[hr][h1][i][color=Dodgerblue]Lihua Vuhong[/color], & Task Force RAVEN, vs Peter Brooke.[/i][/h1][hr] [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9XjFHRXWpg[/youtube] [i]Do you have eyes on him?[/i] Lihua sent out the thought to the little mental network Adam set up. Since the comms were down, this was the best thing they had, so they have no choice but to make good use of him. Leon was leaning up against the walls of the cell with a containment foam sprayer in hand. [i]You're gonna be reeeeeeeeal pissed....[/i] [i]You lost him....[/i] Lihua sent a mental groan. [i]God damn it![/i] [i]Yeeeeeeeah, I'll find him. Just gimme a minute.[/i] Leon nodded his head as he scanned the area, he immediately went down the hallway - he heard a bunch of footsteps splashing within the darkness. [i]Oh?[/i] [i]What do you mean "Oh?"[/i] Lihua replied. [i]Think we got boogies...[/i] [i]What-[/i] Lihua thought - before she saw a red light down the hallway. She and Adam immediately ducked as a red orb of energy went over her head, and left a black scorch mark behind her. "Shit! They let out the level-sevens!" One of the Agents shouted as the hallway erupted in a hail of gunfire and shouting. Powers were getting used left and right. "Why the [i]hell[/i] are they coming down here?!" Lihua shouted through the chaos, before it hit her. He was turning them into fodder! To weaken their defenses. Clever, but when they spring their trap, it won't matter. She looked down the hallway that had many cells leading down it. [i]Should we come out?[/i] Leon sent the mental messages. [i]No, no, the plan is still going on... He just added a little twist to things....[/i] Lihua replied, narrowing her eyes. [i]If we let him[/i] think [i]his plan worked, then our plan will be twice as effective.[/i] "Adam." She nodded at him. "Looks like we gotta get a little blood on our hands." "No mercy." Adam nodded. "These men and woman are the worst. They have long renounced their humanity." Lihua put her hand out, and clenched it into a fist. She gathered sharp concrete blades into an orb with a blade sticking in every direction. Before she raised both hands in the air, and pulled many concrete shards out of the ground, and created several more of these bladed weapons. Before she sent them flying down the hallway - the first one hit someone in the face, and pierced their skull [i]before[/i] it exploded and sent heavy concrete shards all over the place. Damaging every escapee in the process. The rest rolled on the floor, and got deep into their ranks as possible. "Run!" Dante gave Lihua the satisfaction of making him shout - before it exploded and a shard went right through his skull. The rest of the blades devastated everyone else that didn't have a resistance to physical damage. Many were standing, but several had fallen. Adam was going to fix that soon as possible - he sent his Echo out at high speeds, and it punched someone square in the face. Breaking his skull instantly. Adam aggressively barraged them with a hail of fists and fury to keep them suppressed. Punches and kicks were countered with instant speed. One final punch sent a man flying right back into the darkness of the hallway "Keep an eye open for him!" Lihua said. There was a brief moment of silence in the dark hallway, or as quiet as it could be with the splattering water and ringing alarms. A sudden sensation of static enveloped the agents, more noticeable due to the wet surface. Over the metal cell doors and walls, the smallest noises from inside vibrated against the doors and caused a disturbance and interacted with the static that they were conducted with. Agents were hiding. Something was hiding. [i]'Pincer formation. Clever idea... but you can't hide from me.'[/i] Only Leon could hear the brief sound of a metallic click. The sound of a repetitive gunfire rang through the dark hallway as a hail of bullets ripped through the air towards Adam. There was barely time to react before the bullets hit Adam. Once in the thigh, another in the forearm, another in the shoulder, and so on... Adam fell backwards after letting out a loud yell. Bleeding. "Blackmore!" Lihua shouted, reaching out towards Adam. "Christ!" She turned back towards the hallway, and pulled the concrete that was acting as a bulwark off the ground, and made it float up in the air to act as a shield for herself, and Adam. This presents a problem. Now they couldn't message the team hiding in the cells for the sneak attack. Which meant that she'd have to find an alternative means of messaging him. Her head peaked out from behind her shield slightly, and the first line of defense fell to