Eri flies back, deflecting as much as possible. "Fast...!"
wyverncakes 9:33 pm
(9:33:04 PM): Professor Himesaki seems certainly shaken by this, but Graf's laughter seems to take precedence though!
VJockey 9:33 pm
(9:33:37 PM): Mad:.... [Felt ice water practically flood through her veins. Blanc. Blanc is here-] "The hell..."
wyverncakes 9:33 pm
(9:33:44 PM): The dust settles, showing the man standing between the two machines, his cane twirling leasurely. "Oh... they were dismantled. Crushed. Melted down. It was quite a thorough job to say the least."
(9:34:12 PM): "But DUNE's energy made them hardier than you all thought. And when that... rather fortunate worlwide alien attack happened, Fairy Park came under fire as well."
(9:34:38 PM): "It was easy enough from that point on to just channel and focus the energy inside of the slagged remnants. Reconstitute it so they were entirely whole."
Mister Giggles 9:34 pm
(9:34:42 PM): Casshern looks worried all of a sudden. Berserker Mode is now more or less inevitable.
wyverncakes 9:35 pm
(9:35:02 PM): Graf: "They even came with shadows of their former pilots to use them!"
(9:35:21 PM): And at that, you are suddenly greeted by two somewhat familiar faces on the viewscreens
Alan Bunting 9:35 pm
(9:35:25 PM): Sora stares. "Wha... what the hell... they're...!"
VJockey 9:35 pm
(9:35:28 PM): Mad:... [That twisting feeling and chill that was starting to form in her? It was starting to become more than fear.] "Fortunate?"
wyverncakes 9:35 pm
(9:35:29 PM): They look like Hana and Eri... somewhat
HyprKnux 1 9:35 pm
(9:35:33 PM): Hana: "It's me! Me and Eri!"
wyverncakes 9:35 pm
(9:35:36 PM): (http://www.zerochan.net/493619 The middle two)
Doc S 9:35 pm
(9:35:59 PM): Eri: I... yeah... it's us.
wyverncakes 9:36 pm
(9:36:01 PM): Hana?: "No silly! I'm the you who remembered to put herself first!"
(9:36:19 PM): Ayame: "... Son of a..."
Tenebrae Luna 9:36 pm
(9:36:42 PM): A phantom smirk appears. 'Interesting.'
wyverncakes 9:36 pm
(9:36:52 PM): "Professor, it seems we'll have to clean up yet another mess you couldn't fix yourself. Everyone. Destroy those goddamn things for good and kill Graf while you're at it."
HyprKnux 1 9:36 pm
(9:36:58 PM): Hana: "The me who...? B-But that... that was long ago!"
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:37 pm
(9:37:06 PM): "Aaaah…That I can do."
VJockey 9:37 pm
(9:37:09 PM): Mad: [There was a chuckle.... then a laugh. A loud one. It wasn't very nice though.]
cubey@aol.pl 9:37 pm
(9:37:33 PM): Devon: "Shadows from the past return to haunt us all."
wyverncakes 9:37 pm
(9:37:35 PM): (Lineup: Hana, Mad, Eri, Sora, Casshern, Devon, Yui, Momo)
(9:37:45 PM): (Hana, Momo)
frifreeman has entered the room. 9:37 pm
Mister Giggles 9:37 pm
(9:37:58 PM): Casshern: Everyone... whatever happens... I'm sorry.
VJockey 9:38 pm
(9:38:02 PM): Mad: "Hey.... Hana's screwed up copy is in the Blanc... right?"
wyverncakes 9:38 pm
(9:38:06 PM): And while you're in shock, Hana, Noir's just gonna lean over and huggle Blanc.
(9:38:28 PM): Eri?: "That was too long ago! I missed the old you, Hana! But now she's right here with me!"
(9:38:37 PM): (Enemy lineup: Graf, BLanc, Noir)
(9:39:02 PM): (Hana, Mad)
HyprKnux 1 9:39 pm
(9:39:06 PM): And Hana's going to blink at that action. "B-But..." she shakes her head. "Y-Yes... I think mine is in the Blanc."
