[center][h1]View From the Top[/h1]
[sub]Alternate Title: Aubrey is a Bitch and No One Likes Her[/sub]



[img]http://i.imgur.com/qpk2y0k.png[/img]     [img]http://i.imgur.com/XZCyPaz.png[/img]
[h2][color 8A3DFF]  Emma[/color]  |  [color 33ec06]Marcus[/color][/h2]

[color=9e0039][img]http://i.imgur.com/3R5vYYi.png?2[/img][hr][color=silver]𝕎𝕖𝕕: 𝕆𝕔𝕥. 𝟟, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   𝔹𝕒𝕝𝕕 ℍ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕀𝕤𝕝𝕒𝕟𝕕   / /   𝕃𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕤𝕖   / /  ~𝟘𝟝𝟚𝟝[/color][hr][/color]
[/center]

[hider View From the Top]
The trio’s ascent was halted when they came upon a door, the blood trail they had been following continuing underneath it. Determination glanced back at the two expectantly, stopping in place, [color=580ACC]”What do you want me to do if there’s someone on the other side?”[/color] he asked quietly, voice hushed in case there was indeed someone there. Emma gave the same glance to Marcus, unsure of the answer herself.

"[color 33ec06]Assuming that he doesn't instantly attempt to murder you?[/color]" Marcus said to the big shadow creature, "[color 33ec06]Hear him out. It could be a friendly just as likely as it could be hostile.[/color]"

He brought his makeshift club a little bit closer to him. A brawl at the top of a lighthouse was not exactly something he wanted to participate in; although he had a few contingencies for getting punted off large objects, he didn't have [i]many[/i].

"[color 33ec06]Just...try and seem friendly, alright big fella?[/color]" he added, giving a reassuring pat on the back. He was a little surprised by how [i]cold[/i] the figure was, though he supposed it made sense. Or, at least, as much sense as anything else did.

[color=8A3DFF]”That sounds like as good a plan as any.”[/color] Emma agreed, giving Determination a small nod. [color=580ACC]”Okay.”[/color] was the only response he had as he moved towards the door, placing his hand on the knob and cautiously opening it.

[color f7976a]”Not the Amigos, then,”[/color] a young man’s voice responded on the other side, just as the door opened far enough to see him in the dim morning light.

"[color 33ec06]No...we're not.[/color]" Marcus said slowly, narrowing his eyes as the figure peeked through the door. His eyes glanced over the white streak below the man's eye, a visible level of tension leaving his stance. "[color 33ec06]Experimental Group B; we're heading for the ferry.[/color]" he said, in a psuedo-introduction. "[color 33ec06]I was hoping to get up to the top here and see if anybody beat us to it.[/color]"

Emma gave a cautious glance towards Marcus before taking a half step forwards, glancing through the door at the man and squinting at him, [color=8A3DFF]”And you are?”[/color] 

[color f7976a]”Someone who survived by the skin of their teeth. Ferry’s right there. If you’re leaving you better hurry up.”[/color] He eyed Emma and Marcus, something like skepticism on his face. [color f7976a]”Not sure if you should be pussyfooting around up here if the Amigos are on the island.”[/color]

"[color 33ec06]One of ours mentioned that there were people around.[/color]" Marcus said, explaining the situation as best he could. "[color 33ec06]Running for the ferry isn't such a great plan if we get shredded three steps out the doorway. I was hoping we'd at least be able to see what's going on out there, relay the information.[/color]"

His tone was very business-like, similar to his interview with Marianne, save for a few hints of irritation that trickled through. There wasn't the time to be trying to politely ask his way through, not when his teammate's lives were on the line. "[color 33ec06]So, is there any chance we can sneak past you, DoorMan?[/color]"

[color f7976a]"I'm not here to guard the door, 'cept maybe against the Amigos."[/color] He nodded at the set of stairs across the circular room, the steps winding their way up to the lighthouse beam. [color f7976a]"Be my guest."[/color]

Emma exhaled her held breath, letting the wooden club fall to her side. She wasn’t entirely off her guard yet, but at the very least the man [i]seemed[/i] friendly enough. She gave Determination a slight nudge on the back to indicate that was his cue to go inside. He gave a wary glance back before moving forward, Emma not far behind. [color=8A3DFF]”And you’re… from the town?”[/color] Emma asked, a hint of caution still in her voice.

[color f7976a]"Yeah,"[/color] he answered, leaning back against the wall. Further explanation didn't seem to be forthcoming.