the escapees. Which meant that part of her blockade was no longer needed. She pushed her hand out, and shot the concrete spikes at the very front of the barricade out. They impaled two escapees, but the rest went into the darkness. The Agents were fighting with all they had to keep the escapees out. Which was a lot harder without Adam and his Echo suppressing them. [i]'One down'[/i]. This was all too familiar to the last operation - Agent Blackmore had the same shadow-man ability as the agent leader before him. It was just as annoying as before, and like before, he was the first one apart from NEST's mooks to fall. To avoid the results of their last skirmish, he had to play it safe. Now, as for the rats hiding in their holes... Peter removed the magazine clip from the assault gun, using his teeth when needed. He emptied it of its bullets, allowing them to drop to the ground, before attracting them into the air with his hand. Infusing them with a charge, the repelled one another, and they levitating in the air. They were calmly sent through the air, in a circular pattern, using the electrical field on the ground to keep them in place until they were in the center of the hall. Peter felt himself struggle. [i]'A-ah... so it looks like this test is useful after all. I'm at my limit - centering a field where I am not the focal point is... a lot harder than I expected.'[/i] Peter took a few paces forward to extend the range of his next maneuver. He preferred being in their blind spot, but some things were unavoidable. Following a spinning halo of bullets, he reached the edge of their field of vision, and their lights revealed a faint glimmer as they reflected off of his skin. As he walked, forward, each door he intersected with had a heavy clicking sound. Doors he walked past locked themselves as he closed in, which allowed him greater finesse with his ability to magnetize objects. Doing it as he aimed his weapon was something of a task however. The lights shone over the spinning halo of bullets. Lihua and Leon were already deathly familiar with it. Hmph. Things aren't looking too good. Lihua shook her head. All this defense in the name of someone who ratted out her conspirators? Hmph. Lihua knew it was just as likely he was coming to tie up a loose end than liberate the former Director. At this point, Lihua found it hard to care what happens to the bitch. Truthfully, it was more than just Miranda. It was stopping Peter. He is simply too strong to live - regardless of what little humanity he holds onto. Lihua was foolish for letting all this happen, but, once again, she was going to do everything to set it right. [i]Can I?[/i] Lihua asked herself. "I think he's there!" An Agent called out, pointing at the glimmers. [i]Time to find out, shall we?[/i] Lihua pulled back the myriad of concrete shards she sent at the prisons at high speeds. They were cutting through the air, and prisoners, until they'd hit something that'd stop them. It wasn't to damage him - if anything, it would further injure the prisoners - but it was to [i]confirm[/i] Peter's location. A cacophony of screams erupted in the darkness, but there was one gratifying result amongst the horror - a sharp metallic ping, and the sound of stone clicking as it fell to the ground. A moment of silence had followed, and Peter retaliated. The magnetic field around the bullets repelled them, and they immediately shot them forward, focused mostly at the agents apart from Lihua as she had her wall to hide behind. Fortunately, most of the Agents were using the concrete barricades that Lihua erected as shields. However, a few were pierced with bullets, their armor couldn't stop it. "It's here..." Lihua narrowed her eyes. They're going to need a plan soon. The loud clicking of the cells meant that Peter just locked the Agents in as he walked by. Irritating. Peter was easily the most annoying opponent that Lihua had ever faced. By the sheer virtue of everything they could throw at it being ineffective save for containment foam. Though that meant they had to be [i]creative[/i] The lights had finally flickered back to life, a bright white light filling the hallways and slightly blinding anyone who had adjusted to the dark. Peter looked around, noticing the sudden return of electricity. Pools of blood mingled with the water on the ground, and the entire surface was red, soaking the feet of all the remaining agents. "Your technicians work quickly." Peter commented. "We have the best of the best." Lihua retorted. Now, at least they have some chance, but that still presented a problem. They needed to get the Agents [i]behind[/i] Peter