(9:39:54 PM): Hana: "...but, I've changed! I've changed for the better!" *With that, she charges forward, intending on launching a rapid fire of punches at the Endless+
VJockey 9:41 pm
(9:41:11 PM): Mad: "Good. I'd be pissed if I got it mixed up." *Mad charges and throws several Cracker Grenades at the Blanc - drawing the Zaku's machinegun as well as its heat hawk&
wyverncakes 9:42 pm
(9:42:47 PM): [Hana and Mad] And the Blanc is suddenly charging forward as well! But it's faster and stronger than Tsubomi even with its upgrades! Mad's crackers do manage to cause it to be knocked off-point for a moment and Tsubomi's fists crash into it, but Blanc responds brutally back with all its strength, pounding a fist into the other Desu's stomach before chopping down at the machine with an energized hand!
(9:42:54 PM): (React/Continue: Hana and Mad)
Mister Giggles 9:43 pm
(9:43:05 PM): In other news, Casshern's thankful none of them said anything particularly threatening and haven't tried to shoot at him yet besides that beamspam.
wyverncakes 9:43 pm
(9:43:09 PM): (Eri and Sora)
Doc S 9:43 pm
(9:43:30 PM): Eri sighed as she looked up. "COFFRET set power to 150%. We're going in."
HyprKnux 1 9:44 pm
(9:44:40 PM): *Hana grunts as the fist pounds into her stomach, barely reaching out to catch the hand as it came down. "...I won't back down... not here not this far..." And she reacts by returning the punch to the stomach to knock her away+
Doc S 9:44 pm
(9:44:46 PM): *Noir was hers. She saw the look in her others eye as she floated up towards it, both hands drawing fleurets. Gripping the energy tightly, she blasted forward, slashing in a complex pattern in order to score hits on the shoulders, arms and legs.+
wyverncakes 9:44 pm
(9:44:51 PM): Eri?: "Oooh... going in are you? But I'm not going to let you hurt MY Hana! She's better than yours!"
Doc S 9:45 pm
(9:45:04 PM): Eri: We'll see about that. Hana's strong.
cubey@aol.pl 9:46 pm
(9:46:14 PM): Devon: "Selfish brats... you are only embodiements of the past left behind."
VJockey 9:46 pm
(9:46:24 PM): Mad: *Mad's reaction? Flank the Endless while Hana was attempting to push it back and smash the heat hawk into it - as well as fire some close shots with the machinegun to be sure+ [She's frowning at Hana's words though.] "Stop talking and just do it"
Alan Bunting 9:46 pm
(9:46:36 PM): *"So strong...! Okay, looks like we'll have to do this together! Let's go...!" And she brings Itsuki to bear; the battle around Blanc was a little heated, but she could get a hand on Graf for now. And she leaves Noir to Eri, headed over to the masked threat and running in for melee, making a grab at him to throw him to the ground!+
Tenebrae Luna 9:46 pm
(9:46:39 PM): #
wyverncakes 9:47 pm
(9:47:08 PM): [Eri] And Noir's already responding as well! "Not gonna work on me... I'm you... your shadow!" And Noir begins to spin around, dodging and parrying those strikes before an elbow blow catches Erika in the neck! "I know all your moves even before you can even make them!"
(9:47:11 PM): (Approved)
Doc S 9:47 pm
(9:47:42 PM): Eri coughed, backing up a bit. "So what? That doesn't make you better than me. And you hit about as hard as a little GIRL!"
Tenebrae Luna 9:49 pm
(9:49:02 PM): A smile appears as one sentence fills the air. "I'll cover you guys." That is the only thing anywhere near a warning you all get before barrages of Ellen Sonic fly at you all. Some of them glow and explode when within range.+
wyverncakes 9:49 pm
(9:49:03 PM): [Sora] And as you charge forward, Graf springs back in response! He knows how much of an advantage size provides... but as your hand reaches out his cane comes smashing down, knocking the limb away and actually denting its armor somewhat! "And you..." Graf snorted as suddenly a horde of mooks streamed out of the shadow of the rocky spire, all of them clawing at Itsuki from behind! "Are not even worth my attention!"
