As the group discussed their new companion, a shout of alarm sounded from the center of town. "Help! Come on, Maurice, put them down! HELP!" Julian glanced at the others and motioned for them to follow before darting over to investigate. As the group rounded a corner, they saw two Cocoon soldiers attempting to fight off a pair of fiery Pulsian multi-sided automata. They rolled and flared as one of the two soldiers frantically sent spell after spell at them, but they seemed at a deadlock. The other soldier periodically rushed in to deal some damage and give his ally a break, but was quickly overwhelmed by the flaming attacks.

"I'm trying the best I can, Rikken!" the darker skinned soldier called out, sweat pouring from his brow. "This ain't easy work, either!"

"Gah! If only we had Lily here!" Rikken replied as he withdrew once more. "There. That's the last potion. If this keeps up, we're done for."

Before the group could react, a Cocoon gunship approached, dropping a squad of Guardian Corps soldiers. "Ah, reinforcements. Good," Maurice called out before a shot rang out. "Hey, that almost hit me! Watch it!"

"Clear the area!" the GC Gunner called out. "Purge anyone who's been tainted by the fal'Cie. Start with these two."

Julian looked back at his allies. "I'm going to help them. Noir, Nyxia, Molly... if you could distract the Corps units, I think that Nadia and I can take out those two bombs. Deal? Let's act fast!"
[center][hider=Enemy Images][center][img]http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/f/f8/FFXIII_enemy_Corps_Gunner.png/revision/latest?cb=20140221140217[/img] - [img]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/2/23/FFXIII_enemy_Corps_Marksman.png/revision/latest?cb=20140221140251[/img] - [img]http://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/0/03/FFXIII_enemy_Corps_Pacifex.png/revision/latest?cb=20140221140303[/img] - [img]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/4/44/FFXIII_enemy_Corps_Regular.png/revision/latest?cb=20140221140312[/img]										
[h3]Corps Gunner - Corps Marksman - Corps Pacifex - Corps Regular										
[img]http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net/finalfantasy/images/3/36/FFXIII_enemy_Bomb.png/revision/latest?cb=20140221104303[/img]										
Bomb[/h3][/center][/hider][/center]										
[table=bordered][row][cell][b][color=ed1c24]Group A Battle![/color][/b][/cell][cell][b]Current Time: [/b]56.9 sec[/cell][cell][b]Paradigm: [/b][/cell][cell][b]Aggresion[/b][/cell][cell]Next Up: Nyxia[/cell][/row][row][cell]Noir - [color=ed1c24][b]COM[/b][/color][/cell][cell] HP: {[color=ed1c24][][][/color][][][][][][][][]} [color=ed1c24]HP: 105/468[/color][/cell][cell] Next: 59.6 sec[/cell][cell] TP: {[color=fff200][][-[/color][color=39b54a]-----|[/color][color=00aeef]---------|[/color]}[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/k8gqw2C.png[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell]Nyxia - [color=ed1c24][b]COM[/b][/color][/cell][cell] HP: {[color=39b54a][][][][][][][][][][][/color]} [color=39b54a]HP: 429/429[/color][/cell][cell] Next: 56.9 sec[/cell][cell] TP: {[color=fff200][][][/color][color=39b54a][][][][/color][color=00aeef][][][][][][/color]}[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/k8gqw2C.png[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell]Molly - [color=0072bc][b]RAV[/b][/color][/cell][cell] HP: {[color=39b54a][][][][][][][][/color][][][]} [color=39b54a]HP: 291/410[/color][/cell][cell] Next: 62.5 sec[/cell][cell] TP: {[color=fff200][][][/color][color=39b54a][]---|[/color][color=00aeef]---------|[/color]}[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] [img]https://i.imgur.com/k8gqw2C.png[/img][/cell][/row][row][cell]Corps Gunner[/cell][cell] HP: {[color=ed1c24]-KO-[/color]}[/cell][cell] Next: -[/cell][cell] Chain: {[color=f7941d]--[/color]} 100%[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][row][cell]Corps Marksman[/cell][cell] HP: {[color=ed1c24]-KO-[/color]}[/cell][cell] Next: -[/cell][cell] Chain: {[color=f7941d]--[/color]} 100%[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][row][cell]Corps Pacifex[/cell][cell] HP: {[color=ed1c24]-KO-[/color]}[/cell][cell] Next: 60.8 sec[/cell][cell] Chain: [b][i][color=f7941d][u]-STA[/u]GGER!-[/color][/i][/b] 277.7% [b]Break:[/b] 19.6 sec[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][row][cell]Corps Regular[/cell][cell] HP: {[color=ed1c24]-KO-[/color]}[/cell][cell] Next: -[/cell][cell] Chain: {[color=f7941d]--[/color]} 100%[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][/table]										