out. And that would be a feat. Peter faced his head down at the dent the subsonic rock Lihua shot at him made on his chest, on top of the left pectoral. He had known about this the moment it had happened. He figured he might as well mention it to his enemy, so that he might discourage them further. "Nice shot." He raised his palm over the chest, and streams of electricity were visibly arcing between his hand and his body, before the massive magnetic force finally forced the metal of his body to fit his form and was undented. He lowered his hand - his chest was sculpted back to normal. He was probably waiting for this, but Lihua knew that they had to slow him down until reinforcements come. She gathered more rocks, and made them float in the air in front of her shield. While he was repairing himself, more rocks went flying at him in hopes that he would be tripped. Then she'll try to foam him herself. It's the only thing she can do now with her forces taken out. The first stone hit Peter's shoulder, and given its impact, it was enough to let Peter take Lihua's attacks seriously. The rest of them Peter was able to react to with sharp reflexes. Peter composed himself and began pacing down the hall toward the blockade, wading through the blood soiled water. "We have been through this before." Peter warned. "Give up. You know what will come of you if you insist on getting in my way." "You are correct. We have done this only twice, and I am so [i]tired[/i] of this routine." Lihua willed two pieces of stone to step on. This is one risky gambit, and she knew that she had to have her guard up. She let out a sigh as she dropped the containment foam sprayer, and crushed it underneath her shield. She held her hands up into the air. "This is simply a fight I cannot win. We have expended all options, and I simply don't care enough about Caryl. She's served her purpose." Lihua folded her hands behind back. "If you would allow me to pass, I'll stay out of your way." "You were behind the glass. You know who I am." Peter said dryly, continuing to pace forward. "How stupid or gullible do you think I am?" Hmph. "I have two daughter, Brooke." Lihua mentioned. "I have far too much to lose to continue this fight." [i]God damn it, just let me pass.[/i] Lihua thought to herself. She realized that maybe she'll have to do this the hard way. She kept that shield of concrete up. "Prove it." Peter demanded. "Open the cell. Take your comrade's gun. If the Director has outlived herself, then prove it to me by [i]killing her.[/i]" The cell block was the most protected spot in the entire facility. Made to hold any measure of meta-human. Peter suspected that if he were to step foot in there, it would be over for him. "You see... Brooke..." Lihua said. For Blackmore's gambit to work, Peter [i]has[/i] to get in there. "Only a certified and high enough ranking Agent can get in there." She shrugged. "Remember that woman from the night you attacked us...? The one you were using as a shield against Cornell's Echo?" She was just bluffing. Buying time. She gathered as much spare concrete as she could, and tried to form a drill through the floor. She just needed to buy a little bit of time. "If that is the case, then you wouldn't be allowed here after risking her life just to land a hit on me." Peter commented. "I am getting annoyed. What did I just ask? How gullible do you think I am?" Lihua tore the visitor pass hanging off her chest off, and threw it across the floor for Peter to look at. "Visitor. I'm just here to get some confirmation...." Lihua trailed off. "I have to say, your trick was fooling us into thinking that you actually retained some [i]humanity[/i]." The drill was still doing it's work, it was getting taxing holding up this shield. Since it appeared that Peter wouldn't let her go by easily, she stepped off the rocks she was floating on, and added that to the rock drill. "How foolish I was to start all of this...." "Humanity?" Peter asked. "Subjective. [i]Not[/i] black and white. It is what kept me from killing a mother on a whim, but you are stalling for time. If you keep me much longer, I will be rid of you, then your comrades, and then I will throw a grenade at the Director's feet. When I am done, your children will be next, and I will let them know [i]you[/i] were the reason why they are going to die." Lihua had to keep her cool, she knew exactly what he was trying. He was trying to get her to do something rash. Even if he "throws a grenade" in there, that room is armored to the tits. Just like Blackmore said, it takes a few moments for powers to disable - which leaves a super-system Meta with enough time to toss a few punches. The drill was almost threw, she just needed. One. More. [i]Second.