(9:49:06 PM): (React: Sora)
(9:50:35 PM): [Mad and Hana] The punch to the gut you return doesn't really phase Blanc that much... and Hana? just laughs! "You're not gonna beat me just by mimicking everything I do! I'm better than you... and so I'll always win out that-" Aaaaand then the Heat Hawk crashes into the machine's back... and she suddenly screams out in panic! "H-hey! No fair!"
(9:50:37 PM): BUT!
Alan Bunting 9:51 pm
(9:51:12 PM): *"Oh, what the hell? Where did all these reinforcements come from...!?" She does her best to keep in the fray, but without a real weapon she's not going to last long, and she backs off.+
wyverncakes 9:51 pm
(9:51:32 PM): [Everyone except Sora] Oh snap, Momo's attacking you with those snoic explosive things! Everyone, dodge again on top of that!
(9:51:45 PM): (React: everyone sans Sora)
Doc S 9:52 pm
(9:52:07 PM): *Eri snaps up a barrier, her eyes narrowed. "Momo what the hell are you doing?!"+
wyverncakes 9:52 pm
(9:52:12 PM): (Updated enemy lineup: Graf, Blanc, Noir, Union x 14, Ellen?)
(9:52:29 PM): (Union: http://i48.tinypic.com/dczb43.jpg)
cubey@aol.pl 9:52 pm
(9:52:47 PM): "I had enough treason for one day!" *Devon makes Nu Wa cautiously step back and around where she foresees the exploding shots to hit, not letting its guard down.+
HyprKnux 1 9:52 pm
(9:52:49 PM): *And Hana pushes away from the Blanc trying to dodge the blasts by Ellen+ "Momo, easy!"
Tenebrae Luna 9:53 pm
(9:53:15 PM): The Ellen just looks at Eri. "I'm simply following orders." The words come out unusually cold.
wyverncakes 9:53 pm
(9:53:37 PM): [Sora] You fall back from the assault as best you can... but GODDAMN there's quite a few mooks thrashing at you, and one of them manages to land a crushing swipe that tears across Itsuki's chest!
Mister Giggles 9:53 pm
(9:53:54 PM): Casshern frantically tries to dodge again. Because crap. That's... that's a lot of guys, though not quite as huge as that horde of Ruin Zombies he fought before. He's trying to keep his distance. But... well...
wyverncakes 9:53 pm
(9:53:54 PM): Graf: "Indeed Seiren is..."
VJockey 9:54 pm
(9:54:10 PM): Mad: "Momo! What the hell?!" *Mad's does her best to shove the Blanc in the path of the explosions before pulling away+ "You-...."
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:54 pm
(9:54:24 PM): *Yui's at least a back line unit, but she's had enough of this. She jumps off the drones. That shield thing makes her just fine with fall damage…sonic barrages? Less so. Her drones hold their ground, like the moronic robots they are.+
Alan Bunting 9:54 pm
(9:54:41 PM): Sora's too far away for the Ellen to readily target, but she can turn back with half her attention and feel her blood run cold. Which is also more than enough distraction for her not to be able to get out of the way of the Unions, and she screams as she's hit. "Aaaaah...!"
wyverncakes 9:54 pm
(9:54:57 PM): "My little venture on the Chalice wasn't entirely fruitless. I at the very least was able to free one of DUNE's only remaining supporters!"
Doc S 9:55 pm
(9:55:03 PM): Eri: Seiren... I see what's going on here... yes, it all fits now. You brought her back, just for this!
wyverncakes 9:55 pm
(9:55:15 PM): (Casshern, Devon)
HyprKnux 1 9:55 pm
(9:55:17 PM): Hana: "A trap... we've just walked into one..."
wyverncakes 9:56 pm
(9:56:02 PM): Graf: "You act like the trap wasn't coming with you in the first place!"