[table=bordered][row][cell][b][color=0072bc]Group B Battle![/color][/b][/cell][cell][b]Current Time: [/b]17.6 sec[/cell][cell][b]Paradigm: [/b][/cell][cell][b]Thaumaturgy[/b][/cell][cell]Next Up: Maurice[/cell][/row][row][cell]Nadia - [color=39b54a][b]MED[/b][/color][/cell][cell] HP: {[color=fff200][][][][][][][/color][][][][]} [color=fff200]HP: 260/422[/color][/cell][cell] Next: 21.5 sec[/cell][cell] TP: {[color=fff200][][][/color][color=39b54a][][][][/color][color=00aeef][][][][]-|[/color]}[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][row][cell]Julian - [color=0072bc][b]RAV[/b][/color][/cell][cell] HP: {[color=ed1c24]-KO-[/color]} [color=ed1c24]HP: 0/410[/color][/cell][cell] Next: -[/cell][cell] TP: {[color=fff200][][][/color][color=39b54a][][][][/color][color=00aeef][][][][]-|[/color]}[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][row][cell]Maurice - [color=0072bc][b]RAV[/b][/color][/cell][cell] HP: {[color=39b54a][][][][][][][][][][][/color]} [color=39b54a]HP: 391/391[/color][/cell][cell] Next: 17.6 sec[/cell][cell] TP: {[color=fff200]N/A[/color]}[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][row][cell]Bomb A[/cell][cell] HP: {[color=ed1c24]-KO-[/color]}[/cell][cell] Next: -[/cell][cell] Chain: {[color=f7941d]--[/color]} 100%[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][row][cell]Bomb B[/cell][cell] HP: {[color=ed1c24]-KO-[/color]}[/cell][cell] Next: -[/cell][cell] Chain: {[color=f7941d]--[/color]} 100%[/cell][cell] [b]Status:[/b] None[/cell][/row][/table]										
[hider=Group A Battle][b][color=ed1c24]Group A Battle![/color][/b] - Starting Paradigm: [b]Guerilla[/b]
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Nyxia with Protect for 138 seconds.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She targets Corps Marksman with Fire (Null) for 0 damage, Fire (Null) for 0 damage, and Fire (Null) for 0 damage.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets Corps Marksman with Deprotect P for 50 damage, Deshell P for 51 damage (Missed!), and Slow P for 50 damage.
[b]Corps Gunner's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Barthunder on himself.
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Watera on Noir for 92 damage and on Nyxia for 93 damage.
[b]Corps Regular's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Fire on Nyxia for 117 damage.
[b]Corps Marksman's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Enfire on himself.
[b]Corps Regular's turn![/b] He attacks Molly 3 times for 207 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Molly with Protect for 138 seconds.
[b]Corps Gunner's turn![/b] He attacks Noir 3 times for 132 damage.
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He attacks Nyxia 3 times for 126 damage.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She changes her Role to [color=39b54a][b]MED[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Evened Odds[/b]! She then targets self with Cure for 127 HP.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She changes her Role to [color=39b54a][b]MED[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Convalescence[/b]! She then targets self with Cure for 127 HP.
[b]Corps Marksman's turn![/b] He attacks Molly 3 times for 181 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets self with Protect for 138 seconds.
[b]Corps Regular's turn![/b] He attacks Nyxia 3 times for 145 damage.
[b]Corps Gunner's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Enfire on Corps Regular.
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He attacks Molly 3 times for 125 damage.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] Nyxia uses a Potion, healing Noir for 150 HP, Nyxia for 150 HP, and Molly for 150 HP.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He changes his Role to [color=ed1c24][b]COM[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Discretion[/b]! 
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets self with Cure for 130 HP and Cure for 132 HP.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She changes her Role to [color=0072bc][b]RAV[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Diversity[/b]! She then targets Corps Marksman with Aero for 80 damage.
[b]Corps Regular's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Fire on Nyxia for 132 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Marksman with Blitz for 425 damage, hitting Corps Gunner for 192 damage and Corps Pacifex for 198 damage, and attacks Corps Marksman for 249 damage.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets Nyxia with Cure for 128 HP, Cure for 133 HP, and Cure for 129 HP.
[b]Corps Marksman's turn![/b] He attacks Noir 3 times for 199 damage.