[/i] Lihua laughed like a noblewoman. "That is such a disgraceful tactic an [i]Aberration[/i] like yourself would resort to. Threatening a parent's children?" She scoffed. "Our conflict is between the two of us, and it should stay that way." "I. Don't. [i]Threaten.[/i]" Peter said gravely, his voice sinking into an inhuman tone - more robotic than anything, Peter raised his hand, creating a field between him and the wall behind Lihua, pulling himself as quick as an arrow towards his target. His arm punched a hole through the wall Lihua hid behind and grabbed for her throat - the impact his body made on the wall made it crack along the whole surface. Lihua was expecting this. She knew that she could only buy a few seconds. So, once he punched through the wall, Lihua stepped to the side using reflex alone. She let out a sigh. The drill she made finally pierced through the floor, and gave her a perfect exit. She gave Peter a bored look, raising her hand. ".... You should know by now I'm [i]no[/i] beginner." She swiped her hand, and what was left of the wall she made detached from the ground and went flying down the hallway (Hopefully with Peter with it). Then, she turned around and hopped into the hole. With the drill forming a patch for the hole that she recently created. She pulled two rocks from the ceiling, and made them float under her feet. Riding them far away from Peter as possible. She didn't know whether or not he would pursue, but reinforcements should be closing in any second now The wall tossed his weight a bit, but he quickly magnetized his feet to the ground - mostly pointless, as the wall crumbled and fell apart the moment it met resistance. He looked down the hole - it dug down the the level below the detention block. He looked back to the Director's door. Change of plan. He assaulted the door with dozens of magnetized-aided punches, denting it and breaking parts until he was able to grab the door itself and yank it open, ripping it from its hinges. Looking inside, he saw nothing. A dead spot. Someplace his field couldn't reach. He had no way of knowing if there was another door between layers. [i]'Won't risk it.'[/i] Peter grabbed onto the door he tore off and threw his arm back, charging his body and ready to throw the door with all of his might. He tossed it, and heavy chunk of metal shot like a bullet. Aimed at the edge of the door, by the lock, he forced the second door open with pure force, breaking the lock inside. There was no way he could see Miranda inside the cell. His field couldn't reach. All he could do is pretend he was on her side. For all she knew, she still had information on NEST the Hands could use. Better than to be locked up in isolation, right? "Director Miranda Caryl," Peter called, "the Hands of Science sends their regards. I am to escort you to [i]our[/i] headquarters immediately. We can discuss what you've learned during your time here once we return." "That's [i]Former[/i] Director to you." Miranda said, wryly. Sitting down up against the wall. She looked unfazed by the door opening. "Surprised you bastards didn't go the simple route and just sneak some poison in my food." She shrugged. She stood straight up, and looked through the hole at her "savior". A tall metal bastard. She has no idea what, or who, it is. "You possess intel on NEST that cannot be compared to a handful of scientists with an overnight cram session." Peter explained. Miranda quietly laughed. "Even after my failures pulled the cover on the Hands?" Miranda scoffed. "That is to be discussed. Your... honesty is what kept you alive, yes? There will be terms and conditions regarding our continued cooperation." "If you're worried about me leaking anything about the Hands, don't bother. I kept my lips sealed." Miranda lied to the Metal Man, she told them everything in hopes that NEST would be able to stick it to the Hands. "Before I even consider leaving this cell, I want Dr. Cross' given word that I'll be kept alive." "As I said," Peter reassured, "you are a valuable asset. Dr. Cross personally assigned me this mission. NEST wants you contained. If we want to survive their reinforcements, I suggest you follow along with me before they arrive." "Better than sitting own my ass all day...." Miranda groaned, there was a part of her that knew that she was going to die. Might as well face it with dignity rather than waiting for him to come and tear her to pieces. She slipped through the hole that Peter made through the door, and stepped into the field. She sighed as she paced