(9:56:20 PM): [Eri, Devon] Your barriers do manage to repel the blasts for the most part, although you might be a little shaken up.
Doc S 9:56 pm
(9:56:57 PM): Eri: No, it's got to be more than just a simple trap...
wyverncakes 9:56 pm
(9:56:59 PM): [Casshern and Yui] You both manage to evade to safer territory... but quite a few of Yui's drones are torn apart by the blasts!
Tenebrae Luna 9:57 pm
(9:57:08 PM): "It was always the plan. Spy on you all and when the time was right, I'd give everything I knew about you Desus to Graf so that we could kill you and your project."
Doc S 9:57 pm
(9:57:11 PM): Eri: Something else. Something else...!
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:57 pm
(9:57:58 PM): Oh well, such is life. Yui goes and hides in the shadow of a rock. "I take it we are not to kill the traitor?"
Alan Bunting 9:58 pm
(9:58:20 PM): Sora: "You... this... this whole time...!!"
cubey@aol.pl 9:58 pm
(9:58:20 PM): *Nu Wa's dual chest chainguns open fire, blasting at the Unions. All the while, Devon makes the machine maneuver around a pile of rubble... and while she's out of sight, the back-carried Heavenly Wall turrets are removed, not to be seen when the Combat Frame reappears, still firing!&
Mister Giggles 9:58 pm
(9:58:25 PM): +Casshern recovers after his rather impromptu and spontaneous series of dodges... but, well, at this point, his Berserker Mode is going to trigger for sure, if he has to do something like that again. Remembering what Dan had told him, he tries to move away from the others, and... charges headfirst into a group of Unions, hoping they'll be enough to keep his completely unpredictable and extremely dangerous AI subroutine occupied. &
wyverncakes 9:58 pm
(9:58:38 PM): Ayame: "... Beat her into submission. Killing her as it stands would kill Momo as well... though I'm sure Maxene could handle this properly.]
arachnion01@gmail.com 9:58 pm
(9:58:47 PM): "Roger."
cubey@aol.pl 9:58 pm
(9:58:52 PM): "Don't worry." Devon reassures Sora. "I have your back."
wyverncakes 9:59 pm
(9:59:08 PM): [Hana] When you pull away however, suddenly you get tackled by the Noir! "Hey! Don't you DARE try to make MY Hana take hits for you!" And a burst of light tears through Tsubomi just below its shoulder, blowing a hole in the machine!
Doc S 9:59 pm
(9:59:25 PM): Eri clenched her fist. There was something here. Something that resounded too hard. Something was wrong here... something deadly wrong.
HyprKnux 1 9:59 pm
(9:59:48 PM): And as the blast strikes home, Hana let out a painful yelp as the machine fed back into her.
Doc S 10:00 pm
(10:00:02 PM): Eri: Hana! I'm your opponent, other me! Come and get me.
Alan Bunting 10:00 pm
(10:00:05 PM): Sora shakes her head, starting to shake a bit. "No, no, that's not it! She's... this whole time, I thought we were getting through, but... this whole time it's been her again!"
VJockey 10:00 pm
(10:00:29 PM): Mad:..... [She was grinding her teeth now.. anger. so much anger. Its burning her up inside as she grips her controls.] "You..." [Scream. Rage. Go wild... She could barely keep it back. Graf was pushing her anger to greater heights.]
wyverncakes 10:00 pm
(10:00:51 PM): [Mad] And Mad...? Well, you're gonna fall back... but as you do you might catch just as Graf's cane comes hurtling forward, smashing through your Zaku's head and destroying its main camera. And from your auxillery cameras you can see the man is holding onto it, using it as leverage to pull the machine's entire head off!
Doc S 10:01 pm
(10:01:08 PM): Eri: It's me you want. Come and get me. You and Seiren. Both of you, NOW. And she cuts the music into the air as a form of challenge.
wyverncakes 10:01 pm
(10:01:12 PM): Graf: "This is your own doing. No one else's. And as I said before... I will repay you for what you did to me!"
cubey@aol.pl 10:01 pm
(10:01:29 PM): Devon: "Compose yourselves! These lapdogs try to use your emotions against you!"
