EVENT: HERE THERE BE MONSTERS

[initiatesnpc]

Date & Time: October 24 - October 31
Location: Throughout Exsilium
Characters: ALL; tag yourselves in
Summary: The Transports return from their mission to find the island crawling with monsters.
Warnings: Violence, possibly injuries (notify a mod if there's cause to add a particular warning!)

The Transports return from their mission to Medieval Russia, but the Initiative Hold is eerily deserted. Normally, their would be a number of Initiative personnel prepared to meet the Transports at the end of their mission for debriefing.

Instead, there is only silence.

That is, until a distant thumping sound can be heard. It is growing closer, and suddenly the beast is bursting into the room. It lets out a roar and charges. Within minutes, it is easily defeated, but damage has already been done -- it collided with the Transporter machine, which is now making a low fizzling sound and lets off a couple sparks. The commotion is enough to draw the attention of the few remaining Initiative personnel who still inhabit the Hold, who arrive immediately afterwards. They are able to tell the Transports two things: that the machine is broken and currently unable to sent anyone back in time, and that the island has been overrun with aggressive, mutated beasts sent by the United Earth. They have been under siege for months, with the island's population reduced to a mere fraction of what it had once been.

Comments

[has_a_cult]

A series of expressions flickered over Ionae's face too fast for Blaine to follow as she sat up, before settling on something that could charitably be called a smile. An uncertain, halfhearted one.

"Oh, it's you. What are you doing here?"

[strategic_guile]

Blaine just lifted an eyebrow at her uncertain expression. Then it settled on a grimace that should have been a smile and he snorted. He put his gun away in his shoulder holster and then leaned over to grab his rifle bag. Next he picked up his bag with food and walked in, kicking the door shut behind him.

"Same as you," he said, making his way towards her. "Taking out monsters from a safe distance." He was surprised she was helping though. He didn't think she liked people enough to risk herself by leaving the safe zone.

[has_a_cult]

"I'd prefer an even safer distance, but everyone looked so disappointed in me when I was back in the safe zone."

She sighed. "This seemed easier."

[strategic_guile]

Blaine set his stuff down a decent distance away from her where he could set up his own camouflaged nest. That makes him laugh a bit at her. "You cared what they thought enough to come out here anyway?"

[has_a_cult]

She glared at him defensively "I didn't... Is that a problem? It's only natural to wish to not annoy the people who control the food supply."

[strategic_guile]

"No, it's not a problem." He gives her a smile as he finds a chair to shove under the door handle so no one can come in as easily as he did. "But are you really doing this for the people who control the food supply?"

[has_a_cult]

"Yes."

It might not be entirely BECAUSE they control the food supply, but it's not entirely the other way either.

[strategic_guile]

He snorts at her direct and succinct answer. "So cold. What about your fellow transports?" Blaine pulled a few chairs and tables over so he could set up a better place of cover to look out the window from.

[has_a_cult]

"What about them? I'm here, aren't- hang on"

She peered out into the city streets. Some sort of horrible thing was waddling down the street. She aimed for the creature's eye, exhaled, then squeezed the trigger.

The shot missed its mark, ricocheting off of it's armored back instead, but the thing still looked upset, and was now looking around trying to find the source of the offending blow while making an awful lot of noise.

"Damn and hellfire, if it keeps wailing like that it's going to alert every creature on the island!"

[strategic_guile]

Blaine saw her attention shift and he turned to see what it was she was looking at. Seriously, what the fuck was that? He stared at it for a second, then turned and grabbed his bag, unzipping it and pulling out his own rifle. He made as little noise as possible while she aimed, letting her concentrate, until she missed. Then there was this weird as hell sound and he frowned.

He set up his gun with practiced movements, still a little slow because he hadn't been practicing like he should on set up. "We might get more action than we bargained for," and there's a hint of a grin at that, because it's exciting to him. He slammed the magazine home and settled down, taking a few calming breaths as he caught the monster in his scope and watched it turning this way and that. He trained his gun on it, let out his breath waiting, until it paused to let out another warbling noise and he shot it right down its throat. Easier than the eyes, and hopefully just as effective.

[has_a_cult]

"I knew this was a bad idea. Nice shot, at least."

She watched as it twitched and fell over, bleeding. Apparently it was a scout, for in short order four more came. Ionae chambered another round. "Here goes."

The next few minutes were frantic and loud. By the end of it all, their hideout smelled of sweat and gunpowder.

[strategic_guile]

Blaine grinned, because he was enjoying himself at least. This was a job familiar to him and he slipped back into that sniper's skin easily. "Thanks, but get ready for the rest of the pack~" he mused, ejecting the casing and preparing for the next shot. He wasn't comfortable yet, but it would have to wait until the monsters were gone.

He looked up after the last shot, scanning the area but he didn't see any more movement. "Not bad," he said, sliding back and instantly getting his surroundings in order.

[has_a_cult]

"I pride myself for being a good shot, at least."

Having already set herself up earlier that day, Ionae sat back from scanning the street for a minute to properly feel smug as she watched Blaine work.

[strategic_guile]

Blaine chuckled at her. "You wanna make a bet on that?" It would make this real interesting. He turned over the table and set up the chair on the opposite side and set to perfectly draping his camo sheet that blended in to the furniture-filled surroundings. He dragged his stuff inside and put everything within an arms reach in the specific order he liked to use.

[has_a_cult]

She eyed the street. The dead beasts were already starting to attract scavengers. "...What kind of bet?"

[strategic_guile]

"Simple. Whoever kills the most wins." He sat down in a comfortable place and looked at the scavengers that were bound to attract more of the monsters. "What do you want if you win?"

[has_a_cult]

"That's a surprisingly good question."

She thought about it for a moment, but eventually came up with an answer.

"Very well, if I win, you have to cook me another meal like the first one."

[strategic_guile]

"Why so surprising?" he said with a pout. "But I can do that. And if I win..." he grins at her. "You'll owe me a favor~"

[has_a_cult]

"You're going to have to be more specific than that. 'A favor~' could be anything."

She had, after all, made deals with mortals before. She knew the tricks.

[strategic_guile]

That's the point in asking for favors, Ionae. He doesn't have anything in mind yet that he would actually want to ask for that he thinks she wouldn't do without a few nudges. He thinks about this for a second. "A favor that wouldn't put your life in undue risk?"

[has_a_cult]

"That's not very creative. Fine, one favor that I can veto if it's too unsightly."

Not waiting for a 1-2-3-go, she aimed out the window and shot one of the scavengers in the neck, killing it instantly.

[strategic_guile]

"The things I want to ask for I wouldn't want you to do because of a favor," he mused. Then she was shooting and he scoffed. Wow, cheater. That's alright. He's set up and ready, turning back to the window and aiming. When he fires, he gets two for one. It is on!

[has_a_cult]

This time, the room did not fill with smoke quite so much, as their targets were more spread out and more likely to hide at sign of trouble. There were jeers, arguments over who shot something first, curses, and general banter, but eventually.

"...I'm out of ammo. I think it's about time to head back to the safe zone."

[strategic_guile]

Blaine fired a last shot, taking down one more skittering critter before he leaned back from his scope. He looked at her blankly, his usual smile and pleasant demeanor gone for now. He had been in his work!mode and it wasn't easy to shake. "You don't have any left at all? Do you have a weapon for when you go back?"

[has_a_cult]

"I've got a pistol, but it' no good at this range."

She went about packing up all her stuff into a tattered backpack. "I got twenty nine. You?"