"[color 33ec06]You're free to come with us; DC knows we're going to need the helping hands if the Amigos are out there, and there's no point in you staying if everyone else is evacuating.[/color]" Marcus said, giving the man one last look before starting to follow Determination. He wasn't going to force the man to not get himself killed, but the guy was an ally. At least, from what he'd seen.

[color=8A3DFF]”You’re injured, right? We have healers too.”[/color] Emma added. [color=8A3DFF]”Speaking of, anything you can tell us about the Amigos? Their powers?”[/color] Emma said, hoping that he would prove cooperative. 

[color f7976a]”You have healers?”[/color] He seemed to perk up slightly at the information, though the relatively light injuries on his body didn't worry him. [color f7976a]"Then you should really get off the island as soon as possible. Anyone who can cure injuries in this day and age is worth more than their weight in gold."[/color] He looked upwards, trying to recall anything of note other than the obvious about the Amigos' powers. [color f7976a]"And, honestly, I was a bit too busy running for my life to really get a sense of what they could and couldn't do--and who was doing what. All I know is, they have a guy who can zoom them around and a big black monster thing that's their main forward guard, I guess. And lasers. Lucky they weren't gunning to kill me, but still."[/color]

"[color 33ec06]They [i]weren't[/i] gunning to kill you?[/color]" Marcus said, stopping suddenly to look at the man. If the Amigos were taking people in alive...then there was still a little hope. Not only for them, but for their missing students. Or, student, depending on how Brent and Siena's rescue mission had gone. 

Brent had seemed calm enough over the cuff, and for them to have come back that quickly...maybe he needed to give Siena some credit. Maybe he needed to stop trying to prevent her from actually using her power to help, just because he was worried that she'd accidentally (or otherwise) hurt herself.

"[color 33ec06]Well, maybe we're in luck then. Maybe we're all gonna have a great time sailing away, and they just wanted the vacation real-estate.[/color]" Marcus muttered to himself, walking out onto the landing.

His heart dropped. He didn't think such fear could wash over him so quickly, but it did. There wasn't just one person out there; there was a whole goddamned siege. Despite the water that poured from his hair and obscured his vision, he could still tell that something was going wrong. There were tree-monsters, a giant steaming wall that only seemed to repair itself as a giant mace swung through it, what appeared to be a [i]sandstorm[/i] in addition to the regular storm, and something big and black tearing through their offense. 

"[color 33ec06]Guys...we've got problems down there.[/color]" Marcus said, shimmying over to allow extra people to look down if they desired.

This was bad. This was very bad.

Emma stepped out, following Marcus, while Determination stayed where he was, keeping a wary eye on the stranger. Emma drunk in the scene below, chewing her lip as she watched. They were totally, completely, honestly, fucked. At least that was what Emma’s first instinct told her. Of course, there was the question that hung at the back of her mind every time they faced danger, the somewhat sickening urge to try to puzzle out who would die this time.
 
If it was herself, at least, she could take it.
 
[color=8A3DFF]”We… need to get down there and help.”[/color] Emma turned back, glancing at the injured Arbiter, [color=8A3DFF]”You’re a Sub. Can you do anything that’ll help us?”[/color] 

[color f7976a]"I didn't spend all that effort running from them just to tell them where I am now. ...Not unless you've got some kind of plan."[/color] The Arbiter stood up, pained to be moving again, but he limped to the doorway, remaining just shy of the downpour to wait on a course of action that wasn't just "do something."

"[color 33ec06]Give me a minute, I'll think of something...[/color]" Marcus said, the panic in his voice. There was nothing they could do from here, save throwing shit at the tiny targets down below. He seriously doubted any of them could hit with any accuracy, especially with the wind and the downpour.

He held his hand up to shield his eyes as the light rotated past again, briefly reflecting off all the raindrops in the air. Like a flash of lightning, only a slow and gradual dim rather than the sudden light show. Nevertheless, it was still blinding. For that brief second, his entire world was bathed in white.

Something in his mind clicked. It wasn't a good plan, but it might have been something. It all depended on...

"[color 33ec06]What's your power, anyway?[/color]" Marcus asked the man hiding in the doorway.

[color=8A3DFF]”And your name.”[/color] Emma added, irritation edging into her voice.

