Cometh the Big Crying Wheel

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 15th
Location: A refurbished castle on the outskirts of Exsilium.
Characters: Anyone at the party!
Summary: Vanadi hosts a party that goes very poorly.
Warnings: Violence, probably! Let a mod know if we should update this.


It’s a lovely night for a party!

The venue at the outskirts of town is, unfortunately, a bit drafty — and actually rather sparsely furnished, as well. In fact, party goers are encouraged to mingle, drink, and enjoy themselves in the courtyard, as the castle itself wasn’t able to be renovated in time, and has proven to be a little bit architecturally unsound. Any explorative guests might find a small hail of dust and pebbles on their heads if they venture too far in — and who knows what else, if they continue on.

But the drinks and snacks both are plentiful and delicious, and the large canvas set up from castle wall to castle wall keeps off the sprinkling rain. The weather could even be described as warmish and pleasant, if one were feeling generous. A group of Exiles plays classic instruments in one corner of the courtyard, having been paid enough to even smile at any Transports that wander near.

All in all, it’s shaping up to be a good night. Until about 10 PM, that is. Come 10 PM, the Misery rolls into town, tearing down the canvas, nullifying powers, and crying corrosive blood everywhere. That’s the cue for all hell to break loose, as the final wave of mind-controlled characters snag their victims and make for the hills — or at least for the UE. The mind-controlled characters will also have the backup of a squadron of 20 of the Masked, the UE's special ops force. The Masked's main goal is to grab those on their list and get away, but they're certainly not above shooting to kill at anyone that gets in their way. They're also highly trained in hand-to-hand combat and physically enhanced by their suits, so they're a good bunch to try to avoid.

But do have a wonderful time until then, won’t you?

Comments

[devotedtothecore]

A quick look around and through the windows, to check the Misery's current location (the other end of the courtyard) or for any incoming attackers (crazed-Transport or Masked, and no sign of those coming in--- yet) before he jogs towards Keith and his charge, gun in one hand and pointed at the floor.

"Go. I'll watch out." Gesturing at the doors, then to their right. "There's a side gate close by-- it may be safer than the main entrance tp the compound."

[andagain]

"Thanks, and thanks again for helping me." He makes a small wave with his hand. Even in a desperate situation, he rolls out his catchphrase anyway. He takes the door on his right while leading the other man to safety.

But given the current state, it wouldn't be long before the opposing side came up on his protector.

[devotedtothecore]

Double thanks seems a little redundant, but it's far from a situation to be commenting on something like that right now, anyway. He nods back, and brings up the rear as promised, and if the hands on his weapon are tighter than a trained man-at-arm's should be, hopefully it escapes Keith's notice. Chrys is all too keenly aware how out of depth he'd likely be as a bodyguard if one of the Masked should show up, or one of the crazed (controlled, he corrects himself, they're being controlled) turn to them, he's no soldier or fighter himself, but maybe they wouldn't attract anyone's attention...

...of course, things are never that simple, and someone like a NEXT might just make a prime target for a hit list of prospective UE lab subjects.

The door opens up into an outdoor walkway, bracketed by pillars and half-crumbled arches, and it's a few moments into hurrying down between them ( just long enough to think maybe, maybe, they'll be good) that the attack comes. Lightning-fast, a black figure whipping out from behind a pillar they passed a second ago---

"Move!" Chrys's voice yells from behind, and there's the crack and ping of a single gunshot ricocheting off stone, followed immediately by a hard thud, the clatter of a dropped weapon and the sounds of a hard scuffle.

[andagain]

Keith looks back at the carnage happening behind him. As he sees Chrys on the floor and poised to be prey for the enemy, he's faced with a tough decision. Escape with the person he rescued and leave someone behind or risk it all and help out his "bodyguard.

Which of course, he takes a risk. If only his powers weren't disabled and he could easily have protected him. He instructs the man to stay covered behind a pillar and runs over to Chrys's to help him out. Perhaps by punching the black intruder out by himself. His training with Cody was about to pay off and his suit would give him enough coverage to deflect some bullets.

[devotedtothecore]

He certainly isn't going down without a fight, landing what might be hard blows (for any normal human) and wrestling against his opponent's grip, but against a Masked's enhanced speed and brute power it's like the struggles of a child against an adult, and his own weapon's the one lying on the floor just out of reach. By the time Keith turns back Chrys is pinned back to the floor, feet kicking uselessly at a black-clad gut, with one equally black-clad hand wrapped around his throat. Both his own hands are clenched in a death grip around the wrist trying to lower a sleek black handgun to point at Chrys's face, teeth gritted and eyes wide with-- fear.