forward towards Peter until she was close. "For now, you are a hostage." Peter explained. "NEST shouldn't make any moves if they can't guarantee your safety. They value your intel on the [i]Hands[/i], too." He slowly wrapped his hand around Miranda's throat. "It'll be much more uncomfortable if you struggle too much. Try to relax and I'll be sure we both escape." Miranda felt he was going to break her neck. She nodded her head as he did so. [hr] There was a point where Lihua decided that Peter was not pursuing her. Lihua stepped off the rocks, and nodded. She had to figure out what to do from here. Leave the Headquarters and let it out to destroy the city (Or kill her daughters), or try to join the resistance? All plans they pulled against it had failed miserably. Their only hope is to box... Wait. Lihua had another plan. Lihua heard a mass of footsteps, and she quickly ran towards it. It was a squad of NEST Agents, with Maximilian standing in the midst of them. "Age- Lihua." Maximilian said, as he faced her. "I'm ready to face scolding." "No. This is my fault." Maximilian said. "I should have destroyed it while I had the chance." [i]We both made a mistake here.[/i] Lihua replied. "I have an idea. Do we have enough men to fill the floors above and underneath the hallway to the Apex Cells?" Lihua said. "I don't know." "He has enhanced senses. If we foam him, he won't be a threat." Lihua said. "He is strong enough to break through the floors. If we can surprise him during his escape, we'll have him fully foamed." Maximilian put his hand on his chin, before he swiped his hand in the air. He put his finger on his earpiece, fortunately, they got the comms back online after the power. "All Agents, take position on the floors above and below the Apex Cells." "Yes sir!" Almost every Agent said in unison. "Also, he locked the Agents in the cells. You can use your Echo to quickly unlock the door-" Lihua was cut off when Maximilian handed her an earpiece. "For you. You may be suspended, but I know you want to stop it as much as anyone else." Lihua nodded her head as she slid her earpiece in. She would savor this moment if she wasn't fearing for her life. "Agents on the fourteenth floor are in position." The comms went alive with Dana's voice, who, thankfully, stayed hidden until the power and all the security systems went back online. "Agents on the sixteenth floor are getting into position." Maximilian grabbed his foamer. "Let's go. I guess we're going to be in the hallway." [i]Let's just pray we don't get another repeat. What happened here... oddly reflects what happened a week ago.[/i] Lihua thought to herself. [hr] Maximilian and Lihua marched down the Apex Cell with a squad of Agents. Maximilian immediately called out his Echo, and he handed his shadow the key. Echo immediately went to work unlocking cell doors to let the Agents out. Helena near instantaneously flash stepped out of the room. She looked down the hallway at the bleeding Adam. "Adam!" She flashstepped to him, grabbed him, and flash stepped out of the way. Leon stepped out of one of the cells. "Oh boy, hope ya'll gotta plan." Leon said. "Don't we always?" Lihua asked. "... And don't they [i]always[/i] fail." "Nothing ventured, nothing gained..." Lihua groaned as she walked down the hallway, now joined by Leon and the Agents in the cell. Echo stood above Maximilian with his arms crossed as Maximilian aimed his foamer at Peter. "Give up, PR-1." Maximilian called out. "We have you surrounded!" "Peter." He corrected as he held Miranda in the air by her throat. "Don't waste my time with bluffing. You haven't executed her yet because you need her and the secrets she has. I can react in a hair of a second. Try anything and she dies." He did not even wait for a response before he started walking toward the crowd. Neither did he seem to be taking very great care of the former director as he held her aloft, and none of their raised weapons seemed to do much to falter him. "Maximilian, you have to make a choice," Lihua whispered, pleading with Maximilian to see the light. In Lihua's eyes, the Director was useless. "We let a Metahuman [i]superweapon[/i] walk out the door, or we risk the woman who isn't even of any [i]use[/i] to us." "I-" Max was cut off by Peter. "Fantastic logic, agent." Peter commented, not even slowing down. "It'd seem your lesson wasn't as impacting as you claimed. Some lives aren't as equal as others?" This thing can hear her. Right. She forgot. Lihua utterly ignored what Peter said. That didn't matter. They needed to stop Peter here and now before he becomes a long-term problem. This morality over common-sense