Doc S 10:01 pm
(10:01:58 PM): Oh Eri was composed. She was actually, for once, deadly calm.
HyprKnux 1 10:02 pm
(10:02:00 PM): Hana: "Eri...!
Doc S 10:02 pm
(10:02:16 PM): Eri: I got this. You handle your shadow, with Mad.
Alan Bunting 10:02 pm
(10:02:27 PM): Sora: "Eri...?"
wyverncakes 10:02 pm
(10:02:37 PM): [Devon] Nu Wa's dakka tears into their ranks, blowing out the upper parts of several of the Unions! But as you come out again... suddenly the still-inteact lower portions of the Unions closest to you leap up and slash at the Nu Wa!
(10:02:39 PM): (react: Devon)
HyprKnux 1 10:02 pm
(10:02:43 PM): Hana: "...alright..."
Doc S 10:03 pm
(10:03:21 PM): Eri floated back up to face Seiren and Noir. "I had a feeling. All this time. All the clues that I missed. Everything." She turned to face the Ellen. "Hello. Sister."
Tenebrae Luna 10:03 pm
(10:03:33 PM): Seiren laughs a little but it is a cold and dark one. "If you wish Kurumu. You can fight both of the shadows of your past."
Alan Bunting 10:03 pm
(10:03:39 PM): Sora: "What."
wyverncakes 10:03 pm
(10:03:43 PM): [Casshern] You do manage to smash through the lower portion of one Union very quickly... but shockingly the upper half is still fighting, just floating in the air before swinging its fist down on you!
VJockey 10:03 pm
(10:03:46 PM): Mad: !!! "FUCK! Get off of my Zaku you fucked up pansy CUNTFACE!!!"
HyprKnux 1 10:03 pm
(10:03:49 PM): Hana: "...sister?!"
wyverncakes 10:03 pm
(10:03:50 PM): (React: Casshern)
Doc S 10:03 pm
(10:03:51 PM): Eri: I intend to. Momo Kurumu, eldest ssiter of the Kurumu family.
wyverncakes 10:03 pm
(10:03:53 PM): (QUICK UPDATE!)
cubey@aol.pl 10:04 pm
(10:04:16 PM): *Nu Wa raises its fists. "Heh... come." And its chaingun knuckles activate, cross-countering the slashes with a punch of its own! Also to further disarray the Unions' attack, the two turrets left behind now open fire - eat a volley of multi-missiles and two large beam shots, mooks!+
wyverncakes 10:04 pm
(10:04:17 PM): (Upper part of a Union: http://i45.tinypic.com/21ju6xc.jpg)
(10:04:33 PM): (Lower part: http://i47.tinypic.com/2tp2d.jpg)
Tenebrae Luna 10:05 pm
(10:05:06 PM): Seiren smiles. "So you know. Are you prepared to kill your own sister Eri?"
Doc S 10:05 pm
(10:05:13 PM): Eri: Nope.
(10:05:21 PM): Eri: I'm going to beat you until my SISTER COMES OUT!
wyverncakes 10:05 pm
(10:05:58 PM): [Devon] The cross-counter works like a relative charm! The bulkier claws of the lower part of the Union still tears up the Nu Wa's arm a bit, but the punch still wins through... and those turrets do plenty more damage and finish it off!
Tenebrae Luna 10:06 pm
(10:06:27 PM): Seiren scoffs a little, amused. "Barbaric. I'll humor you then."
wyverncakes 10:06 pm
(10:06:32 PM): (Enemy lineup: Graf, Blanc, Noir, Complete Union x 11, Union Top x 1, Union Bottom x 1)
Doc S 10:06 pm
(10:06:55 PM): Eri: I always won wrestling matches.
wyverncakes 10:06 pm
(10:06:56 PM): Graf however, frowns as he sees the Nu Wa raze his forces once more like that
(10:07:16 PM): "... Something will have to be done about that machine..."