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Watera on Nyxia for 117 damage, hitting Noir for 94 damage and Molly for 109 damage.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She targets Corps Marksman with Aero for 83 damage, Aero for 91 damage, and Aero for 95 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Marksman with Blitz for 468 damage, hitting Corps Gunner for 195 damage and Corps Pacifex for 230 damage, and attacks Corps Marksman for 318 damage.
[b]Corps Regular's turn![/b] He attacks Nyxia 3 times for 146 damage.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets Noir with Cure for 127 HP, Cure for 131 HP, and Cure for 128 HP.
[b]Corps Gunner's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Barthunder on Corps Regular.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She changes her Role to [color=ed1c24][b]COM[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Tireless Charge[/b]! She then targets Corps Marksman with an attack for 298 damage, defeating him!
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He attacks Nyxia 3 times for 129 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Gunner with Blitz for 220 damage, hitting the Corps Pacifex for 210 damage, and attacks Corps Gunner for 142 damage.
[b]Corps Regular's turn![/b] He attacks Molly 3 times for 146 damage.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets Nyxia with Cure for 126 HP, Cure for 128 HP, and Cure for 130 HP.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She targets Corps Gunner with an attack for 158 damage, attacks for 165 damage, and attacks for 168 damage, defeating him.
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He attacks Nyxia 3 times for 100 damage, missing once.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Pacifex with Libra! The Pacifex is weak to Thunder and resistant to Water. See the Bestiary for more info!
[b]Corps Regular's turn![/b] He attacks Molly 3 times for 151 damage.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets self with Cure for 127 HP, Cure for 128 HP, and Cure for 133 HP.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Regular with Libra! The Regular is weak to Fire and Blizzard and resistant to Thunder. See the Bestiary for more info!
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She changes her Role to [color=0072bc][b]RAV[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Diversity[/b]! She then targets Corps Regular with Blizzard (Weak) for 168 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Regular with Blitz for 225 damage, hitting Corps Pacifex for 220 damage, and attacks for 145 damage.
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Watera on Nyxia for 99 damage, hitting Noir for 108 damage and Molly for 102 damage.
[b]Corps Regular's turn![/b] He uses Manadrive Fire on Nyxia for 142 damage.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets Nyxia with Cure for 127 HP, Cure for 129 HP, and Cure for 132 HP.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She targets Corps Regular with Blizzard (Weak) for 223 damage, Fire (Weak) for 249 damage, and Blizzard (Weak) for 255 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Pacifex with Blitz for 191 damage, hitting Corps Regular for 279 damage, and attacks for 122 damage.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She changes her Role to [color=0072bc][b]RAV[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Relentless Assault[/b]! She then targets Corps Regular with Froststrike (Weak) for 454 damage (Staggered!), defeating him!
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She changes her Role to [color=ed1c24][b]COM[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Aggresion[/b]! She then targets Corps Pacifex with an attack for 155 damage.
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He attacks Noir 3 times for 127 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Pacifex with an attack for 129 damage, attacks for 133 damage, and attacks for 0 damage (Missed!).
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets Corps Pacifex with Stonestrike for 109 damage, Froststrike for 120 damage, and Stonestrike for 220 damage (Staggered!).
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She targets Corps Pacifex with an attack for 352 damage, attacks for 361 damage, and attacks for 375 damage.
[b]Corps Pacifex's turn![/b] He attacks Noir 3 times for 128 damage.
[b]Noir's turn![/b] He targets Corps Pacifex with an attack for 310 damage, attacks for 312 damage, and attacks for 272 damage.
[b]Molly's turn![/b] She targets Corps Pacifex with Froststrike for 237 damage, Stonestrike for 246 damage, and Froststrike for 264 damage.
[b]Nyxia's turn![/b] She targets Corps Pacifex with an attack for 437 damage, attacks for 425 damage, and attacks for 438 damage, defeating him![/hider]
[b][color=ed1c24]Group A Battle[/color][/b] Complete!

