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

[acemedium]

Everyone keeps saying that, but.... [She rubs her head. None of this made any sense. But, no, back on topic---]

What happened to you?! You're really old!

.... Older than usual!!

[aceordisgraced]

... Haha. It's a long story. Glad to know you still know me, though. Anyway.

[He reaches for her hand, not grabbing it but holding his own out.]

As you can tell it isn't really safe here. Come with me?

[acemedium]

How could I forget that high-pitched voice?! And your weird eyebrows! [As if she has any room to talk about voices. But she's staring between him and his hand. Geez, what had happened to him after she left? Or was this something that happened at this Exbillion place?]

[...But this no time to stand around thinking, and... well, it is Nick, isn't it? So she does take his hand.]

[(This is so weird]

O-Okay... We should blow this popsicle stand, huh?

[aceordisgraced]

Yeah, yeah, that's me. Really, you're not recognizing me by my hair, huh?

[He grips her hand firmly and nods to her, pulling her close so that if anything happens he can shield her.]

We're getting out of here a. s. a. p., Maya. You read to run a bit?

[acemedium]

It's all floppy! What did you do to it? It should be skewering that dumb hat!

[There's no sassy comments to him pulling her close, though. No protests, nothing. She tries for a smile; it's not quite right, but it's the best she can do for now, considering everything]

Are you kidding? Can you even keep up with me, old man?

[aceordisgraced]

Well, that's the trick. I didn't! No more hair gel for the almost mid-aged man.

[He keeps his grin as bright as he can, but his grip on her is light in hopes he can keep her from feeling how his hand shakes. What could've happened to her?]

I can run pretty good. Let's get going.

[acemedium]

You're really getting cheap in your old age.. [That earns him a weird look, but there's no time to dwell on these things. She'll start running, then, hanging onto his hand - she can still feel it shaking, despite his best efforts, and there's a pang of guilt]

[(not just, this all felt so wrong--)]

We'll see about that!

[aceordisgraced]

[He smiles, tugs to pull her close.]

It'll be okay, Maya. I promise.

Let's go!

[acemedium]

That's my line, you dork.

[But she'll let him and run alongside....]

[aceordisgraced]

[Good. She's still Maya. Keep it up, assistant, while he tries to gauge where you're from now...]

You're not hurt, are you?

[acemedium]

[That won't be difficult]

[Also, Rosette smashed her face with a door. Otherwise is physically unharmed, though]

I should be asking you that! What are you even doing here anyway?

[aceordisgraced]

[Maya please tell him you don't have a concussion why did she slam you with a door.]

I came here to get you! We knew you were here, you know, because you disappeared from where we were last. It's a log story!

[acemedium]

[She can neither confirm nor deny that]

To .. get me...?

[So Nick knew this 'her' too?]

[aceordisgraced]

Yeah. A lot of people have been disappearing lately, and you're one of them.

Well, it looks like something happened. But you know, you look pretty okay so that's good.

[acemedium]

[......]

Oh....

[With that she falls silent and just keeps running along with him]

[aceordisgraced]

...

[He glances at her sideways as they run.] You don't have any questions?

[acemedium]

[At this stage she's starting to get winded so maybe that's the reason she isn't saying more]

[....]

[....Maybe that's it]

[aceordisgraced]

Haha.

You can ask them whenever you want. Hey, turn left there, it's a shortcut to the exit.

[acemedium]

[There's another long pause as she does as instructed, then:]

Sorry, Nick.

[That's not a question!]

[aceordisgraced]

Sorry? [He blinks.]

What for?

[acemedium]

I guess I worried you... [Or "she" did]

[aceordisgraced]

... [He smiles, waves his hand in a "no no" fashion.]

You did. But you don't have to be sorry about it. I'm glad you're okay, Maya.

[acemedium]

['Even if I don't remember....?']

[As usual, Maya's not good with emotional moments so while her eyes may water slightly - while she may be squeezing his hand a little tighter while running- rather than answer him directly, she forces a grin as they run]

W-Well... when you get kidnapped, [Not if!!] I'll definitely come rescue you, too! So don't worry!

[aceordisgraced]

"When" huh? So the fact that I'm going to get kidnapped is already decided on?

[He tugs her closer, holds her hand tighter in return.]

I'm looking forward to your rescue squad, then!

[acemedium]

Obviously. You're totally hopeless. [It looks like she's made a full recovery and is back to usual Maya-ness, but hey, they're holding hands and running.]

[Maybe they'll even make it out without running into any trouble]