(10:07:25 PM): (Yui, Seiren)
Mister Giggles 10:08 pm
(10:08:09 PM): *Casshern's still pretty damn fast, and raises one arm to collide with the 'forearm' of the other creature while pivoting to the side. His other armraises upwards in an uppercut of sorts, fingers extending, to cume up right through the 'chin' of the Union, attempting to rip out its internal components in the head. Thankfully, he hasn't suffered any damage yet, so no Berserk Mode.
(10:08:11 PM): +
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:09 pm
(10:09:23 PM): *"…Summoning complete. Now touch this here, that there…firing solution is ready. Go." Yui's still just standing behind her rock, tapping away at her VFX modulator. But high above the fray of the battle, nine drones come into being, and proceed to lay into the Unions with tiny red lasers. Their aim is precise and careful, avoiding all friendlies.+
wyverncakes 10:10 pm
(10:10:02 PM): [Casshern] The Union Top still has quite the height advantage against you though! Your uppercut swings up, stabbing into the lowermost part of its body... but the size difference is just too much! Especially when its giant fist comes SMASHING down into your arm! And the strain's bad. Really bad as you're pretty much pounded into the ground underneath you!
Mister Giggles 10:11 pm
(10:11:07 PM): Casshern collapses. The damage to his arm is already slowly starting to repair itself, but he's laying there, for just a few seconds, his eyes wide. Suddenly, his face fixes into a... somewhat strange expression.
Tenebrae Luna 10:11 pm
(10:11:31 PM): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPOrQcFCn1M "Well then, I suppose I shouldn't hold back then." Black fog leaks out of Ellen, surrounding it, and changing Ellen. Soon before you stands not the Desu Ellen. In its' place is a dark female figure, still obviously a Desu, shrouded in a dark aura that seems to eat away at the air around. It one cruel yellow eye looks on as the right eye is closed and one single monstrous wing jets out of the left shoulder. Suddenly a shrill screech rings through the air, messing up communication and hurting your ears.+
wyverncakes 10:11 pm
(10:11:55 PM): [Yui] The Unions fall back, using their massive arms to protect their bodies... though those arms do get torn up a bit! But during all of this... you might not notice that the shadow of Graf is beginning to shift and grow as well. "... But that said... *you* are the most vulnerable person out here right now though, my dear."
arachnion01@gmail.com 10:12 pm
(10:12:51 PM): "Am I?"
wyverncakes 10:12 pm
(10:12:57 PM): [Yui cont.] The shadow shifts, grows... and ultimately gains a definite form. That of a gigantic black ox... twice the size of Mad's Zaku and now looming over you. And it's just going to lift up its foot and squish you. "Yes."
(10:13:02 PM): (Black ox: http://i45.tinypic.com/2vip5r9.jpg)
(10:13:04 PM): (React: mad)
Alan Bunting 10:13 pm
(10:13:20 PM): Sora's getting a good look at that machine... and then the horrible sound fills the air, and she groans. "This... what is this? What's that unit...!?"
wyverncakes 10:13 pm
(10:13:31 PM): (Seiren, you're doing this to Eri specifically, yes?)
Mister Giggles 10:13 pm
(10:13:49 PM): A few seconds later, Casshern is on his feet again, getting to his feet much more slowly than someone like him should be capable of. His face is lowered to the ground, while he's somewhat hunched over, his teeth grit. And then, he looks up at the Union. His mask then closes, and his eyes light up. It was only a matter of time, wasn't it?
Tenebrae Luna 10:13 pm
(10:13:50 PM): (it is an large aoe)
wyverncakes 10:14 pm
(10:14:02 PM): Alright
VJockey 10:14 pm
(10:14:37 PM): Mad: !!!!!!! *To say Mad absolutely FREAKED was an understatement. No words. Just action. Mad's charging that Ox in order to knock it away as hard as possible+
Doc S 10:15 pm
(10:15:15 PM): *Eri grit her teeth as she recalibrated some systems. "Melody of Sorrow huh? Nice. I shoulda known this would be done again."+
wyverncakes 10:15 pm
(10:15:36 PM): [Everyone] The sound rings out in the air, somewhat munging up your sensors and causing a few screens to go static! The effect isn't too bad though... but it's only the start of what this new machine can do!
