[center][h2][color=red]Sheffield Dusk[/color][/h2][/center]

[i]Interaction with: [@Lotrix Molick][/i]
[i]Mentioned: [@FlappyTheSpybot], [@Moyai], and [@DarkRecon].[/i]

[hr]

Melee Mutant, as Sheffield quickly designated the fighter that trashed the muscled mutant from earlier, thrust their gloved hands forward, palms showing. They would have made a crash course just a few feet away from where Sheffield and Nari when they seemed to stay in the air.

Then there was a rush of air. The sky above seemed to distort for a moment when Sheffield saw a burst of wind fan out from the mutant's palms. It was rocketing straight at them.

[color=red]"Move!"[/color] Sheffield shouted, shoving Nari back as the ground exploded.

The blast of wind was enough to blow the former fighter back, sending him into the air for a moment before falling down. Clumps of earth flew and blocked his sight before they finally returned to the ground.

His back felt sore from landing. But he saw the ground in front of him form a crater the size of a bus tire, the earth around it forced back in a circle like a volcano as pebbles rolled into it.

The destruction of that blast was comparable to a grenade. It was common for mutants with destructive powers, but accuracy like this suggested training.

Sheffield was about to shout for Nari--who he saw just getting up on the other side of the crater--when he heard dirt shuffling behind him.

Instantly he rolled out of the way. More dirt flew, spattering his back.

Melee Mutant came after him, a punch already chambered. Their black, plastic-looking mask showed nothing of their expression, but Sheffield could feel the bloodlust.

Whoever this mutant was, they weren't bad, and reminded him intensely of someone. He ducked a punch, an elbow from top, a kick from the left, and an overhead for his temple; all of them produced wind that knocked over something as they missed. The young man hardly had a second to go for a counterattack. It was all familiar, but relentless.

Kiting was only going to stall this person. Sheffield had to do something, assuming this mutant had backup. Already he heard more gunshots close to them, possibly meant for Nari.

Sheffield let out an involuntary yelp when a chop grazed his shoulder, but his hand found a grip that one black shooter had dropped. He loosed a spray from the submachine gun, in one deadly arc that was bound to land across the mutant's left knee.

Then the mutant [i]clapped[/i] their hands together.

Sheffield went flying again. As the shockwave blew aside the bullets, and the young man landed on his back, Melee Mutant dashed over to him.

Then they watched a grey tube-like thing leave Sheffield's hand and explode up close. Light and noise dominated the scene for a moment.

Sheffield withdrew his covering arm from his face. Whatever that mask was, apparently it had no protection against flashes if Melee Mutant staggering backwards meant anything. But here was a chance.

The black fabric that had covered his secret weapon had come off some time during the fight, one that he always held on to no matter what happened. Bare, anyone would see Sheffield holding something like a curved, smooth stick of asphalt. But as the young man slid his thumb down one end, a triangular symbol flashed red from where his thumb left, and the unheld part thinned out into a shinier, sharper blade.

Sheffield quickly whipped out his taser and struck the blade. Blue currents ran down it now like waves on steel. Azure sparks flitted from the taser's prongs as it fell to the ground.

Dusty Edge, now in 'dangerously' non-lethal mode in Sheffield's hand, whipped through the air and aimed for an arm. It sheared through padding and metal as it left a cut and a surge of electricity.

Melee Mutant hopped back, awkwardly, as they recovered from the flashbang. This impromptu blade setting was still new, but Sheffield knew most mutants, especially the 'tank' types, can survive such wounds. He held it like a torch against a wolf.

[color=red]"Back off,"[/color] he said, voice dry. [color=red]"The MSU are going to swarm this place at any moment."[/color]

Beneath that mask, Sheffield hoped, was a reasonable person. But this person stepped back, shuddering uncontrollably, fists balled up--

[i]Whack![/i]

It was ringing in the back of his head as he fell to his knees. He got careless. Someone, behind him, was saying something as he scrambled back up.

[quote=@Lotrix Molick][color=ec008c]“Sheffield, use it. I will hold them as long as I can, but we need to get them disabled. Civilians are dying, and MSU is coming in hot!"[/color][/quote]

Something familiarly wooden crawled into his hand. And yet it felt smooth and light at the same time. Nari’s frantic voice came to him, unprocessed in his mind, but then he heard a more closer, gruff voice.

"Whoa, now that's high-tech-looking stuff. That plant woman though, we got her covered. You don't mind if I take this kill, Strider--?"

Through his daze, Sheffield saw black whirl above him. It connected with a larger black shape that flew.

When his vision fully came back, he pieced the unmoving body on a tree branch to the legs in front of him, tensed and bent, just like a judo kick. Or some martial art that had kicks.

Why was he rescued? Sheffield looked up and saw lifeless grey holes returning the look. Melee Mutant's--Strider's--hand reached down for Dusty Edge.

Just as the human lifted his new leafy blade, gunshots rang out from behind him. But there were shouts too.

"This is the police, surrender now!"

"MSU, securing the area!"

"Stop that mutant!"

The hand that went down transitioned into a palm strike, right for his stomach.

[color=red]"OOF!"[/color] Sheffield felt another pain, rolling over to his side.

By the time he got back up, Strider, clad in black, bounded across the park, covering distances that put most athletes to shame, and flew over a building in the distance.

For a moment Sheffield relaxed. An attack on Azure Park. Dead and wounded all around him. His sudden re-use of skills. An enemy that saved him, but was familiar.

Sheffield looked everywhere around him. Their fight had taken them through the park, leaving behind new tiny hills of dirt and craters in between. A man in orange was curled up inside a crater. The Park probably looked more of a war zone now.

What was going on?

Then time moved forwards. Gunshots were still ringing around him. People were screaming, running for their lives.

[color=red]"Oh, crabapples..."[/color] he muttered.

Yes, evil takes no holidays. Sheffield still had people to save. Dusty Edge had lost its charge, but he was used to having a blunt Edge. The new sword, vines wrapped tightly around his left hand, probably Nari’s, was sharp-looking but ultimately blunt. It will do. He will have to thank the woman later. And maybe go back for his groceries.

Feeling his heart beating fast, Sheffield charged and rammed both swords into a terrorist’s throat.

[hr]

(Raiders Scouting Notes)
[b]Sheffield Dusk[/b] to the West, near [b]MSU mutants and Asuka Ehime[/b]. [b]Nari Sol[/b] in the North. MSU primarily around the West, but now swarming the ground alongside law enforcement units. Mutant known, callsign [b]'Lightning'[/b], approaching from the East. Terrorists are swarming and escaping through the city. [b]Strider[/b] returning, having completed Objective One, and failed Objective Two.