OPERATION SEXY MARIO: CONCLUSION

[initiates]

Date & Time: Sept 19th
Location: The UE Holding Compound, and surrounding area.
Characters: Anyone being rescued, doing the rescuing, or doing the distracting.
Summary: There have been some slackers freeloading off the UE for the past couple weeks or so, so let's go drag them home.
Warnings: Likely violence! Let a mod know if we should update this.

Those meant for distraction and those meant for rescue alike are both loaded onto the same stolen highspeed train. It's a great distance to cover, but the train manages in just under two hours, and deposits both groups three miles from the Holding Compound — a desolate and cold area, with rocky, uneven ground, small but jagged hills well-scattered and covered in scraggly trees — and there they part ways.

The diversion is sent away north, to draw United Earth attention and aggression upward, further into the continent, while the rescue team takes a much slower and quieter route to approach the Compound from the south, closest to Exsilium. The rescue team's orders are to wait a full half hour, to be sure that all forces who can be drawn out of the Compound to meet the sudden onslaught from the north will have already left.

The diversion team won't have an easy job of it. The soldiers are heavily armed, and trained to fight to the death before they surrender. They're grouped in organized squadrons, about 20 in each, and seem to outnumber Transports by three to one. Scattered throughout these soldiers are the Masked, the UE's special forces. These soldiers strike with a deadly precision, enhanced speed and strength, and highly advanced weaponry. Also, oddly enough, they seem to have a few smaller members among them, standing about 4 feet tall, and wielding strange powers… Those familiar with the powers of their kidnapped friends may see distinct similarities.

The Compound itself, when the rescue team makes their way in, will be very quiet. All prisoners had been forced into locked rooms (together or separately — whatever was most convenient) before the soldiers had left to face the encroaching threat. There are still personnel left to man the base, of course, and a few of them are armed soldiers — but for the most part it's scientists and researchers. Careful, though. Even scientists and researchers are perfectly capable of sounding the alarm to bring back the armed threats.

Once everyone is out of the Compound, the train will begin running a return trip. It will be kept as long as possible, while the distraction teams sneak back from the battlefield in small groups, but it can't wait forever. Those on the battlefield for the longest, the hardest hitters or the most dedicated fighters, might just have to find another way home. So… any Transports with relocation abilities feel like lending a hand?

Comments

[paraleyes]

[It's a pretty frightening noise and an even more frightening visual to take in. It wasn't as if Mary had never seen a gun before, but this current threat was just - very, very real. If she blinked or let up for even a moment, what would happen to her?

What would happen to Kido and Momo? As usual, it's not something she cares to think of, so she doesn't. Without moving from her position or lifting her gaze - ]

I'll be okay...!

[eyecaptivating]

[Right. Right! Kido's got the right idea, after all.

Momo sucks in a breath and hoists the gun backwards, then, imitating Kido, slams it against the soldier's neck with every bit of strength she can muster. When he crumples to the ground, she lets the weapon drop from her hands and goes after the next one, repeating the process.

With six more soldiers to go, she grabs for the next one, and the next one...]

Sorry, Mary! We'll be fast! I promise!

[concealingeyes]

[Kido glances in Mary's direction, careful to look at her feet. She's holding up. Momo's got enough strength to take down soldiers - well, the heavy gun helps - and between them they're able to smack them all down. Kido finishes off her last one and steps back, the gun dangling at her side.]

...They're down. Mary, relax. Both of you get back into my eye radius.

[Breathing hard, Kido looks over the unconscious men. Didn't just this much... take all of their energy? What does she feel? Proud, because they managed this. And...worried, because it took so much for this. They shouldn't be here. The others are killing the soldiers, aren't they? These soldiers will be relentless when they wake. They need the strength to finish it. Otherwise, won't their efforts be wasted?

Kido's grip tightens on the gun before she tosses it aside. She can't shoot anyone, especially not in front of Mary or Momo. No matter how much she wants them to pay.

Leaving them like this is probably worse, actually. The other transports will find them. That's enough.]

Let's take the weapons and dispose of them. Then we'll hit the next group. How are you both feeling?

[paraleyes]

[She rubs her eyes as they return to their usual pink color -- on top of the strain of using her power for so long, there's the issue of just keeping her eyes open. They're a little bit irritated, and the liquid spilling out is either them suddenly rehydrating now that they can close, or her tears.

But she isn't upset. They did it. She's proud. It's only this once, but they did it, which means they can do it again. And it wouldn't have been possible without her -- this is what being useful is like, isn't it?

So when Kido asks her how she's doing, she can answer in all honesty as she moves closer - ]

I'm... I'm okay...!