The mage hesitated, unsure if he wanted to tell them something he had been told to keep mum about precisely because of situations like these. There were very few powers more valued than healing. But if the cat was out of the bag and the Amigos had somehow found out, he supposed it wasn't too great an idea to keep hiding a known secret. [color f7976a]"I make energy. Like in small amounts, but I can store it places. Like the lighthouse. Side effect of this little trick, I guess, and I can convert some stuff around."[/color] He extended a hand into the rain and caught solidified droplets instead, tilting them to scatter onto the metal walkway. When he put his hand down, he looked significantly more uncomfortable, like what he was going to say next was the hardest part. [color f7976a]"And my name's..."[/color] he let out a sigh, grimacing, [color f7976a]"Aubrey."[/color]

Marcus hummed thoughtfully as the solidified raindrops clinked against the metal of the walkway. Storing energy and converting matter were somewhat useful, but not for what he was thinking of. They didn't have much time to discuss the could's and could-not's, so he was just making plans up on the fly. Better to shout them out than die horribly thinking of logistics. 

"[color 33ec06]Okay. I might have a plan. It's not a [i]good[/i] plan, but it's a plan.[/color]" Marcus said, turning to look at the lighthouse's lens as it made another pass. "[color 33ec06]Is there any possible way for us to turn this lighthouse into a movable spotlight? Point the whole thing down at them and blind the baddies long enough for our guys to seal the deal, even if it's just yanking the whole thing out and having Determination aim it?[/color]" he said hopefully. It would turn them into a massive target, and their escape would have to be nearly immediate, but it might help, and it certainly had less friendly fire potential than his other ideas.

[color f7976a]"I don't think the trees care. Or the sand guy."[/color]

"[color 33ec06]No, but the giant murdering demon man might.[/color]"

[color f7976a]"I saw the demon take a grenade to the face. Think he's still fine."[/color]

[color=8A3DFF]"Plan B, Marc?"[/color]

[color 33ec06]"Dammit.[/color]" That was one plan out the window. Which led to the next couple, all of them seeming to play along the same theme of hurling a giant light as hard as possible, with varying effects. "[color 33ec06]Well...if you pumped energy into this giant light, what would happen when it shattered?[/color]" Marcus asked, reeling for another plan.

[color f7976a]"We die from the explosion. Next plan, please."[/color] Below them the battle raged on, and the shadow creature seemed to steadily take the upper hand, though it contested with Hazel's projections constantly so far.

"[color 33ec06]God. I don't...[/color]" Marcus said, throwing his hands wildly. The water was continuing to pour down his face, and as he peered over the edge of the lighthouse again, it became clear that they wouldn't have much more time to talk before people started dying. He brought his hands up to shield his eyes from the sudden burst of light in the sky; a bight crimson flame falling upon the trees. Likely Chris. Despite his attack, however, the flickering and burning forms of the trees continued to lumber forward, before the rain and fire added more steam to the already obscuring mist. They needed to work fast; plans be damned.

"[color 33ec06]Fine. No plans. This is what is [i]going[/i] to happen. Det, pull as much of that light out as you can; break it if you have to, and throw what you have at that wall; preferably between the hole and the ferry-side. With any luck, it'll break through and hit someone. Aubrey; if you can turn the wall into liquid from here, do that. Otherwise, either come down and help us fight if needed, or stay up here and wait for the rest of the Amigos to find you. I'm running back down; I might be able to stasis the Demon - which should give everyone a chance to run.[/color]"

Marcus was already moving towards the door at this point, only hesitating to hear confirmation from everyone.

A sharp exhale came from Emma. She gave a small nod towards Determination, who returned one in kind, [color=580ACC]”Very well.”[/color] he said, heading up the final set of stairs towards the light. He arrived on the final floor to find a large hardened glass lens, nearly his size, projecting a rotating lamp. He gave the device a once over, unsure if his strength would be sufficient to do as he was asked. All the same he set himself against it, wrapping his arms around it and attempting to separate it from its enclosure. After a couple of seconds of effort, he found unexpected success, hefting the hardened glass lens up and over his head, slowly moving it out towards the balcony as the light sputtered, then died.
 
Meanwhile, Emma found herself moving quickly after Marcus, [color=8A3DFF]”If you’re heading out I am too.”[/color] she stated matter-of-factly.

Blanching at the sight of the shadowy figure lifting effectively the entire top of the lighthouse, Aubrey ducked back inside, ignoring Marcus's suggestion in favor of limping down to the lower floor, where the roof wasn't in danger of caving in.

Up above, Determination was making good on Marcus's orders. He reached the balcony, glancing over the scene of chaos below. The wall- Marcus had said to aim it between the already existing hole in the wall and the ferry, with the goal of trying to take out one of the enemy mages. Determination would do just that. He handled the large lamp with no small degree of awkwardness, but his strength was indeed sufficient to throw it, so he did. His aim was true- his eyes, or lack thereof, tracked the device, barely able to make out it crashing through the wall far below through the rain and steam. 

With his goal done, he hurried down to catch up with Emma and Marcus.
[/hider]