Maybe it's enough of a distraction, this trying-to-kill-obstructions business, that the Masked doesn't notice the other man charging towards him.

[andagain]

Keith comes up to him quickly. He knows it's better to reason with a person armed than it is to fight back, but there was no use trying to reason with the masked enemy when he had a clear intent to kill.

He sends one hard kick against the hand gripping the handgun in hopes of sending it flying across the room to give them an opening. And indeed the enemy does drop the gun to the ground, giving Chrys perhaps just enough time to escape.

[devotedtothecore]

The cold, gleaming barrel is a hair away from Chrys's forehead when Keith's foot smashes into hand and gun-- just in the nick of time--- but the emptied hand instead grabs Keith's outstretched leg by the ankle and pulls, hard enough that Keith-- heavy as he is-- might find himself lifted off the ground and into the air for an instant, thrown towards the nearby pillar.

Chrys takes the second's distraction to scrabble for the Masked's dropped gun, fingers closing round the handle...

[andagain]

Keith is thrown unexpectedly against the hard rock, and it would have probably cracked his back if it wasn't for his suit providing some protection. But it still hurt a fair bit and tore a muscle or two in there.

He tries to scramble to his feet, dizzy and unable to do anything but come to his senses while Chrys has the gun.

[devotedtothecore]

For the second time in the last minute, a loud crack of gunfire resounds, and the muffled yell of a man's voice not Chrys's resounds as a (lucky) shot punches through, shatters a kneecap.

Chrys shoves him off, loosened fingers coming off his own neck, and scrabbles out from under him and away, gasping for breath, still holding the weapon responsible in one (shaking, unsteady, never shot anyone before) hand, pointed at the helmeted face.

[andagain]

Keith manages to stagger to his feet and seeing the scene before him made him wish again he wasn't depowered at the moment. He took just a split second to think and looking at his back to make sure there was nothing come in from behind. He gave the signal to Chrys that he was going to attack again and this time it was a sweeping kick that was sure to knock the enemy off it's feet.

[devotedtothecore]

The reflexes of the enemy in question, for all that the black suit enhances them, seem slowed down enough by the crippling injury that Keith catches him right as he's trying to pull himself up on one knee-- he hits the ground hard, as Chrys scrambles to his feet out of reach, steadies the gun in two hands, pointed at the second kneecap.

Hesitates.

"Let's--" His voice comes out a hoarse croak. He glances at Keith, jerks a thumb down the walkway instead, towards the exit they were headed towards. Let's go, before more come.

[andagain]

That should keep their enemy down long enough, Keith thought to himself. At Chryso's word, he ran back up to the man he rescued and waved over him while charging forward.

"Thank you!"

There was no time to waste, but Keith wanted to get that out immediately.

[devotedtothecore]

Chrys spares only a moment to snatch up his original weapon-- can't lose it, not here-- and follows hot on Keith's heels, not wanting to stick around for any of the enemy's comrades to come looking for him.

Thank you. It was self-defense, after all, wasn't it? He eyes the back of Keith's head for a second, glances back at the crumpled form behind them already starting to get up again--

"Keep moving." His only reply. No time to waste, indeed.

[andagain]

He's running as fast as he can without leaving their small group behind. Just a little further and they can be out, safe and sound. That's right, he spots the side entrance door and looks back behind him for a second to see if anyone is following them.

[devotedtothecore]

The coast seems clear, for the moment, and Chrys's ears haven't picked up any sounds of pursuit; he kicks the gate and it swings open with a sharp creak, revealing a dimly-lit street beyond, and what might have once been a park beyond that. Further ahead, more lights and buildings; the city of Exsilium proper.

[andagain]

Keith gladly walks through the door with his group. "We made it!" Yes Keith can't help but shout for joy once they are home free, even in the back of his mind he's wondering if his powers are still nullified. He glances from side to side, seeing if there's anyone else around.

[devotedtothecore]

There's a few stragglers catching their breath against the castle walls, who glance at Keith and Chrys and their charge with alarm-- but the stragglers seem to rapidly recognize that they aren't looking at pursuers, and look away again, a few of them making a move on to get further away from the place. The Misery's whale-like call echoes in the night air.

Chrys glances at Keith, frowning. "Would be best to keep moving-- will you be alright with him?"