(10:16:20 PM): (Actually meant for that to be react for Yui, but I figured Mad would support defend her. Ha ha boy do I suck and cut out the middleman.)
HyprKnux 1 10:16 pm
(10:16:26 PM): Hana: "Gah...!"
Mister Giggles 10:16 pm
(10:16:28 PM): ... Yeah, that's a very, very bad thing when Casshern's in berserk mode. Might as well just make him yellow right now.
cubey@aol.pl 10:16 pm
(10:16:51 PM): Devon: "Tch! Pretty loud for a traitor, aren't you?"
Tenebrae Luna 10:16 pm
(10:16:55 PM): Seiren nods. "Hmph. Nocturne could only have been in repair for so long after all."
Doc S 10:17 pm
(10:17:15 PM): Eri: Been a while since I saw this thing. Pity I didn't slag it years ago but hey, who's counting.
wyverncakes 10:18 pm
(10:18:26 PM): [Mad] At fourty meters in height, the black ox is barely knocked back by the Zaku. But there's also Graf himself to worry about as well! "Forgetting the real me, Nadeshiko?" the man asks before suddenly pulling a sword out of his cane and slashing down with it! Your Zaku's entire body is cut open, giving Graf easy access to your cockpit, which he then takes advantage of, charging in and stabbing with his rapier! "The first blow won't kill. I'm not that merciful, least of all to those who reject me!"
(10:18:28 PM): (React: Mad)
Alan Bunting 10:18 pm
(10:18:57 PM): # Mad?
wyverncakes 10:18 pm
(10:18:59 PM): (While we're at it, Hana can take her turn and Mad can move after her react)
(10:19:01 PM): (Approved!)
Alan Bunting 10:20 pm
(10:20:12 PM): *"GET AWAY FROM HER!" Sora's managed to get clear enough of the mooks that she can charge in with Desu Itsuki and do her best to get Mad clear before she gets run through like a kebab...!+
HyprKnux 1 10:21 pm
(10:21:15 PM): Hana: "Mad... E-Eri..." she looks between the two threatened people, but sees Sora heading for Mad, so that solves one problem. And Eri seems to be in control... so, she focuses on the Blanc. "You... I'm not like you, I'm better than you!" *creating other energy barrier, she drew back her fist, energy gathering in it. "TSUBOMI...SPIRAL IMPACT!" And punched into the barrier, firing a massive burst of energy at the Blanc+
VJockey 10:24 pm
(10:24:07 PM): Mad: !!! "Shi-" *not a lot of room to dodge in a cockpit, but she tries nonetheless as she slaps in a combination at a familiar looking keypad at her hip. -333- -Standing By- Of course as she's not controling the Zaku.. or what's left of it- its rapidly speeding towards the ground+
wyverncakes 10:24 pm
(10:24:21 PM): [Hana] "Bullshit!" Eri? shouts out as suddenly the Noir forms up with the Blanc. The Spiral Impact does shoot forth, but the two machines respond by joining hands together, with white and black energy suddenly crackling into being around them! "And even if you were..." The two machines thrust their hands out as Hana? takes over the verbal smackdown. "I've got my Eri right here!" The Spiral Impact is overwhelmed in an instant, the joint Endless assault surging towards Tsubomi!
HyprKnux 1 10:25 pm
(10:25:20 PM): And Hana's eyes go wide as the the attack heads towards her...
wyverncakes 10:25 pm
(10:25:27 PM): (React: Hana)
(10:25:29 PM): (Sorry about that)
Doc S 10:25 pm
(10:25:35 PM): #Hana
wyverncakes 10:25 pm
(10:25:40 PM): (Approved!)