[center][h3][color=tan]Courier 6[/color] and [color=orange]Ratchet[/color][/h3]
[b]Level 4[/b] - (8/40) EXP (+3), [b]Level 3[/b] - (5/30)
[b]Location:[/b] Castle Interior
[b]Word Count:[/b] 902[/center]

Content with the effects of his proximity mine, Ratchet opted to hang back for the time being. With his only available weapon at the moment being his trusted omniwrench, and having nowhere near the size, strength, or durability of that monster, he didn’t want to get in any closer than was absolutely necessary. Besides that, there was already a congestion of firepower from his allies, so it’d just wind up being more trouble than it was worth. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Courier was as much in the thick of it as possible, considering he was standing on top of the giant Bowser’s belly and had just pelted the beast’s neck with an impressive amount of buckshot. His balance was thrown off as Mario performed what could only be described as flipping off the rules of physics and momentum, suddenly slamming down hard on megadragonbowser’s belly and cracking the exposed shell. [color=tan]”Woooah~”[/color] he nearly fell from the mighty beast, but recovered. He was about to plug some more shotgun shells into the neck, if only he could regain his firing grip, but that was not to be. 

Suddenly the foe exploded, literally, into a flaming hot rage. The Courier rolled with the force along the floor. This technique helped avoid any broken bones and certainly lessened his bruising, but it didn’t help the damage suffered from the initial blast. Fire singed at his duster, his hat had fallen off to who-knows-where, and portions of his skin were burned away. If you looked closely, you could spot his subdermal armor, giving the Courier a sort of shine to him, which reflected the mass of fire blazing from their foe. 

He had barely recovered, back up on his feet, when the scene before him changed for the worse. First Gaige’s robot was chomped into pieces, then Gaige herself, blinded by furious rage, splattered into nothing more than red paste. He wanted to yell out, to scream, but he did not. Death, that was all too common where he came from. Usually in a much more painful, horrible manner than this. As far as deaths could go, it was painless and quick, infinitely better than radiation poisoning or getting eaten alive by ghouls. Still, the young girl’s slaughter filled him with rage. But he wasn’t the only one.

Zer0 descended upon the second Bowser in a killing blow, spouting off haiku in honor of his fallen friend… Only to have been rendered completely ineffectual. As Zer0 was casually plucked from the monster’s head, Ratchet bound away from the pillar he was positioned on. [color=orange]”NO!”[/color] he cried out, jetting forward with the aid of Clank, omniwrench in hand, ready to break Bowser’s grip. But he was too late. The assassin was gut like a boar to be roast over a spit.

Ratchet altered his movement, daring not to attack the enemy as things currently stood, his rescue already failed. The Courier grit his teeth and spat out a black tar-like substance, some remnant residue of the various drugs in his system, as rage fueled his body. The flames emanating from this evil king could scorch him, and it would make no difference. He walked the Mojave at the height of summer, through irradiated wastes. This heat definitely beat that, but he was prepared for it. He could brace for it, work through it. It didn’t mean shit.

Still, running in close wasn’t an option. Sturdy as he was, stronger from the buffout, it would still be suicide. Shooting would certainly be harder with that shell, but safer. He took cover near Tora as the mad king Bowser created a shockwave along the ground, pulling out his Ratslayer rifle. In the midst of the shock, 6 activated VATS, effectively slowing time down to a near standstill. [i][color=tan]Ratslayer. Best accuracy. High chance of critical damage. Targeting exposed eye. Chance to hit: 21%. Not good enough. Changing target to exposed shell cracks. Chance to hit: 51%. Damn, still not good, but it’s the best I’ve got. Enough stamina to queue up 4 shots thanks to jet and buffout. Here’s hoping one of these crits. Good thing I’m a gambling man.[/color][/i]

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Four shots rang out in quick succession, straight for megadragonbowser. If they hit, there was a chance they could create critical damage. If they missed, they’d harmlessly bounce from the armored shell, completely wasted.

Meanwhile, Ratchet had to smile at himself, proud at what he had done. While their enemy was being all boastful, he’d pulled a fast one, and thanks to Clank in jet form, this shockwave tactic was completely useless. He took a single large jump, propelled much further and faster than usual, right over the tremor. He hung up in the air for a brief moment as the tremor past, then landed next to Tora and the Courier while Clank vanished for the time being.

[color=orange]”Here,”[/color] he said, offering something to 6. It was the glowing spirit of Gaige the mechromancer. In his other hand he held his wrench, but clamped firmly was Zer0’s own spirit, which he immediately placed against his heart to absorb into himself.

[color=tan]”Guess that’s one less ya owe me,”[/color] 6 mumbled, more focused on their enemy as he crushed Gaige’s spirit to form it into something useful.