[eyecaptivating]

[Silently, Momo lets the last gun slip from her fingers and moves closer to Kido. She has to take a moment to catch her breath, but without the gun in her hands, and with the renewed proximity to her friends, she feels... relieved. That's what it is: relief. It's not every soldier out here, and they'll probably run into more soon enough, but... But they're helping, aren't they? They're really helping!]

Haaah... I'm okay, too! I'll... [She nods, eyes straying back to the gun she just dropped.] I'll go get some of the weapons now. Before they wake up again!

[concealingeyes]

[They really are proud of themselves. And they should be. It took until this moment for Kido to understand the anger and ruthless desire in her: she just felt helpless. She thought they all were. But they don't think that. They believe they can help and Kido knows they can.

She bends down and starts scooping up the weapons. She feels less scared around them. Hopefully they just don't notice she felt it at all.]

We can take a break after we get rid of these if you need it. Don't push yourselves just because you're excited. But... thanks for doing your best.

[paraleyes]

If you need a break, Kido, we can take one soon.

[Mary's tired too. But she's willing to keep going for everyone else's sakes, if she has to. Kido, on the other hand -- she can only imagine how much she must be suffering right now. She doesn't know all the details or even fully understand the situation, but -- a leader's not all-powerful or infallible. No one would be, in her situation. Regardless of the exact nature of their relationship, wasn't Kano important to her?

So she won't break for herself, but she'll break for Momo or Kido.

The guns are too heavy for her to carry, so she just stays on her guard.]

[eyecaptivating]

[At a slower pace, she picks up the remaining weapons, carefully holding them all together. A break... doesn't seem like a bad idea, does it? She's fine, really. A little tired, a little shaken, but fine. But this has to have taken a lot out of Mary. And Kido... Regardless of how strong and capable Momo knows she is, this must be hard even for her.

Just a little while to recharge... That's doable, right?]

Um, maybe we can take a short rest. And then we can keep going!

[concealingeyes]

You guys...

[They're worried about her. So, they probably noticed after all. An anxious spike pricks her heart. She knows they wouldn't think less of her, she really does, but she also doesn't want them to have to worry about her. As a leader, she can't show weakness, especially not now, not in this place.

But they're also her friends. Very dear friends who are probably worried about the others right now, too. Kido looks down for a moment.

As their friend, she should at least stop being this strict on herself.]

...Just enough to get our energy back. We can dump the guns later but as long as we sit close together with them, I can hide us.

[She rubs the back of her head, still not quite looking at them.] And, uh... thanks. I'm only as strong as you guys are, so... you should be proud of yourselves. I wouldn't be able to do this without you. Any of it.

[paraleyes]

Okay.

[She smiles, half-tired, half-sheepish, at the compliment. It's not every day she's complimented, but a "feel proud of yourself" is rarer still. She knew to think of herself as a valuable member of their gang but it never really stopped the inkling that she was a burden - but the feeling she had earlier continues. Not only is she important to them as a friend, she's a necessary member for missions, and now for moral support. Even if it comes along with the friendship, her heart swells with pride hearing it.

And it's the same for her. If Kido and Momo weren't here, she'd be useless in more ways than just being too weak to lift the guns.]

Um, I think -- I'm like that too. I can do this because I'm with my friends. ... So you should feel proud too, Kido.

[eyecaptivating]

[Almost despite herself, Momo finds herself laughing, feeling her face heat up. It's such a nice thing to hear, isn't it? Each of them was important for this plan and... And they really did do it!

Smiling brightly, she nods.] Mary's right... We, um... We could do it, because we were all together! So we should all feel proud of ourselves! I'm really glad we were all together when we did this...

[She holds her pile of guns closer to herself then, moves a little closer to Kido. Right, right, she needs to be able to hide them...]

[concealingeyes]

[Kido dumps the guns and keeps herself positioned in the middle of everything. She sits down and leans back against a large rock, motioning for Momo and Mary to join her.

They're really too nice. Without them, she couldn't be a leader and being strong right now would feel impossible. She'd probably be reckless and stupid. But their strength is hers.

She shuts her eyes, relaxing for a moment. She has a question to ask - no, a favour - about the stupid idiot that dragged them into this. It's easier to not look at them for it.]

...Oi. Listen. Uhm... You guys have both known Kano long enough now... I don't know what he did or said to you guys... [She fidgets with her hoodie pocket.] But you know he didn't mean it, right? He's a good person. He really is. He's not good at expressing himself but... he'd never hurt either of you on purpose. He loves you both. So, uhm... I-I'll understand if you're mad, but... please don't hate him.