bullshit was going to bite them in the ass. "I am literally fifteen feet from you and counting, and you still aren't out of my way yet." Peter warned. "There's a choice, Max. Either sacrifice one life, or lose a thousand more Agents." Lihua said. "[i]You[/i] have to make the choice." "Agents on the sixteenth floor are in position." Dana noted. Maximilian looked down at his foamer. This... this was not an ideal situation. There were so many things going on, Maximilian's breath sped up. Let the Director die and forsake morality. Or preserve morality, and become the organization that people believe they are. Logic or emotion. "Maxi," Leon called Maximilian by that little pet name Sonya gave him. Facing him with the foamer in hand. "I know what's going on in your head, but I think if you're going to make a choice - ah, know what? I'm on your side, regardless of what you do - but you gotta make it now." Peter stopped in front Maximilian with Miranda in hand, looking down at him. Without a real face, it was difficult to tell, but it wasn't hard to guess that Peter was getting impatient. "The Hands are not my friends. But I've a choice to make as well, and I chose to [i]ensure[/i] the futures of the wretched." Peter told him. "Be a man and make [i]your[/i] choice." Sweat was trickling down Maximilian's head with every word Peter said - what everyone said was making this decision so much harder. God damn it! He's the Director! He's supposed to be good at these situations. How would the world feel if NEST casually discarded lives to achieve results? How would [i]NEST[/i] feel if he let a killing machine continue to cut them down? His hand was shaking, and his breath started to get heavy. Everyone was right. There was a choice to be made here, and it'll change him as a person - more than anything else he's seen while on duty. "Agents..." Maximilian said, closing his eyes. "I have made my decision." He nodded his head. He took in one breath, before he exclaimed, "[i]Spray him down! Do not let him esca--[/i]" [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWAuhFljn0M[/youtube] Peter's hand clenched around Miranda's throat instantly, causing the former Director to spray blood everywhere from her mouth. Foam began to envelop him from all directions as Peter once against felt the cold grip of depression strike at him again. Years of work, of research, and all of it was going to waste as he would be put asleep for an [i]indeterminable[/i] amount of time. [i]'If only I had a chance to know where I first went wrong... my first wrong turn... then maybe I would've found a way.'[/i] Maximilian immediately dropped to his knees, holding his hands onto his head. He was staring at the floor. It was over, PR-1 was detained again. The sound of Miranda's neck cracking played in his head over and over and over again. "What...." Maximilian trailed off. "... What did I do wrong?" "You..." Leon put his hand on his chin, looking at the bloody cadaver getting engulfed in foam. "... made a choice." He put his hand on Maximilian's shoulder. "Now, if you ever want to talk about anything, I'm here." Lihua grimaced. To be so cold hearted and merciless... It was unforgivable. She felt a twinge of sympathy for the former Director... but then realized that this [i]is[/i] the culmanation of her sins. "The results..." She said, "The world only needs to know the [i]results[/i]" She faced Maximilian. He was taking this hard - but, it was the right thing to do. So what she was being cold... she had to think of the longterm. And morality is oh so short term. "However, I am responsible for what happened here." Lihua turned sideways, facing Maximilian. "I truly am a selfish, [i]selfish[/i], woman." Lihua sighed. Coming to terms with her words and misdeeds was merely the beginning. She knew that she couldn't hold the moral high ground, and didn't even want to try at this point. "Get him into the Apex Cell...." Maximilian groaned. The Agents nodded as they ran back to grab a hauler. "... And don't ever let him out." Maximilian turned around, squeezing his eyes shut, marching down the hall and pushing his way through the crowd, giving none of the agents a second glance. As he finally squeezed his way out, he somberly looked down at his feet as he walked, catching a glimpse at his hands. He stopped. The gloves he had worn... they were drenched with Miranda Caryl's blood from that moment she died. He turned back around and watched as agents hauled... [i]Dr.[/i] Peter Brooke away. Somewhere, in all of that foam, there was also a dead woman that he could have saved. This is what it meant to have control over lives.