[hider=Group B Battle][b][color=0072bc]Group B Battle![/color][/b] - Starting Paradigm: [b]Strike Team[/b]
[b]Nadia's turn![/b] She targets Bomb A with an attack for 179 damage, Ruin for 123 damage, and attacks for 191 damage.
[b]Julian's turn![/b] He targets Nadia with Protect for 138 seconds.
[b]Squad's turn![/b] They change their Role to [color=0072bc][b]RAV[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Decimation[/b]! Maurice then targets Bomb A with Blizzard (Weak) for 201 damage.
"I know they look weak," Maurice says, "but they can heal themselves. When they're fully healed, those bombs will blow!"
[b]Bomb B's turn![/b] It uses Flamestrike on Maurice for 144 damage, healing itself to full!
[b]Bomb A's turn![/b] It uses Flamestrike on Nadia for 139 damage.
[b]Julian's turn![/b] He targets Maurice with Faith for 70 seconds.
[b]Squad's turn![/b] Maurice targets Bomb B with Blizzard (Weak) for 281 damage, Fire (Absorb) for -137 damage, and Blizzard (Weak) for 280 damage.
[b]Nadia's turn![/b] She targets Bomb A with an attack for 173 damage, Ruin for 129 damage, and attacks for 202 damage.
[b]Bomb B's turn![/b] It uses Flamestrike on Nadia for 153 damage.
[b]Julian's turn![/b] He changes his Role to [color=0072bc][b]RAV[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Relentless Assault[/b]! He then targets Bomb A with Stone for 103 damage.
[b]Bomb A's turn![/b] It uses Flamestrike on Julian for 214 damage.
[b]Squad's turn![/b] Maurice targets Bomb A with Blizzard (Weak) for 294 damage and Blizzard (Weak) for 306 damage, defeating it. Maurice then targets Bomb B with Blizzard (Weak) for 276 damage.
[b]Nadia's turn![/b] She changes her Role to [color=39b54a][b]MED[/b][/color]! The new Paradigm is [b]Thaumaturgy[/b]! She then targets self with Cure for 130 HP.
[b]Julian's turn![/b] He targets Bomb B with Thunder for 95 damage, Stone for 97 damage, and Thunder for 97 damage.
[b]Bomb B's turn![/b] It uses Flamestrike on Julian for 264 damage, KOing him!
[b]Nadia's turn![/b] She targets Maurice with Cure for 117 HP and Cure for 119 HP.
[b]Squad's turn![/b] Maurice targets Bomb B with Blizzard (Weak) for 269 damage and Blizzard (Weak) for 258 damage, finishing it off.
[/hider]
[b][color=0072bc]Group B Battle[/color][/b] Complete!

[b]Combat Rewards:[/b]
11 CP, 2 Potions, 1 Phoenix Down, 1000 gil